Moglix accelerates supply chain growth in Middle East with advanced B2B eCommerce and procurement solutions
· B2B eCommerce market in the MENA region is forecasted to reach USD 2,293 billion by 2030
· Moglix’s end-to-end procurement solutions, with the largest E-catalogue in the UAE and a growing network of physical warehouses, are strategically positioned to meet the evolving procurement needs in the region
· Moglix aims to further cement its position in the UAE market to capitalize on the projected surge in the country’s eCommerce sector.
Dubai, April 18, 2024:
Moglix, a global leader in the B2B eCommerce and procurement sector, is spearheading digital transformation in the Middle East and GCC region by accelerating procurement and supply chain efficiency through its tech-first approach. Moglix’s offerings drive efficiency in procurement management, as well as enabling cost reduction and seamless supply chain operations for the manufacturing sector.
In line with its steadfast commitment to delivering unparalleled customer satisfaction, Moglix’s comprehensive innovative solutions of over 40 product categories are tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses amidst the rapid expansion of the B2B eCommerce and procurement sector in the UAE.
Projections indicate significant growth in the B2B eCommerce market, with the MENA region expected to reach USD 2,293 billion by 2030. Additionally, the UAE’s eCommerce market is set to surge from USD 5.5 billion in 2024 to an astonishing USD 8 billion by 2026, making it an incredibly lucrative market for Moglix to further expand its operations and establish a strong presence. By leveraging innovative solutions that optimise scalability for cost-effectiveness, the
company integrates technology, infrastructure, and local teams to deliver enhanced value while raising awareness about the advantages of technology in procurement.
Piyush Malviya, Vice President and Head of MEA at Moglix said: “Since early 2020, the Great Supply Chain Disruption has reinforced the need for enhanced visibility, and at Moglix, our end-to-end procurement solution, featuring an intuitive e-catalog based buying model, robust data management, and advanced analytics empowers businesses to proactively tackle disruptions from natural disasters or geopolitical challenges. Our customised digital solutions optimize efficiencies across diverse industrial segments, from manufacturing to hospitality, supporting infrastructural development for the GCC region”
With its expansive network of 40 warehouses globally, Moglix recognises the critical role of physical infrastructure and efficient supply chain management in catalysing last-mile operations. Through its tie-ups with leading logistics firms from around the globe, the company strives to enhance customer experiences, by facilitating all-around supply chain visibility and tracking for larger players, while optimising customer support and efficiency for smaller businesses.
With continued investments and focus on innovation required to achieve the global transition to clean energy
Wilo Middle East & North Africa, a leading pump manufacturer and digital pioneer of the pumps industry, addressed a number of key challenges facing water management, building services and other industrial sectors during the World Future Energy Summit and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The company’s participation in both these esteemed events is consistent with its commitment to advancing sustainability and pioneering sustainable solutions. It also falls in line with its long-term goals of fostering robust collaboration and innovation in order to craft a sustainable and resilient future by sharing innovative ideas, cutting-edge technologies, and best practices. During both the events, Wilo presented its state-of-the-art solutions that address a range of pressing concerns and challenges in water management, industrial sustainability, and energy efficiency.
Yasser Nagi, Group Director of Wilo Middle East & North Africa, stated: “In light of the rapidly intensifying impacts of climate change, we, at Wilo, recognise the critical necessity for deriving sustainable solutions. Our participation at these events attests to our steadfast dedication to promoting positive environmental impact and building a more resilient future. We are pleased to share our knowledge and solutions at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the World Future Energy Summit. In keeping with the UAE’s vision and commitment to environmental stewardship, we seek to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future through partnerships with global leaders and stakeholders.”
This year’s World Future Energy Summit was an excellent platform driven by innovative ideas, pioneering minds, as well as ground-breaking insights and perceptions. By bringing together innovators, problem solvers, and industry leaders, the event served as a catalyst for positive change in the pursuit of sustainability, crafting the blueprints for a sustainable future.
This year, the Summit featured clean energy innovations and concepts from across the world to promote sustainable development and continue addressing critical issues raised at COP28.
In addition to highlighting the challenges, Wilo further exhibited its diverse portfolio of ground-breaking solutions and innovations at the World Future Energy Summit and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. These include building services innovations that transform the energy efficiency in residential and commercial spaces, water management advancements that ensures clean water access, and industrial excellence offering essential pumps and systems tailored to meet the demanding needs of diverse industries, ranging from food production to power generation.
Wilo, a pioneer in the world of cutting-edge pump technology, utilises its extensive expertise and cutting-edge technologies to tackle critical environmental issues, in alignment with the Summit’s objective of achieving a clear energy future as well as the UAE’s efforts to create a more diverse and sustainable economy. The company remains steadfast in its dedication to influencing a positive change through innovation and cooperation in the face of escalating environmental issues.
Walmart chooses Swisslog ASRS powered by SynQ software to enhance transparency and delivery of quality products in third milk processing facility
Swisslog, a leading provider of best-in-class intralogistics warehouse automation and software, has announced that Walmart will install a Swisslog automation solution within its Robinson, TX, facility to enable seamless material flow and increase uptime. Walmart is planning to break ground on the milk processing facility later this year with the facility scheduled to open in 2026.
This is the third Walmart milk processing facility to deploy Swisslog’s automated storage and retrieval solution (ASRS) featuring SynQ software and Vectura cranes. The company worked with Swisslog to open its first milk processing facility in Fort Wayne, IN, in 2018. This facility served as a blueprint for its second facility in Valdosta, GA expected to open in 2025, as well as for the just announced Texas facility.
According to Walmart, the ASRS continues the company’s commitment to building a more resilient and transparent supply chain to deliver high-quality products. It also will bolster the company’s capacity to meet consumer demand for milk. The products from the facility will serve more than 750 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs throughout the South including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and parts of Arkansas and Mississippi.
Designed by Swisslog’s automation experts, the ASRS brings together five Vectura pallet stacker cranes with KUKA palletizing and de-palletizing robots, a ProMove pallet conveyor system, as well as a conveyor system for small loads. The automation solution operates on synchronized intelligence from Swisslog’s SynQ software, which provides warehouse management, material flow and automation control system functionality in a single, modular platform.
“We are honored that Walmart continues to put their trust in our automation solutions and our people behind those solutions,” said Sean Wallingford, president, and CEO of Swisslog Americas. “This has been a very collaborative relationship as our two teams work together to create value for Walmart and ensure our automation solutions and software enable the company and its farmers to bring fresh, transparently sourced dairy to market.”
SynQ management software not only optimizes the flow of the equipment to increase efficiency and accuracy of the operation, it also orchestrates the operation of multiple sub-systems. It equips warehouse automation and IT systems with synchronized intelligence of people, processes and machines to boost the efficiency and productivity of warehouse processes and adapt to changing market requirements. SynQ provides sophisticated inventory management and material flow capabilities that enable real-time inventory tracking and management of items to ensure freshness, quality and transparency of the food supply chain.
This project also includes Swisslog’s IT Managed Services, which puts in place experts to proactively manage the IT systems and software required to keep the equipment running at peak performance. The higher-level 24/7 support allows Walmart to free up internal resources from routine IT system administration, while also enabling data-driven proactive maintenance that helps reduce unplanned downtime.
For more information on Swisslog automation technologies and software, visit https://www.swisslog.com
Etihad Cargo is celebrating a 10-year strategic partnership with Envirotainer, a significant milestone in providing excellence in the safe and reliable transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.
In 2023, Etihad Cargo utilised Envirotainer’s active containers on 134 per cent more trips than in the previous year, supporting the carrier’s growth for its PharmaLife product and achievement of the highest volumes transported in Etihad Cargo’s history.
Etihad Cargo has achieved QEP certification for 30 of its stations, demonstrating the carrier’s strong commitment and adherence to the highest reliability and quality standards in the temperature-controlled freight industry.
16 of Etihad Cargo’s Pharma Champions have undergone specialised training at the Envirotainer Academy, enabling the carrier to offer enhanced expertise to Etihad Cargo’s customers in key regions.
In 2023, Etihad Cargo utilised Envirotainer’s active containers on 134 per cent more trips than the previous year. The carrier also achieved a 37 per cent increase in pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments, marking the highest volumes in Etihad Cargo’s history. This growth demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s continued investment in its infrastructure, product features and partnerships, which have enabled the carrier to contribute to creating a healthcare ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and a robust global pharma supply chain.
Underscoring the carrier’s commitment to maintaining quality across its cool chain operations, Etihad Cargo has been awarded the prestigious Qualified Envirotainer Providers (QEP) accreditation for its Abu Dhabi hub and an additional 29 stations across its extensive network. This accreditation is a testament to Etihad Cargo’s strong commitment and adherence to the highest standards of reliability and quality in the temperature-controlled freight industry.
The collaboration between Etihad Cargo and Envirotainer extends beyond container provision, emphasising excellence in training and standards elevation. To date, 16 of Etihad Cargo’s Pharma Champions have undergone specialised training at the Envirotainer Academy, ensuring Etihad Cargo’s customers benefit from the most knowledgeable and skilled professionals in the pharmaceutical logistics sector.
Furthermore, this partnership has embodied a shared vision for innovation, particularly in leveraging technology to streamline processes and enhance transparency within the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Etihad Cargo and Envirotainer are currently developing a unified booking platform. This initiative promises to simplify the container booking process and provide customers with more transparent and efficient tracking capabilities.
Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo’s decade-long partnership with Envirotainer reflects the shared ongoing commitment to creating a more robust, resilient and transparent global healthcare ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Etihad Cargo has been able to ensure the seamless delivery of essential life-saving medicines to improve the lives of people around the world while overcoming logistical challenges and providing transparency.”
A fusion of water and architecture: GROHE SPA unveils “Aquatecture” spaces at Milan Design Week
· GROHE showcases its premium sub-brand GROHE SPA, celebrating “Salus per aquam” (Latin for “Health through Water”)
· A captivating installation at Palazzo Reale – the historic royal residence in the heart of Milan with neoclassical architecture – invites visitors to an immersive experience with water at its core
· The carefully curated “Aquatecture” spaces exhibit the four tiers of GROHE SPA highlighting modular shower solutions, the smooth Satin finish, bespoke Allure Gravity Private Collection and 3D metal-printed products
Throughout history, the symbiotic relationship between nature and culture has significantly influenced art, fashion, and architecture. Aiming to unravel the various dimensions in which nature can serve as a wellspring of inspiration, Milan Design Week is centered around “Materia Natura”.
Embracing this theme, the world’s largest annual design event serves as an ideal stage for GROHE SPA, the premium sub-brand of GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings. The word SPA originally comes from the first letters of “Salus per aquam”, which is the founding concept behind GROHE SPA. Celebrating the transformative power of water at the impressive Palazzo Reale near the Duomo, GROHE showcases carefully curated bathroom solutions that epitomize new luxury and bespoke quality in a holistic installation.
A tribute to nature and history
Based on the concept of “Aquatecture” – the fusion of water and architecture – the GROHE SPA installation in the courtyard of Palazzo Reale unveils a series of spaces that elevate the significance and importance of water in architecture, and the health and well-being benefits this infusion brings. Conceived by the in-house LIXIL Global Design and Brand Identity team, the
“Aquatecture” installation pays tribute to the history of the building, interwoven with the contemporary GROHE SPA “Salus per aquam” concept. Inspired by the former courtyard garden and in synergy with Milan Design Week’s theme “Materia Natura”, it thoughtfully blends nature and architecture to create immersive spaces that reflect the essence of GROHE SPA. These carefully curated spaces echo the former garden, creating sensual areas to reflect, revitalize, and energize.
“Through our installation at Palazzo Reale, we reflect the intricate bond between nature and human creativity, intertwining the rich history of the royal palace with the modern ethos of GROHE SPA. Inviting visitors on a sensory journey to deeply experience ‘Salus per aquam’, our ‘Aquatecture’ spaces exhibit the powerful connection of water in architecture. They stand not only as showcases but as inspiration for architects and designers, encouraging collaboration and experimentation,” explains Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design EMENA.
Redefining spa luxury across four tiers
Each “Aquatecture” space represents one of the four tiers that bring GROHE SPA to life. Visitors embark on their immersive journey at the fourth tier that shows industry-leading products to create the ultimate home spa hideaway. Shower solutions like GROHE Rainshower Aqua and the F-Digital Deluxe modules combine timeless elegance with modern technology, using light, steam, sound and smell to delight the senses. In addition, the GROHE Atrio Outdoor Shower provides a refreshing and rejuvenating experience, enabling a stronger connection to nature and the tranquility this brings. Transitioning to the third tier, the spotlight is on the GROHE Colors Collection with the new Satin finish. Offering a luxurious touch and expanded design choices for a personalized look, the new finish is available for GROHE Allure and GROHE Atrio, as well as matching showers and accessories in the colors Satin Steel and Satin Graphite.
The highlight of the second tier is the new GROHE Allure Gravity Private Collection. Blending a slim square silhouette with boundless avenues for customization, the faucet line comes with exchangeable cover plates expertly crafted from glass, mirror or marble. GROHE is partnering with Caesarstone, the global pioneer of premium countertop surfaces, to craft cover plates from the brand’s durable surfaces in timeless designs. Culminating the exhibition, the first tier is comprised of the GROHE Icon 3D collection: The 3D metal-printed products redefine what is possible, while taking sustainable product design with ultimate customization options to a new level.
Carrier to offer additional protection against environmental factors,
Etihad Cargo has enhanced its Abu Dhabi tarmac transportation fleet with the addition of high-tech cool dollies. The introduction of cool dollies for the transportation of pharmaceutical and perishable shipments will enable the carrier to fully complete its temperature-controlled cool chain capabilities at its Abu Dhabi hub.
In partnership with Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Cargo has added dedicated cool dollies for pharmaceutical and perishable products to provide maximum safety to the carrier’s partners and customers at every stage of the handling process.
The specialised containers will offer a closed, temperature-controlled system to ensure the reliable and seamless transportation of high-value and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo between the carrier’s aircraft and state-of-the-art cool chain warehouse.
“These specialised containers not only control the temperature but also enable Etihad Cargo to access the data records, providing Etihad Cargo increased visibility of this Critical Control Point to reduce, eliminate and prevent hazards,” remarked Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery, Etihad Cargo.
Safe and efficient carriage
“As a CEIV Pharma and Fresh-certified cargo handler, this further reiterates our commitment to providing best-in-class services to ensure the safe and efficient carriage of pharmaceuticals through our airport,” commented Naresh Ranganathan, Acting Vice President Cargo, Etihad Airport Services Cargo
The cool dollies can be set to a range of temperatures anywhere between +2 and +25 degrees Celsius, and an in-built alarm system sends alerts if the temperature fluctuates beyond the set parameters.
The cool dollies also present a greener choice, promising a longer isolation cell life and easy and low-cost maintenance and significantly reducing overall consumption, fuel costs and environmental impact.
Since launching PharmaLife, Etihad Cargo has introduced several features and initiatives to enhance the carrier’s cool chain capabilities. This latest addition follows the introduction of dedicated thermal covers and the launch of a state-of-the-art cool chain facility at Abu Dhabi Airport.
Doubling cool chain capacity
Established in partnership with Etihad Airport Services Cargo and Abu Dhabi Airports, the new facility has doubled Etihad Cargo’s cool chain capacity to carry and accommodate an additional 50,000 tonnes of cool chain commodities, including pharmaceuticals and life sciences products. The pharma hub will support the growing global healthcare and life sciences demand and is in full
alignment with Abu Dhabi’s vision to establish the emirate as a global pharmaceuticals and life sciences hub.
Etihad Cargo has also refurbished its perishables handling and storage facility. The carrier has a 3,000-square-metre dedicated perishables temperature-controlled warehouse comprising three cool rooms (2-8 degrees Celsius).
Etihad Cargo’s enhanced FreshForward centre provides smoother transfers to its FreshForward truck fleet when products need to be delivered in the UAE or handed over to the consignee at Abu Dhabi Airport, making the end-to-end journey of perishables easier and safer, a press communique concluded.
The initiative optimizes warehouse operations, improving accuracy through visual instructions
Gulf Warehousing Company is unveiling its latest initiative—integrating vision-picking technology into supply chain operations.
With a steadfast commitment to innovation, GWC is the first logistics company in Qatar to implement vision-picking technology, leading the way toward a more efficient, accurate, and safe future for logistics, according to a press statement.
Transformative
Vision picking is a transformative, cutting-edge technology that revolutionizes single and multi-order picking, using computer vision systems, cameras, and augmented reality (AR) devices to help the staff to identify and select items from warehouse locations accurately and efficiently.
The initiative optimizes warehouse operations, improving accuracy through providing visual instructions that reduce human error margins; increasing efficiency by helping the staff find and pick items faster; and enhancing inventory management and visibility through real-time tracking options.
The integration of vision picking in GWC’s warehouse operations has resulted in a notable increase in picking speed. By automating the picking process, the technology has reduced the time and effort required by the human workforce, optimizing warehouse operations, and increasing productivity.
Prioritization
Additionally, through its prioritization of workplace safety and its integration with existing protocols, vision picking has provided a safer working environment for GWC’s workforce.
“Our pioneering efforts in adopting innovative solutions mark a significant step forward in enhancing the logistics landscape, aligning with our commitment to Qatar’s sustainable development goals. This approach underscores our dedication to driving efficiency, accuracy, and safety in warehouse operations, ensuring unparalleled service excellence for our clients,” stated Ranjeev Menon, CEO, GWC Group.
GWC emerges as a leading example of innovation and adaptability amid the industry’s changing dynamics, poised to navigate forthcoming challenges and prepared to establish pioneering standards of excellence in logistics and supply chain sector, the press note concluded. .
The company ensured improved circularity through a multifaceted approach
RAK Ceramics recently published its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report for the year 2023, documenting the company’s achievements in the realm of sustainability and social responsibility, according to a press statement.
RAK Ceramics’ core divisions, which include Tiles, Sanitaryware, Tableware and Faucets, focused on bolstering sustainability efforts through targeted goals and innovative initiatives in 2023. They executed 32 projects aimed at optimising resource usage and reducing environmental impact. The recently opened Smart Factory helped boost productivity, reduced power and gas consumption.
By investing in one of the largest tunnel kilns in the industry, SMART-controlled compressors, VDF installations and other major initiatives, the sanitaryware division effectively reduced its energy consumption in air compressors by nearly half.
Chrome production
The faucet division enhanced chrome production productivity, achieving a significant 48.78% reduction in energy intensity. Meanwhile, the tableware division effectively decreased energy intensity of sales and production processes.
RAK Ceramics ensured improved circularity through a multifaceted approach, in which 100% of non-hazardous waste was either reintroduced in production or recycled by third parties. The factories reused 16.7% of fired sanitaryware rejects, 92.5% of reclaimed glaze and 100% of greenware sanitary ware rejects.
Furthermore, the effective partnership with DHL Global Forwarding and Rail Direct (Etihad Rail) underlined RAK Ceramics’ strong commitment to sustainable logistics solutions.
Sustainability commitment
In the final quarter of 2023, RAK Ceramics showcased its commitment to sustainability at COP28 UAE as a prominent partner in the Sustainability Showcase: Ras Al Khaimah’s Journey and played a pivotal role in discussions on achieving net-zero emissions, the press statement continued.
Collaborating with SAP, the company highlighted the importance of technology in driving positive change. RAK Ceramics’ efforts were also recognised with the EcoLabel Certification Award by the Ras Al Khaimah Environmental Protection and Development Authority, underscoring its leadership in environmental sustainability.
“In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability, RAK Ceramics achieved many important sustainability goals in 2023, including increased energy efficiency, conserving natural resources, and implementing eco-friendly solutions across our entire value chain,” stated Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics.
Sanad secures five-year contract extension for V2500 MRO services
Company to maintain 30% of South Korea’s Asiana Airlines’ V2500 engine fleet
Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment (Mubadala), solidified its partnership with Asiana Airlines, the second largest airline in South Korea, through a five-year contract extension valued at US$ 145mn (AED 532mn).
This agreement emphasizes Sanad’s global industry leadership and commitment to providing elite Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for V2500 engines, according to a press communique.
The partnership, which was initiated in 2018, strengthens Sanad’s position as the sole MRO provider for Asiana Airlines in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This agreement solidifies Sanad’s reputation as a global leading independent MRO service provider and extends the existing partnership with Asiana Airlines for another five years.
Unwavering commitment
“This collaboration reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence within the aerospace industry, positioning Abu Dhabi as an innovative and leading hub for aviation solutions and solidifying its reputation as a premier destination for cutting-edge aviation services to top global airline,” stated Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO, Sanad.
“Our relentless drive for excellence is delivering innovative and technical solutions, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s vision of supporting the global aviation sector with top-tier talent, technology, and expertise, which further solidifies its position as a global aviation hub,” commented Baha Salama, General Manager, MRO, Sanad.
“We have selected Sanad as our V2500 MRO service provider for another five years because we are convinced it is qualified to satisfy our requirement to support our A320 and A321ceo fleet,” remarked Hoon Bae, Principal General Manager Purchasing, Asiana Airlines.
Bridgestone and Al Masaood Group celebrate 50 years of partnership
Announce new initiatives for 2024
Bridgestone has celebrated 50 years of successful partnership with Al Masaood Group, the Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate operating across multiple economic sectors.
As part of the celebration, Bridgestone and Al Masaood will honour this milestone all year long with several exciting initiatives and activities and continue to strengthen connections within the community.
The Golden Jubilee has paved way for a range of initiatives and activities throughout the year, including trade activities, a dedicated communication plan to highlight major accomplishments such as Bridgestone’s Webfleet solution, CSR programs, sponsorships and media campaigns, among others.
Bridgestone and Al Masaood have had a long-standing partnership based on trust, integrity and mutual respect. Together, both entities have successfully navigated challenges, seized new opportunities and consistently supported clients in Abu Dhabi and rest of the UAE with superior products and services.
Journeying together
“As we mark this milestone, we look forward to continuing our journey together, delivering innovative solutions and driving success in the years ahead,” commented Jacques Fourie, President, Bridgestone Middle East and Africa.
“As we commemorate 50 years of partnership with Bridgestone, we extend our sincere gratitude to the wise leadership of the UAE, as well as to all the teams, customers and stakeholders who have been instrumental in our shared success,” remarked Salah Adib, General Manager, Al Masaood Tyres, Batteries & Accessories.
For over five decades, Al Masaood has been Abu Dhabi’s official distributor of Bridgestone tyres for cars, trucks, as well as industrial and agricultural vehicles, a press statement concluded.
World Future Energy Summit Opens in Abu Dhabi, with Focus on Advancing COP28’s Change Agenda
· Global energy industry to meet in Abu Dhabi this week to help pave pathways towards implementing COP 28 framework and meeting goals set last November
· Summit to feature largest female participation on record and underline UAE’s global commitment to environmental co-operation, with debuts for Pathway to 1.5C, e-Mobility, and Green Finance forums
The eyes of the world’s energy sector will be firmly focused on the UAE capital this week as the World Future Energy Summit 2024, hosted by Masdar, opens at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). Set to begin a three-day run tomorrow, the 16th edition of the leading event for future energy and sustainability has a strong focus on advancing the change agenda laid down at COP28 in Dubai last November.
The Summit will host its most comprehensive knowledge-sharing programme to date, featuring more than 350 of the energy sector’s leading international experts, policymakers, academics, and future shapers. Each will deliver insights on how to navigate COP 28’s frameworks through five probing conferences and three dynamic forums.
“The combined speaker platform represents a high-density gathering of the industry’s foremost minds, each of whom will discuss and suggest potential pathways to achieving sustainability and renewable energy goals based on technology, changing policies, and evolving economics,” said Leen AlSebai, General Manager of RX Middle East and Head of the World Future Energy Summit.
“With a keen focus on the theme ‘The Energy To Lead’, this year’s Summit has emerged as a global think tank. Empowered by innovation, these experts and sector pioneers will bring to light solutions to our most crucial problems and cutting-edge solutions, which will inform the blueprints for a sustainable future. It will also firmly underline the UAE’s robust commitment to global sustainability and environmental cooperation.”
The Summit will feature six conferences focussing on Solar, EcoWaste, Water, Clean Energy, Smart Cities, and Climate & Environment, as well as a dedicated “Pathway to 1.5C” forum focused on outcomes from COP28 and two forums addressing Green Finance and e-Mobility.
The speaker platform reads like an almanac of the energy, commercial, and industrial sectors, featuring ministerial policymakers, scientists, financiers, business titans, digital disruptors, and agenda-setting climate change advocates. Together they will probe ways to unlock investment and find innovative instruments to close the climate finance gap, how to further private sector engagement with regulators and governments, integrate carbon into decision-making and asset valuation, and increase adaptation and resilience financing. They will also dig deep into various ways certain industries and sectors can contribute to tripling renewable power generation capacity to 11,000 GW, tripling nuclear energy by 2050, doubling energy efficiency this decade, reaching near zero-methane emissions by 2030, as well as cutting fossil fuels from the world’s energy production plans.
Delivering the opening address on guiding nations to a 1.5°C climate pathway will be Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President & CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, followed by Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
A running theme for day one, the Pathways to 1.5°C conference will also see Simon Birkebaek, Partner at BCG, discuss clean energy outcomes from COP28 and the road ahead, alongside a presentation by Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency on delivering energy commitments and what actions are needed to meet Troika: Mission 1.5.
“To keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C within reach, countries must quickly build on the important energy pledges they made at COP28. Now is the time to transform promises into actions,” said Warlick. “With even stronger international cooperation needed through COP29 and COP30, this Summit provides a crucial opportunity to share the latest data, best practices and toolkits to tackle common challenges on the road to a more secure and sustainable energy future.”
Other panel discussions will see speakers such as H.E. Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO, Emirates Steel Arkan; Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO, Emirates Global Aluminium; and Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri, MD and CEO, Tadweer Group discuss how to meet a 1.5°C climate threshold.
The Solar & Clean Energy Conference, also opening on day one, will see H.E. Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure (MoEI) open proceedings, with H.E. Ahmed Alkaabi, Undersecretary Assistant for Electricity, Water & Future Energy Sector at MoEI delivering the keynote address at the Water Conference.
This year’s knowledge programme also features its largest female participation, with women speakers set to bring a critical perspective to a range of issues from climate change to sustainable tourism, smart city technology to circular economy integration, workplace diversity to learnings from COP28. It will also host a dedicated panel discussion on female entrepreneurs leading decarbonisation innovation, and a dedicated area for its Climate Innovations Exchange (CLIX) initiative – a curated platform where female-led, run, or founded startups, as well as SMEs and innovators, can demonstrate game-changing products and solutions to a global audience.
For more information on the event and how to get involved, visit: worldfutureenergysummit.com
Terrapinn are proud announce the 24th edition of Seamless Middle East will be held under patronage of H.H. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
In addition, the League of Arab States and Arab Federation for Digital Economy has renewed their strategic partnership supporting the region’s largest event dedicated to shaping the future of digital commerce across the Arab world.
Following from the success of Seamless Middle East in 2023, The Arab League has once again renewed their official Strategic Partnership with Seamless Middle East.
Seamless Middle East is the leading payments, fintech, retail, e-commerce, home delivery and digital marketing event in the Middle East and this partnership is crucial for the development of a prosperous digital economy across the Arab world.
Alongside this it is with great pleasure that Seamless Middle East announces the patronage of the event under His Highness Lieutenant-General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior.
Joseph Ridley, General Manager at Terrapinn Middle East said:
“We are honoured to have The Arab Federation as the Strategic Partner of Seamless Middle East through the establishment of this long-term partnership. The Arab League is working hard to make the digital economy across the Arab world flourish, something we are aligned on and actively trying to promote at Seamless Middle East.”
Dr. Ali M. Al-Khouri is the Advisor of the Arab Economic Unity Council, Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, Member of the Executive Office of Specialized Federations in the Arab League said:
“We value the partnership between Seamless and The Arab League, and are looking forward to a strategic partnership with them. We will be at Seamless to promote digital economy and the vision for taking the Arab world into the future, and partake in engaging discussions with other industry leading professionals. Make sure to attend our opening keynote as we will also be announcing the Arab Digital Economy Index 2024, which will aim to shape the future of the digital landscape across the Arab world”.
Attend Seamless Middle East on 14-16 May 2024 at Dubai World Trade Centre and witness the opening speech from the Arab Federation for Digital Economy.
Volvo Group to Increase North American Heavy Truck Production Capacity
The Volvo Group today announced that it will build a new heavy-duty truck manufacturing plant in Mexico to supplement the Group’s U.S. production. The plant will provide additional capacity to support the growth plans of both Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks in the U.S. and Canadian markets, and support Mack truck sales in Mexico and Latin America. The plant is expected to be operational in 2026.
The Mack LVO plant in Pennsylvania and the Volvo NRV plant in Virginia will continue to be the company’s main North American heavy truck production sites. The Group has invested more than $73 million over the last five years in LVO expansion and upgrades, and is currently investing an additional $80 million to prepare for future production. The NRV plant is completing a six-year, $400 million dollar expansion/upgrade to prepare for production of the new Volvo VNL model.
The new plant will be approximately 1.7 million square feet in size, and will focus on production of heavy-duty conventional vehicles for the Volvo and Mack brands. It will be a complete conventional vehicle assembly facility including cab body-in-white production and paint.
Adding production in Mexico will deliver logistical efficiencies for supporting sales to the southwestern/western regions of the U.S., and to Mexico and Latin America. It also provides a mature supply and production ecosystem that will complement the U.S. system and increase the resilience and flexibility of the Group’s North American industrial footprint.
Big CIO Show 2024 Paves the Way for Next-Gen Technological Leadership in AI
The 13th Edition of the Big CIO Show & Awards in collaboration with Intel as the Innovation Partner, will bring together a leading group of C-level techpreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders from diverse sectors to deliberate their transitions from business enablers to growth drivers with AI.
Slated for 16th April 2024 at the Sheraton Grand Whitefield, Bengaluru, Trescon’s Big CIO Show & Awards will spotlight the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence across the entire technological spectrum, highlighting its integration into hardware and software solutions that drive business and technological advances. With an assembly of over 600 C-level executives, the event is poised to be a nexus ofthought leadership, offering a dynamic platform for industry pioneers to exchange insights and deliberate on the forefront of technological innovation in AI. At the Big CIO Show 2024, the emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) underscores the pivotal role it has had in revolutionizing business strategies and customer engagement.
Intel, the innovation partner at the Big CIO Show, is on a mission to bring AI everywhere through its exceptionally engineered platforms, secure solutions and support for open ecosystems. They are developing technologies and solutions that empower customers to seamlessly integrate and effectively run AI in all their applications across the data center, cloud, network, edge and PC.During the event, Intel will showcase through engaging panel discussions and keynotes how its AI portfolio is fully integrated across diverse computing environmentsenabling customers’ AI solutions everywhere. These demonstrations will emphasize how Intel is delivering a next wave of AI platforms that will enable enterprises to drive innovation and strategically reimagine their IT.
While speaking about the event, Naveen Bharadwaj, CEO, Trescon, said,” In this era of relentless innovation, the role of the CIO is evolving rapidly. Together with their C-suite colleagues, CIOs are at the forefront of embracing digital business strategies, facilitating the emergence of future work environments, and driving organizational growth. The Big CIO Show presents a prime opportunity for the IT community to engage with CIOs, fostering collaborations that will propel their enterprises toward a progressive future.”
#BigCIO offers a comprehensive agenda with engaging keynote speeches, use-case presentations, and insightful panel discussions on topics encompassing emerging technologies, utilising low-code/no-code platforms, generative AI, and more.
Among the notable speakers at the event are:
Saumer Kumar Phukan, Director, Head of Customer & Partner Engineering, Intel India
Vijay Kannan, Global Head, Business Transformation & Chief Digital Officer, Godrej Consumer Products Limited
Venkatesh Bhardwaj, Chief Technology Officer, MakeMyTrip, and more
The show will also host the ‘Big CIO 50 Innovators Awards’ and the ‘Big CIO 50 Leaders Awards’ where industry savants will be honored for their efforts and contributions to the technology eco-space. The registration for the Big CIO Show & Awards is now open. Dive deep into the world of emerging technologies as you forge partnerships and gain actionable insights at the event. To book your tickets, visit https://bigcioshow.com/.
Digital platform sees surge in client registrations and crane orders
MYCRANE, the world’s first global platform for online crane rental, has seen a surge in new client registrations and project enquiries in the booming Indian market, according to a press communique.
MYCRANE has recently processed customer orders for crawler, rough terrain and telescopic cranes with a capacity of up to 300T for leading engineering, procurement and construction companies Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Projects and KEC International.
Pan-India deployment
The cranes are being deployed on a pan-India basis, with MYCRANE-enabled lifting projects currently underway in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, among other locations, the press note continued.
“MYCRANE is making great strides in India, which is an enthusiastic proponent of digital tools in all aspects of business and personal life,” stated Andrei Geikalo, MYCRANE Founder and CEO.
“MYCRANE allows us to conveniently post our requirements in one place, then receive a broad range of quotes in a standardized format, with all the information we need. This encourages efficiency and improves our business processes,” remarked Amit Khurana, KEC International.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, was established in 2004, Etihad Cargo has since grown rapidly and exponentially to become one of the top air cargo carriers in the world, offering customers a range of cargo products and services to five major continents.
From its hub in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, strategically located at the crossroads of the world’s busiest trade lanes, Etihad Cargo provides an integral link between Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and Africa.
In addition to general cargo, Etihad Cargo offers a wide range of specialty products including live animals, dangerous goods, valuables and vulnerables, personal effects, as well as its market leading cold chain products (the latter holding IATA’s stringent Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators certifications for both Pharmaceutical and Perishables Logistics, as well as Live Animals Logistics).
Etihad Cargo’s number one priority is safety, and the carrier recently became the third Middle Eastern airline to achieve International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Batteries (CEIV Li-batt) certification.
Etihad Airways recently appointed Stanislas Brun to the role of Vice President Cargo. Brun will be responsible for Etihad Cargo’s commercial operations including scheduled and charter flights, revenue management and network planning. Brun will report to Etihad Airways’ Chief Operating Officer, Mohammad Al Bulooki.
Brun joins Etihad Cargo from Geodis, where, in his role as Senior Vice President Global Airfreight, he oversaw the global air cargo operations of the logistics and supply chain solutions provider. As the newly appointed Vice President Cargo of Etihad Cargo, Brun will oversee all facets of the cargo commercial operations, including revenue management and network planning.
Global Supply Chain interviewed Stanislas Brun exclusively a few weeks after his appointment. The following is the transcript of that extensive interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): You were recently appointed to your current top position in February 2024; what is your mandate and what are you tasked with?
Stanislas Brun (SB):Joining Etihad Cargo at this juncture is truly an exhilarating opportunity, especially given the impressive trajectory the carrier has followed over the last two decades.
Since its inception, Etihad Cargo has meticulously built a reputation for reliability and innovation, always prioritising our customers and continuously investing in our service portfolio and operational reach. My mandate, as I step into this role, is to amplify these efforts, ensuring that our commitment to our customers and partners not only remains steadfast but grows stronger.
We will be intensifying our customer-first philosophy, enhancing our service quality, fostering strong partnerships, and steering Etihad Cargo towards even greater heights of success. It’s a time of immense potential for Etihad Cargo, and I am looking forward to contributing to its future achievements, ensuring we keep delivering on our promises and remain the air cargo partner of choice.
In the coming months, my focus will be on getting even closer to our customers and partners. This involves a deep dive into understanding their unique needs and challenges, with the goal of delivering tailored solutions that not just meet their current expectations but are also anticipatory of their future needs.
The essence of my role is to keep the customer at the centre of everything we do, ensuring their needs and feedback directly influence our strategic decisions and development processes.
Service quality, a cornerstone of Etihad Cargo’s success, is an area where there’s always room for enhancement. My focus will include identifying opportunities for improvement and innovation in how we deliver our services. This continuous pursuit of excellence is critical in maintaining our competitive edge and ensuring we offer the best possible experience to our customers.
Alongside this, strengthening and expanding our partnerships will be key. By building robust collaborations, we can extend our reach, improve our service offerings, and ensure that we remain a preferred choice for cargo services worldwide.
Investing in our growth and embracing innovation will also be a significant part of my mandate. Staying ahead of industry trends, leveraging new technologies, and continuously refining our offerings are essential strategies to ensure Etihad Cargo remains at the forefront of the cargo industry.
The partnership will enable customers fast-track their data-to-insight journey
Tech Mahindra has announced a collaboration with Microsoft to launch a unified workbench on Microsoft Fabric. The workbench will help organizations accelerate adoption of Microsoft Fabric and enable them to create complex data workflows with a simple to use interface.
This workbench uses Microsoft Fabric, an all-in-one analytics solution for enterprises including data movement, data science, real-time analytics, and business intelligence, according to a press communique.
This collaboration will combine the best of Tech Mahindra’s Intellectual Properties (IPs) with Microsoft Fabric capabilities, to help customers fast-track their data-to-insight journey and improve business agility.
Embracing AI and data in the cloud
“Our long-standing partnership with Microsoft has been helping enterprises embrace the vast potential of data & AI in the cloud. With innovative solutions like the unified workbench for Microsoft Fabric, we enable customers to accelerate their journey to becoming more data driven in their operating model and more cognitive in their approach to the business,” stated Kunal Purohit, Chief Digital Services Officer, Tech Mahindra.
The collaboration will enable effective utilization and monetization of data assets to provide a seamless experience for data scientists, analysts, and business professionals.
“Together, with Tech Mahindra, we will help customers take advantage of Microsoft Azure and AI to thrive and achieve success,” commented Zia Mansoor, Corporate Vice President, Data & AI, Microsoft.
Tech Mahindra is a gold certified Microsoft partner with an association spanning over 15 years. This long-standing collaboration with Microsoft positions Tech Mahindra as a trusted partner in the cloud services industry with expertise in analytics and cloud migration initiatives, along with Microsoft Azure certified cloud and data cloud architects, the press statement concluded.
10th Eco WASTE Exhibition & Forum to create blueprint for addressing region’s waste challenges
The three-day event will promote circular economy
The highly anticipated EcoWASTE Exhibition & Forum will return for its 10th edition on April 16 to 18 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
As one of six vertical platforms within the World Future Energy Summit, the Exhibition will explore a wide variety of potential solutions to help close the loop on the Gulf’s waste challenges.
Organised by RX Middle East as part of the World Future Energy Summit, with Tadweer Group as Strategic Partner, the milestone exhibition will convene global stakeholders to explore innovative technologies that hold the potential to transform waste management practices, according to a press statement.
Exchange insights
“We look forward to bringing the industry together to exchange insights and engaging with world leaders, experts and the public as we continue to make key contributions to the UAE’s sustainability strategy and global emissions objectives,” stated Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tadweer Group.
With sustainability at the top of the global agenda, the highly anticipated Exhibition at the World Future Energy Summit promises a comprehensive programme spanning three days.
This year, Tadweer Group will highlight best practices from its own sustainability initiatives, including the construction of a new waste to energy plant in Abu Dhabi, which will begin in 2024. The plant will both divert waste from landfills and contribute to minimising reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
ECS Group and CMA CGM AIR CARGO open a new chapter in Air Transport
Commercializing air freight capacities enhances market presence
ECS Group, a global leader in GSSA, has announced a strategic worldwide partnership with CMA CGM AIR CARGO, a division of CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions.
Starting April 1, 2024, ECS Group has appointed as CMA CGM AIR CARGO GSSA, commercializing air freight capacities on flights operated by CMA CGM AIR CARGO.
By joining forces, ECS Group and CMA CGM AIR CARGO aim to redefine industry standards in operational efficiency, service quality, and technological innovation. Together, they will pioneer innovative solutions and deliver a premier customer experience while enhancing operational efficiency, according to a press statement.
Flexibility and innovation are key drivers of success in this dynamic industry. Through their Augmented GSSA model, ECS will offer CMA CGM tailor-made cooperation models, ensuring adaptability to market fluctuations and local requirements. These customized solutions will be meticulously crafted to meet the specific needs and challenges of CMA CGM, providing a seamless and efficient partnership experience that drives mutual growth and success.
“Collaborating with CMA CGM AIR CARGO represents a unique opportunity to combine ECS Group’s expertise in GSSA with CMA CGM AIR CARGO assets. Together, we are determined to pave the way in air freight transport, offering innovative solutions and operational excellence to our clients worldwide,” remarked Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman, ECS Group.
Carrier will offer an additional 50 tonnes of cargo capacity per week to the US
Etihad Cargo has expanded its US network and will offer increased capacity to the region with the introduction of a new service to Boston, Massachusetts.
The carrier’s inaugural flight arrived on 31 March, commencing the regular service that will see the airline operate four flights per week to Boston. Boston is Etihad Cargo’s fourth US destination, and the new route reinforces Etihad Cargo’s commitment to providing tailored cargo solutions to the North American region.
The new service will be operated on a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which will provide an additional cargo capacity of 50 tonnes per week, catering to the robust demand for freight between Boston and Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Cargo will offer tailor-made solutions for the diverse range of commodities prevalent in the Boston region, with a focus on perishables, medical instruments, pharmaceuticals, and aircraft parts.
Expansion
This expansion brings the total number of flights Etihad Cargo operates to the US to 33 per week and demonstrates the airline’s ongoing efforts to enhance global connectivity and support trade across its network.
“Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi-Boston service will support the region’s export economy, particularly in facilitating the global distribution of its world-class seafood and breakthrough medical products, and further strengthen trade ties between the US and UAE,” remarked Stanislas Brun, Vice President of Cargo, Etihad Cargo.
Further enhancing the carrier’s capabilities in the US, Etihad Cargo expanded its network with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, to incorporate all the carrier’s stations in the US, a press statement concluded.
Sign preliminary agreement to develop Iraq’s Al Faw Grand Port and Economic Zone
AD Ports Group recently entered into a preliminary agreement with the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI).
Under the terms of the agreement, both parties will establish a joint venture to develop Al-Faw Grand Port and its economic zone, as well as any future expansion. Furthermore, the agreement also encompasses the potential investment, management, and operation of ports, economic zones, and related infrastructure in other cities in the Republic of Iraq.
The agreement was signed in the presence of HE Razzaq Muhaibas Al-Saadawi, Iraq’s Minister of Transport, and HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director & Group CEO, AD Ports Group, and Dr. Eng. Farhan Muhesen Al Fartosi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq.
The preliminary agreement aims to provide the necessary expertise for Al-Faw Port and Economic Zone, using advanced management and operating models, in addition to studying the mechanism of developing, financing, managing, operating and maintaining the project, with an aim to enhance overall efficiency and operational capabilities.
Development road project
‘’The development road project, Iraq’s most prominent economic and logistics development, this project will strengthen maritime transport and freight shipping between Asia and Europe,” noted Al-Saadawi,
“The agreement signed between AD Ports Group and the General Company for Ports of Iraq, is in line with the directives of our wise leadership towards strengthening economic ties and increasing bilateral trade volumes between the two countries,” commented HE Dr. Al Zeyoudi.
“Together, we will create a joint operational policy which includes partnering with key international shipping lines to meet the outcomes of the project’s feasibility study,” remarked Dr. Engr. Al Fartosi.
“The expansion of our collaboration demonstrates our commitment to strengthening relations between both our countries in line with our wise leadership’s vision for strategic global trade and logistics growth that further boosts economic development and diversification in the region and beyond,” remarked Capt. Al Shamisi
Dubai South and Aldar break ground on first logistics facility
The Grade A logistics facility spans approximately 23,000sqm of gross floor area
Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate, and Aldar, the leading real estate developer, investor, and manager in the UAE, recently broke ground on the first logistics facility to be built as part of an agreement signed recently to develop Grade A logistics facilities at Dubai South’s Logistics District.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Logistics District, Dubai South and David Dudley, Chief Partnerships and Investments Officer from Aldar, in the presence of senior executives from both entities, according to a press communication.
Strategic location
The Grade A logistics facility, spanning approximately 23,000sqm of gross floor area, is strategically located near Al Maktoum International Airport and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. The facility offers bonded and non-bonded access as well as providing a usable eaves height of 16m and being temperature controlled to 24 degrees Celsius.
“Following our agreement with Aldar, we are pleased to witness the groundbreaking of the new facility, which will be of added value to the logistics sector, and we are committed to reinforcing its growth and cementing the emirate’s position as a global logistics hub,” commented Mohsen Ahmad.
Infrastructure network
Representing the epitome of logistical innovation encapsulated within a premier infrastructure network, Dubai South’s Logistics District offers premier services and operations as well as uninterrupted access to Jebel Ali Port via a bonded logistics corridor.
The district comprises multiple zones, which have direct access to the cargo terminals at Al Maktoum International Airport; EZDubai, a fully dedicated e-commerce free zone; and a Contract Logistics Zone.
TMS solutions are utilized to execute the transport of goods across the supply chain
Shipsy, a leading global logistics orchestration and execution platform, has been recognized as a Niche Player in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Transport Management Systems (TMS).
TMS solutions are utilized by companies of differing sizes, operational complexity, industries, and geographic locations. TMS solutions are utilized to plan and execute the physical transport of goods across the supply chain. They provide a company with the ability to manage the entire transportation life cycle of an order or shipment, according to a press statement.
Today, enterprises across industries find themselves juggling between increasingly complex supply chain operations, rapidly evolving customer demands, and growing costs. To manage these, supply chain leaders across the globe are leveraging advanced tools and technology to improve transportation and drive profitability, productivity, transparency, and sustainability.
Tighter control
“TMS solutions enable a company to have tighter control of their transportation operations, optimize costs, improve efficiencies, and have improved visibility into the movement of goods,” highlights Gartner in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for TMS.
“At Shipsy, we are constantly innovating and striving to ensure businesses across the globe can quickly realize their true potential in terms of growth, sustainability, customer experience, and profitability by weaving AI, real-time analytics, and automation into their everyday transportation operations,” asserted Soham Chokshi, CEO & Co-Founder, Shipsy.
Today, more than 275 enterprise customers across logistics, retail, manufacturing, and automotive industries are leveraging Shipsy’s AI-powered supply chain orchestration and execution platform. Shipsy had drastically enhanced its global presence by establishing regional HQs in the Netherlands, UAE, KSA and Indonesia, the press statement concluded.
Commitment aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative
Borouge Plc, a leading petrochemicals company that provides innovative and differentiated polyolefins solutions, has committed to achieving net zero across its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2045.
The commitment is an extension of the Company’s best practice approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, supporting the UAE’s sustainability goals.
The UAE was the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to commit to net zero and has launched a national Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, setting out a clear pathway for achieving its objective.
Targets
To achieve net zero emissions in its operations, Borouge has set intermediate targets for a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity and a 30% reduction in energy intensity by 2030.
“We are taking strong strides in promoting a circular economy. Inspired by the UAE’s climate ambition, Borouge is resolutely pursuing net zero in its own operations, aiming for an accelerated timeframe of 2045,” stated Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO, Borouge.
Borouge has set interim 2030 goals to achieve its ambitions and will continue to pursue resource efficiency alongside decarbonising its operations. The Company’s commitment to successful energy-saving initiatives achieved a 30% reduction in emission intensity in 2023 compared to the 2018 baseline, a press communique concluded.
DP World & Rumo to build new Grain and Fertilizer Terminal in Santos, Brazil
The new terminal will handle 9mn tonnes of grains and 3.5mn tonnes of fertilizers annually upon completion
DP World has joined forces with Brazilian railway operator Rumo to build a new terminal at the Port of Santos, to handle 12.5mn tonnes a year of grains and fertilizers, positioning the port as Brazil’s primary trade gateway and a key hub for South America.
Rumo estimates the total investment for the construction of this state-of-the-art facility at BRL 2.5bn (US$ 500mn), which will be financed through a combination of Rumo’s resources, loans, and potential strategic partnerships.
This is in addition to recent investments in DP World container handling facilities increasing capacity from 1.2mn TEUs to 1.4mn TEUs, while expanding the size of the quay from 1,100m to 1,300m.
New Terminal
Once completed, the new terminal will handle 9 million tonnes of grains and 3.5mn tonnes of fertilizers a year. With construction expected to take 30 months, all other services including container handling at Santos will continue, with no impact to container handling operations.
Under the 30-year agreement, DP World will provide the terminal area located on the left bank of Brazil’s Port of Santos to Rumo and assume responsibility for operations and port services. The port is one of the largest and most modern private multi-purpose port terminals in the country. The collaboration solidifies DP World’s position as the country’s leading multipurpose port operator, capable of simultaneously handling containers, cellulose, grains and fertilizers.
The new terminal marks DP World’s fourth round of investment since operations began in Brazil in 2013. It comes at a crucial time with the port achieving record cargo movements in January, handling 11.9mn tonnes of cargo. Bulk solids, such as sugar and soy, accounted for 5mn tonnes, up 13.9% compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Port of Santos.
Transformative project
“We are thrilled to partner with Rumo on this transformative project, which underscores our commitment to driving growth and innovation in Brazil’s logistics sector. This new terminal will not only bolster trade capabilities but also create long-term value for our customers and stakeholders,” affirmed Fabio Siccherino, CEO, DP World Santos.
In line with DP World’s global decarbonisation strategy, the new terminal will be equiped with 21 new pieces of equipment, featuring advanced technology to reduce consumption and emissions of polluting gases. DP World began the process of electrifying its Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes (RTGs) at the Port of Santos in 2023.
DP World already invested US$ 35mn in 2023 to expand and modernise its facilities at the Port of Santos. The terminal currently inhabits 845,000sqm, with an additional 130,000sqm available for expansion.
UAE is among the world’s top 10 most connected countries: DHL Report 2024
The UAE registered the largest connectedness among 181 countries analyzed
The UAE has surged ahead in DHL’s Global Connectedness Report to occupy the No. 8 spot among the world’s top 10 most globalized countries. It has also registered the maximum increase in performance since 2001, securing the top spot for rising connectedness among 181 countries analyzed.
This demonstrates a heightened pace of physical and digital connectivity aimed at strengthening global supply chains and facilitating international trade.
According to the report, the MENA region remains well-connected to much of the rest of the world, not only through trade but also investment, immigration, and tourism. Even as Europe leads on trade and people flows, and North America leads on capital and information flows, MENA ranks second on trade, reflecting the importance of the oil trade, the rising prominence of the Gulf countries in trade networks more generally, and the close ties many North African countries have to Europe.
Comprehensive picture
DHL’s Global Connectedness Report draws on nearly 9 million data points and provides a unique and comprehensive picture of how goods and services, capital, information, and people are moving around the world.
The findings also suggest that despite global economic headwinds and political turmoil, global flows have proven highly resilient, growing faster than domestic activity and stretching out across greater distances. As such, there continue to be many avenues for countries to participate in international business.
Connectivity
“More specifically, the UAE has invested in expanding the scope of its connectivity by harnessing technology and introducing national-level policies that facilitate global trade and exchange and attract the right talent pool,” stated Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa.
The report also highlights a healthy appetite for international expansion, with a rise in the value of announced greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) and publicly traded companies from most countries earning more of their sales abroad.
GROHE appoints Stefan Schmied to top position for the IMEA Region
The appointment reflects GROHE’s commitment to global growth, innovation, and customer success
GROHE, as part of LIXIL, one of the global leaders in complete bathroom and kitchen fittings, has announced the appointment of Stefan Schmied as the new Leader of the IMEA region at LIXIL.
The IMEA region includes India & Subcontinent, the Middle East including Turkiye, and Africa. The appointment reflects GROHE’s commitment to global growth, innovation, and customer success.
With an impressive professional track record, Stefan brings over 20 years of industry experience to his role. He has led key strategic initiatives, expanded channels, built brands, and managed sales operations in the retail, wholesale, and project business for global companies.
Key growth driver
Stefan has previously led the project business channel at GROHE, transforming it into an independent Business Unit that became a key growth driver for LIXIL EMENA. He has led the specification and execution of new-build and renovation projects, such as globally leading hotel brands, iconic airports, international healthcare groups and prominent residential developers worldwide.
In his new role, Stefan will be responsible for accelerating growth and enhancing the long-term sales performance of the GROHE brand through cross-regional collaboration and strategic innovation. He will also focus on expanding the customer base, building partnerships and driving innovation to contribute to GROHE’s overall success, in addition to overseeing the company’s operations in IMEA.
Prior to joining GROHE as part of LIXIL, Stefan has been the CEO and President of major construction companies in Europe and Asia. He has extensive experience in sanitaryware, tiles and sanitary technology, having worked with global companies in C-suite and senior management roles across the Middle East.
Etihad Airways announces inaugural flight to Boston
Boston is now the airline’s fourth destination in the United States
Etihad Airways’ inaugural flight to Boston, EY147, was celebrated at Abu Dhabi Airport before take-off, and on arrival in Massachusetts.
The new four-times weekly service operates using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring the airline’s acclaimed Business Studios and Economy Smart seats.
“We are thrilled to inaugurate flights to Boston, further extending our reach across the United States and enhancing connectivity for travellers,” stated Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves.
“Massport is pleased to welcome Etihad Airways to Boston Logan International Airport with their new flight to Abu Dhabi,” remarked Massport Interim CEO and Aviation Director Ed Freni. “This route provides a key connection between Boston and the UAE, and New Englanders now have even more options when planning a trip to the Middle East and beyond,” he added.
Boston joins Chicago, New York, and Washington as Etihad’s fourth destination in the United States, complementing existing services and reinforcing the airline’s dedication to facilitating seamless travel experiences.
Siemens Logistics develops innovative and sustainable technologies
Digitalization, automation and sustainability in the spotlight
At this year’s three-day Passenger Terminal Expo (PTE) to be held in Frankfurt from 16 to 18 April, Siemens Logistics will be presenting an innovative portfolio of high-performance hardware, intelligent software and smart service solutions for the continuous improvement of baggage handling, according to a press communique.
Digitalization, automation and sustainability are becoming more and more important in the airport industry. Siemens Logistics continues to further advance these topics with future-oriented solutions. “Our technologies combine the real and digital worlds, enabling our customers to implement seamless processes,” stated Michael Schneider, CEO, Siemens Logistics.
Siemens’ Aviation Data Hub provides the ideal platform for the efficient collection and use of relevant data from various sources in airport operations. In addition, customers are enabled to develop their own AI applications. Thanks to its modern interfaces (APIs) and open architecture, the Aviation Data Hub can be integrated quickly and easily with existing IT systems.
Highly developed AI is also used in the baggage management software Baggage 360, which is unique on the market. It functions like a digital twin for baggage handling processes and empowers airports, airlines and ground handlers to forecast baggage volumes and arrival times 24 hours in advance.
Baggage handling systems
For the intelligent, secure, and sustainable management of baggage handling systems Siemens Logistics presents its sophisticated high-level control software BagIQ. Thanks to a new 3D module, it can now not only locate baggage items in real time, but also visualize them
The advanced maintenance solutions from the SmartService portfolio also provide significant advantages for airports and make an important contribution to sustainability. These allow airports to switch from time-consuming, calendar-based maintenance to much more effective, predictive maintenance.
With VarioTip, Siemens Logistics offers a powerful and unique solution for the automated unloading of unit load devices. Besides a high baggage throughput, VarioTip significantly contributes to safety and ergonomics in ground handling. It relieves personnel from the physical strain associated with moving heavy bags.
BSL Battery – Industrial’s commitment to safety is rewarded with UL2580 and IEC 62619 certification for LiFePo4 forklift batteries
Innovation, quality, and safety have always been fundamental factors in the design and manufacture of BSL Battery – Industrial’s Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries. With the breakthrough of UL2580 and IEC 62619 certifications, BSL Battery-Industrial’s commitment to safety and design excellence remains unmatched. This milestone solidifies BSL Battery-Industrial’s position as a leader in the power industry.
BSL Battery – Industrial, a recognized leader in lithium-ion forklift batteries, today announced that the B-LFP24-205MH, B-LFP36-820MH, B-LFP48-460MH, B-LFP48-615MH, and B-LFP80-460MH lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery portfolios have received UL2580 and IEC 62619 certifications. UL2580 is the standard provided by UL, the global safety science organization, for battery products at the cell, module, and battery pack level to ensure safe use in a variety of power or transportation-related applications. IEC 62619 specifies requirements and tests for the safe operation of rechargeable batteries and battery packs in industrial applications. This prestigious certification will now apply to BSL Battery – Industrial Forklift Lithium Batteries.
The UL2580 and IEC 62619 safety testing of forklift lithium-ion batteries has several benefits:
● By complying with the requirements and tests specified in the standard to ensure product safety, manufacturers can ensure that consumers use their batteries safely.
● It is well known that lithium-ion batteries can catch fire or explode if not properly designed, manufactured, or used. UL2580 and IEC 62619 mechanical testing and electrical testing help identify potential safety hazards and reduce the risk of accidents.
● Many countries have regulations that require products containing lithium-ion batteries to meet certain safety standards. Testing UL2580 and IEC 62619 can help manufacturers meet these requirements in the global marketplace.
● Consumers are becoming more aware of the potential safety hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries. By testing UL2580 and IEC 62619 and complying with the standards, manufacturers can gain consumer trust and differentiate their products from competitors.
● The mechanical testing, electrical testing, environmental testing, and test procedures for tolerance to battery failure specified in UL2580 and IEC 62619 can help identify potential quality issues with lithium-ion batteries, thereby improving product quality, design, manufacturing, and performance.
FedEx bolsters Community Support with volunteering efforts across MENA
Over 1,800kgs of supplies delivered to more than 300 beneficiaries in the UAE and Egypt
FedEx Express (FedEx) team members in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) supported more than 1,800 kilograms of much-needed food and non-food supplies for more than 300 beneficiaries from non-profit organizations (NGOs) of their choice.
These contributions were made as part of the FedEx Cares Purple Tote Campaign, which empowers FedEx team members to come together and support the causes they value most in their local communities, according to a press communique.
In the UAE, FedEx teams joined forces to sort and deliver essential goods to Senses, a residential and day care in Dubai for children and adults of determination. Volunteers across the UAE packed Purple Totes for the NGO, highlighting the spirit of giving that is deeply rooted in the FedEx culture.
Egypt as beneficiary
These efforts have been extended to Egypt, where FedEx team members contributed to the wellbeing of children at the Awlady Orphanage in Cairo. In a combined effort, the volunteers collected food and necessary items, including sports gear and toys, for the NGO.
This was complemented by a ‘Fun day at Awlady Orphanage’, where the FedEx team members engaged with children in various activities and birthday celebrations, bringing them joy and laughter.
“The dedication of our team members exemplifies our core belief that we move the world forward not just by delivering packages, but by delivering kindness and care where it’s needed the most,” stated Taarek Hinedi, vice president of FedEx Middle East and Africa operations.
ETIHAD CARGO AND ASTRAL AVIATION CELEBRATE INAUGURAL FLIGHT STRENGTHENING ABU DHABI-NAIROBI CONNECTION
Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation operated the inaugural Nairobi-Abu Dhabi flight on 21 March 2024 following the signing of an MOU that expanded the partnership between the two carriers.
As part of the capacity sharing agreement, Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers will benefit from capacity on board Astral Aviation’s weekly flights from Nairobi to Abu Dhabi, with regular services commencing on 28 March 2024.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, in partnership with Astral Aviation, a leading cargo airline with extensive African network coverage, successfully completed the inaugural flight from Nairobi, Kenya, to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 21 March 2024. This flight marked the commencement of a promising collaboration following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two carriers, aimed at expanding Etihad Cargo’s reach into the African market.
The inaugural flight was strategically timed to accommodate the increased demand for flowers, demonstrating the synergy between Etihad Cargo’s global reach and Astral Aviation’s strong African network. The successful operation underscored the partnership’s potential to enhance cargo capacity and offer efficient logistics solutions, particularly for time-sensitive shipments such as perishable goods.
Under the MOU, which will see Astral Aviation operating more flights to the UAE’s capital, supported by the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation have committed to leveraging their combined networks, expertise, and logistics capabilities to enhance cargo services between the UAE and Africa. This partnership is a testament to both airlines’ commitment to providing innovative and customer-centric solutions, ensuring high-quality service across their operations.
Following the success of the inaugural flight, Astral Aviation will resume weekly operations from Abu Dhabi starting 28 March 2024. This regular service is anticipated to further strengthen trade links between the UAE and Africa, catering to a wide range of cargo needs and fostering economic growth in both regions.
Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo of Etihad Cargo, said: “The successful inaugural flight from Nairobi to Abu Dhabi is just the beginning of Etihad Cargo’s ambitious journey with Astral Aviation. Together, Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation will offer air cargo solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of partners and customers, especially in the fast-growing African market.”
Wilson Chan, Senior Vice President – Freezone Cargo & Logistics of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “Expanding cargo operations to and from Zayed International Airport is a key component of our plan to ensure Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its global standing as an air cargo hub. From state-of-the-art cooling facilities capable of safely transporting temperature-controlled goods and pharmaceuticals, to a significant increase in operational capacity, Zayed International Airport is helping to foster greater trade between Abu Dhabi and the world. This inaugural flight, and the commencement of weekly flights to Nairobi, is further evidence of the important commercial and business ties Abu Dhabi Airports, and our partners Etihad Airways and Astral Aviation, are helping to facilitate.”
Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation, said: “The partnership between Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation marks a significant milestone in trade between Africa and Abu Dhabi, as the new flight will enable the efficient transportation of perishables including flowers, fresh fruits, vegetables and meat from Astral’s hubs in Nairobi and Johannesburg into Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub and onto their network. On the return, the freighter will carry cargo from Etihad Cargo’s network in Asia, the USA, and Europe into Astral’s Intra African network, which will result in new opportunities for our respective clients.”
In addition to the weekly flights launched in partnership with Astral Aviation, Etihad Cargo will provide additional belly capacity to its partners and customers via daily passenger flights to Nairobi from 1 May 2024. Etihad Cargo also operates a weekly freighter service that connects Nairobi to Amsterdam via the carrier’s Abu Dhabi hub.
SAP and NVIDIA to accelerate Generative AI Adoption across enterprise applications
Customers can harness their business data in Cloud Solutions from SAP
SAP and NVIDIA have announced a partnership expansion focused on accelerating enterprise customers’ ability to harness the transformative power of data and generative AI across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications.
The companies are collaborating to build and deliver SAP Business AI, including scalable, business-specific generative AI capabilities inside the Joule copilot from SAP and across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications, all of which are underpinned by the SAP generative AI hub. The generative AI hub facilitates relevant, reliable and responsible business AI and provides instant access to a broad range of large language models (LLMs).
As part of SAP’s ongoing initiative to build generative AI directly into the applications that power the world’s businesses, the partnership aims to help customers adopt generative AI capabilities at scale across their organizations.
SAP will use NVIDIA’s generative AI foundry service to fine-tune LLMs for domain-specific scenarios and deploy applications with new NVIDIA NIM™ microservices. SAP and NVIDIA plan to make the new integrated capabilities available by the end of 2024.
Delivering real business value
“Enterprise customers want to leverage state-of-the-art technology that delivers real business value,” affirmed Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE. “Strategic technology partnerships, like the one between SAP and NVIDIA, are at the core of our strategy to invest in technology that maximizes the potential and opportunity of AI for business. NVIDIA’s expertise in delivering AI capabilities at scale will help SAP accelerate the pace of transformation and better serve our customers in the cloud,” he continued.
“SAP is sitting on a gold mine of enterprise data that can be transformed into custom generative AI agents to help customers automate their businesses,” asserted Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together, NVIDIA and SAP will bring custom generative AI to the thousands of enterprises around the world that rely on SAP to power their operations,” he added.
Collaboration
SAP and NVIDIA plan to collaborate to integrate generative AI into cloud solutions from SAP, which include the latest release of the SAP Datasphere solution, SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) and RISE with SAP.
Additional generative AI initiatives include new capabilities for the Joule copilot: Joule can leverage retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities built by NVIDIA and SAP, which can be deployed on leading hyperscalers or SAP’s own cloud environments.
In Chile, ENGIE starts commercial operation of the largest Battery Energy Storage System in Latin America
ENGIE obtained approval from the National Electricity Coordinator (CEN) to start commercial operation of BESS Coya, the largest battery energy storage system in Latin America to date.
This system has a storage capacity of 638 MWh, with 139 MW of installed capacity. This co-located Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology uses lithium batteries to store the renewable energy generated by the Coya PV solar plant (180 MWac) based in the Antofagasta Region.
Through its 232 modules, BESS Coya’s installed capacity will enable to store the equivalent of five hours of electricity and inject it into the grid during peak periods, representing the delivery of 200 GWh on average per year. It will also play an important environmental role by supplying enough green energy for around 100,000 homes, thereby avoiding the emission of 65,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“This project is fully in line with ENGIE’s ambition to accelerate the development of battery storage, with a target of 10 GW of installed capacity by 2030. The development of flexibility solutions such as Battery Energy Storage Systems will play a major role in integrating renewable energies and accelerating the energy transition while guaranteeing the efficiency, reliability and security of energy systems.” explained Paulo Almirante, ENGIE Senior Executive Vice President Renewables & Energy Management.
At December 31, 2023, ENGIE already had globally 1.3 GW of battery capacity in operation and 3.6 GW secured under development.
Purchase Agreement Strengthens the Group’s Role in the Middle Trade Corridor Connecting Asia to Europe
AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, today announced the signing of a purchase agreement with Inveco LLC to acquire 60% ownership in the Tbilisi Dry Port, a new custom-bonded and rail-connected intermodal logistics hub in Georgia.
The project, currently owned by Inveco LLC and Wilhelmsen, is expected to be operational by Q4 2024. It is a key logistics hub situated along the strategically important Middle Corridor – an emerging trade lane linking manufacturing hubs in Western Asia to consumer markets in Eastern Europe by leveraging a combination of sea and dry ports located in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Türkiye.
As a key logistics facility in Georgia connecting the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, which are at the heart of the Middle Corridor, the project consists of different integrated facilities such as a container freight station, warehouses and a car storage park. It will act as the point of entry and exit as well as a regional transit point for manufacturers, shippers and consignees moving containers, vehicles and other goods for distribution and storage. The project offers direct westward railway links to Türkiye and to Georgian Ports of Poti and Batumi, which further connect to European Black Sea ports in Bulgaria and Romania, while its eastern connectivity links with different ports located along the Caspian Sea via a railway corridor to Azerbaijan.
The development offers significant intermodal logistics capabilities given its location within the Tbilisi airport’s industrial zone which will be backed by state-of-the-art warehousing facilities as well as a cargo and vehicle logistics hub. The project consists of two land parcels and will be developed in phases. To future proof the project, an additional 88,000 sqm of land is available to cater for further volume growth.
The project will be completed in three phases. By the end of the initial phase, the handling capacity is expected to reach 96,500 TEUs, with 10,000 sqm of warehouse and a car storage yard. Upon the completion of phase three, the project will have a handling capacity of 286,000 TEU, 100,000 sqm of warehouse and a significantly expanded car storage yard. Further land plots have already been secured and can be developed as and when needed.
Noatum Logistics, part of the AD Ports Group, will operate and manage the facilities while leveraging capabilities offered by the Group’s cross-Cluster portfolio and drawing on expertise and capacities of Inveco LLC and Wilhelmsen.
His Excellency Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the UAE, said: “Guided by the vision of our wise leadership, the UAE Government is focused on fostering international cooperation with strategic and global partners that share our vision for mutual benefit and sustainable prosperity. Consequently, in October 2023, the UAE and Georgia signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to increase the bilateral non-oil trade between our two nations to AED 5.5 billion (USD $1.5 billion) in five years, while accelerating economic recovery and securing vital supply chains. AD Ports Group’s investment in the Tbilisi Dry Port delivers on this objective, which is set to deepen trade and investment ties, develop global trade lanes, and generate market access opportunities for UAE and Georgian businesses alike.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “AD Ports Group is committed to strategic international investments that advances economic growth, job creation and mutual benefit in line with our wise leaders’ vision. By investing in, and operating, new strategic infrastructure and logistics hubs along the Caspian Sea – Black Sea Corridor, AD Ports Group is delivering on our strategy to strengthen global supply chains. As a country situated at the centre of the Caucasus and located along the Black Sea, Georgia is a key destination linking us with our growing maritime and logistics assets in Central Asia and Türkiye, thereby enabling us to serve our customers with cost-effective, streamlined cargo flows and capture significant future trade volumes.”
Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, Founder of Inveco LLC, Georgia, said: “I am delighted that negotiations with AD Ports Group ended successfully. AD Ports Group’s participation as a significant facilitator of global trade and logistics will play a key role in the development and success of the Tbilisi Dry Port. AD Ports Group’s vast expertise in ports operations and logistics facilities will bring a new level of management in the Georgia’s logistics sector. I am also very glad that by this partnership we are contributing to growing economic co-operation between United Arab Emirates and Georgia.”
Neal de Roche, President, Wilhelmsen Port Services, said “Georgia has been an important market to us for a long time already. The development of the Tiblisi Dry Port has been a cornerstone project to support the development of the trade corridor between
the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. We are excited to have AD Ports Group come in as majority shareholder with their wealth of experience in port and terminal operations.”
The Middle Corridor is regarded as the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe, covering approximately 7,000 km and requiring a journey of 10 to 15 days. The existing Northern Corridor covers about 10,000 km overland, requiring 15 to 20 days, while the Southern Ocean Route spans approximately 20,000 km, requiring a sea voyage of 45-60 days. The Middle Corridor is expected to serve considerable growth in container volumes, which has the potential to reach 1.9 million TEUs by 2040.
Fugro to support Middle East’s expanding needs for ocean data with its high-tech, low-carbon emissions uncrewed vessels.
Following the successful launch of the Middle East’s first fully remote survey vessel in 2022, leading Geo-data specialist Fugro has announced the arrival of its Blue Shadow® class uncrewed surface vessel (USV), in the Middle East. Crafted for precise hydrographic mapping and bathymetry surveys, the Blue Shadow® will play a crucial role in addressing the rising demand for accurate hydrographic data in the Middle East, where infrastructure development, port expansion, and coastal management initiatives are at an all-time high.
Utilising state-of-the-art navigation and surveying technology, the Blue Shadow® efficiently collects vital data such as water depth and seafloor morphology, supporting the development of the blue economy in the Middle East while also aiding in understanding and protecting the delicate marine ecosystem. This advanced technology enables non-disruptive hydrographic surveys near existing offshore structures, resulting in efficient hydrographic surveys, reducing project timelines and providing crucial speed and accuracy in the dynamic maritime environment of the region.
With an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035, Fugro is taking significant strides in minimising its environmental impact by including more remote operations in its surveys. Data acquisitions through USVs from remote operation centres contribute up to 90% less carbon emissions than traditional vessel operations whilst significantly reducing human exposure to hazardous environments. This initiative highlights Fugro’s dedication to sustainability and its commitment to advancing the science of the oceans, affirming its role as a leader in sustainable maritime operations.
Louis Burnard, Regional Director Marine Site Characterisation Middle East and India, said: “This addition to the region’s fleet marks Fugro’s commitment to leveraging technology for a safe and livable world. With the Blue Shadow® navigating our waters, we’re not just mapping the seabed, we’re forging a path for safer, more efficient maritime navigation in our region.”
UAE Minister visits EGA to review progress on bauxite residue pilot plant
Company’s long-term goal is to send zero process waste to landfill
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, welcomed HE Dr Amna Bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, to review progress on construction of a pilot plant to convert bauxite residue into a manufactured soil.
Bauxite residue, a by-product of alumina refining, has been a global waste management challenge since the dawn of the aluminium more than a century ago. Some 150mn tonnes of the material are produced worldwide each year, according to industry experts, with less than two per cent put to productive use. EGA has developed proprietary processes to re-use bauxite residue through almost a decade of scientific research and development.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer, EGA, received Her Excellency and her delegation at EGA headquarters in Al Taweelah.
Proprietary technology
EGA’s pilot plant will use proprietary technology to convert caustic bauxite residue into an environmentally benign raw material in hours, instead of undergoing decades-long, natural processes. This Optimised Bauxite Residue is the main ingredient for a manufactured soil, which EGA calls ‘Turba’ (the Arabic word for soil).
“At MOCCAE, we welcome the work undertaken by businesses like EGA to invest in sustainable soil management practices, foster innovation and promote sustainable solutions,” remarked HE Dr. Amna.
“Our long-term goal is to send zero process waste to landfill, and we have made great progress. Bauxite residue is the most challenging waste stream in our industry, and I am confident we are close to solving it. I look forward to industrial-scale production of our sustainable industrial soil for a better tomorrow,” concluded Bin Kalban.
Teren Tan Promoted to Head of Emergency Services at Serco
Serco is pleased to announce the promotion of Teren Tan to Head of Emergency Services for the Middle East, a newly created leadership role. This appointment comes as Serco continues to expand its emergency services operations, underpinning its commitment to improve citizen and resident safety, impacting a better future.
In his new capacity, Teren will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the strategic growth and compliance of Serco’s full suite of emergency services operations across the Middle East, a team which encompasses more than 200 professionals currently. Their responsibilities include delivering top-tier emergency services and resilience training, operational emergency services, as well as both resilience and crisis management advisory services. Teren will also be responsible for advising on global strategic opportunities across the Serco business.
Teren brings a wealth of experience to his new position, having joined Serco in 2020 after a 14-year career with the Australian Defence Force in the emergency services domain. There he held several leadership roles, both within Australia and on international assignments, notably in his contribution to the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group – Land Systems Division. Teren’s move to Serco was driven by his dedication to emergency services, driving substantial improvement initiatives and major acquisition programmes.
The creation of Teren’s role within Serco marks a significant milestone in the company’s successful three-year growth trajectory in emergency services. Serco currently operates emergency services across five projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s giga cities and the UAE and following its establishment of the Middle East division of its International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) in 2021, it continues to deliver ongoing FRS training for multiple international and regional airports in the Middle East.
Teren Tan, Head of Emergency Services for Serco Middle East said: “Joining Serco has been a transformative experience for my career. The company’s commitment to not only advancing public services but also fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment has been pivotal to my growth. As Head of Emergency Services, I am energised to further Serco’s vision and impact a better future by enhancing our emergency services offerings and improving safety within the countries in which we work. One thing that I am particularly passionate about is the training of national talent within this space. We have brought a number of nationals through our training programmes and it makes me proud to see them move into operational roles.”
Teren will report into Samantha Rowles,Operations Director – Transport, for Serco Middle East. Congratulating Teren, Samantha said: “Teren’s promotion to Head of Emergency Services reflects his exceptional talent and the impact he has made since joining Serco. His track record of innovation and leadership in the emergency services domain has played a key role in our recent success, and I have every confidence that he will excel in his new role. Teren’s expertise will be crucial as we continue to scale our operations and meet the complex needs of our clients across the Middle East region.”
Pharmatrade launches its Logistics Centre in KEZAD
This new centre will ensure uninterrupted medical supplies to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group and the UAE-based Pharmatrade recently announced the opening of Pharmatrade’s Abu Dhabi Logistics Centre.
Through this new logistics centre, the company plans to ramp up the storage and distribution of its Pharmaceutical and Medical Device range of products to serve the UAE’s healthcare sector.
The expansion of its business over the last 13 years, since the opening of its Logistics Centre in Dubai Investment Park 1, prompted Pharmatrade, one of the largest companies in the healthcare sector, to invest in a new logistics centre in KEZAD.
KEZAD Logistics Park Phase 5 which houses Pharmatrade’s Logistics Centre is a cluster of temperature-controlled, Grade A industrial warehouse facilities with modern specifications that offer several different configurations to meet client needs and boost logistics efficiency.
Warehousing portfolio
“Pharmatrade’s expansion into KEZAD’s warehousing portfolio gives them the ability to reach their consumers using our state-of-the-art infrastructure,” remarked Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi-KEZAD Group.
“The integrated infrastructure and services at competitive prices, as well as the flexibility of warehouse design enhances our aspirations for further expansion, with the opportunities to reach new customers thanks to KEZAD’s strategic location and integrated transportation and logistics network,” commented Konstantinos Petridis, Managing Partner, Pharmatrade.
Pharmatrade is a partnership between Hussain Al Nowais and Konstantinos Petridis, established in 1977, is a leading distribution company in the UAE supplying a comprehensive range of Medical and Pharmaceutical products from over 30 Multinational companies in the Healthcare field.
Hellmann: Vedat Serbet appointed Head of Business Development Rail Europe
Vedat Serbet has been appointed as Head of Business Development Rail Europe at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. In this newly created position, the logistics expert will further develop the international expansion of rail-based transportation, establishing new intermodal products while also expanding alternative connections between Europe and China.
To drive forward the strategic expansion of the international and regional rail segment, Hellmann has already appointed Marijo Pesic as Director Product Management Rail Europe and Matthias Köfler as Product Manager Rail East Europe. With his most recent role as former Head of Rail Freight EMEA for Dachser, Vedat Serbet decided to return to Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, bringing back his 13 years of experience with the company. His return strengthens Hellmann’s European rail freight team with valuable expertise. The aim is to offer customers more internationally customized and environmentally friendly intermodal products with the focus on rail transport. At the same time, bypass routes are being established via the so-called Middle Corridor across the Caspian Sea to sustainably establish rail transport between Europe and Asia.
“At Hellmann, we are continuously developing our rail transports and Vedat has already played a significant role in this context in the past. Therefore, we are delighted to have his expertise back on board. By expanding rail connections, we are not only enhancing our service offerings for customers but are also making a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions,” says Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Etihad Cargo partners with Awery Aviation Software
This innovative solution will enable Etihad Cargo to streamline operations
Etihad Cargo has significantly enhanced its charter service capabilities through a new partnership with Awery Aviation Software.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step in Etihad Cargo’s efforts to meet the growing demand for charter services, spurred by the global surge in e-commerce, which has seen the carrier receive a 35 per cent increase in charter requests.
As part of this strategic initiative, Etihad Cargo has implemented a customised version of Awery’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to manage its Cargo Chartering Programme. This innovative solution will enable Etihad to streamline operations, improve response times, and deliver superior customer service.
Aviation software
Awery, celebrating its 15th anniversary, is a leader in aviation software and provides comprehensive and robust services to airlines worldwide. Etihad Cargo and Awery have collaborated to tailor the solution to meet the carrier’s unique requirements and seamlessly integrate the ERP system with Etihad Cargo’s current processes.
The Awery ERP system will allow Etihad Cargo to classify and prioritise charter queries, improve analytics and data storage for performance evaluation, and enhance pricing capabilities by providing access to historical data for better decision-making.
“This strategic move is poised to set a new standard in cargo charter services, emphasising Etihad Cargo’s position as a forward-thinking and customer-centric organisation,” Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo, Etihad Cargo.
“As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, this partnership stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence and our ability to deliver personalised solutions to our clients,” remarked Vitaly Smilianets, CEO, Awery Aviation Software.
Al Masaood Automobiles to establish Spare Parts Logistics Centre in KEZAD
Automotive leader latest to join KEZAD’s expanding Auto Sector
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group and Al Masaood Automobiles have announced the signing of a lease agreement for 12,000sqm of warehousing space in KEZAD Logistics Park Phase 5 as their spare parts logistics centre.
Al Masaood Automobiles has been an icon in Abu Dhabi’s automotive market for the past four decades and is the sole distributor for Nissan, INFINITI, and Renault in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra region.
The company has a world class network of state-of-the art service centres and extensive spare parts outlets. The company’s Nissan Service Centre in Mussaffah is one of the largest service centres in the world catering to customers in Abu Dhabi.
Crucial role
“The mobility sector plays a crucial role in the Abu Dhabi economy, and seeing an established name like Al Masaood continuing to expand in this sector is an encouraging sign for the industry,” remarked Mohamed Al Khader Al Ahmed, CEO, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi–KEZAD Group.
“Leveraging KEZAD’s innovative facilities presents us with wider avenues to better serve our customers and will certainly support us in streamlining operations and in turn allowing increased availability and faster delivery of spare parts to our customers,” stated Irfan Tansel, CEO, Al Masaood Automobiles.
KEZAD Logistics Park Phase 5 is a cluster of Grade A, temperature controlled industrial warehouse facilities with modern specifications that offer several different configurations to meet client needs and boost logistics efficiency, the press statement concluded.
2024 FIATA-RAME Conference calls for further collaboration and digitalization, NAFL commits to develop digital platform for efficient, sustainable logistics.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum, Honorary Patron of NAFL, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) RAME (Region Africa Middle East) Field Meeting and Conference 2024 closed successfully in Dubai committing to working together to address the current disruptions in the logistics sector to build resilient and sustainable supply chains.
An important outcome of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UAE National Association of Freight & Logistics (NAFL) and Kale Logistics, a leading provider of comprehensive cloud enterprise systems for the logistics sector. The partnership will focus on developing digital solutions to streamline processes and data analytics to facilitate trade.
This will further drive the digitalisation of the sector in the UAE and enable NAFL stakeholders, members and the private sector in general to improve efficiency and transparency and benefit from a digital platform that supports operational processes and data sharing between stakeholders and facilitates the paperless exchange of trade-related information. The platform, which will initially focus on the UAE market, aims to improve trade flows within the region and capitalise on the strategic location and connectivity of the country and the entire RAME region.
Throughout the conference, the focus was on fostering collaboration and introducing innovative solutions within the industry. Among the critical issues addressed at FIATA RAME were the strategies for tackling with disruptions rising from geopolitical uncertainties and other causes such as natural disasters. The event also emphasised the importance of partnerships between governments, logistics providers and industry players to facilitate interoperability in the global logistics market and develop sustainable practices.
Thanking the participants Nadia Abdul Aziz, President of NAFL, thanked the participants: “The FIATA-RAME conference was a valuable platform to foster collaboration and explore innovative solutions. The meeting identified several key areas for improvement in the regional logistics sector. One of our focus areas is harnessing the opportunities offered by digitalisation, particularly in the private sector, which includes many of our members.”
“To this end, our partnership with Kale Logistics will help private sector players to streamline processes through digitalisation, measure sustainability data and simplify business processes. In the meantime, we are also talking to entities, which include National Information Centre, global audit experts and collaboration between the government players and the private sector to improve business and improve the sustainability of the sector. We aim to turn the challenges in the industry into opportunities, improve the flow of trade in the region and utilise the connectivity of the UAE and the region to overcome the current challenges.”
Mr. Turgut Erkeskin, President of FIATA, said: “Building resilience and sustainability in the African and Middle Eastern logistics industry requires a collaborative approach. We are encouraged by the discussions at the FIATA-RAME conference and the commitment of stakeholders to work together to overcome the challenges and create a more resilient future for the industry.”
The two-day event brought together key players from the African and Middle Eastern logistics and global experts from the industry, serving as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, forging partnerships, and charting a path toward a more resilient and collaborative logistics landscape in Africa and the Middle East.
Mobile crane camera setup alerts drivers to site hazards
Mammoet is working with Rietveld, a specialist in fleet management and vehicle and machine safety systems, on a joint project to protect drivers and road users when mobile cranes are moving and maneuvering.
The project combines three different safety technologies and was commissioned by Mammoet to support its customers to meet stricter safety regulations. Testing is currently being carried out on one of its new Liebherr LTM 1070-4.2 70t mobile cranes.
The three-tier system includes Rietveld’s OmniVue 360° camera system. Using a combination of cameras installed on the crane’s chassis, it generates real-time first and third-person images of the vehicle. This gives the driver a full 360-view from both inside and outside the cab, enabling them to see what pedestrians and other road users are seeing.
The second tier adds a series of sensors that detect people and obstacles within an adjustable safety radius around the crane. When the sensors detect a potential hazard, an acoustic signal alerts the driver. An LED warning panel also displays the section of the crane where the motion was detected.
The final tier, the ‘Halo’, draws a light boundary on the floor around the crane, giving those nearby a clear visual indication of the safe zone around it. This is especially important at sites where hearing protection is required. The boundary can be switched on and off manually and is set to automatically turn off when a certain speed is reached.
Ferdi Kivanc, Project Coordinator EMD at Mammoet, said:
“By combining these three systems, Mammoet will improve safety, minimize accidents and damage, and give greater confidence to crane operators to create safer working environments. We see this as a comprehensive system that will not only enhance crane safety, but also operator training in the future. Initial tests are promising, and I am very proud of the results.”
Frank Kanters, Account Manager at Rietveld, added:
“When Mammoet approached us with what it wanted to achieve, we were delighted to offer our expertise. By working with its engineers to test the integration of our collision-prevention technologies, we have created something unique in crane safety solutions. We look forward to developing the system further and progressing to eventual rollout.”
Swisslog to highlight the ‘human side of automation’ at LogiMAT 2024
Swisslog is geared up to showcase its automated solutions that drive innovation and facilitate the widespread integration of technology within logistics and warehousing
Dubai, UAE, 14 March 2024: Swisslog, the global leader in innovative robotic, data-driven, and flexible automated solutions, has announced its participation in the highly anticipated LogiMAT 2024, the international trade show for intralogistics solutions and process management, in Stuttgart, Germany.
The intralogistics expert will be using LogiMAT as a platform to emphasise its commitment to placing people at the forefront of its mission. Visitors will have the chance to learn about the Swisslog solutions designed to increase speed, accuracy, and efficiency and supported throughout their lifecycle with expert services. Offering a complete experience for the food & beverage industry, Swisslog will highlight its broad expertise in solutions and services to support all areas of the sector, from manufacturing to e-grocery. There will also be an opportunity for businesses working in the F&B industry to discover how they can automate with confidence. By delving into best practice case studies, visitors can gain valuable knowledge about successfully implemented solutions within their industry.
At the Swisslog booth, visitors will get to see how innovative automation solutions can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and create a more engaging work environment. An operational ItemPiQ robot order-picking system will showcase the significant improvements made possible by AI Enhanced Vision, such as context-aware picking and improved grasping point quality. With the new gripper introduced in 2023, ItemPiQ can handle up to 3kg and adapt to specific item properties such as material, size, and weight. With advanced AI methods, ItemPiQ can identify specific products for pick validation and increase our pick performance. Its uniqueness is that every aspect is handled within the Swisslog family of companies, from the vision camera to the software.
Jens Schmale, Swisslog, CEO, commented: “Swisslog prides itself on a culture that is built on, and committed to the success of its customers. Some of the solutions we support today have been in continuous operation for more than 30 years, which is a testament to both the enduring value of our solutions and our ability to forge lasting relationships with the people and companies we support. Our people bring deep industry-specific expertise, backed by a collaborative spirit, to every project.” He added, “That expertise creates value for our customers from solution design through ongoing support and optimisation. Our Swisslog colleagues become an extension of our customer teams and share in their aspirations, challenges, and successes.”
Swisslog will also be inviting customers to find out more about the latest AutoStore R5 Pro Robot. This robot is designed to address the specific demands of large-scale e-commerce operations, emphasising
better space usage, higher performance, and reduced total ownership costs for companies running multi-shift operations at scale.
Swisslog’s booth at LogiMAT 2024 will have live presentations each day at 1 pm on ItemPiQ, providing an exclusive opportunity for attendees to witness its capabilities in action. Along with this, customers and experts will host keynotes each day. On March 19th, at 3 pm, visitors can delve into a case study showcasing the Swisslog solution at dm-drogerie markt, Wustermark, promising invaluable insights and innovative strategies that drive success within the industry. On March 20th, at 3 pm, guests can immerse themselves in another case study spotlighting Albert Heijn MFC, Barendrecht, showcasing cutting-edge logistics excellence.
In addition, for the very first time, attendees will have the opportunity to visit KUKA, the parent company of Swisslog, which will be exhibiting its own booth. Technologies related to mobile robotics will be presented by KUKA in Hall 6, Stand A17, including a world premiere.
For further insights into Swisslog’s extensive array of solutions, visit https://www.swisslog.com/ or https://www.swisslog.com/ar-ae.
Accelya and flydubai renew and enhance decade-long cargo partnership
The two entities have signed a multi-year FLX Cargo Platform renewal
Accelya, a leading global software provider to the travel industry, recently announced it has signed a multi-year FLX Cargo renewal with flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, creating an end-to-end cargo platform offering.
The new services will enhance flydubai’s digital distribution capabilities through a highly functional, customer self-service tool, as well as enabling connectivity to a wide range of third parties through Accelya’s catalogue of APIs, according to a press communique.
Accelya’s end-to-end platform offers insights and data to maximize revenue opportunities and
increase margins, as well as create, develop and distribute new products across multiple channels. The airline will also continue optimizing and distributing offers, managing the order lifecycle, and delivering network-wide operations and unit load (ULD) management.
Reaffirming commitment
“The renewal and expansion of our partnership with Accelya reaffirms our commitment to adopting best-in-class practices in the industry and we look forward to enhancing our offering as we continue to grow our cargo operational reach,” stressed Mohamed Hassan, Senior Vice President, Airport Services & Cargo, flydubai.
From its home in Dubai, flydubai Cargo has a global operation that spans more than 150 destinations in 54 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.
“Now with our added Offer and Order solutions, flydubai can experience our full end-to-end platform offering, providing scalability and empowering their further growth. We look forward to continuing our momentum in the Middle East and are proud to call flydubai partners,” asserted Andrew Wilcock, Chief Revenue Officer, Accelya.
The MoU underscores their commitment to innovation and efficiency in three key areas
Starlinks, a premier provider of logistics and supply chain solutions in Saudi Arabia, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IoT Squared, a distinguished leader in IoT technology solutions.
The strategic partnership event was attended by key executives, including Othman D. Aldahash, CEO, IoT Squared; Saleh A. Almekbel, Chief Strategy Officer, IoT Squared; Gary Blythe, Managing Director, Starlinks, and Quentin Naylor, Executive Director – Performance Excellence, Starlinks.
The collaboration between Starlinks and IoT Squared unites the unparalleled network and data architecture of IoT Squared with Starlinks’ extensive experience in KSA logistics. Both companies, being Saudi-owned, proudly present a homegrown solution for the nation, aiming to establish a robust go-to-market for smart supply chains in KSA, aligning with the nation’s Vision 2030 for logistics, according to a press communique.
Commitment to innovation
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Star links and IoT Squared underscores their commitment to innovation and efficiency in three key areas. First, they will focus on exploring and implementing advanced technologies in warehouse automation to boost operational efficiency.
Second, joint efforts will be directed towards designing and implementing “Smart Warehouse” solutions, integrating IoT technology for a seamless and intelligent warehouse environment. Lastly, the collaboration will prioritize data optimization throughout the supply chain, utilizing data analytics to drive informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage in the market.
“Starlinks is enthusiastic about contributing to the growth and development of the logistics sector in alignment with Vision 2030,’ asserted Blythe.
New logistics zones planned
“With 59 logistics zones planned in KSA, there is a significant growth in demand for logistics solutions. Star links and IoT Squared are well-positioned due to their combined expertise to meet this demand and play a crucial role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s logistics capabilities,” stressed Alda hash.
Recognizing the importance of automation in supporting the industry’s growth, Star links launched the first robotics fulfillment center in Riyadh last year, situated in Agility Logistics Park.
Adding to Star links’ 18 fulfillment centers across the KSA, the facility encompasses a storage area of 400,000sqft and is equipped with 254 autonomous robots for picking and sorting, providing
storage capacity for over 12mn units. Star links aims to process an average of 3.6mn unit orders per month, offering market-leading flexibility, accuracy, and agility.
Dubai CommerCity records unprecedented growth in its digital trade operations throughout 2023
Reports 158% surge in completed orders through its digital trade platform
Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated exclusively to digital commerce, and a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties, has recorded unprecedented growth in its digital trade operations and online portal during 2023, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.
The volume of goods processed through its transit platform, DCC Way, increased by 56% in 2023, while the number of orders fulfilled via its digital trade platform grew by 158%. Additionally, there was a 92% increase in goods shipping operations from distribution centres facilitated by its digital trade platforms, according to a press communique.
“These results follow Dubai CommerCity’s new strategic direction, which it began implementing in late 2022, adopting the concept of digital commerce in its operations and services. This furthers align with the objectives of the national strategies related to the digital economy and future technologies in Dubai, leading to increased foreign direct investment in the Emirate and improving the business community and its economic and investment scene,” affirmed Abdulrahman Shahin, Executive Vice President of Operations, Dubai CommerCity.
Digital transformation efforts
Shahin emphasized that the record growth witnessed in digital commerce operations reflects Dubai’s comprehensive digital transformation efforts. He pledged Dubai CommerCity’s commitment to further develop its digital ecosystem, streamlining operations for companies and entrepreneurs while attracting more global investors to benefit from its unique offerings.
Dubai CommerCity provides a competitive digital trade system, innovative solutions, advisory services on sector regulations, integrated logistics solutions, including warehousing and last mile delivery solutions, integrated digital trade platform solutions, digital marketing services, and other support services.
Spanning 2.1mn sqft and developed at a cost of AED 3.2bn, Dubai CommerCity offers modern offices, advanced warehouses, and flexible spaces tailored to the needs of digital trade companies across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia regions.
90% of pre-pandemic level reached, Munich Airport is the only German airport to record growth in freight transportation
Freight volume increases by 6.6% year on year
Bavarian export industry makes use of flights
Freight capacity will increase further this year
Munich Airport can look back on a successful year in air freight in 2023. According to data from the German Airports Association (ADV), Munich Airport was the only major German airport to record growth in freight transportation in 2023. With a volume of 284,000 tons, the airport registered a year-on-year increase of 6.6%, while the total volume in Germany fell by 7.1%.
A significant share of this increase is attributable to belly cargo, i.e., goods transported in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft, which grew by as much as 11% at Munich Airport. The direct connections to China, which were resumed in the middle of last year, the new route to Bangalore in southern India, and the four weekly flights to Taipei have also been very well received, especially by the healthy Bavarian export industry.
Freight volumes continue to soar in 2024: Compared with the same month of the previous year, freight volume increased by 6.5% in January and 10.8% in February. Overall, the volume of freight at Munich Airport is now back to almost 90% of the pre-pandemic level.
The availability of freight capacity will continue to increase this year. New routes to Seattle, Johannesburg, and Vietnam, as well as additional flights on the schedule – including to Beijing and Osaka – offer industrial and logistics companies in the service area of Munich Airport additional opportunities to transport cargo directly via Munich.
Munich Airport’s cargo area is particularly appealing with fast turnaround times due to its efficient infrastructure, which enables goods to be transported to the aircraft quickly thanks to short distances. This infrastructure continues to grow: DHL Express plans to open a new building for freight handling in the summer. The airport also has plenty of space for future expansion in the cargo area.
Turkish Technic Provides Component Pool Services to Silk Way West Airlines for Boeing 777F Fleet
Turkish Technic, the Istanbul-based leading maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider, has recently signed a component pool agreement with Silk Way West Airlines, one of the youngest Boeing 777F fleet operators with ongoing orders. Through this agreement, Silk Way West Airlines will have access to spare parts pooling and MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) services for the required components. Additionally, the operator will benefit from short and fast transport routes within Turkish Technic’s global supply chain network, including AOG (Aircraft on Ground) support for time-critical components.
Commenting on the new agreement, Mikail Akbulut, CEO of Turkish Technic, said: ‘‘We are delighted to have taken the first step towards a long-term cooperation with Silk Way West Airlines. With decades of experience in component maintenance and large inventory of components, we are proud to be a leading solution center for Boeing 777 component pooling. We are excited to work closely with the operator to ensure the highest level of safety and reliability for their Boeing 777F fleet.”
Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines emphasized the significance of the agreement, stating, “We are delighted to join forces with Turkish Technic to enhance our operational capabilities and uphold our commitment to excellence in air cargo transportation. This collaboration reflects our dedication to providing reliable and efficient services to our customers worldwide.”
Operating as a one-stop MRO company with high-quality service, competitive turnaround times, comprehensive in-house capabilities at its state-of-the-art hangars, Turkish Technic provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, engineering, modification, tailor-made PBH and reconfiguration services to many domestic and international customers at five locations.
· Etihad Cargo and Rotate are launching Sales Cockpit across Etihad Cargo’s global stations following the co-development of the innovative digital sales optimisation tool.
· Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers will benefit from commercial teams and sales representatives having access to tailored recommendations, enabling them to add value to business relationships.
· Etihad Cargo and Rotate spent over 6,000 hours developing Sales Cockpit, with 50 Etihad Cargo team members contributing 1,000 hours in the development of the tool.
· Following Etihad Cargo’s successful roll-out of Sales Cockpit, Rotate will continue to develop further features and enhancements.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, is officially launching Sales Cockpit, a digital sales optimisation tool that will enable the carrier to enhance customer relationships and add value to its partnerships.
Etihad Cargo partnered with Netherlands-based Rotate in May 2023 to co-develop Sales Cockpit with the aim of utilising data and machine learning to improve customer service and gain a more in-depth understanding of the carrier’s partners and customers. Using custom-built algorithms to analyse data, Sales Cockpit generates tailored and customisable recommendations on how users can strengthen customer relationships by identifying current and future opportunities.
Etihad Cargo and Rotate have completed the co-development and delivery of the first-of-its-kind tool. The carrier will now roll out Sales Cockpit globally, providing its commercial teams with access to updated data analysis and a real-time snapshot of Etihad Cargo’s business on particular routes, with individual customers and by product.
Stanislas Brun, Vice President Cargo at Etihad Cargo, said: “The successful co-development and completion of Sales Cockpit in partnership with Rotate will benefit Etihad Cargo’s partners, as sales representatives and account managers are empowered by data to have more meaningful interactions with customers. The tailored recommendations provided by this innovative tool will help Etihad Cargo deliver a more efficient and seamless customer journey and boost sales, helping the carrier to develop stronger partnerships and help customers achieve their business objectives.”
Ryan Keyrouse, Chief Executive Officer at Rotate, said: “Co-developing Sales Cockpit with an innovative partner like Etihad Cargo gave us unique access to an expert team to rapidly build and validate the solution. The collaboration helped maximise adoption, as both Head Office and local teams were involved throughout its development. We are immensely grateful to the whole Etihad Cargo team for the enthusiasm and energy they put into this project.”
Over 50 Etihad Cargo team members were involved in the co-development of Sales Cockpit, contributing over 1,000 of the total 6,000 development hours. During the development phase, Rotate and Etihad Cargo’s steering team visited ten of the carrier’s global stations in 20 weeks, allowing improvements to be implemented in real time following feedback from Etihad Cargo’s teams.
Etihad Cargo’s sales representatives and commercial teams will now be using Sales Cockpit globally to gain visibility of the carrier’s key accounts across its entire network. This will enable them to benchmark regional performance and identify opportunities on a global scale to help customers meet their tonnage targets.
Brun concluded: “Etihad Cargo and Rotate’s partnership has enabled the carrier to provide its expertise to help unlock the full potential of digitalisation. Sales Cockpit will benefit not only Etihad Cargo and its customers but also has the potential to transform how other carriers in the wider air cargo community access the vast amounts of data available and use it to start having more meaningful and engaging conversations with their customers.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the full certification of Cathay Cargo Terminal and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL) through the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) at the World Cargo Symposium, held in Hong Kong (SAR), China.
Cathay Cargo Terminal and HACTL are the first cargo handlers from North Asia to achieve the IEnvA certification. This brings the total number of companies including airlines, airports and ground handling service providers that have achieved the certification to 60. IEnvA certification is awarded following a comprehensive evaluation of the companies’ environmental sustainability management systems and their plans for continual performance improvement.
“IATA is proud to have worked with Cathay Cargo Terminal and HACTL in their pursuit of IEnvA certification. Their commitment to sustainable aviation sets a strong example for the industry and demonstrates the positive impact of IEnvA certification in the cargo space. IEnvA provides definitive guidance, aligned with internationally accepted management standards, to efficiently and effectively address a wide spectrum of sustainability issues facing the aviation industry. Adopting IEnvA Standards allows the certified organizations to effectively focus their resources on improving their environmental performance and make use of tried and proven best practices. IEnvA certification will support Cathay Cargo Terminal and HACTL to drive sustainability, build trust, and deliver positive impact.
IATA also recognizes the support of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) in supporting its partners in improving overall environmental impact and call on other airports encourage their stakeholders follow the same approach,” said Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP Sustainability and Chief Economist.
Cathay Cargo Terminal Chief Operating Officer Mark Watts said, “This significant milestone demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability. Having IEnvA certified facilities at Hong Kong International Airport further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as the world’s leading air cargo hub and is reflective of the strong sustainability culture and vision of Cathay, AAHK and Hong Kong.”
“HACTL has been on its sustainability journey for some years, achieving major successes. It’s our policy to gain accreditation under every relevant standard, hence our decision to add IATA IEnvA to our portfolio. It increases the appeal of HACTL’s offering, and further enhances Hong Kong’s status as the world’s leading hub. We also support IATA’s initiative because we believe it will help the vital sustainability message to gain traction across our industry,” said HACTL Chief Executive Wilson Kwong.
IEnvA, developed by IATA, is a comprehensive certification program. It independently assesses the commitment of aviation stakeholders, including airlines, airports, cargo handling facilities, freight forwarders, and ramp handlers, to continuously improve their environmental and sustainability performance. By adhering to globally recognized standards and industry best practices, IEnvA ensures that organizations minimize negative impacts on the environment while maintaining operational excellence.
IEnvA is the global aviation standard for environmental management, aligned with ISO standards and recognized by leading ESG agencies. IEnvA incorporates a full turn-key solution specific to the aviation industry stakeholders, providing member organizations with the necessary tools for the implementation of the standards.
IEnvA supports the organizations to implement a systematic approach to identify, monitor, control, and continuously improve the environmental performance of their operations. The program, which is available for all stakeholders in the aviation supply chain, has now reached 60 participating organizations. IEnvA programs enable participants to build robust environmental management plans with continual performance improvements. A list of IEnvA certified organizations is available here.
Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) a leading provider of global voice and data satellite communications, today announced Cosco Shipping (CSSC), the world’s largest fleet of commercial vessels with 1,417 ships, has begun installation of Iridium® Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) terminals. The recent installation of the Lars Thrane LT-3100S terminal on the Cosco Tengfei is a testament to CSSC always prioritizing the safety of its crew, ships, and cargo.
Maritime transportation plays a pivotal role in the global economy, and shipping companies require confidence in their distress and safety communications, irrespective of their vessel’s location. The Cosco Tengfei is a modern Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessel capable of transporting up to 5,000 vehicles. The vessel operates globally, facilitating the transportation of vehicles from Chinese manufacturers to destinations around the world.
Iridium GMDSS now provides unmatched support for Cosco Tengfei’s mission with its truly global coverage, distress alert, safety voice, maritime safety information, and cost-effective implementation and operation. These capabilities along with Long-Range Identification Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) support built into the LT-3100S, extend to polar waters where CSSC’s incumbent GMDSS coverage fell short.
Mr. Xiaofeng Guo, Director of Telecom and Navigation Department at CSSC, expressed optimism about the deployment of Iridium GMDSS on the Cosco Tengfei, “I am glad to witness the moment of the first Iridium GMDSS system deployment on a CSSC vessel, the ‘COSCO TENGFEI.’ Iridium GMDSS will greatly enhance her safety service capabilities while sailing on the ocean. It also serves as a good demonstration that the CSSC Fleet can operate in the Arctic Ocean region. We expect to deploy more Iridium GMDSS systems on those Arctic-route vessels during 2024.”
Wouter Deknopper, Vice President and General Manager of Maritime at Iridium, commented, “This is a major validation of the Iridium GMDSS service. Cosco Shipping is the world’s largest shipping fleet, and CSSC understands the value proposition that Iridium GMDSS delivers.” Deknopper continued, “As CSSC’s operations expand into polar and other remote regions, Iridium GMDSS ensures that their vessels have the most modern GMDSS service available. Since its launch, we have experienced a massive increase in vessels installing Iridium GMDSS, including merchant ships, military/government, super-yachts, and even small leisure craft. The feedback is universal from the maritime industry, that Iridium GMDSS is the evolution of maritime safety services.”
Cosco Shipping’s commitment to safety, supported by the deployment of Iridium GMDSS on the Cosco Tengfei, underscores their dedication to ensuring the well-being of their crew, vessels, and cargo in an ever-changing and challenging maritime environment.
Silk Way West Airlines, the leading cargo airline in the Caspian and Central Asian region, is delighted to announce its induction into the United Nations Global Compact initiative. This pivotal move underscores the airline’s deepening commitment to sustainable and ethical business conduct, setting a new benchmark for its operations and strategic direction.
By joining the UN Global Compact, Silk Way West Airlines not only aligns itself with the world-renowned moral and ethical framework of the United Nations, but also taps into an expansive reservoir of knowledge, experience, and networks that span the globe. This affiliation heralds a transformative journey for the airline, promising to elevate its brand recognition and influence on a global scale.
This membership opens up a realm of strategic opportunities for Silk Way West Airlines, fostering potential collaborations with a diverse array of industry and sector representatives. Such partnerships are aimed at driving collective action towards common sustainability objectives. Through the Global Compact, the airline will gain unparalleled access to a suite of corporate sustainability tools and resources, and is now poised to refine its approach to environmental conservation, social responsibility, and ethical governance.
Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, expressed enthusiasm about joining the UN Global Compact, noting: “Adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact offers a standardized framework for our corporate responsibility. It paves the way for the airline to systematically approach, implement, and communicate its sustainability strategy, ensuring alignment with universal benchmarks and best practices.”
As part of its commitment to the UN Global Compact, Silk Way West Airlines pledges to integrate the principles of sustainable development into its core operations, aspiring to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as part of the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The airline is set to leverage its industry acumen to foster advancements in sustainable aviation, recognizing its critical role in promoting sustainable development globally.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Emirates and Butterfly Aero Training were each recognized with the IATA Competency-Based Training and Assessment Center (CBTA Center) Innovation Awards. Butterfly Aero Training was recognized for developing an AI ChatBot that serves as a virtual instructor within its training programs.
This enhances learning by offering personalized, interactive sessions that adapt to the unique needs of each learner. The AI ChatBot facilitates an efficient and engaging learning experience which includes real-time question-answering capabilities. Emirates was recognized for developing a Mobile App dedicated to the safe carriage of lithium batteries. The Li-Battery Acceptance App complements traditional classroom training by providing immediate and clear guidance on transporting lithium batteries, based on their quantity and power. This solution contributes to the industry’s holistic approach to safely managing the risks associated with the transport of lithium batteries.
“The evolution of the air cargo sector and the challenges that brings, including the safe handling of dangerous goods, requires innovative training solutions that are both efficient and accessible. Butterfly Aero Training and Emirates have risen to the challenge with forward-thinking approaches that not only meet the current demands of the industry but also adeptly position them to meet the challenges of tomorrow. We are proud to have them among the growing IATA CBTA Network of 208 centers,” said Frederic Leger, IATA SVP Commercial Products and Services.
The selection process for the 2024 IATA CBTA Center Innovation Award involved an evaluation by an independent jury, comprising industry experts, IATA representatives, and independent validators. Entries were judged on their innovation, potential impact on industry priorities and sustainability, user-friendliness, implementation feasibility, and evidence-based effectiveness.
Initiated in 2023, the IATA CBTA Center Innovation Awards encourage all members of the IATA CBTA Network to implement solutions that enhance operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The awards were presented at the World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Hong Kong.
New offices to enhance Aramex’s capabilities to serve businesses across the region
Aramex has strengthened its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the inauguration of a new regional office in Riyadh, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s logistics sector under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan.
The opening of the new regional office will not only significantly enhance Aramex’s capabilities to serve new and existing businesses across the region, but also boost the Kingdom’s logistics infrastructure and contribute to the Vision 2030 goal of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub.
In addition, the new regional headquarters and Aramex’s commitment to innovation will benefit the Saudi logistics sector and contribute to Vision 2030’s emphasis on digital capacity building and advancement, according to a press conference.
Embodying the spirit
“These shining premises not only embody the spirit and ambition of Aramex in helping clients in Saudi Arabia and around the world make their businesses more agile, productive and efficient,” commented Othman Aljeda, CEO, Aramex.
“Expanding our presence in Saudi Arabia with a new regional headquarters is an area of strategic focus for us as the logistics and transportation sector evolves rapidly around the region,” remarked Samer Marei, VP, Regional Headquarter, Aramex.
First announced in February 2021, the Regional Headquarters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia initiative aims to attract multinational companies to set up their headquarters in the Kingdom and position it as the leading commercial, industrial and investment hub for the MENA region.
Riyadh Airports and Cognizant collaborate to enhance the Travel experience
Launch ‘Riyadh Airports Innovation Council’ at King Khalid International Airport
Riyadh Airports Company, which manages and operates King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, has launched the ‘Riyadh Airports Innovation Council’ in collaboration with Cognizant.
This digital initiative aims to foster collaborative innovation and improve the passenger experience. The announcement was made during LEAP Expo 2024.
The travel sector witnessed a recovery in 2023 compared to previous years, driven by changes in traveler behaviors and their digital expectations. This necessitated the adoption of modern and innovative technologies that contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and enhancing the customer experience.
Travellers’ aspirations
“The goal is to employ them in realizing travelers’ aspirations for a digital travel experience and enhancing the customer experience at King Khalid International Airport. Riyadh Airports will have ownership rights to the solutions developed by the council, enabling us to optimize the benefits of this collaboration,” commented Osama Alfawaz, Chief ICT Officer, Riyadh Airports.
“Our goal is to redefine the travel experience by focusing on customers, employees, and partners to create a positive impact that contributes to technological development in the Kingdom,” stated Tariq Zarq Al Ayyoun, General Manager, Cognizant, Saudi Arabia.
The council is scheduled to meet regularly to collaborate on identifying use cases, innovation priorities, and finding creative initial solutions and programs. Cognizant will work on developing these solutions, and the council will invite specialized companies to provide external perspectives on the proposed solutions that can be implemented, leveraging all available technologies in these fields, a press communique concluded.
Zayed International revolutionizes Passenger Experience with IDEMIA’s Biometric Solutions
Innovative biometric solutions set new standards for efficient and secure passenger experience
In a landmark achievement for air travel technology, Zayed International Airport has successfully processed over one million passengers through Abu Dhabi’s new terminal since its inauguration on 15 November 2023.
This marks a significant milestone in the journey towards enhanced travel efficiency and security, showcasing the power of cutting-edge biometric technology.
Building on a long-term commitment to advancing airport capabilities, IDEMIA has been at the forefront of innovation in the UAE since 2011. The deployment of a comprehensive border management solution at Abu Dhabi Airport, featuring the world’s first multi-biometric entry/exit system, has significantly bolstered border security while simultaneously enhancing the passenger experience and throughput. The success of this groundbreaking project has led to its extension to the country’s four other international airports.
Collaboration
The Single Token Journey (STJ) solution, a highlight of this collaboration, employs advanced facial recognition technology to streamline the passenger experience. By assigning a unique digital identifier to every traveler, the STJ solution eliminates the need for multiple documents, enabling passengers to move from curb to gate, including the border clearance step, in a record time of just 12 minutes.
“Once fully implemented, Abu Dhabi will pioneer as the world’s first airport with biometrics integrated at every stage, ensuring travelers enjoy a seamless, safe, and secure journey,” commented Elena Sorlini, MD and CEO, Zayed International Airport.
“Together, we are setting a new global standard for passenger facilitation,” remarked Osama Al Makhamreh, Vice President, Sales-Middle East & Africa, IDEMIA Public Security.
FedEx showcases innovative Aerospace Solutions at MRO Middle East 2024
FedEx leads the way in ensuring speed and reliability in shipping of critical airplane parts
FedEx Express (FedEx has showcased its one-stop shop aerospace solutions at the recently concluded 2024 MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) Middle East Exhibition which took place from March 5 to 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
With extensive experience in operating a fleet of more than 700 planes, FedEx offers the Aviation and Aerospace industry with customizable services through FedEx Aerospace Solutions – an all-inclusive source for transporting the parts required to maintain aircraft in operation, a press communique revealed.
The FedEx® Aerospace Solutions include value-added services such as Dangerous Goods shipping, Freight Forwarding, Automation solutions, supply chain solutions, and experienced customs clearance support to manage the specialized customs regulations required when transporting aircraft parts. T
The broad selection of services also includes SenseAwareSM, a multi-sensor device that travels inside shipments, offering extended visibility into the movement of critical packages like aircraft parts and tools.
The device monitors location, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure readings, light exposure, and shock events, and with near real-time updates, makes it possible for customers to stay connected to their high-value shipments.
Aramex rolls out e-bikes for last-mile deliveries in UAE
The company has been investing in a range of environmentally friendly logistics solutions
Aramex has introduced a fleet of fully electric motorcycles to its last-mile delivery vehicles in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This initiative is part of Aramex’s long-term strategic goal to achieve a total fleet of 98% Electric Vehicles (EVs) by 2030, aligned with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) target that Aramex is committed to. It also underscores the company’s pioneering goal to make a substantial contribution to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in last-mile logistics.
The announcement comes as the UAE hosted COP28 climate conference in Dubai last year and recently extended the Year of Sustainability to 2024. It reflects Aramex’s ambitious goals to lower its operational carbon footprint, achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and become net-zero by 2050.
To achieve these goals, the company has also been investing in a wide range of innovative and environmentally friendly logistics solutions, such as drones and bots for last-mile deliveries.
Fully electric vans
The rollout of e-bikes complements the introduction of fully electric vans to Aramex’s last-mile delivery fleet in the UAE in October last year and in Amman, Jordan, in 2017. Additionally, Aramex has been progressively testing the introduction of EVs in other regional markets, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We are thrilled to announce this new initiative, especially as the world reflects on COP28 in Dubai and as we continue to scale up our efforts in embracing electric vehicles for a cleaner and greener tomorrow,” remarked Samer Marei, Vice President–GCC, Aramex.
The e-bikes were introduced after intensive testing of different models and manufacturers, and Aramex finalized the selected model based on its enduring performance and stability, particularly in local weather conditions, the press statement concluded.
SAP ramps up investment in Saudi Arabia to enhance National technology skills
Tech giant opens an SAP Experience Center in Al Khobar
SAP has announced it is increasing its investment in Saudi Arabia, a critically important market for the global technology company.
To enable further co-innovation with new and existing customers and partners, SAP has launched a first-of-its-kind regional SAP Innovation Hub in the Kingdom and will also open an SAP Experience Center in Al Khobar shortly.
In addition, SAP is extending its elite program for training in advanced technology skills, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), until at least 2025, according to an official press communique.
Digital-centric workforce
“The Ministry is collaborating with SAP to support the creation of a digital-centric workforce enabled by training programs such as the SAP Academy of Engineering. We encourage a collaborative approach to leveraging new technologies for the benefit of all organizations and individuals,” remarked Eng. Haitham AlOhali Vice Minister, Saudi Ministry of Communications and IT.
“Our investment in the SAP Experience Center and Innovation Hub as well as the SAP Academy of Engineering is part of our four-pronged strategy to support the rapid development of the Kingdom’s digital market, alongside accelerating new technology adoption and establishing a robust partner ecosystem,” commented Ahmed AlFaifi, SVP & MD, Middle East Africa–North.
SAP Experience Centre and Innovation Hub
AlFaifi explained that the SAP Innovation Hub will serve as a pivotal platform for fostering a vibrant community of innovation and co-creation in Saudi Arabia. Designed to empower individuals and organizations to collectively tackle operational challenges and drive incremental business value across various industries, custom-tailored to the Saudi market, the hub will bring together SAP global and regional experts, local businesses, startups, and partners in a collaborative environment.
SAP Academy of Engineering Programme
The extension of the SAP Academy of Engineering program is the result of the success of the first two intakes, according to AlFaifi.
In 2023, through its partnership with the MCIT, SAP saw a total of 127 IT talents graduate from its flagship SAP Academy for Engineering in San Ramon, California in the Unites States. The program targets the most promising Saudi national technology talents to foster their IT technology, application-development, and AI skills, while priming their leadership expertise.
Aramex strengthens its leadership team with two strategic appointments
Company enhances its leadership with a new Chief Commercial Officer to drive business growth
Aramex has announced the appointment of two distinguished executives to its leadership team.
Tim Martin joins as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), while Françoise Russo assumes the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Tim Martin brings over 33 years of invaluable experience in the supply chain and logistics industry, having held key roles at both country and regional levels across the EMEA region.
Recruited by the Global Management Board as part of the Global Management Team, Tim’s focus will be on driving Aramex’s dominance in the ecommerce sector and advancing multi-modal solutions in line with the company’s ambitious 5-year strategy.
Françoise Russo, the newly appointed Chief Technology Officer, brings a wealth of multi-sector corporate experience, spanning FMCG, logistics, transport, and entertainment.
Francoise will be focusing on the technology strategy and roadmap for the next 3-to-5-year period focusing on innovation and customer experience.
“We are delighted to welcome Tim and Françoise to our leadership team. Their wealth of experience and strategic insights align seamlessly with Aramex’s dedication to digitization and growth,” remarked Othman Aljeda, CEO, Aramex, on the appointments.
Four Winds offers new logistics solutions in Saudi Arabia and Jordan
Moves to bypass Red Sea crises
Jeddah based and 1979-established Saudi Arabian LSP (Logistics Services Provider) Four Winds Saudi Arabia Limited recently announced new and effective logistics solutions.
These solutions are designed to secure the availability of international freight services within both Saudi Arabia and Jordan, efficiently addressing the current challenges faced by the logistics sector due to the crises in the Red Sea.
The new freight services provided include the establishment of new corridors between Jebel Ali Port and select inter Saudi Arabian Ports from sailing periods from 2 to 7 days.
“Four Winds Saudi Arabia has launched new and effective logistics solutions aimed at saving costs and time for the business sectors in both Saudi Arabia and Jordan,” stated Nizar Al Mani, CEO.
With over four decades of expertise, the company has earned a distinguished reputation as one of the most trusted providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Its partnerships and robust relations with leading international organizations—including IATA, FIATA, IAM, and FIDI—underscores its dedication to quality and customer satisfaction, a press communique concluded.
Saudia Cargo Goes live with RTS Velocity and AcceleRate and Foresight Solutions
Revenue Technology Services (RTS), provider of profit optimization tools for the travel and transportation industry, announced that Saudia Cargo, one of the world’s leading cargo airlines, went live with RTS Velocity, AcceleRate and Foresight solutions as part of a phased approach.
Velocity is a comprehensive revenue management solution designed to forecast capacity, show-up rate, and demand while optimizing overbooking, allotments, and bid prices. AcceleRate complements Velocity by offering dynamic pricing decision support tailored for the cargo industry. This solution considers various factors such as competition, customer value, price elasticity, and costs to recommend dynamic prices, alongside managing rating and rate sheet information. These two solutions work seamlessly together to enhance efficiency for Saudia Cargo. Additionally, Foresight serves as a revenue planning and sales budgeting solution, taking into account schedules, capacity, demand, routes, equipment characteristics, and shipment details to set annual revenue targets and sales objectives. It also facilitates the design of freighter/truck schedules based on split demand, ensuring comprehensive planning and optimization across the organization.
The extensive implementation effort comprised two distinct phases, each focused on the development of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques. These cutting-edge solutions were tailored to enhance air cargo revenue management processes, encompassing forecasting capacities, overbooking optimization, O&D based demand forecasting, and allotment optimization. Additionally, the solution addressed pricing challenges, including dynamic pricing, upsell and cross-sell offers, rating engine refinement, and network optimization. Saudia Cargo collaborated closely with RTS to optimize long-term schedules, effectively representing cargo interests within the organization and aiding sales in setting and tracking targets. Prior to deployment, rigorous testing was conducted by Saudia Cargo and RTS to ensure alignment with all business requirements.
Mansour Alasmi, Vice President of Network & Revenue Management at Saudia Cargo, commented: “Our partnership with RTS Global epitomizes our unwavering commitment to pioneering innovation and cutting-edge solutions that redefine our industry. It’s a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our dedication to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering unparalleled service quality and operational efficiency through automation.”
Mansour Alasmi added: “With RTS’s cutting-edge solutions Velocity, AcceleRate and Foresight seamlessly integrated into our operations, we’re empowered to make data-driven pricing decisions. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to leveraging the latest technologies to drive strategic initiatives, cementing our position as leaders in the industry. These innovations are a testament to our shared ethos of pushing boundaries and continuously striving for excellence, ensuring that Saudia Cargo remains at the forefront of progressing our industry and customer satisfaction.”
Johan Van Rensburg, Global head of Cargo Delivery, added: “Today marks a momentous stride forward for the RTS and Saudia Cargo partnership with the successful integration of RTS Velocity, AcceleRate, and Foresight solutions. We are confident Saudia Cargo will redefine cargo automation. This accomplishment strengthens our global partnership, setting new standards and inspiring us to reach even greater heights.”
Mukundh Parthasarathy, Head of Cargo solutions at RTS, said: “Our vision of an end-to-end decision support solution suite for cargo has been realized with Saudia Cargo with Velocity, Foresight and AcceleRate. The thought leadership shown at Saudia Cargo is something for the aviation industry to look up to and we are glad that RTS is the chosen partner in this journey.”
With the Ministry of Transport finalizing the Qatar Freight Master Plan (QFMP), attention has shifted to establishing an integrated, effective, and multi-modal road freight system that supports Qatar’s continued economic development needs; providing strategic road transport solutions that are efficient and competitive; integrating seamlessly with air and sea freight; ultimately reinforcing sustainable economic diversification and strengthening competitive advantages in regional and global arenas.
Gulf Warehousing Company Q.P.S.C (GWC) emerges as a leading example of innovation and adaptability amid the industry’s changing dynamics, poised to navigate forthcoming challenges and prepared to establish pioneering standards of excellence in logistics.
With over two decades of experience, GWC is strategically positioned to take on the logistical needs and challenges of the transport sectorwith efficiency and adaptability.Thanks to its transport fleet (the largest in Qatar),cutting-edge tracking systems,and tailored solutions, clients across diverse industries areprovided with competitive advantage and added value that is integrated into their supply chain.
GWC’s Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon, stated: “Amidst the finalization of the Qatar Freight Master Plan, GWC will continue to support the country’s efforts in actualizing Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (2024-2030),which consolidates Qatar international position as one of the most competitive and sustainable countries to provide innovative transport solutions that support the national economy”.
A Robust Transport ManagementSystem
GWC’s success in road transport is significantly influenced by its cutting-edge transport management system, which seamlessly integrates technology to plan, execute, and optimize the movement of goods. The system provides a comprehensive view of operations, from analytics to real-time tracking.
Ensuring Safe Transportation and Deliveries
Safety is a paramount practiceat GWC. The company fosters a “safety-first”culture byadhering torecognized standards and guidelines, continuous staff training, journey management based on risk assessment and proactive risk mitigation. Integral to our commitment to safety is ensuring optimal vehicle conditions and driver training to handle emergencies. Additionally, GWC employs meticulous compliance and safety guidelines throughout the transportation processes based on the various cargo categories it handles, including dangerous goods.
Performance Metrics and Continuous Improvement
GWC sets benchmarks for operational efficiency, monitoring fleet utilization, as well as repair and fuel costs. Rigorous monitoring identifies areas for improvement to ensure sustainable practices and environmentally conscious operations. Accident rate reduction and driver performance assessments are pivotal in our continuous improvement strategy. An incentive-based scheme motivates drivers to adhere to safety protocols, maintain fuel efficiency, and exhibit professionalism on the road.
Sector-Specific Solutions
GWC offers tailored solutions that serve different sectors through its diverse transport fleet. Most prominent among them is the oil and gas sector, which it supports by organizing the safe transport of chemicals and petrochemicals and providing specialized carriers for hazardous materials. The company recently launched a modern station for cleaning ISO Tank containers which are used for transporting chemicals, a first of kind facility in the State of Qatar. Through it, the company cleans approximately 100 ISO Tank containers per month, with a capacity to clean 1,000 ISO Tank containers per month.
The company also provides container handling and repair services. More than 10,000 containers pass through the GWC’s container yard located in Al Wukair Logistics Park every month, out of which approximately 6,000 containers are repaired and reused.
Other specialized vehicles GWC offers are those used to transporting fine art and collectibles, flatbed carriers with capacities reaching more than 110 tons, vertical cranes of 140 tons, forklifts and other specialized vehicles and machinery.
Empowering the Workforce In the endeavor to empower and foster the growth of GWC’s workforce, Mr. Menon elaborated: “We consider our workforce as ambassadors of the company, which is why we strongly emphasize recruitment processes. This process involves thorough screening, skills verification, and additional tests to ensure personnel are equipped to navigate the dynamic challenges of the transportation sector. Our learning and development program covers induction modules, practical training, and internal and external safety training, as well as self-development courses. Our investment in continuous learning enhances efficiency, safety, and professionalism amongst our personnel”.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s Boeing 747F, registration A7-BGB, landed for the last time in commercial cargo service for QR Cargo as the airline fast-tracks its focus on greener flying. Arriving from Barcelona, Flight QR8807 touched down in Doha at 15:00 local time on Friday, 01 March, 2024.
A7-BGB joined the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet on 26 September 2017. Over the past seven years, the two iconic freighter aircraft were deployed on more than 9,000 flights totalling over 66,000 block hours and together transporting almost 800,000 tonnes.
Throughout its service, the number one destination where the 747 aircraft served was Incheon at 1,165 flights. Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Guangzhou were also among the top 10 destinations the cargo aircraft served.
From racing cars (30 can fit on a 747F) to thoroughbred race horses (up to 90 horses can be carried in one flight), Qatar Airways Cargo’s Boeing 747 freighters provided reliable, safe transport for many international customers. It was also a stalwart of the pandemic, carrying PPE and other medical equipment across the world, at a time where much of the world’s aircraft were grounded.
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “When we welcomed our Boeing 747 freighters to the Qatar Airways Cargo fleet seven years ago, we were responding to a sharp rise in customer demand for capacity, which we were quickly able to fulfil.
“Our Next Generation freighter strategy is based both on evolving customer expectations and our firm commitment on sustainability and efficiency. Efficiency is achieved through fleet harmonization and simplification, and sustainability is improved by the latest in-flight and fuel technology. For these important factors, Qatar Airways Cargo is the launch customer for Boeing’s next generation 777-8F freighter, the most fuel efficient, lowest carbon footprint freighter in the cargo industry. We are committed to the most modern and cleanest freighter fleet in the industry.”
Qatar Airways Cargo has a firm order for 34 Boeing 777-8F’s, with options for 16 more, to augment its fleet of 27 Boeing 777 Freighters (with the 28th 777F joining the fleet in mid-March). Featuring advanced technology systems, air frames and engines, the 777-8 Freighter will be the most efficient, largest long-range and most capable twin-engine widebody freighter in the industry. The 777-8F will reduce fuel use and CO2 emissions by 30% compared to the 747-8.
EPG’s leading-edge WMS streamlines ops and workflows for UAE healthcare leader Arabian Ethicals
Ehrhardt Partner Group has confirmed that prime UAE-based healthcare distributor Arabian Ethicals has successfully deployed EPG’s LFS Warehouse Management System (WMS) across its territories. The project further underlines the growing global success of the German-based company’s modular supply chain software.
With the implementation of LFS, Arabian Ethicals (AEC) has now streamlined and upgraded its operational processes across all divisions, spearheaded by its National Distribution Center at Dubai Silicon Oasis and including other satellite locations. The bold technological renewal now makes AEC one of only a handful of healthcare distributors in the UAE able to reap the benefits of a state-of-the-art WMS.
As the foremost UAE healthcare distribution specialist, AEC relies on state-of-the-art automation systems provided by trusted partners. Such systems allow AEC’s expert staff to ensure its diverse portfolio, including pharmaceutical, consumer and veterinary health products, meets the demanding needs of its governmental and private customers. The provider serves hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and supermarkets across the entire country, making speed, accuracy and efficiency vital pillars of its promise to customers.
EPG offers best and most cost-effective solution
AEC managers tasked four vendors to submit proposals for a new WMS that would take the company to the next level, having identified that in a fast-moving and unpredictable commercial environment, their existing, locally-made system was no longer fit to meet the flexible requirements of its valued customers. EPG was included among these vendors following a recommendation from one of AEC’s trusted 3PL partners.
EPG was awarded the contract based on multiple criteria. These included the quality and robustness of the proposed solution, ease of implementation, and the German specialist’s global experience and reputation. Crucially, AEC concluded that LFS provided the best cost-effectiveness and ROI, despite not being the cheapest offering available.
LFS is winning friends and contracts across the globe because it speeds up, simplifies and optimizes warehouse workflow and operations via a modular suite that can be refined to suit each customer’s specific sector needs. The automated system works hand-in-hand with manual resource to ensure all goods inventory is received, identified, stored, moved and dispatched in the most reliable, timely and appropriate manner to suit the customer’s agreed priorities.
Modular capability suite ensures perfect fit
Following initial sessions between key AEC stakeholders and EPG’s international and local support teams, the project was successfully rolled out in three phases between Q3/2022 and Q2/2023.
“With the successful implementation of LFS across all our divisions, Arabian Ethicals once again ups the standards in the industry, becoming one of only a handful of local distributors deploying a state-of-the-art warehouse management system,” enthused AEC General Manager Stephan Stauffer. “The EPG team worked hand in hand with our supply chain to assure the new platform seamlessly integrated with our existing systems and they continue to do so as we look forward to rolling out additional modules in the near future.”
Ghouse Katiri, EPG Head of Customer Projects, echoed this sentiment: “The beauty of LFS is that it is modular, enabling us to fit the customer’s wishes precisely by selecting from a matchless suite the capabilities which best suit their business needs. We are delighted that AEC has trusted us to deliver for their business and we look forward to working on future plans with them.”
AEC and EPG continue to work on future enhancements and recently implemented Tatmeen – the UAE’s official track and trace platform for pharmaceutical products – using LFS as the core platform. Over the coming year, AEC plans to implement additional modules such as the delivery app, as it continues on its exciting upward path.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
FIATA-RAME Field Meeting & Conference opens in Dubai discussing strategies to build resilient supply chain ecosystem
Organised under the theme ‘Connectivity, Resilience, and Sustainability in Global Supply Chains and Trade,’ the event brought together over 600 industry leaders and CEOs on day-one
The Middle East and Africa logistics market is currently valued at US$ 163.57 billion, and it is forecasted to reach US$ 222.63 billion by 2029 at a rate of 6.36% annually.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum, Honorary patron of NAFL, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) RAME (Region Africa Middle East) field meeting and the conference opened today at Atlantis Hotel Dubai, in the presence H.E Humaid Bin Salem-Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce UAE, discussing the strategies for seamless logistics ecosystem in the face of geo-political disruptions.
The two-day conference organised by NAFL, under the theme ‘Connectivity, Resilience, and Sustainability in Global Supply Chains and Trade’, delves into the trade disruption due to geo-political issues and strategies for a burgeoning MEA logistics market, currently valued at US$ 163.57 billion and forecasted to reach US$ 222.63 billion in 2029. The event also hosted the FIATA RAME Official Meeting featuring FIATA RAME Chair Dr. Juanita Maree; Dr. Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General and FIATA global President Mr. Turgut Erkeskin.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Humaid Bin Salem, Chairman of the UAE International Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the UAE’s commitment to facilitating and promoting global trade through seamless multimodal connectivity. “In line with the UAE’s goals to diversify the economy, the ICC shares FIATA’s vision to facilitate global trade. In the face of global supply chain disruptions, whether due to natural disasters or geo-political events, it is imperative that we think globally and work as one cohesive team. The connectivity offered by the UAE, whether by air, land or sea, plays a crucial role. Beyond the UAE, the GCC region, particularly Qatar and Saudi Arabia, is very active, promoting trade and offering investment opportunities. We are keen to learn from our peers and work together to improve the private sector. I would therefore encourage everyone to actively participate in the discussions and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Federal Chambers or the ICC. We are here to support the needs of the private sector,” he said.
The opening ceremony was preceded by a welcome keynote by Mr. Turgut Erkeskin, President of FIATA, who delivered a comprehensive overview of the global challenges and evolving trends in the logistics sector. Highlighting the RAME region’s strategic position as a hub connecting continents, he said: “In today’s dynamic global landscape, the FIATA-RAME meeting stands as a strategic platform, offering pragmatic insights as we gather against the backdrop of unprecedented disruptions in the Red Sea, geo-political tensions and environmental concerns. As globalisation dynamics are shifting, global trade is impacted by geo-political developments anywhere. Yet, amidst these challenges lie opportunities for resilience and adaptation. Our mission transcends problem-solving; it advocates for an approach rooted in agility, creativity, and strategic planning.”
“Our priority at this year’s meeting is to explore collective solutions to regional challenges because nothing is local in today’s world, especially logistics. We are hopeful as the RAME region holds tremendous potential with some of the most sophisticated ports and airports and a dynamic young workforce ready to strengthen and enhance business processes. We had over 400 FIATA specialised diploma graduates in 2023 from the Middle East region; there is no challenge that we cannot overcome when such qualified workforce and expertise exist in the region,” added.
Mr. Turgut Erkisken concluded by saying that world trade and logistics flourish when there is peace, predictability and sustainability. “We hope that current uncertainties, end soon as we move into the future, strengthening existing trade routes will function while building regional corridors offering seamless global connectivity. With a focus on practical solutions and actionable insights, we strive not only to address challenges but also to forge a path towards a more resilient, sustainable, and interconnected future for all stakeholders in the global logistics arena.”
Ms Nadia Abdul Aziz welcomed over 600 delegates, representing 16 FIATA member associations, with 11 from the Arica & Middle East region from more than 29 countries. Emphasising the significance of UAE hosting the meeting, she said: “The UAE remains a global gateway for logistics and trade with investor-friendly policies and synchronisation with international markets. In the UAE, initiatives like the 10-year visa, pro-investment policies, and a robust sustainability plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2050 foster an environment ripe for growth. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our ranking as the top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) and the 7th place ranking on the global logistics index.”
The event highlighted the latest initiatives, including advancements in digitalisation and implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme undertaken by Dubai Customs. In the following presentations, Dubai Chamber highlighted its international services tailored for corporates and investors, with a particular focus on fostering business research and sustainability efforts. Meanwhile, Dubai South showcased its offerings encompassing e-commerce, logistics growth, and the Sea-Air Free Zone.
The panel discussions on day one highlighted the evolving logistics sector across the region under the theme “GCC Market Overview, Opportunities, and Growth Areas.” Featured panellists at the session included Mr. Gopal R., Senior Vice President of the Supply Chain & Logistics Practice at Frost & Sullivan. H.E. Eng. Ali Bin Abdulatif Al Mesned, Qatar Chamber Board Member and President of the Qatar Association of Freight and Logistics (QAFL) elaborated on Qatar’s opportunities and economic growth prospects, providing an overview of the latest freight forwarding and trading ecosystem advancements.
Representing the Saudi Ministry of Investment Mr. Majed Alsaadi and Ms. Reem Abdul Aziz Hasanain, along with Ms. Amal Balghunaim from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services and Mr. Abdullah Daoud from the Ministry of Transport & Logistics, shed light on opportunities in logistics and trade sector within KSA. The session highlighted the National Industrial Development & Logistics Program (NIDLP) and outlined the logistics strategy for KSA’s transportation and logistics services sector.
Running until tomorrow the event acts as a platform for bringing together key stakeholders –industry leaders, innovators, and thought leaders – to shape the future of logistics in the MEA region.
Scania publishes Annual and Sustainability Report for 2023: “Significant growth in sales and earnings and continued progress on sustainability performance”
Scania continued performing strongly during the year, increasing both sales and earnings significantly. Scania’s Annual and Sustainability report is published today, detailing its financial, social and environmental performance in 2023.
Summary of the full year 2023:
Scania Group net sales grew by 28 percent to SEK 204.1 billion (159.2)
Adjusted operating income reached SEK 26.0 billion (14.0) and adjusted operating margin was 12.7 percent (8.8)
Deliveries increased by 13 percent to 96,727 vehicles, whereof Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) amounted to 246 units (262)
Revenue from the service business increased by 11 percent adjusted for currency
Order intake increased by 2 percent to 84,080 vehicles
Summary of the fourth quarter 2023:
Scania Group net sales grew by 21 percent to SEK 60.0 billion (49.7)
Adjusted operating income reached SEK 7.4 billion (5.3) and adjusted operating margin was 12.3 percent (10.7)
Deliveries increased by 8 percent to 28,984 vehicles, whereof Zero Emission Vehicles amounted to 57 units (115)
Revenue from the service business increased by 6 percent adjusted for currency
Order intake decreased by 5 percent to 22,299 vehicles
A strong finish to a record year 2023 was another year where geopolitical and macroeconomic instability had an impact on the business environment. However, Scania was able to navigate through this, proving its financial resilience and ability to deliver sustainable growth. In 2023, Scania’s sales reached over 200 SEK billion: a doubling of sales revenue in just seven years.
Demand for Scania’s products and services remained high in 2023, although in some key markets it decreased from previously very high levels. Scania managed to stabilise the vehicle order-to-delivery flow significantly and increased deliveries by 13 percent compared with previous year. Earnings reached record levels, positively impacted by higher vehicle and service volume, a strong price and product mix, and currency effects. Inflation, higher raw material prices and some remaining supply chain disturbances impacted earnings negatively.
The fourth quarter was strong, with vehicle deliveries increasing by 8 percent and the service business growing by 6 percent in local currency, compared with the same period last year. Vehicle order intake in the fourth quarter decreased by 5 percent, reflecting more normal demand levels in some of Scania’s key markets in Europe.
“Like many other businesses, Scania is adapting to a world where the ‘new normal’ means uncertainty and constant disturbances. While we managed to stabilise flows in 2023 and deliver a strong financial performance, we are still working hard together with partners and bodybuilders to improve delivery precision for our customers,” says CEO, Christian Levin.
Sustainability milestones and challenges There were many milestones for Scania in its progress towards a sustainable transport system in 2023, including: the opening of a battery assembly plant to enable large-scale production of electric trucks; investing in and expanding the electric product portfolio; and turning supply chain decarbonisation targets into formal requirements.
However, every big transformation comes with challenges. Scania was the first in the industry to commit to the Science Based Targets and took the bold step of setting global targets for 2025 to create accountability and make these goals actionable. While Scania is well on its way to reaching the scope 1 and 2 targets, at a decrease of 42 percent towards the goal of 50 percent by 2025, decarbonising the rolling fleet where the lion’s share of carbon emissions come from is more challenging. Within scope 3, when Scania’s vehicles are in use, the aim is to achieve a 20 percent reduction by 2025. Currently the reduction is just below 3 percent since base year 2015. A changed sales mix resulted in a negative development of the KPI reported in 2023. The reported scope 3 reduction is based on 2022 volumes as the input data builds on the vehicles being in use. It means the full impact of initiatives like Scania’s Super powertrain is not yet coming through in the KPI reported for 2023.
The 2025 scope 3 target remains a challenge but guides positive change. In 2024, Scania will focus efforts on driver efficiency, optimising vehicle specifications, promoting renewable fuels and expanding electrified solutions, to continue making progress with its emission reduction targets.
“While electrification is the ultimate answer, and we do our utmost to ramp-up production of battery electric trucks to deliver to our customers, fuel-saving actions and the usage of renewable fuels are decisive to decarbonisation here and now,” says Christian Levin.
Saudia Cargo, WFS and Cainiao Group kick off cooperation in Liege to boost efficiency of cross-border e-commerce trade
· New collaboration aims to create a business model for future e-commerce logistics gateways at global airports
Liege, March 1, 2024: Saudia Cargo, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a Member of the SATS Group, and Cainiao Group have officially launched their strategic collaboration at Cainiao’s Liege eHub in Liege Airport, Belgium, further solidifying their longstanding partnership. The collaboration is aimed at optimizing logistics processes through operational streamlining and the adoption of logistics innovations.
An inauguration ceremony was held today at the airside of the eHub, currently leased by WFS, with logistics procedures, facilities, and innovations invested in by Cainiao, demonstrating a commitment to delivering best quality service solutions to clients and partners. WFS, in close collaboration with Cainiao, operates within the air cargo station.
Since November 2021, Cainiao and WFS have been working together to enhance operational quality for joint partners like Saudia Cargo. Key service level agreement commitments include a 3-hour e-commerce transit, BUP release within 3 hours from ATA, and truck handling in less than 90 minutes.
The collaboration has also bolstered the logistics capacity of the eHub, with three temperature-controlled facilities jointly designed by the three parties. These include areas for loose 2-8°C (205 sqm), BUP 2-8°C (140 sqm), and loose 15-25°C (400 sqm), supporting the transportation of perishable and pharma cargo products. Additionally, the eHub has obtained BCP certification, enabling the transport of fresh goods and further enhancing its capacity to facilitate cross-border trade.
This initiative addresses the growing demand for high-quality logistics operations in the cross-border e-commerce sector, particularly in the Middle East and European markets. Earlier this year, Cainiao launched its international express shipping service, Global 5-Day Delivery, in collaboration with AliExpress, now available in ten countries worldwide.
The collaboration between Saudia Cargo and Cainiao includes specific freighter flights from Hong Kong to Riyadh and Liege, strategically tailored to meet the increasing logistics demands in these key regions and enhancing e-commerce delivery efficiency. Furthermore, the contract extension to WFS for handling over 50,000 tonnes annually on flights connecting Liege and Riyadh underscores Saudia Cargo’s ambition for operational excellence and reliable logistics services.
WFS’s investment in subleasing part of the Cainiao facility in Liege illustratesits commitment to innovation and efficiency, creating a dedicated area for swift and real-time information processing. The integration of innovative technology solutions, including AGVs, advanced
PDAs, digital dashboards, and live tracking systems, supports a new generation of cargo management systems utilizing IoT technologies to drive efficient and sustainable e-commerce handling.
Hellmann and HMM collaborate to advance sustainable seafreight solutions
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has committed itself to the strategic goal of making logistics of the future more sustainable in all product segments, thereby contributing to the Paris Agreement on climate change. In the field of seafreight, the global player wants to significantly reduce its Scope 3 emissions, demonstrating its dedication to long-term sustainability.
Actively engaging in the movement to decarbonize the container shipping industry, Hellmann is fostering collaboration with customers and carriers to optimize supply chains. This involves jointly developing strategies for carbon emission avoidance and reduction, fortifying its sustainability portfolio, and further enhancing carbon emission reporting as well as emission reduction solutions for its customers.
Following first initiatives including the compensation of all port-to-port emissions from its global LCL business in 2022 and 2023 along with the introduction of further enhanced carbon emission reporting solutions, Hellmann is now taking its seafreight sustainability ambitions to the next level by forging a strategic partnership with South Korea’s national flagship carrier, HMM, as an official participant in its Green Sailing Service.
HMM’s carbon insetting solution enables Hellmann to actively reduce its carbon footprint and effectively manage Scope 3 emissions through the use of second generation marine biofuel being bunkered in HMM’s vessel fleet. These Scope 3 emission reductions achieved and specifically allocated to Hellmann are ultimately being made available to its clients, supporting them in reaching their Scope 3 emission reduction targets. Furthermore, the partnership enhances Hellmann’s capability to provide comprehensive end-to-end carbon insetting solutions, including the reduction of emissions from landside transportations, as an integral part of its seafreight services.
“We are delighted to experience one of the finest examples of successful cooperation between industries making meaningful progress toward a net-zero future. Together with Hellmann, we will continue to develop mutually beneficial relationships and, at the same time, welcome anyone with whom we can share the ambitions for environmental initiatives and find a way to go green,” says Shin Kim, Chief Container Business Officer (CCO) of HMM.
“As a sector with a substantial impact on global CO2 emissions, we carry a significant responsibility to foster greener logistics. Through our collaboration with HMM and active involvement in the Green Sailing Service, Hellmann is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable practices in the seafreight industry. By providing our clients with insetting solutions, we directly reduce CO2 emissions where they are being produced rather than merely offsetting them. I firmly believe that this approach is the right long-term path forward for the global container shipping industry to make a meaningful impact and to enable our customers to decarbonize their supply chains,” says Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani appointed as GWC Managing Director
Gulf Warehousing Company Q.P.S.C (GWC) – one of the fastest-growing logistics businesses in the MENA region – is proud to announce the appointment of Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani as its Managing Director and Board Member. This appointment reaffirms the company’s pursuit of growth within the State of Qatar and beyond.
As a company deeply rooted in Qatar’s economic landscape, GWC is playing a pivotal role in achieving the nation’s ambitions of becoming a global hub for logistics services and enhancing its appeal as a centre for global investment and business.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman, GWC, stated: “Sheikh Abdulla brings a wealth of leadership, experience, and vision as we seek to capitalize on new opportunities and overcome challenges, while pursuing our strategic objectives of growth, innovation, and sustainability.”
“With steadfast support from Qatar’s visionary leadership, esteemed stakeholders and shareholders, and the invaluable trust of our clients, GWC is poised to continue driving the progress in the logistics sector, while actively fostering growth and advancement in Qatar and across the region,” added Sheikh Mohammad.
GWC’s strategic initiatives are closely aligned with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, particularly in meeting the requirements of economic diversification clusters for logistics and shipping services. Through these efforts, GWC significantly contributes to enhancing Qatar’s position as a global focal point for shipping, transportation and logistics services, thereby working towards the country’s objective of achieving a top 15 ranking in the worldwide Logistics Performance Index.
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Managing Director, GWC, stated: “Throughout 20 years of industry leadership, the GWC team has proven that commitment and diligence are the cornerstones of logistics excellence. Together, we will continue to innovate, expand, and contribute to the growth of Qatar’s economy in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani has been a member of the GWC Board of Directors since 2008. He previously worked with Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO), Muntajat (Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company QPJSC), and Qatar Steel. His appointment marks a new chapter in GWC’s growth, where he will lead the company in further solidifying its powerful position within Qatar, across the GCC, and globally.
Sharjah Airport Authority welcomes KQ Cargo to its cargo operations
Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) has included Kenya Airways Cargo into Sharjah Airport’s operating cargo companies. This inclusion is in line with the Authority’s strategy to position the Airport as a leading international cargo hub, adhering to the highest standards and best practices in the air cargo industry. To mark this milestone, a reception was hosted by the Authority in the presence of HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, HE Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority, Honoruble Cosmas Kimutai Sigei, Chargé D’affaires, the Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Allan Kilavuka, Group Managing Director & CEO of Kenya Airways Cargo, along with a group of directors and representatives of the Authority and Kenya Airways and a number of visitors from both countries. This initiative underscores SAA’s dedication to fortifying and enhancing its partnerships with strategic allies, further offering passengers a distinctive and exceptional journey through premium services.
Four direct weekly flights will be operated by the Kenyan carrier from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to Sharjah Airport using B737F cargo aircraft.
HE Ali Salim Al Midfa said: “Sharjah Airport Authority is keen to develop the logistical aspect of the airport’s business and enhance cargo services for its clients, supported by a robust strategy designed to strengthen the airport’s position on the travel map. We are proud of our extensive partnerships with international shipping companies that contribute to expanding the destinations available to customers, especially with the ongoing development of the shipping hub and our commitment to providing shipping services aligning with the highest approved standards.”
Allan Kilavuka said: “The United Arab Emirates is ranked among the top exports and imports trading partner for Kenya and other African countries. This trade constitutes around 10 per cent of UAE’s total trade. The launch of KQ cargo flights from Sharjah to African cities is therefore significant in tapping into this growing demand that will catalyse business growth within the Middle East and Africa. Our new Boeing 737-800 Freighters offers increased cargo capacity, a range of up to 7 hours out of Sharjah to destinations across Africa and is available for charters.”
Dedicated to providing vital infrastructure for both regional and global airlines, as well as cargo companies, Sharjah Airport Authority is focused on ensuring seamless operations at Sharjah Airport. The key goal is to broaden the range of destinations on a global scale, offering customers a varied array of choices. Additionally, the Authority aims to enhance the overall efficiency of the airport, enabling expedited responses to specialised freight operations that require specific attention, including handling, shipping and storage.
Sustainability is not an objective, but a tangible reality for CargoTech’s member companies. Wiremind, CargoAi, Rotate, and CharterSync illustrate their solutions, the industry’s challenges, and what is planned for 2024.
“The CargoTech range of digital solutions have a fundamental role to play in the sustainability strategies of all companies focused on achieving Net Zero and other Sustainable Development Goals,” says Cédric Millet, President of CargoTech. “Why? Because all our CargoTech members offer products that enhance visibility, process efficiency and awareness of improvement areas. And they naturally apply the same sustainability focus to their own operations.”
A broad palette of digital solutions
From measuring carbon emissions, to optimising capacity, or reducing the need for paper documents, CargoTech’s members share a common interest in developing smart, tailored solutions for the air cargo industry in close collaboration with its stakeholders and each other. Magali Beauregard, CCO of CargoAi, states: “CargoAi is committed to sustainability and has released multiple products to support the sustainability transition for the air cargo industry.” CargoAi’s pioneering Cargo2ZERO CO2 footprint reporting product, launched in September 2022, is one such example, and earned CargoAi a sustainability award at the TIACA conference in Miami later that year. “We are always open to develop and push joint products with other industry peers, highlighted by our strategic partnership with Neste,” she continues, referring to the tool’s enhancement that enables freight forwarders and their clients to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of their cargo transport through the voluntary purchase of Neste’s SAF using the MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel function when booking a cargo transport in Cargo2ZERO.
Price versus Planet
Sustainability requires investment and change. An in-depth CharterSync research paper which examined several carbon offset initiatives, also found that one major challenge still today, is that the ultimate shipper of the goods may often insist on the cheapest price rather than the most sustainable option. Forwarders, on the other hand, are increasingly including sustainability evaluation metrics in their procurement processes, which will promote a re-evaluation of airline fleets, replacing aging freighters with more fuel-economic modern aircraft and cleaner fuel alternatives.
“What is the largest sustainability challenge facing the air cargo industry, today?” Nathanaël de Tarade, asks and answers: “The blunt but realistic answer is simply ‘to find ways to keep flying’. If you look at the current emissions, they aren’t sustainable on the long term. Whether you are optimistic and think that technology (electric aircraft, more sustainable fuel, etc.) will be a big part of the solution, or more pessimistic and you think we’ll have to cut a part of what is currently flying, the answer is possibly a blend of both solutions. Wiremind’s contribution is to ensure that load efficiencies are maximised so that every flight is used to full capacity for a better emissions to impact ratio.”
Education and innovation
CargoAi also views short-term price thinking without considering its long-term impact as one of the major challenges faced by the air cargo industry and seeks to educate the industry to bring about more sustainable procurement decisions. “Without tools enabling you to understand your CO2 footprint, it becomes harder to make a more environmentally conscious decision when it comes to procuring cargo capacity for daily shipments,” says Magali Beauregard.
CharterSync’s Sustainability Officer, James Hymers, too, sees the need for greater awareness and understanding in the industry: “I am committed to leading the way in promoting environmental consciousness within the aviation industry. My primary focus will be on developing and implementing innovative strategies to reduce our carbon footprint, while also educating our team and partners about sustainable practices. By integrating green initiatives into our core operations, CharterSync aims to set a new standard for eco-friendly practices in air charter services, paving the way for a more sustainable future in aviation.”
Sustainability highlights to come this year
Wiremind is aiming to release its SkyPallet 2.0 before the summer. The new software, which has been developed in cooperation with many existing customers, is designed to achieve higher load factors per ULD, resulting in less wasted capacity and more cargo on each flight. In true CargoTech spirit, Wiremind and CharterSync will be working closer together to bring about greater flight operation efficiencies through the integration of Wiremind’s loadability optimisation software in the CharterSync platform. James Hymers, explains: “CharterSync already calculates carbon offset based on aircraft type, fuel efficiency, payload carried, and distance flown. In the next phase of our platform enhancements, we will be placing significant importance on better ranking and labelling customer quotation options based upon fuel efficiency and sustainability criteria.”
Sustainability criteria increasingly play a role in business decisions, as Ryan Keyrouse, CEO of Rotate, confirms: “For many years, commercial decisions were driven by contribution or profitability metrics, but these days, sustainability metrics are becoming more and more important, and are thus fundamental elements to be included in our software. We will be adding emissions data to our Live Capacity platform, this year, to ensure that our customers have all the relevant parameters required to optimise their networks.”
Sustainability is not just a commercial objective
Within CargoTech, sustainability is a lifestyle choice, not just a commercial objective, as Magali Beauregard illustrates: “Sustainability is one of the core pillars of CargoAi. Our strategy applies simple yet powerful habits such as enabling remote teams thus saving commute CO2 emissions, shared spaces, and reusable cups to reduce each individual’s carbon footprint.” Nathanaël de Tarade concurs: “At Wiremind, we are fortunate to have employees who are very proactive in their sustainability initiatives which range from small contributions such as distributing reusable boxes for lunch, to significant ones where thorough calculations are made regarding emissions coming from our own providers. These are regular, positive signs of their commitment to both the subject matter and the company.”
Digital platform bolstered by crane industry veteran’s appointment Olga Dubinok assumes role of director of business development, USA.
MYCRANE, the world’s first global platform for online crane rental, has appointed Olga Dubinok as director of business development, USA, further strengthening its team in the United States of America.
In her new role, Phoenix-based Dubinok is responsible for driving continued growth in the USA, engaging with both customers and crane rental companies and raising awareness of the MYCRANE brand.
Previously, crane industry veteran Dubinok has worked in business development roles for digital platforms offering equipment sales, and as a sales manager for a global equipment manufacturer, focusing on the brand’s growth and development in the North America market. Dubinok is a familiar face in the industry, regularly attending crane and construction events such as the meetings of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), as well as the bauma and Conexpo trade shows.
An active industry participant, she is a current committee member of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports workforce development and provides educational assistance for qualified candidates.
“Olga joins MYCRANE at an exciting time and I am thrilled to welcome her to our growing team,” said Andrei Geikalo, MYCRANE founder and CEO. “Her established contacts in the industry and can-do attitude will be a great asset to the company as we expand our presence in the USA and advance the digitalization of the crane rental process.”
MYCRANE’s solutions are designed to deliver the benefits of digitalization for the cranes and construction sectors. The Dubai-based company’s most well-known tool is its free online crane rental platform, which enables users to save time and money by quickly and easily finding lifting equipment using the MYCRANE website.
Dubinok says she was particularly attracted by MYCRANE’s mission. “What really excites me about MYCRANE is the opportunity to introduce technology and services that truly help the industry,” she says. “It’s all about making the way we do business that much easier.”
The latest appointment builds on earlier expansion in the USA, which is designated one of MYCRANE’s three focus markets, along with India and Saudi Arabia. The USA operation is active nationwide and led by Jason Brough, president of MYCRANE USA, who was appointed in October 2023.
For more information, or for free registration as a customer or crane rental company, visit www.my-crane.com.
The global award is for a three-year period and will see WFS handling over 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually for the Abu Dhabi-headquartered airline. In the EMEAA region, the airports covered by the agreement are Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Bengaluru, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Madrid, and Paris CDG. In North America, it includes WFS’ existing handling operations for Etihad in New York JFK and Washington Dulles, and the new award of Boston and Chicago.
Strategically located at the centre of the world’s busiest trade lanes, Etihad Cargo provides an integral link to Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East via the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi, connecting prime cargo markets across the globe. It offers cargo capacity on passenger and freighter aircraft as well as an extensive trucking network.
Since its establishment in 2004, Etihad Cargo has grown rapidly to become one of the leading air cargo carriers in the world, offering customers a range of cargo products and services to five major continents. In addition to general cargo, Etihad Cargo offers a wide range of specialty products including live animals, dangerous goods, valuables and vulnerable cargoes, personal effects, as well as cold chain products for pharmaceuticals and perishables cargoes.
Etihad has been a fast-growing cargo handling customer of WFS since the two organisations signed their first cargo handling agreement in Frankfurt in 2005.
Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said, “Etihad Cargo’s long-standing partnership with WFS and addition of new stations are a direct reflection of a shared commitment to consistently delivering high-quality air cargo solutions globally. The combination of Etihad Cargo’s expertise in transporting general and specialised cargo and the capabilities of WFS give partners and customers the confidence that their air cargo needs are in the best hands, regardless of where they are in the world.”
“We thank Etihad Cargo for their trust in WFS, and for this latest extension of our growing strategic partnership. As well as renewing existing contracts with WFS, this new agreement adds more key airport stations to the important work we do for the airline, including Amsterdam, Bengaluru, Barcelona, Boston, Copenhagen and Chicago. We value Etihad cargo’s partnership approach and their confidence in our ability to consistently deliver the high levels of service the airline’s award-winning reputation is founded on. Being awarded responsibility for providing cargo handling services at so many major cargo airports highlights WFS’s ability to provide global network solutions to our strategic customers,” said Mohammed Esa, Global Head, Gateway Services Key Accounts & Strategy, SATS Group.
New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners feature Etihad’s stylish new cabin interior
Etihad Airways is celebrating the arrival of three new Boeing 787-9 aircraft this weekend. The national airline of the UAE welcomed the latest additions to its expanding fleet at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport.
The new aircraft will begin operations this month, helping Etihad to expand in line with its ambitious roadmap which will see it fly to 125 destinations with more than 160 aircraft by 2030, a press communique stated.
“These new aircraft support our commitment to Abu Dhabi, allowing us to bring more guests to experience the incredible capital of the UAE, either as their end destination or on a stopover when connecting across our expanding network,” noted Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners are up to 25% more fuel efficient than many comparable aircraft of their size. In total, Etihad now operates 43 Dreamliners and a total fleet of 88 aircraft including the Airbus A380, A350, A320 family, and Boeing 777.
Etihad’s new 787 Dreamliner cabin interior offers a comfortable and spacious cabin environment in Etihad’s award-winning signature style. The two-class aircraft features a brand-new cabin interior with 32 Business Suites and 271 seats in Economy, the press note continued.
ECS Group is the only GSSA to offer a unique parcel-focused service solution, bringing international postal operators, e-commerce retailers, and airlines together: Mail & More.
ECS Group’s Mail & More service solution saw over 80% growth in 2023 (compared to previous year), hitting the 900 tonnes mark.
Mail & More customers benefit from two core service areas: Commercial and System.
When it comes to air cargo commodities, the distinction between mail and e-commerce is becoming ever more blurred. Two common denominators set them apart from general cargo: they increasingly consist of small, individual parcels and their processes fall out of the air cargo handling norm. ECS Group’s Mail & More offers a scalable solution to all airlines looking to place greater emphasis on this rapidly growing product niche.
e-commerce is booming. In less than a decade, the number of parcels has more than trebled and cross-border e-commerce has doubled. Over 131 billion parcels were carried across the world in 2020, and it is predicted that, in just 2 years from now, this number will have grown to 266 billion. 80% of cross-border e-commerce travels by air, and the commodity already constitutes around 20% of all air freight carried. e-commerce is therefore not simply an increasingly attractive base-load opportunity, but a key component for success, driving airlines to adapt to today’s changing logistics market. Major airlines have begun initiating change, allocating warehouse and staff resources, and restructuring or partnering with 3PLs so as to provide optimum parcel handling. Many opt for ECS Group’s Mail & More Ability to cover the commercial side of operations.
“Mail & More completely removes the challenges and complexity that mail or e-commerce bring to an airline’s operational processes. We act as an affiliated, specialised team to our airline customers, and cover the entire process from commercial responsibilities to capacity sourcing and allocation, all the way through to digital support,” Jonathan Fredericks, Mail & More Managing Director, explains. “To date, we are the only GSSA to offer this service as a comprehensive package, developed based on our long-standing experience in airmail. Mail & More is not just unique, but also constantly being adapted to ensure that our customers always receive the best service without having to deal with any of the complexity.”
Mail & More has skyrocketed in popularity, demonstrating the urgent need for ECS Group’s parcel-focused solution. In 2022, 480 tonnes of e-commerce and mail were transported through Mail & More. In 2023, this increased to 900 tonnes.
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, states: “With Mail & More, we build a bridge between two very parallel and often separate transport systems: our customers are airlines and e-commerce or postal operators. We offer a fully functional and highly experienced interface on two essential levels: Commercial and System. Commercial ensures that parcel flows are matched with regular, available cargo capacity. System and consultancy refer to set-up procedures that enable airlines and postal operators to continue using their documentation processes, regardless of whether they use CNs or AWBs. Our plug & play Mail EDI system, at no extra cost, is the digital interface translating and linking the two digital data channels.”
Mail & More brings postal operators and e-commerce consolidators around the globe together with the many airlines in the ECS Group portfolio, swiftly matching demand with capacity. ECS Group’s wide-reaching international network and concentrated focus on parcels form a sound basis on which to commercially develop the airline’s market reach. The inhouse digital support solution, Mail EDI, increases operational efficiency, allows end-to-end transparency and tracking, and ensures quality compliance in line with airlines’ and postal operators’ processes, and UPU regulations. It also allows reporting, performance steering, tracking and tracing, accounting, and billing.
Saudia Cargo Secures Prestigious Highly Acclaimed Air Cargo Marketing Award
Saudia Cargo, one of the leading air cargo carriers in the Middle East, has been awarded with the Highly Acclaimed Air Cargo Marketing Award at the esteemed International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo, held by STAT Times magazine during Air Cargo India 2024.
The STAT Times Air Cargo Marketing Award celebrates exceptional accomplishments and innovative strategies within the air cargo marketing domain. Saudia Cargo’s reception of this accolade underscores its unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled services and groundbreaking campaigns within the international air cargo industry.
Ayman Osilan, Executive Director Marketing of Saudia Cargo, expressed heartfelt appreciation, stating, “We are deeply honored to receive the Air Cargo Marketing Award at the STAT Times Awards 2024, which reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation and operational excellence in serving our global partners and customers. This recognition fills us with immense pride and gratitude, and we extend sincere thanks to all stakeholders for their steadfast support and trust.”
“Renowned for our impeccable reputation and customer-focused approach, Saudia Cargo remains at the forefront of innovation. Through heartfelt and human-centric campaigns around e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, to flying horses and transporting flowers, and humanitarian aid we have forged stronger connections with our customers than ever before. Our focus on reading trends and anticipating the future needs of customers drives us to build marketing infrastructure and engage with their experience proactively. We are committed to continuously evolving to meet the evolving needs of our valued customers through continuous communication, listening, and understanding,” he added.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 of becoming a global logistics platform, Saudia Cargo aspires to connect global markets with the Kingdom, leveraging its strategic geographical location at the heart of global trade routes. As a member of the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance, representing 20% of the air cargo movement, Saudia Cargo continues to support emerging markets and benefits from the international coverage provided by the alliance, connecting more than 175 countries worldwide.
UAE nationals and women among 19 executives promoted
Emirates Airline has made key leadership changes including two deputies for President Tim Clark, as it prepares itself for further growth, according to a corporate press communique.
The new slate of senior appointees, which include 8 UAE nationals and 6 women, will assume their new roles effective March 1, 2024, the long-haul operator recently announced.
Among the appointments, the airline’s current Chief Operations Officer, Adel Al Redha, and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, will each take the added position of Deputy President, the airline said.
Both UAE nationals have been with the airline for over three decades, with Al Redha joining Emirates in 1988 and Kazim in 1992.
The changes are intended to strengthen the executive bench and support Emirates’ growth for the next 15 years, commented HH Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group.
The complete list of appointments are as follows:
Adel Al Redha: Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer
Adnan Kazim: Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer
Steve Allen: Chief Executive Officer, dnata
Michael Doersam: Chief Financial and Group Services Officer
Boutros Boutros: Executive VP-Marketing, Brand and Corporate Communications
Nabil Sultan: Executive VP-Passenger Sales and Country Management
Oliver Grohmann: Executive VP-Human Resources
Richard Jewsbury: Executive VP-Corporate and Customer Experience Planning
Anand Lakshminarayanan: Divisional Senior VP-Order Management and Revenue Optimization
Amira Al Awadhi: Senior VP-HR Operations and Systems
Amira Al Falasi: Senior VP-Training and Development
Hana Al Awadhi: Senior VP-dnata Business Support
Manal Al Soori: Senior VP-Group Recruitment
Masooma Hassan: Senior VP-Airline Business Support
Musa Faisal: Senior VP-Operations Research and Effectiveness
Valerie Tan: Senior VP – Corporate Communications, CSR and Media Affairs
UAE to host the prestigious FIATA-RAME 2024 Field Meeting & Conference
The global logistics sector to reach US$ 16.36tn by 2027
The UAE National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL) has announced the 2024 FIATA RAME (Region Africa and Middle East) Field Meeting and conference dates.
Held under the esteemed patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Honorary Patron of NAFL, the two-day event, scheduled for March 5th and 6th, 2024, in Dubai, will bring together leading industry experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss critical trends and strategies shaping the future of logistics in the MEA region. It will also highlight the growth opportunities in the industry and the economy in the region, according to a press communique.
The global logistics sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with the recent Mordor Intelligence report estimating its market size to reach US$ 16.36tn by 2027. The MEA region plays a pivotal role within this landscape as a vital bridge connecting continents and facilitating trade flows worth trillions of dollars.
Red Sea
With the Red Sea situation unfolding at the heart of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)’s Region Africa Middle East, the discussions will serve as a critical platform to tackle industry challenges and explore innovative solutions that propel seamless and sustainable logistics across the region.
The meeting will be the perfect platform to foster collaboration between countries and stakeholders to develop efficient connectivity infrastructure and streamline cross-border trade while navigating geopolitical uncertainties, global trade disruptions, and economic fluctuations while ensuring resilience and agility.
The Conference agenda will focus on addressing the environmental impact of logistics through green initiatives, carbon-neutral technologies, and efficient operations, leveraging cutting-edge advancements in automation, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to optimize supply chains and enhance transparency and collaboration.
Field Meeting
“In this field meeting, FIATA will convene its Region Africa and Middle East delegates, and the general freight forwarding community in the region, in this opportunity to explore how to build a more resilient supply chain given the ongoing crises in the Middle East, with the use of multimodal transport to support and facilitate the industry cargo flow,” commented Dr Stéphane Graber, Director General, FIATA.
UAE’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and commitment to innovation make it the ideal platform for this crucial discussion. The UAE boasts the world’s busiest airports for international cargo traffic, the Jebel Ali Port, the largest and most technologically advanced man-made harbour in the Middle East, and a thriving free zone ecosystem. It is also a regional hub for major logistics service providers and technology companies.
“The conference is a gateway to exploring the immense potential of the UAE logistics sector as the country is positioned as the logistics hub for the neighbouring GCC countries and the wider MEA region. With its focus on key themes, insightful discussions, and networking opportunities, the conference will contribute to shaping a more efficient, sustainable, and collaborative future for the logistics and trade industry in the MEA region and beyond,” affirmed Nadia Abdul Aziz, President, NAFL.
The FIATA RAME conference in Dubai-UAE promises to be an invaluable event for all stakeholders involved in the logistics and trade sector, the press statement concluded.
Etihad Airways appoints Stanislas Brun to the role of Vice President Cargo
Brun will oversee Etihad Cargo’s global commercial operations.
Etihad Airways has appointed Stanislas Brun to the role of Vice President Cargo. Brun will be responsible for Etihad Cargo’s commercial operations including scheduled and charter flights, revenue management and network planning. Brun will report to Etihad Airways’ Chief Operating Officer, Mohammad Al Bulooki.
Brun joins Etihad Cargo from Geodis, where, in his role as Senior Vice President Global Airfreight, he oversaw the global air cargo operations of the logistics and supply chain solutions provider. As the newly appointed Vice President Cargo of Etihad Cargo, Brun will oversee all facets of the cargo commercial operations, including revenue management and network planning.
“I have every confidence that the passion and expertise Stanislas brings to this role will enable Etihad Cargo to continue the impressive growth trajectory it has achieved in recent years,” commented Al Bulooki.
“As the airline enters this next exciting period of growth, I look forward to working closely with the team, our partners and customers and continuing to deliver innovative end-to-end solutions so Etihad Cargo can remain the air cargo partner of choice,” remarked Brun on his appointment.
Emirates NBD’s commitment to fostering innovation is far reaching and includes industry partnerships with start-ups and accelerators. As well as this, the bank takes the next step to actively invite global fintech players to join forces in the collaborative development of cutting-edge products and services for its diverse customer base.
The bank’s enduring collaboration with DIFC Innovation Hub since 2017 exemplifies its dedication to nurturing the growth of promising FinTech start-ups, particularly those navigating the dynamic landscape of the metaverse. This partnership has played a pivotal role in translating innovative concepts into tangible prototypes, leading to the successful integration of numerous solutions that enhance customer experiences in the evolving digital era.
Mohammad Alblooshi, Chief Executive Officerat DIFC innovation Hub,said:“We are delighted to welcome Emirates NBD as a Premium Banking Partner for Dubai FinTech Summit 2024. Emirates NBD’s unwavering commitment to FinTech innovation aligns perfectly with the summit’s goal to bring together leading innovators shaping the future of financial technology. Our collaboration is pivotal in nurturing a thriving FinTech ecosystem that attracts and supports the growth of innovative companies. We look forward to delivering an exceptional event that will inspire and empower the FinTech community.”
Marwan Hadi, Group Head of Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD,said:“We are pleased to announce Emirates NBD as the Premium Banking Partner for the Dubai FinTech Summit. This collaboration signifies our commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the financial sector, together with our long-time strategic partner, DIFC. We look forward to contributing to an event that not only showcases the latest innovations in FinTech, but also paves the way for future advancements, instrumental in driving forward the financial technology landscape, both regionally and globally.”
In line with the D33 Agenda to position Dubai as the top four global financial hub by 2033,thesecond edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit is designed to encourage cross-border collaboration and innovation, pivotal to transforming the global FinTech sector.It presents a unique opportunity to explore emerging FinTech trends and their potential to drive financial progress in the MEASA region.
Dubai Fintech Summit 2024 will see an unprecedented gathering of more than 8,000 decision-makers, more than 300 thought leaders and more than 200 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies.
About Dubai FinTech Summit
Dubai FinTech Summit is an annual mega event organised by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. The 2nd edition of the Dubai FinTech Summit will bring together over 8,000+ global industry leaders, 1,500+ investors and policy makers, signalling increased appetite for growth opportunities in the region.
Dubai FinTech Summit signals new wave of financial innovation, opportunity, transformation, and growth for the international financial services sector. As a rising FinTech hub, Dubai is also spearheading the evolution of the financial services industry, with investments in FinTech projected to grow by 17.2% CAGR to USD949 billion from 2022 to 2030. The summit aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33’s strategic goal of propelling Dubai into the ranks of the top four global financial hubs by 2033.
The expanded programme of Dubai FinTech Summit is set to exceed expectations by delving into key tracks, including the future of FinTech, embedded and Open Finance, climate finance, Web3 and digital assets. The summit stands as a thought leadership-driven platform, addressing industry challenges head-on and championing innovation.
New facility located in Dubai World Central Airport in Dubai South
FedEx Express (FedEx) and the world’s largest express transportation company, is expanding its footprint in the Middle East with its new Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) state-of-the-art hub at Dubai World Central (DWC) Airport in Dubai South.
The facility was officially inaugurated by HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, along with Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corporation President and CEO, Richard W. Smith, FedEx Express President and CEO, Airline and International, and Kami Viswanathan, FedEx Express MEISA President.
Long-term investment
The launch of the hub marks a long-term investment of more than US$ 350mn (AED 1.3bn) into the UAE’s economy through infrastructure and technological advancements in the facility. This investment reaffirms the company’s commitment to the UAE’s economic growth, in line with the ‘National Agenda for Non-oil Export Development’, which aims to increase the nation’s foreign trade.
“The inauguration of the FedEx MEISA hub in Dubai South is a strategic milestone for Dubai’s aviation and logistics sectors, consolidating the emirate’s robust infrastructure, strategic location, and our ongoing efforts to enhance global connectivity. This new facility underscores our commitment to supporting the growth of trade and commerce, aligning perfectly with our vision for economic diversification and innovation-led development,” affirmed HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed.
“The establishment of our new hub in the UAE is a strategic move that significantly boosts our presence and capabilities in the MEISA region. This investment is not just about expanding our network; it’s about enhancing the region’s connectivity and playing a key role in facilitating trade and commerce across the world,” remarked Richard W. Smith, FedEx Express President and Chief Executive Officer, Airline and International.
Catalytic role
“We are delighted to welcome the new FedEx facility, which will serve as a regional hub contributing to the growth of the emirate’s top sectors, aviation and logistics, while catalyzing its role in the wider development of an economy centered on innovation and technology,” commented HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South.
“The new FedEx hub marks a pivotal stride in our growth strategy to build a more flexible, efficient, and smart network, to deliver outstanding services that fit our customers’ needs. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, our hub at DWC in Dubai South exemplifies our commitment to transforming our operations through automation and building a smarter and more sustainable logistics network,” noted Kami Viswanathan, President, FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
The 57,000sqm facility incorporates advanced technologies that include automated sorting systems that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of package processing and distribution from the facility. The hub also boasts two automated high-speed x-ray machines equipped with artificial intelligence to efficiently scan goods and enhance security. Additionally, a 170sqm cold storage area caters to a wide range of temperature-sensitive shipments.
Sustainability
The new FedEx hub is also a testament to the company’s commitment to sustainability and our goal of achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2040. The facility adheres to Dubai Municipality Green Standards, featuring a solar power project, and a building management system that helps ensure efficient energy use. In addition, FedEx is leveraging electric ground service fleet along with electric charging stations for pick-up, delivery, and employee vehicles.
Situated in DWC, at the heart of Dubai South, the hub forms an integral component of the region’s aviation and logistics ecosystem. This strategic location is further enhanced by a comprehensive multi-modal transportation network, seamlessly connecting air, land, and sea.
Following an intense implementation itinerary in 2023, which included the successful launch of WestJet Cargo’s first freighter fleet alongside rapid company and network growth, the cargo carrier cites partnerships, product portfolio, and digital enhancements as its three focus areas for an equally energy-driven 2024.
WestJet Cargo starts the year on a solid basis – the result of an outstanding 2023 centred on deploying the airline’s first freighter fleet and building a strong team of cargo experts. 22 new colleagues joined during the course of last year, as WestJet Cargo opened 24 warehouses, 14 freighter handling stations, and expanded its cargo network to a total of 45 very diverse destinations across the world, connecting, for example, Halifax – a smaller province in Nova Scotia, to major cities such as Paris, France, and Narita, Japan.
WestJet Cargo’s freighter launch events on 22 April 2023, in Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax, set the scene for what was to come and showcased the airline’s commitment to excellence. Within just 60 days of the freighter inauguration ceremonies and following its CAO certification and the implementation of a Charter Desk, WestJet Cargo successfully operated its first commercial charter flight for Air Charter Service from Halifax to Calgary in July 2023. A series of air cargo product launches, including Bike’Air and, more recently, Safe’Air, as well as strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders such as Flexport and Awesome Cargo, paved the way for the airline’s journey to becoming a key player in the aviation cargo industry – and one that stands out through creativity and reliability.
“Our priority focus is on delivering reliable solutions to our customers. To achieve this, we’re applying our unique corporate mindset to three main areas this year. 2024 will see WestJet Cargo continue building and expanding its strategic partnerships, further diversifying its product mix, and implementing our digital roadmap with respect to online marketplaces and a new website.” says Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice-President, Cargo at WestJet.
2024 will therefore see new destinations and routes, such as Seoul starting May 17th and a year-round service to Narita, being added through additional freighter and passenger belly cargo flights, in order to offer a comprehensive and versatile cargo network. This goes hand in hand with a continued strategic planning approach to effectively navigating market dynamics together with the right partners and strengthening WestJet Cargo’s position in the global air freight sector. These include digital partnerships and the launch of a new cargo website, in anticipation of a shift towards more self-service options. Its digital innovation will also focus on solutions for enhanced efficiency and service delivery, including the possible implementation of advanced technologies within its cargo operations. Since the core element for company success in all these areas is human capital, WestJet Cargo will also continue to invest in its people, focusing on career development, diversity, and inclusion.
“In 2022, we were taxiing and, in 2023, we successfully took off as a cargo airline. WestJet Cargo has no intention of slowing down at all in 2024. We’re climbing and aiming for cruising altitude on our company flight path, this year,” Kirsten de Bruijn concludes.
New facility will be developed in partnership with Adroit Overseas Canada and Al Amir Foods
DP World recently announced the ground-breaking of its new Agri Terminals facility at Jebel Ali Port, marking the start of a transformative journey to bolster food security in the UAE.
Alongside Adroit Overseas Canada and Al Amir Foods, DP World will invest a total of AED 550mn (US$150mn) to build the state-of-the-art Agri Terminals complex which will specialize in storing and processing various agricultural products, including pulses, grains, corn, and soybeans, according to a corporate press release.
With the first phase scheduled for completion in early 2025, this landmark project underscores DP World’s commitment to fortifying the UAE’s food supply chain in alignment with the National Food Security Strategy 2051, while also solidifying Dubai’s pivotal role in global food trade.
Jebel Ali Port handles approximately 73% per cent of the UAE’s food and beverage trade by value, making it a significant contributor to the country’s food security programme.
Ground-breaking facility
The ground-breaking was attended by Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General, Dubai Municipality; Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World; Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World GCC; Yogesh Raipuria, CEO, Adroit Overseas Canada; Yasin Abdul Majid Ranani, Managing Director, Al Amir Foods, among other senior officials from both sides.
The Agri Terminals facility is set to stimulate over AED 1.2bn in new international trade, aligning with the UAE’s ‘Operation 300 Billion’ strategy. The new facility is also expected to enhance bulk handling by approximately 750,000MTannually, making a substantial impact on Dubai’s trade dynamics and food security efforts.
Landmark moment
“The groundbreaking of our Agri Terminals facility is a landmark moment for DP World and our journey towards building resilience into the food supply chain of the UAE and the wider region,” affirmed Bin Sulayem.
“By integrating this terminal with existing sugar processing and edible oil facilities, we are creating a comprehensive food and beverage ecosystem that optimizes resources, diversifies our offerings and addresses global food security challenges,” observed Bin Damithan
“Through this facility, which is a crucial step towards securing food supply chains and supporting the UAE’s vision for food security, we are set to expand our reach and contribute significantly to global food trade,” commented Ranani.
Sustainable food solutions
“Once completed, our venture will significantly enhance our ability to serve global markets more efficiently, reinforcing our mission to provide reliable and sustainable food solutions,” remarked Raipuria.
Spanning a quayside area of 100,000sqm, Agri Terminals will be Dubai’s largest multi-tenant facility for integrated agricultural processing and silo storage. It will feature a total storage capacity of 200,000MT, developed over two phases, along with extensive processing and packaging facilities to handle as much as 500,000MT a year, the press communique concluded.
Sheikh Ahmad bin Said Al Maktouum, October 7, 2009 (Photo by Nemanja Seslija/ITP Images)
Middle East airports expanding in a fast-forward mode to handle zooming passenger numbers
Dubai to host the world’s largest airport industry show in May
Ahmed bin Saeed: “The exhibition is the best to source cutting-edge technologies and innovative products for better operations.”
Up to US$2. 7 billion investments for DXB expansion
Middle East airports to handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040
US$151 billion is required for ME airport capacity expansion
Global airport construction market to reach US$1.8 trillion by 2030
ME to be the world’s fastest-growing aviation market by 2033
The region has 110 commercial airports and 69 operating carriers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 20, 2024: With the civil aviation industry almost fully recovered after the steepest fall in passenger numbers due to the 21st century’s second pandemic, airports across the world are bracing themselves to handle a big boom in air travel until 2030 by going in for expansions and redevelopments.
The Middle East Aviation Market, valued at US$60 billion in 2023, is predicted to rise substantially until 2030. Air connectivity in the Middle East had seen a 26 percent-plus growth in 2022 as compared with 2019.
The Middle East airports are set to handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040, more than double the 2019 figure of 405 million passengers. They will be required to invest around US$151 billion in capacity expansion. The region, with over 110 airports, is among the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.
Airport developers, officials, and suppliers from across the world will come to Dubai in mid-May 2024 to participate in the world’s largest annual event dedicated to the global airports industry. The 23rd edition of the three-day B2B event at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the Middle East’s leading exhibition and convention venue, will have more than 150 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and 7,500 visitors from over 30 countries attending. The Airport Show will have co-located events – ATC Forum, Airport Security Middle East, and the 11th edition of the Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF).
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, and Patron of Airport Show said: “The business event will provide the industry professionals from Middle East, South Asia, and Africa region, the opportunity to see innovations in airport sustainability, digitalization, and urban air mobility.”
He added: “Airport Show will remain the best venue to select and source the cutting-edge technologies and newest innovative products to better the airport operations.”
Organized by RX, part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools that organizes about 400 events in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors, the show is supported by prominent players in the aviation industry, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), and dnata.
Remarked May Ismail, Event Manager at RX: “The airport industry will be back to full business when we meet in 2024. The pace of growth and expansion that was halted is back at a phenomenal rate. The projects that took off again clearly suggest there is no end to expansion and growth. What had been put on the back burner is now in the front.”
According to a CAPA report, 425 major construction projects were on at existing airports worldwide, with US$450 billion in investments. There were 225 new airport projects and more than 70 percent of the investment was in Asia Pacific. There were 1074 airport investors, of which 258 were airport operators, groups or consortiums. About 68 percent of all projects were based on terminals, either expansions or new developments. A report has disclosed that the global airport construction market grew to US$1.14 trillion in 2023, and would reach US$1.8 trillion by 2030.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travelers continuously for nine years, is also building up the capacity and facilities to make the hub more impressive. Now serving 250 destinations in 104 countries through 95 airlines, DXB has mega expansion plans that will entail investments of up to US$2. 7 billion. The enhancements in capacity and service levels over the coming 10 years have been necessitated as its home base carriers ordered another 120 aircraft – 90 Boeing-777s for Emirates and 30 Boeing-787s for flydubai.
Sharjah, home to the Arabian Gulf’s first airport, has started work on an AED1.2 billion (US$327 million) terminal expansion that will increase the airport’s capacity to 20 million passengers a year. The expansion project will separate the arrivals from departures areas and enhance its systems and amenities. It is the largest phase of expansion work being undertaken at a total cost of AED2.4 billion and is expected to be completed in 2027. Improvements will include additional self-check-in kiosks, electronic boarding gates, a spacious waiting zone, dining facilities, and a transit passenger hotel. Sharjah Airport, home of the MENA region’s largest LCC Air Arabia, added six new passenger destinations and three air cargo routes in 2023. The airport handled about 13.1 million passengers in 2022 and will be able to handle up to 25 million passengers by 2026.
A plan is underway to transform King Abdelaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Saudi Arabia into one of the world’s largest airports with an SR115 billion expansion plan that will increase its capacity to 114 million passengers a year. The largest components of the plan cover the design and expansion of Terminal 1 and the construction of a new passenger terminal to be called Terminal 2. The expected completion date for the expansion project is 2031.
A new Hajj and Umrah terminal at the airport in Jeddah will handle 15 million passengers a year and is expected to be completed by 2025. The airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. For cargo, the goal is to process 3.5 million tons a year.
Another major airport is planned for Neom, close to the Tabuk end of the 170-kilometre-long Line development. Neom International Airport’s first phase will have the capacity to handle 25 million passengers a year. A second phase could take the capacity up to 50 million passengers a year. There is an aspiration for the airport to become the largest in the world, with a capacity of 100 million passengers a year. Abha International Airport will undergo a makeover that will see its terminal grow from 113,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet.
The existing airport can handle 1.5 million passengers annually. The new one will be capable of handling 13 million by the time the first phase of the development is completed in 2028. The expansion will include the construction of passenger jetways, self-service facilities for passenger check-in and baggage handling, and high-capacity parking facilities. Saudi Arabia is building in
Riyadh one of the world’s largest airports which will have six parallel runways. The airport will help drive annual passenger traffic to 120 million by 2030 and 185 million by 2050.
Airports in Oman are expected to witness 40 million passengers by 2030. The Sultanate currently attracts 18 million passengers. The country currently can handle around 24 million passengers. Officials opened new airports in Muscat and Duqm in 2019 in addition to two new air cargo terminals. Musandam Airport is being constructed for US$250 million and is expected to be ready by Q4 2026. The work includes the construction of two runways and a passenger terminal with a capacity of 250,000 passengers per year.
Lebanon has on anvil plans to construct a US$122 million terminal at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport to be completed in four years. The new terminal will help it handle 3.5 million passengers annually when operations are planned to begin in 2027. The airport currently handles 8 million passengers a year, and the plans are to reach 20 million in 2030.
Bahrain is exploring plans to have a second airport by 2034. It has undergone expansion as part of the US$13 billion investment into its tourism industry. The new passenger terminal building at Bahrain International Airport doubled its capacity. The new greenfield airport will eventually replace the existing Bahrain International Airport (BIA) due to the inadequacy of its current infrastructure in meeting the kingdom’s growing airport needs.
Kuwait has plans to expand its airport terminal capacity from six million passengers per year to 20 million by 2030 and turn Kuwait International Airport into a major passenger and cargo hub. The new passenger terminal (T2) was one of the projects aimed at modernizing its infrastructure to serve Vision 2035. The US$4.36 billion Kuwait Airport’s Passenger Terminal-2 expansion will boost its annual passenger handling capacity to 13 million passengers per year by 2025.
Egypt is working at expanding and bettering aviation facilities keeping in view the plans to receive up to 30 million visitors by 2028. The UAE’s aviation is set to witness growth as the UAE Tourism Strategy aims to host 40 million visitors by 2031. The first phase of Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to be completed by December 2024. By 2032, Navi Mumbai Airport would also have the capacity to handle 2.5 million tons of cargo. The US$3.8 billion Noida International Airport is set to open by September 2025.
Maldives is working to develop airports in its six islands as its new government works on a policy to have an airport within 30 minutes of every residential island. Its capital city, Male, will have a new terminal by 2025. China aims to construct 216 new airports by 2035 to meet the growing demands for air travel.
A report by Statista said Asia-Pacific had been the region with the highest number of airport infrastructure projects under construction, with over half of the new airport construction taking place in this region. It also had the lead for construction projects in existing airports. When considering the value of airport construction projects worldwide, Asia-Pacific was also at the top of the ranking.
“Airports will be core drivers of (aviation) industry-wide change, while themselves being transformed in the process,” remarked a study on the ‘Evolution of Airports – Travel Trends in The Next 30 Years’ published by Oliver Wyman, a global consultancy, Airports Council International (ACI) World, and the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC).
Transforming Energy: The Inaugural Kuwait International Hydrogen Technology Symposium Spotlights Global Path to Carbon Neutrality
Industry Leaders Ignite Discussions: Spotlight on the Advancements in Hydrogen Technology
The Arab Association of Energy Professionals (AEP) is delighted to organize the inaugural Kuwait International Hydrogen Technology Symposium, themed, ‘The Kuwait Hydrogen Outlook from Vision to Action. This grand two-day event will take place from March 5-6, 2024, at the prestigious Hilton Resort Hotel in Kuwait City. Given the growing need for a sustainable and low-carbon future, the symposium emphasizes the transformative potential of Hydrogen energy and Kuwait’s burgeoning role in producing blue and green Hydrogen. The World, now more than ever, is calling for a revolutionary shift in energy generation, affordability, and security, wherein Hydrogen will play a critical role. The event will strategically highlight Kuwait’s path to becoming a global Hydrogen hub, emphasizing the extensive resources the country possesses and its comprehensive initiatives towards achieving a net-zero economy. “In 2020, the production of hydrogen in Kuwait accounted for 2% of the world’s total output. However, with the forthcoming advancements in technology and government backing, it is predicted that Kuwait has the potential to contribute significantly to the world’s hydrogen market. As the co-chairs of the Executive Committee for the 1st Kuwait International Hydrogen Technology Symposium, we are both eager and proud to see Kuwait stepping up to spearhead discussions around one of the most promising energy alternatives of the 21st century, hydrogen. The Symposium’s theme, ‘The Kuwait Hydrogen Outlook from Vision to Action,’ aptly captures the trajectory of Kuwait’s intent to embrace a future driven by green, clean energy sources,” said the Executive Committee Co-Chair, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, Manager (Production and Projects – GAS), Kuwait Oil Company & Executive Committee Co-Chair, Peter Jensen, ETSA Contract Manager North Kuwaiti Jurassic Gas, Shell The co-chairs added “As we look forward to the impact and benefits of hydrogen technology, we are reminded that success can only be achieved through progressive vision coupled with
immediate, determined action. This Symposium seeks to stimulate discussion and drive both collaboration and action. Our vision for Kuwait is a nation empowered by Sustainable Energy, driving an energy transformation to enhance economic diversification, job creation, and sustainability. The transition to hydrogen isn’t just an opportunity for Kuwait but a commitment towards building a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.
Top-ranking executives from Kuwait Oil Company and Shell, along with esteemed members from the Hydrogen sector, constitute the program committee that orchestrates the symposium. This symposium provides an invaluable platform to partake in discussions defining the future of energy, said the Co-Chair of the Executive Committee and Manager (Production and Projects – GAS), Kuwait Oil Company.
GulfCryo, the leading provider of industrial and medical gases in the Middle East, has come forward as a lead sponsor for the symposium, marking its commitment towards energy diversification and supporting the shift towards Hydrogen as a viable energy alternative. Their participation demonstrates their active role in propelling the Hydrogen industry’s growth in the GCC region and strengthening Kuwait’s standing as a future major player in this sector.
Delegates and industry thought-leaders from across the globe will assemble to address crucial aspects related to the future of Hydrogen. Participants can anticipate incisive dialogues on an array of topics such as Hydrogen potential markets and applications, technology selection, associated risks and opportunities, and effective Hydrogen transportation and export strategies. This ground-breaking event promises exclusive insights and education on the latest advancements and trends from industry leaders. Organized under the umbrella of the AEP, this symposium exemplifies the association’s ongoing commitment to connecting professionals across the energy industry, offering platforms that spark conversations to address significant industry challenges. This event aims to provide an engaging space to gain knowledge and encourage productive collaboration, says the ETSA Contract Manager of North Kuwaiti Jurassic Gas, Shell. The Kuwait Hydrogen Outlook Symposium embodies an invitation to global change-makers and visionaries in the Hydrogen industry. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to participate in Kuwait’s journey towards sustainable growth and progress. More details about the symposium can be found on https://kuwait-hydrogen.com/ and https://a-ep.org/.
Swissport International AG has added Al-Ula to its growing network of airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underlining the company’s ambitious and successful growth strategy in the Kingdom. Al-Ula, a rising international tourism hotspot, is already the sixth airport at which Swissport operates in Saudi Arabia.
Swissport has added Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport at Al-Ula (ULH) to its growing network in Saudi Arabia. The first flight serviced by Swissport was a Royal Jordanian flight arriving from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. Swissport, the global leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, will provide Royal Jordanian with passenger services and ramp handling at Al-Ula. Initially, Swissport will handle two weekly flights to and from Amman. The company expects flight volumes in Saudi Arabia to grow significantly as more airlines add destinations or increase frequencies in the thriving Kingdom.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our high-quality aviation services at Al-Ula and are honored by the trust our launching customer Royal Jordanian places in us,” says Chris Browne, CEO of Swissport Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ula is Swissport’s sixth airport in Saudi Arabia and further strengthens its position as the go-to service provider for airlines seeking a reliable long-term partner across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. The start of operations at Al-Ula underlines Swissport’s strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia.
“Jointly with ASYAD Holding, our Saudi joint-venture partner, we have ambitious plans and are committed to contributing towards the Saudi Vision 2030, which will place the Kingdom’s aviation sector in the ivy-league of global aviation,“ says Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport’s CEO for Continental Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Al-Ula is an ancient Arabian oasis and market town on the historic Incense Route that connected India and the Persian Gulf with the Levant and Europe. Today, it is one of the growing tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia, known for its landscape of cliffs, gorges and wadis and the contrast between this arid environment and the palm-covered oases. In 2023, Al-Ula airport welcomed more than two million passengers.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH ASYAD HOLDING
Swissport has been present in Saudi Arabia since 2016 when it started its operations in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. The company has since continuously expanded its business and turned its presence from a greenfield start-up into an established business with a broad customer base of regional and international carriers.
Swissport and ASYAD Holding, a diversified, family-owned Saudi holding group with significant business activities in and outside Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors including aviation and infrastructure, recently joined forces to unlock the full growth potential in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new strategic partnership underlines Swissport’s commitment to Saudi Arabia and is aimed at further accelerating the company’s growth in the largest economy in the Middle East. Swissport plans to further expand its Saudi presence in air cargo handling, airport ground services and in the lounge hospitality business, in particular also with Saudi carriers.
In 2023, Swissport in Saudi Arabia served 7.7m passengers (+49 per cent vs. 2022) and handled some 28,000 flights (+39 per cent vs. 2022). Currently, Swissport provides passenger services and ramp handling at six airports in Saudi Arabia: King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (RUH), King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (JED), King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (DMM), Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina (MED), Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al-Qassim (ELQ), and Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al-Ula (ULH).
Reported group net profit1 +9.9% YoY; margin at 6.6%
Agthia Group, one of the region’s leading regional food and beverage companies, recently announced its preliminary and unaudited results for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2023.
Group net revenue increased 12.1% year-on-year to AED 4.6bn during FY’23, supported by a continued shift in the Group’s product portfolio towards higher growth segments in key target markets. Snacking was the top-performing vertical, with 38.0% year-on-year growth.
Group like-for-like (LFL) revenue growth was 5.7% year-on-year, with Agri (+19.9% YoY) and Water & Food (+6.0% YoY) being major contributors of growth during the period.
Net profit
Underlying group net profit grew 25.5% year-on-year to AED 342.2mn. Agthia Group’s total assets stood at AED 6.6bn as of 31 December 2023, with total shareholders’ equity of AED 2.9bn.
“Agthia’s continued strong performance, despite a challenging economic environment, demonstrates the company’s ability to reap the rewards from its value-accretive M&A activities, leverage synergies across the Group, prioritize innovation across its product portfolio, and optimize its operations to maintain profitability,” remarked Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chairman, Agthia Group.
“Strong revenue and profit growth over the past year is testament to the tireless efforts and agility of all our colleagues across the Group, despite significant macroeconomic challenges and the high interest rate environment,” commented Alan Smith, CEO, Agthia Group.
Bahri lays Cornerstone for Logistics Centre at Jeddah Islamic Port
This project highlights Mawani’s commitment to enhancing the infrastructure
In the presence of HE Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) recently laid the cornerstone for the establishment of a logistics centre at Jeddah Islamic Port.
The ceremony was also graced by Omar Hariri, President, Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Eng. Ahmed Ali Al-Subaey, CEO, Bahri.
This state-of-the-art facility, which will cover a total area of 95,436sqm will be managed by Bahri Logistics. It will offer multiple storage options in temperature-controlled areas, handling services, and other value-added services, with the aim of enhancing logistics capabilities and supply chain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, enabling multinational companies to establish their logistics hubs in the Centre.
Pivotal role
Omar Hariri emphasized the pivotal role of the Bahri Logistics Centre as a key component in Mawani’s efforts to strengthen the maritime transport and logistics sector, in line with the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
This project highlights Mawani’s commitment to enhancing the infrastructure and capabilities of Saudi Arabia’s logistics sector, contributing actively to economic growth and efforts to boost non-oil exports, as outlined in the nation’s ambitious vision.
Eng. Ahmed Ali Al-Subaey expressed his enthusiasm for cooperating with Mawani and Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) to establish this cutting-edge logistics facility. He emphasized its potential to significantly impact the national, regional, and global logistics sectors.
Capabilities
“Beyond enhancing our capabilities and positioning us favorably in the global logistics sector, the Bahri Logistics Centre will allow us to capitalize on new opportunities, substantially enriching our role in elevating Saudi Arabia’s status as a global logistics hub,” he explained.
Expected to be operational in the first half of 2025, the Bahri Logistics Centre will offer exceptional storage and handling capabilities with over 80,000 pallet positions, 40,000 shelving units, and an annual throughput exceeding 900,000 pallets. The facility will be equipped to store reefers, insulated, and dry containers.
It will also provide a wide range of services to its customers, such as container maintenance, repair, and cleaning, bonded storage, and haulage, a press communique concluded.
Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand of flag carrier Turkish Airlines, received “Innovative International Cargo Airline of the Year” award at the “International Award for Excellence in Air Cargo” ceremony, held by Stat Trade Times magazine. Turkish Cargo has been also awarded as the most highly acclaimed air cargo brand in the “Innovative Logistics Solutions in Air Cargo” category, with SMARTIST facility.
The STAT Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo, held annually in Mumbai, India, are determined through a two-stage online voting process involving STAT Trade Times magazine readers, industry stakeholders, and experts. After receiving nominations for each category, the top five candidates are announced, and participants then vote to select the best company.
Expressing his opinions on the awards, Ali Turk, the Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines, said; “We are glad to have been announced as an innovative air cargo brand once again in the international arena. I hereby express thanks to our colleagues who have contributed to such achievement. Being able to remain competitive in the developing and digitalized world starts with understanding and meeting the requirements of the staff members and business partners. We, as Turkish Cargo, regard our investments in infrastructure and technology as a holistic development cycle spreading to all processes from our human resources policies to our sales channels. Such strategy of us enables a dynamic organizational structure based on a young and skilled staff. Thus, our teamwork and business culture progress in harmony with the digital transformation processes.”
The state-of-the-art cargo facility of Turkish Cargo SMARTIST
At SMARTIST, one of the state-of-the-art cargo facilities in the world, cargo is stored and transferred by a computer-controlled Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). Besides, ULD storage processes are automated using the ULD Storage System. Work Order project synchronizes and checks the in-warehouse handling processes through automated systems. By integrating RPA (Robotic Process Automation) technology with all processes, manual and repetitive tasks are performed 24/7 without relying on humans.
Turkish Cargo has also developed Cargy, a WhatsApp Chatbot, to enable cargo tracking and schedule inquiries. Delivering an uninterrupted and fat customer contact, Cargy enables readily cargo tracking and O&D-based schedule inquiries without any time constraint.
Thanks to such smart logistics systems, not only the operational processes are expedited, but also any unfavorable circumstance that might arise is minimized and workforce can be assigned to value-added tasks.
In the presence of H.E. Al-Jasser and with investments exceeding one billion Riyals, Mawani has announced the completion of the development of the Red Sea Gateway Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port, leading to an increase in its capacity.
The completion of development works in Jeddah Islamic Port’s North Container Terminal, in cooperation with the Red Sea Gateway Terminal “RSGT” with investments amounting to one billion riyals, is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the port, increase its capacity, and raise the efficiency of logistics services.
H.E. Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, highlighted that the completion of development works in Jeddah Islamic Port’s North Container Terminal, in partnership with the private sector, contributes to enhancing operational capabilities, increasing the port’s capacity in trade movements, exports, and supporting maritime transport, supply chains, and logistics services. He emphasized the importance of the completion of infrastructure rehabilitation and the deepening project in enabling the port to receive giant ships, achieve added value, and create promising investment opportunities that support the significant maritime capabilities of Saudi ports.
H.E Mr. Omar Hariri, President of the Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani”, praised the efforts of the private sector and national and international investors in the success of the initiatives undertaken by “Mawani”. He pointed out that the continuous development of the infrastructure at Jeddah Islamic Port is part of “Mawani’s” efforts to enhance the Kingdom’s leadership in the maritime sector, maximize its ability to stimulate the transportation and logistics industry, strengthen its economic and developmental role, as well as raising the Kingdom’s rank in international rankings.
CEO of the Red Sea Gateway Terminal, Jens Floe, stated that this achievement reflects the strategic partnership between “Mawani” and “RSGT”. He confirmed the completion of integration work within a period not exceeding three years, contributing to increasing the terminal’s area from 700,000 Sq.m to 1,500,000 Sq.m, and increasing the terminal handling capacity from 2.5 million TEUs to 6.2 million TEUs.
The development works included the renovation of all buildings at the terminal, the inauguration of an advanced control room equipped with the latest technologies, the establishment of automated main gates for trucks entering and exiting the terminal, with a larger capacity and equipped with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature, in addition to supporting operational performance with 146 different equipment, during the period from 2020 to 2023.
Moreover, the rehabilitation of the infrastructure, covering more than 1.5 million Sq.m, and 11 berths of 2,600 meters equipped with 24 shore-to-ship cranes (STS), along with the completion of the deepening project, has expanded the northern channel of the Red Sea Gateway Terminal to welcome giant ships with a draft of up to 17 meters.
The development of Jeddah Islamic Port’s North Container Terminal is included in the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract signed between the Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani” and the Red Sea Gateway Terminal, aligning with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to make Jeddah Islamic Port a world-class leader.
Sharjah Airport Authority reveals plans to develop the Cargo Centre and enhance its logistics services
Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) showcased its major developments that are currently underway and planned for its Cargo Centre during the three-day Air Cargo India 2024 in Mumbai, India. The event was attended by delegates from leading international airports, airlines, air cargo companies, as well as representatives from international commercial aviation and air cargo service organisations.
As part of its participation in the event, SAA showcased the latest services and solutions available at Sharjah Airport’s Air Cargo Centre. Furthermore, it sought to engage in meetings with different air cargo companies, shipping agents, and other global logistics service providers. These meetings provided a platform for evaluating strategies to strengthen connections and promote cooperative efforts. They also allowed participants to share their experiences, opinions, and ideas with industry experts and decision-makers to improve air cargo operations, while also attracting more air cargo companies to Sharjah Airport.
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in the Netherlands, BlueRock TMS is an IT services firm that develops advanced operative and analytical software solutions for the transportation industry that streamline logistics operations and delivery processes.
BlueRock TMS was founded in 2013 by industry veteran and current global CEO, Wouter Lammerse, with the demanding objective to simplify and streamline logistics processes. The company’s independent and creative versatile mindset has allowed it the freedom to develop, move, and deliver fast. This unique company spirit, in partnership with its insightful critical thinking, has grown them into a leading international TMS vendor, most recently recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant.
Global Supply Chain exclusively interviewed Sadi Abdel Kariem Al Sadi, CEO Middle East, and Africa, BlueRock TMS. The following is the transcript of the recent engagement.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): For the uninitiated, give us a one-minute spiel on the corporate profile of BlueRock TMS as a technology and transportation management solutions provider? Sadi Abdel Kariem Al Sadi (SAKAS): BlueRock TMS is a leading transportation management solutions technology provider, offering innovative, cloud native, AI solutions that streamline and optimize logistics operations. Our comprehensive platform leverages innovative artificially intelligent algorithms designed to meet the evolving needs of the supply chain industry globally.
GSC: When did BlueRock TMS debut in the Middle East and Africa and what is the geographical extent of your operations in the region? SAKAS: BlueRock TMS entered the Middle East in 2022, and our operations span across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and South Africa serving the entire region through these offices. Our strategic presence in the region is a testament to our commitment to providing top-tier TMS solutions tailored to the unique requirements of Middle Eastern markets.
GSC: As CEO what is your professional remit? SAKAS: As BlueRock TMS’ regional Chief Executive Officer, my role involves steering the company’s overall regional strategy, fostering innovation, building teams, and promoting the adoption of our cloud native, AI powered TMS technologies. I am dedicated to ensuring that BlueRock TMS remains at the forefront of the industry, delivering unmatched value to our clients whilst building an environment that bolsters regional talent.
GSC: Expand on BlueRock TMS’ sophisticated solutions and USPs that have been designed to address the unique challenges faced by logistics network operators be they Contract Logistics, Distributors or Retail / E-tailers? SAKAS: BlueRock TMS provides ingenious solutions tailored for retailers and E-commerce companies, addressing challenges. Our unique selling propositions include USPs, ensuring our clients attain operational excellence and enhance customer satisfaction.
GSC: In your estimation, what are the advanced technologies that are game changers in the TMS realms? SAKAS: The game-changers in the TMS realm include real time visibility and self-learning algorithms which are revolutionizing how logistics and transportation are managed. These technologies empower business decision making in real time with reiterative artificially intelligent automated decision making. There is no better peace of mind knowing that you physically could not do better.
GSC: ‘Paving the way to smarter logistics’ is your corporate byline. Explain. SAKAS: Our corporate byline reflects our commitment to ushering in a new era of intelligent logistics. We believe in harnessing technology to optimize processes, reduce costs, and increase sustainability, leading to smarter and more efficient logistics operations.
GSC: How significant is the region for BlueRock TMS? SAKAS: The Middle East is of paramount significance for BlueRock TMS, representing a strategic hub for our operations and a key market where we are committed to delivering exceptional value.
SAP to digitally transform Abu Dhabi Business Conglomerate Al Masaood Group
Automotive, industrial, and property teams will benefit from centralization and AI enablement
Al Masaood Group, one of Abu Dhabi’s largest integrated industrial, commercial, and service organisations with over five decades of growth across 18 market segments, is transforming into an intelligent enterprise through the deployment of cloud-based solutions from global technology company SAP SE.
With a specific focus on the automotive, industrial, and property teams, SAP’s solutions help deliver to Al Masaood Group a single source of real-time information across its entire enterprise, automating and centralizing key business processes for greater efficiency and more informed decision-making.
As human capital development is a key priority for the Group, Al Masaood will also deploy SAP SuccessFactors to help reduce manual HR processes and create a holistic view of its growing workforce, from recruitment to career development and succession planning, according to a press communique.
Sustainability
Another area of joint focus for Al Masaood Group is sustainability, with the trading organization delivering a wide range of innovative and sustainable industrial solutions, such as eco-friendly modular buildings, mobile solar applications, solar-powered EV charging units, and hydrogen system development.
Fundamental to Al Masaood Group’s strategy is SAP’s 50+ years of industry expertise leveraged within SAP’s solutions, including sector-specific software to manage automotive sales and services as well as property, industrial and marine services, in line with the company’s diverse business interests, the press note continued.
Rise with SAP
Al Masaood’s aim to become an intelligent enterprise will also see the deployment of RISE with SAP to benefit from cloud computing strategies as well as S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition for enterprise resource planning.
“All of the sectors in which we operate are highly competitive, and SAP’s embedded industry expertise was a major factor in Al Masaood Group’s decision-making,” remarked Meiraj Hussain, Head of Corporate Support, Al Masaood Group.
“Highly diverse conglomerates such as Al Masaood Group present significant opportunities for SAP to leverage our decades of industry-specific and regional expertise to optimize business processes and enhance operational efficiency,” stated Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, Middle East Africa, South, SAP.
· 2023 was the third consecutive year Etihad Cargo has achieved year-on-year growth for its dedicated cool chain products — PharmaLife and FreshForward, demonstrating the carrier’s commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical and perishables logistics.
· Etihad Cargo witnessed a 37 per cent increase in pharmaceutical and life sciences shipments in 2023, achieving the highest volumes recorded in the carrier’s history.
· The carrier also achieved a 10 per cent increase in perishable shipments via Etihad Cargo’s FreshForward product.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, achieved year-on-year growth of the carrier’s dedicated cool chain products — PharmaLife and FreshForward — in 2023. The airline recorded the highest volumes of pharmaceuticals transported in Etihad Cargo’s history, achieving a 37 per cent increase in shipments compared to 2022. The carrier also transported 10 per cent more fresh and perishable shipments, making 2023 the third consecutive year Etihad Cargo has achieved growth for both products despite challenging market conditions. This milestone achievement reflects Etihad Cargo’s unwavering commitment to excellence in pharmaceutical and perishables logistics, reinforcing its position as a leading global air cargo operator.
Etihad Cargo has continuously invested in and added features to its cool chain product range, including PharmaLife for the shipment of pharmaceuticals, healthcare and life sciences commodities and FreshForward for the shipment of perishable fresh produce, including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat and flowers. The carrier holds IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification in Pharmaceutical and Fresh logistics. A consistent commitment to safety and quality has enabled Etihad Cargo to achieve a 99.1 per cent compliance rate for pharmaceutical shipments in addition to growing cool chain volumes for the last three years.
Contributing to the increase in cool chain volumes transported by Etihad Cargo in 2023 was the opening of the carrier’s dedicated pharma hub, which has doubled its cool chain storage and handling capacity. The 3,300 square-metre facility comprises the latest technology and features, including RFS loading docks with levellers, insulation and floor work for faster and more efficient loading with stricter temperature controls, increased storage space, additional build-up and breakdown zones for improved production workflows and upgraded cool chain facilities for our pharma handling and storage operations. Since launching the new pharmaceutical centre in July 2023, Etihad Cargo immediately achieved an increase in pharmaceutical volumes, recording a 39 per cent increase in July, a 40 per cent increase in August and a 41 per cent increase in September.
Etihad Cargo has also refurbished its perishables handling and storage facility. The carrier operates a 3,000-square-metre dedicated perishables temperature-controlled warehouse,
providing smoother transfers to Etihad Cargo’s FreshForward truck fleet, making the end-to-end journey of perishables easier and safer.
Leonard Rodrigues, Acting Managing Director at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo is fully aligned with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global logistics, pharmaceuticals and perishables hub. The carrier’s commitment to quality combined with continuous product and infrastructure enhancements has enabled Etihad Cargo to achieve significant growth and contribute to the creation of a more resilient and robust global cool chain.”
Expanding beyond the carrier’s Abu Dhabi hub, Etihad Cargo’s PharmaLife network covers over 62 destinations. To strengthen connections between Abu Dhabi and the rest of the world, Etihad Cargo has developed over 1,330 IATA CEIV Pharma/ Good Distribution Practice (GDP)-certified trade lanes, ensuring product integrity. Etihad Cargo is actively collaborating with key airline partners to establish further IATA CEIV-certified pharma trade lanes to broaden the carrier’s network through dedicated PharmaLife agreements.
Since launching Pharma Corridor 2.0 between Abu Dhabi and Brussels, Etihad Cargo has provided the highest levels of assurance in the quality of handling to pharmaceutical shippers and forwarders through the establishment of pharma corridors between airports with cargo handling communities certified under the IATA CEIV Pharma programme. In 2023, the carrier recorded a 10.3 per cent increase in volumes transported via the first-of-its-kind corridor and has shipped over 70 per cent more pharmaceutical and life sciences cargo volumes since the corridor’s creation. The consistent growth for the Abu Dhabi to Brussels lane has been a major contributing factor to Etihad Cargo achieving the highest recorded PharmaLife tonnage since the carrier’s inception.
Rodrigues said: “The establishment of Pharma Corridor 2.0 and an expansive global PharmaLife network has enabled Etihad Cargo to bring much-needed transparency, traceability and trackability to the sector, benefiting not only customers but also the global pharma supply chain. The unique collaboration and partnerships Etihad Cargo has pioneered have allowed the carrier to offer complete transparency on the status of temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipments, recording quality, time, temperature, potential deviations and actions. Etihad Cargo is now actively exploring further opportunities to create additional corridors between Abu Dhabi and other key markets to bring these benefits to more regions critical to the manufacture and supply of pharmaceuticals. Leveraging the success of the Pharma Corridor, Etihad Cargo has launched Fresh Corridor 2.0 between Abu Dhabi and the Netherlands, resulting in a 42 per cent increase in fresh volumes transported.”
Etihad Cargo has also provided additional cool chain capacity to its partners and customers with the addition of new stations and increased frequencies to its global network, which has grown to serve over 70 destinations. Etihad Cargo’s expanding freighter network, in combination with the airline’s passenger network, supports growing capacity demand for Etihad Cargo’s premium products, including PharmaLife and FreshForward. In Asia, the carrier added a fourth gateway destination in China — Ezhou — in 2023 and offers more belly hold cargo capacity across new passenger routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, operating seven flights per week to each destination. Seven new passenger flights to Chennai bring the total number of weekly flights to 21, supported by a twice-weekly freighter service.
Rodrigues concluded: “Etihad Cargo’s partners have benefited from the carrier’s expanded operations in key regions and increased frequencies across critical trade routes for
pharmaceutical and perishables flows. For example, India represents 30-40 per cent of the global production of generic medications and supplies medicines to over 200 countries. The country is establishing itself as a healthcare hub, which is driving demand for PharmaLife, and Etihad Cargo is committed to supporting emerging and growing markets through new product features, technology and dedicated expertise. In 2023, Etihad Cargo started new pharma roadshows and naturally focused on India. The carrier’s Pharma Champions programme is providing local expertise for Etihad Cargo’s Indian customers as well as enhancing its connectivity to India’s key markets, including North America and Europe. In less than one year, Etihad Cargo has doubled its PharmaLife volumes ex India.”
Etihad Cargo recently announced it will be implementing enhanced cargo screening requirements for US-bound shipments from selected stations, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad, and Bangkok, Jakarta, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. The enhanced cargo screening requirements will benefit Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers through shorter transit times in Abu Dhabi, reduced handling and repackaging at transit points, and quick ramp transfer (QRT) and through units (TRU) shipments. Cargo originating from Australia, China, the European Union, Israel, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom to the US will also benefit from the enhanced screening requirements.
Air cargo is an unsung hero of the global economy. In normal times, it delivers some 35% of the value of goods traded across borders. In the pandemic, air cargo brought medical supplies and vaccines to where they were needed. And today it is providing a vital transport alternative for some products as Red Sea shipping lanes face geopolitical uncertainty. In 2023 air cargo closed the year at near pre-pandemic performance levels.
In this context, global air cargo leaders are set to convene in Hong Kong (SAR), China, from March 12 to 14, for the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) World Cargo Symposium (WCS). Ensuring the future reliability and growth of this critical sector will be top of mind with an agenda focused on sustainability, digitalization, safety and security.
WCS will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, showcasing the breadth of expertise needed to address these challenges. Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo, will join forces with industry leaders such as Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s SVP of Sustainability and Chief Economist, Ronald Lam, Group Chief Executive Officer Cathay Group, Tom Owen, Director of Cathay Cargo, and executives from Atlas Air, Jardine Aviation Services Group, WestJet, and Accenture. Their insights are expected to fuel meaningful discussions and promote collaborative solutions.
Key topics of safety, sustainability, and digitalization will be explored at WCS. Sessions will address various subjects, including the safe transport of lithium batteries, a review of Annex 18 – examining the challenges and benefits in addressing regulatory gaps, ESG reporting in air cargo, digital advancements including ONE Record, and the role of generative AI in the future of air cargo. These sessions aim to provide participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to tackle industry-specific challenges while advancing sustainable practices.
Complementing the symposium are workshops designed to cultivate the next generation of industry professionals and enhance current practices. These include the Future Air Cargo Executives Summit (FACES), discussions on competency-based training, and insights into IATA’s Cargo Solutions. Moreover, the symposium will host an E-Commerce Forum, highlighting the need for increased collaboration between e-tailers and cargo operators.
A key highlight of the WCS is the FACE UP! Air Cargo Awards 2024, which recognizes the innovative contributions of recent university graduates. The finalists, chosen for their groundbreaking theses on air transport logistics, will present their projects at the conference, offering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas and a winner selected by the audience.
WCS is more than just a conference; it is a pivotal event in the industry’s calendar. It leads the way in promoting a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient air cargo sector, equipped to adapt to the ever-evolving demands of global trade and e-commerce. The event assembles industry leaders from around the world for networking and business development opportunities, providing a unique platform for discussing and implementing industry standards, policies, and procedures.
Samer Kaissi has been appointed as the Country Manager for the UAE
DHL Global Forwarding, the freight specialist arm of the DHL Group, recently announced its complete acquisition of Danzas AEI Emirates to further accelerate profitability and growth in the Middle East and Africa region.
Following this acquisition, Samer Kaissi has been appointed as Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding UAE. He will also take on additional responsibility as Chief Executive Officer, Gulf DHL Global Forwarding, with immediate effect.
Samer will report to Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East Africa (MEA). The Gulf cluster includes the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Proven track record
“Samer’s proven track record and deep understanding of the market will be integral to our future growth. With this strategic appointment, we are empowering businesses of all sizes to navigate the region’s dynamic growth landscape confidently,” noted Diallo.
Samer started his career with the Group as Country Manager for DGF Lebanon in 1998. Thereafter, he was appointed VP of Airfreight Emerging Markets before he took over as CEO Danzas for Dubai and Northern Emirates, a role he has held for the past 13 years.
Samer has delivered an outstanding growth path, building an organization of over 1,100 associates driving market leadership in the UAE, and implemented the first-ever Electric Vehicle Logistics Hub in Dubai, the press statement concluded.
ECS Group and Thai VietJet Air To Grow Thailand and Asia Cargo Operations
Thai VietJet Air and ECS Group signed Master GSSAagreement on 01 February 2024
ECS Group aims to increase revenue and cargo volumes for the airline
Low-cost carrier, Thai VietJet Air, has awarded the tender of its cargo operations to ECS Group. It signed a Master GSSA agreement with ECS Group, on 01 February 2024.
It was ECS Group’s global network, proven air cargo expertise, and dynamic innovation that led Thai VietJet Air to place its cargo business into AVS GSA Thailand’s hands and overall ECS Asian network. Thai VietJet Air can now look forward to further increasing its cargo revenue and export volumes across Thailand and various Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. This strategic partnership allows Thai VietJet Air to leverage ECS Group’s in-house digital tools and expert knowledge to promote its cargo business effectively. Thai VietJet Air currently operates a fleet of 18 A320-200 and A321-200 aircraft, focusing primarily on transporting general cargo and perishables.
“Thai VietJet Air has carved a solid cargo market share for itself on the Thai domestic market, and offers an impressive international network across Asia – and all that without a freighter in its fleet,” said Monchai Jirakiertivadhana, AVS GSA CEO Indochina region. “AVS GSA therefore has an excellent base on which to further develop the airline’s cargo activities and improve its revenue performance.
“We are very proud to have signed a Master GSA agreement with a company that demonstrates the same innovation and business acumen as ECS Group does. ECS Group will provide the best sales support as well access to all our abilities. We warmly welcome our new partner.” Says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group.
· Etihad Cargo has launched SecureTech, a new product dedicated to the safe and secure transportation of consumer electronics, to meet growing demand driven by new mobile phones and devices.
· SecureTech has enhanced the carrier’s expertise in the handling of high-value electronic products and provides security features to ensure all SecureTech shipments are handled safely and securely.
· Etihad Cargo holds IATA CEIV Li-batt certification, ensuring the carrier’s handling of electronics is in accordance with the highest safety and efficiency standards.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has launched SecureTech. This new product is the ninth addition to the carrier’s suite of premium products and is dedicated to the safe and secure transportation of consumer electronics, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other lithium battery-powered devices. Etihad Cargo has developed and launched SecureTech in response to growing global demand from the carrier’s customers and partners for a product that addresses the challenges of transporting high-value electronic devices cost-effectively while minimising risks.
To ensure the secure transportation of electronic devices, Etihad Cargo provides several security features. Products transported via SecureTech are monitored during the build-up and break-down of palettes in secure and controlled storage areas at the origin, during transit and at the destination. Constant surveillance is provided by security personnel or CCTV systems, ensuring only authorised personnel have access to shipments during transportation.
SecureTech also ensures the safe movement of consumer electronics. Lithium batteries are the preferred energy source for a wide range of consumer electronics. Although they are widely used, lithium batteries can pose a safety risk if not handled in accordance with transport regulations due to their potential to ignite, explode or go into thermal runaway. Etihad Cargo’s number one priority is safety, and the carrier recently became the third Middle Eastern airline to achieve International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Batteries (CEIV Li-batt) certification. Achieving this globally recognised standard demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s commitment to transporting lithium battery shipments safely using sophisticated safety management systems and specialised equipment.
In addition to Etihad Cargo’s facilities and operations, CEIV Li-batt certification also extends to the carrier’s personnel. Etihad Cargo delivers rigorous training programmes to ensure teams are handling lithium batteries safely and securely and meticulously reviews all documentation, packaging, and labelling during acceptance checks with the aid of a specifically designed acceptance checklist.
Leonard Rodrigues, Acting Managing Director at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo has launched SecureTech based on feedback from the carrier’s partners and customers and the
growing demand for a dedicated product to make the transportation of consumer electronics safer and more secure. Over the years, Etihad Cargo has developed expertise in handling specialised products, and moving lithium battery-powered devices comes with unique challenges. Etihad Cargo is well-equipped to overcome these challenges thanks to its experience in transporting high-value, fragile, time- and temperature-sensitive, and dangerous goods.”
Etihad Cargo has witnessed a surge in demand for air cargo capacity for the transportation of consumer electronics, recording a significant increase in the number of mobile phone shipments from India.
Rodrigues said: “The latest market data suggests India’s electronic exports exceeded $20 billion in 2023, with mobile phones making up 52 per cent of all electronic exports. Other top exporters of electronic devices included China and Vietnam. The launch of SecureTech, in combination with the introduction of new routes and increased frequencies for these key markets, will enable Etihad Cargo to fully meet the growing capacity demand for electronic shipments while giving customers and partners confidence that their products will arrive safely at their final destination on time and as promised.”
Etihad Cargo’s customers will be able to book SecureTech shipments from March 1, 2024.
AD Ports Group Signs Strategic MoUs with Gujarat Maritime Board and RITES Limited to Propel Global Trade and Infrastructure Development in India
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 14 February 2024: AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics and industry (ADX: ADPORTS), today announced the signing of strategic Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) with Gujarat Maritime Board, and RITES Limited, a certified multi-disciplinary transport and infrastructure company. These MoUs mark a significant leap in international collaboration aimed at enhancing global trade, infrastructure development, and economic diversification.
These MoUs cover a broad spectrum of collaborative ventures, ranging from infrastructure development, technology transfer, sustainable and green port development, to maritime education and tourism, thereby reinforcing AD Ports Group’s scale, strategic geographic footprint, and industry leadership.
MoU with Gujarat Maritime Board
This MoU covers collaboration across a broad spectrum of initiatives within the port and maritime sectors. Central to this MoU is the ambition to significantly advance infrastructure development through the construction of new ports and the expansion and modernisation of existing port facilities. It encapsulates a shared vision for technology transfer, sustainable and green port development, inclusive of renewable energy deployment, waste management, and emission reductions, aligning with global environmental stewardship standards.
Further, the MoU emphasises maritime education and training, highlighting the collaborative potential with the Gujarat Maritime University, including the prospective establishment of a Centre of Excellence within the university, the Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC).
The MoU also explores avenues for direct and indirect investments by AD Ports Group, joint venture executions, and the development of a Port City in Gujarat.
MoU with RITES Limited
This MoU is aimed at exploring and leveraging mutual opportunities for port development, multimodal logistic parks, economic and free trade zones, rail connectivity projects, and related infrastructure services.
The cooperation will drive an innovative approach towards creating integrated logistics solutions through harnessing collective strengths in technology, sustainability, and strategic planning, with an emphasis on delivering projects that are not only economically viable but also environmentally sustainable and technologically advanced.
Following the announcement at the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit for the planned India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), AD Ports Group and Rites
Limited have also agreed to explore potential joint opportunities that would meet the objectives of the initiative.
This MoU aligns with the Group’s objective of positioning Abu Dhabi as a pivotal hub in the global trade network, underpinned by its integrated portfolio of logistics and maritime services that cater to the dynamic needs of the global market.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “Our collaboration with these distinguished Indian entities is set to significantly advance the objectives of both of our great nations, building on the strong, successful and well-established relationship. With our wise leaders’ guidance, we aim to further our ambitious economic objectives that will profoundly impact global commerce, invigorating ancillary sectors.”
He added: “As a Group, we are committed to expanding our global footprint, creating value, driving economic diversification, and making a positive impact on the communities we serve. Through leveraging our collective expertise and resources, with a clear strategy for growth through integration and expansion, we can set new global benchmarks in operational excellence, digital innovation, and sustainable growth.”
India is the second largest trading partner of the UAE, whereas the UAE stands as the third largest trading partner for India, since 2019. India-UAE trade rose to USD 85 billion in 2022, with the aim of reaching the USD 100 billion mark by 2030. Moreover, since the entry into the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 1 May 2022, bilateral trade between both nations rose by approximately 15%.
GWC AGM Approves cash dividends at QAR 0.11 per share
Shaikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani elected GWC Chairman
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) recently held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Doha, Qatar. The meeting was Chaired by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GWC’s external auditors Ernst & Young, and the company’s shareholders.
The General Assembly ratified all the items on its agenda including the approval of cash dividends to shareholders of 11% of the nominal value of the company’s shares, which is 0.11 Qatari Riyals per share.
The assembly also approved to release the board members from liability and distribute rewards to each member based on the evaluation of the board committees. Furthermore, the AGM presented a comprehensive review of the Group’s compliance with the Corporate Governance Code.
The company’s new board of directors, as elected by the general assembly, now constitutes the following members: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman; Sheikh Fahad Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Vice Chairman; Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Member; Ahmed Mubarak Al Maadid, Member; Mohammed Hassan Rafi’ Al Emadi, Member; Hanadi Anwar Al Saleh, Member; Sultan Yousif Khater Al Sulaiti, Member; Mohammed Abdulmonim Al Sayed, Member; and Abdulaziz Mohammed Jaber Al Sulaiti, Member.
The company achieved net profits of QAR 215mn for the year ended 2023, and total revenues of QAR 1.5bn. The total operating profit reached QAR 323mn with an Asset base of QAR 5.2bn. The EPS for the year ending 2023 recorded was QAR 0.367.
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar rank among top Emerging Markets
GCC’ leading economies are outpacing their neighbours
The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar continue to rank among the world’s top 10 emerging markets, improving or holding steady in key areas while neighboring Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait lose ground in the latest 15th annual Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index.
UAE, No. 3 in the 50-country Index after China and India, held its rank from 2023, as did No. 6 Saudi Arabia and No. 7 Qatar. Oman (15), Bahrain (16) and Kuwait (21) all fell in the rankings.
In Agility’s survey of 830 logistics industry executives, respondents say Saudi Arabia and UAE are doing the most among GCC countries to accelerate economic diversification and lessen reliance on income from oil and gas.
Business fundamentals
UAE ranks No. 1 for best business fundamentals; Saudi Arabia is No. 3 in that category. Even so, logistics professionals in the survey identified further improvements for small businesses and multi-nationals as the most powerful drivers of continued diversification for all GCC countries.
The survey and Index are Agility’s 15th annual snapshot of industry sentiment and ranking of the world’s 50 leading emerging markets. The Index ranks countries for overall competitiveness based on their logistics strengths, business climates and digital readiness, factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors and investors.
UAE and Saudi Arabia rank in the top 10 in every category. Qatar ranked among the top 10 in all categories except international logistics opportunities, where it was 20th. The only top 10 ranking for Oman, Bahrain or Kuwait was Bahrain at No. 8 for business fundamentals.
Global recession
Half of the logistics professionals surveyed a global recession in the coming year – down from nearly 70% a year ago. Executives surveyed say they are battling higher costs, reducing dependence on sourcing from China, and planning to boost investment in Africa despite seeing emerging markets investment overall as somewhat riskier.
More than 63% of respondents say their companies continue overhauling supply chains by spreading production to multiple locations or relocating it to home markets and nearby countries.
China, the world’s leading producer, stands to be most affected: 37.4% of industry professionals say they plan move production/sourcing out of China or reduce investment there.
2024 Index Highlights: Survey findings
Supply chain restructuring: India, Europe and North America rank ahead of China as destinations executives expect to move production to in 2024 and onwards.
China: 40% expect their businesses to be less reliant on China in five years. Leading factors in decisions to de-risk in China: difficulty of doing business; U.S.-China trade friction; a slowing economy; the harshness of China’s COVID restrictions.
Climate change: 66% say climate change is something they’re planning for or already affecting their businesses.
Emerging markets: The largest percentage sees increased risk/decreased rewards in emerging markets.
India: Many see India growing in importance as a producer and market, but cite inadequate infrastructure and corruption as the biggest obstacles there.
Country Rankings
Middle East and North Africa: Overall rankings were UAE (3); Saudi Arabia (6); Qatar (7); Turkey (11); Oman (15); Bahrain (16); Jordan (17); Egypt (20); Kuwait (21); Morocco (22); Tunisia (37); Lebanon (38); Iran (40); Algeria (42); Libya (50).
Rankings in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa (24); Kenya (25); Ghana (31); Nigeria (36); Tanzania (41); Uganda (43); Ethiopia (45); Mozambique (46); Angola (47).
Index rankings in Asia: China (1); India (2); Malaysia (4); Indonesia (5); Vietnam (8); Thailand (10); Philippines (18); Kazakhstan (23); Sri Lanka (26); Pakistan (29); Cambodia (32); Bangladesh (33); Myanmar (49).
Rankings for Latin America: Mexico (9); Chile (12); Brazil (14); Uruguay (19); Peru (28); Colombia (27); Argentina (30); Ecuador (35); Paraguay (39); Bolivia (44); Venezuela (48).
In Europe: Russia (13); Ukraine (34).
Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, has compiled the Index since it was launched in 2009.
“Supply chain managers are still coming to terms with the political and economic instability characterising the post-COVID global economy. Geopolitical relationships are changing rapidly, and this is having a major impact on international trade and risk profiles,” commented John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive. Ti.
“Businesses need to be alive to the opportunities and threats that exist in emerging markets and use data, such as that the Agility Emerging Market Logistics Index, to inform agile decision-making,” he concluded.
Bahri Logistics, a business unit of Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia and a global leader in shipping and logistics, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GDC Middle East, a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) company specializing in aerospace engineering, system solutions, and operation and support.
Eng. Soror Basalom, President, Bahri Integrated Logistics, and Eng. Muneer Bakhsh, CEO, GDC Middle East, signed the MoU on the sidelines of the recently concluded World Defense Show 2024 held in the Kingdom’s capital Riyadh.
Framework
The MoU aims to establish a mutually beneficial strategic partnership between the entities and establish a framework for collaboration in the field of freight forwarding services by leveraging the two companies’ expertise, capabilities, and resources.
“We look forward to leveraging the expertise of GDC Middle East to offer efficient logistics solutions to our esteemed clients worldwide,” commented Eng. Basalom.
“This MoU falls in line with our commitment to contribute to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. We are confident that this collaboration will pave the way for a successful strategic partnership with Bahri Logistics that will serve the visions of both companies,” remarked Engr. Bakhsh.
DHL Global Forwarding named Official Logistics Partner for Abu Dhabi’s INSRC-2024
Company will handle local clearance, delivery, and reverse logistics at ADNEC
DHL Global Forwarding (DHL), the global leader in freight forwarding and logistics, has been appointed as the official logistics partner for the upcoming International Search and Rescue Conference and Exhibition (INSRC) taking place from February 12 to 14, 2024, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), according to a press communique.
The strategic partnership with the UAE’s National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC), the event’s organizer, will see DHL provide end-to-end logistics services to the INSRC-2024 Exhibition, leveraging its extensive global network. In collaboration with vendors, carriers, and sub-contractors, DHL will ensure the seamless execution of logistics requirements for the event.
As part of this comprehensive logistics support, DHL will manage local clearance and delivery to the exhibition booth. The scope of their services includes facilitating communication with exhibitors regarding customs documentation requirements, clearing items at Abu Dhabi ports, and delivering them to the ADNEC Exhibition Centre within the designated booth. Additionally, DHL will handle the pick/pack and reverse logistics of items received, the press statement continued.
Extensive network
“We are honoured to be appointed as the official logistics partner for the International Search and Rescue Conference 2024,” commented Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa. “Our global expertise and extensive network will play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and efficient logistics operation for this prestigious event,” he added.
“We are pleased to collaborate with DHL Global Forwarding as the official logistics partner for INSRC-2024. Their commitment to excellence aligns with our mission to create a platform for meaningful discussions and advancements in search and rescue operations,” remarked Colonel Staff Pilot Rashed Al Naqbi, Manager of National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC).
Aramex Reports 2x Growth in Q4 2023 Group Net Income and Delivers the Highest-Ever Quarterly Volumes in International Express
· Amid challenging market conditions and currency fluctuations, Aramex improved profitability and margin performance, delivering a strong fourth quarter and a resilient full year performance in 2023.
· Revenue growth in International Express was offset by the decline in revenues from other products. Freight Forwarding was impacted by the decline in global rates in the Freight- Forwarding industry, while the Domestic Express and Logistics products reported marginal decline in revenues, impacted by currency translation.
· Gross Profit improved 2% YoY in Q4 2023 to AED 389 million, driven by Aramex’s consistent investment in efficiency maximizing initiatives and cost optimization as well as its continued focus on quality revenues. Notably, Gross Profit Margins improved one percentage point YoY in both Q4 2023 and FY 2023, in line with management expectations.
· Further reflecting the success in managing costs and operational efficiencies, EBITDA for Q4 2023 surged by 33% to AED 197 million and 2% YoY in FY 2023, despite the revenue softness. Aramex achieved a healthy EBITDA margin of 13% in Q4 2023, and 11% for the fiscal year.
Dubai, UAE – Thursday, 8 February 2024: Aramex (DFM: ARMX) a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announced its audited financial results for the Fourth Quarter (“Q4’’) and Full Year (“FY’’) ending 31 December 2023.
Aramex reported a marginal 1% YoY decline in Q4 2023 Revenue to AED 1.52 billion, despite challenging market conditions and currency fluctuations. Full Year Revenue was healthy at AED 5.69 billion, a decline of 4% YoY. When excluding the impact of currency translation, full year Revenue decline was 1% compared to reported decline of 4%.
Revenue growth in International Express was offset by the decline in revenues from other products. Freight Forwarding was impacted by the decline in global rates in the Freight- Forwarding industry, while the Domestic Express and Logistics businesses reported marginal decline in revenues, impacted by currency translation. Excluding the impact of currency translation, both products reported growth of 2% in revenue for the full year 2023.
With the management’s resolute focus on quality revenue, operational efficiency, and cost optimization, Aramex delivered a notable 2% YoY growth in Gross Profit for Q4 2023, reaching AED 389 million and remained stable for the full year. Gross Profit Margins witnessed a one percentage point improvement both in Q4 2023 and FY 2023, reaching 26% and 25%, respectively.
The Company’s fiscal discipline was further showcased through its improvement in Group Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses, returning to pre-pandemic levels for the cost structure. The organic business (excluding MyUS) delivered a 10% decline in general, and administrative expenses for the full year 2023. A 7% increase in selling expenses for the organic business for the full year 2023 reflects the Company’s strategy to increase sales competencies in key verticals across key markets to ensure sustainable and quality revenue growth in the future.
The substantial EBITDA growth of 33% YoY in Q4 2023 was driven by an increased focus on quality revenue, enhanced operational efficiencies and a one-time logistics business boost from settlement claims in the quarter. The EBITDA margin grew to 13% in Q4 2023, and reached 11% for the entire fiscal year.
Net Profit for Q4 2023 more than doubled to AED 77 million compared to the same period last year, driven by the growth in EBITDA. For the full year, Net Income witnessed a 22% decline to AED 129 million, attributed mainly to the increase in finance expenses associated with the MyUS acquisition loan taken in Q4 2022, and to a lesser extent, to the currency translation impact. Net income for the organic business increased 7% YoY in 2023 compared to 2022, demonstrating the underlying strength of our operations.
Aramex maintained a strong balance sheet position with Net Debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.4x and a healthy cash balance of AED 575 million as of 31 December 2023.
Swiss Manufacturer KWC Selects Tech Mahindra as a Strategic Partner
Multi–year partnership to transform KWC’s existing IT operations
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, recently announced that it has been selected as a strategic partner for KWC Group AG, an international premium manufacturer of taps and comprehensive sanitary solutions.
With this partnership, Tech Mahindra will support a significant part of KWC’s end-to-end IT services, harmonizing and consolidating the current services to one dedicated supplier, according to a press communique.
Tech Mahindra is set to play a pivotal role in KWC’s business transformation journey, enhancing operational efficiency through automated IT operations across business applications and global IT infrastructure.
As a strategic partner, Tech Mahindra will standardize global system management and provide end-user services, aiming to boost operational efficiencies throughout KWC’s value chain.
Customer centricity
Additionally, the organization will be responsible for managing KWC’s end-to-end IT operations, with a focus on customer centricity and measurable business growth, thereby ensuring the delivery of world-class customer experiences.
“We look forward to supporting KWC’s business transformation journey by providing operational excellence, speed, and agility to achieve their business goals. This partnership is yet another milestone and testament to our growing footprint in Switzerland and the DACH—Germany, Austria and Switzerland region,” commented Mukul Dhyani, Business Head, Continental Europe, Tech Mahindra.
“Building a strong partnership with one of the leading IT providers allows for better cost-effectiveness, greater innovation and enables our organization to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The partnership with Tech Mahindra will help us to speed up the transformation, ensure up-to-date IT services, and increase flexibility at a lower cost,” stated Menno Vlietstra, Group Head of IT, KWC.
Netradyne, a Make-in-India provider of AI technology for fleet and driver safety, announces its collaboration with IndianOil Skytanking, India’s foremost aviation fuel management and airline fueling service provider. As a part of the engagement, Netradyne will provide its flagship platform, Driver•i, the industry’s most advanced fleet safety camera platform that uses vision-based technologies to enhance driver safety, mitigate risks, and improve overall fleet management at airports across India.
Operating fuel-management and refueling services for airlines in high-activity environments, such as airports, brings a unique set of challenges and risks where precision and safety are paramount. IOSL, with its rich legacy and commitment to excellence, has been instrumental in shaping the aviation fueling landscape in India. This partnership with Netradyne reinforces their commitment to innovation, safety, and efficiency, solidifying their position as a pioneer in the aviation sector.
A.P. Acharya, Sr. Vice President at IOSL said, “Today, we operate the biggest jet-fuel storage and plane-fueling operations across 32 airports, and we’re proud to partner with Netradyne, a Make-in-India technology solution that shares our vision for safety and excellence. Our fleets operate in high-risk zones, and our partnership with Netradyne will ensure that our drivers and fleet managers achieve 360-degree safety in our ground operations.”
IOSL will leverage Netradyne’s innovative fleet safety solutions and ensure the highest operational safety standards through:
• Using real-time advanced analytics and driver alerts, Driver•i will ensure the safety standards set by the DGCA are followed across the entire fleet. • Driver•i’s unique data-driven system recognizes positive driving behavior, identifies areas for improvement and helps in the implementation of targeted training programs, a critical function for elevating overall safety and maximizing operational standards at airports. • Netradyne’s advanced multi-camera functionality will enhance the driver’s visibility around the vehicle, minimizing risks in high-activity areas around an airline during refueling. • Blind spot monitoring cameras with in-cabin monitoring facility will add additional layers of safety for IOSL fleets.
Durgadutt Nedungadi, Sr. Vice-President at Netradyne, said, “In joining hands with IndianOil Skytanking, we are expanding our footprint to enhance driver and fleet safety on our highways and even in highly versatile locations such as airports. This proactive approach not only safeguards the well-being of drivers and ground personnel but also fosters a culture of safety excellence, enhancing the seamless and efficient operations that IOSL is known for.
Indian Oil Skytanking has long been the flagbearer of excellence in the aviation fueling sector, and this partnership marks a significant milestone in their commitment to furthering operational safety at airports across the nation.
Aerocharter GSA, through its US GSA sales entity Awesome Cargo LLC has been appointed WestJet Cargo’s GSA for commercial business out of Los Angeles (with immediate effect). Awesome Cargo LLC will market WestJet’s cargo capacities on the airline’s passenger and freighter flights operating from the US to Canada and Mexico.
For WestJet Cargo, the key focus for 2024, is on establishing a robust business network on which to continue expanding its cargo network. Following on from its successful collaboration launch with Aerocharter de México’s freighter subsidiary, Awesome Cargo, in November 2023, the cargo airline has now appointed the group’s USA GSA arm, Awesome Cargo LLC, to market its freight capacities out of the US. Exported commodities out of the US primarily include perishables, general cargo and high value products.
“The perfect combination for success, when it comes to a focused and fast-growing freighter newcomer such as WestJet Cargo, is innovation, drive, and a foundation of solid industry experience,” says Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice-President, Cargo at WestJet.
WestJet Cargo operates daily passenger flights out of Los Angeles (LAX) to Calgary (YYC) and Vancouver (YVR), almost daily services to Edmonton (YEG), and Toronto (YYZ), and serves Winnipeg (YWG) two to four times per week. Every passenger flight offers a cargo capacity of up to 2 tonnes. WestJet Cargo’s freighter services, accommodating up to 20 tonnes of cargo uplift per flight, currently connect Los Angeles with Mexico’s Guadalajara (GDL) on days 1, 2, and 6, and fly between Los Angeles and Calgary on days 2, 3, and 5.
“Our mission is to provide the ultimate in customer satisfaction through premium service quality – something we have spent decades honing and which we continue to fine-tune every day,” Luis Ramos, CEO and President of Aerocharter group, explains. “We are delighted to support WestJet Cargo in establishing firm and profitable commercial operations as its GSA in the US. This latest milestone further cements our professional cooperation that began in November 2023 with the strategic Awesome Cargo/WestJet Cargo operations connecting our NLU hub with North America, and I am convinced that this is just the start of a truly ‘awesome’ journey together.”
Move to enhance supply chain activities in Saudi Arabia
Boeing Saudi Arabia and Bahri Logistics, a business unit of Bahri, a global leader in logistics and transportation, have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaborative efforts in the areas of supply chain and distribution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration aims to bolster Boeing’s supply chain activities in the Kingdom and enhance the role of Bahri Logistics in supporting services and defense-related products.
The organizations will also explore opportunities for freight forwarding, warehousing, inventory management, and performance-based logistics consulting, leveraging Bahri Logistics’ existing capabilities and supply channels in the Kingdom.
Leveraging capabilities
“At Bahri Logistics, we look forward to leveraging our capabilities and expertise within the domain of logistics to offer exceptional services that meet the needs of Boeing Saudi Arabia,” said Eng. Soror Basalom, President, Bahri Integrated Logistics commenting on the significance of the MoU.
“We are committed to increasing the efficiency and scale of Boeing’s supply chain activities while contributing to the growth and development of the defense sector in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
“Saudi Arabia is a strategic market for Boeing and we are investing to grow our presence and supply chain to better serve our customers and provide the parts and services they need in the Kingdom. Together with Bahri Logistics, we will contribute to the growth of the Kingdom’s defense capabilities and drive growth in the aerospace sector by utilizing the Special Integrated Logistics Zone, the SILZ,” remarked Asaad Aljomoai, President, Boeing Saudi Arabia.
Saudia becomes Kingdom’s first airline customer to adopt RISE with SAP on Google Cloud
Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier will partner with SAP to accelerate move to cloud
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has become the first airline customer to adopt the newly launched RISE with SAP on Google Cloud in the country. The move is part of the airline’s wider strategic digital transformation aimed at strengthening its support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to bring the world to Saudi Arabia, SAP announced via an official press communique.
Having unveiled its new branding and livery at the end of September last year, Saudia has since announced a host of innovations and partnerships with SAP and Google Cloud aimed at optimizing operational efficiency, improving safety and reducing operational and maintenance costs.
In the latest development, Saudia will benefit from an accelerated move to the cloud, upgrades to the newest technologies and SAP-powered sustainability focused solutions, in addition to SAP’s aviation industry-specific software. Mission-critical data will be hosted on Google Cloud, underpinning Saudia’s commitment to align with the Kingdom’s data sovereignty and sustainability goals, the press note continued.
Highest standards
“Saudia’s transformation focuses on ensuring the highest standards of safety, efficiency and sustainability, while simultaneously delivering an exceptional service to our guests. Moving our mission-critical business to the cloud is an essential element in this process, commented Abdulgader Attiah, Chief Data and Technology Officer, Saudia Group.
SAP has been selected for the project due to its successful long-term technology partnership with Saudia and because of its extensive experience in the aviation industry. Included in the RISE package is S/4HANA, SAP’s enterprise resource planning solution, offering 360-degree visibility over all operations, real-time data insights, automated processes, and increased efficiencies.
SAP will implement industry-specific programs that include route profitability and analysis solutions that enable airlines to adjust flight frequencies to optimize schedules to enhance passenger convenience, profitability, and sustainability.
Growth strategy
“We have partnered with Saudia since 2009 and have supported its growth strategy from strength to strength, always seeking to enhance services through the latest technologies, and now future proofing its operations. With RISE with SAP on Google Cloud, Saudia will free up time to focus on innovation and exceptional service delivery, knowing their systems are optimized and their data secure,” affirmed Ahmed AlFaifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Middle East & Africa-North.
“Saudia is leading the way for customers in the Kingdom who want to run SAP on a fast, secure and reliable cloud, achieving a compelling return on investment. We have tailor-made solutions for customers of all sizes and in all industries who wish to accelerate their digital transformation,” he continued.
AlFaifi added that as part of the wider digital transformation, Saudia will deploy SAP solutions for its human resources, procurement and other functions including SAP SuccessFactors Employee Suite, SAP Fieldglass Services Procurement, SAP BW/4HANA data warehouse solution and SAP Analytical Cloud and Ariba.
New cloud region
Google Cloud’s Dammam-based cloud region launch was announced in November 2023. With this new cloud region, Google Cloud aims to enhance innovation, accelerate transformation, and support the growth of the Saudi digital economy through cloud computing services.
“Google Cloud offers a suite of industry-tailored solutions, while using its robust infrastructure to deepen insights through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics in an environmentally sustainable way,” asserted Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Google Cloud.
Ink a 25-year Concession Agreement for Bulk and General Cargo Terminal
AD Ports Group has announced the signing of a new concession agreement for Bulk and General Cargo operations with Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi.
Under the terms of the 25-year concession agreement, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), a Joint Venture between AD Ports Group, as a majority shareholder, and Kaheel Terminals, a UAE-based company, will develop, operate and manage the Bulk and General Cargo terminal berths 11-17 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf, further enhancing Karachi’s position as a key player in the maritime industry.
This agreement builds upon the concession agreement secured by AD Ports Group to develop, operate and manage Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) container terminal berths 6-10 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf in June 2023.
Full operational control
In addition to the 800m quay for the container terminal, this new concession grants the Joint Venture 1,500 meters of additional quay wall for general cargo and bulk operations adjacent to the container terminal and thus gives full operational control of Karachi Port’s East Wharf. General cargo operations will primarily handle steel, paper and clinker, while the clean bulk terminal will focus on grains and fertilisers.
“This agreement reflects the UAE’s openness to trade and investment globally, expanding its network of trade partners, and creating trade routes that link the world,” HE Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
“This new concession further consolidates AD Ports Group’s position as a highly invested and cost-effective enabler of trade for the CIS countries by contributing to the supply chain extending to that region creating competitive access to World markets,” remarked Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group.
Mark Drusch has over 25 years in senior airline management roles
Qatar Airways Cargo has confirmed that Mark Drusch has been appointed as Chief Officer Cargo effective immediately, it was announced via a press communique.
With over 25 years in senior airline management roles, Mark is a well-known figure in the aviation world. His most recent role was SVP Revenue Management, Alliances and Strategy at Qatar Airways where he led the development and implementation of the company’s revenue strategy as well as managing strategic alliances with key partner airlines.
Prior to joining Qatar Airways, Mark spent 20 years at Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines and Lufthansa LSG Sky Chefs as Senior Vice President where he led the transformation in commercial airline strategy execution, revenue management, network planning and alliances.
In addition, Mark was CEO and co-founder of e-Rewards and e-Miles, leaders in online panel research and online advertising.
Abu Dhabi dealer attends UD Trucks Conference in Japan
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E), the sole dealer for UD Trucks in Abu Dhabi, recently won the award for Best Dealer in the MEENA region at a UD Trucks MEENA Partnership Conference held in Japan.
The conference took place on the sidelines of the UD Trucks Global Conference in Tokyo from November 6 to 9, which saw the participation of over 250 senior executives representing UD Trucks’ authorized dealers worldwide, according to a corporate press communique.
The primary objective of the conference was to align UD Trucks operators with the brand’s future plans and product launches, shedding light on the strategic outlook of the trucking industry. Innovation and sustainability emerged as the two key pillars and driving forces for the industry’s evolution, with a focus on progressive advancements in telematics, collaborative operating models, and sustainable transportation.
Much like other segments in mobility, the trucking sector is increasingly focusing on service excellence and customer satisfaction in the aftersales market. Al Masaood CV&E, consistently embracing growth and adapting to the needs of the market, has actively adopted this approach over the past several years.
Topping the charts
Success stories from across UD Truck’s dealers highlighted at the conference included those from South Africa and Thailand, with Abu Dhabi topping the charts in the MEENA region. The Al Masaood team presented their efforts in acquiring waste management contracts and outperforming competitors.
They also announced their mission to upgrade after-sales operations and spare parts offerings. Moreover, Al Masaood CV&E, in collaboration with UD Trucks was able to secure a large stake in the waste management sector.
“Seeing our team’s hard work and commitment recognized on a global stage is a testament to us as an organization – always aiming for excellence through innovation and sustainability in the trucking industry. This success reinforces our commitment to providing top-notch solutions to our customers, contributing to service excellence,” remarked Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E.
“We are proud to have Al Masaood CV&E as our partner and look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts to drive the industry forward. This recognition reinforces our shared commitment to service excellence and sets a high standard for the entire UD Trucks global network,” commented Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks, MEENA.
Course trains refugees and other young jobseekers to use AI tools
Agility, a global leader in supply chain services, infrastructure and innovation, announced a partnership with Education for Employment (EFE) that will offer training in use of artificial intelligence to 3,500 young people in Egypt.
The training is intended to familiarize young men and women from underserved populations in Egypt with artificial intelligence concepts, tools and ethical considerations. It is designed to give them a competitive edge in the job market by teaching them to harness the power of transformative AI technology, Agility revealed via a press communique.
Underemployment or lack of entrepreneurial opportunities inhibit economic and social development. EFE’s skills development programs provide young people with opportunities to gain employment or start their own businesses. These lead to greater prosperity, stability and social and economic development.
Creating future-ready workforce
“AI literacy is quickly becoming a priority area for recruiters. EFE and Agility are committed to making training available to young people who would otherwise not have access to it. Our shared goal is to create a future-ready workforce for Egypt and the broader Middle East because employment and entrepreneurial skills enable development, prosperity and stability,” commented Frank Clary, VP-Sustainability, Agility.
“EFE targets young people from underserved populations who are unemployed and having difficulty getting jobs. This training plays an important role in bridging the gaps in formal education and development of social capital,” remarked Andrew Baird, CEO, EFE-Global.
EFE training participants undergo a selection process and are accepted into programs based on motivation and socio-economic background. EFE’s AI curriculum includes basic concepts of AI, its applicability at work, ethical considerations, responsible use of online information, and use of AI tools in job searches, the press note concluded.
EPG implements LFS warehouse management system for KiK textile discount retailer
EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) has successfully introduced its LFS warehouse management system for German discount retailer KiK Textilien und Non-Food GmbH (KiK). The German clothing and home textiles store opened a new logistics center in the Polish village of Rabowice, east of Poznan, in early December 2023.KiK opted for LFS so that it could manage its warehouse efficiently. Together with the supply chain software specialist EPG, KiK also intends to introduce LFS at its two other large logistics centers in the German town of Bönen and in South Slovakia.
Supplying toys, clothes, textiles, and decorative items, KiK has grown steadily over its almost 30-year history. This growth has meant that requirements have increased for logistics processes in warehouse management. Its old warehouse management system had reached its limits. As a result, KiK decided to introduce a new solution at its new location in Rabowice: the LFS warehouse management system by EPG. The supply chain software specialist ensured swift implementation and provided a high-performance warehouse management system extensible in modules. LFS is expected to optimize all processes in the KiK Group in the future. “We chose to implement LFS when launching the Polish location, aiming to gradually standardize logistics workflows across the company and enhance the transparency of our processes,” states Michael Fröhlich, Managing Director at KiK Logistik GmbH. The core of KiK’s success lies in its highly efficient, well-established supplier chains, striking an optimal balance between speed and cost-effectiveness.
LFS ensures a perfect material flow
On introducing LFS, KiK is not only focusing on process standardization but also on future semi-automation in Bönen, an upgrade based on performance indicators, an increase in efficiency, and state-of-the-art lean management practices. Given the seasonal peaks at Christmas and Easter, particularly for decoration items, KiK recognizes the critical importance of a perfect material flow and the ability to readjust to varying order volumes. LFS incorporates various modules and specialized functions designed for this purpose, including comprehensive analysis capabilities for stocks, access frequencies, occupancy by different items, and warehouse capacity utilization. LFS is also scalable at all times.
Rabowice supplies all Polish and eastern German branches
The newly built logistics center in Rabowice will play a key role in the future. “It’s a highly important location for us, given our increasingly stronger presence in Eastern Europe. The center will serve as a hub between Central and Eastern Europe,” affirms Fröhlich. The new logistics location boasts almost 35,000 pallet storage spaces and 50 loading ramps over 40,000 square meters. A hazardous goods area is also integrated into the new location, where items such as helium tanks for balloons are stored. From 2024 onwards,130 employees are expected to ensure efficient incoming and outgoing goods flows.
EPG managed to implement LFS at the new location within a matter of months. The warehouse management system was first put into operation for incoming goods in early December; the go-live for outgoing goods is expected to be completed in January 2024. The KiK range will then be distributed to both Polish and potentially eastern German branches of the company group from Rabowice.
Carrier is committed to providing its business partners with a broader range of services
Turkish Cargo has raised the bar for quality in terms of logistics for pharmaceuticals and medical products, according to a corporate press communique.
The carrier has now launched its products; TK Pharma Standard, TK Pharma Extra and TK Pharma Advanced, which the carrier hopes to meet the expectations of the customers at the highest level by developing flexible solutions for the pharmaceutical and medical consignments in various categories.
“We are proud to be a trusted solution partner, which has helped us achieve a market share of 7 percent in the global air transportation of pharmaceuticals and medical products. We, as Turkish Cargo, are making innovative investments for the purpose of not only solidifying such trust but also adapting to the dynamics of the ever-growing healthcare industry,” commented Ali Türk, Chief Cargo Officer, Turkish Airlines.
“With the new offers, Turkish Cargo is committed to providing its business partners with more assurance, transparency, and better visibility for an enhanced quality and widened range of services,” he added.
Industry standard temperature-controlled solutions
TK Pharma Standard enables temperature-sensitive cargo to be shipped in compliance with the industry requirements. Thanks to TK Pharma Standard, shipments are being carried by benefiting from expert handling, high priority for loading, dedicated temperature-controlled storage, trained dedicated operations team and 24/7 customer services, available throughout the entire TK Pharma Network under the assurance of Turkish Cargo.
Enhanced temperature-controlled solutions
For pharmaceuticals and medical products with a higher sensitivity to temperature and time, which are shipped by making use of passive packaging methods and require extra protection during apron transportation, are carried above and beyond the expectations of the industry thanks to TK Pharma Extra.
While they are on the apron, the consignments, covered by such product, are carried by temperature-controlled dollies and monitored from the point of departure to the destination by the 24/7 Pharma Control Tower. TK Pharma Extra is available only at “TK Pharma High-Quality Stations” that have been audited and approved by our TK Cargo Pharma quality team.
Active and hybrid temperature-controlled solutions
Offering the most advanced solutions for protecting the cold chain, TK Pharma Advanced provides the opportunity to consign with near-zero risk against temperature deviation by making use of active temperature-controlled or hybrid/advanced passive containers.
By acquiring LogX, GDH aims to leverage its expertise and market influence
GreenDome Holdings, through its subsidiary Elite Co., a prominent logistics investment vehicle owned by regional industry leaders, has recently announced today that it successfully completed its latest strategic move by acquiring LogX, the UAE’s leading temperature-controlled logistics company.
This multi-million-dollar deal marks another significant milestone for GDH as it strengthens its position in the market and expands its service offerings.
“We are thrilled to welcome LogX into the GDH family. LogX’s impressive track record and strong market presence will further strengthen GDH’s capabilities, allowing us to deliver even more comprehensive and innovative solutions to our clients,” stated Dr. Mohammed Sharaf, CEO, GreenDome Holdings.
Customer-centric
LogX has emerged as a key player in the logistics landscape, boasting a network of over 150 talented professionals and a robust network of more than 70 satisfied partners. With an impressive 99% success ratio and 100% customer retention, LogX has established itself as a reliable and customer-centric organization in the industry.
By acquiring LogX, GDH aims to leverage its expertise, resources, and market influence to further enhance the logistics services it provides. This acquisition aligns with GDH’s overarching strategy of building an end-to-end logistics services powerhouse, capitalizing on both regional and global growth opportunities.
Tremendous opportunity
“Joining forces with GDH is a tremendous opportunity for LogX. We share a common vision of delivering exceptional logistics services and driving innovation in the industry,” remarked Abdul Sami Khan, Co-Founder and CEO, LogX.
“The acquisition of LogX is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with our growth strategy. Their expertise in cold chain last mile deliveries complements our existing portfolio, enabling us to offer a wider range of specialized services to our customers,” commented Hisham Albahar, Group CEO, Elite Prime Holding, the operating company.
Noatum Logistics Middle East takes over from MICCO Logistics
AD Ports Group has announced that Noatum, which leads the Group’s Logistics Cluster, has launched Noatum Logistics Middle East, the company’s new brand that solidifies its commitment to delivering market-leading logistics services within the Middle East region.
The new brand takes over from MICCO Logistics, which has served the Abu Dhabi and the GCC markets with distinction for over four decades, and which has been the freight forwarding arm of AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster since the company’s acquisition in 2020.
With strong ties to the natural resources sector, where it supported more than 80% of Abu Dhabi’s total oil, gas, and petrochemical projects, MICCO has served multiple industry sectors backed by an advanced fleet of over 400 vehicles, according to a press communique.
Integrated global portfolio
With MICCO’s consolidation into Noatum Logistics Middle East, its regional clients and stakeholders will continue to receive the same level of service excellence, while benefitting from Noatum’s scale and agility, 60 years of experience and an integrated global portfolio consisting of terminal operations, maritime shipping and logistics businesses.
Specifically, customers will be able to leverage Noatum’s global network of 16 terminals and 143 international offices, presence across 67 ports, and a team of over 4,200 professionals covering 27 countries across all major global markets and trade lanes, inclusive of Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America.
Integration
“Maintaining the continuity of our existing operations while integrating our regional clients into the broader global Noatum ecosystem will deliver unprecedented value and scale, while further elevating our new brand,” remarked Antonio Campoy, CEO, Noatum, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group.
“We look forward, our top priority will be to combine the strength of MICCO’s legacy and capabilities with Noatum’s highly integrated networks and solutions to develop market-leading products that deliver value along every link of the supply chain, from manufacture to consumer,” commented Daniel Berasategui, Managing Director, Noatum Logistics Middle East & CEO, Noatum Project Cargo, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group.
Abu Dhabi Knowledge Bridge (ADKB) is poised to empower individuals, corporates, and government departments with essential and most-demanding skills and knowledge in the region
AD Ports Group, (ADX: ADPORTS) a global leader in logistics, industry, and trade, has launched the Abu Dhabi Knowledge Bridge (ADKB), an education centre aimed at transforming corporate training and professional development across Abu Dhabi and the wider region.
ADKB’s programmes of study are strategically designed to address the skills gap in the professional workforce. It offers an extensive array of training syllabi that span various industries and disciplines, with modern methodologies, encompassing practical hands-on exercises, interactive workshops, multimedia content, simulations, and capstone projects. The initiative is particularly focused on professionals in key sectors like Finance and Banking, Accounting and Audit, Management Reporting, Project Management, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Leadership.
Dr. Yasser Al Wahedi, President of Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy, said: “ADKB is set to become a world-class training hub, attracting top talent and forming strong strategic partnerships to provide cutting-edge skills for career advancement. It embodies the UAE’s wise leaders’ vision to empower individuals and organisations, enhancing the nation’s knowledge economy and provide continuous learning for personal and professional growth.”
He added: “Through this initiative, AD Ports Group showcases its commitment to advancing trade, logistics, and now professional skills development in the region. The establishment of ADKB is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the skills landscape and supporting the UAE’s vision for national development.”
Aligning with the UAE’s national objectives and market trends, ADKB will significantly boost Emiratisation, aiming to contribute to a 10% increase in Emiratisation rates in skilled jobs by 2026. With a focus on providing practical, hands-on training, the centre is set to equip professionals with future-ready skills, essential for navigating and thriving in the rapidly evolving job market.
Offering a holistic approach to learning and development needs, ADKB beings with diagnostic assessments to identify areas for improvement and progresses to delivering transformative learning experiences. The centre also provides comprehensive training academy management solutions that include competency management, learner tracking, content development, and seamless administration.
Targeting a broad spectrum of learners, ADKB collaborates with prestigious certification bodies to deliver expertise from world-class trainers with deep industry knowledge. It offers flexibility in training formats to accommodate different learning preferences, customisation of programmes for maximum relevance and applicability, comprehensive project management support, and a focus on delivering successful outcomes that translate into improved performance, increased productivity, or enhanced professional growth.
Abu Dhabi’s latest education centre was announced at the ADQ Carnival 2024, an annual event to inspire, educate and enrich the community, held over a span of three days, from 25th – 28th January at Khalifa Park. As part of ADQ – one of the region’s largest holding companies, AD Ports Group is taking a significant step towards positively contributing to the UAE economy with this this newly developed centre.
Almosafer partners with Saudi Arabia Railways to provide access to the Haramain High Speed Railway network to a wider base of travellers
The partnership forms part of Almosafer’s strategy to boost tourism in the Kingdom by offering safe and convenient modes of transportation to residents and visitors
Almosafer, Saudi Arabia’s leading travel company (part of Seera Group), has signed a partnership agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to enhance travel across the Haramain High Speed Railway network and expand offerings to Almosafer travellers.
Under the agreement, which serves as a first distribution partnership for Haramain High Speed Railway, Almosafer will promote the train’s offerings as a truly convenient means of transport for travellers exploring the Kingdom, as well as for pilgrims, tourists and other travellers visiting the two holy cities. The high-speed luxury train provides a safe and fast method of travelling, linking the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City, along a 450 km route.
The agreement will offer the option of high-speed railway travel via platforms across Almosafer’s portfolio of businesses including the consumer segment; Discover Saudi, the destination management company; and Mawasim, the Hajj and Umrah tour operator.
Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “Rail travel is a truly great way to explore the Kingdom in comfort and Haramain High Speed Railway facilitates seamless travel between the Holy sites and major cities in KSA. This partnership is an exciting opportunity that enables more of our customers to experience high-end rail travel and underlines our commitment to creating opportunities for sustainable ways of travel, in support of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Rayan Alharbi, VP of Haramain High Speed Railway, said: “This partnership affirms our commitment to establishing strategic partnerships with leading national entities that contribute directly to making the Haramain High Speed Railway services a safe, fast and convenient transport option for a larger base of customers. As the volume of people travelling to the holy cities continues to rise, this partnership will contribute to enhancing our reach among residents and visitors in the Kingdom.”
Bridgestone Middle East wins Tyre Technology Provider of the Year Award for third consecutive year
Bridgestone Middle East, a global leader in sustainable mobility and advanced solutions, secured the renowned Tyre Technology Provider of the Year Award at the Truck and Fleet ME awards. This achievement marks the third consecutive win for the company in the same category. The key objective of the award ceremony, which was held in The Ritz Carlton, JBR, Dubai, was to recognise the remarkable milestones achieved by companies and their contributions to support the truck and fleet sector.
Bridgestone’s achievement signifies its steadfast commitment to ensure continued innovation and excellence, as exhibited through the vast line-up of its cutting-edge products and services. The company developed these cutting-edge technologies to address unprecedented requirements of the sector for safe and economical transportation solutions. The recognition further reinforces the company’s position as a pioneering player in the industry, fostering innovations and devising state-of-the-art solutions that contribute towards building smarter and safer cities.
Jacques Fourie, President of Bridgestone Middle East and Africa said: “We are delighted to secure the prestigious Tyre Technology Provider of the Year Award for the third consecutive year. This accolade acknowledges our unwavering commitment to pioneering digital mobility solutions through a synergy of innovation, partnerships, and research. At Bridgestone, sustainability is integral to our vision for the future as we evolve into a provider of advanced and sustainable mobility solutions.
Over the years, Bridgestone has maintained a leading position in the industry by pushing the boundaries of innovation to develop new tyre technologies. By leveraging the vast potential of innovative technologies, the company has developed smart tyres to enhance driving experiences. Bridgestone’s smart tyres are embedded with a sensor, which provides drivers with real-time information and assessment on road conditions. The sensor transmits the information wirelessly to
the analytical apparatus inside the car and then wirelessly communicates back to the driver through an in-car display.
In addition, Bridgestone has developed the iTrack solution, a real-time monitoring system for identifying tyre damage issues, the TPMS for off-road and mining tyres, and Webfleet Solutions, which has applications ranging from mileage and HGV-specific navigation to transport management systems and on-board cameras.
In light of its continuous efforts to be a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions Bridgestone is actively propelling the data-driven mobility shift. The company provides solutions for vehicles and fleets, focusing on maximizing tire impact through tire-centric and subscription-based offerings. Bridgestone’s commitment extends to shaping sustainable mobility, smart cities, and future logistics by leveraging telematics data beyond the vehicle. This aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, guiding the company’s journey towards Bridgestone 3.0 and the evolution of its business strategy.
The GROHE brand, part of LIXIL, a global leader in complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia with a new premium showroom in Jeddah in partnership with SARA Group, Middle East’s distributor and retailer of premium sanitary products.
The inauguration which was held yesterday, offered a window to a world of exquisite design, innovation, sustainability, and products. Consumers will have the opportunity to discover GROHE’s range of bestselling bathroom and kitchen solutions that have been specifically crafted to meet sustainability and contemporary design standards. The new showroom is expected to meet the growing demand for high-quality sanitaryware fittings in the Kingdom as luxury real estate and hospitality projects take off.
KSA is witnessing rapid growth in hotel building activity, with 42,033 hotel rooms under construction as of March 2023, accounting for 35.1 percent of the 119,505 being built in the region according to data from the hotel industry monitoring firm STR. Research has also shown that the Saudi real estate sector is forecast to reach close to $100 billion, creating strong growth opportunities for developers and investors.
Fawzi Dernaika, Leader, KSA, LIXIL EMENA, said: “We are delighted to announce yet another milestone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our partnership with SARA Group will enable us to showcase the beauty, elegance and cutting-edge innovation that defines GROHE’s products. Equally, GROHE’s commitment to sustainability is aligned with the KSA Vision 2030, contributing to the circular economy in the Kingdom and bolstering the thriving hospitality and real estate industry. With this new showroom, we are focused on delivering the most innovative solutions for our customers in Jeddah and beyond.”
Maher Tahan, Vice President, SARA Group added: “At SARA, we strive to create truly exceptional spaces – whether that is people’s homes or prestigious five-star hotels. We are delighted to work with the GROHE brand to bring their unparalleled product range to customers looking for innovation, style, and functionality. Our team is looking forward to delivering personalised services to ensure that customers find exactly what they are looking for.”
GROHE’s range of products is designed to suit modern lifestyles and sustainability demands – such as touchless faucets that can reduce water consumption by up to 70% and contribute significantly towards green accreditation. In the last ten years alone, GROHE brand has received over 300 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings as one of Germany’s most sustainable large brands.
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Evtec Strengthens UK Automotive Supply Chain with the Acquisition of JVM Castings Ltd
Evtec, a leading supplier of assembled products working with manufacturers around the world to support the automotive industry’s shift to electrification, proudly announces the completion of its acquisition of JVM Castings Limited (JVM).
Evtec is committed to building an interconnected robust network of suppliers in the UK automotive industry to promote innovation in future mobility. The acquisition of JVM not only strengthens the UK automotive supply chain’s role in advancing the electrification of the automotive landscape but also contributes to the global initiative to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero.
Established in 1929, JVM has played a pivotal role in the industry, operating from its expansive facility in Worcester and employing over 200 skilled personnel. For the last 60 years, JVM has been a key supplier of body castings and powertrain assemblies for the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover.
Commenting on the acquisition, Chairman of Evtec David Roberts said: “As OEMs execute on their transition from internal combustion vehicles to zero emissions, they require a supply chain to work seamlessly with them, to sequence production and deliver world-class vehicles. Evtec is consolidating several key suppliers that are strategic to OEMs, especially in super lightweight materials for body and powerpack parts and assemblies. Evtec has a growing order book of over £800m to deliver over the next 8 years, and the acquisition of JVM will ensure that we have the necessary capacity to meet peak demand whilst winning additional new business”.
Rob Murcott, Chairman JVM said: “Having been in the family ownership for over 98 years, JVM is now entering an exciting new chapter in its development, and we wish it every success in fulfilling the needs of an automotive sector that is going through a major transition in new vehicles and technology.”
Phoenix Contact demonstrated an integrated TSN system consisting of a controller and managed switches for Profinet for the first time at the SPS automation trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany. The TSN system enables the implementation of convergent IT/OT networks, including for AI applications such as machine learning.
Currently, IT and OT applications are often implemented in separate networks so as not to overload them and to ensure real-time critical communication. A convergent network that is used equally by IT and OT applications harbors high, mostly untapped potential. A convergent network is particularly helpful for AI applications, such as optical anomaly detection: Large amounts of data have to be transported from the field to the AI, while the result of the AI operation affects the process to be controlled in real time.
Here, high-precision time synchronization is essential for processing and evaluating the distributed data from the field. TSN technology enables this network convergence with various tools. In order to exploit the above-mentioned potential, Phoenix Contact has presented a TSN system based on a controller based on PLCnext Technology and managed switches. Profinet is used as the real-time protocol. The managed switches are now also available in versions with a fiber-optic connection.
All devices support TSN functions such as Quality of Service, pre-emption, precise time synchronization with PTP, and synchronous communication. They therefore enable the advantages of TSN to be used in the Profinet environment without changing the application view. Existing Profinet devices can also be used unchanged.
Industry leader honors iconic legacy as an industrial EV OEM powering productivity across the globe and its bright future as part of the sustainability movement
Taylor-Dunn, a leading industrial electric vehicle manufacturer, is proud to announce its 75th anniversary. With a rich legacy of designing and producing commercial and industrial utility vehicles, Taylor-Dunn has become synonymous with productivity, reliability and safety.
“Celebrating 75 years of Taylor-Dunn offers up a great opportunity to reflect on the company’s significant growth over the years that are rooted in its humble beginnings,” said Keith Simon, CEO, Waev Inc. “The company was born in innovation on an Anaheim, California, farm where the first Taylor-Dunn electric vehicle was developed to drive productivity on the farm. Today, we produce EVs that can be seen working in an expansive set of use cases around the world. This success can be attributed to a 75-year commitment to engineering sustainable solutions that work.”
As the world embraces greener, safer, more productive solutions, Taylor-Dunn’s electric vehicles have emerged as the go-to workhorse thanks to the brand’s reliability and versatility. One of the standout vehicles in Taylor-Dunn’s lineup is the Bigfoot, an electric utility vehicle that is revolutionizing the industry. The Bigfoot is replacing gas UTVs, golf carts, tractors and trucks, offering the same towing and hauling capabilities as a full-size pickup truck. However, it distinguishes itself by being right-sized, cost-effective and easy to charge.
All Taylor-Dunn products are built to last, whether it is the durable steel bodies, the purposefully simple electrical architecture, or the drives that are overengineered for reliability and capability. Taylor-Dunn has doubled down on the commitment to reliability in its 75th year, by introducing a new robust 4-year warranty – further demonstrating the company’s confidence in the quality and durability of the vehicles.
To keep up with the growing demand in the market, Taylor-Dunn has made significant investments in its Anaheim, Calif., manufacturing operation. These investments enable the company to scale production and continue delivering exceptional vehicles in a timely manner.
“We take pride in not only having amazing Taylor-Dunn products and team members, but also in the long-standing relationships with the expansive network of Taylor-Dunn dealers and customers,” Simon added. “Many of our dealers have been selling these products for decades, and the company has a loyal customer base that has been relying on their Taylor-Dunn vehicles for much of the brand’s history. Their partnership and collaboration have been instrumental and we share this milestone with them.”
In addition to the company’s deep roots and enduring partnerships, Taylor-Dunn attributes its success to its dedicated team, many of whom have been with the brand for years. The legacy of the Taylor-Dunn team is impressive; 30 percent of the team has been with the company for more than a decade, a handful for more than three decades and one for almost six decades. Within the team are many multigenerational families that have also been integral to the Taylor-Dunn story.
As Taylor-Dunn celebrates its milestone year, it remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology in a way that creates real value for customers. The company is poised to lead the industry into a greener and more sustainable future. Taylor-Dunn will commemorate the anniversary with a look back to the past throughout the year, as well as with exciting news in 2024 that will continue to propel the brand into the future.
Gulf Warehousing Company (Q.P.S.C) – one of the fastest-growing companies in the MENA region – has announced its end-of-year financial results. The company achieved net profits of QAR 215 million for the year ended 2023, and Total Revenues of QAR 1.5 billion. The total operating profit reached 323 million with an Asset base of 5.2 billion.
EPS for the year ending 2023 recorded was QAR 0.367. GWC Chairman, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani, said: “GWC’s performance is testament to our strategic initiatives, innovative solutions, and unwavering commitment to excellence. GWC Group is embarking on an ambitious journey, exploring new markets, and diversifying its services.
These strategic moves are reinforcing Qatar’s position as a regional and global logistics and reexport hub, setting the stage for continued growth and innovation.” 2023 was packed with key milestones for GWC, including the launch of GWC Energy, launch of phase-2 of Al Wukair Logistics Park, the 3rd annual GWC Forum, and recognition for being a leader in sustainability from Forbes, in addition to providing the logistics mandate for EXPO Doha 2023.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, said: “Over 20 years of industry leadership, the GWC team has proven that commitment and diligence are the cornerstones of logistics excellence.” Menon added: “Looking ahead, GWC remains poised for continued success and growth. The company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability will continue to drive its endeavors and contribute to the broader success of region’s logistics sector.”
Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Airports and Abu Dhabi Food Hub Announce the Signing of Major MoU to Develop New Food Corridors and Diversify Food Trade
All three entities agreed to work together to position the UAE as a key node in global food supply chains. The agreement demonstrates their commitment to expanding the food trade network.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports, a key enabler of the emirate’s aviation sector, and Abu Dhabi Food Hub – KEZAD, the region’s largest and first dedicated food wholesale market and logistic hub, have signed a tri-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly establish a fully compliant and transparent origin-to-destination perishable air corridor known as the ‘Fresh Corridor 2.0’. The initiative will support the diversification of food sources, developing new trade corridors and enhancing the choice and variety of products available for regional consumers.
This MoU sets a framework for Abu Dhabi’s food trade enablers to position the UAE as a key node in global food supply chains. The partners, together, aim to establish a strong ecosystem for food trading and investment, which includes advanced infrastructure, access to regional consumer markets, and reliable logistics and connectivity worldwide.
The agreement strengthens the integrated offering of Abu Dhabi through collaborative efforts by the three parties that involves an exchange of knowledge and expertise in handling, storage and logistics, food safety, and hygiene as part of the trading process. Furthermore, the partnership is dedicated to addressing the evolving demands of the food trade by liaising with government stakeholders, relevant facilitators, and key contributors from the food ecosystem thus ensuring a seamless trade.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways said: “Etihad Cargo is committed to the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 and is proud to be an active partner in the launch of the region’s largest food wholesale market – Abu Dhabi Food Hub at KEZAD. Etihad Cargo customers will benefit from the expanded infrastructure as a strategic hub in the Middle East to the rest of the world.”
Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports said: “Our collective proposition to facilitate trade in and out of the UAE will further support the commercial development of the emirate as a global food centre. We are delighted to be a part of this MoU along with Etihad Cargo and Abu Dhabi Food Hub. The launch of the Fresh Corridor 2.0 will encourage 2-way food trade between the UAE and the rest of the world bringing food products into the UAE but also taking our “Made in the UAE” products to the world in a bold step towards diversification and growth of imports and exports”.
Suresh Vaidhyanathan, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi Food Hub, said: “This agreement is a testimony of our commitment to develop and operate the food hub as one of the finest food wholesale markets globally. This collaboration will indeed enhance our multi-modal capabilities as we seek to position the UAE as a leader in the regional food value chain. We are excited to support the global food players in accessing the regional consumer markets with integrated supply chain solutions and incorporating the most recent technologies and further be a key enabler in food trade diversification and UAE’s Food Security Agenda. Our vision is to create an unparalleled ecosystem of sellers and buyers from around the world.”
This partnership aims to set new standards in commercial and operational excellence within the global food trade. It seeks to offer solutions that meet the demands of the industry and result in the effective management of the global supply chain and logistics.
2023 was a year of records and growth for Challenge Group. It predicts that the year ahead will be an extension of more of the same as the group lays out a solid strategy to continue to ensure that it can meet every challenge head on.
Challenge Accepted! Success delivered. Such is the business strategy of every Challenge Group subsidiary. In 2023, despite the many challenging conditions of a soft market coupled with yield decline, Challenge Group enjoyed a successful year. With the introduction and deployment of its B767 fleet, it not only uplifted more tonnage than ever before, but also increased its end-to-end and charter activities, reaching the milestone of 1000 charter flights that year. Both Challenge Handling and Challenge Technic acquired new customers such as MSC, and SF and Smartwings, respectively, and were able to augment their range of logistics services.
In 2024, the strategic focus across the group is on fortifying internal group collaboration and fine-tuning the service that sets it apart from its peers within the air cargo industry: the offer of an end-to-end logistics solution from a single source and stability to the supply chain.
“Our DNA and value proposition are based on an end-to-end solution approach to supply chain requirements. We have become the partner of choice when it comes to complex verticals and specific/unique logistics needs, in terms of commodity and destination,” Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of Challenge Group, explains. Two-thirds of the company’s business is in the vertical segment, such as live animals, automotive, aerospace, artworks, temperature-controlled shipments, valuables, and dangerous goods, where the group is a recognized business partner. “Overall, we expect the complex vertical segment to grow, and predict that our certified expertise and known capabilities will gain us further market share. The most growth, however, can again be expected in e-commerce.”
The main challenges, therefore, that Challenge Group is taking on internally, are a strategic fleet expansion which, in turn, will enable the addition of new markets and new destinations tailored to customer requirements. A new digital sales channel and sustainability initiatives are planned to support and enhance the overall customer experience.
At the same time, the group will be navigating the external industry challenges brought about by the global geo-political uncertainty and volatile economy. Nevertheless, concrete plans for 2024 include: a new hangar and a new maintenance station for Challenge Technic, few more new destinations being opened shortly, thanks to Challenge Group’s recent fleet additions, Challenge Logistics’ investment in new technology such as the Project44 tool, which offers seamless visibility and transparency to customers, and electrical cars on ramp, electrical tractors and GPU are coming for Challenge handling in Liege.
EFIS MAROC and customers to benefit from rapid digital transformation
ECS Group acquires Morocco’s leading GSA, gaining a strong air cargo market presence
Building on a longstanding commercial partnership spanning over two decades, EFIS MAROC has officially merged into ECS Group, reinforcing the group’s presence in Africa. The acquisition agreement, signed on December 13, 2023, marks the beginning of a seamless transition and the implementation of digital enhancements for the benefit of EFIS MAROC and its clientele.
Founded by Pierre Fougerouse, EFIS MAROC boasts an impressive client portfolio, including renowned international and local freight forwarders. Offering GSSA and air cargo services, the team, situated at the company’s headquarters in downtown Casablanca, specializes in air, road, and logistics. Their expertise includes supervising the handling of special products such as outsize cargo, dangerous goods, perishables, and live animals. EFIS MAROC, strategically positioned at Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN), provides extensive commercial coverage for the country’s major cargo gateways, including Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA), and Tangier Ibn Battuta Airport (TNG).
“EFIS MAROC has emerged as the market leader in commercial air cargo services, uniquely positioned as the region’s sole GSA with substantial air freight experience and a loyal client base,” affirms Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. “Morocco’s strategic location holds the potential to become a key African Hub, aligning with ECS Group’s established air cargo hubs in East and South Africa.”
Pierre Fougerouse, Founder of EFIS MAROC, adds, “Our journey began with ECS Group’s support in 2001, and after becoming self-owned in 2003, merging into ECS Group now feels like a fitting evolution of our partnership. I am also pleased to welcome Bouazza El Hantiti as Managing Director, bringing valuable experience from North Africa and Europe to enhance network synergies between Morocco and ECS Group’s European representations.”
Upon integration into ECS Group, EFIS MAROC’s internal processes will receive a boost through the group’s proprietary digital solutions like Squair, providing improved customs reporting functions. Clients will gain access to CargoAi’s booking platform and wallet payment features, reinforcing EFIS MAROC’s leading position in a market where manual logistics processes still dominate.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has been able to recruit Matthias Köfler as Product Manager Rail East Europe. In this newly created position, he is responsible for the further development of rail and intermodal transport, especially between Southern and Eastern Europe. The appointment is a further strategic step by the global logistics service provider to develop and establish rail transport within Europe as an important part of intermodal transport.
The 33-year-old economist has many years of experience in European combined transport. For the past ten years, he has been working for the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) in Vienna, where he was most recently responsible for the Continental division of the ÖBB subsidiary Rail Cargo Group. At Hellmann, Matthias Köfler will use his in-depth knowledge of the industry to launch new intermodal products and to strategically develop the rail product, particularly in Eastern Europe. As a first step, Hellmann plans to establish three block train connections between Germany, Hungary, Turkey and Slovenia by 2026.
“The relocation of production from many industries to Eastern European countries has led to a massive increase in customer demand for intermodal transport solutions and rail services between Western and Eastern Europe in recent years. Thanks to the long-standing and, above all, local expertise of our colleagues in Austria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey, we at Hellmann are very well positioned to provide our customers with the best possible support in this regard,” says Piotr Zaleski, Regional CEO East Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“Having already brought Marijo Pesic on board as Director Product Management Rail Europe in September 2023, we are expanding our expertise with Matthias Köfler, enabling us to further increase our ability to offer our customers tailor-made, environmentally friendly intermodal products on an international scale. Shifting transport to rail remains the biggest lever for sustainably reducing CO2 emissions. Combined with the use of e-trucks we will be able to bring reliable CO2-neutral transports to the market very quickly,” says Si Hellmann, Head of Rail Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“Mawani” confirms its International Leadership with the “Best Contributor to Economic Infrastructure Development” Award
Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani” has been recognized with the “Best Contributor to Economic Infrastructure Development” award at the International Finance Financial Awards ceremony in Dubai. The award acknowledges Mawani’s efforts in continuously developing port infrastructure and attracting investments.
In 2023, Mawani laid the foundation for the upgrade and operation of two container terminals at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, with an investment value exceeding 7 billion riyals. Additionally, strategic projects were inaugurated at Jubail Commercial and Industrial Ports to increase capacity.
Mawani has also signed agreements and inaugurated logistics parks and hubs, with investments exceeding 6 billion riyals. These initiatives aim to offer investment opportunities in the logistics sector to the private sector, in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
In support of global trade and to solidify the Kingdom’s position as an international logistics hub bridging three continents, Mawani has taken significant steps. These include facilitating export and import procedures, enhancing logistics services, and partnering with major international shipping lines to add 28 new maritime services in 2023. These services link Saudi ports with those in the east and west. Furthermore, Mawani has signed several agreements with international ports and national entities across public and private sectors, aiming to boost the standing of Saudi ports in the maritime transport sector, both regionally and globally.
The award is a reflection of the international and regional recognition “Mawani” has received for its efforts in bolstering and advancing the maritime sector. Throughout 2023, Mawani was honored with seven awards on both regional and international levels. These include: the “Best Port” represented by Jeddah Islamic Port, the “Brand Award”, “Port of the Year” for Jeddah Islamic Port, as well as the “Excellence in Customer Experience” and “Advanced Ports Infrastructure” awards.4
In addition, “Mawani” secured two categories in the “NIDLP Excellence Award 2023”: “Best Entities Achieving International Accomplishments” and “Best Entities Achieving Investments”. This accolade is a testament to Mawani’s significant contribution, which propelled the Kingdom from the 24th to the 16th rank globally in container handling, according to the Lloyd’s List 2023 ranking of the world’s top 100 ports.
The International Finance Awards recognize financial institutions and companies for their contributions to the global financial community. These awards are issued by International Finance Publications Limited, a distinguished trade and financial magazine based in the United Kingdom.
Martin Kraemer new VP Sales & Marketing at DOKASCH GmbH
Martin Kraemer joins Dokasch GmbH, German manufacturer of high-quality air cargo equipment and related services, as Vice President Sales & Marketing. He presumes his new position as of January 1st at Dokasch Headquarters in Staudt, Rhineland-Palatine in Germany.
“We are pleased that we welcome Martin Kraemer, a long-experienced expert in the airline and air cargo industry. His expertise in both sales and marketing will further strengthen our global market position and expansion,“ says Dr. Stefanie Dommermuth, Managing Director at Dokasch.
Martin Kraemer, who holds a master’s degree in management and economics, has a strong knowledge of airline and air cargo business. He started as a management consultant and later joined the Lufthansa Group, where he was assigned numerous leadership positions in sales and marketing over the past 25 years. His career has brought him to Frankfurt, Paris, Stockholm, Singapore, and Shanghai.
GWC – one of the fastest-growing companies in the MENA region has announced further expansion by launching its FLAG subsidiary (100% owned company) logistics Hub at Khazaen Economic City in Oman. The state of art facility was inaugurated by H.E. Eng. Khamis bin Mohammed Al- Shamakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology for Transport. Other attendees included H.E. Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad bin Jassim Al Thani, the Qatari Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, GWC officials, key clients, and high-level dignitaries from the region.
FLAG will be the first company to launch at Khazaen Economic City, which is strategically located to transport links, borders, and within only two hours’ drive of 80% of Oman’s population. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, GWC Group, stated: “The launch of FLAG Logistics at in the Sultanate of Oman marks a key milestone for GWC as the Group continue to grow its operations across the GCC.” FLAG Oman will become a vital hub, connecting powerhouse locations across the region, including Muscat, Doha, Bahrain, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dubai. It will provide a platform, uniting Oman with the GCC, and the GCC with the rest of the world.
Ranjeev Menon, GWC Group CEO, GWC, said: “FLAG will leverage GWC’s 20 years of knowledge and expertise as creates new benchmark in the logistics industry – enabling the Sultanate of Oman to achieve its strategic goals.” FLAG will operate from a modern 50,000m² infrastructure in Khazaen Economic City, which is segmented into specialist areas, each tailored to address distinct logistical needs including dry, ambient, chilled and frozen warehousing, bulk storage, records management and marshalling areas. The warehouse and distribution centre measure 27,500m².
Menon continued: “We see FLAG as a bridge, connecting businesses to markets, producers to consumers, and Oman to the global economy. Through innovative logistics solutions, FLAG aims to facilitate seamless trade, contributing to the economic prosperity of Oman and aligning with the goals of Oman National Vision 2040.” Eng. Salim Al Thuhli, CEO, Khazaen Economic City, stated: “The presence of FLAG in Khazaen Economic City will contribute to strengthening dry and cold supply chains, and will also provide logistics solutions for international investors, companies in the private sector and government agencies.
This project comes in line with Oman’s logistics strategy, which aims to position the Sultanate as a global logistics hub. The logistics sector will contribute about 14% of the GDP by 2040. FLAG Oman chose Khazaen Economic City for its strategic location, which connects it to a robust logistics infrastructure and network such as Muscat International Airport, sea ports, and land borders with neighboring countries.” FLAG will prioritize a skilled Omani talent, investing in training and mentorship to navigate the complexities of the logistics industry. The company is committed to building collaborative, long-term partnerships, creating a robust ecosystem that fosters growth and prosperity.
IVECO partners with Saudi Arabia’s RWG Community for the Riyadh Marathon to encourage women inclusivity in Saudi Arabia sport events
Following its DE&I vision, IVECO as main sponsor, in collaboration with its official dealer Arabian Auto Agency, supports Riyadh Women GettingFit (RWG), the largest all women’s fitness community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the third edition of Riyadh International Marathon.
VECO, energetically active in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs, is the RWG Community official partner for the 2024 Riyadh Marathon, which will take place on February 10th. This initiative, hosted by the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) and supported by the Ministry of Sport, Quality of Life Program, and the Saudi Arabian Athletic Federation, aims to promote a more active and healthier lifestyle.
Thanks to the participation of IVECO and the RWG Community at the marathon, more women than ever will take part in the third edition of the race, making this sport event a cornerstone of personal empowerment for many women in their daily life: thanks to the initiative, 38.3% of women now participate in different types of workouts every week, an estimated increase of 150% between 2015 and 2023 of female involvement in sports.
Riyadh Marathon 2024 will in fact include the largest number of participants, especially women, compared to 2022 with 10,000 participants and 15,000 in 2023. This is also because the race will offer multiple race distances, organized as follows: full marathon (42.2km), half-marathon (21.1km), 10km race and a 4km run specifically designed for kids, families, and beginners, allowing everyone to take part, regardless of age or athletic ability.
IVECO and the RWG Community will provide a welcoming and professional female fitness team to prepare women for the 2024 Riyadh Marathon with in-person training sessions across the city of Riyadh as well as online strength and conditioning training sessions.
Elvira Ferrara, Network Development & Marketing Manager, commented: “IVECO’s decision to support the RWG Community, in collaboration with AAA, our official dealer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a great example of IVECO vision in terms of Diversity & Inclusion. We are not alone in our Diversity & Inclusion journey and embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, representation, and an overall sense of belonging can significantly change perceptions of the world around us. We go beyond.“
Zuzana Kalous, founder of the RWG Community, said: “I am proud to participate in the Riyadh Marathon 2024 with my community and I am glad of IVECO’s presence. Events such as the Riyadh Marathon encourage women to become physically involved in sporting activities and create a healthy and vibrant society, and I am sure that this will strongly contribute to Saudi Vision 2030 Quality of Life Objectives“.
Air cargo industry relies on squAIR-timber lightweight elements from trilatec
DHL in Frankfurt and Paris, Kühne + Nagel as well as Lufthansa Cargo, Cargolux and Emirates SkyCargo are just some of the leading air freight players that trilatec supplies with its unique squAIR-timber product. Wooden beams, which are required for the assembly of air freight pallets, can thus be replaced by 80 percent lighter elements made of cardboard fiber composite material. Today, squAIR-timber is an integral component in the assembly of many shipments and saves fuel costs and CO2 due to its lower weight.
The innovative lightweight construction elements from trilatec are made of 100 percent recyclable paper and cold-glued joints, manufactured according to the carbon principle. Despite considerable weight savings, there is no need to compromise on load-bearing capacity. When loaded, one meter of the weatherproof material can carry up to 5 tons with a dead weight of just 1.2 kilograms per meter. When using wood, the dead weight is 3 to 4 kilograms per meter. Once the squAIR-timber has been used, it can be reused or returned to the recycling cycle. The cardboard fiber composite skids are certified for use in air freight and can be placed under all containers and pallets.
“We use the lightweight squAIR-timber elements as a substructure for all pharmaceutical shipments and they are fully integrated into the processes. They have no disadvantages compared to wood, but their significantly lower weight brings many advantages and helps to save a considerable amount of CO2,” says Johannes Bruijs, Sr. Vice-President Global Logistics at Cargolux.
The use of squAIR-timber also saves a lot of time during handling. Only one person and no forklift truck is required for assembling.
“squAIR-timber offers added value to leading companies in the air cargo industry. Our product has proven to be a reliable alternative in their global networks. According to calculations, airlines such as Cargolux can save around 1,200 tons of fuel per year by using our solutions – the equivalent of three fully loaded jumbo jets,” explains Andreas Langemann, Managing Director of trilatec GmbH.
Heléne Bittman has taken from Anna-Karin Rosén, who has played a pivotal role in strengthening Saab UAE’s position and operations since her appointment in 2018.
Previously, Bittman was the Head of Saab AB’s wholly owned production and development facility based in Abu Dhabi’s Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), where she was responsible for overseeing the company’s operations, setting its strategic direction, as well as growing its market position and product portfolio.
Expansion plans
“We strongly believe that Heléne will accelerate progress of our expansion plans and reinforce our regional footprint,” remarked Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Business Area Surveillance.
“I look forward to deepening our ties with local partners and exploring further opportunities for collaboration, ensuring sustained success and growth of our operations in the country,” commented Bittman.
Saab’s footprint in the UAE is growing, currently comprising more than 150 employees. Saab’s development and production site based in TIP aims to leverage innovation, underpin industry knowledge, as well as nurture strong capabilities and world-class Emirati defence and security solutions, catering to national priorities as well as global needs, a press communique concluded.
The new cooperation arrangement will comprise a fleet pool of around 290 vessels
Hapag-Lloyd (Hapag-Lloyd) and Maersk, an entity under AP Moller – Maersk (Maersk), recently signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration dubbed ‘Gemini Cooperation’, which will commence in February 2025. The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading reliability, according to a joint press communique.
“Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers. Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations and joint efforts to further accelerate the decarbonization of our industry,” stated Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd.
The new cooperation between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk will comprise a fleet pool of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4mn containers (TEU); the ratio has also been decided Maersk will deploy 60% and Hapag-Lloyd 40%.
Ideal ocean partner
“We are pleased to enter this cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, which is the ideal ocean partner on our strategic journey. By entering this cooperation, we will be offering our customers a flexible ocean network that will raise the bar for reliability in the industry. This will strengthen our integrated logistics offering and meet our customers’ needs,” commented Vincent Clerc, CEO, Maersk.
As a part of the agreement, the two companies have set the ambitious target of delivering schedule reliability of above 90% once the network is fully phased in. As well as improved service quality, customers will also benefit from improved transit times in many major port-to-port corridors and access to some of the world’s best connected ocean hubs.
Decarbonization
Both companies are committed to the decarbonization of their fleets and have set the most ambitious decarbonization targets in the industry with Maersk aiming for net-zero in 2040 and Hapag-Lloyd in 2045.
As a consequence of joining this cooperation, Hapag-Lloyd will leave ‘The Alliance’ by the end of January 2025. In January 2023, Maersk and MSC announced that the 2M alliance will end in January 2025.
During 2024, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will carefully plan the transition from their current alliances to the new operational cooperation. Concurrently, service to customers will continue along existing agreements.
New CSR campaign educates truck drivers about the importance of safety and health
The Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment Division, in collaboration with UD Trucks recently launched a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign aimed at educating truck drivers about the significance of safety and health in alignment with the organizations’ joint commitment to promoting responsible business practices and fostering a culture of well-being within the transportation industry.
Through comprehensive training sessions, Al Masaood and UD Trucks aim to equip truck drivers with essential knowledge about safety measures and health awareness. They hosted a highly successful half-day training session for truck drivers at an Al Masaood CV&E facility aimed at enhancing driver safety by providing comprehensive theoretical and practical training, as well as health check services.
The event saw the participation of truck drivers, industry experts, and representatives from both Al Masaood and UD Trucks.
Fostering positivity
“At Al Masaood, we believe in fostering a positive and enjoyable learning environment to encourage drivers to actively participate in the training sessions. This event was part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing driver proficiency and well-being,” emphasized Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E.
Following the classroom sessions, drivers were given the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice with practical training on Al Masaood’s Croner and Quester UD Trucks models. This hands-on experience allowed the drivers to familiarize themselves with the latest technology and safety features, ensuring they are well-equipped for the challenges they face on the road.
“UD Trucks strongly believes in the importance of driver training and engagement. Our partnership aims to create a positive impact by equipping truck drivers with essential skills and knowledge,” stressed Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks MENA.
McLaren Applied helps Network Rail maintain the railway with 5G connectivity and new Active Antenna
British engineering company McLaren Applied enhances connectivity and supports performance across Network Rail infrastructure monitoring trains with combined 5G connectivity software (Fleet Connect) and antenna solution (Active Antenna)
Fleet Connect and Active Antenna installed on 14 trains that check the condition of 20,000 miles of track to help run a safe and reliable railway
Upload data improvements of up to 1000x compared to previous systems (70MB/s versus 76kB/s), meaning faster, safer maintenance, reduced costs and improved rail operation
McLaren Applied is helping Network Rail maintain the railway following the installation of its F1-derived Fleet Connect software and 5G Edge Active Antenna hardware on 14 of the railway operator’s infrastructure monitoring trains. This first implementation of Active Antenna’ technology in the UK brings a new, simplified approach to on-train connectivity infrastructure and an advanced capability for data offload on the move.
The combined tech solution delivers far greater connectivity and performance, with Network Rail registering upload data improvements of up to one thousand times faster than previous systems, meaning upload speeds of up to 70MB/s per train versus 76kB/s previously.
The UK’s infrastructure monitoring trains travel up and down the country, checking the condition of bridges, tunnels, and viaducts, as well as 20,000 miles of track including signals and level crossings. The New Measurement Train – the most recognisable of Network Rail’s infrastructure monitoring trains – records 60,000 miles of data a year, which can now be easily offloaded via the McLaren Applied solution.
Access to better and more stable connectivity is supporting maintenance, with the monitoring trains reporting back using live data streams, including sensor readings on the track, foliage, and network monitoring. The remote and automated monitoring helps to target maintenance work and run a safe and reliable railway for passengers and goods.
Originally developed for the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1, McLaren Applied’s patented Fleet Connect software splits data across networks in real time and reassembles it in the cloud en route to its destination, reducing blackspots and providing a consistent connectivity stream for any moving vehicle in any environment.
Pablo Garcia Lopez, Director, Connected Intelligence Business Unit at McLaren Applied, said: “The roll out of Fleet Connect software and cutting-edge Active Antenna hardware is a great example of how British ingenuity and engineering, along with cross industry knowledge, can solve prominent challenges in the transport sector. The combined technology ensures that infrastructure monitoring trains can quickly and reliably transmit data throughout their journeys up and down the UK.
“Network Rail has demonstrated an open, collaborative mindset in bringing Formula 1-derived software to the rail industry, and we expect further gains over five-year partnership,” Garcia Lopez added.
Taken: Thursday 26th Feb 2015 Defence secretary Michael falcon MP visits Durham Tees Valley Airport (International Fire Training Centre) Byline: Dave Charnley Photography Ltd Website Link: www.davecharnleyphotography.com All Rights Reserved 2015 Mobile: 07753559 Office: 01642 586269 Email: info@davecharnleyphotography.com
Serco to Elevate Regional Fire Fighting Capabilities Through Partnership with International Training Platform,Qual-eFire™
The immersive, cloud-based training integrates global best practices, aligned with the requirements of multiple aviation authorities including the GACA and GCAA, setting a new benchmark in FRS training for the region.
International public services company, Serco Middle East has signed a partnership with the internationally renowned aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) training providers Qual-eFire™ to bring their cloud-based training and assessment platform to the Middle East in a multi-year agreement.
Built by experienced firefighters for firefighters, the Qual-eFire training and assessment framework, which Serco will initially launch into the UAE and KSA, has been designed specifically for the region and is fully aligned with the regulatory requirements of both the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and KSA’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), in addition to international bodies including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), amongst others.
The partnership between Serco Middle East, who currently employ more than 200 firefighters and support staff across the Middle East, and Qual-eFire means firefighters will have access to international resources and be trained in best practices from multiple countries including the US, UK and Australia, where Qual-eFire originates.
The new training programme, authored by world leading ARFF experts, will be rolled out in the coming weeks across operations where Serco provides Fire and Rescue services, including Red Sea International Airport in KSA and MELABS in the UAE, in addition to future new clients in the region. The programme’s regularly updated content is based on real-time investigations taken from across the world and is designed using the latest immersive technologies and learning sciences, to be both engaging and easily accessible, with content also provided in Arabic.
The partnership contributes to the national visions of both the UAE and KSA Governments, supporting them in providing world-class services and further ensuring high levels of safety for all those travelling through and operating in regional airports.
Teren Tan, Head of Emergency Services in Serco’s Middle East Division, said: “Our partnership with Qual-eFire is a transformative moment for FRS here in the region, where Serco has provided services to airports for many years. We constantly seek to introduce the best global tools and standards, adapted for local requirements. The capabilities and thoroughness of the Qual-eFire training programme means we can offer the best possible training to our firefighters here in the region, using the latest technologies, which in turn supports government visions for high levels of both customer and employee service and safety.”
Tim Dean, CEO of Qual-eFire said:“Our partnership with Serco will elevate standards of fire safety and emergency response across the region. This partnership harnesses the strengths of Serco’s regional and global expertise, Qual-eFire’s established training and assessment framework and global best practices to ensure that firefighters and FRS support staff in the Middle East have access to the most advanced and effective training available. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for safety and preparedness in the aviation sector.”
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has appointed Bora Argac as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Germany. He succeeds Kai Hasenpusch, who took over the position of Sales Director Roadfreight West Europe at the beginning of 2024.
With around 25 years of professional experience, Bora Argac has relevant expertise in the areas of sales management and customer service and has been in charge of sales at Hellmann Germany since January 1, 2024. In recent years, he has successfully worked for Expeditors, Hermes and most recently Kühne + Nagel as a sales manager across all modes of transport. With his extensive industry knowledge, Bora Argac will strategically develop sales in Hellmann’s largest national organization across all product areas.
“We are delighted to have found in Bora Argac an experienced and at the same time highly committed driving force as CCO for Hellmann in Germany. With his ideas and his eye for customer needs, we will continue to drive forward the growth of our German country organization,” says Sven Eisfeld, Managing Director Germany, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“In Bora Argac, we have found an outstanding personality for the position, both personally and professionally. Germany will always be the engine that drives our global network and together with his German sales organization, Bora will be a very important component,” adds Martin Wehner, Chief Commercial Officer West Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
As Managing Director & CEO, will spearhead company’s operations in GCC
Alstom has announced the appointment of Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna as the new Managing Director & CEO in Gulf (UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain).
With a track record of customer-oriented success in the Gulf, Dr. Dalya earlier held the position of President at GE in the UAE and global Chief of Strategy & Operations for GE International Markets, as well as previously holding the position of President & CEO, GE in the Gulf region.
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from Imperial College London and an MBA from the American University in Dubai, according to a press communique.
Local presence
“With Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna on board, Alstom is poised to elevate and further localize its presence in the Middle East’s dynamic mobility sector. Her role is crucial as we align with each country’s drive towards net-zero carbon emissions,” stated Andrew DeLeone, President, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia Region, Alstom.
In her role at Alstom, Dr. Dalya will be instrumental in steering the company’s growth and enhancing relationships with key stakeholders.
“I’m excited to join Alstom and lead a dynamic team dedicated to pioneering sustainable mobility solutions. Alstom has been an integral part of the region’s growth in rail transportation, and I’m honoured to contribute to this legacy,” remarked Dr. Dalya.
Alstom, a global leader in rail transport and mobility, has a long-standing presence in Qatar and UAE. The company has delivered major successful projects in the region, the press note concluded.
This extension reinforces FUSO’s unwavering commitment to reliability
Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA, the regional arm of Daimler Truck AG, has announced the extension of the standard warranty for its FUSO BA Bus, setting a new industry benchmark for customer assurance.
This warranty extension, distinct from the ‘Extended warranty,’ offers comprehensive OEM offered bumper-to-bumper coverage, ensuring unparalleled confidence for FUSO BA Bus customers.
The extended warranty spans an impressive 240,000kms or up to four years, reaffirming FUSO’s commitment to reliability and customer satisfaction, according to a press communique.
The FUSO BA Bus, available exclusively in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Qatar, stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of two Daimler Truck AG entities – MFTBC (Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation) & DICV (Daimler India Commercial Vehicles).
Prime choice
Introduced in response to the growing demand for high-capacity passenger transport, the FUSO BA Bus boasts a seating capacity of 36 passengers, making it a prime choice for student and employee transportation in the region, the press note continued.
The vehicle is equipped with a fuel-efficient 3.9-litre 4D37 4-cylinder engine, complying with both Euro III & Euro V emission norms, and ensuring a reliable and eco-friendly solution for urban development and industrialization.
“The extension of the standard warranty for the FUSO BA Bus reflects our dedication to providing comprehensive support and peace of mind to our valued customers,” assured Olaf Petersen, General Manager, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE.
New facility to bolster steel production to 30,000 tonnes annually
Ikigai Steel FZE has announced it will establish a new factory in Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah stretching over an area of 548,000sqft and boasting an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes.
The factory will be equipped with state-of-the-art plant and equipment, providing cutting edge technologies and high-end solutions for the iron and steel industry, backed by an estimated initial investment of AED 30mn.
An agreement sealing this venture has been signed by HE Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA), and Rajendran, Chairman, Ikigai Steel, in the presence of officials from both sides.
Quality Addition
“We will spare no effort to support the Emirate’s economic diversification plans and attract high-quality investments in order to consolidate Sharjah’s reputation as a global investment destination,” commented Al Mazrouei.
“The ‘Operation 300bn’ and the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiatives not only provide investors with competitive advantages and extensive opportunities but also an ideal business environment, supporting the continuous growth and empowerment of the industrial sector,” Al Mazrouei added.
Steel and steel products
“We look forward to manufacturing high-quality steel and steel products for the local and regional markets, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Initially, the company plans to employ approximately 500 people, focusing on producing top tier steel and steel products,” remarked Rajendran.
The Hamriyah Free Zone is renowned globally as a leading hub for the iron and steel industry, making it one of the most critical sectors within the zone, the press communique concluded.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Landscape at night - Riyadh Tower Kingdom Center - Kingdom Tower - Riyadh skyline - Riyadh at night
LSP aims will use the proceeds of the funding to accelerate the expansion of its network
Riyadh headquartered Nawel, a Saudi tech startup Logistics Services Provider (LSP), has closed a US$ 1mn pre-seed funding round led by NOMD Holding, a privately owned Saudi Arabian company and part of Future Horizons Group according to a press release.
Nawel aims will use the proceeds of the funding to accelerate the expansion of its network and develop its technological infrastructure. It also plans to widen its warehouse management system, enabling businesses to streamline their operations.
The tech startup has rapidly emerged as a frontrunner in optimizing supply chain operations through its approach to repurposing underutilized spaces within warehouses and retail establishments.
“The support from NOMD Holding validates our mission to redefine how businesses approach storage, fulfillment, and delivery, ultimately enhancing customer experiences across the board,” commented Mohammad Balsharaf, Co-Founder and CEO, Nawel.
Delivery hubs
Nawel’s offerings include the establishment of delivery hubs that serve as sorting centres for bulk parcels, which secures faster and more cost-effective last-mile delivery.
The startup’s micro-fulfillment solutions bolster the quick commerce sector by providing fast-moving and unlocking new avenues for growth for e-commerce businesses.
“Their innovative approach to optimizing logistics aligns perfectly with our investment strategy, and we believe Nawel has the potential to make a significant impact on the future of supply chain management in the region,” remarked Mohammad Al Khushil, Chairman, NOMD Holding.
Scan Global Logistics expands further in Europe with a new office in Marseille, France – its fourth location in the country since 2021
Scan Global Logistics continues to expand its presence in Europe by opening a new office in Marseille, marking its fourth establishment in France since its initial opening in Lille in 2021. This new office provides direct access to France’s second-largest commercial port area, and trade routes to Asia, particularly China and the USA, will be of primary importance initially. However, the port’s direct connectivity to Africa and the Middle East presents significant business prospects in these regions.
The expansion aligns with the global freight forwarder’s rapid growth strategy, which includes a network of more than 160 offices across 50 countries worldwide and a presence in most of the world’s most robust economies, following the recent opening in South Korea.
Successful French market with further growth potential Expanding SGL’s service offerings in South France introduces solid expertise to the company’s strong network. Furthermore, it enhances the commercial and operational closeness to the company’s customers in the Mediterranean region, especially within ocean shipments and airfreight from Marseille and Nice airports.
Managing Director in SGL France, Olivier Sainterent, explains: ‘We are eager to serve our customers best and utilise our local connections and market integrity. We provide a complete range of transport solutions that cater to all needs, simplifying operations for our customers while nurturing our global approach and perspective. With access to the Marseille port systems, we can also manage customs declarations and controls, ensuring a smoother process for our customers.’
Meeting the varied needs of the customers Initially, the office is staffed with three experienced people specialising in freight forwarding, ocean procurement, and air operations. However, the ambition is to expand the team further.
‘Initially, we are concentrating on strengthening our market positioning in the region. It is imperative for us to establish a seamless collaboration with major industrial enterprises while retaining our agility and flexibility, says Olivier Sainterent, and is supported by Lars Syberg, Regional CEO in SGL:‘This is essential when we uncomplicate our customers’ world while ensuring that our tailor-made solutions are readily available when required. We must always be capable of meeting our customers’ diverse needs,’ finishes Lars Syberg, while highlighting SGL’s dedication to upholding a local physical presence near major ports and airports to remain closely connected to the customers.
The zero-emission vehicle is specifically designed for urban waste management
Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA (DCV MENA) has delivered the region’s first Mercedes-Benz eEconic collection truck to BEEAH Group, the Middle East’s sustainability and digitalisation pioneer, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah.
The official handover of the eEconic was completed by Emirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles (EMC CV), DCV MENA’s authorized General Distributor in Abu Dhabi, according to a press communique.
As a zero-emission vehicle specifically designed for urban waste management, the eEconic will be added to BEEAH’s fleet of over 2,000 waste collection vehicles, offering unparalleled efficiency, safety, and environmental performance.
The addition of the vehicle underscores BEEAH’s commitment to decarbonising its growing fleet operations in the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while aligning with the organization’s ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions across its range of operations by 2040.
Collaboration
The delivery of the eEconic is part of a larger collaboration between DCV MENA and BEEAH, which will leverage the strengths and expertise of both organisations to create innovative solutions that will benefit societies and the environment alike.
“This MoU represents our unwavering commitment to drive innovation, foster environmental responsibility, and shape the future of mobility. By combining our expertise in commercial vehicles with BEEAH’s visionary approach to waste management and sustainable solutions, we are confident in our ability to create a greener, smarter, and more efficient tomorrow,” commented Kay-Wolf Ahlden, President & CEO, DCV MENA FZE.
“The hand over the first Mercedes-Benz eEconic in the region to BEEAH, marks a significant milestone in our partnership. We would like to thank BEEAH for their trust and partnership, and we look forward to working together to create innovative solutions that will benefit our customers and the environment alike,” remarked Bilal Al Ribi, General Manager, EMC CV.
Advanced features
The eEconic’s advanced features, including the DirectVision cab with panoramic glazing and safety assistance systems, prioritize the safety of its drivers and the community, enabling BEEAH to further enhance its services as it scales operations.
“We are excited to partner with Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA and receive the first Mercedes-Benz eEconic collection truck in the MENA region. This addition to BEEAH’s fleet
perfectly aligns with our objective of shaping zero-waste societies through an advanced, digitally enabled fleet,” stated Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, BEEAH.
The partnership will allow the two companies to explore UAV cargo deliveries
Odys Aviation, a sustainable aviation company building hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and Aramex recently announced a partnership to develop cargo operations and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) cargo deliveries in the UAE, Oman and further afield in the region.
Odys Aviation’s state-of-the-art aircraft, designed in multiple configurations for cargo, will be capable of delivering all-electric propulsion for distances up to 320 kilometers and will offer a hybrid-electric range of more than 1,200 kilometers. As a result, flights operated via these aircraft have the potential to reduce carbon emissions on pan-GCC flights by up to 76 per cent and provide a zero-carbon air cargo alternative for routes across the UAE, Oman and beyond.
Collaboration
Under the terms of the partnership, Odys Aviation and Aramex intend to collaborate on the development of autonomous logistics programs which will ultimately introduce cargo flights leveraging Odys Aviation’ cargo aircraft and Aramex’s fleet management capabilities.
“Our partnership with Aramex signals a steadfast commitment to launching a new generation of VTOL aircraft and we are grateful to be working with the future-focused team at Aramex to bring our vision to reality,” affirmed James Dorris, Co-Founder and CEO, Odys Aviation.
Logistics solutions
“This collaboration aligns perfectly with Aramex’s commitment to delivering innovative and environmentally friendly logistics solutions, along with our net-zero commitments,” remarked Alaa Saoudi, Chief Operating Officer–Express, Aramex.
“We look forward to partnering with Odys Aviation and deploying long range VTOL crafts, which shall drive us further towards our sustainability and Innovation targets,” remarked Angad Singh, Global Director-Innovation, Aramex.
Reaffirms commitment to global sustainability and excellence
The German registration body “TÜV” has reissued the ISO 26000 certification to Dubai Customs.
This renewal follows the government department’s successful completion of audit procedures and international recommendations associated with the standard, solidifying global trust in Dubai Customs, according to a press communique.
Khalil Saqer Bin Gharib, Director, Corporate Communication Department, Dubai Customs, emphasized the department’s renewed dedication to meeting ISO 26000 standards through a comprehensive approach and an ambitious strategy.
This strategy aims to establish an integrated system for social responsibility, supporting the department’s excellence in alignment with global best practices. He highlighted that Dubai customs’ development plan in social responsibility and volunteering, includes numerous innovative initiatives within an institutional framework and an integrated system.
Quality Assurance
Samira Abdel Razzaq, Senior Manager, Quality Assurance and Corporate Governance at the Strategy and Corporate Excellence Department confirmed Dubai Customs’ commitment to sustaining a path of excellence and success.
The government department consistently works towards implementing its ambitious strategy to cultivate a culture of quality and enhance employee capabilities, ultimately aiming for excellence and sustainable development. This ongoing effort is crucial for Dubai Customs to meet customer and partner needs, the press note concluded.
Industry may be burdened with challenges and hurdles, but the future looks bright thanks to technology and technological breakthroughs. Supply chain is the enabler of business strategies and can be a competitive advantage if managed well and can surely transform into a growth engine, asserts Rachid Labrik, Vice President MEA, Slimstock.
Supply chains are stressed today with many disruptions that can come in any shape or form. These are attributable to customer expectations and the rapid emergence of disruptive technologies. Businesses in the Middle East, like its peers elsewhere in the world, have some significant hurdles to overcome. In this exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Global Supply Chain, Rachid Labrik reveals among several other observations, why supply chain leaders must be proactive and prioritise eliminating waste and superfluousness to tap into the vast positive and remedial potential available.
(GSC) You’re no stranger to the region. What drew you to finally make the move to the Middle East? (RL) I have been working with different customers in the region before coming to settle down here. I love the hospitality and the warm relationships you can establish here. I wanted to get closer to my Arabic roots and experience more of these values. But there is also tremendous potential and growth opportunity in the Middle East. Coming here and being a part of it was a huge draw. It’s a massively exciting time for the region. I’m hopeful that my 14 years of experience helping businesses throughout Europe to create more effective and profitable supply chains can help me make a significant impact.
(GSC) What are the biggest supply chain priorities in the Middle East? (RL) The Middle East is a region with a distinct geographical advantage. It is a global crossroads. Not only is it an international supply chain hub, but businesses in the region also play a pivotal role in other global supply chains. Growth is very much on the cards throughout the region, and the supply chain is right at the heart of what the kingdom is building. However, business leaders must set the right foundations to unlock its full potential.
Long-term growth and prosperity should be the aim, but to realise both of those ambitious goals, businesses need to focus on sustainability. If you can build a future without waste and better optimisation of resources, your success will stand the test of time, and future uncertainties lie in wait around the corner.
(GSC) You come from a technology background, with a degree in Machine Learning and AI. To what extent do you think technology is the key to businesses succeeding in the Middle East? (RL) Technology can be a massive differentiator – something that will only become more and more crucial for companies in the region who are looking to succeed. And make no mistake, leveraging AI and Machine Learning can unlock enormous opportunities for growth.
Big four consulting and auditing corporations, and industry experts agree that technological transformation is necessary to stay competitive within the existing operational models. It should work hand in hand with your strategic vision and commercial expertise. Let’s look at e-grocery businesses as an example. AI powers the e-grocery industry.
Not so long ago, it was near impossible to maintain a profitable operation. Life was very different in the days before dynamic replenishment and automated fulfilment were made possible through the rise of sophisticated technologies. Today, grocery businesses are embracing AI and Machine Learning to achieve stronger margins. But more importantly, these businesses are doing this while delivering a better customer experience with less waste, less working capital locked up in stock, and less wasted talent.
Many companies are experimenting with AI-powered chatbots, personalized recommendations, and other applications. More recently, ChatGPT and Open AI initiatives have opened up new possibilities of applications of LLM (Large Language Models) in a number of areas – for both internal purposes and customer facing applications.However, I am a firm believer in the notion that silver bullets don’t exist. AI is no different. Indeed, AI can only bring value if the conditions in your business are optimised. You must first have quality data as a priority. And following that, you need a good level of maturity.
Only when you have both of these in place can you begin to focus on value-added tasks. So many companies look at automation as a way to level up. And rightly so, but without accurate, high-quality data, you could be making mistakes you don’t become aware of until it’s too late.
However, if you have the right foundations, you should look to automate everything you can. Augment planner’s intelligence with strategic automation, and a waste-free supply chain is a credible goal you can strive to achieve.
(GSC) How else can businesses leverage technology to create a waste-free supply chain? (RL) In my opinion, technology exists to help us make better decisions faster. I believe supply chain technologies can act as a co-pilot for your supply chain operations.
Imagine a tool which can help you: Collaboratively align plans, budgets and forecasts with business strategy; streamline sales and operations planning; automate financial consolidation for joined-up planning; strategically close talent gaps for an empowered workforce; gain a comprehensive view of cash flow dynamics and provide instant access to highly accurate demand insights through advanced predictive analytics.
That is a tremendous amount of power to have at your fingertips. It might have sounded like a pipe dream not so long ago, but it’s now fully achievable with the right technology partner.
(GSC) What tips do you have for businesses to accelerate the adoption of innovative supply chain technology? (RL) To exploit the full potential of any technology or tool, we must have the right pillars to ensure its success.
The supply chain is no different. And your success will hinge on two critical factors: your people and your processes. The processes should be designed to run efficiently and effectively, with correct inputs and outputs. They should be designed using the best practices. To make this all successful, there should be clear governance, clear RACI and RAPID. A plan for learning & and development and change management.
(GSC) Can you elaborate on that? How can you empower your people to deliver better business outcomes? (RL) You must empower your people throughout your supply chain and create resilient processes. For the people part of the puzzle, you must be talent driven as a business.
That means that a focus on reinforcing technical and functional skills is critical. Train your staff, develop them, challenge them, and help them succeed beyond even their own expectations. It also means hiring the right talent. Skill gaps in your business can mean a limitation to your immediate and long-term success. Highlighting where these gaps exist and taking tangible steps to address them will be a cost-saving exercise that pays dividends down the road.
You also need to think about automation. Automation can become an asset for the business to help people. Automation can become an asset for the business to help people. Can you automate routine supply chain tasks so that your team can invest their time where it counts most? Can you automate your routine replenishment workflows without losing control? Can you autonomously consider anticipated demand, promotions, events, and product scarcity?
If so, you will create unrivalled agility throughout your end-to-end network while delivering the service your customers deserve.
(GSC) What role can Slimstock play in helping businesses sharpen their competitive advantage? (RL) I take great pride in the work we do both across the Middle East and further afield. As a global business, we support 1,500 customers across every discipline. That’s a huge responsibility and something which we take very seriously.
From helping businesses leverage the power of AI, to supporting supply chain teams to analyse and improve their operations, I’m lucky to work for a company at the cutting edge of supply chain technology. Our mission in the Middle East is simple: to ensure rapid adoption and seamless integration to help businesses unlock a return on their investment as fast as possible. We provide supply chain leaders with the knowledge, the robust insight, and the intelligent tools they need to enhance performance and enable continuous improvement.
Finally, we help our customers to stay at the top of their game by continuously enhancing our award-winning supply chain planning platform, Slim4, with the latest innovations.
(GSC) Slimstock is already trusted by some of the biggest brands in the region. How will you help these businesses to move forward? (RL) We have established a fantastic customer community in the Middle East region. But to help our ever-growing network of customers deliver long-term performance improvements, we are here to support every step of their customer journey.
That is why our customers play such a crucial role in shaping our product development roadmap.
From helping our customers to advance the maturity of their S&OP and IBP processes, to developing new and improved capabilities in areas like network balancing, consensus forecasting, rough-cut capacity planning and workflow management, we work with our customers to build the tools they need to unlock sustainable growth.
But we also understand that the best lessons come from your peers. The Middle East is a melting pot of some of the brightest minds in the supply chain business. By bringing these people together to share ideas and solve supply chain hurdles via our academy or industry events, we can make a real difference.
(GSC) How does Slimstock look at Sustainability? (RL) The goal is to enable businesses to make environmentally conscious decisions in their supply chain processes, contributing to a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to supply chain.
Our solutions optimize demand forecasting, minimize waste with precision, and cut transport waste through consolidated orders. Our aim is to drive profitability, efficiency, and sustainability at the same time!
Leschaco appointed David Williams as Global Head of Tank Container and Maximilian Nause as Global Head of Sales
Leschaco, a leading player in the logistics sector, is happy to announce the appointment of David Williams as the new Global Head of Tank Container. His predecessor, Maximilian Nause is taking over responsibility as Global Head of Sales as of January 01, 2024.
David Williams brings a wealth of experience to his new role, demonstrated in a wide range of various previous positions. With a strong track record in Shipping and Logistics & Services he is a business leader with extensive experience proven in various senior management roles since 1991 in AP Møller – Maersk Group. Prior to joining Leschaco Group, David was Vice President, Africa Region Managing Director (Maersk).
As Global Head of Tank Container, David Williams will be responsible for overseeing and driving the strategic initiatives of Leschaco’s tank container operations worldwide. His role will involve collaborating with key stakeholders, managing global teams, and further driving innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Leschaco’s CEO, Constantin Conrad, expressed his excitement about David’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome David Williams to our leadership team. With him at the helm, we are setting the stage for the successful continuation of our Tank Container story. His global vision, interpersonal skills, and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our values and goals. We believe that this new and complementary addition to our Group is an exciting step forward in our journey toward ambitious growth, sustainable success and operational excellence.”
David Williams commented, “I am honored to join the Leschaco Group at such an exciting time. The global tank container industry is dynamic and full of potential. I look forward to working with the talented teams at Leschaco to capitalize on opportunities, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”
Maximilian Nause, former Global Head of Tank Container, is taking over responsibility as Global Head of Sales as of January 01, 2024. In this new role, he will not only lead the global sales organisation of the Leschaco Group but will also drive the global implementation and investments of the new sales strategy aimed at enhancing the sales structure further for the benefit of their valued customers worldwide. Maximilian Nause, coming from within the Leschaco Group, brings a deep understanding of products, services and customer needs. By fine-tuning the sales approach, the globally active logistics service provider will be able to respond even better to the evolving customer needs and preferences as well as regional specificities, ensuring a more personalized customer experience.
“Our robust and powerful sales organization is the driving force behind our success, consistently exceeding targets and setting new standards for customer satisfaction. We are excited to see Maximilian Nause take on this pivotal role. His in-depth knowledge of our business and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction makes him the ideal person to lead our global sales efforts and drive positive change,” concluded Constantin Conrad.
Maximilian Nause commented: “I am thrilled and deeply privileged to assume the role of Global Head of Sales, a position that holds both significance and promise as we chart our course towards achieving the corporate strategy goals set for 2030. Our shared commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and ethical business practices will be the guiding principles as we forge ahead.”
Company information: The Leschaco Group is a traditional, owner-managed logistics service provider and offers intercontinental logistics solutions for sea and air freight as well as contract logistics and tank container operation. As proven partner for leading companies in plant construction and mechanical engineering, automotive, chemical and related industries, producers of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Leschaco offers comprehensive logistics solutions from one single source. Our globally standardised IT–environment guarantees the required high process transparency. The company was founded under the name of Lexzau, Scharbau by Wilhelm Lexzau and Julius Scharbau in Hamburg in 1879. Today, the group is represented in 24 countries worldwide. This network is supported by a carefully selected network of agents. The company insists on a sustainable business development and its headquarters are in Bremen.
Weleda AG is a leading manufacturer of anthroposophical medicine and holistic natural beauty products. The company has achieved a significant milestone with successful integration of the LFS warehouse management system supplied by EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) at its production location in Switzerland. Introducing the system signifies a crucial step in transitioning all manufacturing sites in the German-speaking region to LFS.
The Swiss pharmaceutical and natural beauty product group operates in a challenging sector defined by strict regulatory requirements and complex supply chains. It was faced with the increasingly necessary task of improving efficiency in its warehouse management processes at its production sites in Germany and Switzerland without losing the required flexibility in its warehouses.
Weleda was looking for a flexible warehouse management system which would provide administration for its entire logistics materials and information flow to meet its specific requirements as a medicine and natural beauty product manufacturer.
It settled on the LFS warehouse management system. Weleda now uses LFS at its Arlesheim production location to ensure that more than 8,000 downstream clients such as pharmacies, drug stores, hospitals, retail companies and mail order firms are reliably supplied with around 250 orders daily. LFS’s introduction in Switzerland is a pilot project which ultimately aims to allow all logistics processes to be mapped in LFS throughout the German-speaking region in the future.
Flexible, scalable, transparent
LFS collects and visualises all process data for intra-company logistics. Its well-organised logistics cockpit offers transparency in displaying future logistics processes such as goods receipts, order statuses and picking. This ensures early identification of process optimisations and warehouse potentials. Employees at control points receive proactive notifications of potential bottlenecks.
LFS seamlessly integrates into the existing Weleda infrastructure, enabling the use of standard processes and regular updates and allowing key users to configure and parametrise the system effortlessly. Client-specific adjustments have been made during installation to ensure optimal mapping of processes and perfect integration of hardware such as printers, scanners and workstations. The natural beauty experts are also obliged to take into account numerous GMP/GDP regulations. All WMS requirements needed to be documented, tested and validated in advance according to stringent criteria.
Partnership into the future
In addition to successfully completing the introduction of LFS, the partnership-based cooperation between all project participants merits special attention regarding further progress of the project. “The partnership between Weleda and EPG is defined by a dynamic in which all involved parties work closely together on a cooperative basis,” explain Eugen Risto and Salvatore Trovato, LVS Project Managers at Weleda. “It’s a partnership where every voice is heard and all members work consistently towards a common goal. Their professionalism and constructive approach mean we can look forward to the forthcoming launch at the German location confidently.”
Following successful incorporation at Arlesheim, the partners now aim to apply the experience they gained there to the logistics campus in the German city of SchwäbischGmünd with its high-bay warehouse for 17,200 pallets. Plans are in place to introduce EPG’s International Shipping System (ISS), a multi-carrier shipping software that already handles shipping logistics at Weleda’s headquarters effectively. The WCS material flow system is also to be integrated to control the automated storage units and conveyor systems efficiently.
Emirates Post, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ras Al-Khaimah Department of Economic Development that will enable the provision of the Department’s services through Emirates Post’s offices in the emirate. This partnership aims to simplify business processes and enhance the economic appeal of the emirate.
H.E. Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, Group CEO of Emirates Post Group, and H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development, signed the agreement during a ceremony held at Ras Al Khaimah’s Department of Economic Development headquarters. The event was attended by key officials and employees from both sides.
Commenting on the new agreement, H.E. Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, Group CEO of Emirates Post Group stated: “We are proud to announce this agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development. The extensive network of our postal business, Emirates Post, goes beyond mail services and delivery. Emirates Post Customer Happiness Centres serve as a dynamic hub for essential services and information that fosters community engagement and socio-economic development. This partnership not only reinforces our commitment to enhancing accessibility and convenience but also solidifies Emirates Post’s role as a vital cornerstone in community connectivity through smart and reliable solutions”.
Further elaborating on the partnership, H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Shayeb Al Naqbi said: “This new partnership with Emirates Post marks a key development in our ongoing efforts to support the business sector in Ras Al Khaimah. By integrating and offering our digital services at Emirates Post’s offices, we are not just introducing new service channels, but also significantly enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of our processes. Our aim is to handle a greater volume of daily transactions swiftly, ultimately leading to increased client satisfaction and contributing positively to their experience”.
This agreement between Emirates Post and the Economic Development Department represents a strategic move to expand the Department’s services, including trade licenses, permit services, trade name registration, and certificate requests, through Emirates Post’s Customer Happiness Centres in Ras Al Khaimah. This initiative not only facilitates easier access for investors and businessmen to vital documents, saving time and costs, but also strengthens Emirates Post’s role as the country’s official postal operator and community facilitator. The partnership contributes to an improved investment environment in the emirate, enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering growth and profitability through potential collaborations with other local service providers in the UAE.
The lithium iron phosphate battery or LFP battery (lithium ferro-phosphate) is a type of lithium-iron battery using lithium iron phosphate as the cathode material, and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode.
The LFB battery is newer and sophisticated battery technology when it comes to forklifts, cleaning machines and golf carts. The pros of the LFP Battery are that it is relatively maintenance-free because it is sealed and requires no watering or cleaning.
Furthermore, it has a fast-charging time, requiring only 2 to 3 hours to fully charge with no cool-down period. You can also use opportunity charging, which means you can plug them in during a break period for a quick recharge.
Perhaps, most importantly it increases expectancy of up to 3500 charging cycles. It does not expose your team to harmful substances such as sulphuric acid.
Fintech company to provide short-term lending solution to MSMEs
Triterras, a leading fintech company focused on digital trade and supply chain finance, has announced a strategic alliance with Oman-based Mamun, an embedded fintech infrastructure as a service and finance provider. The collaboration aims to bolster the trade finance and short-term lending landscape in the Sultanate of Oman.
This collaboration harnesses Triterras’ technological expertise and leverages Mamun’s experience in Oman’s financial services sector. The collaboration will initially target the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) finance sector in Oman, with a specific emphasis on the food and beverage industry. The collaboration will also enable Triterras to offer the KRATOS financing platform to banks in Oman on a white-label basis.
As part of the alliance, Triterras will introduce eDirect Debit, a direct debit payment technology developed by Mamun, in the UAE. eDirect Debit is designed to offer businesses a seamless and highly efficient payment solution, with the aim of enhancing the ease of handling transactions within the region.
Key challenges
“One of the key challenges for startups and micro businesses is a lack of capital and financing, which hinders growth and accessibility to markets. Our primary aim is to enable MSMEs with access to immediate and workable financial solutions to maintain business continuity and foster growth opportunities,” said Ashish Srivastava, Chief Commercial Officer, Triterras.
“We are excited to witness the expansion of our eDirect Debit technology into the UAE through our collaboration with Triterras,” said Mohammed Al Tamami, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Mamun.
HE Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi meets the Jordanian Prime Minister during a recent official visit to Amman
HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, recently held talks in Amman with HE Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Prime Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment relations and develop opportunities for constructive cooperation between the nations’ respective private sectors.
In his meeting with the Prime Minister, HE Dr. Thani emphasized that the UAE and Jordan share a common vision to build agile, adaptable economies based on innovation, knowledge and the free flow of trade.
During the visit, HE also met HE Yousef Al-Shamali, Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, during which they reviewed UAE-Jordan trade, which is witnessing continued momentum. In 2022, non-oil bilateral trade reached US$ 4.5bn, an increase of more than 47% compared to 2021 and more than double the value recorded in 2020. In the first half of 2023, bilateral trade flows exceeded US$ 2bn.
Investment momentum
“This visit has demonstrated the mutual will to accelerate the trade and investment momentum between us and to provide more opportunities for our business communities in a range of high-potential sectors,” asserted HE Dr Thani.
“Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are eager to explore greater collaboration in the areas of mutual benefit, particularly trade and investment but also the continued development of partnerships and joint ventures that serve the interests of both our nations,” observed HE Al-Khasawneh.
Jordan is UAE’s third-largest Arab trading partner outside the Gulf Cooperation Council, with a share of 8% of the UAE’s total non-oil foreign trade with Arab countries. The UAE is also Jordan’s fifth-most important trading partner globally, and the second-largest Arab partner after Saudi Arabia, with a 6.2% share of Jordan’s foreign trade.
The Kingdom is among the top 24 countries investing in the Emirates, and the sixth in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Acquisition Strengthens Noatum Terminals’ position as a Port Operator in the Western Mediterranean
AD Ports Group has announced that Noatum Terminals, the terminals operations business of Noatum Group, has acquired 100% ownership of APM Terminals Castellón in Spain for a total purchase consideration (Enterprise Value-EV) of EUR 10mn (US$ 10.95mn), according to a press communique.
The agreement, which was reached with APM Terminals, has obtained all regulatory and stakeholder approvals and the change of ownership will take place effective immediately. In parallel, a long-term agreement with the stevedoring union has been achieved which will assure stability and high productivity in the coming years.
Noatum Terminals’ investment in Castellón, where it has already been managing a multipurpose terminal since 2004, is part of its strategy to consolidate its position in Spain. The acquisition follows various improvements implemented at Noatum Terminal Castellón, aimed at modernising and maintaining existing facilities and equipment.
Enhanced capacity
With the acquisition of APM Terminals, Noatum’s combined capacity at Castellón is 250,000sqm in size and an annual capacity to handle 250,000 TEUs, representing around 70% of the container volume capacity of the Port of Castellón.
The acquisition allows Noatum Terminal Castellón to expand its operational capacity for bulk, general cargo, and container processing while maintaining APM Terminals’ third-party services and agreements at this location.
“Noatum Terminals is committed to providing dedicated service, in line with the Noatum Group’s quality standards, to both existing and new customers, while making the necessary investments for the terminal’s operations to run smoothly and efficiently well into the future,” noted Joaquin Ramon Lestau, CEO, Noatum Terminals, Noatum, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group.
Saudi Arabia a new global logistics player, according to Saudi Cargo.
Shaping e-commerce’s future through strategic partnerships.
In a significant move towards redefining global logistics, Saudia Cargo has partnered with Cainiao Network and Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), paving the way for a transformative era of seamless global deliveries.
Anchored by a dedicated space in the Cainiao Liege eHub, this collaboration transcends traditional partnerships, responding dynamically to the escalating demand for efficient cross-border e-commerce in the Middle East and Europe. This joint effort becomes even more crucial as Saudi Arabia boldly aims to become a top-notch global hub for logistics.
The project is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), one of the largest listed integrated utilities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has announced its participation in the winning consortium for the Juranah Independent Strategic Water Reservoir Project (ISWR-1) in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia.
The consortium, which also includes Vision International Investment Company (Vision Invest) and Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), has signed the relevant project agreements with the procurer Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).
The Juranah ISWR-1 Project is the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) model, reflecting active private sector involvement in essential water infrastructure development. TAQA will be the lead member for the operations and maintenance (O&M) activities through a specialized standalone O&M company, which will be co-owned by Vision Invest.
The total project cost is estimated at AED 1.5bn (US$ 408.5mn), with debt funding expected to account for approximately 80%. TAQA is taking a 35% share in the project company and a 50% stake in the O&M company.
MoU signing ceremony
To mark the occasion, a recent signing ceremony was held in Riyadh in the presence of HE the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Al-Fadley.
Under the terms of the project, the consortium will be responsible for building, owning, and operating the water reservoir infrastructure for 30 years before transferring the ownership to SWPC.
The project’s primary objective is to respond to emergency municipal water demand for all the Kingdom’s regions and to peak demand in Makkah and Madinah during the Hajj season. The strategic tanks have a total storage capacity of 2,000,000cbm.
Additionally, operational tanks with a capacity of 500,000 m3 will be developed under a DBT (Design, Built, Transfer) model to support the potable water distribution system.
By integrating cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices, the consortium aims to ensure reliable and efficient water supply for the region.
Reducing electricity consumption
“The project will contribute to reducing levels of electrical energy consumption, as the project includes solar energy units to reduce electricity consumption from the network and achieve the availability of stored water by 100%, in addition to decreasing operating costs and supporting local content by increasing the percentage of localization in business and human resources,” affirmed Engineer Khalid Al-Quraishi, CEO, Saudi Water Partnership Company.
“This project aligns with TAQA’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation, and we look forward to delivering a robust and reliable water supply system for the community,” remarked Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.
Transformative project
“Our collaboration with TAQA and GIC in this transformative project to improve Makkah City’s water infrastructure is a source of immense pride,” commented Omar Almidani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vision Invest.
“Winning the Juranah ISWR-1 project reinforces GIC’s role in supporting private sector participation in the development of the GCC economies,” stated Meshary Al-Judaimi, Group Head–Principal Investment, GIC.
ENGIE launches Desalination Centre of Excellence to amplify sustainable water solutions
Complant currently produces 5,800,000 cbm / day of desalinated water daily
ENGIE has announced the launch of its Desalination Centre of Excellence The initiative, in line with ENGIE’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2045, addresses the critical need for sustainable water solutions in a rapidly changing world.
The Centre was launched in the UAE during COP28, in alignment with COP’s ‘Food, Agriculture, and Water’ thematic day. The launch event saw the participation of several high-profile attendees, including water and desalination experts, c-level executives from regional and global companies, as well as government ministers and officials.
With ENGIE currently producing 5,800,000 cbm / day of desalinated water daily, the Centre is positioned to play a crucial role in meeting the growing global demand for water. It aims to address this challenge by utilizing the desalination capabilities it has developed in the region.
Clean and safe water resources
“Our Desalination Centre of Excellence is a hub dedicated to addressing and promoting solutions for water scarcity and a carbon neutral world. We envision a future in which all communities and industries in the region thrive on sustainable, clean, and safe water resources,” remarked Latifa Lahsine, Head of the Desalination Centre of Excellence, ENGIE.
The Centre aspires to be a global example for excellence in desalination, propelling the advancement of technology and sustainable water solutions through stakeholder collaboration, innovation, research and education. The Centre will also focus on promoting energy efficiency, investigating alternative applications of brine water treatment options, and studying the environmental impact of desalination, a press communique concluded.
Mawani and MEDLOG partner to set up an Integrated Logistics Park at King Abdulaziz Port
Investment value exceeds SAR 150mn for a 100,000sqm+ project
Under the patronage and presence of HE Eng. Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman, Saudi Ports Authority, (SPA-Mawani) and MELDOG, the logistics arm of the Mediterranean Shipping Company, the cornerstone was laid for the integrated Logistics Park at Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port on the Kingdom’s Eastern seaboard with an investment value exceeding SAR 150mn (US$ 40mn).
According to Omar Hariri, President, Mawani, the establishment of the Integrated Logistics Park is in line with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub connecting three major continents.
Due to its location which gives it a great competitive advantage, and its close proximity to Jubail Industrial City and major urban centres in the Eastern Region, the new logistics park will provide high-quality, comprehensive and integrated logistics services and enhance its ability to facilitate transportation operations between the Eastern and Central regions in the Kingdom.
The area of the new park is 100,000sqm with capacity of 300,000 TEUs annually. It aims to facilitate the growth of shipping connectivity, and global logistics services, and to raise the quality and efficiency of the services delivered to local and international customers across the Kingdom.
Bahri Logistics partners with Saudi Arabia Railways to provide freight forwarding services
Bahri Logistics will serve as SAR’s primary freight forwarding service provider
Bahri Logistics, a global leader in logistics and transportation and one of the six business units of Bahri, has entered into an international freight forwarding service agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), it was revealed via a press communique.
SAR is the owner and operator of the railway networks in Saudi Arabia, which plays a pivotal role in supporting the goals of building an integrated transportation system. Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Bahri Logistics will serve as SAR’s primary freight forwarding service provider for both imports and exports.
MoU signing ceremony
The agreement was signed by Eng. Soror Basalom, President, Bahri Logistics and Eng. Salah bin Abdullah Al-Omair, Vice President, Shared Services, SAR, in the presence of officials from both organizations during a ceremony held at SAR headquarters in Riyadh.
“Leveraging expertise gained over several decades, Bahri Logistics will deliver seamless freight forwarding services to SAR and its customers in line with the highest global standards,” remarked Engr. Basalom at the deal signing ceremony.
“We look forward to enhancing SAR’s offerings in the coming years through this partnership. We hope that this alliance will strengthen our capabilities and contribute to the continued growth and success of both organizations,” commented Engr. Al-Omair.
AD Ports Group and RSPA sign Definitive Concession Agreement
Approve MoU to develop and operate Multipurpose Terminal in Safaga Port
AD Ports Group recently announced that it has signed a definitive concession agreement with the Red Sea Ports Authority (RSPA) for the development and operation of a multi-purpose terminal at Safaga Sea Port. Following the Government of Egypt’s approval, this significant milestone reaffirms the strong trade ties between the UAE and Egypt.
The definitive agreement was signed at the Egyptian Cabinet headquarters in Cairo in the presence of HE Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister; Lieutenant-General Eng. Kamel El Wazir, Egypt’s Minister of Transport; Mariam Al Kaabi, Ambassador of the UAE to Egypt; Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group; Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group, and Major General Osama Saleh, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Red Sea Port Authority.
Investment
The total investment will cover superstructure, equipment, buildings, and utilities within the concession area to create advanced facilities and leading-edge infrastructure. The terminal, spanning approximately 810,000sqm, will feature a 1,000m quay wall and will handle diverse cargo types, including dry bulk, liquid bulk, containerised cargo, and Ro-Ro.
This project is expected to bring substantial economic impact, with cost savings and efficiency improvements to traders and businesses in the region. The terminal is on track to become operational by 2025.
“With this project, our Group will demonstrate its commitment to enhancing the efficiency of global supply chains, creating faster trade routes and providing diverse logistics solutions for our key strategic trading partners,” commented Capt. Al Shamisi.
“Safaga’s strategic position on the Red Sea coast allows to not only enhance our commercial offerings and diversify revenue streams, but also contribute to Egypt’s broader economic objectives, setting the stage for further cooperation and opportunities in other sectors,” remarked Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO, Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group.
Emerson builds new innovation and manufacturing hub in King Salman Energy Park
Emerson’s new facility to enhance supply chain localization in Saudi Arabia
Emerson has selected Saudi AMANA to develop a new manufacturing hub at the King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) in Saudi Arabia. The new facility is one of the largest investments for Emerson in the Middle East and Africa and will support the company’s expansion and strengthen its presence in the region.
It also demonstrates Emerson’s continued commitment to its customers and stakeholders in Saudi Arabia as the company prepares for rapid local manufacturing expansion in the region, a press communique revealed.
Emerson selected Saudi AMANA for its customized design-build and turnkey services and its commitment to sustainability, innovation and digitalization. The Emerson manufacturing hub will be developed in accordance with the environmental sustainability principles that support the company’s net zero emission goals, while also adhering to SPARK’s environmental sustainability standards.
Strategic investments
“The appointment of Saudi AMANA is a significant step toward the realization of Emerson’s vision in Saudi Arabia. Emerson’s journey in the kingdom has been marked by strategic investments and expansions in local manufacturing capabilities and we look forward to opening this new innovation and manufacturing hub,” stated Hussein Zein, Vice President, Emerson Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The facility will house the company’s manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia under one roof; it will produce and assemble a wide range of automation products, including measurement instrumentation, control valves, pressure relief valves, solenoid valves, and control and safety systems. The project broke ground in early January and is expected to be completed in late 2024.
“In undertaking the Emerson Spark Project, Saudi AMANA has embraced innovation and quality as our guiding principles and epitomizes our commitment to delivering certainty, quality and reliability to our clients,” commented Jihad Bsaibes, CEO, Group AMANA.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and ADQ expand Abu Dhabi’s coastal and desert ecosystem restoration in collaboration with Dendra
● Partnership underlines EAD’s and ADQ’s commitment to creating positive environmental impact leveraging R&D while modelling biodiversity risk mitigation
● First aerial seeding trials in the Al Dhafra Region nurtured native species in an arid ecosystem without the use of irrigation
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the region’s largest environmental regulator and ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, have announced their partnership with Dendra, an international environmental technology company, to leverage advanced seeding drones and AI technologies to assess and restore terrestrial and coastal ecosystems across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
A set of innovative solutions, based on data and advanced artificial intelligence technology, will be deployed by the partnership in the areas of preserving environmental habitats and local species in addition to restoring the ecological balance in the wild habitats in Abu Dhabi and mangrove areas. This partnership will support EAD’s initiatives in assessing the condition of terrestrial and coastal habitats and increasing environmental information about them. Dendra will provide the expertise and foundational infrastructure to scale and harmonize restoration activities benefitting desert and coastal areas, while ADQ will model an impactful approach to biodiversity risk mitigation by enabling the preservation of natural ecosystems as an integral part of a healthy, resilient economy.
The first arid restoration trial is already underway in the Al Dhafra Region, utilizing drones to carry out aerial seeding on desert land. Dendra’s method, with its advanced approach in relying on drones, has overcome the obstacles associated with traditional seed dispersal methods. It also achieved an acceleration of the rate of cultivation, increasing the rate of planting, whilst providing the ability to access remote areas. This is in addition to allowing the reintroduction of native species to an arid ecosystem without the use of irrigation by selecting areas that receive the largest amounts of rainfall annually. Each seeding drone is capable of carrying 53 species at a time and seed an area the size of over 100 football fields per day. The technology applied by Dendra also enables traceability, with drones recording the exact planting location for each bag of seeds and monitoring restoration success.
EAD will guide and oversee the analysis phase of the trial to determine feasibility of future large-scale terrestrial habitat rehabilitation projects. Furthermore, EAD’s environmentalists, together with an experienced team from Dendra, conducted an extensive field survey, capitalizing on cutting-edge drone technologies. This groundbreaking approach leverages remote sensing to capture images that seamlessly align with EAD’s habitat vegetation maps and extensive database, covering a vast expanse of 10,000 hectares for meticulous monitoring.
Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD said: “In partnership with ADQ and Dendra we are embarking on a significant mission to achieve a deeper understanding of the natural vegetation habitats of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and their interactions with human influences. These influences range from the challenges posed by overgrazing
to the vital role played by the Government through establishment and responsible management of protected areas. This partnership seeks to build a comprehensive information foundation, enabling us to secure and protect our critical and fragile natural habitats with data that balances preservation and establishes effective management practices. Based on this data we will be using drone technology to rehabilitate habitats for the greater goal of conserving our native terrestrial and marine ecosystems.”
Anas Jawdat Albarguthi, Chief Operating Officer at ADQ, commented: “As our nation makes headway towards realizing sustainability objectives, the preservation and regeneration of our natural ecosystems must be a priority for local organizations. Together with Dendra, we are building an R&D-powered supply chain to bring native plant species back to Abu Dhabi’s deserts and mangroves, which restores balance and boosts ecosystem health. Our stewardship actions benefit the environment under the umbrella of our wider ESG aspirations, but also play an important role in driving sustainable economic development by strengthening climate resilience.”
Dr Susan Graham, CEO at Dendra, said: “Dendra was born out of the realization that the rate of land degradation is higher than the rate of land restoration, which calls for urgent action. Combining our efforts with ADQ allows us to strengthen R&D and drive lasting transformation by restoring local ecosystems that have been adversely affected by external stressors. Our technology is superior in biodiversity, scalability and traceability. This provides us with the capability to conserve, rehabilitate and restore ecosystems with distinctive challenges, as is the case in Abu Dhabi, which spans several hundred thousand hectares of difficult-to-access arid landscapes and 600 kilometers of coastline. We look forward to working closely with ADQ and facilitating greater cooperation between stakeholders that are on a shared mission to act responsibly and drive sustainable restoration.”
Earlier this year, ADQ and EAD also announced the deployment of artificial 3D-printed terracotta-based reef tiles intended to aid coral restoration in the Arabian Gulf off the shore of Abu Dhabi under a partnership with Archireef, a climate technology company headquartered in Hong Kong.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its founding “GWC” plans to continue the growth journey
• Sh. Abdullah Bin Fahd: We aim to seize new investment opportunities in the logistics sector
• Ranjeev Menon: We seek to exceed our clients’ expectations, and have developed strong long-term plans.
Qatar’s No. 1 logistics and supply chain solutions provider – is proudly marking its 20th anniversary, praising two decades of remarkable growth and success. From its humble beginnings as a small warehousing company, GWC has evolved into a premier logistics firm – boasting regional and global presence, and more than 4,000 dedicated professionals. A remarkable journey Since 2004, GWC has embarked on a journey that has seen it transform the logistics landscape, setting new standards for quality service, reliability, innovation, and collaboration. Over two decades, the company has expanded its services, establishing itself as an integrated logistics and supply chain solutions provider in a range of fields, including energy, marine, hazmat, pharmaceutical, fine art, mega events, fast-moving consumer goods, and others. Recently, GWC played a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the Official Logistics Provider. GWC boasts more than 4,000,000 square meters of state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure in Qatar, including GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park, Logistics Village Qatar, GWC Bu Sulba Warehousing Park, and Bu Fesseela Warehousing Park. It has also developed industry specific hubs at Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City. In addition, the company inaugurated its regional logistics hub in Qatar’s first free zone in Ras Bufontas in 2020. GWC has also expanded across the region through its subsidiary FLAG Logistics, which is operational in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Emirates, and Oman. GWC has also developed strategic partnerships with global firms, including United Parcel Services (UPS), representing the express courier global giant in the State of Qatar as their Authorized Service Contractor. GWC has also launched subsidiaries dedicated to key sectors, including GWC Marine, which handles international shipping liners; LEDD Technologies, which offers technology solutions to a wide variety of clients; and the latest addition, GWC Energy, which caters to the expansive requirements of the oil and gas industry, both onshore and offshore. GWC Chairman, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, said: “As we mark GWC’s 20th anniversary, we take pride in the remarkable journey that we have undertaken. This success is testament to the dedication and hard work of our exceptional team, our commitment to innovation,
and our unwavering focus on delivering excellence for our clients.” He continued: “As we mark two decades of exceptional success, our deepest gratitude extends to the visionary leadership of Qatar for their unwavering support, our esteemed shareholders, and the dedicated workforce that forms the backbone of our achievements. Together, we mark the milestones of the past and look forward to even greater heights in the future.” Local impact and global reach With a presence in regional and international markets, GWC has become a vital link in the global supply chain, providing a diverse range of logistics services. The company’s expansion strategy has bolstered its global standing and contributed significantly to the local economy, providing employment opportunities, and supporting the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 – particularly in expanding the transport sector – complementing Qatar’s geographic position as an import/export hub, and enabling the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Since 2021, the company has organized the annual GWC Forum, which stands as a beacon in the logistics industry, fostering opportunities within the community while spotlighting key trends. The forum is a catalyst for collaboration between policymakers, academia, and the business community. Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, said: “What sets GWC apart is our ethos of always going the extra mile. We have proudly retained the culture of a start-up business – a culture fueled by innovation,
adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology and human development is testament to our vision for the future, where innovation and efficiency converge seamlessly. “While we pioneer technologies and push the boundaries of innovation, our unwavering focus on the human element ensures that our success is not just measured in numbers – but in the relationships we build and the impact we make on people’s lives and the societies we operate in.” A future of innovation and excellence As GWC commemorates its 20th anniversary, the company looks ahead to a future filled with new opportunities and continued growth. The company remains dedicated to fostering development, supporting local and international businesses, and contributing to the realization of Qatar’s ambitious vision for the future. Looking ahead, Menon concluded: “As we continue our journey with robust long-term strategies, we proudly reaffirm our steadfast dedication to our valued clients. Their trust and confidence in GWC have been the cornerstones of our success over the past two decades.”
Maritime Hub Abu Dhabi launched to further strengthen the maritime sector
Hub encourages collaboration to drive industry growth
Abu Dhabi Maritime, part of AD Ports Group, working in cooperation with the Integrated Transport Centre – Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), has announced the official launch of Maritime Hub Abu Dhabi, www.maritimehub-ad.com, a platform to bridge the gap between public and private stakeholders to connect and strengthen the maritime sector.
At a town hall event attended by representatives from numerous areas across the maritime industry, participants were apprised of the benefits the Maritime Hub intends to bring to the sector and were provided with insights on topics including Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Strategy, presented by the Department of Economic Development (DED), Maritime Sustainability Passport by ESG Plus, and Decarbonisation Awareness by DNV – Maritime Hub Abu Dhabi’s’ knowledge partner.
Unparalleled platform
“This initiative will create an unparalleled platform for stakeholders to come together, share knowledge, and drive progress that will reshape the industry landscape and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s standing as an international maritime city,” commented Captain Saif Al Mheiri, Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Maritime.
The Maritime Hub was formed following extensive research and benchmarking against other leading maritime cities such as Singapore and France. Founded on three core strategic pillars – Connect, Create and Collaborate, the Hub aims to harness collective synergies through cooperation across public and private sectors, thus bolstering growth across the entire maritime ecosystem.
Representatives
A committee composed of representatives from various segments of both the public and private maritime sectors will lead working groups, contributing innovative ideas, addressing challenges and guiding collaborative efforts to promote industry growth and development.
The Hub will also play a role in facilitating the maritime industry’s sustainability, by offering awareness, guidance and familiarisation on the pathway to decarbonisation, promoting best practice and the development of eco-friendly solutions to assist businesses in reducing their carbon footprint.
ACWA Power joins Japanese think tank, boosting research capabilities
Utilities supplier to develop its green hydrogen and renewable energy capabilities
Saudi-listed ACWA Power, the world’s largest private water desalination company, leader in energy transition and first mover into green hydrogen, has become a full member of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), a think tank focusing on energy, economic and environmental issues, it was recently announced.
The membership will allow ACWA Power to benefit from IEEJ’s experience in analysing energy problems and providing data-led solutions. ACWA Power has gained access to valuable resources such as IEEJ’s vast database of original research that will allow it to strengthen its focus on green hydrogen and renewables, aligning with the company’s dedication to environmentally friendly initiatives.
The membership enhances ACWA Power’s ability to stay on the forefront of cutting-edge energy research and contributes to the company’s commitment to supporting sustainable progress and development.
“By leveraging this membership, ACWA Power is well-positioned to actively engage in the advancement of green energy technologies, thereby accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and renewable energy future,” stated Marco Arcelli, CEO, ACWA Power.
TAQA, GS Inima and EWEC Announce Financial Closing for Desalination Project
The project will supply up to 70 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), one of the largest listed integrated utility companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, alongside GS Inima, a global leader in water desalination by reverse osmosis, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), a leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, recently announced the successful financial closing of the US$ 444mn low-carbon intensive Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis Seawater Desalination Project (S4 RO).
The project is primarily funded (71%) through debt financing from both local and international banks. The S4 RO financial closing comes after TAQA and GS Inima signed the water purchase agreement with EWEC in August 2023.
Water generation capacity
“TAQA’s water generation capacity will be over 1,250 MIGD, making us a major player in water desalination,” remarked Farid Al Awlaqi, Executive Director, Generation, TAQA.
“S4 RO will grow EWEC’s RO production capacity and strengthen security of supply, becoming our sixth RO project,” noted Othman Al Ali, CEO, EWEC.
“The diligence and effort put into the structuring of the project is outstanding. It not only demonstrates our position as a worldwide referent in the water sector but also speaks highly about the trust our investors and partners place in us,” observed Diego de Vera, Global Business Development Director, GS Inima.
Under the patronage His Royal Highness Prince of Eastern Province and the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transport
“Mawani” signs 4 contracts to provide marine services in 8 ports with investments exceeding one billion riyals
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Prince of the Eastern Province, and the presence of H.E Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, this afternoon at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, “Mawani” signs 4 contracts to provide maritime services with investments by the private sector exceeding one billion riyals, with “Zamil Marine Services” and “Naghi Marine Co.” to provide a range of maritime services at 8 ports of Mawani, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, and the National Center for Privatization.
His Royal Highness Prince of the Eastern Province emphasized that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and under the supervision of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect them, is keen on supporting projects that make Saudi ports attractive to trade and occupy a leading global position in line with the objectives of the national transport and logistics strategy by providing a strong network of ports and offering efficient and highly competent integrated logistics services in accordance with the best global practices, in addition to contributing to motivating the logistics services industry, meeting the economic growth plans of the Kingdom, and achieving the targets and pillars of Saudi Vision 2030.
H.E Minister of Transport and Logistic Services explained that these contracts will expand the partnership with the private sector, support the competitive capabilities of the logistics sector and Saudi ports, enhance operational efficiency and performance of Saudi maritime services in ports, and renew the fleet of operational assets and maritime units through investment in 44 new maritime units, contributing to the support and growth of supply chain and supporting economic growth.
H.E Al-Jasser confirmed that these contracts also aim to empower the private sector in transportation and logistics projects and initiatives, as the private sector’s participation in the sector through privatization projects during the first half of 2023 exceeded 17 billion riyals. He added that the transportation and logistics system will continue to increase investment opportunities with all components of the private sector and enhance the contribution of local content in system projects, achieving the targets of the national transportation and logistics strategy and the Saudi Vision 2030, and to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub.
On his part, H.E President of the Saudi Ports Authority, Mr. Omar Hariri, pointed out that these contracts aim to enhance the regional and global competitiveness of the Kingdom by utilizing the potential of the ports in value-added investment projects. He also highlighted the role of maritime services contracts in empowering the maritime transport sector, diversifying the Kingdom’s economy, developing logistic services, and raising the Kingdom’s classification in international performance indicators.
On the part of H.E Mohanad Basudan, the CEO of the National Center for Privatization said that signing contracts for the privatization of marine services in eight ports is the result of an integrated
and distinguished work among the privatization system team according to the privatization system, which is an evidence of high harmony and interconnection, and continuous interaction between the transportation and logistics services system and the privatization system. He also explained that the privatization and partnership projects proposed by the Center in cooperation with the sectors witnesses interest, competition, and attractiveness from local and international experienced investors. The Center received 64 companies and alliances during indication of interest stage, and he added: “We are currently working on presenting 200 vital projects, which in turn will contribute to improving the quality of the services provided and the operational efficiency of government assets.”
On the heels of the first week of COP28, PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs and their strategic partners have announced the launch of the Mega Green Accelerator, a new initiative to nurture the next generation of innovators in the region as they develop solutions to both regional and global sustainability challenges.
The Middle East is warming almost two times faster than the global average, yet the support and investment for the sustainability innovation ecosystem in the region does not match this urgency. Since 2010, less than 50 new climate technology startups have been founded in the MENA region, compared to 5,000 in Europe and the US.
The Mega Green Accelerator aims to reduce this gap, foster regional collaboration and cultivate a network of MENA-based innovators addressing the most pressing sustainability challenges in the region.
“By bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and the networks and resources they need, we are committed to supporting breakthrough start-ups as they scale sustainability solutions, grow their businesses and form critical connections,” remarked Eugene Willemsen, CEO, PepsiCo, Africa, Middle East, South Asia.
“We believe that such cross-sector partnerships are crucial in effectively tackling complex, critical issues such as climate change. In supporting this initiative, we are not just bettering local economies, but people and planet at the same time,” commented Dr.Bob Maughon, SABIC Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer.
“Our aim is to ensure the GCC not only responds to the current demand for green solutions but also pioneers the advancement of sustainable business practices on a global scale,” noted Roland Daher, CEO, AstroLabs.
EGA first aluminium producer to join global shipping and maritime sustainability initiative
Emirates Global Aluminium, the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the biggest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, has become the first aluminium producer and the first Middle East company to join the Sea Cargo Charter.
The Sea Cargo Charter sets a global framework to assess and disclose the climate alignment of ship chartering activities to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emission of global shipping to net zero by around 2050, in line with the goals of the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping.
EGA ships some 22 million tonnes of aluminium, bauxite and raw materials around the world each year. While the production of raw materials accounts for the bulk of EGA’s scope 3 emissions, global shipping accounts for a meaningful proportion.
The global shipping industry as a whole was responsible for two per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The aluminium EGA produces plays an essential role in the development of a more sustainable society. It is also important how sustainably it is produced, and this includes shipping raw materials to our production sites and bauxite and metal to our customers worldwide. EGA has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, including from our supply chain. Joining the Sea Cargo Charter will enable us to further improve our performance and achieve our goal to reach net zero from supply chain activities.”
Eman Abdalla, Sea Cargo Charter Vice Chair, and Global Operations Director at Cargill, said: “We are pleased to have EGA as the first global aluminium producer and Middle East industrial company to join the Sea Cargo Charter. The journey to more sustainable shipping starts with a commitment to transparency, a unified methodology, and emissions reporting. We hope EGA’s example inspires other participants in the aluminium industry to follow a similar path towards carbon emissions transparency in their supply chain.”
In 2022, EGA signed an agreement with one of its shipping partners, “K” Line to develop and implement new marine decarbonisation technologies suitable for EGA’s bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.
First phase of project will produce 600,000 tonnes-per-year of green Ammonia.
Saudi-listed ACWA Power, the world’s largest private water desalination company, leader in energy transition and first mover into green hydrogen, has signed the framework agreement, following the MoU that was signed in 7th of December 2022 to outline the development of the first phase of the green hydrogen project in Egypt with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes-per-year of green ammonia, with an investment in excess of USD 4bn, with the intention of scaling up to a second phase with a potential capacity of 2 million tonnes-per-year
The agreement was signed between ACWA Power and The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA).
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the H.E. Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt; H.E. Dr. Mohamed Shaker, the Egyptian Minister of Electricity; H.E. Osama Bin Ahmed Nugali, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Ayman Soliman, CEO of the TSFE, Mr. Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chairman of SCZone, , Eng. Sabah Mashaly, Chairman of EETC; Dr. Mohamed El Khayat, Chairman, NREA; Marco Arcelli, CEO, ACWA Power, Thomas Brostrom CIO, ACWA Power, Driss Berraho VP, Business Development-Green Hydrogen and Hassan Amin, Country Director- Egypt, ACWA Power. This Framework agreement marks the next step in the development of this large-scale Green Hydrogen facility.
The framework agreement lays out the development of the first phase of a green ammonia project with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes-per-year powered by wind and solar plants, with the intention of working on a larger green hydrogen project in the country which could have a capacity of up to two million-tonnes-per-year of green hydrogen.
Commenting on the agreement, ACWA Power CEO Marco Arcelli said: “As a first mover in green hydrogen, ACWA Power is proud to bring its expertise in this new and exciting market to Egypt. We commend our partners for their bold step into producing the fuel for the future, for which there will be great demand in Europe and the rest of the world. Egypt is well-positioned to become one of the world’s top producers of green hydrogen and we are elated to be a part of the country’s energy transition.”
ACWA Power has a history of developing significant renewable projects to ensure a reliable supply of clean and low-cost energy to Egypt. This latest project brings the total number of ACWA Power’s assets in operation, under construction, and in advanced development in Egypt to 5 – all renewable energy projects with a total power generation capacity of 1.4 GW.
It will be a significant addition to ACWA Power’s rapidly expanding green hydrogen portfolio. Development is well underway at the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, a joint venture between ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM to create the world’s first
utility-scale green hydrogen plant in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. The project will be capable of producing 1.2 million tonnes of green ammonia per year. The first wind turbines were delivered to the site in October.
On November 27th, the company broke ground on its second green hydrogen project, in Uzbekistan. The first phase of this project will be capable of producing 3,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, with the intention to expand to a second phase. Once the second phase is complete, 2.4 GW of wind energy will power the production of 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year.
The company also signed further agreements during COP28 for green hydrogen projects in Jordan and Indonesia.
Saudi Airport Exhibition is the largest dedicated airport event in the Kingdom, focused on Saudi Arabia’s massive airport expansion and modernisation requirements. The event provides multiple platforms for attendees to meet and network with global industry leaders and experts, view the latest innovations and technologies shaping the passenger experience and build new partnerships to enhance their business.
Focusing on EXPANSION, INNOVATION, and COLLABORATION, the event provides the Kingdom’s aviation authorities with the tools and connections necessary to deliver the Saudi Aviation Strategy.
The event provides a critical platform for Saudi aviation leaders to build the global supply chain necessary to fulfill the Kingdom’s airport development needs and attract new businesses to Saudi Arabia that can contribute to GDP growth and economic diversification.
· The Sustainability Champions represented Al-Futtaim Group at the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) conference in Frankfurt held in November 2023
· The champions worked in close collaboration with the UAE’s Youth Authority and participated in various panels at COP28
In a strategic move to continue advocating greater environmental and sustainability awareness, Al-Futtaim Group nominated three Emirati Sustainability Champions to become the leading voices of change and become the next-generation ambassadors of the UAE’s sustainable future.
The three champions, Ahmed Aljasmi, Regional Sustainability Lead at IKEA; Meera Al Naqbi, Electrical Engineer at Al-Futtaim Technologies; and Yasmine Alshaikh, Learning and Development Specialist at Al-Futtaim Retail, were selected based on their consistent efforts and passion towards implementing eco-consciousness in their diverse work streams. Prior to their appointment as sustainability champions, the Al-Futtaim employees were closely working with the UAE Federal Youth Authority, representing youth in the private sector.
The three sustainable champions participated at the United Nations’ SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Conference held in Frankfurt in November 2023, representing Al-Futtaim Group, the Middle East region’s only organization present at the event. They learnt and exchanged ideas on sustainability at the prestigious conference, further solidifying their role as champions.
The three representatives were part of multiple panel conversations at COP28, where Al-Futtaim Group played a pivotal role as the event’s Strategic E-Mobility Partner. They participated in the Youth Circle discussion on the topic of ‘Adapting For Sustainability Future: Navigating Change In The Private Sector’; a key session that had representatives from the Dubai’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), COP28 Presidency, Ministry of Health & Prevention, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, among other eminent private and public entities.
They also headlined a panel discussion titled ‘Generation Green: Youth for Sustainability’, which took place on the Al-Futtaim Stand, Technology & Innovation Hub 2, Green Zone, during the Youth Day at COP28.
The champions shared insights on their interaction with the various COP28 delegations and UN councils, as well as how they are partnering with internal teams to develop and implement innovative solutions to making sustainability a priority across all business practices, from automotive to retail to real estate projects.
Ahmed Aljasmi, Regional Sustainability Lead, IKEA, commented: “The active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive, and stable societies. Representing Al-Futtaim in this way allows us to showcase our achievements, leverage our expertise and serve as an inspiration to others to drive transformative change, in our company and beyond.”
Al-Futtaim Group believes that by empowering these sustainability champions, the Group will be able to continue fostering dialogues, awareness, and action on environmental-friendly practices into the future, as well as inspire others within the organization to continue making sustainability an everyday reality.
Vital emissions reducing technology will lessen the petroleum industries carbon footprint
Ahead of key environmental discussions at the recently concluded COP28, DecarbonX, an Angara initiative driving decarbonisation solutions for petroleum infrastructure, called for urgent action from the petroleum industry to tackle the issue of fouling, by adopting technology that can significantly reduce refinery emissions with almost immediate effect.
Fouling at refineries, where the build-up of deposits impacts heat exchangers efficiency, is a global issue that leads to increased energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
The fouling removal methodology developed by DecarbonX maintains the efficiency of heat exchanger equipment in refineries – a pioneering solution with the potential to reduce up to 15% of refinery emissions in a matter of months, targeting 40% savings over 2-3 years, according to a corporate press communique.
The tailored approach is underpinned by technology independently validated by engineering consultancy firm DNV, awarded one of the highest technology readiness levels of 8+. DNV verified that DecarbonX technologies could abate up to 400mn tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
AI technologies
The approach utilises chemical, petrophysical, digital AI technologies to improve heat exchanger efficiencies, and monitor long term performance. Retrofitting existing infrastructure enables DecarbonX to maximise emissions reductions whilst improving energy efficiency, without impacting operations.
The need to find tangible decarbonisation solutions is even more urgent given the UN’s recent emissions gap report. The UN estimates enormous cuts to greenhouse gas emissions are needed to reduce global warming, with a 30% reduction required to limit the global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels.
Decarbonisation programme
“Every second that’s wasted adds more avoidable carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and moves the world further from UN targets. We are advocating a decarbonisation programme for the petroleum industry, which based on independently verified data, and if embraced globally, could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 400mn tonnes per year,” explained Alex de Valukhoff, Chief Executive Officer, Angara.
“Removing fouling continually to keep heat exchangers always clean is the neglected fix in the decarbonisation debate, and we urge those in the industry to embrace innovation to tackle this avoidable problem,” he concluded
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WSC thanks coalition for action to protect seafarers and trade in the Red Sea region
The World Shipping Council today expressed its thanks to the member nations of the Operation Prosperity Guardian coalition formed to address the maritime security crisis in the Red Sea region.
The mission of this task force is critical to protecting seafarers and to defending the foundational principle of freedom of navigation. We are grateful that these nations have come together to protect seafarers and the vessels on which they serve, and we hope that the coalition will succeed in creating the necessary conditions for safe passage through the Red Sea.
The Council also calls upon the global community to continue to pursue every possible diplomatic effort in support of security in and safe navigation through this region that is vital to international trade.
World Shipping Council CEO John W. Butler added: “On behalf of our member carriers, I particularly want to stress the importance of the coalition’s action to defend the safety and lives of our seafarers – the thousands of men and women from around the world who every day ensure vessels carrying food, medicines, humanitarian supplies, and goods of all kinds safely reach their destination ports on every continent.”
Kings Aluminum Industries begins construction of facility to bolster sustainability efforts in Abu Dhabi
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, the largest operator of integrated and purpose-built economic zones and Kings Aluminum Industries today announced the commencement of construction for a state-of-the-art aluminum manufacturing and recycling facility in KEZAD.
With a total investment of AED 750 million by Kings Aluminium Industries, the facility in KEZAD will be spread across 100,000 square metres of land leased from KEZAD Group for a 50 year tenure and will source its raw material from Emirates Global Aluminium, one of KEZAD Group’s anchor tenants in the Metals sector. EGA operates the region’s largest Aluminium smelter in KEZAD.
The Kings Aluminum facility marks a significant step in the UAE’s efforts to localise manufacturing of various supply chains, utilise local raw material, enhance environmental as well as sustainability aspects in the production process, and promote the circular economy.
The facility will transform virgin aluminum and aluminum waste into high-quality reusable materials, reducing the carbon footprint associated with aluminum production. Located on the strategic hot metal road in KEZAD near Emirates Global Aluminum’s plant, Kings Aluminum will employ cutting-edge manufacturing and recycling technology, efficiently processing molten aluminum metal, and billets, and repurposing various aluminum waste products.
Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, said: “We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the growth and development of our metal cluster with the establishment of this new metal downstream manufacturing facility by Kings Aluminum Industries. This strategic investment by Kings Aluminum marks a substantial advancement in our zone’s industrial capabilities and economic prospects.
“The facility represents an investment in infrastructure and technology, and a profound vote of confidence in the economic potential of KEZAD Group & Abu Dhabi. We are particularly excited about the integration of this facility with Emirates Global Aluminium. The facility’s proximity to EGA will enhance the efficiency of our industrial ecosystem while reducing its operational cost and environmental impact through shortened supply chains and collaborative operational strategies.”
Albert Melkias, CEO, Kings Aluminium Industries said, “Our new facility symbolises both an investment in sustainable manufacturing and our commitment to Abu Dhabi’s environmental goals. Dedicated to pioneering solutions for a more sustainable future, we aim to reduce waste, promote recycling, and deliver excellent products across various end-use categories. KEZAD provides us with unparalleled value with top-notch infrastructure, fully serviced industrial corridors, and seamless integration with Khalifa Port – enhancing our reach and speed to international consumer markets. Signature assets like KEZAD’s hot metal road offer advantages such as energy conservation, improved product quality, cost efficiency, and better integration in production processes.”
Robin Phillip, Founder and CEO of First Step FZC, partner in Kings Aluminium Industries said “This collaboration reinforces the project’s commitment to responsible business practices and further strengthens Kings Aluminium’s position in sustainable manufacturing and more importantly in its contribution to Abu Dhabi’s environmental goals.”
This project sets a new benchmark for sustainable industrial practices in the UAE and serves as a model for other companies in the sector. KEZAD Group continues to lead the way in environmental responsibility and innovation while strengthening commitment to local economic development wherein such industrial projects can stimulate sustained infrastructure improvements, job creation & increased business for local suppliers and service providers.
Yanbu Industrial Port received the ship “Jolly Palladio” loaded with vehicles for the “Saudi Dakar Rally 2024.”
King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu received the vessel “Jolly Palladio” from the maritime agent “Saudi Investment Group and Marketing” via the shipping line “Ignazio Messina.” The vessel is loaded with vehicles for the Dakar Rally 2024, including 864 vehicles, 86 motorcycles, 5 helicopters, and 39 containers, to participate in the “Saudi Dakar Rally 2024”.
The off-loading operations were completed within 9 hours, setting a record compared to last year’s unloading of 712 vehicles in 12 hours. This achievement reflects the efficiency of the port’s facilities and infrastructure, highlighting the continuous development of the maritime ports network. It further enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading center for trade, maritime tourism, and logistics services.
This is part of the efforts by the Saudi Ports Authority “Mawani” to support vital sectors and enable their activities across the Kingdom, particularly in the tourism, sports, and entertainment sectors. These sectors are among the key economic contributors that support the diversification of the national economy. Additionally, the authority is keen on developing the Kingdom’s ports to accommodate the largest and most modern types of ships in the world.
This step confirms the high operational efficiency and the strategic location on the Red Sea coast of King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu. The port offers numerous logistical services that attract investors in the maritime transport sector. It aligns with the national strategic targets for transportation and logistics to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub and enhance its position in the maritime transport industry.
It is worth noting that King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu received the Italian ship “Jolly Bandiyo” last year, which carried vehicles for the “Dakar Rally” 2023, including 712 cars, 5 helicopters, 22 containers, and 61 motorcycles. This further confirms the readiness of the port’s infrastructure and its ability to attract international shipping lines and accommodate various sizes of giant vessels, thus enhancing the position of Saudi ports regionally and internationally.
That internal claim is WestJet Cargo’s guiding principle behind the launch of its dedicated product “Safe’Air” in January, initially between Canada and the US, and soon to rapidly expand across the entire WestJet network: reliable, secure, and offering the necessary discretion expected by customers shipping every kind of valuable cargo.
WestJet Cargo has extended its product portfolio and premiered a comprehensive solution for the transport of high value cargo, be it banknotes, jewellery, precious metals and stones, or other highly valuable goods.
“Our commitment to excellence extends to every area of our business, from network to operations to anticipating and meeting the needs of our customers,” says Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice-President, Cargo at WestJet. “The trust and market demand that our dedicated cargo operations have garnered in just half a year, have also led to increasing demand for a dedicated valuables product. We have therefore been hard at work establishing our very own WestJet to both operationally safeguard those high value shipments entrusted to us, and commercially ensure that we always deliver on our promises.”
The product caters to a diverse range of sectors requiring secure and specialized handling of their valuable cargo, and was developed in close collaboration with freight forwarders focused on the secure cargo transportation of these high value goods, from banking to luxury goods, high-end technology, pharmaceuticals, and confidential document transport.
“Our product has been meticulously designed with the utmost emphasis on security and efficiency. Every step of the valuable handling process has been painstakingly analysed, potential risks identified and measures implemented to mitigate them,” Nawal Mir, Product Manager at WestJet Cargo, explains. Those dedicated security measures put in place to prevent tampering, pilferage, and unauthorized access, include third-party oversight, direct supervision, secure storage protocols, and the use of specialised security containers. Each container bears a unique serial number and is sealed with high-quality, individually numbered metal seals. All valuable cargo is escorted by security agents and transported separately to and from the aircraft.
“All hands on deck, all eyes on the ball, and absolutely no loopholes allowed. We’ve created a true ‘Freight Knox’ service at four of our stations and will roll it out to other destinations as soon as we are certain they are ready and capable of delivery,” Nawal Mir concludes.
The high value service is initially available between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Calgary International Airport (YYC), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). All other stations will be launched in priority of customer demand from next year.
Americas GSA cements ECS Group’s foothold in Central America
ECS Group now present in 16 countries across the Americas, on track to achieving full coverage of the continent, from Canada to Chile
The partnership provides premium class regional solutions within a global network
With its strong Latin American presence, particularly in Central America, Americas GSA greatly expands ECS Group’s network, increasing its overall presence to 16 countries on the continent. In acquiring Americas GSA, ECS Group has taken a significant step towards its strategic goal of achieving full coverage across the Americas.
The acquisition of Americas GSA not only expands ECS Group’s already unrivalled Latin American network, but also creates a considerable Central American presence. The acquisition agreement was signed on 29 October 2023. 42 staff across 13 Americas GSA offices join ECS Group’s existing workforce of more than 80 local heroes in Latin America. They bring in an established, close network of freight forwarders and strategic exporters, and long-standing contracts with renowned airlines such as LATAM Airlines, MAS, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Korean Air, and Ethiopian Airlines, pushing the group’s airline portfolio up to more than 40 airlines.
Even more significantly, through Americas GSA, ECS Group gains a first-time presence in Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panamá, alongside its previous network of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and USA.
GSA of choice – industry trust
“Our vision is to become one of the largest air cargo GSAs in Latin America, not just in terms of network, but specifically as the GSA of choice for comprehensive international solutions delivered with local finesse. This partnership with ECS Group brings together a highly professional air cargo organization with a strong global vision, and an established team with in-depth knowledge of the Latin-American market and close relationships with the largest customers in the region. Within this new alliance, Americas GSA will be able to offer even higher quality service, more opportunities tailored to the specific needs of our partners, airlines, and customers, and enjoy a firm technological and financial foundation on which to continue growing,” says Pablo Canales, Managing Partner – CEO of Americas GSA.
Poised to shape the future of air cargo in Latin America
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, explains, “Americas GSA not only greatly augments our coverage in Central America, significantly adding to our strong network of committed, local air cargo experts operating across the continent, but since it shares a very similar corporate culture and likewise places great value on professional expertise, it offers a highly promising basis for solid organic growth. Together, we are well poised to shape the future of air cargo in Latin America and have a considerable and positive impact on the success of our customers.”
Cutting-edge technology and complete coverage
“ECS Group’s long-term aim is to offer the ultimate in GSSA services across every country in The Americas: from Canada to Chile. By that, I mean expertly balancing out existing and potential customer relationships built on trust, expertise, and experience, with the advanced business insights and process support that the latest in digital air cargo solutions developed by our in-house Cargo Digital Factory bring. Thanks to its established and loyal team of managers, well known for their commitment to performance and quality service on a personal level, Americas GSA is already very strong on customer proximity and interaction. We see significant synergies in terms of business, digital initiatives, and service offerings, and look forward to positive developments in our newest region, as we head into the new year. ECS Group warmly welcomes Americas GSA!” Adrien Thominet concludes.
Bahri to make business decisions by assessing the creditworthiness of its potential clients
Bahri has signed a membership agreement with Bayan Credit Bureau (Bayan), a leading Credit Bureau that provides local and global credit reports for more than 180 countries.
The partnership will now enable Bahri to avail of the wide range of credit advisory services offered by Bayan and empower the regional logistics leader to make informed and responsible business decisions by assessing the creditworthiness of its potential clients.
Signing ceremony
The agreement was signed in the presence of Eng. Ahmed Ali Alsubaey, CEO, Bahri CEO, and Eng. Mohammad Bamogaddam, CEO, Bayan. The agreement was signed by Abdulaziz Aloud, Acting Chief Financial Officer, Bahri, and Talal Fahad Alshehri, Chief Business Officer, Bayan, at the Bahri headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Under the terms of the membership agreement, Bahri is also committed to exchanging its credit information in line with Bayan Credit Bureau’s plan and objectives of providing services and products that help create an attractive investment environment amid a clear data-sharing Process and in adherence to the regulations and restrictions stipulated by the credit information law.
Bayan is a leading company specialized in credit reporting, due diligence reports, data analysis, and providing risk assessment solutions and credit consultations. It operates under a license from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), according to a corporate press release.
Saudi Arabia’s innovation scene ignited at the DATE Fintech & AI Show: Held at the JW Marriott Riyadh on December 11th-12th, this powerhouse event united C-level executives, industry titans, and global pioneers in fintech and AI. From enterprises and investors to government authorities and tech collaborators, the summit buzzed with a singular mission: propelling transformative solutions across every industry. Underneath the Riyadh skyline, the future of tech unfolded, with groundbreaking applications set to disrupt and redefine countless sectors.
With over 2000 C-suite attendees, the event provided a dynamic platform that propelled insightful discussions through engaging keynote speeches and fireside chats, fostering business growth opportunities in key sectors critical to Saudi Arabia’s economic future.
Featuring an impressive line-up of speakers and panelists, the event marked a significant shift in leveraging transformative technologies. Discussions ranged from empowering the kingdom’s future with AI surges to Generative AI for Digital Twins, Regulators as Catalysts for Innovation, Amplifying the fight against Financial Crime, and more.
The fireside chat on ‘Cognitive Cities: Science Fiction or Tomorrow’s Future?’ between Yousef Khalili, Chief Commercial Officer at Tonomus (NEOM), and Mary Pedler, Founder of Input PR, offered compelling insights into seamlessly integrating technology into daily life.
A pivotal session on the DATE Fintech Stage was the panel discussion titled ‘Empowerment Personified: Fintech’s Impact on Women-led Enterprises.’ The panellists provided insightful perspectives on women’s progress advocating gender inclusivity in the tech ecosystem. The deliberations further encompassed strategies for fostering empowerment and inclusivity the innovation landscape.
While speaking about the event, Sonia Shaw, Partner & VP of Global Partnerships at CoinW, said, “DATE KSA showcased innovation, boosting exhibitor visibility and fostering valuable industry connections.”
“DATE Fintech Show and DATE AI Show in Riyadh have been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO of Trescon. He added, “The active engagement and collaboration among industry leaders, tech innovators, and policymakers have opened doors to reimagine the future of financial services and artificial intelligence in KSA.”
In the third regional finals of the Fintech World Cup, organized by Dubai Fintech Summit in collaboration with Trescon at the DATE Fintech Show in Riyadh, 11 fintech start-ups competed for a chance to pitch at the grand finale and secure funding of up to $1 million.
Monak E-Services, a MENA-based migrant fintech, clinched victory at this event. Their specialized focus on providing financial inclusion and essential life services to Middle Eastern workers through a collaborative network marks a remarkable advancement in the realm of innovative fintech solutions.
Sharing his experience at DATE AI Show, Adil Belahouri, Head of AI at Riyad Bank, said, “Excited to join distinguished speakers, discussing AI’s transformative impact on the Business Landscape.”
Wael Salloum, Vice President – Data & AI, Careem while speaking about Generative AI said,”Its accessibility, productivity improvements, and equalizing influence parallel the historic role of the internet in shaping a future of increased economic opportunities and growth.”
DATE KSA may be over, but the momentum is just beginning. From Riyadh’s heart, a wave of tech-driven collaboration washes over KSA, promising redefined financial services, seamless AI integration, and KSA’s rise as a global innovation beacon.
In 2023, total number of passengers increased by 16.6% to 77.3mn over 2022
Turkish Airlines announced a 12.1% higher passenger capacity in terms of available seat kilometers compared to that of November 2022, reaching 18.2bn.
The number of passengers carried by Turkish Airlines also increased compared to last November, going up by 4.1% to reach 6mn and international load factor was 79.9% while domestic load factor was 84.8%, with a total load factor of 80.4%, the airline said in a press communique.
Overall traffic results for November 2023 demonstrated an increase compared to the same month last year – the number of international passengers traveling to global destinations increased by 11.2%, reaching 2.2mn, while cargo and mail carried by Turkish Airlines went from 138.3 thousand tons to 153.5 thousand tons, equating to an increase of 11%.
In terms of traffic results for the period of January to November 2023, the total number of passengers increased by 16.6% to reach 77.3mn passengers compared to the same period in 2022.
Passenger numbers up
Almost all other figures also increased compared to last year, the number of international-to-international passengers carried increased by 27.9 per cent to 27.2mn from 21.2mn in the same period of 2022, total load factor increased by 2.3 points to 82.8% compared to the same period in 2022, with international load factor amounting to 82.6% and domestic load factor 84.8%.
Additionally, available seat kilometers (ASK) increased by 16.1% to 215 billion from 185.2 billion for the same period last year. Cargo and mail carried during this period slightly decreased compared to 2022, going from 1.54mn tons to 1.50mn. Finally, by the end of November 2023, the number of aircraft in the fleet amounted up to 437.
“These numbers are a testament to the hard work our team at Turkish Airlines have been putting in behind the scenes to ensure all operations run smoothly and keep improving,” commented Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines.
Al-Futtaim Automotive & UAE University Sign MoU On COP28 Youth Day To Empower UAE Nationals On E-Mobility And Automotive Jobs Of The Future
In a historic move on the designated Youth Day at COP28, the UAE’s largest automotive group, Al-Futtaim Automotive, and the nation’s leading public research university, UAE University, have joined forces to solidify their commitment towards Emirati talent development in the fields of Automotive and E-Mobility.
The partnership represents a groundbreaking initiative in steering the future of e-mobility within the UAE and another milestone in Al-Futtaim Group’s commitment to developing a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem. The partnership was formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at COP28, where the Al-Futtaim Group plays a pivotal role as the event’s Strategic E-Mobility Partner.
The MoU was signed between Ibrahim Al Sayegh, Head of Emiratisation Strategy & Planning at Al-Futtaim Group, and Professor Ahmed Ali Murad, Associate Provost for Research at UAE University, and lays the groundwork for creating a new center of automotive expertise, jointly spearheaded by Al-Futtaim Automotive’s Electric Mobility Training Centre and the UAE University’s prestigious Emirates Center for Mobility Research.
Through the MoU, the two organisations will engage in joint scientific and academic research activities, alongside hosting joint training programmes for young Emirati talent, giving them access to world-class training methodologies placed within the Al-Futtaim Automotive Electric Mobility Training Centre, the region’s first IMI-certified training center for electric mobility.
The collaboration will also entail organising study groups, seminars, workshops and conferences to empower the next-generation with career-defining technical skills and knowledge in electric and hybrid vehicles.
Ibrahim Al Sayegh, Head of Emiratisation Strategy & Planning, Al-Futtaim Group, commented, “Our dedication to electric mobility extends beyond bringing a world-class line-up of electric and hybrid cars, to the development of our nation’s human capital. This collaboration reinforces Al-Futtaim Group’s
commitment to leadership in sustainability and our proactive role in preparing Emirati nationals for the jobs of the future; a role that will be key to delivering our mission of establishing an integrated e-mobility infrastructure in the UAE. We are proud to partner with the UAE University, and together, we can draw on our mutual strengths within the mobility sector to ensure we create a future-ready workforce contributing towards the objectives of the UAE Net Zero 2050, against the historic background of COP28.”
Dr. Hamad Al Jassmi, Director of Emirates Center for Mobility Research, UAE University, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “By merging the expertise of Al-Futtaim Automotive’s globally accredited E-mobility Training Centre with UAE University’s research prowess, we are creating a robust ecosystem for talent development in emerging mobility trends. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and preparing our youth for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
The MoU highlights plans to initiate training for Emirati students with a series of training cohorts starting from January 2024. Additionally, a series of batches are scheduled throughout 2024, ensuring a continuous flow of skilled Emirati professionals in the automotive and e-Mobility sectors.
The MOU signing was held in the presence of key dignitaries and senior management representatives of Al-Futtaim Group, UAE University, and the Emirates Center for Mobility Research.
Global leather focus on MENA to ride on an expected 6-8% retail spending surge
Footwear and leather goods exporters have assessed that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region offers a robust growth opportunity for the trade with retail spending power estimated to be surging in the range of 6-8 per cent CAGR across the region with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the trend.
Speaking at a press conference on the opening day of the region’s largest footwear and leather goods show, DIFLEX 2023, senior officials representing some of the global leather hubs – Egypt, India and Turkey, said the growth potential of MENA is amplified in the light of the data by Statista that non-food retail sales in the GCC alone is estimated to reach over US$ 150bn by 2026.
Significant demographic dividend
“MENA markets offer sunrise opportunities to leather producers and manufacturers with a rising population-5 per cent under the age of 30-offering a significant demographic dividend to both domestic and export businesses. Coupled with this is the increasing e-commerce spends and new fintech solutions like Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) reshaping the consumer behaviour and making consumption and access to goods easier than before,” asserted Sanjay Leekha, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports, a Government of India statutory trade body under the Ministry of Commerce and Trade.
India, which is the second largest exporter of leather garments and fourth largest in leather goods globally had clocked US$ 5.2bn in 2022-23 fiscal. Over 60 top Indian footwear and leather goods manufacturers took part in the three-day DIFLEX 2023, 11 to 13 December at the Festival Arena in Dubai Festival City.
The CEPA effect
The UAE is a major driving force in enhancing trade with ramifications across the region with the country signing Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with various countries enabling tariff-free access of goods including for footwear and leather goods.
“Being a major trading and re-export hub in the region, CEPAs catalyze trade in general and with concomitant value chain impact across MENA. For leather producers, this translates to ease of entry particularly in the wake of the rising trend of non-tariff trade barriers in western export destinations,” noted Leekha citing the new EU regulation on Forest Degradation Free supply chain that will add to the compliance costs of exporters.
“DIFLEX 2023 is a unique vantage point for growth for footwear and leather good exporters and as it is being held in a regional growth context, it is an opportunity to foster partnerships and forge new market entry strategies into MENA while e-commerce and consumer spending scaling new heights,” observed Jeen Joshua, Managing Director, Verifair, organisers of the event.
Over 250 top notch footwear, leather and leather accessories producers from across the world participated at this one-of-its-kind event, showcasing over 10,000 product lines. Manufacturers and Producers at DIFLEX were from the leading footwear and leather producing hubs of Turkey, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, China and the UAE. Turkey, India and Egypt also have official country pavilions at the show.
AMOS Operational Services to support their digital leadership sustainability goals
Swiss-AS has announced the signing of a strategic agreement with the emerging Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air, for the implementation of our Aviation Maintenance and Engineering software solution AMOS.
As a national carrier, Riyadh Air will play a significant role in promoting Saudi Arabia’s economic and cultural interests globally, aiding in the development of Riyadh as a major destination in the Middle East.
The signing ceremony took place in Dubai, with representatives from both Riyadh Air and Swiss-AS present to celebrate the occasion after their extraordinary debut at the recently concluded Dubai Airshow 2023.
AMOS as a best-in-class solution
The selection of AMOS follows a rigorous and meticulous evaluation, which positioned AMOS as the comprehensive software solution that will seamlessly integrate with Riyadh Air’s evolving ecosystem IT systems landscape.
AMOS is planned to closely integrate with the carriers’ digital initiatives to reach its sustainability goals. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Riyadh Air’s commitment to optimise its maintenance operations from the very start, with the goal of achieving the highest overall efficiency through AMOS.
AMOS will be covering all aspects of the maintenance, engineering, and logistics processes required by airlines, and the software’s modular structure will provide Riyadh Air with a tailored and scalable system
AMOS in the Cloud
In line with Riyadh Air’s vision to be ‘digital native’ and its ambitious sustainability goals, the airline has opted for the full Hosting in the Cloud service package, including AMOS Operational Services (AOS). This strategic decision aligns with Riyadh Air’s commitment to becoming a digital leader in the industry.
The Cloud-based approach ensures seamless updates, reduces infrastructure costs, and fosters a dynamic digital environment.
“AMOS provides us a strong solution to deliver reliable operational efficiencies and ensuing guest satisfaction,” commented Peter Bellew, Chief Operating Officer, Riyadh Air.
“Riyadh Air not only reaffirms its dedication to industry leadership but also showcases a strategic embrace of state-of-the-art technology that aligns perfectly with our mutual vision for the future of air travel,” remarked Fabiano Faccoli, CEO, Swiss AviationSoftware.
Attains circular manufacturing hub status for waste material in the region
Henkel Polybit Dammam has achieved full circularity for waste material at its manufacturing site in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This milestone marks the first fully circular use of production waste material for Henkel in the India, Middle East and Africa region, underlining the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The site team has spearheaded a state-of-the-art solution to boost circularity, leading to the recycling and reuse of production waste in the manufacturing process. This will affect hundreds of metric tons of waste annually, with 700MT of waste generated in 2022 and approximately 600MT in 2023.
“This fully circular production waste recycling process in Dammam sets a new standard for sustainability in the IMEA region. We are proud to be at the forefront of circular practices, aligning with Henkel’s global sustainability goals. This lighthouse and frontrunner project actively shapes a model for the IMEA region, reinforcing Henkel’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable future,” affirmed Simon Ulmann, Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain, IMEA, Henkel.
New Path
“The urgency of addressing climate change is front of mind for Henkel, and our team at Henkel Polybit Dammam has displayed ingenuity in charting a new path towards circularity for waste material. We aspire that this innovative move sets a precedent, creating a ripple effect in the IMEA region and beyond, to help advance in waste management towards a more circular economy,” emphasized Dimitri Kozak, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Performance, Henkel Adhesives.
In the new closed-loop system, the production waste undergoes meticulous grinding and homogenising, ensuring the purification, uniformity and quality of products at the Henkel Polybit Dammam Site, a corporate press communique stated.
Globally, Henkel’s sustainability strategy aims to achieve climate-positive operations by 2030. The Dammam facility’s success is a testament to Henkel’s commitment to circularity, contributing to the goal of having all global sites be climate-positive in seven years. The company plans to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, implement state-of-the-art technologies for thermal energy, and achieve circular water use at key manufacturing sites, the press statement continued.
Zero waste
This also comes as part of Henkel Adhesive Technologies’ continuous efforts to enhance waste disposal methods. Currently, 85% of all adhesive manufacturing sites have achieved zero waste to landfill status (ZWTL). To minimise the impact on local environments, Henkel works to ensure key manufacturing sites save and reuse water through a process optimisation and wastewater treatment.
As Henkel embraces the challenge of becoming climate positive by 2030, its accomplishments signal a significant step forward in a mission to support regenerating the planet, help communities survive and be a trusted partner in building a more sustainable tomorrow, the press note concluded.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive is Elected a Member of the Board of Governors at the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Engr. Badr Al-Meer is also announced as a member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO)
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has been elected to the International Air Transport Association’s Board of Governors.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 320 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. IATA’s mission is to represent, lead, and serve the airline industry where it advocates for the interests of airlines across the globe.
Engr. Badr Al-Meer will be able to support the association in shaping the future growth of safe, secure and sustainable air transport, working with members to connect and enrich our world through air travel. His strong aviation sector experience and knowledge will be put to use with his appointment as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO).
AACO is the regional association of the Arab Airlines representing 34 carriers. Its mission is to promote cooperation amongst its members in many areas such as aero-political affairs, environmental sustainability and training through its regional training centre. Engr. Badr Al-Meer can draw upon his aviation industry experience in AACO’s mission to cooperate with regional and international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, airlines, manufacturers and service providers.
Engr. Badr Al-Meer became GCEO of Qatar Airways on 5 November 2023 following more than 10 years as the Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport. While leading HIA, Qatar’s global hub airport and gateway to the world, he played an instrumental role in leading major airport milestone projects, including the expansion project “The Orchard” – an incredible tropical garden located at the centre of the terminal expansion, with world class dining outlets and luxurious shopping that has redefined the airport experience. The extension project was one of Doha’s most challenging engineering programmes, and completed ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
From 2018 to 2020, Engr. Badr Al-Meer was a Board Director of the Airports Council International in the Asia/Pacific Region, where his expertise contributed to Future Airport Development and Airport Sustainability.
His leadership was pivotal in Hamad International Airport receiving a number of industry accolades including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airport in the World’ in 2021 and 2022, a testament to the capability and dedication of the entire organisation.
In his career, Engr. Badr Al-Meer has played key roles in some of Qatar’s most iconic developments. As the Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport (HIA) since 2014, he led critical divisions such as MATAR – the Qatar Company for Airports Operation and Management, Qatar Duty-Free, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aviation Catering Company, Qatar Distribution Centre, Dhiafatina, and real estate. Engr. Badr Al-Meer has built an outstanding track record in construction, and large-scale project development. In his new role as Group CEO, Engr. Badr Al-Meer’s experience in delivering successful outcomes in aviation and project management positions him uniquely to lead Qatar Airways Group’s exciting new era that will see innovation cultivate a unified and motivated workforce.
CargoTech reflects on a year of digital changes in 2023, both within the group as well as the air cargo industry.
“Success happens with change,” says Cédric Millet, President of CargoTech. “CargoTech is a one-stop-shop offering the best possible digital solutions for every air cargo business process. The aim of our products and services is to increase efficiency, improve revenues, or decrease costs, and generally to accelerate the digital transformation within the cargo industry. For that, we bring together cargo business and technology experts so that our digital solutions are created by air cargo knowledgeable people for the airfreight industry. Our drive for innovation is endless, and looking back at 2023, CargoTech had many successes and proved the relevance of its model.
A difficult environment
Coming out of the pandemic in 2023, the subsequent swift return to more normal passenger operations has resulted in overcapacity on many routes. The air cargo industry has been going through difficult times: geopolitical upheaval, high inflation, and rapidly sinking rates have put pressure on the financial results. At the same time, the industry is at varying stages of technological maturity and customers are increasingly looking for solutions to decrease costs and increase revenues. That’s precisely where CargoTech comes into play.
Positive digital development
Though facing tough economic climes, the year has also seen much positive movement. “Customers have been increasingly interested in our solutions, as the desire to make better commercial decisions is relevant in every market circumstance.” Ryan Keyrouse, Managing Director of Rotate explains. Even though the Air Cargo market was challenging in 2023; it did not seem to impact the adoption of innovative solutions. Nathanaël de Tarade, CEO of Wiremind Cargo confesses that “we got an increasing number of inquiries about our products, and our customers are more and more knowledgeable on what they want, what can be achieved, and are helping to push the boundaries of what can be done”.
A fifth member joins CargoTech
Having begun the year with four members: Cargo Digital Factory, Wiremind Cargo, CargoAi, and Rotate, 2023 saw a fifth member enter the fold: With the addition of CharterSync, CargoTech extended its capabilities to include the air cargo charter expertise.
“Digitalization within the air cargo charter segment has largely been unexplored to date. It lags behind scheduled air cargo capacity processes, and operations are still highly manual. The addition of CharterSync as the group’s fifth member, offers forwarders and airlines a unique opportunity to bring enhanced value and efficiency to their charter process” say Ed Gillet & Simon Watson, Co-Founders of CharterSync.
Internal collaboration and joint marketing initiatives
“CargoTech fosters collaboration between its member companies on 3 levels: commercial, technical and strategic. We have already been successful in collaborating on commercial strategies, but we want to do more on the technical side where we are working on integration opportunities between some of the solutions that each CargoTech company offers, to optimally leverage the benefits from our CargoTech ecosystem,” Cedric Millet, President of CargoTech illustrates.
In addition to internal collaboration, the CargoTech members also presented a united front during 2023’s cargo events. All members of CargoTech co-located in CargoTech booths at the Air Cargo Europe in Munich in the summer, and more recently, at the first Air Cargo Southeast Asia in Singapore. Cross-sales activities are also becoming common practices, whereby customers of one of the companies can also become customers of other member companies. CargoTech was also nominated for the first time as a group entity for an air cargo industry award, earlier this year. Cédric Millet, President of CargoTech: “From a marketing point of view, 2023 has been an intense year as we work to establish a solid and recognised Brand in the industry.”
Bridging digital gaps
The air cargo industry and its customers are evolving in their digital capabilities and processes, and these uncover digital gaps as well as new ideas and opportunities. One area long in need of a secure, efficient, and user-friendly solution, is the area of digital payment. CargoAi’s CargoWALLET product, launched early on in the year, is the industry’s first comprehensive solution to not only enable swift, unbureaucratic booking payments online, but also addresses other obstacles faced by air cargo customers not previously in possession of an IATA CASS Number, AWB stock, or bank guarantee.
Similarly, Wiremind Cargo launched a Revenue Optimization suite (CargoStack Optimiser) which quickly secured it a multiyear contract with Qatar Airways Cargo, its launch customer.
Establishing a broader industry presence
Rotate’s focus in 2023 was to establish itself in the industry. Co-development projects with Etihad Cargo and Cathay Cargo were significant milestones and served as proof of concept on how to build complex solutions for better commercial decision-making. Rotate also recently launched a Live Capacity product and launched its strategy consulting practice focused on air cargo.
Though new to CargoTech, CharterSync celebrated four years of air cargo charter innovation at ‘Air Cargo Europe’ earlier this year, and became the first air cargo charter company worldwide to offer a fully integrated digital end-to-end booking process and management system for freight forwarders. Its rapid evolution from start-up to an established player in the global charter market, gained it an accolade as one of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies in The Sunday Times 100 for 2023.
What is the outlook for 2024?
The first emerging trend technology wise that comes to mind is the usage of LLMs (large language models), to bridge the gap between what you could call the world of emails and the world of digital solutions. LLMs can help boost the adoption of new solutions by reducing the time spent on filling in data that has already been filled by someone else.
And of course, 2024 will also witness the consolidation of solutions providing more visibility, driven by all sides of the industry, including forwarders, shippers or other technology providers. Thanks to the CargoCONNECT product by CargoAI we believe we are well positioned” say Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
Coordination, collaboration and CargoTech success
For CargoTech’s members, it will be another year of close collaboration to maximise on each other’s expertise and build on synergies between the many different solutions on offer. CharterSync Co-founder, Ed Gilllett explains: “The ability to leverage benefits from the CargoTech ecosystem opens up some significant and unique opportunities to add value to the service, functionality and data available across the companies.”
Cédric Millet, President of CargoTech, summarises the group’s new chapter “For CargoTech, 2023 was the year of the coordination. 2024 will be the year for the synergies: commercial, technical, products. And of course, it will be another year of innovation, but that goes without saying,” he predicts.
E-Buses to Integrated Transport Centre as the country hosts COP28 Summit
Yutong e-buses will help the UAE reduce carbon emission in the transport sector as part of the UAE’s goal to achieve Net Zero target ahead of the 2050 deadline
Al Khoory Automobiles, a leading UAE-based distributor of Subaru, Yutong and King Long vehicles, announces its strong commitment and support to the UAE Government’s Green Energy Vision and its strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre.
As part of the partnership, Al Khoory Automobiles is delivering Yutong green buses to the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) that aims to deploy the new energy vehicles under its Green Bus Assessment (GBA) programme launched earlier this year. This is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce carbon emission and help the UAE achieve its Net Zero target by 2050.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nearly 66,000 electric buses and 60,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks were sold worldwide in 2022, representing about 4.5 percent of all bus sales and 1.2 percent of truck sales worldwide. China continues to dominate production and sales of electric (and fuel cell) trucks and buses. In 2022, more than 54,000 electric buses and 52,000 electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks were sold in China, representing 18 percent and 4 percent of total sales in China and about 80 percent and 85 percent of global sales, respectively.
Yutong, a major supplier of buses and coaches that specialises in electric and hydrogen-fueled buses, sold 30,198 coaches in 2022, including 12,414 green energy buses. It has so far sold 170,000 new energy buses and has become one of the largest global suppliers of electric buses. Established in China in 1993, Yutong Bus Co. is a pioneer in green buses and currently has 15 percent of the global and 28 percent of the Chinese market share. It is the largest bus manufacturer in China.
Al Khoory Automobiles, a member of the Al Khoory Group of Companies has been the exclusive distributors of Yutong buses in the UAE for the last 20 years and had earlier received an Outstanding Performance Award from Yutong for 2022.
Al Khoory Automobiles has five decades of vast experience in the automotive industry and are committed to provide impeccable after-sales service to all their customers. Offering customised transportation options, Al Khoory Automobiles aims to position itself as an ideal mobility solution provider in the UAE.
Mr. Hamed MT Khoory, Director of Al Khoory Group, says, “Our partnership with Abu Dhabi ITC reflects our strong commitment to the UAE’s Green Energy Vision and Sustainability and we are extremely happy to be part of the ITC’s Green Bus Assessment (GBA) programme in this Year of Sustainability.
“This partnership and the delivery of the electric buses takes place at a time when the UAE hosts more than 150 countries at the COP28 Summit. Our partnership with ITC and other government and private entities is aimed at reducing carbon emission and help the UAE to achieve its Net Zero target ahead of 2050 – before many other countries – thanks to the pro-active measures undertaken by the authorities.”
“Yutong is an ideal choice for this partnership and we are happy to be able to support this vision.”
Mr. Tharun Divakaran, Senior Manager- Public Transport Sector, Yutong Middle East stated, “Yutong is proud to launch their electric buses in the UAE, in line with the country’s zero-emission plan and long-term vision. The new Yutong electric buses have several cutting-edge technologies for the improvement of local environment and air quality. They are also equipped with an impressive drive system and the most advanced safety and noise reduction technology that will bring a more comfortable and greener travel experience in the UAE.”
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi had earlier unveiled its Green Buses Capacity Building Programme that were carried out in partnership with leading hydrogen-fueled and electric bus experts from South Korea and China.
The programme also provides the opportunity to exchange knowledge with international technical experts. It will qualify UAE employees to lead the planning and operations procedures of hydrogen-fueled and electric buses and their infrastructure. It intends to advance the development and localization of innovative solutions dedicated to enhancing the public transport system in Abu Dhabi.
Silk Way West Airlines, the leading cargo airline in the Caspian and Central Asian region, announces the expansion of its fleet with the addition of two Boeing 777 freighters. This investment comes in response to the increasing demand for air cargo services, and underscores the airline’s commitment to providing efficient and reliable transportation solutions around the world.
These twin-engine aircraft feature the latest innovations in technology and fuel efficiency, enhancing Silk Way West Airlines’ capacity to deliver cargo with speed and reliability. The expanded fleet represents a substantial increase in cargo capacity, allowing the carrier to meet the growing needs of its customers across various industries, including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. With the new additions, the airline further strengthens its position as one of leading global air cargo carrier, providing comprehensive coverage and efficient connections between key air cargo markets.
This expansion also reflects Silk Way West Airlines’ commitment to minimizing its environmental footprint. The new aircraft are equipped with advanced eco-friendly technologies, reducing carbon emissions and aligning with ongoing efforts to contribute to a greener aviation industry.
Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, commented: “We continue to reimagine the air cargo experience by adding these environmentally friendly aircraft to our fleet. This expansion is a pivotal step in ongoing efforts to provide world-class cargo services, reflecting our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of customers while maintaining a focus on sustainability and efficiency.”
Cathay Cargo, a global leader in the air cargo industry, hosted the “Wings of Excellence” – United Arab Emirates (UAE) Celebrations, on 7 November 2023, at the Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai. The event not only celebrated the company’s skilled employees who through their expertise deliver on Cathay Cargo’s inspiring tagline, “We Know How”; but more importantly, also acknowledged the invaluable trust and the unwavering support from Cathay Cargo’s key shippers, freight forwarders and ground handlers (GHA’s), from the UAE.
This marked the first Wings of Excellence event in the UAE since the onset of the pandemic. Cathay Regional Head of Cargo, South Asia, Middle East and Africa Rajesh Menon was in attendance to extend his appreciation to Cathay Cargo’s essential stakeholders.
Additionally, the event witnessed the launch of Cathay Cargo’s new brand campaign “We Know How” that focuses on the innovation, people, solutions and service – as well as customer-centricity – that are central to Cathay Cargo.
Speaking at the event, Rajesh Menon said: “It’s truly an honour to connect with our partners from the United Arab Emirates whose unwavering enthusiasm and trust have enriched our working relationship. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones, propelling us to become the preferred cargo solutions partner for renowned global brands in Dubai. Looking ahead, I am excited about the possibilities we can collaboratively explore together in 2024. As we navigate the path to the new normal, we must remember that our shared commitment to upholding our brand promise will steer us through the next phase of growth.
“We presently operate five cargo freighters weekly from Dubai World Central (DWC); in addition to utilising the existing daily cargo belly capacity of passenger flights departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB). The ‘Wings of Excellence’ celebrates and acknowledges our exceptional partners who have been instrumental in our achievements. With the steady movement of e-commerce, courier, valuables, sea-air cargo, oil and gas, aircraft engines, cars, and exhibition shipments, we remain bullish on the UAE market and anticipate the continued support of our stakeholders in driving the forthcoming phase of growth.”
PepsiCo, SABIC and partners launch the Mega Green Accelerator, powered by AstroLabs, to bolster the climate solutions startup ecosystem across the region
The Mega Green Accelerator will be open to startups in the MENA region focusing on circular economy solutions, clean energy transition and climate mitigation technologies, including water and agriculture.
The Accelerator is a collaboration between PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs and other strategic partners.
On the heels of the first week of COP28, PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs and their strategic partners have announced the launch of the Mega Green Accelerator, a new initiative to nurture the next generation of innovators in the region as they develop solutions to both regional and global sustainability challenges.
The Middle East is warming almost two times faster than the global average, yet the support and investment for the sustainability innovation ecosystem in the region does not match this urgency. Since 2010, less than 50 new climate technology startups have been founded in the MENA region, compared to nearly 5,000 in Europe and the US.[1] The Mega Green Accelerator aims to reduce this gap, foster regional collaboration and cultivate a network of MENA-based innovators addressing the most pressing sustainability challenges in the region.
The priority focus areas for the first round of the Accelerator program include circular economy, clean energy transitions, water and agriculture, some of the most pressing issues for the Middle East. In addition to seed funding and mentorship, the partners will provide participating entrepreneurs access to some of the most prominent business leaders in the region.
“Innovators in the MENA region have incredible potential for scaling and are making important strides to develop homegrown solutions to address the unique challenges the region is facing. COP28 is already putting a spotlight on climate innovations coming out of the UAE and the region at large, and PepsiCo is excited to support the next generation of climate leaders through the Mega Green Accelerator. By bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and the networks and resources they need, we are committed to supporting breakthrough start-ups as they scale sustainability solutions, grow their businesses and form critical connections,” said Eugene Willemsen, CEO of PepsiCo, Africa, Middle East, South Asia.
In addition to PepsiCo, SABIC and AstroLabs, the Accelerator will leverage its strategic partners’ unique capabilities and expertise to best support participating entrepreneurs. Investment partners Dubai Future District Fund, Venture Souq and Shurooq Partners will provide platforms for investment opportunities, mentorship in raising capital, and networking opportunities. They will also inform startup criteria and participate in the selection process to maximize investment success.
Ecosystem partners London Business School Entrepreneurship Club, Berytech, American University of Cairo Venture Lab, the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection will source applicants through their networks, amplify Accelerator information and communicate progress through their channels. Schneider Electric will support the Accelerator as a prize partner, participating in the final selection of participants.
“SABIC is proud to join with PepsiCo and other fellow partners to provide our business expertise, mentorship, resources and platform to help the brightest minds in the region reach their full potential through the Mega Green Accelerator. We believe that such cross-sector partnerships are crucial in effectively tackling complex, critical issues such as climate change. In supporting this initiative, we are not just bettering local economies, but people and planet at the same time,” said Dr.Bob Maughon, SABIC Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer
“Our partnership with PepsiCo and SABIC comes at an exciting time – it’s a strategic step in accelerating innovation within the GCC, with a strong focus on sustainability. With the influx of international sustainable and climate-conscious companies, the region is rising as a global testbed for innovation – we will double down on creating an environment where these businesses can scale into the local markets. Our aim is to ensure the GCC not only responds to the current demand for green solutions but also pioneers the advancement of sustainable business practices on a global scale,’’ saidRoland Daher, CEO, AstroLabs
The priority focus areas of the Mega Green Accelerator align with PepsiCo’s transformation strategy, pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) and the other partners’ sustainability agendas, while further driving collaboration with businesses across the region to catalyze positive impact.
Truck embodies state-of-the-art combination of sustainability and road safety features
RoadSafetyUAE’s Corporate Social Responsibility Partner Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA alongside its authorized General Distributor, Emirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles, has proudly announced the successful handover of the first Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 Tractor Head to DHL Global Forwarding.
The momentous occasion took place at the esteemed Mercedes-Benz Training Centre in Dubai, and it was attended by high-ranking executives from RoadSafetyUAE, DHL Global Forwarding, DCV MENA, and EMC CV, according to a corporate press communique.
The handover ceremony marks a significant milestone in sustainable transportation, showcasing Daimler Truck’s commitment to fostering a greener future for the commercial vehicle industry.
Paradigm shift
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 Tractor Head represents a paradigm shift towards electrification and zero-emission mobility. This state-of-the-art electric vehicle offers a host of cutting-edge features that redefine efficiency, safety, and environmental consciousness.
The eActros 300 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System, the fifth-generation Active Brake Assist with pedestrian detection, Stability Control Assist (ESP) and the Lane Keeping Assist.
The driver’s workspace is fitted with the state of the art and interactive Multimedia Cockpit, as well as the second-generation MirrorCam system, which is installed in the eActros in the place of conventional mirrors. These features prioritize the well-being of both the driver and surrounding road users.
Transition to electric mobility
Over the next decade, this transition to electric mobility is projected to yield remarkable results in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction. Compared to conventional diesel Actros, the eActros 300 is expected to save approximately 240 tons of CO2 over a span of ten years, making a significant contribution to combating climate change and improving air quality.
Multiplying this number with the estimated 250,000 trucks on UAE’s roads, the hypothetical savings represent at staggering 60 million tons of CO2 over 10 years!
“This vehicle ticks all the boxes in terms of state-of-the art sustainability and road safety features. It is amazing to witness this launch in the spirit of COP28, which is a strong proof point of the mutual objective of achieving net zero carbon emissions targets,” commented Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE
Flextock grew its net revenues 10x and doubled its gross profit margin in KSA and Egypt
KSA is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets; on pace to reach a 23.8 billion value in 2028
Flextock, a leading e-commerce enabler in the Middle East, is solidifying its presence in the region. Co-founded by CEO, Mohamed Mossaad and COO, Enas Siam, the start-up launched in January 2021 and witnessed remarkable results shortly after expanding into Saudi Arabia. This enabled the tech-centric company to 10x its Year-over-Year (YoY) net revenues last year while also more than doubling its gross profit margin by leveraging technology and scale.
KSA is one of the world’s 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets. Witnessing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.01%, it is projected to grow from a market size of $11.83 billion in 2023 to $23.80 billion by 2028. The strength of this market, and its promising potential moving forward, has accelerated Flextock’s growth. In one year, the company has successfully acquired hundreds of merchants and currently dispatches thousands of orders daily.
A play on words combining flexibility and stock, Flextock started by addressing inefficiencies within warehouses before evolving to be a complete enabler for e-commerce merchant growth. The company leverages the power of technology to provide a three-in-one service which entails solutions related to logistics, sales, and fintech. While several companies offer one or two of these services, Flextock is a market first as it provides all three of these solutions to propel merchants into a realm of unparalleled empowerment.
From a logistics standpoint, Flextock can be easily integrated into existing stores to efficiently manage the entire order fulfilment cycle, process inbound inventory, and provide the most effective last-mile experience; the company prioritizes accuracy and cost-effectiveness in storing inventory, ensuring clients can effortlessly scale their operations and track orders at the simple tap of a button. Regarding sales growth, Flextock offers merchants access to various channels to effectively grow while reducing reliance on traditional social media advertising.
Mohamed Mossaad commented: “Our comprehensive approach underscores a commitment to providing efficient and reliable services for seamless e-commerce operations while enabling all parties to profit. In a geographic area grappling with challenges in these operational landscapes, our overarching goal was to offer a targeted solution that would comprehensively support the region’s ongoing shift from traditional retail to e-commerce; we have achieved this vision by recognizing a regional lag, jumping on the opportunity to propel this transition, and prioritizing the success of businesses and merchants before our own. Our mission is to be a solution-oriented platform, prioritizing our merchants above all else – because we believe that as we help merchants grow their sales, our business will also flourish, and the industry as a whole will benefit. It’s a win-win-win situation that is dependent on merchants thriving and we are proudly leading the charge.”
Flextock is a hub for a diverse range of users, accommodating micro-brands and large-scale retailers. The company’s commitment to inclusivity is evident in the customization of its services and products to meet the needs of e-commerce merchants. The platform strategically spans more than 10 industries with an emphasized focus on cosmetics, home accessories, fashion, and electronics. Amidst its ongoing regional expansion, Flextock’s cutting-edge technology and strong presence in KSA and Egypt solidify its position as a solution-oriented leader in the dynamic e-commerce landscape across the region.
Farnek intern develops solar-powered buggy for COP28 visitors to Expo City Dubai
Mohamed Zayan, an intern at smart and green total facilities management company Farnek, has unveiled an innovative project that involved retrofitting a buggy, with photovoltaic panels that harness solar energy, to charge the buggy’s battery.
This solar-powered buggy will be operated in Expo City Dubai, showcasing Farnek’s commitment and alignment with Expo City Dubai’s sustainability goals, as well as COP28 ‘energy transition’ objectives.
According to Zayan, who is currently studying for his Master’s in Energy & Sustainable development from a UK-based De Montfort University in Dubai, “Quite apart from the energy savings, the project will encourage other students to embrace projects related to renewable energy.”
Farnek has estimated that the solar panels will produce around 735 kWh/year which helps to offset approximately 18% of the energy required to charge the buggy’s batteries at charging stations and should reduce around 330kg CO2e carbon emissions per annum.
Stress analysis of the structure was carried out using SAP2000 software to check the integrity of the buggy’s roof and supporting struts, considering design parameters such as speed as well as static and dynamic loads. PV Panels are not directly fixed to the buggy structure but rather are integrated into a dedicated, custom-made, light-weight frame to improve strength without adding any noteworthy load to the buggy.
Safety has been considered in the design, through a solar charge controller, integrated into the solar circuitry, which prevents any over or undercharging of the battery.
The electrical and structural design of this project is flexible enough to add more PV modules in the future to increase solar production and hence offset even more fossil-based energy.
Hyderabad welcomes the world’s first FedEx Advanced Capability Community
Marking a significant investment of US$ 100mn in Hyderabad’s economic landscape, FedEx Express inaugurated its first Advanced Capability Community (ACC) in Hyderabad today.
At the forefront of this milestone is FedEx’s commitment to leverage exceptional talent in India to support digital transformation and innovation.
The launch ceremony witnessed the presence of FedEx Corporation President and CEO, Raj Subramaniam, and Richard Smith, FedEx Express President and CEO of Airline and International.
The FedEx ACC is envisioned as a hub for technological and digital innovation, aligned with the Telangana government’s strategic emphasis on nurturing a thriving pool of tech talent. In addition to boosting employment opportunities, it will also contribute to the development of new capabilities and meeting the technological requirements of FedEx operations worldwide.
Driving excellence
“This investment in talent and innovation is part of our broader plan to drive excellence and deliver unparalleled smart logistics solutions worldwide. By leveraging an exceptional talent pool, we are accelerating digital transformation and delivering innovative solutions to our customers,” remarked Subramaniam.
The first FedEx ACC becomes a pivotal step in the company’s global strategy, initiating a network of such communities worldwide. Furthermore, it will fuel the company’s growth and expansion and bring added value to the global supply chain ecosystem, a press communique concluded.
Abu Dhabi Maritime, part of AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), in cooperation with the Integrated Transport Centre – Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi (DMT) has launched the AD Maritime Safety Campaign in Al Dhafra Region, specifically targeting school children on Delma Island.
This effort was organised in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Police General Command, Delma Police Station, the Civil Defense Authority, the National Guard Command, Al Dhafra City Municipality, the Integrated Transport Center, and the Emirates Foundation for School Education, and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Al Dhafra Hospitals).
The campaign engaged approximately 132 students from Delma Island’s schools, ranging from sixth to eighth grades. Activities primarily took place on board the “Al Dhafra Ferry”, where the Civil Defense Authority and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Al Dhafra Hospitals) provided an interactive session on maritime safety procedures and the use of various rescue equipment. The students had the opportunity to explore the ferry’s wheelhouse and learn about its navigational tools.
Captain Saif Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Maritime said: “We are grateful for the support offered by Al Dhafra Region local authorities, and their commitment to raising awareness about health and safety procedures. This initiative is aligned with Abu Dhabi Maritime’s social responsibility to educate and spread awareness among the local community about the necessity of adhering to maritime safety guidelines and instructions. We look forward to launching more campaigns that enhance the safety of our local communities.”
This campaign is part of a series of safety campaigns launched by Abu Dhabi Maritime throughout the year, focussing on numerous aspects, including heat prevention, safety on the water, and jet ski user safety.
Hellmann helps and Hull Foundation donate 100,000 euros for orphans in Ukraine
To mark the anniversary of “375 Years of Peace in Westphalia”, in mid-2023 the non-profit associations Hellmann helps and the Patsy & Michael Hull Foundation launched a large-scale fundraising campaign with the “Swim for Peace” event on the Hellmann site in Osnabrück. The SWIM FOR PEACE – FUTURE FOR CHILDREN project, which was initiated as part of the event, raised a total of 100,000 euros, which will now be donated to two orphanages in western Ukraine.
According to SOS Children’s Villages, almost 100,000 children and young people are currently growing up in Ukrainian orphanages, which are increasingly reaching the limits of their capacity due to the ongoing war. The children, who are often traumatized, have usually not only lost their homes, but also their parents and relatives. To help improve their situation, the two associations are using the donations collected to support two needy orphanages in Ukraine: the Bukiv Internatur children’s home and the St. Nicholas House of Mercy in Lviv. The donations will be used to improve the infrastructure in the orphanages and to expand the range of psychological care and learning support.
“One of our core corporate values is ’Caring‘. This means we want to provide support where it is needed. Children are particularly close to our hearts, especially as they are among those who suffer the most from war. We are therefore delighted to be able to make at least a small contribution to improving the situation in the orphanages in Bukiv and Lviv with the funds raised,” said Anna Halip, board member at Hellmann helps.
“With the Patsy & Michael Hull Foundation and Hellmann helps, two charitable organizations have dedicated themselves to a common cause, and we are very happy that our project SWIM FOR PEACE – FUTURE FOR CHILDREN was so successful. Thanks to the generous support of Hellmann helps, we were even able to round up the donations collected during the event so that we raised an impressive sum,” added Jenny Krogull-Grüter, Managing Director of the Patsy & Michael Hull Foundation.
Airlines signed an MoU to offer a comprehensive range of benefits for guests travelling between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and points beyond
Broader strategic benefits also expected along the value chain include aviation related services, cargo and digital development
First major agreement for Riyadh Air with an airline outside Saudi Arabia and was signed on the sidelines of ICAN 2023 in Riyadh
Turkish Airlines (TK) and Riyadh Air (RX) have agreed a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding to offer a comprehensive range of benefits for guests traveling between the Kingdom, Türkiye and points beyond their Riyadh and Istanbul hubs, as well as lay the ground for deeper future collaborations. Guest of both airlines will be able to take full advantage of each carrier’s worldwide network through a comprehensive interline and codeshare agreement that will allow customers to seamlessly connect between and combine sectors operated by either Riyadh Air or Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Technology Officer Levent Konukcu and Riyadh Air CEO, Tony Douglas, signed the agreement at a ceremony on the sidelines of the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2023) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The intention of both carriers is that benefits will be made available to guests as soon as possible after Riyadh Air launches operations in mid-2025 and is subject to regulatory approvals by relevant authorities.
The close cooperation will allow members of each carrier’s loyalty program to earn points or credits when traveling on codeshare services operated by the other, with both airlines also exploring opportunities to develop a broader loyalty agreement covering both global networks. In addition to offering a comprehensive range of guest benefits, the MoU also commits Riyadh Air and Turkish Airlines to work together to explore and implement broader synergies and efficiencies across the value chain, touching areas such as aviation related services, cargo and digital development.
Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Technology Officer, Levent Konukcu stated: “We are happy to start our relationship with Riyadh Air, a promising new player in the aviation industry. This Memorandum of Understanding is more than a collaboration; it’s a bridge between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, further strengthening our ties. It’s also an opportunity to expand our reach and offer our guests more choices and convenience. We believe this partnership will not only benefit our customers but also contribute significantly to the tourism and business sectors of both countries.”
Douglas added, “Bilateral agreements with established network airlines are extremely important to Riyadh Air and there are significant benefits to this partnership, our passengers can enjoy greater connectivity to the world and deeper access to Türkiye, while an increased flow in volumes of tourism, religious and business travel into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is anticipated. Turkish Airlines is a world class aviation brand, and we are proud that they wish to play a part in the Riyadh Air story.”
The establishment of Riyadh Air is in line with PIF’s mandate to unlock the capabilities of key sectors locally to drive the diversification of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The airline will also support the Saudi Aviation Strategy’s broader vision, and enable the National Tourism Strategy, unlocking Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural attractions to international tourists and creating new jobs.
All-in-one dashboard displays all relevant warehouse logistics data
Logistics providers need to process large quantities of data every day to control their material flow efficiently. The German Fressnapf Group supplies more than 1,800 branches and regional warehouses in eleven European countries from its central warehouse in Krefeld. This requires efficient, forward-looking warehouse management. That’s why Europe’s market leader in pet supplies places its trust in both the LFS warehouse management system and the Timesquare supply chain control tower by EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group). The all-in-one dashboard serves as a cockpit for process monitoring, displays all relevant figures and thus helps to ensure greater flexibility during everyday logistics operations. The leading pet supplies provider was the first Timesquare client to introduce the dashboard in its automatic small parts warehouse at its Krefeld central warehouse back in 2018. In the future, user-friendly dashboards will be used in the entire central warehouse and then also gradually introduced in the regional warehouses.
In 2015, Fressnapf decided to replace its manual small parts warehouse with an automatic one with three aisles and storage spaces for around 80,000 containers. This was due to an increase in customer demand for toys, pet food, dog clothing, care products and other pet accessories. A forwarding system handles picking, carrying the boxes to different picking stations automatically once an order has been placed. In addition to the currently eighteen pick-by-light stations, there are also two pick-to-tote stations. This automatic small parts warehouse is currently being expanded.
Timesquare reduces costs and minimises risks
As its order volumes increased, Fressnapf was finding it increasing more time-consuming to obtain maximum transparency for material flows. “We had to compile the current figures from different menus by hand and analyse them individually. That not only took considerable time; it was also prone to errors,” states Larissa Strippel, Project Manager for Logistics Systems at Fressnapf. Timesquare provides an overview of all relevant key figures. The central dashboard delivers forecasts, status reports, and, importantly, reliable data on the individual warehouse processes in real time. In this way, the control centre receives a continually updated overview and can intervene in picking faster if necessary. “Timesquare enables us to monitor our processes and KPIs in logistics in real time. As a result, we receive active support for everyday logistics operations, create transparency and save time and costs considerably,” explains Strippel. This big data solution enables Fressnapf to reduce costs, minimise risks and increase productivity based on targeted analyses. Timesquare provides information on the order status and commissioning automatically and presents it in a transparent format.
Picking aisles in small parts warehouse feature dashboards
The retail chain started with a dashboard to control material flows in its small parts warehouse control centre back in 2018. The picking aisles in the central warehouse are now also equipped with a control tower. As a result, Fressnapf increases employee autonomy and efficacy significantly since employees can now immediately see which picking point needs them the most. This eliminates unnecessary walking distances and detours. As the dashboard is hosted online, new users and other departments can be easily added at any time.
Timesquare encompasses everything from incoming goods and monitoring various logistics areas through to transport systems, loading gates and shipment. The clearly organised dashboards can be custom-configured to meet the users’ specific needs. Fressnapf has been using the EPG LFS warehouse management system for more than ten years now. It also benefits from the LYDIA Voice pick-by-voice solution, the WCS warehouse control system, the TMS transportation management system, and the WFM workforce management system, which was developed in a joint project between EPG and Fressnapf. The different software solutions can be easily connected to Timesquare thanks to the close integration between the control tower and the EPG ONE suite. The control tower has been further developed in close cooperation with Fressnapf on a continuous basis. This is also why warehouse management has progressed from a static solution to a dynamic one.
Third-party software in new shuttle warehouse can also be integrated
The pet supplies specialist is currently expanding its small parts warehouse. Shipping is also being upgraded to include an efficient shuttle warehouse system. Controlled by a third-party software, the new shuttle warehouse is where the completed shipment boxes are buffered, sequenced and then automatically palletised. This warehouse will also be connected to Timesquare. “At the moment, we are still working with individual shipment conveyors. Our employees have to lift the boxes physically, place them on their intended pallets and then secure the shipment by hand. We’ll make this work step easier by automating the shipment area significantly, thus alleviating our employees. Timesquare will allow them to organise their work themselves and keep track of their successes,” affirms Strippel. In a next step, Fressnapf will be incorporating incoming goods, technical incident handling and the large parts warehouse. A third-party material flow computer is also being integrated into the new shuttle warehouse.
Customised facility built specially for chemical storage and distribution
GWC, Qatar’s premier logistics and supply chain solutions provider, recently announced the inauguration of its latest logistics centres built specially for chemical storage and distribution centre located at Logistics Village Qatar in the Doha Industrial Area.
The 16,000sqm facility, which has received certifications from Qatar Civil Defence Department (QCDD), the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change, will cater for a host of clients in the manufacturing, contracting, automotive, and research and development industries, among others, according to a corporate press communique.
Gas storage
The facility features both chemical and air-conditioned pallet storage, suitable for storing gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidising agents, toxic substances, corrosive substances, and dangerous goods.
“GWC is proud to unveil this new facility, which will cater for a range of clients across different industries in Qatar. The strategically located warehouse and distribution centre will boost numerous businesses, including a host of micro, small, medium, and large enterprises,” explained Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC. “This is yet another milestone in the GWC journey as we consolidate our position as the leading logistics and supply chain solutions business in Qatar,” he continued.
Safety features
A host of health and safety features have been implemented at the warehouse, including ATEX-certified explosion-proof electrical and mechanical fittings. The temperature at the warehouse will be maintained at 20°C by a water-cooled air conditioning system.
Fire mitigation measures include early suppression fast response roof sprinklers, beam/flame detectors, and CCTV surveillance. The warehouse also boasts a range of sustainability features, including daylight provision and motion-sensor LED lighting.
Stringent procedures
GWC has implemented stringent measures for chemical storage at the facility which comply with the UN Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling Chemicals. There are separate storage areas for different classes of chemicals to ensure only compatible products are stored in proximity. The storage layout adheres to guidelines mandated by QCDD.
Additionally, the HAZMAT (Hazardous Material) warehouse is equipped with a spill containment pit to contain any leaks and prevent environmental contamination. All material handling equipment and racking systems are custom designed to suit the specific conditions required by a chemical storage facility.
All 200 newly acquired vehicles are leased for the prestigious COP 28 event
Autostrad, a progressive car rental company in the UAE, has taken a pioneering step toward sustainable mobility by incorporating 200 ‘Rabdan One’ electric cars from NWTN into its fleet, thus becoming the largest electric vehicle fleet provider in the UAE.
With an investment of AED 50mn in this initiative and ambitious plan for expanding its range of energy-efficient cars, Autostrad reaffirms its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Sustainable transportation solutions
All 200 newly acquired vehicles are leased for the prestigious COP 28 event, demonstrating their dedication to supporting major international events with sustainable transportation solutions.
“The acquisition of the Rabdan electric fleet aligns with our strategic vision for sustainable mobility. Additionally, we are pleased that our affiliate company, One Mobility Group will be responsible for managing after-sales service for Rabdan vehicles in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain & Sharjah,” explained Ahmed Abood Al Yafei, Group CEO, Autostrad.
“We are committed to the UAE’s vision of achieving sustainable mobility as we aim to have 25% of our fleet as energy-efficient by 2030, contributing significantly to our green future,” noted Karunesh Arya, General Manager, Autostrad.
Progressive company
Based in Abu Dhabi, Autostrad is a progressive car rental company in the UAE, boasting a continually expanding fleet and an array of services tailored for individuals and corporations.
Their offerings, including flexible kilometer options, stringent safety protocols, and convenient Home Delivery Service, highlight their commitment to customer satisfaction, a press communique concluded.
The country’s efforts in elevating the national maritime sector have been instrumental in securing the win
The UAE has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the Category B membership for the fourth term with the highest number of votes, following comprehensive efforts and an intensive election campaign leading up to the elections.
Through its landmark initiatives, the country continues playing an active role in strengthening the national maritime sector, while contributing to the growth of the global maritime and logistics industry.
The results of the election were announced earlier yesterday during the 33rd session of the IMO Assembly in London, which concluded on 7th of December 2023.
“The UAE has reaffirmed its leading status as a vital maritime centre in the world with this achievement. Our re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the fourth consecutive term has further strengthened our active role in developing the sector and enhancing maritime safety standards, as well as protecting the marine environment globally,” observed HE Eng. Suhail Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
Reaffirming its leadership status
“All our ports are around-the-clock operated to facilitate maritime trade and keep the supply chains functioning. It is truly an honour to be re-elected to the Council owing to the hard work that we and our industry partners in the country have put in,” commented HE Hassan Mohamed Juma Al-Mansoori, Undersecretary for the Infrastructure and Transport Sector at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
All-round development
“With this win, the UAE has demonstrated its active role in strengthening the maritime sector through a series of initiatives, as a result of which we have received international acclaim,” remarked HE Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
“Our commitment to embracing these challenges is evident in the recent developments such as the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code and the mandatory adoption of electronic data exchange within the maritime single window,” noted HE Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the IMO.
The two entities to enhance ports and maritime collaboration
AD Ports Group and the Vietnam Maritime Administration—VINAMARINE, a government authority managed by the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam, recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would pave the way for a dynamic partnership focused on bolstering commercial opportunities across various sectors, including ports, logistics, digital solutions, economic cities, free zones, maritime and shipping.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam and HE Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, by Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group, and Hoang Hong Giang, Deputy Administrator, Vietnam Maritime Administration.
Dry ports
Under the terms of the agreement, both entities would focus on key areas of cooperation, including the development and management of dry ports and inland container depots in addition to advanced logistics operations and digital solutions to enhance global maritime and shipping sectors.
A joint working group would be established to oversee the implementation of the project, focusing on the development of initiatives, investments, and opportunities in the agreed areas of cooperation, according to a press communique.
“Our combined efforts would not only enhance the maritime and logistics sectors in both countries but also create avenues for sustainable growth and development in line with both nations’ economic diversification goals. We are committed to sharing our expertise and resources to unlock new opportunities, fostering a mutual path of prosperity,” noted Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, Regional CEO, AD Ports Group.
DP World joins First Movers Coalition to decarbonise shipping
At least 5% of DP World’s short-sea shipping to be powered by zero-emission fuels by 2030
DP World has joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), setting a target of 5% of its 5% of its marine power will come from hybrid engines and zero-emission fuels by 2030, making clear its commitment to decarbonisation through the adoption of emerging technologies to accelerate a green and inclusive transition to a net zero future.
Led by the World Economic Forum and the US Government, the FMC is dedicated to addressing the decarbonisation challenges of seven hard-to-abate sectors, aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel and trucking, which collectively contribute to 30% of global emissions.
Zero emission fuels
DP World has committed that by 2030, at least 5% of its short-sea shipping will be powered by zero-emission fuels through the introduction of two hybrid-electric and five methanol-enabled vessels.
DP World expects its total demand for clean methanol to power the five vessels will be around 38,000 tonnes per year by 2030. Unifeeder Group, another part of DP World Marine Services, has already signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two new methanol-capable container feeder vessels, which will be deployed in Europe.
Clear signal
“Joining the First Movers Coalition is a clear signal of our intent to tackle the climate impact of our operations while maintaining the efficient flow of global trade,” remarked Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO.
“Decarbonisation is a core focus for DP World, and as part of the First Movers Coalition, we’re able to work collectively with like-minded organisations to actively drive positive change,” commented Jesper Kristensen, Group Chief Operating Officer, Marine Services, DP World.
The FMC currently has more than 90 members, whose commitments will represent an annual demand of $15 billion for emerging climate technologies and 29mn tonnes of CO2 equivalent in annual emissions reductions by 2030.
DATE AI Show, co-located with DATE FinTech Show, scheduled for December 11th and 12th, 2023 in Riyadh bringing leading AI experts, innovators, investors, policy makers and entrepreneurs to showcase the Kingdom’s role in the global AI-led digital transformation.
{insert date and time}: Saudi Arabia is solidifying its role as the vanguard of the MENA region’s digital economic transformation. Recent years have witnessed the Kingdom invest heavily in its technology sector, aligned with the objectives of its Vision 2030 agenda, with a special focus on emerging technologies, such as AI. According to a PwC report, Saudi Arabia’s AI landscape is forecasted to become a major contributor to the national GDP, with an expected growth rate reaching 12.4 per cent (amounting to US$ 135.2 billion) by 2030.
The DATE AI Show, co-located with the DATE FinTech Show, taking place at the JW Marriott Burj Rafal Tower, serves as a platform to shape the Kingdom’s digital transformation. The collective efforts of the participating innovators, regulators, investors, media and influencers are dedicated to paving the way for the kingdom’s tech-driven future, highlighting futuristic innovations, and nurturing an innovative ecosystem.
To further establish the AI space as a major pillar in the national economy, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is leading the charge with a portfolio of strategic initiatives such as Artificial Intelligence Hour, DEEM, Estishraf, Tawakklanan, Nafatha, SDAIA Academy and more. This effort underscores KSA’s strong commitment to AI and data-driven solutions across various sectors, including government services, healthcare, social responsibility, and more.
With the ever-evolving global digital landscape, this unique platform offers an opportunity for industry stakeholders to gain valuable insights about the latest trends and challenges while steering the sector towards unparalleled growth through engaging panel discussions, keynote presentations and more.
Sharing his enthusiasm Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO, Trescon Global said,” In today’s tech-driven landscape, AI integration is not just an option but a survival necessity. With the MENA region’s well-defined digital landscape sets the stage for Saudi Arabia’s digital leadership. At the DATE AI Show in Riyadh, we delve into the transformative power of AI, shaping Saudi Arabia’s digital destiny.
Notable Speakers present at the event:
· Hesham Saad Al Ghamdi, Group Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Abdul Latif Jameel Co.
· Sivakumar Seshadri, Head of Digital, General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI)
· Dr. Ahmed Darwish Elsayed, Head of Digital Delivery, Bank Albilad
· Dr. Ahmed Althuhaibi, Chief of IT, Saudi Pro League
· Elvid Muslim, Director – Data & Analytics, ROSHN
· Dr. Jalal Alowibdi, Associate Professor of Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence, University of Jeddah
· Dr. Ray Richardson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Emirates NBD
· Thamer Shaker, CEO of MYSAN Management Consulting
The DATE AI Show is supported by: – Business Broadcast Partner: CNBC Arabia – Official Arabic Media Partner: ShayTech, Akhtar, powered by Al Arabiya – Official Media Partner: Albilad newspaper albiladdaily – Official Newspaper Partner: The Fintech Times – Gold Sponsor: Alnafitha IT – Silver Partners: Ksolves; Renderpub – Bronze Sponsor: Beinex; DRUID AI; FourNxt – Keynote Partner: GameIN – Exhibitors: The AI Studio, Aventior – Startup Exhibitors: Techmango, Red Buffer, Everest IMS, iLegal Solutions, AnalytixNow, Infohensive, CSP Solutions – Association Partner: hashtagweb3.org, MYSAN Management Consulting
Seize the opportunity to get involved with the DATE AI Show in Riyadh on 11th and 12th December 2023 at JW Marriott Burj Rafal Hotel in Riyadh. Join us to network, collaborate, and discover the cutting-edge innovations reshaping the global AI sector. To know more about the event, visit our website: Datewithtech.com/ksa/ai
The summit brought together industry’s leading minds for insightful discussions and presentations
Al Masaood Bergum, part of UAE’s Al Masaood Group and one of the UAE’s leading modular building system providers, joined global construction experts and highlight its commitment to sustainable and innovative modular building solutions at the recently concluded Construction Intel Summit KSA 2023.
The summit brought together industry’s leading minds for insightful discussions and presentations for a one-day live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Focusing on four key themes, Saudization and the transmission of knowledge, the multi-disciplinary engineering and delivery of giga-projects, the impact of AI and other disruptive technologies on the future of the built environment and the nuances of owning and operating a giga-project, the summit combined high-level panel discussion, keynote speeches and expert presentations.
Environmentally friendly solutions
“At Al Masaood Bergum, our dedication to delivering innovative and environmentally friendly solutions remains steadfast, contributing significantly to the Kingdom’s growth trajectory. I look forward to sharing our eco-conscious building systems and shed light on our offerings, to foster and create alliances in Saudi Arabia and beyond,” commented Jens Otterstedt, General Manager, Al Masaood Bergum.
A study by BCG (Boston Consulting Group) estimates, that the sourcing of building materials typically accounts for 10% to 30% of building emissions globally, while construction makes up around 5% creating an urgent need for sustainable construction practices in the region.
Hybrid Modular Building System
Al Masaood Bergum showcased the Hybrid Modular Building System, an innovative construction method using cold-formed steel, is swiftly gaining traction in the industry. This system streamlines the building process and results in stronger structures.
Euromonitor International’s Electric Vehicle Readiness Index for 2023 reveals the best prepared global markets
Norway, Switzerland and Sweden are top performers largely thanks to the countries’ high EV uptake
China and South Korea rise up the rankings in strong showing for key Asian markets
UK biggest year-on-year faller inside top 10 as surging cost of electricity starts to bite
Brazil, South Africa and India rank at the bottom due to the lack of EV infrastructure, weak purchasing power and maintenance differences between EV and ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles
Europe dominates the index with eight out of the top 10 countries
LONDON, UK – Market research company Euromonitor International has released its annual Electric Vehicle Readiness Index for 2023 indicating the best prepared global markets for the electric vehicle (EV) transition.
Norway, Switzerland and Sweden rank at the top of the index which is largely thanks to the countries’ EV market maturity and the overall buying power of consumers.
However, the EV transition remains a challenge for many emerging and developing economies including Brazil, South Africa and India.
All three countries ranked at the bottom of the 2023 index as limited government incentives, low incomes and the undersupply of public charging stations have discouraged businesses and consumers from making the transition. In 2022, new EV registrations in the three countries collectively averaged less than 1%.
Norway leads the way as Europe dominates the rankings
For the second year running, Norway was the best prepared EV market in 2023. In 2022, plug-in electric vehicles in Norway accounted for 89% of new passenger car registrations – the highest of any country and well ahead of other leading EV economies: Sweden (56% of new EV registration in 2022), Denmark (39%) and Finland (38%).
Norway also had the highest density of EVs, with 28.5 plug-ins per 1,000 population in 2022, making it the global leader for EV take-up per population.
Germany improved its position by seven places in the EV Readiness Index 2023, with its positive performance was boosted by a strong EV uptake. It received the 3rd highest score in the Market Maturity pillar as consumer demand for low-emission vehicles grew. In 2022, 32% of new passenger car registrations were electric (either Battery EVs or Plug-In Hybrid EVs) – a six percentage point improvement over the previous year.
The UK had the biggest drop in the top 10 list. The country slipped five places to 9th mainly due to the rising cost of electricity in the country. As the price of residential electricity in the UK in 2021-2022 grew by 49%, the ownership of EVs became increasingly more expensive.
Fransua Vytautas Razvadauskas, Insights Manager, Mobility at Euromonitor International, said: “Norway’s high position in the EV Readiness Index also reflects the encouraging performance of Western European economies, which accounted for eight of the top 10. High consumer affluence, government incentives and clear sustainability goals have helped the region dominate EV take-up. An example could be the EU which set clear targets to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles and accelerate the EV transition by 2035.”
China shoots up the rankings as EV investment surges
China reached seventh place in the 2023 EV Readiness Index, improving by seven places compared to 2022. This is largely because of the country’s strong investment in public charging infrastructure, which has encouraged the EV transition.
China remains the largest EV market globally and is forecast to account for 61% of the global sales in 2023. Overall, China’s EV sales are forecast to grow by 16% in 2023 to almost 8 million units. In 2022, China was home to 1.8 million public charging stations, accounting for approximately 65% of global supply.
Razvadauskas added: “Importantly, China has seen a swift rise in fast charging stations, providing charging power of more than 22kW, which has helped fuel greater consumer confidence in buying an EV. In 2022, 43% of all public charging stations were fast – up from 41% in 2021. In addition, it recorded the highest ratio of fast chargers per 100km of highway, reaching 534 in 2022.”
New EV registrations to hit 20% market share in 2023
New EV registrations are forecast to expand by 19% globally and reach 13 million units in 2023. Positive factors, including increased supply and availability of electric vehicles, government subsidies and improving charging infrastructure, are helping to sustain growth. However, in comparison to previous years, EV sales is slowing down. In 2021, the market saw 105% growth with 6,5 million new EV registrations, in 2022 the growth reached 68% expanding the market to 11 million units.
“Increased competition in the EV market and consequent price cuts are helping to attract more buyers, however, while growth in the EV market continues, it is slowing, as market maturity and EV saturation increases. In addition, worsening economic conditions, the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates are making it more difficult for consumers to purchase new vehicles,” concluded Razvadauskas.
Euromonitor’s EV Readiness Index, published for the second year, focuses on evaluating the most prepared markets to welcome EVs across 40 countries. The countries included account for approximately 90% of the total automotive market globally. The EV Readiness Index is measured across four pillars: Market Maturity, Infrastructure Maturity, Cost of Ownership and Consumer Spending Power.
Over USD20 billion MEA footwear and leather market on upswing with retail spending rise
Over 250 top footwear and leather producers from across the world to showcase over 10,000 product lines
The region’s largest footwear and leather products – DIFLEX 2023 – will debut during December 11-13 in the backdrop of the demand upswing for footwear and leather goods in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) estimated to be growing at a CAGR of over 7 per cent and poised to touch upwards of USD 20 billion by next year.
In a statement, Verifair, organisers of DIFLEX 2023 which will be hosted at Dubai Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City, said that over 250 top notch footwear, leather and leather accessories producers from across the world are participating at this one-of-its-kind event, showcasing over 10,000 product lines.
“Despite inflationary pressures and the macro-economic environment, consumer spending on footwear and leather products have maintained a growth momentum, with the key demand markets of the UAE and Saudi Arabia contributing a major share. In this context, DIFLEX 2023 offers a one-stop-shop for prospecting new business partnerships and sourcing products from multiple global markets under one roof,” said Jeen Joshua, Managing Director, Verifair.
Manufacturers and Producers at DIFLEX are from the leading footwear and leather producing hubs of Turkey, Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, China and the UAE. Turkey, India and Egypt will have official country pavilions at the show. India alone will have 60 top manufacturers and exporters at the show under the auspices of the Council for Leather Exports, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
A study by Mordor Intelligence has forecast that the MEA leather goods market will touch USD 21.23 billion by 2025. The growth is also fuelled significantly by the adoption of omnichannel retailing in the region, the study said, adding that leather manufacturers have also been focusing on innovation in design and use of exotic leather to cater to the demand from high-end and premium customers.
Rising consumer spends
Retail sector in the GCC has been on a buoyant revenue growth curve driven by inflation and increased consumer spending. According to an outlook by Statista, by 2026, the value of non-food retail sales in the GCC is forecast to increase to around USD 39 billion compared to 2021.
Retail growth is also being driven by the exponential adoption of e-commerce, increasing population with a dominant share of youth in the demography who are high spenders with awareness on new trends and designs.
“DIFLEX 2023 will be a dynamic platform to showcase new trends and premium products. It will offer a vantage point for industry professionals, manufacturers, retailers and consumers to explore an extensive array of products like never before. We anticipate huge interest for the show, with the event showcasing latest advancements in footwear design, leather goods, manufacturing processes, sustainable practices, and market trends,” added Jeen.
Move significantly de-risks its low-emission operations in this decade
The offtake agreement between AP Moller-Maersk and Chinese developer Goldwind, a global leader in clean energy, reaches into the next decade and marks the first large scale green methanol offtake agreement for the global shipping industry.
“This deal is a milestone for Maersk as it enables us to significantly reduce our emissions footprint in this decade and stay aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius trajectory as set out in the Paris Agreement, ensuring continued supply of low carbon shipping services to our customers in the second half of this decade”, noted Rabab Raafat Boulos, Chief Infrastructure Officer, AP Moller-Maersk.
Net-zero gas emissions
AP Moller-Maersk aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 across its business. The deal significantly de-risks the initial stages of Maersk’s net-zero journey and supports expectations for a competitive green methanol market towards 2030. The record-high volumes can annually propel more than half the methanol-enabled capacity Maersk currently has on order, a press communique said.
“Goldwind is committed to collaborating with companies involved in the green methanol industry, with the aim to make green methanol one of the most important and economically feasible clean maritime fuels in the future”, said Wu Gang, Chairman, Goldwind.
AP Moller-Maersk will take delivery of its first large ocean-going methanol-enabled vessel (16,000 TEU) in the first quarter of 2024 and is diligently working on sourcing solutions with a broad range of global partners for the entire vessel series being delivered in 2024-25.
Dronamics and Qatar Airways Cargo Sign World’s First Cargo Drone Interline Agreement
Dronamics, the world’s first cargo drone airline with a license to operate in Europe, and Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s largest international cargo carrier, announced today an interline agreement. The partnership marks the first interline agreement between an international airline and a cargo drone airline.
The interline agreement allows the extension of the delivery networks of both partners, significantly increasing their reach as well as providing access to areas previously hard to reach by traditional air freight. Through the agreement, Dronamics can offer cargo services from any of its droneports, initially in Greece, to the wider Qatar Airways Cargo network – including destinations such as Singapore, China, including Hong Kong, and the United States (JFK). Qatar Airways Cargo is able to access remote locations that Dronamics serves, such as the Greek islands, on the Dronamics cargo drone network.
Through this network expansion, Dronamics customers can make a single booking to transport goods from a Dronamics droneport to any destination that the interline joint network covers, and vice versa. The potential for the flow of goods, from pharma to food, from e-commerce, mail and parcels to spare parts, is significant, enabling rapid and reliable shipments to and from locations not sufficiently covered by air freight.
‘’We’re very excited to have the world’s largest air cargo carrier as our partner for the first-of-its-kind interline agreement with our category-defining cargo drone airline. While currently less than 1% of global trade moves by air, the vast global reach of Qatar Airways Cargo and their world-leading capacity and service give us the perfect platform to massively expand air cargo accessibility to countless more communities worldwide, enabling same-day delivery for everyone, everywhere,’’ said Svilen Rangelov, Co-Founder and CEO of Dronamics.
“As a part of our VISION 2027 5-year strategy, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of our industry by embracing new disruptive technology. It is also within our DNA to support young ambitious companies like Dronamics and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this exciting business. It is a significant milestone in the advancement of autonomous cargo drone transportation and we are proud to be the first international airline to offer this service.” said Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo.
Dronamics is expected to begin commercial operations in Greece early next year, focusing on establishing a same day service connecting Athens, the capital city, with the industrial north area of the country, as well as the islands in the south.
Earlier this year, Dronamics became the first cargo drone airline to obtain IATA & ICAO designator codes, granting it recognition on par with other international airlines, and the ability to issue air waybills to enable seamless bookings with its airline partners. This interline agreement is a crucial next step in Dronamics’ plan to establish a cargo drone airline network with worldwide reach.
With the aim of making road transport more sustainable, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is entering into a pioneering partnership with shipzero. The Germany-based company specializes in measuring and reducing CO2 emissions in global freight transport. The cooperation builds on a pilot project that has been running successfully since April of this year. As part of the co-operation, shipzero supports the entire data management process and determines the CO2 emissions for Hellmann’s global road business. In doing so, shipzero also includes primary data from external logistics partners in the calculation, thus ensuring that the CO2 measurements are not based on extrapolations and average values – as has been customary in the market to date – but on actual consumption data.
To determine precise emission values, data is exchanged between Hellmann and its transport partners via the shipzero platform, so that precise Scope 3 emissions are collected per customer, shipment and route section. These are then integrated into the calculation of the corporate carbon footprint, external audits and sustainability reports, thus supporting compliance with new regulatory requirements that will come into effect from 2024. The data-based processing and analysis of transport data enables Hellmann to identify specific decarbonization projects within the supply chain and implement them together with its partners.
“In today’s world, sustainability is a key issue and legal regulations also demand transparency in supply chains. Hellmann was one of the first major logistics service providers to take up this challenge and is using shipzero’s innovative technology to create precise, shipment-related CO2 emission calculations for road transport based on primary data. This enables us not only to respond to customer requirements and regulatory specifications, but also to optimize our supply chains and reduce CO2 emissions in road transport on the basis of the newly gained data transparency. The more primary data is available, the more precise the calculation will be. That is why we are currently in very close dialogue with our external transport service providers to integrate them into this pioneering project,” says Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“Our goal is to create in-depth transparency and decision-making capability for Hellmann regarding its decarbonization process – and to do so in accordance with reliable international standards. We are currently building a consistent database and infrastructure for this,” adds Tobias Bohnhoff, Managing Director of shipzero.
Company adds Karachi call to Maersk’s FI3 service rotation
AP Moller–Maersk welcomed the Maersk Karachi container vessel at the South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT) for the first time on the recently updated FI3 ocean service.
With the addition of Karachi to the rotation, Maersk brings direct coverage of the Far East markets to Pakistan’s importers and exporters with around 30% quicker transit times.
“Our commitment to Pakistan only gets stronger as we welcome our Maersk Karachi vessel in Karachi Port. Our ambition is to ensure that we curate solutions that enable our customers to participate in global trade in the most competitive manner,” asserted Hasan Faraz, Managing Director, Maersk Pakistan.
Advantageous
“SAPT is a high-tech, deep seaport that also has the advantage of being closer to the city, reducing landside movement, thus contributing to further cost-and time-savings for our customers,” he added.
Karachi Port’s proximity to the consumer market, fisheries and industrial hubs will help customers to more than half their transit times compared to some of the other major ports in Pakistan. This way, the transit times are quicker on both ocean and landside transportation, a press communique said.
Benefit importers
The inclusion of Karachi on the updated FI3 service will significantly benefit imports from China for sectors associated with the automotive industry and other commercial importers.
As far as exports are concerned, perishable commodities, such as seafood, citrus and vegetables, moving on reefer (refrigerated containers) to the Far East will benefit from reduced transit time that will also curb food wastage.
The FI3 service follows the rotation Qingdao–Xingang–Busan–Tanjung Pelepas– Port Klang–Jawaharlal Nehru–Pipavav–Karachi (SAPT)–Mundra–Colombo–Port Klang–Singapore.
GROHE and YouGov survey was conducted across 7 countries in 4 continents
Ahead of COP 28, the upcoming global climate summit, in the UAE, GROHE and YouGov surveyed over 7,200 people from the UAE, Europe and the USA to assess their awareness of water scarcity, including their showering habits and consumption of tap water.
The research found that a majority (74%) would change their water consumption behavior if there was a water shortage in their country. The following are the findings of this landmark study.
More respondents in the UAE were found to shower at a lower temperature:
With the world currently facing an unprecedented water crisis, more than half of respondents (64%) believe that using less water personally makes a difference to the environment. This motivation to take individual action is supported by the fact that changes in showering habits have in most cases continued or become more widespread in 2023, as more respondents in the UAE were found to shower at a lower temperature (23%) than in any other market surveyed.
Furthermore, 53% of respondents in the UAE said they want to be better informed about water and energy-saving techniques and products:
Over a third (38%) of all those questioned have already installed water- and energy-saving products in their bathrooms, and a further 24% are planning to do so, but 27% say they are not yet aware of any products or devices that can help them reduce water consumption.
“The UAE has made remarkable progress as a nation in shifting to more sustainable solutions to meet its 2050 net-zero emissions targets. However, the findings of this survey underline the importance of educating people about technological solutions that can help limit water use without the need to change behaviour,” affirmed Alexey Bykov, Leader Middle East, LIXIL EMENA.
“GROHE has long sought to raise awareness of this untapped potential for further resource savings. Improving knowledge of resource-efficient technologies and solutions can be a cornerstone of local and national strategies to reduce resource consumption and adapt to limited water supplies,” he continued.
Resource-efficiency
The survey also found that the consumption of tap water is increasingly gaining more focus as it is a resource-efficient way to avoid single-use plastic bottles. However, there is a rising demand for home tap water enhancement solutions amid widespread apprehension about quality and the potential contamination of local tap water.
Over three quarters (77%) of respondents are likely to purchase a device to enhance water quality to address these concerns:
Furthermore, a little over a quarter of respondents in the UAE (29%) report a decline in tap water quality, underscoring the potential efficacy of enhancement solutions like water filtration systems to encourage tap water consumption.
GROHE commissioned a representative YouGov survey in seven countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Morocco, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, USA). The survey was conducted from 08 September to 26 September 2023, with a total of 7,258 people interviewed, the report said.
DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award goes to Oracle Red Bull Racing for the sixth time in a row
At the conclusion of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, during the Formula 1® Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 in the United Arab Emirates, DHL, the Official Logistics Partner of the series, presented the DHL Fastest Lap Award to Max Verstappen for the second year in a row.
Throughout the 22 race weekends, three-time World Champion Max Verstappen demonstrated remarkable speed on the track, concluding the season with nine fastest laps. Once again, Oracle Red Bull Racing’s exceptional teamwork was evident as they earned their sixth consecutive DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award.
“On behalf of DH, I would like to congratulate Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing for their exceptional achievements throughout this season. Formula 1, much like our logistics business, thrives on speed and teamwork. These awards symbolize the shared values between both companies,” stated Arjan Sissing, Head of Global Brand Marketing at DHL Group.
Fastest Lap Award
Indy NXT driver and DHL Ambassador in women’s sports, Jamie Chadwick, had the honour of presenting the DHL Fastest Lap Award to Max Verstappen. Her presence not only highlights her exceptional racing prowess but also underscores DHL’s commitment to DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging).
“Ferrari and McLaren have run us to the wire many times, but the crew has been unbelievable, they have motivated themselves, they rebuild themselves again and again. To win 6 in a row is an extraordinary achievement,” noted Jonathan Wheatly, Sporting Director, Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Official Logistics Partner
As the Official Logistics Partner of Formula 1, DHL uses its global logistics network to transport cars, engines, fuel, broadcasting equipment, and marketing and hospitality materials. This season, DHL travelled over 150,000km transporting up to 1,400 tons per race. This season also marked a milestone in green logistics with the introduction of 18 new biofuel-powered trucks for the European Leg of the series.
“I want to express my gratitude to DHL for their dedication and support throughout the season as we conclude another phenomenal year for Formula 1. DHL, as always, played a pivotal role in delivering these events and displayed unwavering commitment in delivering new and returning events, while ensuring sustainability in every aspect of the process,” observed Jonny Haworth, Director of Commercial Partnerships, Formula 1.
SITA Secure SD-WAN will enhance connectivity, security, and operational efficiency
Qatar Airways has partnered with SITA to transform the airline’s global network infrastructure with state-of-the-art secure access service edge (SASE) solutions that boost connectivity, operational efficiency, and security.
As part of the transformation SITA will deploy its Secure SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network), SITA Connect Go, which offers agile, scalable, and secure access to airline systems and applications by connecting infrastructure outstations and airports, to Qatar Airways’ hybrid cloud infrastructure, and to the airline’s partner systems, according to a press communique.
Qatar Airways is among the first airlines globally to adopt SITA’s Secure SD-WAN solution. SITA Connect Go is a new Secure SD-WAN solution designed specifically for the air transport industry.
Significant strategic benefits
By leveraging SITA’s network solution, Qatar Airways will achieve significant strategic benefits. These include cost optimization resulting from faster connectivity and streamlined operations; higher capacity bandwidth with multiple connection types managed centrally with holistic network performance visibility and gateways that will provide compatibility ensuring a smooth transition to the new network architecture, the press note continued.
“We are committed to continually improving operations and the passenger experience and procure systems that will serve as a solid foundation for future innovation,” remarked AT Srinivasan, CIO, Qatar Airways Group.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in the evolution of air travel technology, exemplifying our dedication to transforming travel and transport through cutting-edge solutions,” commented Hani El Asaad, President, Middle East & Africa, SITA.
Qatar Airways Cargo and IATA successfully conclude One Record Hackathon in Qatar
Qatar Airways Cargo and IATA proudly concluded the first ever One Record Hackathon in the Middle East, in Doha, Qatar on Sunday 26 November.
17 teams from around the world came together for a thrilling 28 hour competition to submit highly sophisticated and innovative solutions surrounding the IATA ONE Record data sharing standard to showcase use cases that will help shape air cargo. Six core challenges were given to developers to deep dive into the aviation environment and find solutions for the cargo industry including AI-powered tools, enhancing safety and compliance measures in operations, and pre-validation on documentation to expediate processes.
These solutions were presented to a jury and after much deliberation the following projects were announced as winners:
Qatar Airways Cargo Prize for team CheckSync by Swissport, Lufthansa Cargo, and Lufthansa Industry Solutions, improves cargo check processes with AI, utilizing ONE Record for accuracy and efficiency.
ONE Record Prize for team NE:ONE automate by Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Industry Solutions and Fraunhofer automates ONE Record digital cargo ‘Change Requests’, enhancing efficiency and customer experience with AI and a user-friendly interface.
Cargo iQ prize for team OnePiece by Turkish Cargo, inspired by Turkey’s 2023 earthquake, focuses on efficient, individual piece level cargo management for better response and communication. Developer Prize for team OneAI by Unisys, leverages Generative AI for air cargo booking compliance, streamlining pet shipment processes with AI and IATA regulations.
AWS Prize for team QPay by Awery, a quick book and pay tool, integrates various payment methods with ONE Record, using Qatar Airways API to enhance airline revenue, customer experience, and transparency. Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice President of Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “We were happy to welcome so many vibrant and innovative minds from around the world to Doha this weekend and to see some amazing creativity and bespoke cargo solutions created.
“Being at the forefront of technology, we continuously invest in innovation and digitalization, it is a core pillar as a part of our Vision 2027 Strategy, so we thrive on being able to be a part of such engaging events.
Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo, IATA added: “The ONE Record Hackathon showcases the ingenuity within our industry and underscores the importance of collaborative innovation. These events are crucial for advancing the IATA ONE Record program, harnessing a global community’s talent to drive digital transformation, and set new benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability in air cargo.”
IATA’s hackathon program was launched in 2015, initially focusing on airlines’ retailing capabilities. The scope has since evolved to address other areas including environment, payment, cargo, accessibility, among many others.
Formerly known as AndalouJet, the re-established AJET is poised to serve a broader audience with its cost-effective approach
Established in 2008 to meet the air transportation needs of Anatolia with advantageous options, AnadoluJet, a successful brand of Turkish Airlines will conduct its operations under the name “AJet Air Transportation Inc.” as a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, starting from the end of March 2024.
At an event held at the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Turkish Technic Hangar, with the participation of Turkish Airlines Inc. executives, AndalouJet established its place in the aviation sector under its new name, AJET.
AJET, in line with its sustainability vision will operate as an eco-friendly airline carrier and will enter the cost-effective market with an innovative perspective. By simplifying the services offered and utilizing an economy class configuration, the company’s aim is to reflect the cost advantage in ticket prices, making air transportation services accessible to a broader audience.
On the establishment of AJET, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, commented: “In line with our goals for the next 10 years, we are proud to have started the establishment process of our AJet. The efforts and dedication we have put in for a long time have paid off, and we will introduce AJet to the skies with the summer schedule at the end of March 2024. We fully believe that AJet, with its new name, will become an important part of the cost-effective aviation industry on global scale.”
The company, established as a cost-effective airline of global standards, will continue to strengthen its competitive position in the market. Its operations will be based in Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Ankara Esenboğa Airports from the end of March 2024.
Swisslog to drive logistics innovation in Saudi Arabi, supporting Saudi Vision 2030
Swisslog, a global leader in intralogistics automation and robotics solutions, is strategically supporting the rapid adoption of warehouse automation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Advancing its position as a global player across diverse sectors, the Kingdom’s strategic shift towards a digitalized and automated future is gaining momentum. As part of Swisslog’s global expansion plans, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in this transformation, driven by Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a leading player in various sectors, attracting investments and talent both locally and internationally, diversifying its economy in line with Vision 2030. The vision spans various sectors, attracting global investments and bringing the best-of-breed solutions to the Kingdom. This has sparked a surge in demand across industries such as food and beverage, FMCG, e-commerce and manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and more.
Projections indicate that the MEA automated materials handling market will reach over US$1,885 million by 2026. KSA holds one of the largest market shares in the regional market, investing heavily to become a prime hub for logistics and warehousing. Forward-thinking enterprises are increasingly adopting logistics and warehouse automation for process optimization. Swisslog harnesses the potential of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), AI-driven insights, and the capabilities of big data, to pioneer a new era of logistics and warehousing.
The demand for sustainability in supply chains is reshaping logistics practices globally, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. Additionally, global demand for eco-friendly logistics is on the rise, with 75% of shippers seeking greener options. Swisslog’s portfolio of data-driven, flexible and robotic material handling solutions not only enables shorter order cycle times and faster response to change but is also significantly more energy-efficient, using as little as 0.1 kW per hour. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the global demand for eco-friendly logistics.
Rami Younes, General Manager and Head of Sales for Swisslog Middle East commented: “Automation is being adopted at a blistering pace globally, and we have witnessed rapid regional adoption over the last few years, presenting tremendous opportunities for various industries to thrive in Saudi Arabia. The local logistics challenges differ from those in Western Europe and the US and a one-size-fits-all would not work. Swisslog caters solutions to customers regardless of their size, needs, or capabilities solving real-world problems with the right technology. We are thrilled to guide KSA businesses through their intralogistics automation journeys to meet the rising demand, aiding in achieving the nation’s ambitious Vision 2030 growth objectives.”
For over 100 years Swisslog has been solving the most complex intralogistic automation challenges. Its profile includes high-profile projects with Arvato Supply Chain, DB Schenker, Gucci, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Pepsi and many more. In the region, Swisslog boasts an impressive client roster that includes industry titans such as Almarai, one of the largest vertically integrated dairy companies in the world. In the F&B sector alone Swisslog has executed over 350 projects across 35 countries.
AVS/ECS Group’s commitment to precision, safety, and the seamless execution of complex logistics
AVS/ECS Groups’ Malaysia team successfully organized, in collaboration with valued customer Forward Freight Services supported by Oman Air, meticulously planned, and safely uplifted 11 super bikes of renowned motorcycle manufacturers Ducati and Aprilia from Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Muscat (MCT), and Milan (MXP) back to homebase Italy after the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia 2023 event held in Sepang.
Wexco Group & Wexco NZ, subsidiaries of ECS Group, are partnering with DHL Aviation to provide GSSA services in Australia and New Zealand from 01 December 2023.
Effective from 01 December 2023, all DHL Aviation air cargo sales activities from Australia and New Zealand will be managed by Wexco Group & Wexco NZ, two long-established subsidiaries of ECS Group. The four-year GSSA contracts were concluded at the end of September 2023. Since then, both companies have been preparing the smooth transition of sales operations for a total of 45 weekly flights: 26 flights from Australia and 19 flights from New Zealand.
“The wide variety of perishable commodities alongside regular horse shipments, make DHL Aviation a particularly interesting airline partner and we are therefore all the more delighted to enter into this partnership,” states Wexco General Manager, Richard Valenzuela. “With 550 tons of capacity to be filled each week, often with shipments requiring meticulous planning and expertise, our Wexco teams are able to demonstrate what they do best while playing a key part in DHL Aviation’s regional and international success.”
DHL Aviation connects to many international destinations out of Australia and New Zealand, including Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Bahrain, USA, and various European locations. Its Australian flight schedule offers a Melbourne (MEL) – Singapore (SIN) connection, 5 times per week, Sydney (SYD) – Singapore (SIN) operations, 7 times per week, Melbourne (MEL) – Auckland (AKL) – Christchurch (CHC), 5 times per week, and Sydney (SYD) – Auckland (AKL) – Christchurch (CHC), 6 times per week. The weekly uplift consists of meat, chilled salmon and other perishable produce to Asia, whilst exports to New Zealand include general cargo, e-commerce, regular horse movements, and perishables – predominantly stone fruits.
Out of New Zealand, DHL flies from Christchurch (CHC) via Auckland (AKL) to Sydney (SYD), 6 times per week, and Christchurch (CHC) – Auckland (AKL) – Melbourne (MEL), 5 times per week, connecting with intra-Australian road feeder services where necessary. Main commodities are including fish, dairy, general cargo and horses to Australia, and meat, fruit, and seafood to destinations in Asia.
“DHL operates a fleet of more than 20 Asia Pacific dedicated aircrafts and is committed to ensuring reliable and efficient service performance, in particular when it comes to supporting trans-Tasman trade. We have invested heavily in Oceania over the past five years and partnering with equally driven partners is essential to the success of our challenging growth strategy,” says Nathan Vellasamy, Vice President at DHL Aviation, Air Capacity Sales, Asia Pacific. “Wexco has a proven track-record as a highly professional, digitally advanced and unique GSSA and, as part of ECS Group, is another solid link in our well-functioning international partnership. We look forward to an excellent 2024 and beyond.”
“As Australia’s longest-serving General Sales & Services Agent (GSSA) since 1979, and two decades of existence in New Zealand, I can confidently claim that no one knows our regional air cargo markets better than Wexco does. Thanks to our team of highly skilled professionals, coupled with our customer centric business approach and state-of-the-art digital solutions, we are in an excellent position to provide DHL Aviation with the best possible representation it deserves,” says Cedric Millet, Managing Director of Wexco Group & Wexco NZ and Chief Strategy & Digital Officer of ECS Group.
ECS Group now represents DHL in more than 20 countries across the globe.
Savoye acquires a major contract in KSA to support CJ Logistics and iHerb with world-class automation solutions
Savoye was selected as the automation and technology partner to fully automate the e-commerce Global Distribution Center of iHerb in KSA, first of its kind in the region
Savoye, a leading global warehouse automation integrator and software publisher in the Middle East, partnered with CJ Logistics, a 3PL services company operating for iHerb, the leading global eCommerce retailer for health and wellness, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), to deliver world-class automation solutions for its e-commerce Global Distribution Center (GDC). The strategic partnership is a significant development for Savoye in KSA, following its recent expansion into the region.
Under the terms of the partnership, Savoye will implement a fully automated fulfilment center, the first-of-its-kind in the region, which includes a X-PTS Goods-To-Persons (GTP) shuttle system, Warehouse Execution Software (WES), Zone to Zone fast picking system and automated orders packing to process 15K orders per day. Savoye’s flagship X-PTS shuttle technology will be central to the project, serving as the foundation for an effective and ergonomic Goods-To-Person solution.
Savoye’s high-end solution is seamlessly designed to reduce picking and packing time by utilizing Savoye’s highly ergonomic GTP stations for prompt high-speed picking operations. In addition, Savoye has designed fully automated packing lines that are in charge of closing and labeling the prepared orders before automatically sorting them into the various shipping lanes. The latest agreement marks a significant milestone for all parties as they actively work towards transforming the Middle Eastern supply chain industry by boosting productivity and encouraging innovation.
Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director of Savoye Middle East, stated: “We are proud to embark on this journey with CJ Logistics and iHerb to further explore the Saudi Arabian market with our tailored automated solutions. This partnership holds great significance as it demonstrates our dedication to advancing the supply chain and logistics industry. Our combined efforts are also focused on meeting the industry’s expanding needs while advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program. We thus look forward to making significant strides together and establishing new benchmarks for automated solutions in the region.”
The partnership is in line with the Health Sector Transformation Program, a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to restructure the healthcare industry into a comprehensive, efficient, and integrated system based on the wellness of people and the community at large. Using Savoye’s automated solutions, logistics companies in the health and wellness sector can easily meet evolving client requirements, thereby supporting the program’s goals and driving the continued development of healthcare services in Saudi Arabia.
iHerb is a global leader in health and wellness and is committed to making health and wellness accessible to all. iHerb chose KSA as its base in the Middle East due to its increasing demand for health and wellness products, as well as the promising business environment. iHerb aims to enhance distribution of its products across the region to meet the local growing demands. Through the partnership, CJ Logistics will integrate Savoye’s cutting-edge automated solutions to optimize its operations and boost productivity to advance this goal.
Qatar Airways Cargo Drives Forward with the Launch of its latest product Drive
The world’s leading air cargo carrier, announced its latest product, Drive. Designed to transport various types of automobiles by air, Drive caters to the unique requirements of each vehicle – be it regular cars, vintage cars, premium or luxury models, new cars and sports cars. It underscores the carrier’s commitment to delivering meticulous solutions for both personal and commercial vehicles.
Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Head of Cargo Products said, “Drive exemplifies our unwavering commitment to precision and customer centricity. With this product, we combine technical proficiency, experienced teams and charter solutions to offer a tailored experience for the transportation of automobiles. We take pride in our expert and dedicated teams who have been involved in transporting vehicles for several years including vehicles for many global racing events. Our rigorous and meticulously designed training ensures that our dedicated staff follow handling protocols diligently at every stage of the journey.”
Drive offers customers the ability to move different types of high value vehicles with engine and wheels in a safe and efficient manner, on the airline’s freighters and passenger flights to more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations as well as to those destinations that are not part of its scheduled services. The Drive product is equipped to offer full or part-charters catering to the airline customers’ requests, and ensuring that even the most unique and exclusive automobiles are transported with the utmost care.
The airline’s specialist teams from Special Loads, Dangerous Goods, Operations, Charters and its Loadmasters collaborate to offer the optimal loadability and cost-effective solutions for all vehicles being transported. Safety is paramount and the teams take extreme caution ensuring all safety measures are followed, and vehicles are tied down and secured properly before being flown on the flight. The vehicles are monitored throughout the entire journey by the airline’s operational experts.
The airline has been transporting cars for several years. In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo transported over 1400 vehicles, asserting its proven capability and expertise in handling different segments of vehicles. The introduction of Drive showcases Qatar Airways Cargo’s position as a global leader in air cargo transportation, delivering solutions that meet the unique demands of the market and its discerning customers.
In an era marked by complex geopolitical challenges, ports operators that provide a broader, deeper, and more sophisticated range of services, moving beyond simply handling in-port cargo and containers, will thrive no matter how fraught those geopolitical stresses become. That was a key finding from a new whitepaper unveiled by AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), on Navigating Geopolitical Shifts: Strategies for Ports in an Uncertain World.
The whitepaper was launched following the conclusion of the landmark International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) World Ports Conference – Abu Dhabi 2023, hosted by AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, held, for the first time ever, in the Middle East Region.
At a time when traditional maritime practices are being reevaluated and reinvented, AD Ports Group serves as a case study for the ports industry, thriving amid global uncertainty through strategic acquisitions, capital investment, and diversification. The report highlights that fundamental to success is positioning businesses to capitalise on opportunities, such as new trade routes that develop in response to challenges. It also explains how diversification fosters robust relationships with international stakeholders, as well as local economies, supporting those ports. These pioneering strategies are not merely reactive measures but proactive steps in shaping a more interconnected and stable global trade landscape.
Ross Thompson, Group Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, AD Ports Group said: “Geopolitical aspects have been part of trade for many hundreds of years, it is part of the operating environment our sector regularly finds itself navigating. AD Ports Group objective is to best position our company and assets to deal with those fluctuations and those changes. Our Group aims to have a diverse number of trade routes, a diverse number of trading partners and multiple product sectors. This diversity in operations often means that activities can be positively affected by geopolitical ructions, offsetting those negatively impacted by the same events.”
The whitepaper presents a narrative of AD Ports Group’s journey, showcasing how enhanced inter- and intra-regional trade, forging new agreements with frontier, and emerging markets and collaborating with multilateral trade organisations, can bring greater and more sustainable prosperity to a myriad of societies while delivering returns to its shareholders.
AD Ports Group has put these principles into practice, illustrating its success with multiple recently-inked agreements; one highlight includes a joint venture with Uzbekistan oil and gas company SEG to launch a logistics and freight businesses in the central Asian country and develop a food trading hub for the surrounding region.
Additionally, AD Ports Group has introduced new shipping routes to align with global trade dynamics and embrace adaptability. The company has partnered with French logistics company CMA CGM Group to launch a shipping service between Singapore; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Chennai, India. Other new routes include a UAE-China service connecting Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port with the Chinese ports of Shanghai, Qingdao, and Ningbo. Connecting strategic ports across Asia and the UAE, demonstrates AD Ports Group’s role as a catalyst in unearthing untapped trade flows.
One year on…GWC’s ‘Delivering Glory’ Book: Logistics Excellence at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM captured the hearts of football fans across the globe while emerging as a triumph in logistics excellence.
GWC is proud to have been the first regional supporter and the Official Logistics Provider for Qatar 2022TM – the first mega sporting event to be hosted in the Middle East and Arab world. GWC excelled thanks to meticulous planning and the execution of complex logistics operations.
To mark this incredible contribution, GWC has published a book titled ‘Delivering Glory’ to outline the logistics operations behind this delivery and pay tribute to the personnel who continually went the extra mile to ensure Qatar delivered an outstanding event on the global stage.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “Successfully delivering FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM was the realisation of a vision for Qatar and for GWC. This accomplishment is a testament to the expertise and infrastructure that GWC has built during the last two decades, and the ever-enduring pursuit of excellence and commitment to our goals. Ultimately, the outstanding collaboration with stakeholders enabled us to play a key role in delivering an exceptional mandate for a tournament like no other.”
GWC’s control tower approach, commitment to innovation, and ability to always exceed expectations contributed to smooth logistics operations for a wide number of stakeholders – including the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, FIFA, host country institutions, commercial affiliates, fans, participating teams, the media, volunteers amongst others.
“Above all, it’s our people delivering success!” continued Menon. “At GWC, we have built a culture – something which goes back to our establishment of a small warehousing company in 2004. Despite exponential growth, we have retained the working environment of a start-up – with everyone contributing, supporting one another, and doing everything they can to exceed the expectations of our valued clients and shareholders. They are the ones we celebrate in Delivering Glory.”
The numbers behind GWC’s achievements are staggering. The backbone of operations was the logistics infrastructure exceeding 4,000,000 square meters. GWC delivered items to hundreds of key sites across Qatar and operated the largest transport fleet in the country of more than 1,600 trucks, trailers, and specialized vehicles, all within 45 minutes of any location. More than 200dedicated truck drivers covered 1,900,000 kilometres in over 288,000 hours, backed by 1,200 venue operations staff and six bespoke logistics systems designed and optimized specifically for the FIFA World CupTM.
In conclusion, the success of Qatar 2022TM from a logistics perspective is a testament to meticulous planning, innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration. As the world celebrates this remarkable event one year on, the logistics triumph behind the scenes serves as an inspiration for future hosts and organisers, showcasing the transformative power of strategic and forward-thinking logistics planning on the grandest stage of international sport.
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ was played from 20 November to 18 December 2022. 32 teams competed across 64 matches in the 22nd edition of the tournament.
Revolutionizing the skies: WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo set to transform air cargo landscape
WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo reshape the air cargo sector through imaginative approaches.
Inaugural flight on December 4th, 2023, highlights enhanced connectivity and efficiency in air cargo.
WestJet Cargo proudly unveils a strategic arrangement operating on behalf of Awesome Cargo, a rising star in the Mexican air freight industry. This collaboration represents a groundbreaking venture, connecting Awesome’s Cargo NLU hub with North America.
Kirsten De Bruijn, SVP Cargo of WestJet, enthusiastically declares, “This collaboration brings together two visionary cargo airlines, weaving our strengths into an innovative tapestry of enhanced services for Awesome’s Cargo customers. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey with Awesome Cargo, unlocking endless possibilities for both organizations and setting new standards in the industry.”
A Collaboration Forged in Success: Industry Relationship and Shared Vision
Initiated by a longstanding industry relationship, a testament to their shared vision and past triumphs in collaborative ventures. Awesome Cargo secured its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) on October 13 of this year. The airline strategically operates from NLU Airport (Felipe Angeles) in Mexico City. Awesome Cargo aims to become a pivotal partner in the North American and Latin American region through its NLU hub. Less than a month into its inception Awesome Cargo operated 17 missions bringing over 800 tons of humanitarian aid into Acapulco, which demonstrates the DNA of the airline and its commitment to its community. Luis Ramos, CEO of Awesome Cargo, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This partnership is a significant milestone for Awesome Cargo. By uniting forces with WestJet Cargo, we not only expand our reach into North America but also contribute to the evolution of air cargo transport in the region. Our shared values and commitment to excellence make this collaboration a dynamic force in the industry.”
Setting the Stage for Technical Brilliance: Unveiling the Collaborative Features
As the inaugural flight approaches on December 4th, symbolizing a new era in air cargo collaboration, we unveil the technical brilliance that defines this strategic partnership. The specific routes that WestJet Cargo will operate on behalf of Awesome Cargo will facilitate connectivity between North America and Mexico via Awesome Cargo’s NLU hub allowing feeding options towards Awesome’s Cargo two newly deployed A330s, fostering enhanced connectivity and efficiency in air cargo transportation.
Routes: US – Mexico via Awesome Cargo’s NLU hub.
Enhanced connectivity and efficiency for air cargo transport to and from Latin America.
To ensure the safe and secure transportation of various cargo types, the collaboration leverages the combined expertise of WestJet Cargo and Awesome Cargo, establishing new standards for safety in air cargo transport. Technical highlights include:
Utilization of reefer trucks for temperature-sensitive cargo.
Implementation of temperature-controlled facilities to maintain cargo integrity.
Enhanced security measures throughout the transportation process.
Connectivity of different types of cargo across networks.
Horse transfers between Mexico – the USA and Canada.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia in GCC and Iraq major export markets for APP
Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), the Jakarta-based world’s largest paper mill announced at a recent press conference in Dubai on the sidelines of Paperworld Middle East that the Middle East and Africa (MEA) market is a critical growth geography for its paper and paper products in the light of the growing demand for bio-degradable green packaging solutions, estimated to be growing at around 4 per cent annually.
The demand for eco-friendly paper products has been on an exponential growth curve in MEA post-Covid led by food packaging and other verticals such as catering, hygiene, pharma and cosmetics with an estimated market size poised to touch US$ 28.72bn, according to Mordor Intelligence. The demand is also catalysed by the surge in e-commerce with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the trend.
Important markets
“ME region is one of the important markets primarily because of our long presence of over three decades, as also the region being a net importer of paper products, with APP registering year-on-year growth over the years,” affirmed Sandeep Raina, Export Sales Head, Middle East and Africa for APP, adding that the company’s sales have surged back to pre-Covid levels.
The Middle East region now accounts for almost 15 per cent of the global sales of APP, with a significant share of the growth coming from commodity and specialty grade paper. APP’s major markets in the region are the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the GCC, followed by Iraq and other markets. APP has fully integrated operations in Indonesia with a wide product range in the industry from pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and stationery.
APP has a long association with the Middle East and it has an official presence through a branch office in the UAE since 1989 and a wide network of distributors and customers in the region. “APP has chosen the UAE as its official base since the emirates is the largest business and trading hub in the region with best-in-class facilities in terms of banking, warehousing and re-exports,” asserted Raina.
Carbon-neutral solutions
The increasing awareness on lessening carbon footprint and stricter legislation on single-use plastics in many countries in the region, particularly in the GCC, green packaging materials, particularly paper packaging solutions, are major catalysts of growth. APP has been evolving its product portfolio and market strategy in this context, leading to innovation and new products range.
Letchumi Achanah, Head of Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy, APP, explained that in line with the changing trend, APP has launched its bio-degradable Foopak Bio Natura range paper
packaging solutions targeted at households, FMCG brands and the food packaging sector petroleum-free recyclable options to take on the plastic scourge.
“Sustainability is fundamental to APP’s vision as we continue to improvise and evolve towards our production towards a greener future. The company is making significant strides toward achieving its net-zero emissions goal by 2060 or earlier, whilst exploring and implementing various measures,” concluded Achanah.
Rotate has launched a real-time capacity and market intelligence tool to support commercial and strategic decision-making within the air cargo industry. Containing live updated flight data from thousands of airlines, more than 9000 airports and over 200 aircraft types, Rotate’s Live Capacity tool offers unrivalled insight into the supply side of the air cargo market. Moreover, Rotate is making this tool available free-of-charge to air cargo companies.
“The air cargo industry has long been investing in digital and technology solutions, which have led to ever-increasing amounts of data being produced and stored every day. The true challenge, now, is not in collecting more data; it is in putting that data to good use and formulating real actions that improve commercial and operational decisions,” says Gert-Jan Jansen, Co-Founder of Rotate. “Our Rotate Live Capacity tool supports a range of functions within the air cargo industry, from network design to business development, benchmarking, carrier management, pricing, and market trend analysis. Access to real-time data also opens up a whole new range of use-cases going forward – such as pricing and revenue management, for example.”
The need for real-time market information is a long-standing request from the air cargo industry. With the Live Capacity tool, users have real-time access to global capacity information based on flight tracking data covering millions of flights from thousands of airlines, over 9000 airports and more than 200 different aircraft types. The data has been filtered, cleaned, and enriched to deliver unique, real-time insight into changes and trends in air cargo capacity. Rotate’s team combines air cargo experts, strategy consultants, and technology professionals who collaborated closely with customers to build an inhouse analytics platform which enabled the design of this completely customized dashboard and analytics environment, focusing on ease-of-use and flexibility.
Ryan Keyrouse, Co-Founder of Rotate, explains: “Data has grown into a commodity. With this in mind, we want to democratise the availability of high-quality market data and are therefore taking a pioneering approach by offering access to our Live Capacity tool for free to the air cargo industry. Airlines, airports, handlers, forwarders, OEMs, GSAs, and other industry-related companies can register to access the tool, free-of-charge. Our belief is that the real value is not the market data itself, but rather in the interpretation and the analysis of this data, which drives actions and better decisions. To further support this, we have placed a strong focus on ease-of-use to allow all users to navigate the platform easily and quickly.”
It is the first time that this kind of high-quality market data is available for free. The Capacity Live tool will be enhanced with unique premium features over time, as Rotate continues to address requests and feedback from its customers and other CargoTech members. Premium features will include capacity forecasts, pro-active and personalized alerts on capacity changes, indirect capacity overviews, a competitive position analyser, and additional data granularity such a charter identification, for example. “We envision a broader suite of live air cargo data going forward, as we are always looking into innovative ways to bring valuable real-time data to the market, now and in the future,” Gert-Jan Jansen concludes.
Emirates ranks high in five of six key environmental areas, new Agility report says
South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are doing the most to combat climate change in Africa and the Middle East, followed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, according to a new report that compares government and business sustainability policies, investment and actions.
The recently released Middle East and Africa Environmental Sustainability Scorecard, is the most detailed examination to date of country performance in environmental sustainability outcomes, government policies, and corporate practices in the two regions.
The report concludes that the 17 countries covered are relative ‘late comers’ to global sustainable development but at the same time represent regions that are rapidly stepping-up their sustainability strategies, programs and investments.”
The report was commissioned by Agility, a global supply chain services company based in Kuwait. It was compiled by Horizon Group, a Geneva-based firm that specializes in research and analysis for governments, international organizations, and leading businesses worldwide.
Pillar categories
The UAE ranks among the leaders in five of six pillar categories in the report. It is 2nd in Green Investment, Innovation & Tech; 1st in Sustainable Infrastructure & Transport; 2nd in Governance & Reporting; 1st in Environmental Ecosystems; and 4th in Circularity, the pillar measuring materials footprint and waste management practices.
Like other energy dependent GCC economies, UAE trails African countries in the Energy Transition pillar, which looks at fossil fuel production and consumption.
The scorecard uses 48 performance and progress indicators to compare countries. The indicators include data, regulatory frameworks, policy assessments, incentives and corporate practices across six pillar areas: green investment and technology; sustainable infrastructure and transport; governance and reporting; energy transition; environmental ecosystems; and circularity. To capture corporate practices and progress, Horizon surveyed 647 business executives in 17 countries.
One through 17, here’s how the countries rank: South Africa, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Morocco, Qatar, Tanzania, Nigeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Cote d’Ivoire, Oman, Mozambique.
Vertical Farming
The report singles out the UAE for a vertical-farming project, the world’s largest, which is intended to save 250mn liters of water, as well as its investment of US$ 50bn in clean energy projects in 70
countries. A UAE-US partnership intended to accelerate the clean energy transition is intended to raise US$ 100bn to deploy clean energy globally.
The UAE is hosting COP28, the UN-led global climate change conference, in Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. The country is committed to becoming a key player in decarbonization, the report says.
The UAE’s goal is to have net-zero emissions by 2050. ADNOC, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned energy giant, is investing US$ 15bn in lower-carbon solutions and has developed a roadmap to achieve net zero by 2045.
It has a detailed carbon capture strategy and is creating a carbon trading platform. Its goal is to triple the share of renewable energy by 2030 and obtain half of its primary energy from clean sources by 2050.
In addition, the UAE has applied green and sustainable building standards since 2011 and expects them to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030,” the report says.
Key findings
Businesses aren’t paying attention to COP: Eighty-two percent of African businesses and 49% of Middle East businesses are not aware of the UN-led COP process that nations are using to push and measure efforts to tackle climate change. Few companies use COP to set their sustainability targets.
Climate change is hurting businesses: Ninety-seven percent of companies say their business has been affected by climate change, and 49% say climate change has caused “severe damage” or has a “significant and growing” impact on them.
Governments are leading as businesses play catch up: When it comes to climate action, governments are outpacing the private sector in both the Middle East and Africa.
No one size fits all: Different countries have different sustainability priorities based on income, economic strengths, energy dependency, and other factors. High-income, energy-producing Gulf countries invest more in sustainable infrastructure and ecosystems. African economies perform best in energy conservation and consumption.
Green investment is expensive: High- and middle-income countries are investing the most: Qatar, UAE, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
Move supports Sanad’s strategy to expand its MRO services, capabilities, and global footprint
Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for commercial aircraft, engines and components in the Middle East and Africa since 1932, have inked a transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The deal is set to bolster MRO services for a diverse range of commercial aircraft engines and components in Cairo, while also extending its positive impact to the broader and rapidly expanding African and Middle Eastern markets.
The MoU was formally sealed at the Dubai Airshow 2023 by Mansoor Janahi, Managing Director and Group CEO, Sanad and Eng. Yehia Zakaria, Chairman & CEO, EgyptAir Holdings. This strategic partnership underscores Sanad’s unwavering commitment to advancing its MRO services and capabilities worldwide, in line with its objective to enhance its global footprint.
Driving force
Egypt’s aviation sector has rapidly evolved into a driving force within the nation’s economy. This growth trajectory is poised for even greater acceleration over the next 20 years, with a projected twofold increase, underlining the sector’s pivotal role in Egypt’s economic landscape. Notably, within Africa, the engine MRO market’s value is projected to double from US$ 1.2bn in 2023 to US$ 2.4bn by 2033, highlighting the robust demand in this rapidly growing market.
“This strategic move aligns with our overarching strategy to expand our global footprint. The prospect of enhancing our MRO services in partnership with EGME leverages our combined expertise to expand engine MRO services across the burgeoning Middle East and Africa market,” noted Janahi.
This collaboration not only enables mutual growth opportunities but also brings both entities closer to their customers, thus strengthening the global aviation supply chain,” remarked Eng. Zakaria.
“We are excited about the prospect of establishing an MRO Centre of Excellence in our nation’s capital and are fully dedicated to collaborating with Sanad to bring this monumental development to fruition for the African and Middle Eastern aviation sector,” commented Eng. Walid El-Khafif, Chairman & CEO, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering.
Celebrates its 6oth Anniversary in the Catalonian capital Barcelona
The Noatum Group celebrated its landmark 60th anniversary with over 600 prominent figures in the logistics, shipping, ports and other industrial sectors, both in Spain and internationally, gathering in the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), Barcelona to commemorate the Group’s landmark event.
Founded in 1963, in Barcelona, as Marítima del Mediterráneo, today Noatum Group has evolved into a powerhouse in global logistics, according to a press communique.
Present at the celebration was HE Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign
Trade of the United Arab Emirates (UAE); HE Omar Obaid Alshamsi, UAE Ambassador to Spain, and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry that completed the acquisition of Noatum in June this year.
Remarkable growth
“The UAE and Spain have witnessed remarkable growth in bilateral trade in recent years, and the collaboration between Noatum and AD Ports Group reflects a mutual commitment to advancing economic ties,” commented HE Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi.
“With a current presence in 27 countries in four continents, and more than 4,200 employees, we have made an exciting journey of growth both geographically and in terms of our activity, size and business model, but we have always remained consistent in the way we manage the company,” asserted Antonio Campoy, CEO, Noatum.
“Noatum because the group operates in an international and multi-sectorial network, offering services to a wide range of industries such as automotive, petrochemical, mining or agrifood, among others. Our collaboration is getting stronger every day” noted Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, President, Spanish Ports System.
Canavan will be responsible for leading, planning, and overseeing all Group operations
Malta-headquartered Challenge Group, the international air cargo conglomerate offering tailored end-to-end logistics solutions for complex verticals, has announced the appointment of David Canavan as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
In his new role, Canavan will be responsible for leading, planning, directing, coordinating, aligning and overseeing all Group operations, bringing his extensive experience and expertise to drive operational excellence and contribute to the company’s overall expansion plan and fleet growth.
Canavan comes to Challenge Group with a proven track record of more than 30 years’ international experience in strategic planning, operational efficiency, supply chain management and logistics, having previously led various multinational teams and business units in senior management roles both in Europe and Asia at FedEx, according to a press statement.
“David’s wealth of experience and demonstrated leadership will be instrumental in propelling Challenge Group to new heights. We are confident that he will play a key role in developing and implementing efficient and cost-effective operational processes to meet the current and future growing business needs of the Group,” stated Yossi Shoukroun, CEO, Challenge Group.
Digital technology is a key enabler of new healthcare delivery, from remote patient monitoring to apps
Patient-centric services are transforming the healthcare ecosystem. Increasingly, treatment in clinics and hospitals is being replaced with new therapeutic approaches and specialized treatments that harness the latest technologies. This shift has had significant implications for patients, healthcare providers, and for the supply chains that underpin the industry, opines Annette Naude, Regional Head of Life Sciences and Chemicals, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East Africa.
With virtual healthcare and telemedicine becoming the norm after the pandemic, patients expect the same choice and convenience in healthcare that they enjoy when procuring other products and services, giving rise to a form of ‘healthcare consumerism’. As a result, established companies are diversifying their offerings to more personalized healthcare products and services targeting specific consumer groups.
In the Middle East, a vibrant healthcare market, state-of-the-art hospitals are rapidly expanding their scope of service delivery to cater to the growing needs of all residents, with a focus on more tailored treatment approaches.
There is significant opportunity for supply chain and logistics operations to support and promote this new model of patient-centric healthcare. Not only will it help establish a deeper understanding of how patients want to engage with health services and receive treatments, it will also help determine what information they want access to and in which format.
Digitalization to eliminate siloes
Digital technology is a key enabler of new healthcare delivery, from remote patient monitoring to apps and videoconferencing for doctor-patient consultations. In fact, digitizing the supply chain offers multiple opportunities for participants to improve the quality, security, agility and cost-effectiveness of their supply networks.
We have seen how digital technology is rapidly eliminating the blind spots that make supply chains hard to manage. With smart sensors and connected systems, healthcare companies can achieve visibility of the location and status of every shipment, in close to real time.
Blockchain
Using asset tracking technologies, drug and device suppliers can effectively monitor the status of consignment stocks at hospitals or even in patient’s homes, paving the way for seamless, automated replenishment. Blockchain technologies can support information exchange and supply chain coordination in complex, multi-stakeholder networks.
Blockchains can also be used to verify compliance and stop counterfeit products entering the supply chain. Smart analytics technologies, including digital twins, can be used to optimize material flows and inventory disposition, helping reduce waste and maintain availability.
In addition, AI systems can be used to take stock of the current availability of specific medications when making recommendations for doctors, or to automatically create order and reserve stock ready for dispatch when the supervising physician signs off the prescription.
Improved speed, efficiency and convenience
Unfortunately, supply chain and healthcare digitization initiatives are usually designed and implemented independently. But bringing those two sides of the digital equation together could pave the way for a positive change in efficiency, speed and convenience. For example, in hospital settings, dispensing robots could generate replenishment orders automatically based on real time data on demand for drugs and devices on the ward.
The required data already exists in the value chain, but it is distributed across multiple different systems with limited interconnections. Integrating this data into a common platform would allow value chain participants to derive new insights and automate activities to a much larger extent than currently possible.
Data optimization
For many Middle East players, the emerging challenge is learning how to use all that data to optimize supply chain performance. It will require a robust data platform strategy, with appropriate governance and access control to ensure that data can be used widely across the organization, without compromising security, confidentially or compliance.
Looking ahead, as organizations in every industry in the region face greater pressure to minimize the environmental impact of their operations, digitalization of the supply chain can also ensure reduced carbon emissions and optimization of transportation assets – making it a win-win for the healthcare sector, governments and logistics operators.
SAP unveils innovations in Generative AI Application Development capabilities in the AI era
At the recently concluded, mega, well-attended and successful SAP TechEd event held in the Bengaluru, India’s IT capital, SAP announced a comprehensive series of generative AI and Vector Database capabilities and advancements aimed at empowering developers of all skill levels to supercharge their businesses in the age of AI.
“Today’s dynamic technology and business landscape means every developer needs to be an AI developer,” affirmed Juergen Mueller, Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE.
“The innovations we’re launching at SAP TechEd, from AI-infused pro-code tools to a one-stop shop to create generative AI extensions and applications on SAP Business Technology Platform, supporting the developers at the heart of the AI revolution and providing them with resources they need to transform the way businesses run,” he further asserted.
As organizations aim to derive business value from generative AI, effective collaboration between professional and citizen developers is essential. SAP is launching SAP Build Code solutions, which streamlines cooperation with business experts who use the low-code SAP Build solutions launched at SAP TechEd in 2022.
AI-powered tools
Uniquely built for SAP applications and the SAP ecosystem, SAP Build Code solutions offer AI-powered productivity tools for developers and are optimized for Java and JavaScript development. SAP Build Code also draws on the power of SAP’s new generative AI copilot Joule – the copilot that truly understands business – to further boost productivity, embedding code generation capabilities for data model, application logic and test script creation.
Good data is the foundation of good AI, and SAP HANA Cloud continues to pioneer innovation in the data space by adding new vector database features to its multi-model offerings at no additional cost. Vector data stores manage unstructured data – such as text, images or audio – to provide long-term memory and better context to AI models.
This makes it easy to find and retrieve similar objects quickly. For example, users can search for suppliers based on the language in their contracts to examine payment history and trace individual orders. These powerful new vector database features enhance interactions between large language models and an organization’s mission-critical data.
Data insights
The innovation helps put SAP developers at the forefront of delivering radically new levels of data insights within a secure, private framework that uses industry-specific customer data to reduce hallucinations.
AI Foundation on SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform), a new one-stop-shop for developers to create AI- and generative AI-powered extensions and applications on SAP BTP, will further help increase developers’ impact and efficiency. AI Foundation includes everything developers need to start creating business-ready AI tools on SAP BTP – from ready-to-use AI services and access to the top large language models to vector database capabilities and AI runtime and lifecycle management.
The rapid pace of technological innovation has driven up global demand for skilled developers – and SAP is increasing its learning opportunities in tandem. As part of a commitment to upskill two million professionals by 2025 and complement free AI learning content already available, SAP launched at the venue the new role-based certification and free learning resources for back-end developers using the ABAP Cloud development model.
Learning resources
The two new learning resources covering ABAP development tools on SAP BTP and SAP S/4HANA are available on the SAP Learning site. They are designed for agile and cloud-compliant business transformation, providing developers with skills to build cloud-ready extensions that are aligned with SAP’s clean core strategy.
SAP also joined the Stanford HAI (Institute for Human-Centred AI) Corporate Affiliate Programme. Researchers and engineers at SAP will work with the Stanford academic community, including research faculty and students, on the intersection of generative AI and business.
Libya based airline Fly Oya and Romanian Airport Services, Uplift
first among MOUs announced.
Leading Aerospace conglomerate Sky One is pleased to announce exciting milestones in its journey of expansion and excellence. The company has in principle (subject to agreeing final terms) signed MOUs to acquire a stake in Libyan Airline Fly Oya, a crucial connection between Libya and the outside world and Uplift Airport Services, a prominent independent Ground Handling Company based at Bucharest International Airport, Romania.
Libya-based airline Fly Oya carried passengers from Tripoli to Dubai in July 2023 marking a nine-year hiatus of connectivity between the two Arab cities. Apart from three destinations within Libya – Tripoli, Sebha and Ghat, Fly Oya currently flies to Alexandria, Dubai, Jeddah, and Istanbul.
Mr. Jaideep Mirchandani, Chairman of Sky One, expressed his excitement about the new acquisition, stating, ” Fly Oya is a significant property with sizable assets that we have acquired a stake in. Additionally, the airline has demonstrated its commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork: values that align perfectly with the core principles of Sky One. This MOU will contribute to our vision of continuous quality improvement and the highest customer satisfaction. We see Fly Oya as an integral part of our journey to enhance our aviation offering throughout the globe and hope to see Fly Oya achieve even greater success as we move forward together.”
Fly Oya’s Chairman, Osama Aboukraza, stated, “We are thrilled to join hands with Sky One, a well-established and highly respected leader in the aviation industry. This partnership opens many new opportunities and possibilities for us. Together, we aim to enhance our services and continue providing exceptional experiences to our passengers. The future looks promising, and we can’t wait to embark on this journey and grow with Sky One.”
Uplift Airport Services SRL is an independent Ground Handling Company, fully licensed to provide full services for passengers and aircrafts, such as: ramp, cargo, ticketing, and catering handling services along with general aviation services for various types of flights, including business, VIP, and military operations. Uplift’s commitment is to ensure seamless and efficient airline operations across the board. With its comprehensive range of aviation services, Uplift has earned a reputation for excellence in passenger and aircraft handling. Their dedicated team of over 200 employees provides essential support to airlines, ensuring seamless operations from passenger check-in and baggage handling to cargo services, catering, and even aircraft de-icing.
Commenting on the alliance, Mr. Jaideep Mirchandani, Chairman of Sky One, said, “We see this association as part of Sky One’s commitment to offering a one-stop solution to airlines of all sizes. We believe that Uplift Airport Services would be the perfect addition to the company portfolio. The expansion would represent a significant step forward in our expansion plans and aligns with our mission to provide a comprehensive suite of services to airlines worldwide. We are confident that this partnership will not only boost our growth but also enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry.”
With Uplift Airport Services under its wing, Sky One aims to elevate its aviation services offering.
General Manager Catalin Ilie of Uplift Airport Services SRL said, “Our team is excited to work on becoming a part of the Sky One Group. Uplift Airport Services is driven by an uncompromising commitment to safety, reliability, on-time performance and personalized customer service which match the ethos of Sky One synonymous in the aviation industry with excellence, versatility, and unwavering commitment. Being part of a reputed group opens vistas to overseas business that we aspire to be part of.”
“Sky One will continue to pursue its strategy of expanding organically as well as through acquisitions. Our Unique Selling Proposition (USP) lies in our dedication and unmatched support for the growth of aviation companies. More than an aviation conglomerate, we are a strategic partner ensuring the smooth and efficient running of airlines. We expect to have many more exciting announcements in the coming weeks.” Mirchandani added.
ECS Group’s Niger Air Cargo reinstated its weekly B747F service on 08 October 2023, resuming the sole, direct full-freighter connection from Europe to Niger. Despite the difficult circumstances currently, it envisages a swift return to previous year volumes and foresees a stable 2024.
More than 150 tonnes of cargo capacity per month are back in the air now that Niger Air Cargo has resumed its weekly B747F flights from Liège (LGG), Belgium to Niger’s main cargo hub, Niamey International Airport (NIM). The recent disruption to air cargo when the military coup in Niger led to the temporary closure of its airports and airspace, has been alleviated.
Niger Air Cargo’s weekly B747F freighter services were reinstated on 08 October 2023. The airline offers a unique and thus crucial cargo link not only to Niger’s domestic market, but also to neighbouring Nigeria and Mali. It regularly transports agricultural products, raw materials, apparel, and healthcare products. Particularly during the pandemic, Niger Air Cargo’s leased B747 was instrumental in ensuring that medical and relief goods could be brought into the country. The airline also provided temporary cargo import solutions during the recent difficult circumstances.
“Given that Niger is a land-locked country, functioning air cargo plays a key role in keeping supply chains running. Niger Air Cargo is still the sole provider of a full-freighter solution into Niger, and our dedicated ECS cargo team at Niamey Airport goes above and beyond to ensure that our customers – many of whom have been with us since 2011 – are reliably and professionally supported in their business processes,” says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. “Demand to Niger is quickly recovering to previous year levels and looks equally promising as we head into the new year. Thanks go to our Niger Air Cargo team which continues to prove its resilience and flexibility in the face of unpredictable challenges.”
Niger Air Cargo flies from Liège (LGG), Belgium to Niamey (NIM), Niger every weekend. Enquiries and reservations can be made through the Niger Air Cargo team at Niamey International Airport (NIM), which manages all flight operations:
The 2nd edition of the Saudi Airport Exhibition (SAE) is all set to be another highly successful B2B platform when it opens its doors for a two-day run on 19 and 20 December and at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC) with over 250 global companies expected from over 50 countries along with over 250 regional buyers.
In its debut edition, SAE attracted over 150 exhibitors from 25 countries who showcased their products and services to airport industry professionals in the Arabian Peninsula’s largest and most populated country.
Sponsors
The only airport-dedicated event in the Kingdom is being organized by Niche Ideas and NCX with Matarat Holding, the General Authority for Civil Aviation’s arm that transforms and promotes Saudi airports, as the Platinum Sponsor, and leading Saudi local organizations, including APSCO, METCO, SGS, and Saudi Sicli as Gold Sponsors, and Ground Handling Logistics as Badge Sponsor.
“As a premier global airport development event, we will once again highlight the impressive aviation growth, technologies and business expansion opportunities over this decade in the Kingdom which remains amid a massive socio-economic and infrastructural transformation with its economy crossing the US$1 trillion mark for the first time in history, ahead of its 2025 target,” noted Daksha Patel, Event Director, Niche Ideas.
The fastest growing tourism market in the G20 has set for itself the goal of handling 330mn passengers and 4.5mn tons of air cargo by the end of this decade, along with having a 250-plus destination connectivity from across its 29 airports, of which the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah is getting expanded to accommodate 80mn passengers by 2035.
Industry trends
In eleven sessions over two days, the Global Aviation Issues Conference, a co-located event, will see experts and specialists from across the world speaking about the Current State and Future of Aviation: Regional and Global Connectivity, Airline Industry Trends and Challenges, Regulatory Frameworks and International Cooperation, Emerging Technologies in Aviation, and Air Cargo and Logistics.
On the second day, the focus of discussions will be on Digital Transformation and Aviation 4.0, Aviation Security and Cybersecurity, Human Capital and Workforce Development, Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Aviation, Resilience and Crisis Management in Aviation, and Collaborative Approaches to Aviation Problem-Solving.
Airport Excellence Awards
By presenting the Airport Excellence Awards to 15 entities as winners and runners-up, the event will celebrate the outstanding best practices and exemplary contributions across a broad range of airport products and services, including Infrastructure Expansion, Sustainability and Environment, Ground Support Solutions, Innovation and Technology, and Passenger Experiences.
Another co-located event will be the Women in Aviation (WIA) General Assembly celebrating its 10th anniversary. This by-invitation event will host over 500 attendees, including key Saudi government officials, aviation leaders, senior women officials and managers working in aviation across the Middle East region, top female students at Saudi colleges and HR managers from regional aviation businesses and government entities.
Fostering Legacy in tandem with Empowering MSMEs in the Digital Era
The third well attended and highly successful Annual GWC Forum, entitled ‘Fostering Legacy – Empowering MSMEs in the Digital Era’, was a major success, attracting a high-level audience of experts from the Government, the private sector, and academia from Qatar and the region.
The event was held over two days in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and QNB (Qatar National Bank) Group. Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) was the research partner, while Oxford Business Group was the intelligence partner, and Q-Live was the gift partner.
Ahead of the forum, GWC and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announced a cooperation agreement with which will see the entities work together to support MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in Qatar.
Global Supply Chain had a ringside view of this mega event and proceedings and was able to report first-hand, up close and personal on all developments. The tag team of Jason Verhoven, Publisher and Malcolm Dias, Editor, flew to Doha Qatar at the invitation of the GWC Group.
Hybrid Forum
The hybrid forum, which was moderated by Al Jazeera Network’s Senior News Anchor, Emily Angwin, and streamed live on YouTube, featured keynote speeches, panel sessions, and workshops. Delegates explored the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and discussed how Qatar’s enterprising spirit will inspire growth across the region as the nation builds towards National Vision 2030.
“This is an exciting time for MSMEs in Qatar. As we work towards Qatar National Vision 2030, we are seeing strong growth and expansion as the country prioritises the development of the private sector,” stated Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
Events like the GWC Forum highlight the important role MSMEs are playing in boosting local and regional economies as businesses continue to leverage Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup and position themselves to support future mega events. This year’s forum shone a light on innovation, digital growth, and the potential of AI to supercharge businesses and help them achieve new heights.
“I would like to thank our strategic partners for their unwavering support. By continuing to work together, we will provide a strong foundation for MSMEs to flourish,” continued Menon.
Keynote speech
The event kicked off with a keynote speech from Dr Hamad Mejegheer, Executive Director of Advisory & Incubation, QDB (Qatar Development Bank). Dr Hamad spoke about the landscape for MSMEs and outlined the various financial and advisory products QDB has developed to support enterprises in Qatar.
“Qatar’s journey in hosting the FIFA World Cup was nothing short of remarkable – transforming a sporting tournament into a cultural event that resonated globally and left a lasting impact on our country that accelerated the growth of our entrepreneurship eco-system,” asserted Dr. Mejegheer.
Panel 1
The first panel session, entitled ‘Enabling Growth’, explored the impact of the FIFA World Cup on regional growth and sustainability, with particular focus on empowering MSMEs through sustainable logistics, the circular economy, education, and attracting foreign investment for long-term prosperity. Panellists included Syed Maaz, Chief Business Development Officer GWC; Dr Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor in Sport Management, HBKU; Eng. Salim Al Thuhli, CEO, Khazaen Economic City, Oman; and Joelle Yazbeck, Regional Coordinator ICC United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ESCWA.
“The World Cup was a major milestone for Qatar and GWC. Qatar delivered the best-ever World Cup – and GWC delivered a strong backbone logistical support. There was not a single failure or incident. During 2022, we also saw the launch of Al Wukair Logistics Park, which was a significant milestone in the country’s vision to create a diversified economy, opening the door for MSMEs to participate,” stressed Maaz.
“Historically, Qatar has been an importer of goods – but now MSMEs are being creative and developing opportunities to supply and provide various activities, and we are proud to be part of this ecosystem,” he added.
Appetite for sporting events
“In 2027, we have the Basketball World Cup, then the Asian Games in 2030, and of course, the Asian Cup in two months’ time. There remains an appetite for these sporting events across Qatar and the region,” noted Dr Anagnostopoulos.
Eng. Salim Al Thuhli spoke in detail about the economic development zone, which is strategically located on the Muscat-Batinah Expressway, in the most densely populated part of the country.
“Khazaen is a big city and has become part of greater Muscat. It is only 30 minutes from the airport and close to highways, seaports, and borders with both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which opens different markets to MSMEs. About 80% of the Omani population is located within a two-hour drive of this strategic location,” he observed.
Digitisation
“The World Cup not only reinforced digitisation – it also extended beyond e-commerce to include data collection and data analytics. We witnessed that through access devices supported by QR codes and digital platforms collecting data. These strengths are here to stay and will gain more momentum with time,” affirmed Ms. Yazbeck
“MSMEs will have to learn to embrace digital technology and leverage data collection and data analytics to better understand their customers and improve their experiences to the point where they will eventually be able to make better decisions and enable growth. When we look at the diversification from an oil economy to a knowledge economy, we need to realise that data is the new oil – and you must know how to leverage this,” she further said.
Panel Session 2
The second panel session, titled ‘Digital MSMEs’, explored tech and innovation to boost MSMEs in the digital era, leveraging AI, exceptional customer experiences, and e-procurement for better service, increased sales, and operational efficiency, leading to prosperity in the digital landscape.
Contributors included Jawaher Al Khuzaei, CMO, GWC; Aysha Al Romaihi, Manager of Special Programmes, QDB; and Mohammed Al Delaimi, Founder and Managing Director, SkipCash.
“AI is not a new thing – it was a term coined in 1957 and has been developing ever since. Nowadays, it’s affecting every industry. In marketing, it is affecting social media and digital media – people are using Chat GPT to enhance content. Research that might have taken two hours now takes seconds. AI is also helping in terms of targeting the right audience. AI when combined with data analytics – if you put them both together – this is the future,” stressed Jawaher Al Khuzaei.
Adopting technology
“We encourage entrepreneurs to adopt technology and digitise their businesses as much as possible. We also have a strong ecosystem to help digital start-ups, including sport tech, fintech, and fashion. Sponix Tech is one of our success stories. They were part of the 2022 World Cup as they provided solutions to international broadcast channels – and they are a major inspiration to other companies in Qatar,” explained Aysha Al Romaihi.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Al Delaimioutlined why his business is dedicated to supporting MSMEs. “We focus on MSMEs because they are underserved by the banks. A simple solution – like a payment gateway or link – usually takes two months to create but with us, it’s created on the same day. Also, as MSMEs are so active, they give us a lot of feedback, which helps us to continually update and improve our platform. After two years, we are working with almost 1,000 MSMEs, helping them grow. We are also starting to see bigger enterprises approaching us, along with government entities,” he pointed out.
On day two of the forum, the ‘Future Ready MSME Workshop’ presented a strategic approach for businesses preparing to navigate upcoming challenges effectively. Following a keynote speech from GWC, HBKU delivered a data-rich and interactive workshop focused on the opportunities and challenges facing MSMEs.
Digital DEWA’s Moro Hub and SAP to host Public Cloud on Zero-Carbon Data Centre
Partnership aims to bring SAP’s public cloud services to the world’s largest solar-powered Green Data Centre of Moro
Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, has announced a potential collaboration with SAP, a global leader in cloud computing. The announcement was made at Dubai Business Forum 2023, organised by Dubai Chambers.
This partnership aims to bring SAP’s public cloud services to the world’s largest solar-powered Green Data Centre of Moro, situated at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This groundbreaking step opens doors for both public and private sector organisations in the UAE to reduce their environmental footprint by leveraging SAP’s cloud solutions that will be hosted by Moro.
“With the potential integration of SAP’s public cloud offering into Moro Hub’s zero-carbon data centre in Dubai, both public and private sector entities in the UAE stand to unlock opportunities for minimizing their environmental impactand contributing to a sustainable future. This strategic move aligns seamlessly with the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development and underscores the important role of technology in driving this agenda forward,” observed HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Unlocking potential
“SAP, Digital DEWA and Moro Hub believe that focusing on sustainability offers an opportunity for companies to become more efficient by enhancing current operations and unlocking potential through new business models,” asserted Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, SAP Middle East and Africa – South.
“This association between Moro Hub and SAP if implemented will revolutionise digital advancement and sustainability in the UAE,” stated Marwan Bin Haidar – Vice Chairman and Group CEO, Digital DEWA.
The strategic partnership between DEWA and SAP started in 2009 when DEWA implemented SAP Wave 1 for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to measure, integrate, and automate all DEWA’s processes to provide high levels of service to its customers, employees, and partners., a press communique concluded.
Deal for providing cutting-edge technology solutions
ZAJEL courier serviceshas achieved yet another significant milestone with DPWorld.
This agreement aims to enhance the efficiency and streamline the movement of shipments through the integration of advanced digital solutions.
This transaction is centered on enhancing technology within the shipping industry, with the goal of improving and streamlining operations. This underscores Zajel’s commitment to harnessing advanced technology to significantly enhance the quality of shipping services, marking a pivotal step towards a more efficient and technology-driven processes.
Key components
One of the key components of this agreement is the implementation of ERP integrated cargo flows solutions. This software solution will revolutionize processes by providing a unified platform to manage all operations. By increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and control, this integrated software solution will enable ZAJEL to minimize risks and disruptions, ensuring a seamless experience for their customers, according to a press communique.
Present at the signing deal wereAyaz Maqbool, Group VP, Digital Product Sales, DPWorld, and Nabeel Al Kharabsheh, General Manager, ZAJEL.
“This collaboration will undoubtedly elevate our services and enable us to provide an unmatched experience to our customers,” remarked Al Kharabsheh.
This agreement between ZAJEL and DPWorld marks an important step forward in the courier and logistics industry. By leveraging advanced digital solutions, both companies are poised to revolutionize logistical operations and set new benchmarks in efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The parties will collaborate to establish a Centre of Excellence
Riyadh Air and Microsoft recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to drive innovation and sustainability across Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, according to a press communique.
As part of the agreement, Riyadh Air has selected Microsoft’s trusted Azure cloud platform as its preferred platform for accelerating digital transformation and will leverage the highly secure, scalable, and reliable platform to improve operational efficiency and customer service.
The announcement will see both organizations collaborating to leverage the potential of cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, copilot experiences, the Metaverse, and Virtual Reality to enhance Riyadh Air’s offerings, services, and operational models.
Solution capabilities
“By embracing Microsoft’s platform and solution capabilities, we aim to build a unique customer and employee experience and expedite our progress in achieving our sustainability targets,” remarked Adam Boukadida, Chief Finance Officer, Riyadh Air.
Riyadh Air and Microsoft will also jointly establish a Centre of Excellence that will provide a structured framework for driving innovation and delivering substantial business benefits for both organizations. The partnership also sees both parties forming a dedicated board that will actively drive efforts in line with the Kingdom’s national sustainability agenda.
“In adopting a cloud-first approach, Riyadh Air is paving the way for the creation of intelligent new solutions that will not only reimagine new ways of working and doing business but also revolutionize the experiences of its employees and customers,” commented Turki Badhris, Acting General Manager, Microsoft Arabia.
HH briefed on the operational and technical capabilities of the Depot
HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, recently toured the Etihad Rail Depot in Al Mirfa City, to inspect the progress of network operations in Al Dhafra Region.
Upon arriving at the station, HH was welcomed by Shadi Malak, CEO, Etihad Rail, along with other senior company officials, according to a press communication.
Sheikh Hamdan commenced his visit touring the operation control centre, where he was briefed on the operational activities and progress of the Etihad Rail freight train, which has built a reputation for efficiently transporting substantial quantities of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to the port of Al Ruwais, since 2016.
Critical function
While touring the Etihad Rail site, HH was also briefed on the operational and technical capabilities of the Al Mirfa Depot, which serves as a critical function of the UAE National Railway Network and is poised to support sustainable economic growth in the UAE, particularly in regions such as Al Dhafra where the train are operational.
The cadres included several graduates from the first railway diploma in the UAE, a programme launched by Etihad Rail in 2017 in partnership with Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ADVETI).
Qualified national cadres
The programme aims to train qualified national cadres for a career in the railway transport sector. As a result of this programme, graduates now hold full-time positions at Etihad Rail, serving in critical roles such as Emirati Train Captain and Train Controller amongst other roles.
“The network’s benefits and impact on the socio-economic and developmental aspects of the Al Dhafra Region are evident. Today, Al Dhafra is working closely with other emirates regions within the national blueprint for economic resource diversification,” affirmed Sheikh Hamdan.
Company delivered a robust revenue of AED 1.3bn in Q3-2023
Aramex released its financial results for the third quarter of the year ending September 30, 2023. In the third quarter of 2023, Aramex sustained its performance with Group revenues amounting to AED 1.35bn, according to a press communique.
The quarter bore testament to the Company’s enduring resilience, as evidenced by a noteworthy 4% YoY increase in Gross Profit and a resilient EBITDA of AED 134mn for Q3-2023.
Net profit
The company reported a net profit of AED 9.6mn in Q3-2023, a notable decline from AED 39.6mn recorded in Q3-2022.
Aramex’s strategically diversified geographical presence remains a key advantage, with the GCC region consistently leading the way by contributing a remarkable 40% of the Group’s total revenues.
“Our focus on cost optimization has been pivotal in maintaining steady operating margins, even amidst the challenges posed by currency fluctuations and the interest rate environment,” noted Othman Aljeda, CEO, Aramex.
Recent seafarers’ surveys showing decline in happiness
The recently concluded 5th Tristar ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference was very timely following the recent disclosure of the 3rd quarter 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index which showed a decline. The report shows an overall fall in seafarer happiness to just 6.6 out of 10, compared to 6.77 in Q2-2023 and 7.1 in Q1-2023.
“The annual ‘Safety at Sea’ event is Tristar’s contribution to seafarers around the globe, a robust platform to discuss and implement an ecosystem that will enable all seafarers to stay healthy and alive and for them to identify with symptoms of depression and to encourage them to seek care or counselling, or simply talk to a colleague,” explained Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne.
In this year’s edition, five panel discussions were conducted on Safety Culture, Health Issues, Happiness and Well-being, Innovation in Seafarer Health, and Planning for the Future. The speakers were Sarah Waite of Shell; Capt. Simon Hodgkinson of West P&I; Capt. Hari Subramaniam of The Ship Owners Club P&I; Fr. Kent Middleton of Mission to Seafarers; Yiannis Fafalios of Care4C; Charles Watkins of MHSS, and Alexander Dimitrevich of MH & CS.
As a follow-up to the inaugural ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference in 2019, the Tristar Maritime Logistics Team organised a series of townhall-styled Psychological First Aid (PFA) workshops in Mumbai, India, for Vessel Masters and other senior officers.
“We stay in constant contact with seafarers on our vessels, with regular onboard visits and monthly phone calls. They are empowered to communicate directly with shipowners and managers, as well as the Sailors’ Society, to raise any concerns,” Mayne concluded.
GWC and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) have signed a cooperation agreement to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The agreement was signed during the GWC Forum 2023 by Rajeswar Govindan, Chief Operating Officer, GWC, and Dr Hamad Mejegheer, Executive Director of Advisory and Business Incubations, QDB.
GWC is Qatar’s No. 1 logistics and supply chain solutions provider, while QDB is committed to developing and empowering Qatari entrepreneurs and businesses to innovate and compete internationally while contributing to Qatar’s economic diversification and the development of its private sector.
Rajeswar Govindan, Chief Operating Officer, GWC, said: “The cooperation between GWC and QDB will strengthen our offering to MSMEs across the country and help to boost the local economy as we build towards Qatar National Vision 2030. Both our companies are committed to supporting start-ups, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes as we grow the economy and continue to leverage the hosting of mega events like the FIFA World Cup.”
Dr Hamad Mejegheer, Executive Director of Advisory and Business Incubations, QDB, said: “We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership to support businesses across Qatar. This agreement will play a significant role in building synergies between our organisations as we collaborate closely with businesses of varying sizes. This is yet another commitment to developing Qatar’s economy as we work to achieve the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
As part of the agreement, GWC will provide preferential rates for logistics solutions to businesses affiliated with QDB. GWC will also offer accommodation solutions, provide logistics consultation services, offer preferential rates for UPS services to QDB staff and clients, and facilitate a holistic offering for QDB clients engaged in export services. The two companies will also explore future collaboration opportunities related to incubation and acceleration programmes, forums, and events.
Saud Al Emadi, Senior Manager, Business Transformation, GWC, said: “Partnering with QDB illustrates GWC’s ongoing commitment to supporting new and existing businesses in Qatar. Our combined expertise is sure to benefit a range of enterprises and help to further develop the local economy.”
IVECO and Muscat Overseas Equipment and Trading Company LLC (MOET) presented the new IVECO Heavy Range, launching the IVECO T-Way, the toughest vehicle engineered for the most extreme off-road missions thanks to its perfect combination of robustness, reliability, and comfort.
After the partnership stipulated on the 14th of December 2022, appointing Muscat Overseas Equipment and Trading Company LLC as official dealer in Oman, IVECO and MOET unveiled, in a dedicated event held on the 7th of November at the Crowne Plaza Muscat, the new IVECO Heavy Way range presenting the IVECO T-Way, the offroad vehicle designed and engineered for the toughest missions in the most extreme conditions.
During the event, the morning session was dedicated to truck sector specialised journalists, highlighting the market opportunities MOET and IVECO intend to seize with the new IVECO T-Way. During the evening, instead, focus was entirely on customers and local authorities, as well as the welcome participation of the Italian Ambassador in Oman, his excellency Pierluigi D’Elia.
More than 200 guests attended the official launch, assisting to corporate and product presentations. Everyone had the possibility to view all the technical features of the new heavy-duty range and appreciating the significant new innovations in the IVECO trucks. During the vehicle walk around, IVECO product experts were at hand to explain the new features and how the IVECO T-Way is best suited and designed for Middle East region market conditions.
Shahram Falati, IVECO Middle East & Africa Business Director, said: “With this event we are happy to introduce the new IVECO Heavy Range “DRIVE THE NEW WAY” in the Sultanate of Oman with the support of our new official partner Muscat Overseas Equipment Trading Co LLC. This partnership confirms our aim to consolidate the IVECO presence in Middle East through an excellent after sale services and commercial coverage. The launch of the IVECO T-Way brings into the market a new generation of advanced fuel efficiency, versability, performance, and livability. This event is another clear sign of IVECO driving the road of change”.
Marco Torta, Area Manager for Middle East, commented: “IVECO has a strong presence in the Sultanate. In this market we have successfully sold around 1,000 heavy trucks (Trakker) in the past 10 years and I am confident that the new IVECO T-Way and IVECO S-Way will be appreciated by our old and new customers specially concerning reliability, strength, and the high adaptability to match any mission”.
Mr. Bala T Chatoth, CEO of Muscat Overseas, said “Starting our journey in 1972 we have successfully demonstrated our commitment in establishing ourselves as an equipment solutions provider with unmatched after sales support and with the new partnership with IVECO we would like to keep our bench mark high in meeting customer expectations providing them the right truck for the right application to achieve the business goals of our stake holders”.
IVECO T-Way: the most reliable and productive heavy-duty truck to face the toughest challenges The IVECO T-Way builds on the heritage of robustness and reliability of the brand’s long lineage of champion off roaders. It introduces state-of-the art technological solutions to exceed all expectations in productivity, payload capacity, safety and driver comfort. These characteristics of extreme toughness, high performance and reliability are clearly expressed by the theme of the advertising launch campaign: “TREAT IT BAD”. “T” FOR TOUGH: designed and engineered for robustness and reliability.
The IVECO T-Way has been designed to offer best-in-class performance in every off-road mission, robustness and torsional rigidity. It carries over from its predecessors the legendary robustness of the high-resistance steel chassis with a 10mm thick frame, with a Rail Bending Moment at the top of the segment at 177 kNm. The front axle has a maximum capacity of up to 9 tonnes. Hub reduction on the rear axle is standard to maximize strength and performance.
The new heavy-duty rear suspension system for Tandem axles optimises vehicle weight and improves off-road performance with greater ground clearance and a better departure angle. The IVECO T-Way delivers all the power needed for traction and PTO with IVECO’s reliable and efficient Cursor 13 engine (13 litres) that develops up to 470 horsepower. The engines are coupled with the proven 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, which now also features new functions specifically intended for off-road mobility including a Hill Holder function to help departure on steep slopes, Rocking Mode to help recover traction in slippery conditions and Creep Mode for ultra-low speed when idling; for the on-road sections of the mission, the Ecoroll, function that uses the vehicle’s inertia when travelling downhill enhances the transmission’s efficiency.
HI-TRONIX represents the state-of-art in the automated transmission sector and delivers the perfect gearshift strategy for every application. PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY: Carrying over the strong Trakker heritage with even bigger payload The IVECO T-Way has been designed for efficiency and productivity, with a host of features and lower kerb weight. The low kerb weight has been further reduced by 325 kg compared to the Trakker with the new design of the tandem support on the rear axles, which is now a single-piece casting component. EXTREME FLEXIBILITY: the most conversion-friendly off-road truck The IVECO T-Way is set to become a favourite of body builders for its extraordinary flexibility. With both rigid and articulated versions, it has the widest offering of driveline options on the market: Partial Wheel Drive on 6×4 rigid and articulated and 8×4 rigid models; as well as All Wheel Drive on 4×4 and 6×6 rigid and articulated, and on 8×8 rigid versions.
The vehicle is designed to provide maximum protection, with safety features which far exceed the type-approval requirements. The new braking system features EBS as standard, full disc brakes are available on PWD models across the range. IVECO WAY RANGE: a complete line-up for every heavy-duty mission. Today’s launch presents the IVECO Way Range, which now offers an extensive heavy line-up of first-rate vehicles for every mission:
IVECO T-Way the toughest vehicle on the heavy market that takes performance, reliability and versatility to the extreme;
IVECO S-Way ON for long haulage on highway where fuel economy is key;
IVECO S-Way ON+ for regional and light off-road mission. The perfect trade-off between performance and reliability;
IVECO S-Way OFF the junction between S-Way and T-Way which replaces Trakker 4×2 rigid and articulated.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, the Germany-based full-service provider, has acquired the remaining minority shares of its partner companies in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. With the complete takeover of the three companies, Hellmann completes another important step in its growth strategy and strengthens its position in the Baltic market. At the same time, the acquisition complements the logistics provider’s network in Northern and Eastern Europe.
Hellmann has been present in the Baltic market with three companies since their establishment in 2007 and 2008. As part of the acquisition, Hellmann is now taking over all shares from the current managing partners, who will continue to run the national companies and thus not only ensure the seamless continuation of business activities, but also contribute their local expertise to the successful further development of the organisation. The full integration into the existing global Hellmann network will significantly expand the product portfolio, which in the Baltic region has so far focused primarily on road transport of full and part loads and is expected to be extended to other segments in the future.
“The Northern and Eastern European market plays an increasingly important role in Hellmann’s strategy. The previous acquisitions in Europe combined with the acquisitions in the Baltic States allow us to expand our strategic network and to develop faster and more efficient solutions for our customers,” says Piotr Zaleski, Regional CEO East Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Over US$10 billion ME cables, wires and tubes industry reaps growth dividends from infrastructure growth
Robust oil and gas, construction and manufacturing sectors pave way for higher growth and investments
Increased export focus leads 132 regional companies (incl. India) to take part in wire2024 & Tube 2024 in Dusseldorf across a cumulative area of 7.294 sqm.
The estimated over US$10 billion Middle East wire, cables and tubes industry reaping the dividends of infrastructure growth in the region is looking at enhancing their export potential further by participating in world’s leading twin trade fair, wire 2024 and Tube 2024 in Dusseldorf from April 15-19 next year.
Addressing a press conference, a spokesperson for Messe Dusseldorf GmbH, organisers of thetwo fairssaid 132 companies from the Middle East and India have confirmed participation, including 12 from the UAE and 110 from India, joining their global counterparts to tap into the opportunities presented by the global market estimated to grow from US$330 billion in 2021 to over US$420 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 5 per cent.
“With robust and exponential growth in the development of infrastructure in sectors such as oil and gas, telecom, construction and industrial manufacturing, the Middle East is now a sweet spot for the wires, cables and tubes industry. The wire 2024 and Tube 2024 will be a platform and vantage point for ME companies to showcase their strengths and partner with global companies to take the industry forward with innovation and sustainability, “said Friedrich Georg Kehrer, Global Portfolio Director, wire / Tube and Flow Technologies, Messe Dusseldorf GmbH.
He said Middle Eastern companies have taken a cumulative exhibition space of 1.142 sqm this year.Exhibitors from the UAE includingDucab which exports over 60 per cent of its products to 45 markets across the Gulf, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Other participants are from Bahrein, Egypt, Iran and Oman.
The leading global fairs,wire 2024& Tube 2024, will have around 2,000 exhibitors from across 60 countries from the US, Middle East, Central and South America, Asia and Africa, spread across over 1 million sq.ft.
“The Middle East is verysignificant forwire and Tube since large number of trade visitors come from the region. During the last show, we had 2.365 trade visitors, which was 5,5 per cent of the total visitors. Middle East is a dynamic region where companies like Ducab continues to create new benchmarks in growth, innovation and sustainable methods of production,” said Kehrer.
Apart from machinery and equipment for wire, cable, tube production, the wire 2024& Tube 2024 will also showcase processing and end products, technological advancements in pipe processing, forming and blending technology, machinery and equipment etc.
Continental Breathes New Life into Discarded Tyres with Stunning Artistic Display at Dubai Design Week
Continental, a leading innovator in the tyre and technology industry, is set to transform discarded tyres into powerful symbols of human trust in a unique installation named the ‘Circle of Trust’ to be showcasedat this year’s Dubai Design Week from November 7th to 12th.
Through innovative upcycling, Continental demonstrate that utilised tyres can undergo a transformative process, transitioning from discarded waste into an inspiring canvas for both creativity and environmental means. By harnessing the untapped potential of used tyres, Continental pave the way to a cleaner, more dynamic world, and this objective is pursued one tyre at a time.
“We believe in giving discarded tyres a second chance, just as we believe in the power of trust,” said Jose De La Fuente, Managing Director of Continental Middle East. And he added: “The Circle of Trust symbolises our commitment to sustainability and trustworthiness in the tyre industry.”
The artist behind this installation,Moey is a UAE-based conceptual artist who has lived for 15 years in Dubai. His dedication to his adopted home country and a desire to give back through his artistic talent define his creative journey. His work reflects the rich tradition of the UAE as a destination for people from around the world in pursuit of a brighter future. Moey’s artistic approach combines a celebration of diversity, unity, and community involvement, echoing his belief in the importance of inclusivity and shared experiences.
Moey, the creative force of the project, expressed his enthusiasm for building the artistic display by saying: “In these discarded tyres, I find the potential for art to transcend its conventional boundaries. Each inscription is a testament to the trust we place in one another, a beautiful reminder of the deep connections that bind humans together. TheCircle of Trust is about giving new life to the old and celebrating the stories of trust that unite us.”
Visitors to Dubai Design Week will be able to engage with the installation, read the inscriptions, share their stories of trust, and add to the collective narrative. It’s a unique opportunity for individuals to become part of a larger conversation about trust and its significance in their live- visitors are encouraged to add their own stories of trust to the tyres that form part of the display, contributing to both the ever-evolving collective narrative and the art piece itself.
The Circle of Trust encapsulates the different voices that make up the cultural diversity of Dubai. It’s a celebration of unity in diversity, as participants from various backgrounds come together to share their unique perspectives on trust. The project transcends cultural, social, and demographic boundaries, emphasising that trust is a universal thread that connects us all. In doing so, Continental underscores its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity through meaningful, art-driven initiatives.
Continental’s involvement in this project underscores their unwavering commitment to sustainability and their innovative approach to repurposing materials that might otherwise go to waste. By bringing abandoned tyres back to life and highlighting their connection to trust, Continental demonstrates how innovation and art can come together for a meaningful cause.
QNB– the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has been unveiled as a strategic partner for the third annual GWC Forum.
Titled ‘Fostering Legacy – Empowering MSMEs in the Digital Era’, the event will assess the economic impact of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and look at how businesses can prosper, thanks to the advent of innovations, including emerging AI technologies.
The forum will feature keynote speakers, panel sessions, workshops, and networking sessions as GWC reaffirms its commitment to helping MSMEs prosper in Qatar and across the region.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, of GWC, said: “We sincerely thank QNB for supporting the GWC Forum as a strategic partner for the second year in a row. This commitment illustrates their unwavering dedication and leadership when it comes to supporting the growth of MSMEs in Qatar and across the region.”
Commenting on the partnership, Ms. Heba Ali Al-Tamimi, Senior Executive Vice President, QNB Group Communication said: “Our partnership comes in support of the development of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). We believe that the MSMEs are the new drivers of economic growth, as they play an important role in Qatar’s economic diversification, attracting investors from all over the world, which comes in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030’’.
This year’s forum will be held on 8-9 November. It will be broadcast live on GWC’s YouTube channel. To register for the forum, visit www.gwcforum.com
– Ends –
About GWC Group
Established in 2004, GWC has become the No. 1 logistics and supply chain solutions provider in the State of Qatar and one of the fastest growing companies in the region. GWC offers best-in-class logistics and supply chain services that include warehousing, distribution, logistics solutions for hazardous materials, freight forwarding, project logistics, sporting events and equestrian logistics solutions, fine art logistics, supply chain consulting services, transportation, records management, and local and international relocation services. GWC benefits from a global freight network and massive logistics infrastructure spanning over 4 million square meters. GWC was the first Regional Supporter and the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Qatar Airways becomes the Official Airline Partner for The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme
Qatar Airways today announces its commitment as the Official Airline Partner of United for Wildlife (UfW), an initiative working to tackle the illegal wildlife trade and protect endangered species, founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 2014. This prestigious partnership underscores Qatar Airways’ unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation. Qatar Airways and United for Wildlife will pursue campaigns around their shared mission to fight the illegal wildlife trade and advance the work of the United for Wildlife Regional Chapters.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens our global biodiversity, and poses a risk to health and safety, particularly in marginalised communities. We are taking measures to disrupt this illicit trade in order to conserve biodiversity and safeguard our delicate ecosystems. As the Official Airline Partner, we believe that this ground-breaking partnership with United for Wildlife demonstrates our commitment to the Buckingham Palace Declaration and represents another important step in our commitment protecting wildlife. United for wildlife has brought together various businesses in a unique collaborative approach that share the same mission as ours. We remain committed to collaborating with our stakeholders to raise awareness of the impact on the illegal animal trade, working tirelessly to deliver Qatar Airways Cargo – WeQare Rewild the Planet initiative to protect our planet’s most vulnerable species.”
Amanda Berry OBE, CEO of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, said: “As a founding member of our Transport Taskforce in 2016, Qatar Airways has a longstanding partnership with United for Wildlife and has consistently demonstrated commitment to tackling the illegal wildlife trade around the world. They were the first airline to complete the IATA IEnvA IWT certification and have implemented several initiatives to help prevent wildlife trafficking through their network.
“Qatar Airways’ enhanced level of support in their capacity as the Official Airline Partner is another example of their dedication to eradicating this harmful trade and preserving biodiversity for future generations.”
Qatar Airways Cargo launched its WeQare chapter: Rewild the Planet corporate sustainability initiative in 2020. As a part of the initiative, Qatar Airways Cargo encourages the preservation of ecological balance by providing free transportation services to organisations involved in returning wild animals to their natural habitat. One of the notable milestones of this initiative was the successful transportation of seven lions from Ukraine in 2021. This operation demonstrated Qatar Airways dedication to supporting the efforts of NGOs and conservation organisations in their vital work to rewild the planet.
Qatar Airways is the official airline to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation. The certification confirms that an airline has procedures, staff training and the reporting protocols that help with better detection of illegal wildlife products. Qatar Airways Group maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards the transportation of illegal wildlife and products, and has implemented employees to undertake the legal Wildlife Trade Awareness training. This training serves the dual purpose of enhancing knowledge and awareness about trafficking and equipping employees with skills to identify and respond effectively should they encounter trafficking activities.
The airline’s participation in the United for Wildlife Global Summit in Singapore aligns with its sustainability initiatives and responsibilities and encourages other organisations and individuals to join in their commitment to preserving the planet’s precious biodiversity.
GWC Solidifies Its Pledge to Sustainability as a Strategic Partner for Qatar Sustainability Week 2023
Continuing its commitment to making sustainability a priority, GWC has unveiled its commitment through a strategic partnership for the 8th edition of Qatar Sustainability Week (QSW), hosted by the Earthna Centre and scheduled to run from 4 to 11 November 2023.QSW serves as a unique platform to promote the State of Qatar’s National Vision and to showcase the progress that the State has achieved in the area of sustainability.
The week also fosters community engagement with relevant stakeholders in support of this vision. As part of this week, GWC will hosting the third edition of GWC Forum which will take place on 8-9 November 2023. The company will host a number of activities including beach clean-ups and collaborative planting and landscape design projects with students from different schools at EXPO Doha 2023’s family zone.
“We take great pride in leading the industry in delivering sustainable logistics and supply chain solutions to our diverse customer base. Environmental protection is a paramount concern, and at GWC, we view sustainability as a way of life, embedded at the core of our operations.” Remarked Jawaher Al-Khuzaei, Chief Marketing Officer at GWC.
Our association with the Qatar Sustainability Week goes back a long way and we have been champions of promoting sustainability leading to cost-savings for our clients. In fact, even at Expo 2023 we will be providing sustainable logistics solutions, thus continuing our quest to promote both economic and environmental sustainability.” Added Al-Khuzaei.
Shireen Obeidat, Head of Partnerships and Outreach at Earthna Centre commented: “Qatar Sustainability Week facilitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing among various partners and sectors, which contributes towards the achievement of the Qatar National Vision 2030’s sustainable development goals.”
GWC was recently recognised among the top 10 in Forbes ‘Top 100 Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders’ in the logistics and transport category, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to sustainability. Through its various initiatives, such as the paperless processes, vehicle route optimization, reduce-reuse-recycle initiatives, energy conservation (including natural and energy-saving lighting initiatives), and resource consumption optimization, GWC has showcased time and time again that it firmly believes in translating words into actions.
Opening the door to more import opportunities to boost trade
FedEx Express is further enhancing its intercontinental services between Vietnam and the Middle East, with the introduction of a new flight service that offers faster transit time, according to a corporate press communique.
Effective October 31, 2023, the new flight service will use a dedicated B767 freighter flying four evenings a week from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, improving transit time by one business day for importers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. With a total of nine weekly flights now departing from Ho Chi Minh City, shipments will now reach the UAE and Saudi Arabia within two business days.
Saudi Arabia is one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners in the Middle East. Their two-way trade volume reached a value of US$ 2.7bn in 2022, an increase of 32.4% compared to 2021, the press statement observed.
“The transit time enhancement provides importers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with a competitive advantage by helping them build faster and more efficient supply chain networks with businesses in Vietnam. This facilitates trade and boosts the growth of businesses, especially SMEs, in the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” stated Nitin Tatiwala, VP, FedEx Express Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and Africa Air Network
FedEx has been supporting cross-border trade to and from the Middle East since 1989. With the new flight service, businesses in the UAE and Saudi Arabia may gain a competitive edge with expedited delivery times.
Unit will be led by James Mark, in the newly created role of Head of NEV Fluids
PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) has announced the launch of its new NEV Fluids Business Unit to support the research, development, and marketing of lubricant solutions specifically designed for the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Creating an innovative division is responding to the growing demand across EMEA for EVs. It will be led by James Mark, former EMEA Marketing Director, in the newly created role of Head of NEV Fluids.
Considering the fact that the Middle East has awareness on electric vehicles, especially the UAE, where 95% of the population is familiar with the concept of owning an electric car, and 7 out of 10 consumers are interested in learning about the cost-effective aspects of electric vehicles (EVs); as per a study by General Motors.
National Electric Vehicles Policy
Further, the UAE government launched a National Electric Vehicles Policy that aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and outlines a series of measures and targets for the electric vehicle sector. One of the key targets is to have 50% of cars on UAE roads electric by 2050. The Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure’s (MOEI) UAE Electric Vehicle Policy includes having 914 AC and DC charging stations for electric vehicles by the end of 2023, according to a press communique.
Without a doubt, the rise in EVs creates new challenges for the automotive and lubricant industry. Still, PLI is committed to investing resources to be the key global player in this segment and deliver high-performing solutions that meet customer needs.
“I’m excited to lead our research and development teams to engineer the EV fluid solutions for tomorrow, today. I look forward to growing PLI’s NEV Business to become a key global player in this segment,” remarked James Mark, Head of NEV Fluids Business Unit, PLI.
“PETRONAS Lubricants International’s target is to be a top player in the EV Fluids Solutions Industry, and this team will be the catalyst to accelerate us towards this ambition,” stated Alessandro Orsini, Head of Group Marketing and Group Customer Excellence, PLI.
The economies in Asia are growing rapidly and thus contribute a large share to global greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid measures are required to reduce emissions in the logistics and air freight sector as well. BlueBox Systems, one of the leading developers of intelligent air freight tracking solutions, offers a unique opportunity to support the air freight market with a powerful tool to decrease CO2 – regardless of whether it’s a single shipment or all shipments during the year combined. With BlueBox Systems air freight tracking solution, companies are enabled to control and improve their carbon footprint and thus operate more sustainably.
According to the International Transport Forum, goods transport in Southeast Asia will be more than quadrupled until 2050 and double its CO2 emissions. Therefore, it’s not surprising that sustainability is also an issue right now in Singapore, where the transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia is taking place. “In my many conversations with representatives of the industry here at the trade show I can clearly see: many people in the Asian pacific region are looking for ways and solutions – like BlueBox Systems is offering – to reduce their carbon footprint,” recognizes Martin Schulze, CEO of BlueBox Systems, at the transport logistic Southeast Asia and air cargo Southeast Asia.
Besides cost and time, reducing the carbon footprint is part of a balance decision a lot of companies and players in air freight industry have to make. Several factors play a role here: Companies need to know their trade lanes, suppliers, and partners for example. The selected route and the carrier play a key role. If a company wants to minimize its emissions level year to year, it needs to avoid using carriers with outdated fleets. To get this kind of information and to make sustainable decisions, a lot of customers already trust the air freight tracking platform of BlueBox Systems, which is easy to use for everyone along the supply chain.
Besides real-time tracking and data about delays, the system delivers insights on the CO2 emissions for shipments like carbon footprint per item, emission reports, trade lane comparisons and airline and airport performance, to name a few examples. Another information that’s delivered is carbon offsetting. For this point BlueBox Systems is working together with myclimate, a non-profit organization that fights for effective climate protection. BlueBox Systems currently is developing a tool that allows to view the actual CO2 emissions and compensate it with the touch of a bottom. “The visibility of information is always in focus at BlueBox Systems, but it is not an end in itself, it should enable an improvement process,” adds Martin Schulze. “This is also true for carbon footprint measurement. No one has to calculate it manually anymore. We deliver it with one click.”
Swisslog, the global leader in robotic, data-driven and flexible automated solutions has announced its participation at Gulfood Manufacturing 2023, scheduled to take place from November 7 to 9. The event is the region’s definitive destination to see the future of food production from advanced technologies to integrated supply chain solutions and breakthrough developments driving the industry forward. Swisslog Middle East will shed light on how advanced technological solutions, such as automation, can assist companies in adapting to the dynamic landscape of food supply chain challenges, enabling them to navigate changes in production, distribution, and retailing while transforming the food supply chain.
Swisslog will captivate attendees with a live demonstration of its digitalised robotic storage and order processing solution, AutoStore, with its local partners Technica and KUKA, showcasing the complete end-to-end food value chain, from production and robotics to distribution and e-grocery. Moreover, as the demand for e-grocery continues to surge among digital consumers, and more players enter the field, the UAE’s sector is poised to up its penetration rates from 5.5% in 2016 to 13% by 2026. This underscores the imperative for organisations to automate and elevate their operations to effortlessly meet the surging demand for rapid and reliable order fulfilment.
Swisslog’s assortment of data-focused, versatile, and robotic material handling solutions not only enhances productivity and reduces order cycle times but also enables rapid responses to changes. These very characteristics, driven by an engineering dedication to sustainability, lead to a variety of environmental benefits that resonate with the UAE’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Additionally, Swisslog strives to improve supply chain sustainability through energy efficiency and food safety. Manual processes cannot provide the scalability and profitability needed by food manufacturers. With the increasing demand for own-brand labels, prepared foods, and e-grocery, food & beverage warehouses must adapt to efficiently handle numerous SKUs within limited space, accommodating various outbound order types.
Rami Younes, General Manager and Head of Sales, Swisslog Middle East, commented, “With the global population set to grow by 3 billion by 2050, the F&B industry must scale production without magnifying the existing climate, water scarcity, and quality issues. Swisslog has a comprehensive portfolio of solutions to address these challenges. We have worked with global F&B leaders like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Pepsi, successfully executing over 350 projects across 35 countries. At Gulfood Manufacturing, we will showcase the complete spectrum of the food value chain, highlighting our unique capability to provide full-scale solutions.”
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, the largest operator of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the UAE, recently announced that infrastructure work at a cost of approximately AED 330 mn (US$ 90mn) on the development of Abu Dhabi Food Hub, Global Auto Hub-Abu Dhabi.
This project is within Area B1 in KEZAD Al Ma’mourah. These investments are part of AD Ports Group’s 5-year organic capex program of AED 15 bn planned between 2023 and 2027, according to a press communique.
Continuing its philosophy of partnering with the world’s best, KEZAD Al Ma’mourah Area B1 has been master-planned by Parsons. AECOM, one of the world’s largest infrastructure consultancies, has been awarded the design for secondary infrastructure within the Food and Auto Hubs. UAE-based Saif Bin Darwish has been appointed as the contractor for primary infrastructure works that have commenced in Area B1.
Diverse range
The masterplan for KEZAD Al Ma’mourah Area B1 will cater to a diverse range of industries and communities, encompassing several elements, including logistics hub, media hub, light manufacturing, staff accommodation services, social amenities, and more.
“The infrastructure being built for the strategically vital businesses, services and solutions that will be housed there will be state-of-the-art, in the truest sense, adding value to the overall Abu Dhabi proposition as one of the largest and most advanced industrial, trade and logistics ecosystem of the world, in light of the vision of the leadership of the country,” commented Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group.
Partnership
Poised to become the epicenter for food trade, processing, and distribution in the region, the Abu Dhabi Food Hub is being developed in partnership with Ghassan Aboud Group and in collaboration with France’s Rungis International, and aims to ensure food security, food waste reduction, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices.
The Global Auto Hub-Abu Dhabi, another venture being developed in partnership with Ghassan Aboud Group is poised to be one of the largest in the region. The project’s ecosystem will feature dedicated areas for showrooms, storage, spare parts, workshops, test tracks, auction houses, social and office spaces in addition to logistics services, government support and commercial support services, the press note continued.
“The development of the Abu Dhabi Food Hub and the Global Auto Hub – Abu Dhabi, both covering a 3.3 square km each, along with other large scale industrial developments in the area are a testament to the UAE’s commitment to strengthening its food supply chain and bolstering its position as a global trade hub,” remarked Maher Aboud, CEO, Ghassan Aboud Group.
The first commercial flight EY224, operated as a special ceremonial flight to India
As the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways recently operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International’s highly anticipated new Terminal A.
Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A today at 14.35. The flight used one of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, with 359 guests onboard.
Etihad and Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed the guests who made history as they enjoyed the seamless experience of checking in at Terminal A for the first time.
VIPs
The ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders. Among those present were Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO, and Frank McCrorie, Chief Operations Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports.
“As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network,” commented Neves.
“This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as whole. The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector,” remarked Sorlini.
Terminal A is a key pillar of Etihad’s growth strategy, with the capability to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations.
In a collaborative stride forward, global chemical logistics and supply chain specialist Suttons International, and LogChain, the revolutionary digital platform for supply chain management, jointly announce today, the commencement of a digitalisation partnership.
This collaboration, coming on the heels of LogChain’s recent success in facilitating the world’s first fully digitalised cross-border shipment, symbolises a mutual commitment to bolstering digital transparency and scalability in the logistics sector. Suttons International is integrating LogChain’s platform as a pivotal component in their digital transformation journey, further solidifying their position at the forefront of technological innovation in logistics.
Suttons International is revered for its superior customer service, world-class safety standards and value-driven solutions. The adoption of LogChain’s platform underscores a significant step in Suttons’ commitment to spearheading digital innovation within the industry.
Speaking on the collaboration, Andy Deighton, Business Unit Director, UK & Ireland at Suttons International, stated: “The LogChain platform propels our digital transformation initiatives, seamlessly aligning with our clients’ evolving requirements. This partnership enables us to provide an enhanced level of service, marked by heightened digital transparency, scalability, and enhanced efficacy in managing our clients’ supply chain operations.”
Digitalisation, transparency and sustainability are paramount in today’s logistics and supply chain industry. Suttons International acknowledges the need for continued innovation, and with LogChain’s state-of-the-art capabilities, they reaffirm their steadfast commitment to surpassing customer expectations and contributing to global sustainability objectives.
Andrew Baird, Chief Operating Officer of LogChain, commented on the partnership: “We stand at the threshold of an exciting collaboration with Suttons International, a partnership defined by innovation, transparency and sustainable growth. Our ethos is to equip businesses with robust digital frameworks, enabling them to simplify their supply chains while promoting sustainable practices and reinforcing transparency. This partnership is a testament to our commitment and the transformative power of our mission.”
With a shared vision of driving digital transformation in the supply chain industry, Suttons International and LogChain anticipate an impactful collaboration that delivers value for customers and stakeholders alike.
Royal Air Maroc, in partnership with ECS Group in the USA, offers a singular gateway from the States to the world
Globe Air Cargo USA and Royal Air Maroc Cargo have strengthened their long-standing GSSA contract and launched a winter schedule promotion to showcase the airline’s widespread network, including in-demand niche destinations across Africa.
Royal Air Maroc operates regular flights out of three strategically significant American stations to its cargo hub at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). They are New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, and Miami’s International Airport (MIA) and are operated by a Boeing 787-9 with a 15 tons of potential uplift, and a Boeing 787-8 with a 13 tons of cargo capacity. With the start of the winter schedule on 28 October 2023, JFK to CMN enjoys a daily connection operated whilst IAD-CMN is operated up to 5 times a week. From MIA, CMN is served three times a week.
More than 80 international destinations are included in Royal Air Maroc’s flight schedule out of Casablanca. Among them are regular full cargo services operated by the airline’s Boeing 767-300 freighter with a capacity of 45 tons. It flies to Brussels (BRU) in Belgium three times a week, Mali’s Bamako Airport (BKO), twice a week, and offers weekly flights to Ouagadougou (OUA) in Burkina Faso, Nouakchott International Airport (NKC) in Mauritania, and Istanbul Airport (IST) in Turkey.
Royal Air Maroc’s Casablanca cargo hub provides connections to key destinations in Europe and the Middle East, but most notably also across West Africa in which the airline serves 23 cities, including Dakar with daily widebody flights and Lagos with two wide body flights per week and additional narrow body flights, and Bamako, Nouakchott and Ouagadougou with weekly full freighter flights. In the United States, Royal Air Maroc’s network goes beyond its own stations. The introduction of more interlining solutions is on track to expand its coverage, soon encompassing strategic West Coast departure stations within the airline’s network.
“Thus, Royal Air Maroc’s cargo capacity is even more relevant to our American customers looking for a swift freight solution on an established, quality airline,” says Ian Morgan, ECS Group Commercial Director USA. “Similarly, international customers with US-bound shipments can be certain that they will be delivered to their end-destination within a competitive time frame. We offer an extensive interline network and flexible road feeder services to all major US gateways and cities out of our three American airports.”
All types of freight from general cargo to live animals (particularly day-old chicks), perishables, valuables and special cargo are accepted and handled. Royal Air Maroc’s US hubs and its Casablanca homebase are all equipped with the required storage facilities and trained staff and are designed to ensure smooth and fast aircraft to warehouse access. The airline strictly abides by Cargo iQ and IATA standards, and regularly undergoes quality audits.
“Royal Air Maroc celebrated its 66th Anniversary this year – an age we are proud of, and a success that we continuously strive to uphold. For example, Royal Air Maroc was the first African airline to achieve Cargo iQ certification last year, and this year, we became one of just seven airlines worldwide, to have been awarded both IEnvA and IWT certificates – here again, we are the only African airline in that elite group,” states Mr Yassine Berrada, VP Cargo for Royal Air Maroc. “At Royal Air Maroc, we apply method and strategy to providing the ultimate service quality and market solutions, and we measure our potential partners by the same high standards. With Globe Air Cargo USA, our customers are in the best of hands whether their shipments are connecting from the US via our Casablanca hub to our international passenger and freighter network, or flying into the US and connecting to our domestic partner services.”
In Strategic Partnership with MoCI and QNB: Third GWC Forum will focus on empowering MSMEs in Qatar and across the region 25 October
The third annual GWC Forum, titled ‘Fostering Legacy – Empowering MSMEs in the Digital Era’, will be held on 8-9 November in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and Qatar National Bank (QNB). The event follows two successful editions in 2021 and 2022, which attracted more than 800 delegates from 59 countries, including 100 C-suite leaders and more than 150 students.
Held on the build up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the event generated extensive media coverage, including more than 200,000 video views across GWC channels. This year’s forum, which will be moderated by Al Jazeera Network’s Senior News Anchor, Emily Angwin, will focus on the legacy impact of Qatar 2022. Through panel sessions involving industry experts, special presentations, and workshops, the forum will explore how Qatar’s enterprising spirit will inspire growth across the region as the nation builds towards National Vision 2030.
GWC Forum 2023 partners include Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) as the Research Partner, Oxford Business Group (OBG) as the Intelligence Partner, and QLIVE as Gift Sponsor. A host of senior-level speakers will attend the forum, converging to explore the supply chain’s pivotal role in the digital era and discussing the startup and growth enablers for the thriving micro, small and medium enterprises.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “We are committed to supporting MSMEs through every stage of their journey, and this year’s forum will take a deep dive into the development of businesses in Qatar over recent years, how they are benefitting from Qatar’s hosting mega events, and what would enable their growth and sustainability.” The hybrid forum aims to champion and enable MSMEs by sharing insight from the government, academia, financial and technology sectors.
Acme Intralog, the regional leader in warehousing solutions, will highlight the latest AI, automation and robotic warehousing solutions tailored for the food and beverage industry, at the Gulfood Manufacturing from 07-09, November 2023.
According to Navin Narayan, CEO, Acme Intralog: “With the focus on food security and the vision to be self reliant, the Middle East has been seeing large investments in food production using the latest technologies as well as higher capacities being built up. Food distributor warehouses have traditionally focused on having high SKU density and and a high dependence on manual sorting. As production linked warehouses become more dominant we see that our automation solutions based on AI and robotics, can improve space utilization, storage capacity and ensure that the supply chain does not face any bottlenecks.”
Acme has worked with large supermarket chains in the region, having implemented a push-tray-sorter solution for one of the largest chains, to sort over 8,000 trays of fruits and vegetables per hour, destined for various store shelves in the UAE. The company has also set up an innovative distribution center comprising of over 40,000 pallet locations for one of the largest, regional dairy manufacturers in Jeddah. With a high density Automated Storage & Retrieval System (AS/RS) for pallets, combined with an automated truck unloading and WMS storage solution, the customer’s facility is now able to unload 32 pallets from their customized trucks into the automated warehouse in under 3 minutes. The AS/RS can process approximately 160 pallets per hour with minimal human intervention. Acme recently completed a robotic end-of line solution for the same customer in Riyadh, which includes 12 high-speed palletisation zones and rail-guided vehicles that can handle up to 220 pallets per hour.
At Gulfood Manufacturing, visitors to Acme’s stand can experience the key components of a warehouse automation installation, which include case & tote conveyors, palletising robots and Acme’s own Namla, a new generation radio shuttle that can drastically improve pallet storage density for standard pallets of up to 1,500 kg.
Also on display will be part of Acme’s stainless steel conveyor portfolio which is ideal for the F&B sector; and a range of automation components from Acme’s partners, including Habasit conveyor belts, pneumatics by Metalwork, Leuze sensors and bar code readers, Schmalz vacuum components and Axelent machine guarding solutions.
Earlier this year, Acme partnered with Gausium, one of the world-leading providers of AI-powered autonomous cleaning and service robots, to launch an advanced line of robotic cleaning machines in the Middle East. Visitors can experience the efficiency of the cleaning robots at Acme’s stand A3-18 in Hall 3 at Gulfood Manufacturing, hosted in the Dubai World Trade Centre. Acme’s senior team members will be at the stand to meet visitors, understand their warehousing needs and offer the best solutions.
· The new robot picking solution, developed at Mecalux’s technology centre in Barcelona, Spain, will enhance order fulfilment in warehouses and logistics centres.
· The collaborative picking system incorporates Siemens’ pioneering SIMATIC Robot Pick AI technology based on deep learning algorithms to automate the picking process.
Barcelona, 26 October 2023. Mecalux has unveiled a state-of-the-art technological solution to optimise order picking: an innovative collaborative robotic picking system based on the latest artificial intelligence technology.
Mecalux’s new automated solution incorporates Siemens’ SIMATIC Robot Pick AI technology, a groundbreaking vision software that employs deep learning algorithms to significantly streamline picking in warehouses. With artificial intelligence integrated into the programmable logic controller (SIMATIC S7-1500, the collaborative robot (cobot) performs order picking with total autonomy and maximum accuracy.
This novel robotic picking system is the result of a solid alliance between Mecalux and Siemens, which merge their knowledge and experience in industrial automation technologies. The two companies have a long-standing collaboration in implementing technological solutions that respond to the challenges faced by the logistics industry.
Mecalux has launched two collaborative picking solutions: a cobot programmed to safely share workspace with operators and an automated system that works autonomously in high-performance pick stations.
The picking solution, developed at Mecalux’s technology centre in Barcelona, has been designed to operate 24/7 and execute up to 1,000 picks per hour. Cobots can handle a wide range of items, making this technology suitable for businesses from all sectors looking to optimise order processing.
“The technology partnership with Siemens has allowed us to join forces to create a highly flexible, safe and user-friendly robotic solution that adapts to the specific needs of our clients,” says Javier Carrillo, CEO of Mecalux.
A camera positioned above the cobot’s picking box captures a 3D image of the goods to prepare the orders. “The AI algorithm has been pre-trained with millions of items to offer out-of-the-box performance. It’s able to make decisions in milliseconds on robust, collision-free picking positions for products presented completely arbitrarily. One of the key aspects of this solution is that it doesn’t need to know the 3D model of the item in question beforehand. The advanced artificial intelligence algorithm acts as the brain, enabling the smart picking process,” says José Ramón Castro, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries in Spain.
Once the item has been selected, the cobot deposits it in the picking box with high precision, making the most of the available space. Mecalux has devised an algorithm to ensure that the cobot places the goods in the correct location.
Guided by Mecalux’s warehouse management software, the collaborative picking solution can change its gripping system automatically depending on the type of merchandise to be handled. Upon receiving a new box, Siemens’ vision system and AI algorithm identify the items inside and determine the most appropriate way to pick each product.
This algorithm is executed using the most powerful hardware platform that Siemens offers to the market: the S7-1500 PLC range, which, together with the TM-MFP (Technology Module-Multifunctional Platform), is capable of executing artificial intelligence technology. This is achieved while respecting cybersecurity standards, using the SCALANCE X family of intelligent switches.
With the launch of this innovative collaborative picking system, Mecalux and Siemens reaffirm their commitment to delivering cutting-edge technological solutions that improve operational efficiency for their clients.
Saudi LSP is the first in the Kingdom to adopt IRU RoadMasters’ regulations
A new strategic partnership with IRU RoadMasters will enhance the efficiency of Almajdouie Logistics’ operations and ensure its drivers operate in line with international standards.
IRU RoadMasters helps mobility and logistics operators develop, strengthen and manage key workers, especially commercial drivers, with state-of-the-art training and assessment solutions. It certifies professional drivers and provides companies with digital dashboards to monitor and manage drivers’ skill profiles, it was revealed in a press communique.
“We are delighted to be the first company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to implement this leading programme for general cargo transport,” asserted Mohammed Ali Almajdouie, CEO, Almajdouie Logistics.
Significant step
“This collaboration with IRU is a significant step forward for Almajdouie Logistics in our pursuit of operational excellence and ensuring our drivers adhere to global standards. RoadMasters’ certification program will equip us with the necessary tools to monitor and enhance our drivers’ skills profiles, further solidifying our commitment to providing high-quality logistics services,” he continued
“This partnership signifies our collective commitment to advancing the logistics and transport industry. IRU is pleased to equip Almajdouie Logistics with the means to enhance driver skills and certify professionals, ultimately bolstering the company’s operational efficiency and global competitiveness,” asserted Umberto de Pretto, IRU Secretary General.
Multiple advantages
RoadMasters offers multiple advantages to logistics companies, helping them to select the right candidates for specific roles and providing structured data analysis for informed decision-making at various organizational levels. It also enhances business efficiency by addressing skill gaps, reducing training costs through targeted instruction, managing risks, and ensuring compliance.
Moreover, RoadMasters certification demonstrates a commitment to safety, fostering higher customer satisfaction and retention, the press statement concluded.
WestJet Cargo announces the expansion of its cargo services for the Winter schedule, introducing new destinations to its network: Puerto Plata, Bridgetown and Kingston.
WestJet Cargo’s service to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic will be officially re-launched on October 29th, 2023. Cargo services will be offered to and from Puerto Plata, on multiple weekly flights. Each flight will offer a reliable 2-tonne cargo capacity. The rotation for this route is Toronto – Puerto Plata – Toronto. In the Dominican Republic, WestJet Cargo currently provides cargo capacity on its passenger services to Punta Cana from Calgary and Toronto.
Additionally, services to Bridgetown, Barbados, will start on November 8th, 2023. Like Puerto Plata, cargo services will be re-launched since it stopped early 2020. WestJet Cargo will operate 4 weekly flights, offering a cargo capacity of 2 tonnes per flight. The route rotation for Bridgetown will be Toronto – Bridgetown – Toronto.
Lastly, Kingston, Jamaica will also be receiving cargo services, commencing on October 30th, 2023. The carrier will operate 3 weekly flights, each with a 2-tonne cargo capacity. The rotation for this route is Toronto – Kingston – Toronto. In Jamaica, we currently provide cargo capacity on its passenger services to Montego Bay from various Canadian cities.
The commodities transported on all three re-launched routes will mainly consist of perishables and general cargo.
The decision to expand to these destinations was based on the recognized potential of both WestJet’s passenger and cargo businesses and is not dependent on new aircraft.
GWC (Q.P.S.C.), Qatar’s leading logistics provider, announced its third quarter financial results for 2023.
During the nine-month period ending 30th September 2023, the company posted a total revenue of QAR 1,136 million (2% growth YoY), an operating profit of QAR 248 million (12% growth YoY), and a net profit of 168 Million. Earnings per share reached QAR 0.29 for the same period ending 30th September 2023.
“This year, GWC Group embarked on an ambitious journey, exploring new markets, and diversifying its services. These strategic moves are reinforcing Qatar’s position as a regional and global logistics and reexport hub, setting the stage for continued growth and innovation.” Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, of GWC Group stated. Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, remarked, “The unveiling of Phase-2 of GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park, the landmark 1.5 million-square-meter integrated logistics hub, during the third quarter is a major milestone for MSMEs landscape. This aligns with our forward-looking mandate and our commitment to Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Menon continued, expressing pride in GWC’s strategic plan and their significant progress in achieving their goals, with a strong emphasis on innovation and a people-centric approach. He highlighted GWC’s role as the official logistics service provider for Expo Doha Qatar 2023, underscoring the event’s focus on sustainability. The Expo provides an exceptional platform for GWC to showcase its innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, reshaping the logistics landscape. GWC has reached a remarkable milestone, securing a prestigious top 10 position in Forbes ‘Top 100 Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders’ within the logistics and transport category.
This achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability. In addition to its growth and sustainability endeavour’s, GWC conducted its annual blood donation drive last month as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. These blood donation drives reflect GWC’s ongoing support for the Qatar community and its dedication to fostering a culture of social responsibility among its employees.
Qatar Airways Group confirms after 27 years of remarkable service, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive – His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker will be stepping down from his current position as Group Chief Executive Officer effective November 5th, 2023, and will be succeeded by Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer as Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways.
Under H.E Mr. Akbar Al Baker leadership, Qatar Airways has grown to become one of the most recognisable and trusted brands globally, synonymous with customer service quality and the highest of standards. The National Carrier of the State of Qatar achieved an unprecedented seven-time winner of the “World Best Airline” award and its state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, which is under its management and operation, has also been recognised as the World Best Airport.
The Qatar Airways Group’s contribution to helping deliver the best ever FIFA World Cup 2022 showcased to the world its capability, commitment to excellence and its passion for bringing the world together.
CargoTech’s immense versatility within the field of Digitalization is uniquely exemplified by the broad range of products offered by its five air cargo industry and technology companies. Three products currently stand out as the best-selling favorites: Wiremind’s Skypallet, CargoAi’s CargoWALLET, and Rotate’s Sales Cockpit.
Five member companies make up CargoTech: ECS Group’s Cargo Digital Factory, Wiremind Cargo, CargoAi, Rotate, and CharterSync. More than 120 experts with very different focus areas that, combined, are committed to reshaping the air cargo industry digital landscape through innovative products. CargoTech offers bespoke digital solutions for every air cargo business process with the aim to increase efficiency, improve revenues or decrease costs.
One such evergreen is Wiremind’s SkyPallet. What began, in 2017, as a simple volume calculator to empower cargo sales teams to give more accurate shipment quotes, has now substantially evolved to become the end-to-end palletization tool relied on by over 20 international companies. Skypallet simulates the palletization of individual shipments or produces full flight plans in a matter of seconds to optimize capacity, therefore revenues. Aside from SkyPallet’s speed and ever-increasing accuracy, customers also appreciate its ability to produce realistic solutions – particularly when it comes to dealing with complex operational scenarios involving overhangs, elevations, or winged pallets. SkyPallet’s configurability as well as its 3D interactive visual feature are highly appealing, too, since these remove the human error risk and support newcomers, without or with limited operational knowledge, in understanding the cargo they are handling commercially. Proof of Concept studies have revealed an increase in space utilization of 5-15% when using SkyPallet. Given that space equals money in air cargo, SkyPallet is an indispensable asset for airlines, forwarders, GSAs, and GHAs.
CargoAi’s CargoWALLET has quickly gained traction since it was introduced at the start of this year. Absolutely unique as an air cargo FinTech solution, CargoWALLET offers a modern, global, and secure payment solution. It is a highly welcome alternative to traditional, time-consuming, and expensive payment solutions. Embedded within CargoAi’s CargoMART platform, or used as a standalone solution, it is already accessible to more than 12,000 forwarders across the world, enabling them to leverage modern financial technology and pay all their logistics providers on a single platform. CargoWALLET also offers flexible finance to assist with cash flow management and enables “PayLater” agreements in an ever-increasing choice of currencies. With 46 currencies and over 200 integrated payment methods currently supported, no other solution in the industry comes close to what CargoWALLET can offer.
Oman and Etihad Rail Company signs MoU with Emirates Steel Arkan
Deal to transport raw limestone from Oman to the UAE
Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OER), the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Steel Arkan, the UAE’s largest steel and building materials manufacturer, to facilitate the export of raw materials from the Sultanate of Oman to the UAE.
Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OER), the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Network, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Steel Arkan, the UAE’s largest steel and building materials manufacturer, to facilitate the export of raw materials from the Sultanate of Oman to the UAE.
Under this agreement, OER will provide logistics solutions to manage the transportation of raw limestone, which Emirates Steel Arkan plans to import from Oman to its cement factories in Al Ain, UAE.
The MoU was signed by Eng. Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, CEO, OER, and Eng. Saeed Khalfan Al Ghafri, CEO, Emirates Steel, an Emirates Steel Arkan Company.
Enhancing cross border trade
“This agreement represents the vision for this project, which was launched to link the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates and aims to enhance cross-border trade between the two countries, linking centers of manufacturing and production, and connecting import and export points,” commented Engr. Al Hashemi.
“This agreement paves the way for integrated logistics solutions for the transportation of raw materials to and from our cement plant in Al Ain, boosting our operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, this enhances our transport infrastructure and reinforces cross-border supply chains,” remarked Engr. Al Ghafri.
Oman and Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions for Emirates Steel Arkan through annual transportation of 4mn to 6mn tonnes of high-quality raw materials to Al Ain. This ensures Emirates Steel Arkan can produce and export 2-3mn tonnes of finished goods to regional markets each year.
Benefits
The collaboration between OER and Emirates Steel Arkan creates several benefits, most importantly driving the revenues of the mining industry and increasing investments in Omani quarries.
By connecting ports and manufacturing hubs, the railway network will provide quarrying companies in Oman with direct shipping solutions to export their products to regional markets.
The agreement showcases the significance of the rail network as a crucial link in the transport and logistics chain spanning the region, which will attract businesses in both countries and international companies in the region and build long-term commercial partnerships to achieve sustainable economic growth.
As the joint railway network will reduce dependence on cars and trucks, it will also drive transformation towards a low-carbon future, supporting both countries’ objectives to achieve net neutrality by 2050.
Dedicated storefront features locally manufactured products for customers to explore
Amazon Saudi Arabia recently launched a ‘Saudi Made’ storefront on Amazon.sa, featuring thousands of local products certified by the ‘Made in Saudi’ (MIS) program.
Aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the dedicated storefront promotes locally manufactured products to millions of Amazon customers, accelerating the development of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia.
The launch was announced following the signing of a Co-operation Agreement between Eng. Abdulrahman Althukair, CEO, Saudi Exports Development Authority, and Abdo Chlala, Country Manager, Amazon Saudi Arabia, in the presence of HE Bandar Bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia.
The signing ceremony was held at the ‘Made in Saudi’ Exhibition 2023, an annual event that aims to bring Saudi products closer to consumers and businesses.
Saudi Made
Amazon’s new ‘Saudi Made’ store is a curation of thousands of locally manufactured products across a range of categories including health and personal care, grocery, home care, baby care, and beauty, offering a wide selection to customers, a press communique stated.
“Our partnership with Amazon bolsters our commitment to enabling more brands to expand their local manufacturing, while positioning Saudi products and services as the preferred choice for domestic and international consumers,” stressed HE Engr Althukair.
Long-term partnership
“Launching the Saudi Made store is the first step towards a long-term partnership with Saudi Exports that reiterates our commitment to invest in local businesses and SMBs, providing them with the tools and services they need to succeed,” asserted Chlala.
Since the launch of Amazon.sa in 2020, the company has continued to invest in Saudi Arabia, launching services and tools to support local businesses. The company has been coordinating with Monsha’at, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, to empower this segment of the economy, with an aim to host 40,000 Saudi sellers by 2025 on Amazon.sa, the press note concluded.
Yango Targets Worldwide Expansion with Global Operational Office Launch at Dubai Internet City in 2023
● Agreement signed at GITEX Global 2023 to formally welcome Yango to Dubai Internet City
● New operational office to expand technology company’s footprint on a worldwide scale
Yango, a technology company dedicated to enhancing local communities through global innovations, has announced plans for a new global operational office that will be officially opened during the fourth quarter of 2023 in the vibrant business landscape of Dubai Internet City, the region’s leading tech hub and part of TECOM Group PJSC.
The strategic move to establish Yango’s global operational office represents a significant milestone to oversee operations of its myriad services, such as Yango ride-hailing; Yango Delivery, a last-mile delivery solution provider; and Yango Tech, which offers proprietary technologies that enable retailers to transition to an e-commerce framework, in addition to other upcoming initiatives.
The new global operational office will become a catalyst for technological advancements by providing an environment that encourages collaboration and innovation, enabling the company to develop and deliver solutions that cater to the specific requirements of its international clientele. The office will serve as a centre of excellence for Yango’s operations in over 20 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, paving the way for the company to further enrich the tech sector by empowering local talent, fostering innovation, and facilitating knowledge exchange on a global scale.
On behalf of Dubai Internet City, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group signed an agreement with Islam Abdul Karim, General Manager of Yango GCC, and Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Development Officer, Yango, to officially welcome the innovative company to the technology district.
Commenting on behalf of Dubai Internet City, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President – Commercial at TECOM Group, said: “By being based within thriving technology districts such as Dubai Internet City, mobility companies can foster collaboration with global peers, start-ups, and research institutions, as well as access a pool of globally experienced and skilled professionals and diversify into new markets.”
“We are pleased to welcome Yango to leverage our district’s strengths to expand its operations and will continue to align our efforts with strategic visions like Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ to champion exponential growth for our industry. Revolutionising urban transportation is essential to achieve global priorities such as reducing emissions and enhancing mobility options for millions around the world.”
Adeniyi Adebayo, Chief Business Development Officer, Yango, said: “Dubai’s progressive, innovation-friendly business environment, world-class infrastructure, and strategic location make it the perfect choice for Yango to embark on a global expansion and Dubai Internet City, renowned for its role in nurturing the technology and innovation sector for over two decades, emerged as the ideal location for Yango’s new global operational office.”
“Our new global operational office signifies our commitment to expanding our International footprint and bringing innovative technologies that reshape people’s daily lives in the region and beyond”, said Islam Abdul Karim, General Manager, Yango GCC.
Yango’s presence at GITEX Global 2023 highlights its commitment to bringing modern technologies that enhance the everyday lives of people around the world. The company is currently working on an Arabic-speaking, human-like AI-powered assistant called Yasmina – an empathetic companion that executes more than just basic tasks like streaming music or controlling smart home appliances. The assistant is available for beta testing and is being showcased at GITEX Global 2023, for which Dubai Internet City is an Innovation Partner.
Dubai Internet City is the region’s largest tech hub and a cornerstone of Dubai’s digital transformation strategy that for over two decades, has served as a platform for global tech brands, start-ups, and innovators to work, connect, and innovate. The district is home to more than 3,000 customers, including Fortune 500s and SMEs such as Google, 3M, and Microsoft, in addition to 30,000 professionals and entrepreneurs.
Company supports the ‘Made in Saudi’ mission of empowering local businesses
FedEx Express, has showcased its wide range of shipping solutions for local businesses at the ‘Made in Saudi’ exhibition, organized in cooperation with the Saudi Export Development Authority, from October 16 to 19, 2023.
FedEx participation in the exhibition reaffirms the company’s dedication to supporting the ‘Made in Saudi’ mission of empowering local businesses to expand their reach to new global markets, according to a press communique.
SMEs account for 99% of businesses in Saudi Arabia, and help contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objective to increase the country’s non-oil exports to 50% of non-oil GDP To support local businesses and SMEs, FedEx provides enhanced solutions for faster, cost-effective, and more reliable access to major markets worldwide that combine expertise with well-established global air and ground networks.
Faster access
The FedEx International Priority® service gives customers faster access to major markets worldwide, enabling them to meet the urgent demands of overseas customers. In addition, cost-conscious businesses can take advantage of the FedEx International Economy® services which combines the company’s global air network with competitive prices for non-urgent shipments, the press statement continued.
To support the growing demand for cross-border trade in the Middle East, the company also introduced FedEx® Regional Economy services for parcels and freight. Businesses can use these cost-effective intra-Middle East economy road services to ship less time-sensitive goods within key markets in the Middle East.
FedEx has been collaborating with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the ‘Made in Saudi’ programme, to offer the authority’s members customized logistics solutions for their shipping needs, the press note concluded.
Turkish Cargo, successful brand of Turkish Airlines, is chosen as the best air cargo brand of Europe and received “Best Cargo Airline – Europe” award during the Air Cargo News Awards 2023 which was organized for the 39th time this year.
The prestigious Air Cargo News Awards, referred to as the Oscars of the airfreight industry, are established based on criteria including quality, innovation, efficiency, speed, reliability, and vision. These criteria are evaluated through votes cast by cargo actors from across the globe. The award recipients are publicly announced to industry professionals.
On the award, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, stated; “As the Turkish Cargo family, we are once again delighted to be chosen as Europe’s best air cargo brand. This prestigious award and the other global awards we had won throughout the year are significant acknowledgments of our service quality, our innovative standards targeting to exceed the customer expectations, and our sustainable achievements. I would also like to extend my thanks to our colleagues who have contributed to our company’s success. Turkish Cargo will continue to be among the world’s leading air cargo carriers with its wide flight network and perfectionist service concept.”
Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. Within this framework, Turkish Cargo has been innovating by developing pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to meet the needs of its customers and industry partners to deliver sustainable high-end services in a constantly changing world.
Participation aligns with its ongoing efforts to advance digital commerce in the region.
Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated exclusively to e-commerce in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties, has announced its participation in this year’s Expand North Star, the world’s largest event for startups and investors, taking place between 15-18 October 2023 at Dubai Harbour.
Dubai CommerCity’s participation at this event, which is set to host startups from over 100 countries and more than 1,000 investors with a combined total of over US$ 1tn under management to Dubai, which is rapidly emerging as the heart of the world’s digital economy, comes as part of its ambition to connect with some of the world’s most innovative start-ups and showcase its cutting-edge infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, each tailored to meet the requirements of digital commerce businesses, according to a press communique.
Furthermore, the free zone’s participation aligns with its ongoing efforts to advance digital commerce in the region and its commitment to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to drive the growth of Dubai’s digital economy over the next ten years.
“Dubai CommerCity stands as a symbol of progress and innovation in the digital commerce sector, and we look forward to showcasing our advanced infrastructure to up-and-coming businesses looking to grow and succeed in the region and beyond,” remarked Mitch Bittermann, Senior Vice President, Commercials, Dubai CommerCity.
HRH Crown Prince launches Master Plan for New Abha International Airport
The design of the new airport will reflect the architectural identity of the Asir region
HRH Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Prime Minister,and Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, has announced the launch of the master plan for the new Abha International Airport.
The new Abha airport aims to embody a consistent architectural identity with the heritage of the Asir region, transforming it into a prominent landmark in the Kingdom. Its terminal area will expand to 65,000sqm as planned to complete the first phase by 2028, compared to the current 10,500sqm of the existing airport.
This expansion includes the construction of passenger boarding bridges, self-service facilities for streamlined travel procedures, and high-capacity parking facilities.
Travel experience
The design of the new airport will reflect the architectural identity of the Asir region and showcase Saudi culture. This design will offer a distinctive travel experience with high efficiency, ensuring seamless services for visitors and travellers.
The airport’s capacity will increase to accommodate over 13mn passengers annually, a tenfold increase from the current 1.5mn capacity. It will also handle more than 90,000 flights per year, a significant increase from the current 30,000 flights. Additionally, the new airport will feature 20 gates, along with 41 check-in counters with 7 new self-service check-ins.
The new Abha airport is expected to contribute to enhancing the prominence of the Aseer region as an attractive tourist destination. It will also fulfil Aseer’s development strategy and the aviation strategy that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing air connectivity to 250 destinations and transporting 330 million passengers, a press communique concluded.
New aircraft is one of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners set to be delivered this year
Etihad Airways recently welcomed the latest addition to its expanding fleet as a new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
“The arrival of our latest 787 Dreamliner underlines our passion to grow this year by enhancing the quality of our customer experience and the reach of our network,” stated Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways.
“This is all part of our vision 2030 supporting our growth as underlined by the new destinations to Osaka, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf we began operating two weeks ago,” he added.
This aircraft, and the three Dreamliner 787-9s following shortly, are up to 25 per cent more fuel efficient than many comparable aircraft of their size, a press statement concluded.
CEVA Logistics to Use Robots from Boston Dynamics in Cutting-Edge Los Angeles Transload Facility
Robots from Boston Dynamics—Stretch™ and Spot®—to support efficiency, security
135,000-sq.-ft. warehouse aimed at consumer and retail, technology companies
‘One-stop shop’ for customer supply chain needs with improved visibility, speed-to-market
CEVA Logistics, a world leader in third-party logistics, recently opened its 135,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art transload facility. Robots from Boston Dynamics will be used to serve CEVA’s customers at the strategically located site within miles of both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles—two pivotal gateways for global trade and the U.S. economy.
The new transload site is the only transload facility in North America to offer a cross-belt sortation device, enabling 10,000 parcels to be sorted every hour based on preselected variables such as size, color or preferred carrier. The facility caters to automotive, consumer retail and technology companies and was constructed with efficiency and velocity in mind.
Leading innovation and technology solutions CEVA will be one of the first logistics companies in the country to leverage Boston Dynamics’ state-of-the-art Stretch robots to unload hundreds of boxes per hour. The autonomous robots can operate continuously, improving efficiency and preventing safety concerns associated with using manual labor for the same process. Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot is also being used for security, patrolling the site. CEVA is also using One Network’s yard and warehouse management systems to ensure end-to-end visibility for its customers.
CEVA expects to process a total of 26,000 floor-loaded containers during the facility’s first year in operation and to double its capacity within three years. Beyond its impressive capacity, technology and automation, the site was designed to minimize its carbon footprint. Environmental initiatives, including rooftop solar panels and EV trucks powered by renewable energy sources, will be in service by January 2024.
Strategic location for supply chain customers
In addition to leveraging the Los Angeles transload warehouse, supply chain customers will also have access to CEVA’s drayage fleet and dedicated container chassis when moving product from port to warehouse. These offerings can alleviate transportation delays and avoid commonly experienced resource bottlenecks. The site features 50 dock doors and parking for 205 trailers.
Ashfaque Chowdhury, managing director for North America, CEVA Logistics, said: “The addition of our Los Angeles transload facility demonstrates CEVA’s ongoing commitment to expanding our services in North America. The new site builds on our robust network of warehouses across the continent, giving our customers more control and flexibility over their supply chains.”
Provides real-time tracking and tracing available on fedex.com
FedEx Express presented its innovative shipping solutions for the energy industry at the recently concluded Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC) 2023, under the theme ‘Decarbonizing. Faster. Together’.
In the energy industry, the timely shipment of machinery is essential to avoid costly downtime and keep critical equipment running.
To meet the demands of the industry for speed, reliability, and accuracy, FedEx provided value-add solutions that combine a well-established global air and ground network with services such as enhanced transit times with International Priority® (IP), Dangerous Goods (DG) shipping, as well as a dedicated team that offers special handling of the critical shipment.
The wide range of FedEx shipping solutions for the energy industry also includes a dedicated truck fleet utilizing the Middle East Road Network, capable of accommodating diverse customer shipping requirements, ranging from large machinery components to specialized equipment.
Additionally, FedEx offers extended visibility into the transportation of goods with real-time tracking and tracing available on fedex.com, using GPS-enabled trucks and 24/7 network monitoring through a control tower.
World’s largest tech and start-up show attract the best minds
Dubai will unleash a new era of global AI dominance next week, as the UAE hosts the world’s largest tech and start-up show, converging the best minds, future-focused governments, and most advanced companies to redraw the boundaries of the AI economy and shape the future of the globe’s next big technology shift.
For the first time, GITEX GLOBAL – independently rated globally as the best tech show in the world – shall take place in two mega venues as its 43rd edition prepares to welcome 6,000 exhibitors and 180,000 tech executives from 180 countries from 16-20 October 2023 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Its powerhouse start-up show, Expand North Star hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy runs from 15-18 October 2023 at the stunning new Dubai Harbour venue. More than 1,800 start-ups across the events will explore rising opportunities in one of the world’s most agile, diversified, and technology-enabled digital economies.
The blockbuster duo, organised by DWTC, comprise a combined 2.7mn sqft of exhibition space, a 40 percent increase over the previous year, inviting the world to the year’s most anticipated dialogue and deep scrutiny into a new tech paradigm experimenting in AI, the cloud, Web 3.0, and a sustainable digital economy.
Dubai—a global market
“GITEX GLOBAL is where the best and brightest minds come together to shape the future of technology. Dubai is a global market and through GITEX GLOBAL, we are pushing the envelope by showcasing new technologies including the transformational power of AI to inspire everyone and shape a better future,” stated HE Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, at a specially convened pre-event press conference.
Expand North Star 2023 accelerates global VC investment revival
The influx of global interest in the UAE will see Expand North Star host the largest line-up of 1,000 investors from 70 countries with US$ 1tn under management, as they look to ramp up the global VC start-up investment revival.
It arrives as the UAE companies clinched the lion’s share of US$ 4bn in start-up funding across the Middle East and North Africa in 2022, fetching investments to the tune of US$ 1.85bn across 250 deals, a five percent increase in value over the previous year.
“Expand North Star reflects Dubai’s strong commitment to enabling ambitious start-ups to thrive in the emirate,” remarked Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy (DCDE), host of Expand North Star.
Intense demand spurs new tech agendas, government participation rises
GITEX GLOBAL 2023 will see the highest involvement of public private partnerships yet as more than 250 government entities intensify their futuristic digital city visions and strategic collaborations amplified by bold commitments toward digital excellence.
“We have not seen this hyper level of fervour and anticipation of GITEX GLOBAL in recent years,” remarked Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre. “GITEX is synonymous with AI this year, especially when excitement over the emergence of generative AI is shadowed by a sense of trepidation and cautiousness.
“We envision a future where AI is enhancing the capabilities of people across all professions to find innovative ways of solving pressing challenges and creating a positive impact in their communities,” commented Naim Yazbeck, General Manager, Microsoft UAE, one of the panellists at the top table.
Intelligent ICT Solutions
“At Huawei, we are committed to providing innovative and intelligent ICT solutions that advance industry transformation, enhance cybersecurity, and support sustainability goals,” noted Dr Alaa Elshimy, Managing Director & Senior Vice President, Huawei Enterprise Business Group, Middle East & Central Asia Region.
Salesforce, the global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), will meanwhile fuel the AI mania with its new Einstein 1 AI assistant for all CRM enterprise applications. Thierry Nicault, Area Vice President and General Manager, Salesforce Middle East, said attendees will see first-hand how the new AI platform enables organisations to safely connect any data and build AI-powered apps with low-code no-code capability.
Influential UAE challengers enter the epic AI innovation race
Elsewhere, G42, a champion of AI and cloud technologies, is returning to GITEX GLOBAL 2023 to contribute to the dynamic dialogue on AI under the theme ‘Imagination in Action.’ “Imagination in Action is not just a slogan but a reflection of the active steps we have taken to transforming theoretical AI concepts into tangible solutions,” commented Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director, Bayanat, a G42 company.
“Masdar City is, at its heart, a place of innovation,” observed Mohamed Al Breiki, Executive Director of Sustainable Real Estate at Masdar City.
Carrier gains establishes world leadership in pharmaceutical transportation.
Saudia Cargo recently celebrated a significant accomplishment, receiving the esteemed Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This success demonstrates Saudia Cargo’s commitment to excellence and innovation in pharmaceutical transportation, according to a press communique.
The IATA’s CEIV is a universally recognized standard within the industry. CEIV Pharma is designed to ensure that facilities, equipment, operations, and personnel meet the standards, regulations, and guidelines that pharmaceutical manufacturers require. The aim is to enhance industry knowledge and establish a consistent global standard.
IATA’s CEIV Pharma certification is a milestone highlighting Saudia Cargo’s unwavering commitment, with a team of certified experts, having successfully transported life-saving medicines and vaccines, solidifying its crucial role in global healthcare logistics, the press note concluded.
Prioritizing security
Saudia Cargo is dedicated to serving the expanding Middle East pharmaceutical market with top-notch products while prioritizing the safety and security of any cargo being transported and offering an effective path for all substantial products.
“We’re focused on upholding the greatest levels of excellence, security, and safety in pharmaceutical logistics, highlighting our unique position in defending humanity with our offerings,” remarked Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Saudia Cargo.
“Receiving the IATA CEIV Pharma accreditation is a testament to our team’s dedication to excellence and work ethics commitment to offering our clients and business partners the best possible services in pharmaceutical logistics,” commented Aymen Osilan, Executive Director, Saudia Cargo.
Facility to ensure rapid delivery of spare parts across the UAE and Middle East
Geely AGMC has celebrated the launch of a new Geely Parts Distribution Centre in Dubai which will further elevate the aftersales support network for Geely vehicles across the UAE and the entire GCC region, according to a press communique.
With “efficiency, agility, and intelligence” as its core principles, the state-of-the-art parts facility will ensure swift parts delivery to the various emirates as well as dealership partners in up to 35 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
The new facility implements advanced digital and intelligent technologies to improve supply chain processes and response speeds to improve the logistics network. In terms of warehouse management, every process from storage to delivery has been strictly certified and analysed for maximum efficiency, in line with the current standards of the digitalised logistics industry.
Availability
“Geely’s new Parts Delivery Centre is ready to supply spare parts for the entire range of Geely vehicles available to our customers in the United Arab Emirates, thus ensuring faster, better, and more comprehensive support for the needs of Geely owners,” commented Dr Andreas Schaaf, CEO, New Ventures, Albatha Automotive.
“With this new Parts Distribution Centre, we can offer more comfortable, professional and efficient services through the application of digital and intelligent technologies to improve parts supply, response speed, and operational processes,” remarked Alex GU, Vice President, Geely Auto Middle East.
Bid to launch global initiative to decarbonize Waste
As part of the Year of Sustainability and UAE’s preparations for hosting the Conference of the Parties COP28, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and Tadweer (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch ‘Waste to Zero’, a global initiative to mobilize and advance waste decarbonization efforts, and to establish a circular economy platform.
The initiative aims to strengthen the UAE’s role in leading global action and contribute to international efforts to achieve the 43% emission reduction target by 2030 by urging nations to adopt and maintain advanced technology-based solutions to decarbonize sectors including waste management, and to boost the circular economy, according to a press communique.
The MoU was signed at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment headquarters in Dubai in the presence of Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; Engineer Othaibah Al Qaydi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; and Engineer Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO, Tadweer.
Key pillar
“Our partnerships with major players are a key pillar in delivering the UAE’s climate commitments and achieving Net Zero by 2050,” commented HE Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change & Environment.
Mohammed Saeed Nuaimi emphasized that this cooperation will play a significant role in strengthening the circular economy in the UAE and abroad by providing an integrated economic system that keeps pace with the global transition towards a green economy.
“Together with our partners, MOCCAE and Roland Berger, we look forward to inspiring change and creating a more sustainable and prosperous future,” remarked Eng. Ali Al Dhaheri.
“Through this initiative, we aim to highlight the importance of finding solutions to the decarbonization of the waste management sector, which is one of the major sources of global emissions, and to empower economies to make the most of their resources,” stated Hani Tohme, Managing Partner, Roland Berger Middle East.
Tailored seller tools and services will enable Saudi businesses to reach customers on Amazon.sa
Amazon Saudi Arabia recently hosted its annual Seller Summit in Riyadh, showcasing a suite of cutting-edge tools and services designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Saudi Arabia.
These innovations are tailored to help SMBs reach millions of online customers and drive accelerated business growth, just in time for the busy end-of-year shopping season, with the White Friday sale, the biggest sale of the year on Amazon.sa, around the corner, according to a press communique.
Immersive master classes
The event brought together hundreds of Saudi sellers for immersive master classes to test and explore Amazon’s diverse solutions that simplify the selling partner journey from product listing, advertising and brand building, to shipping and fulfillment.
To further accelerate the growth of local sellers, Amazon showcased its enhanced Arabic mobile seller app, making it more accessible and convenient for local businesses to manage their online stores from anywhere, in their language of choice.
Participants at the Saudi Seller Summit heard directly from senior leaders and subject matter experts about leveraging Amazon’s latest capabilities to reach more customers, meet growth goals and drive success, the press note continued.
Tailored solutions
“At Amazon, we recognize the contribution of local businesses and SMBs to a country’s economic growth, diversification and job creation. Our annual Saudi Seller Summit delivers tailored solutions that address the needs of Saudi sellers, who are eager to be a part of the Kingdom’s Vision towards a digital economy,” affirmed Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East and North Africa.
The Saudi Seller Summit celebrated the growth and success of sixteen independent selling partners who excelled over the past year. Award winners were recognized for their performance related to customer satisfaction, delivery speed, and use of Amazon seller tools, among other categories.
“Our end-to-end advertising, brand-building and account management tools, supported by our shipping and fulfillment capabilities make it easier for our selling partners to reach millions of customers on Amazon.sa,” remarked Karim Ghandour, Head of Marketplace, Amazon Saudi Arabia.
Networking opportunities
In addition to learning from Amazon experts, Saudi Arabia’s SMBs also had the opportunity to network among peers, exchange knowledge and share success stories.
“I look forward to Amazon’s Seller Summit to connect with the Saudi seller community and celebrate our collective success. Moreover, the solutions that are showcased each year demonstrate just how closely Amazon is listening to its selling partners and how committed the company is to solve our unique challenges,” Nabegh Alzaiter, an independent selling partner on Amazon.sa stressed.
Since the launch of Amazon.sa in 2020, the company has continued to invest in Saudi Arabia’s growing SMB sector, providing logistics support, tools, services, programs, and teams to help sellers get started, build their brands, and leverage Amazon’s scale to reach more customers, the press statement concluded.
Move to further strengthen its position as leading logistics provider in the GCC
DHL Global Forwarding (DHL) has signed an agreement to acquire the remaining shares in Danzas AEI Emirates from Investment Trading Group. Both parties have been managing the company through a joint venture since 1995, with Investment Trading Group holding 60% of the shares, according to a press communique.
A logistics and transport services specialist for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Danzas will now be integrated into DHL and its customers in the UAE, GCC and MEA region will benefit from more efficient and seamless services, as a part of the leading logistics provider for the UAE and GCC region.
“Our close and trusted partnership with the Investment Trading Group over many years has taken Danzas to new heights and strengths. As DHL continues its expansion trajectory across the region, a merger of both organizations will create a winning proposition for customers in the region, driving efficiency and sustainability,” asserted Tim Scharwath, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Freight.
Unleashing potential
“As Dubai and the GCC continue to develop economically, we believe that fully integrating Danzas into the DHL network will unleash the potential necessary to become a truly leading logistics provider in the region,” noted HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Vice Chairman & Board Member, Al Tayer Group.
As part of the merger, Danzas will operate under the DHL brand in future. While both Danzas and DHL are working closely together, the integration will enable an even more seamless collaboration and the exploitation of synergies and efficiencies, such as shared administrative services or integrated, seamless solutions for customers.
Existing Danzas employees will be a part of the DHL family. The transaction is subject to merger control clearance, the press note concluded.
Automotive technicians will receive immersive training conducted by IMI-certified trainers
In keeping with its firm commitment to build a comprehensive EV ecosystem in the UAE, Al-Futtaim Automotive has set up the region’s first IMI-accredited Electric Mobility Training Centre at its dedicated Learning & Development facility in Dubai, UAE, according to a press communique.
The facility is a major step forward in bridging the gap in electric mobility expertise within the region, setting a precedent for the region’s automotive industry in delivering top-quality service and support for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as bolstering customer confidence in transitioning to electric mobility.
The Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Training Centre represents a multi-million Dirham investment, with the programme being developed in partnership with the internationally recognised EV qualification body, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and state-of-the-art learning solutions provider, Lucas-Nulle.
Immersive training
At the centre, automotive technicians will receive immersive training conducted by IMI-certified trainers that cover the intricacies of electric drivetrains, battery management systems, and software diagnostics.
“The Electric Mobility Centre is the final piece of our EV value chain. By providing our technicians with cutting-edge training, we are empowering our technicians with all the necessary skills and tools to meet the demands of the evolving automotive market as well as learn the importance of safer procedures,” emphasized Antoine Barthes, Vice-President, Al-Futtaim Automotive.
The training centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring the most advanced art simulation equipment as well as a cut-away electric vehicle that showcases various components of the high-voltage systems.
This will enable the development of a skilled workforce, technological literacy, and industry collaboration to contribute towards building a sustainable and thriving EV ecosystem, the press statement concluded.
Qimarox has expanded its product portfolio with a palletizer for frozen foods (IQF Products). The Qimarox Highrunner HR8 palletizer is capable of stacking boxes of frozen foods into sturdy and stable pallets, even if they are not form-fixed or not fully filled. The unique pattern generator allows easy generation of new stacking patterns without the intervention of a software specialist.
The handling of boxes of frozen foods causes headaches for businesses. The problem concerns the quality of the boxes, which are far from being structurally stable. The weight of the frozen foods can cause the boxes to expand, which means they are no longer within the tolerances with which conventional palletizing solutions work. And if the boxes are not filled to the max, they can collapse under the weight of the boxes above them. The result: product/packaging damage, unnecessary shrinkage and, ultimately, dissatisfied customers.
Stable pallets with less film
The Qimarox HR8 offers a solution to these problems. The patented technology used to form pallet layers makes it possible to adjust the spacing between boxes to the nearest millimeter. As a result, all boxes of frozen products can be stacked without problems, even if they are not completely formable. The palletizer also takes into account the ribs that give the boxes their strength. By placing the boxes with their ribs exactly on top of each other, the Qimarox HR8 prevents boxes that are not completely filled from collapsing since this part of the box is structurally robust. The result is a pallet so stable that wrapping the load requires less film than usual.
Smart pattern generator
The Qimarox HR8 features a smart pattern generator that automatically generates stacking patterns based on the box size. This means that when using a new box format, no software specialist is needed to program a new stacking pattern. All the operator has to do is select the desired stacking pattern. The HR8 does the rest and automatically translates the stacking pattern into instructions for the machine.
Minimal chance of product damage
Qimarox has been developing palletizers for many years, which are used worldwide by dozens of consumer product manufacturers. Because these robust, low-maintenance plate palletizers carry the products at the bottom, the chance of product damage is minimized. This is particularly relevant in deep-freeze environments, where a vacuum gripper may not function properly due to ice buildup on the boxes.
Proven technology, low maintenance
The Qimarox HR8 has a modular design with the same low-maintenance, standard components found in Qimarox’s other palletizers, such as the successful Highrunner HR7 and Highrunner HR9 for container unloading. In other words, the HR8 is built with proven technology that guarantees high availability and low operating costs.
· Etihad Cargo has appointed Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) as the carrier’s cargo handling partner in the US.
· Etihad Cargo’s partners and customers will benefit from the cargo handling facilities provided by WFS across three US stations, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has appointed Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a member of the SATS Group, as the carrier’s US cargo handling partner to enhance its capabilities in the region.
Etihad Cargo has expanded its network with WFS to incorporate all the carrier’s stations in the US. From 3 October, WFS will be Etihad Cargo’s cargo handling partner at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), in addition to providing cargo handling services at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations & Delivery at Etihad Cargo, said: “Etihad Cargo is committed to providing consistent, high-quality, end-to-end air cargo solutions. Therefore, it is imperative the carrier collaborates with cargo handling partners that can meet these expectations and deliver exceptional services in full compliance with Etihad Cargo’s standards and industry requirements. Expanding Etihad Cargo’s network with WFS to encompass all three of the carrier’s US stations will enable the carrier to ensure Etihad Cargo’s robust quality standards are maintained throughout the cargo’s entire journey.”
“WFS’ investment in new facilities at ORD and JFK, growth in our cargo business in North America, and unwavering focus on service quality are the cornerstones of our partnership with Etihad Cargo. In line with SATS Group’s vision for the future of cargo handling, we are introducing digital solutions for efficient dock management and landside operations, investing in auto-dimensioning equipment to improve accuracy, implementing IATA DG Autocheck for safer handling of dangerous goods, and providing real-time warehouse progress monitoring for customers. We are also introducing an automated pallet storage system called Raft to optimise storage and retrieval efficiency,” said Frank Clemente, Senior Vice President Cargo and Express, North America at WFS.
Among the WFS cargo handling facilities Etihad Cargo will utilise at ORD are two dedicated parking positions conveniently located directly outside WFS’ cargo warehouse and the cargo handling agent’s brand new ORD airport facility, which features state-of-the-art temperature-controlled storage rooms. This new facility is equipped with a large cool room providing the capacity for eight pallets, which will bolster Etihad Cargo’s end-to-end cool chain capabilities in the region.
“We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with Etihad Cargo through the award of these three stations in North America. Our global network as part of the SATS Group gives us a great opportunity to serve our strategic customers consistently and support their growth in
key cargo markets,” said Mohammed Esa, Executive Vice President Group Commercial at WFS.
Etihad Cargo’s expanded partnership with WFS in the US supports the carrier’s focus on enhancing its IATA CEIV-certified premium products, including PharmaLife for the transportation of pharmaceuticals, FreshForward for the transportation of perishables and its products dedicated to the safe and comfortable transportation of live animals, LiveAnimals and SkyStables.
A new logistics show which will take place in Dubai from the 10 to 12 December 2024
The new global logistics showcase will spotlight the future of supply chain, transportation, mobility and warehousing among other verticals
Messe Frankfurt Middle East has launched a new logistics show which will take place from the 10 to 12 December 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and is designed to drive the global logistics sector forward.
Launched on the sidelines of Automechanika Dubai yesterday, the logistics experiential showcase will take place alongside Automechanika Dubai, providing natural synergies between the automotive industry and the various verticals within the logistics sector and capitalising on the UAE’s position as the epicentre of the world’s logistics sector, bridging Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
During the launch, a high-level leadership panel discussion entitled “Pioneering the Future: Driving the MEA Transport and Logistics Sector Forward with Emerging Trends and Innovation in Logistics and Supply Chain” outlined the challenges and opportunities within the sector and highlighted the importance of a dedicated logistics show in filling the current gaps within the industry.
Top officials in attendance
The panel comprised local and regional logistics sector luminaries: Ghanim Al Falasi, Senior Vice President, Dubai Silicon Oasis; Fadi Azzi, Global Director, Logistics, Aramex International; Vargheese Anthony, General Manager, Freight Management and Relocations, Al Futtaim Logistics; Dr Prakash Rao PhD, Group Head, Supply Chain Projects & Home Operations, Landmark Group and Tobias Mayer, CFO DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa, CEO Middle East & Africa, Saloodo, moderated by Edward Matti, Managing Partner, CCM Consultancy.
“The show will unite the leading minds, innovators and biggest sector operators in an exciting new forum to help shape the sector’s future,” commented Ted Bloom, Managing Director, Messe Frankfurt Middle East.
“The Middle East and Africa region’s logistics sector is dynamic and evolving, driven by infrastructure development, trade growth, technological advancements, and changing consumer behaviour. These developments make the region increasingly important in global logistics and supply chain networks – and we aim to underpin that importance through this new addition to our Middle East offering,” he continued.
The three-day show will cover the key issues in this ever-changing sector, mindful that logistics providers must adapt to new challenges and opportunities to remain competitive, efficient and sustainable in a rapidly changing global economy. The show will provide a rare chance for key industry players to meet and help shape the sector’s future, a press communique stated.
Automation and technology
High on the agenda will be the increasing use of automation and technology – including AI, blockchain, warehouse automation (such as robots and drones), real-time tracking and monitoring, and digital supply chain platforms for visibility and efficiency. In addition, the rise in e-commerce, last-mile delivery issues and the associated investment required in advanced fulfilment centres, automation, and innovative delivery solutions will also be discussed.
Delegates will also have the chance to hear from sustainability and green logistics experts as environmental concerns drive a shift toward greener logistics practices, the press statement said further.
Talent and workforce challenges will be another hot topic, especially filling roles in technology, data analytics and automation, as will the growing complexity of regulation, cross-border trade, environmental compliance, new post-pandemic safety protocols and contactless operations.
Ruwais LNG plant will be first in the MENA region to run on clean power
ADNOC recently announced, it has awarded a contract, valued at more than US $400mn (AED 1.47bn) to Baker Hughes, through its Nuovo Pignone International legal entity, for the supply of all-electric compression systems for the liquefaction of natural gas, to be powered by clean energy, for its low-carbon LNG asset in the Al Ruwais Industrial City, Al Dhafrah, Abu Dhabi.
The LNG trains will comprise energy efficient Baker Hughes technology, including compressors, driven by 75 MW electric motors. The Ruwais LNG plant will be the first LNG project in the Middle East and North Africa region to run on clean power, making it one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG facilities in the world.
Clean electricity
“As the first clean electricity powered LNG facility in the Middle East, the Ruwais LNG project reinforces ADNOC’s leadership within the LNG industry and underscores our commitment to decarbonization, sustainability and innovation,” commented Fatema Al Nuaimi, Executive Vice President, Downstream Business Management, ADNOC.
“The project aligns with ADNOC’s objectives to grow our energy portfolio with lower-carbon solutions, reinforcing our position as a reliable global supplier of natural gas and contributing to enhancing global energy security,” she added.
Doubling LNG production
The Ruwais LNG project consists of two 4.8mn metric tons per annum (mtpa) natural gas liquefaction trains with a total capacity of 9.6 mtpa of LNG. When completed, it will more than double ADNOC’s LNG production target capacity to meet increased global demand for natural gas.
The award of the contract underscores ADNOC’s commitment to accelerate its net zero ambition and decarbonization plans. It is an important milestone as the company builds on its legacy as a responsible global energy pioneer and doubles down on its decarbonization efforts, backed by an initial allocation of US$ 15bn (AED 55bn) to low-carbon solutions, a press statement concluded.
RAKEZ business community will have access to a suite of Amazon’s services
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and Amazon UAE have inked a strategic collaboration to enable businesses registered within the hub to sell their products to millions of customers across the UAE on Amazon.ae.
The initiative is aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale their businesses online, by enabling them to leverage Amazon’s capabilities, tools, services, programmes and people to navigate the digital economy, a press communique indicated.
MoU
The collaboration was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ramy Jallad, CEO, RAKEZ Group, and Jasmin Frick, Director, Amazon Seller Success, MENA.
As part of the collaboration, members of the RAKEZ business community will have access to a suite of Amazon’s services including tools for seamless seller registration and onboarding; seller education through on-site training, in-person workshops and live webinars; and support teams to ensure a smooth digital journey.
“With the UAE’s e-commerce industry expected to reach US$ 9.2bn in 2026, SMEs operating in the online space have a huge potential to unlock greater success. In this context we are thrilled to collaborate with Amazon, to provide the SMEs in our community the opportunity to gain access to Amazon’s array of capabilities to reach new heights,” remarked Jallad.
RAKEZ is home to over 18,000 companies, with a significant number of SME businesses focused on product sales.
Customer-centric mission
“At Amazon, SMEs are core to our customer-centric mission. Our sellers play a pivotal role in enriching our customers’ experience, offering a wider selection of products and competitive prices,” stressed Frick.
‘’Selling on Amazon.ae offers sellers an opportunity to expand their footprint as they tap into our business model to better serve the millions of customers that visit Amazon every day across the UAE. This is closely aligned with our goal of hosting products from 100,000 businesses, including local SMBs, on Amazon.ae by 2026, in alignment with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33,” concluded Frick.
BlueBox Systems offers real-time shipment visibility to WACO members in new agreement
In new partnership with BlueBox Systems, WACO members can now track air and ocean cargo shipments, preventing delays and enhancing collaboration within the network. Through a new partnership with WACO,the world’s foremost independent global freight management and logistics organisation, BlueBox systems is providing WACO members access to visibility solutions for both air and ocean freight. In the form of two freight visibility platforms, BlueBoxAir and BlueBoxOcean, BlueBox is delivering collective analytics for WACO members and bringing real-time oversight of shipment status and flight-related data in a user-friendly interface.
For BlueBoxAir, BlueBox Systems accesses data from more than 130 airlines and enables users to track the aircraft position making it possible to track cargo in real time and to receive updates and information about the expected time of delivery.For BlueBoxOcean, BlueBox Systems has a successful partnership with Vizion that will give users end-to-end production location data and greater visibility. Their API is designed to seamlessly integrate essential, reliable and complete container data and insights to achieve end-to-end visibility. These enriched datasets, all developed on robust information technology infrastructures, enables WACO members to track 98 percent of ocean freight volume. This makes it possible to take immediate corrective action throughout the transport process and prevent costly delays.
Whether using the ocean or air freight solution, WACO members are able to collaborate through the platforms. They can share comments and documents for each shipment and combine these with accurate shipment data. If two members work together on one shipment, the WACO version of BlueBoxAir or BlueBoxOcean is the ideal tool to do so.
“WACO has negotiated on behalf of the network to secure a great deal that ensures all members can offer their customers visibility throughout the entire supply chain,” said Richard Charles, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The WACO System. “The ability for our members to collaborate on shared shipments provides real added value to the WACO network and will strengthen partnerships among members.”
The BlueBox dashboards provide data analytics and collective reports in an integrated way through intuitive navigation between pages.
“Our engagement with WACO really is an excellent collaboration. This agreement is pivotal as it allows both BlueBox Systems and WACO to offer our collective air and ocean freight visibility solution to all WACO members,” says Martin Schulze, CEO of BlueBox Systems. “We work hard every day to provide the best freight data in the market and we will continue to innovate while adding value for our customers. That’s our commitment.”
“Together with BlueBox Systems we bring the best data for Ocean and Air freight to the table, made effectively usable with the BlueBox Systems UI,” says Kyle Hernderson, CEO of Vizion. “On this basis, we form the perfect team to support WACO in their goal to offer their members the best visibility and collaboration platform.”
Both WACO and BlueBox Systems plan to collaborate on future enhancements of the platform to increase the value for the members. This includes extended collaboration functionalities but also coverage for multimodal transportation with Ocean and Air.
Online crane rental platform MYCRANE has boosted its presence in the Middle East with the launch of its own operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It follows the recent news that MYCRANE secured a substantial investment in a Series A round to fund the next phase of its global expansion.
The Saudi Arabia operation, announced today at the oil and gas show Adipec, is part of an ongoing growth strategy for the Dubai-based tech platform, which can be used by those working in a wide variety of industries and sectors to hire cranes with a capacity of up to 750 tonnes quickly and efficiently.
“Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision and diversification strategy will be a boost to so many different sectors, so our launch in Saudi Arabia was a natural step,” said Andrei Geikalo, founder and CEO of MYCRANE. “We see no shortage of opportunities, particularly as Saudi Arabia has already committed to almost $1 trillion worth of construction and infrastructure projects, and announced plans to become a global logistics hub.”
MYCRANE’s Saudi Arabia operation will be overseen by Piet Kraaijeveld, the company’s chief operating officer. Kraaijeveld is no stranger to the Gulf, having worked in the United Arab Emirates for a number of years, including for Mammoet as sales manager for the Middle East and Africa, and as a strategic account manager for Ritchie Bros., the world’s largest industrial auctioneer.
Kraaijeveld’s first task will be to onboard customers on the MYCRANE platform, help Saudi asset owners partner with MYCRANE to register their cranes, and assist in the recruitment of a network of sales executives throughout the Kingdom.
“The future success of the construction industry depends on its ability to adapt and leverage the latest technology, which is where MYCRANE has a valuable role to play,” said Kraaijeveld. “My career experience puts me in good stead to support our clients as we continue our expansion in the Middle East and beyond.”
Jens Schmale is next in line for Swisslog CEO as Antonio Trioschi announces upcoming retirement. Giulia Colombi to lead the EMEA region.
Swisslog, a member of the KUKA Group, is pleased to introduce Jens Schmale as its next CEO, effective 1 January 2024. Jens is currently CEO of Swisslog EMEA and brings a wealth of experience in the logistics sector to his new role.
Jens, 49, joined Swisslog in 2020 where he was responsible for the company’s AutoStore business unit until he took on the role of CEO of Swisslog EMEA in September 2021. Before Swisslog, he held several senior leadership positions with leading logistics providers.
Antonio Trioschi, the current CEO of Swisslog, has announced his intention to retire at the end of the year, prompting this change in leadership. Antonio leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments, including the orchestration of transformative initiatives that fuelled business growth, financial improvement, and innovation at customer level.
KUKA CEO, Peter Mohnen trusts Jens will build on the achievements of his predecessor. “I want to extend my profound appreciation to Antonio for his outstanding leadership and dedication. Under his leadership, Swisslog has achieved incredible milestones for its customers. Jens has demonstrated his leadership expertise as the CEO of Swisslog EMEA and is well-equipped to build on this strong foundation and usher in a new chapter of success.”
As the new Chief Executive Officer of Swisslog, Jens’ primary strategic focus will be on enhancing the customer experience and strengthening the company’s relationships with its clients and partners. “I am excited to steer Swisslog on the path to growth and seize opportunities to exceed customer expectations,” Jens shares. “I will also be concentrating on ensuring Swisslog remains a great place to work by fostering stronger collaboration and, ultimately, creating added value for our customers.”
Giulia Colombi, 38, will be taking over as the leader of Swisslog EMEA. Giulia has experience across various business areas, working closely with customers and opening new markets. She began her career at Swisslog as a Market Segment Sales Manager before leading the Design and Consulting team, and more recently, transforming this into the Design and Engineering department.
Jens has full confidence in Giulia as the successor for his current role. “Giulia will make an excellent leader of the Swisslog EMEA region. I am confident that she will play an important part in driving the continued growth and success of Swisslog within the EMEA region.”
Announces offer price range and start of institutional book-building
Following the recent announcement by SAL Saudi Logistics Services Company, the market leading cargo handling player and growing logistics solutions business in Saudi Arabia, of its intention to proceed with an initial public offering of 30% of its share capital, the Company has officially announced the price range for the initial public offering as well as the commencement of the participating parties’ bidding and book-building period.
The approved prospectus containing the full details of the Offering has been published on 12 September 2023G. The price at which all subscribers in the Offering will purchase Shares will be determined at the end of the book-building period, the Company revealed in a press communique.
The price range for the Offering has been set between SAR 98 and SAR 106 per share. The total Offering size is expected to be between SAR 2,35mn (US$ 627mn) and SAR 2,544mn (US$ 678mn), implying a market capitalization at listing between SAR 7,840mn (US$ 2,091mn) and SAR 8,480mn (US$ 2,261mn).
Share capital
The Offering will consist of 24,000,000 ordinary shares representing 30% of the Company’s share capital post-listing, to be sold by the current shareholders, the press statement continued.
Immediately following the listing on the Main Market of the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), the Company is expected to have a free float of 30% (24,000,000) of its total shares (80,000,000).
Shares will be offered to participating parties entitled to participate in the book-building process in accordance with the CMA Capital Markets Authority—Saudi Arabia) Instructions for Book-Building Process and Allocation Method in Initial Public Offerings, including non-resident qualified foreign financial institutions in accordance with the Rules for Qualified Foreign Financial Institutions Investment in Listed Securities, the press note concluded.
Expo 2023 Doha to promote the logistics sector and showcase sustainable solutions
Expo’s Organizing Committee signs a partnership agreement with GWC
In a move aimed at highlighting the importance of sustainable logistics solutions, the Organizing Committee of Expo 2023 Doha has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with GWC that qualifies it to be the logistics services provider for the exhibition, given its proven track record in providing integrated logistics services for major global events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
The agreement reflects the Organizing Committee’s keenness to ensure that Expo 2023 Doha provides a unique experience for participants and visitors from all over the world and plays a positive role in improving the logistics sector in the country, while providing the opportunity for national companies to benefit from building international partnerships and increase investments in this vital sector.
“Logistics services are an essential element in the success of an event of this importance. It is the backbone that contributes to smooth and effective flow of goods and participants,” stressed Eng. Mohammed Ali Al Khouri, Secretary General, Horticulture Expo 2023 Doha.
Readiness
“There is no doubt that choosing a specialized logistics company enhances our readiness for this global event and contributes to supporting national companies in all vital sectors within the country,” he added.
“The country will be the focus of attention of the world this year, and this requires us to do our best and employ all expertise available to us in order to provide logistics support for the various events at Horticulture Expo 2023 Doha, this major event distinguished by its fine organization and exceptional vision,” asserted Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, GWC Board of Directors.
Expo 2023 Doha will be held under the slogan “Green Desert, Better Environment,” and aims to unify the efforts of countries, organizations and individuals around the world in order to reach innovative environmental and agricultural solutions in the State of Qatar and the world, a press communique concluded.
Saudia Cargo is excited to announce the addition of Eng. Loay Mashabi as Managing Director who will be joining on 8 October 2023. Eng. Loay, former Deputy Minister for Logistics Services at the Ministry of Transportation and Logistics Services, has an extensive background in the logistics sector and has played a pivotal role in the efforts to bolster Saudi Arabia’s position as a logistics hub.
Throughout his career Loay has served at various positions in both the private and government sectors and has also acted as board member of Saudia Cargo, Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), Riyadh Integrated (Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage) and Saudi Exports Authority.
Together with Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Loay will oversee several functions and strategic initiatives to ensure Saudia Cargo continues in its successful growth and transformation to reach a vast international presence through expanding its dedicated freighter fleet to become one of the world’s top 10 largest air cargo carriers in the coming years. “We are thrilled to have Loay on board and to welcome him to the Saudia Cargo family,” said Teddy Zebitz, CEO. “His background and vast experience in the field will prove to be invaluable in our efforts to drive forward Saudia Cargo’s ambitious growth plans”
“With this new chapter in my career I am excited to continue serving the Saudi logistics sector and bring forth the untapped potential in the region. Saudia Cargo will, without a doubt, be just the right place to accomplish great feats in placing Saudi Arabia in the center of the logistics map” said Loay.
Eng. Loay holds an Executive MBA from London Business School and a BSc in Petroleum Engineering from King Fahd University.
Qatar Airways Cargo expands presence in China with two new destinations
Qatar Airways Cargo, the leading air cargo carrier, announced its latest strategic move in the Chinese market by introducing two new destinations – Chengdu (TFU) and Chongqing (CKG).
Qatar Airways Cargo has commenced belly hold flights to Chengdu (TFU) and Chongqing (CKG) starting 23rd and 25th of September, respectively.
Both these destinations, served three times a week by Airbus A330-300 aircraft will further enhance Qatar Airways Cargo’s global network. These strategic additions will play a crucial role in facilitating international trade, bridging China with the rest of the world.
Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales and Network Planning said, “Qatar Airways Cargo has been serving the Chinese market since October 2003, when it first started belly hold flights to Shanghai. We are pleased to expand our network in Mainland China with these new destinations and offer our customers direct belly hold capacity for their imports and exports out of these key markets.”
Qatar Airways Cargo already serves several destinations in Mainland China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou offering a combined weekly cargo capacity of more than 2,700 tonnes each way including the newly introduced destinations.
Both Chongqing and Chengdu stations will primarily operate as export-oriented markets, jointly providing a weekly capacity of 84 tonnes each way. Exports will predominantly consist of vulnerable/tech cargo while imports will encompass general cargo, fish and seafood, and perishables.
This expansion perfectly aligns with Qatar Airways Cargo’s ongoing commitment to expanding its global footprint and delivering dependable and efficient cargo solutions to its valued customers.
The airline’s customers can book cargo online with ease, convenience and reliability using its state-of-the-art Digital Lounge platform or other connected marketplaces that provide its customers access to capacity.
Aggreko to help deliver a green ADIPEC 2023 fuelled by solar and battery power
Company’s top official to speak about the applications of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage
Aggreko, the leading global provider of energy solutions for the events and energy sectors, is the ‘Power Partner’ for this year’s edition of ADIPEC, the world’s largest energy conference and exhibition.
ADIPEC 2023 aims to unite industries to accelerate collective, responsible action, decarbonise quicker and future-proof the energy system. In line with its theme of ‘Decarbonising. Faster. Together.’ Aggreko will help transform ADIPEC into a clean energy-powered, energy-efficient show by deploying solar, battery power and generators to power all ADIPEC external tent structures at the four-day event, according to a press communique.
“By helping to sustainably power major international events like ADIPEC, we continue to help the events industry in the region move towards a more sustainable future,” remarked Owen Coll, Managing Director, Aggreko.
Massimo Capra, Aggreko’s Global Head of PCR Sector, will also speak at ADIPEC about the applications of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) that Aggreko recently implemented for an Abu Dhabi based company.
“We are here to help the Middle Eastern companies achieve their carbon reduction goals by making the switch from diesel to gas and utilise sustainable solutions like battery storage or solar power for energy,” vowed Adam Read, Head of Sales, Middle East, Aggreko.
SAFEEN Group, part of AD Ports Group, has celebrated the arrival of the SSF Ania vessel at Shuwaikh Port – Kuwait following the launch of a new Ro-Ro service aimed at improving connectivity and facilitating trade with Kuwait.
The new service offering is designed to eliminate the need for long-haul road journeys, reducing risks associated with road travel, and cutting down on carbon emissions. Truck drivers will receive accommodation on board, allowing them to focus solely on the first and last mile of delivery, enhancing their safety and well-being.
Committed to optimising logistics efficiency, SAFEEN Group’s new Ro-Ro service directly connects the UAE and Kuwait, eliminating the need for transit through additional borders. This results in a substantial reduction in transit time, enabling swift and efficient operations, according to a press statement.
Trucks-trailers combo
The new Ro-Ro service utilises the SSF Ania, a vessel fully controlled by SAFEEN Group, which will be tailored to meet the specific needs of customers. It will employ a combination of trucks and trailers, as well as trailers-only transport, for cargo transportation between the UAE and Kuwait with a load capacity of 160 trucks plus 46 cars and a lane capacity of 2,062m.
In addition to its unique design for Ro-Ro service, the SSF Ania boasts a capacity to carry various other Ro-Ro cargo, including cars, project cargo, as well as high and heavy equipment.
Additionally, while road transport allows a maximum of 25 tonnes on a trailer, the SSF Ania can accommodate up to 50 tonnes per trailer. This substantial increase in cargo capacity not only saves time but also reduces the number of trailers required, contributing to sustainability goals.
“SAFEEN Group’s Ro-Ro service to Kuwait provides an end-to-end logistics solution for the market, and represents a step towards sustainable, efficient, and secure logistics solutions that prioritises the well-being of truck drivers, minimises transit time, and supports a greener future for the industry,” concluded Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO,Maritime Cluster, AD Ports Group.
WestJet Cargo is excited to announce its new cargo route to Havana, Cuba, commencing on September 23, 2023. This expansion marks WestJet Cargo’s first venture into the Cuban capital.
Operating one weekly flight on the YYZ – HAV route, WestJet Cargo offers 20-tonne cargo capacity per flight per week, addressing the growing demand for cargo transport in Canada.
WestJet Cargo is fully equipped to handle various cargo types, including General Cargo, Perishables, and select Dangerous Goods, ensuring secure and efficient cargo transportation to Havana.
This milestone underscores WestJet Cargo’s dedication to expanding its network and delivering top-tier cargo services to Havana, Cuba.
Additionally, it helps to optimize travel time while reducing fuel consumption
SASAFCO, the Saudi Arabian food manufacturer, seller and distributor with operations across the Middle East, has announced its new initiative, part of its ‘Game Changer Strategy’, that focuses on the creation of stronger distribution points.
With route planning and route optimization, SADAFCO is taking the next step in making distribution more future-ready, optimized, and efficient. Identifying the most cost-efficient route will add productivity and flexibility to these complex processes, according to a press communique.
“With optimization, we will be able to serve more consumers and manage our sales strategies more effectively. Streamlining our processes using technology. Tools like sales force automation, supplier management systems, and sales operational planners are all critical elements to improve the accuracy and efficiency of downstream distribution,” stated Patrick Stillhart, CEO, SADAFCO.
The most important promoter of routes optimization operations is the Information Management & Development Department. Route planning is one of the most essential elements of any effective sales strategy. It entails mapping out the routes taken in order to schedule their visits in the most efficient and effective way possible while also following achievable constraints and business demands.
Additionally, it helps to achieve customer satisfaction and optimize travel time while reducing fuel consumption, as well as targeting important customers. With route optimization and other sustainable initiatives, SADAFCO strives to ensure the future of future generations by achieving sustainable development and protecting the environment, the press statement concluded.
Focus on decarbonization and state-of-the-art technology
Kanoo Energy, Part of Kanoo Industrial & Energy, has announced its participation in the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2023.
As the UAE gears up for COP28, there is an abundance of palpable energy in the air. Kanoo Energy is committed to its vision for cleaner skies, a robust economy, fortified energy security towards the energy trilemma, and a cascade of socio-economic benefits. Kanoo Energy, with its storied legacy of championing renewables and sustainability, stands at the forefront of this transformative journey, according to a press statement.
Kanoo Energy’s bond with ADIPEC is nearly two decades strong, a testament to enduring partnerships and the creation of new alliances. “Our participation this year amplifies our alignment with the UAE’s ambitious vision, where technology and energy converge,” stated Ali Abdulla Kanoo, President, Kanoo Industrial and Energy.
Spearheading innovation
“Our vision at Kanoo Energy is clear and unwavering, to spearhead innovation and decarbonization. We’re not just participants; we’re leaders, syncing our strides with global and regional goals. Our quest is towards a greener planet, economic prosperity, and a sustainable energy blueprint,” remarked Fahad Fawzi Kanoo, CEO, The Kanoo Group UAE.
At ADIPEC, Kanoo Energy is pulling out all the stops by unveiling a spectrum of technological marvels, from carbon capture, 3D printing to robotics and state of the art emissions monitoring solutions, the press note continued.
“Innovation through collaboration is our mantra. Our allegiance is to bolster our national energy tech prowess, and ADIPEC is our anchor, especially with global milestones like COP 28 on the horizon,” commented Manoj Tripathy, CEO, Kanoo Industrial and Energy.
Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics, and real estate, recently signed an MoU with Sinotrans, a subsidiary and single logistics platform for China Merchants Group, to establish its first Middle East logistics and e-commerce hub at the Dubai South Logistics District as part of its global expansion endeavour.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of HE Li Xuhang, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai; Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South; Miao Jianmin, Chairman, China Merchants Group; and Song Rong, Executive Director and President, Sinotrans Limited.
The agreement was signed by Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Dubai South Logistics District, and Pan Sansheng, General Manager, Sinotrans Overseas Development, at the China Pavilion at Expo City.
Logistics services provider
Sinotrans was founded in 2002 and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company offers a full range of services across three primary business segments: agency and related business, supply chain logistics and e-business, which can provide end-to-end supply chain solutions and one-stop services, according to a press release.
Its solutions include integrating sea freight, air freight, road and rail transport, shipping agency, warehousing and distribution, and terminal services to forward clients’ shipments to destinations more quickly, efficiently and safely.
“The ecosystem at Dubai South is built to accommodate global players, and we will spare no effort in meeting the aspirations of Sinotrans to allow it to develop, thrive, and boost its growth plans,” stated Al Zaffin.
“We are confident that through our new expansion, the company provide direct and efficient logistics solutions to companies globally,” observed Song Rong.
Qatar Airways Cargo, a pioneering force in the global air cargo industry is celebrating 20 years of dedicated freighter operations.
Qatar Airways Cargo has evolved and grown into the world’s leading air cargo carrier, with an extensive fleet and a robust network. To commemorate this remarkable journey, the carrier reflects on its major achievements and innovations.
In 2003, Qatar Airways Cargo took delivery of its very first freighter, an Airbus A300-600, which was a converted passenger aircraft. It began regular operations to Amsterdam and Chennai, and shortly thereafter, to New Delhi. Today, the cargo airline operates to more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations with over 200 passenger aircraft and 31 dedicated cargo freighters.
Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice-President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning, expressed her joy and gratitude, stating: “As Qatar Airways Cargo celebrates 20 years of freighter operations, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers for their continuous trust in our services. We take immense pride in our history and anticipate contributing to the promising future of air freight.”
Over the past two decades, Qatar Airways Cargo has continuously expanded its fleet, network, and product portfolio, becoming the world’s number one cargo carrier. With the launch of its Next Generation strategy, Qatar Airways Cargo has defined its role in the air cargo industry by bringing a fresh and innovative approach to business across its network and operations: through enhanced products and services, cutting edge technology, a commitment to sustainability and diversity, investing in existing talent and attracting new ones.
Under the complete corporate mindset shift that is The Next Generation, Qatar Airways Cargo has achieved significant accomplishments including being the first airline globally to complete the suite of IATA CEIV certifications, the launch of the Kigali Africa hub in partnership with RwandAir, and the introduction of innovative products like Pharma, Fresh, Courier, and SecureLift.
Furthermore, Qatar Airways Cargo’s commitment to customer experience and innovation has made it a preferred partner for businesses worldwide. Having embraced digital transformation early, it has successfully launched its new website and a state-of-the-art ebooking portal Digital Lounge and partnered with marketplace platforms, bringing added-value to its customers. Additionally, Qatar Airways Cargo has committed to sustainability through its WeQare program, championing initiatives such as ‘Rewild the planet’ and launching a CO2 emission calculator.
As Qatar Airways Cargo enters its next decade, it remains dedicated to digitalization and sustainability and looks forward to continuing being at the forefront of air cargo’s innovation and customer-centric solutions.
Qatar Airways Cargo: Two decades of excellence in air freight
Qatar Airways Cargo, a pioneering force in the global air cargo industry is celebrating 20 years of dedicated freighter operations.
Qatar Airways Cargo has evolved and grown into the world’s leading air cargo carrier, with an extensive fleet and a robust network. To commemorate this remarkable journey, the carrier reflects on its major achievements and innovations.
In 2003, Qatar Airways Cargo took delivery of its very first freighter, an Airbus A300-600, which was a converted passenger aircraft. It began regular operations to Amsterdam and Chennai, and shortly thereafter, to New Delhi. Today, the cargo airline operates to more than 160 belly-hold and over 70 freighter destinations with over 200 passenger aircraft and 31 dedicated cargo freighters.
Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice-President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning, expressed her joy and gratitude, stating: “As Qatar Airways Cargo celebrates 20 years of freighter operations, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers for their continuous trust in our services. We take immense pride in our history and anticipate contributing to the promising future of air freight.”
Over the past two decades, Qatar Airways Cargo has continuously expanded its fleet, network, and product portfolio, becoming the world’s number one cargo carrier. With the launch of its Next Generation strategy, Qatar Airways Cargo has defined its role in the air cargo industry by bringing a fresh and innovative approach to business across its network and operations: through enhanced products and services, cutting edge technology, a commitment to sustainability and diversity, investing in existing talent and attracting new ones.
Under the complete corporate mindset shift that is The Next Generation, Qatar Airways Cargo has achieved significant accomplishments including being the first airline globally to complete the suite of IATA CEIV certifications, the launch of the Kigali Africa hub in partnership with RwandAir, and the introduction of innovative products like Pharma, Fresh, Courier, and SecureLift.
Furthermore, Qatar Airways Cargo’s commitment to customer experience and innovation has made it a preferred partner for businesses worldwide. Having embraced digital transformation early, it has successfully launched its new website and a state-of-the-art ebooking portal Digital Lounge and partnered with marketplace platforms, bringing added-value to its customers. Additionally, Qatar Airways Cargo has committed to sustainability through its WeQare program, championing initiatives such as ‘Rewild the planet’ and launching a CO2 emission calculator.
As Qatar Airways Cargo enters its next decade, it remains dedicated to digitalization and sustainability and looks forward to continuing being at the forefront of air cargo’s innovation and customer-centric solutions.
Emerson to showcase innovative automation solutions at ADIPEC 2023
Company experts to discuss how automation can help transit to a net-zero economy
Global software and engineering leader Emerson will exhibit its range of automation technologies, approaches and solutions that enable companies to achieve operational excellence while contributing to a sustainable future at the 2023 ADIPEC 2023 energy conference to be held in the UAE capital from 2 to 5 October.
In alignment with the event’s theme ‘Decarbonizing. Faster. Together.,’ the company will showcase its host of automation technologies and software that can help the energy sector achieve net-zero carbon emissions and a sustainable future, the company announced via a press communique.
Solutions
Emerson will showcase solutions designed to enhance safety and reliability, improve production and throughput, optimize energy consumption, and reduce emissions. Emerson will also feature technologies that can help accelerate new energy industries like hydrogen, EV batteries, biofuels and carbon capture.
“Our presence at ADIPEC underscores our dedication to empowering the region and the world with transformative technologies that drive sustainability, safety and efficiency,” stressed Mathias Schinzel, President, Middle East and Africa, Emerson.
The company will also participate in a number of ADIPEC technical conferences and workshops. Widad Haddad, VP and GM, UAE, Oman, Yemen and Lebanon, will chair a session on best practices to maintain operational excellence and improve maintenance and HSE performance. Ganesh Pattabhiraman, VP, Digital Transformation, will co-chair a session on smart sustainable manufacturing.
SIJIMIX, part of FNCT Group (Fujairah National Construction &Transport) leading ready-mix company specialized in supplying quality concrete throughout the eastern United Arab Emirates, has received a new fleet order of 20 Renault Trucks K380 P6x4 concrete mixers.
Sijimix’s new additions equipped with 9 CBM transit mixers, supplied by United Diesel, the Renault Trucks official importer in Dubai & Northern Emirates, will grow their existing Renault Trucks fleet of over 50 units, and are already operational to transport concrete across the United Arab Emirates.
Robustness, working comfort, payload, pulling power, easy body mounting for all purposes the Renault Trucks K range is designed to respond to all customers’ needs, with a full steel bumper, exceptional obstacle clearance and the best approach angle on the market. The K Range’s variety of chassis reinforcements allow it to adapt to even the toughest conditions.
Total customer satisfaction
Mr. Mahmoud Attourah, CEO of FNCT Group, specified: “Renault Trucks, having been our choice of supplier for years, is brought upon by their solid quality of products. They earned our trust with their rationalized financial costs and sustained rapport in client care.”
FNCT is committed to achieve the most practical, highest professional standard and best engineering quality to all engineering works; which require reliable and efficient trucks such as the Renault Trucks K Range.
Mr. David Sawiras, General Manager of United Diesel, part of Al Rostamani Group added: “We are honored to once again be chosen by our esteemed customer FNCT as their preferred partner and to supply Renault Trucks. This repetitive order is a testament to the trust they have in United Diesel and the Renault Trucks brand. We remain committed to delivering excellence in every vehicle, ensuring our partnership drives success for years to come”.
Renault Trucks your long-term partner
Sales Manager of Renault Trucks Middle East, Mr. Mohamed Adly commented: “Renault Trucks is proud and grateful of this additional order and our partnership with FNCT Group. Our Renault Trucks K range is proven to be the most efficient and robust trucks in the toughest conditions. We are committed to our customers’ success by providing complete tailor-made transport solutions.”
iSTYLE to open two more Apple Premium Partner stores in UAE: Deira City Center, Dubai, and City Centre Al Zahia, Sharjah
Following the resounding success of iSTYLE’s first Apple premium Partner store in Dubai Marina Mall, iSTYLE will open two more Apple Premium Partner (APP) stores – one at Deira City Center in Dubai and the other at City Centre Al Zahia in Sharjah this weekend.
The new outlets follow the global concept of Premium Partner stores, making them the perfect destination to shop the entire ecosystem of Apple products and accessories in a spacious and welcoming environment. The stores’ professional teams speak multiple languages to give customers the best personalized service. Established in 2005, iSTYLE has 13 Apple Premium Reseller stores and will now have 3 new Apple Premium Partner stores, two in Dubai and one in Sharjah, taking the total count to 16 stores across the UAE. The store in Deira City Center is located on level 2, and the City Centre Al Zahia store is on level 1.
“Our Apple Premium Partner stores will take the customer experience to the next level for all visitors across the two Emirates. We cater to the needs of all types of customers, including business enterprises and invite everyone to visit our new stores to enjoy the complete Apple product ecosystem and the full range of accessories and services. iSTYLE is a highly experienced retailer with over 60 dedicated Apple points of sale in 13 countries (Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). It is part of the Midis Group with over 50 years of experience representing the leading global technology vendors in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.” said Nicolas Daher, General Manager, iSTYLE- Middle East and North Africa.
“Look for our new stores with the distinct new design where you can feel excellence in every detail and finish. Opening of the two stores gives residents and visitors easy access to experience the latest Apple products, exclusive workshops, group demo sessions and an Authorised Apple Service Center . Our professional iSTYLE team will be delighted to introduce all the features and benefits of the Apple products and services and help you to integrate Apple into your lifestyle.” says Julia Manzyuk, Retail Manager, iSTYLE UAE.
More information about the new Apple Premium Partner stores in Dubai and Sharjah can be found at the official website: https://istyle.ae/.
Unlocking Growth: GWC Unveils Phase-2 of Al Wukair Logistics Park Enabling Micro, Small and Medium Businesses GWC (Q.P.S.C.), the leading logistics provider in the State of Qatar, announced the successful launch of Phase-2 of GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park, the landmark 1.5 million-square-meter integrated logistics hub. Phase-2 comprises more than 500+ units, designed and optimized for warehousing, retail and light industrial workshops operations.
These units feature highly competitive leasing rates, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. “Since its inauguration in early 2022, the GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park has been making waves of success for a multitude of MSMEs. The launch of phase-2 further affirms our continuing quest for growth and contributing to the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030.” stated GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani Each unit within the park spans 250sqm, with a generous 220sqm dedicated to operational activities and a 30sqm office and utilities space.
Furthermore, the inclusion of parking facilities at each unit ensures convenient access for clients. All services at the logistics park are powered by GWC, allowing clients access to the company’s end-to-end logistics services and solutions, including customs clearance, transport, racking, supply chain consulting, freight, distribution and more. These services are immediately operational, with all utilities (water, electricity and fiber-internet), as well as IT infrastructure governed by an on-site data centre that will allow clients to be ready for business the moment they choose GWC as a service provider.
Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon affirms GWC’s commitment to serving the logistics needs of MSMEs, stating, “with 20 years of experience, our problem-solving team is focused on high-quality performance and responsiveness, something every client at Al Wukair will experience for themselves as they enter their reserved spaces.” “As GWC Group continues to expand and evolve, we are proud to have made significant strides in achieving our strategic growth plan, solidifying our position as prominent leaders in the logistics industry. Our strategic approach, driven by innovative technology and employee development, reinforces our conviction to deliver exceptional solutions and progress with utmost determination.” added Menon.
GWC was awarded the development of Al Wukair Logistics Park by Manateq in December 2019. Under the agreement, GWC is tasked with the construction, operation, and transfer (BOT) of the 1.5 million-square-meter logistics park. This public-private-partnership entails a 30-year lease tenure and a significant investment value exceeding QAR 1.5 billion.
· Etihad Cargo has appointed Giridharan Srinivasan to the role of Area General Manager – Indian Subcontinent, reinforcing the carrier’s commitment to this key region.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has appointed Giridharan Srinivasan to the role of Area General Manager – Indian Subcontinent. Based in Bangalore, Srinivasan will report directly to Latha Narayan, Etihad Cargo’s Director East Cargo Commercial – APAC, Australasia and Indian Subcontinent. He will be responsible for establishing new and further developing existing relationships with Etihad Cargo’s customers based in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the surrounding region.
Giridharan Srinivasan joins Etihad Cargo with over 17 years of logistics experience, five of which have been within the aviation sector. During his career, he has held leadership positions spanning sales, business development, client relationship management and operations. Srinivasan has also demonstrated leadership skills that have nurtured and retained talent within growing teams, enabling organisations to deliver service excellence through a customer-centric approach.
Narayan said: “Etihad Cargo is delighted to welcome Giridharan to the team. His appointment further reinforces the carrier’s commitment to the Indian Subcontinent, strengthens Etihad Cargo’s commercial team in the region and positions the airline for further growth in this key market. I am confident Giridharan’s knowledge, expertise and passion for delivering world-class solutions will contribute to Etihad Cargo’s ambitious long-term growth plans for the Indian Subcontinent, further cementing the carrier’s position as the air cargo partner of choice for Etihad Cargo’s customers in this region.”
Commenting on his new role, Srinivasan said: “I’m thrilled to join Etihad Cargo and be a part of the carrier’s exciting expansion plans in this region. Over the last few years, Etihad Cargo has added depth to its Indian Subcontinent network and has continued to enhance its products. I truly believe the carrier is well-positioned to seize new opportunities in this dynamic region, and I am fully aligned with Etihad Cargo’s commitment to continuously investing in and enhancing the customer experience. I look forward to working closely with the regional team to find innovative, tailored solutions that fully meet the capacity requirements of Etihad Cargo’s customers and partners.”
Etihad Cargo recently announced the carrier’s winter schedule, which will see the introduction of two new routes in the Indian Subcontinent region and additional frequencies to existing destinations. The carrier will offer more belly hold cargo capacity across new passenger routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, operating seven flights per week to each destination. Etihad Cargo will also provide additional belly hold capacity via new passenger flights to Chennai, Kochi, the Maldives, Columbo and Islamabad.
FedEx introduces FedEx® Sustainability Insights to support Customer Emissions reporting
New tool allows customers in MENA to measure the carbon footprint of their shipments
FedEx has launched a new tool, FedEx® Sustainability Insights (FSI), giving customers across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) markets* access to emissions information on their shipments within the FedEx network.
They can use the data to help make informed decisions on their future shipping strategy to reduce their impact on the planet, according to a press release.
Created by FedEx Dataworks, the innovative cloud-based data engine uses near-real-time FedEx network data to estimate CO2e emissions. Customers can view emissions data for individual tracking numbers as well as aggregate historical data for their accounts. Data displayed in the tool includes mode of transport, service type, and country or territory for all eligible FedEx Express® shipments.
Transparent sustainability
“Environmental stewardship and transparent sustainability reporting are now a universal business imperative. At the same time, consumers also consider sustainability in their decision-making for e-commerce purchases,” observed Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region, FedEx Express.
“With FedEx® Sustainability Insights, we empower our customers with valuable data to help them make informed decisions to reduce their carbon footprint for a more sustainable future,” noted Kami Viswanathan, SVP, FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa Operations.
Silk Way West Airlines, the leading cargo airline in the Caspian and Central Asian region, has taken a significant step forward in improving its customers’ experience with the launch of services bookable via the cargo.one platform. This initiative will facilitate a seamless booking experience and underscores Silk Way West Airlines’ commitment to innovation and customer centric services.
Silk Way West Airlines operates an extensive transcontinental network, connecting businesses across the globe with efficient airfreight solutions. By adding cargo.one to its operations, the airline offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies booking processes and optimizes capacity utilization, ultimately reducing costs and improving overall efficiency. The platform includes benefits such as an intuitive booking experience, enhanced efficiency, expanded global reach, and a strong focus on delivering exceptional customer service to businesses.
Mr. Wolfgang Meier, CEO of Silk Way West Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm about this new partnership, saying: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey with cargo.one. This endeavor is an exciting milestone that perfectly aligns with our commitment to providing innovative solutions and superior customer experiences. We believe that the integration of cargo.one’s digital platform will set a new standard for airfreight booking.”
By combining Silk Way West Airlines’ global reach and cargo.one’s cutting-edge technology, the air cargo industry is poised for a new era of convenience and efficiency. Silk Way West Airlines and cargo.one look forward to welcoming new and existing clients to the platform. Founded in 2012 in Baku, at the heart of the Silk Road, Silk Way West Airlines operates hundreds of flights every month across the globe via its fleet of 12 dedicated Boeing 747-8F and 747-400F aircraft based at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
On April 28, 2021, Silk Way West Airlines signed a strategic fleet expansion agreement with Boeing for the purchase of five new 777 Freighters, followed by a further agreement signed on November 10, 2022 for the purchase of two state-of-the-art 777-8 Freighters. Silk Way West Airlines also agreed the purchase of two A350 Freighters with Airbus on June 28, 2022.
Invests US$ 32.1mn to accelerate collection and recycling of beverage cartons
Tetra Pak recently published its Sustainability Report FY22, highlighting the company’s progress across various aspects of sustainability.
During the year 2022, Tetra Pak achieved significant milestones globally, reducing operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 39%, with 84% of the energy coming from renewable sources. This puts the company on track to achieve net zero within its own operations by 2030.
Additionally, the sale of 8.8 billion plant-based packages and 11.9 billion plant-based caps translated into 131 kilo tonnes of carbon dioxide savings.
Investment
Tetra Pak also invested nearly €30mn (US$ 32.1mn) to accelerate collection and recycling of beverage cartons, while working with food technology incubators and start-ups to explore the future of sustainable food.
Regionally, Tetra Pak continues to invest in the infrastructure required to boost sustainability across Arabia Area. Working in partnership with local governments, the private sector and NGOs, the company is leading the way towards a circular economy in the region.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, significant partnerships have been signed with local recycling partners and school programs are being implemented to raise awareness among children around recycling habits. In addition, Tetra Pak has signed several MoUs with the Saudi Government and has entered discussions and engagements with waste management companies and collectors to increase collection of carton packages across the Kingdom.
“Tetra Pak’s commitment to Arabia Area as well as recognition of its significance and potential, are reflected through the high efforts that are being put in to build a strong infrastructure that will support achieving Net Zero and enhance recycling capabilities throughout the Arabian region,” affirmed Hougaard, Managing Director, Tetra Pak Arabia Area.
New office reinforces company’s commitment to its customers
DHL Global Forwarding has expanded its business operations in Oman with the opening of a new corporate office in the Qurum district of the capital, Muscat.
This is DHL’s fifth office in the Sultanate. The new office opening is part of the company’s wider strategy to strengthen its footprint in the region.
The new office was inaugurated by Sheikha Amal Suhail Bahwan, Vice Chairperso, Suhail Bahwan Group (Oman JV partner), together with Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Middle East, and Africa (MEA) and other guests.
Focused
“DHL Global Forwarding is focused on developing in-country value by expanding the scope of our services in various parts of the MEA. We are excited for our employees and customers to enjoy a refreshed ambience and world-class service,” stated Diallo addressing employees in the new complex.
“The Oman office is one of the most state-of-the-art in the region. Spanning 1,050sqm. It is in the heart of Muscat and is designed as per DHL’s global standards,” he continued.
Commitment
“This office reinforces our commitment to our customers. Being the biggest logistics company in the sultanate, our new office also showcases our initiatives on green coordination, digitalization, women in logistics, among others. It underlines DHL’s commitment to connecting people and improving lives,” remarked Roy Scaria, Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding.
As part of DHL’s commitment to its in-country value initiative, the new office also has training facilities designed for trainees from various colleges across Oman. Through its motto, “Connecting People, Improving lives,” DHL Global Forwarding aims to deliver reliable, flexible and efficient operations across the region, a press communique concluded.
Appoints Nabeel Al Kharabsheh as the new General Manager
UAE-based Zajel Courier Services has appointed Nabeel Al Kharabsheh as the company’s new General Manager. The move comes as the company seeks to solidify their market position regionally and globally.
Launched in 2008, Zajel Courier Services is one of the fastest growing logistics and courier service companies in the UAE. With over a decade of experience, to date the company has delivered over 42mn shipments covering over 200 countries. In addition to domestic courier services and e-commerce, the company also provides air, sea and GCC road freight.
The newly appointed Al Kharabsheh comes with over a decade of experience, working with the world’s logistical giants in the UAE and abroad. Al Kharabsheh has comprehensive knowledge within the logistics and supply chain space, working closely with various courier businesses, in freight forwarding, project logistics and even warehouse solutions, according to a press communique.
“I believe that Zajel is one of the region’s most promising logistical providers and I only see upward growth for the company and its scope of operations which have worldwide outreach,” observed Al Kharabsheh.
Al Kharabsheh holds a degree in industrial engineering from the Hashemite University, one of Jordan’s top educational institutions. Upon graduating he moved from Jordan to Egypt in 2008, working as logistics manager, then headed to Dubai in 2010 to 2012 to continue his professional career as logistics lead, the press statement concluded.
Sharjah Airport serves over 2.8 million passengers during July and August of 2023
September 20, 2023 –Sharjah Airport has welcomed more than 2.8 million passengers from over 30 countries on 17,700 flight movements, during the months of July and August this year, according to Sharjah Airport Authority. This reflects the trust and confidence that the passengers have placed in the Airport’s services, as well as in providing a distinctive and convenient travel experience.
The highest percentage of passengers traveling to and from the Sharjah Airport was from Doha, the Capital of Qatar, with around 124,000 passengers, followed by Dhaka, Cairo, Trivandrum, and Amman. These positive figures demonstrate the SAA’s efforts to position Sharjah Airport as one of the top five regional airports in terms of offering passengers a safe and seamless travel experience backed by industry-leading services.
His Excellency Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “The Sharjah Airport has recorded over 2.8 million passengers in July and August this year, which reflects our commitment to strengthen the Airport’s position as a trusted travel destination. We constantly strive to exceed expectations and provide a safe and reliable travel experience to passengers with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Sharjah Airport Authority remains dedicated to boosting the Airport’s facilities, infrastructure, and services. We also hope to implement several expansion plans to raise the Airport’s capacity to 20 million passengers by 2026, in line with our vision to position Sharjah Airport as one of the top five airports in the region.”
With the goal of improving travel experiences for all passengers, Sharjah Airport Authority launched several innovative campaigns during this summer season, including the ‘Summer at Sharjah Airport’ and ‘Back to School’ campaigns. As part of these initiatives, the SAA staff and personnel participated in fun and engaging activities with the arriving and departing passengers, while also distributing presents to the passengers to showcase the airport’s high standards of hospitality. Passengers, for their part, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the airport’s prompt services and convenience.
The partnership, the first of its kind, will contribute to establishing a robust quality infrastructure within the GCC region
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) to collaborate in the area of conformity assessment and accreditation and develop sustainable solutions for the petrochemical and chemical industry in the GCC region.
The MoU will establish a framework that aims to improve the efficiency of conformity assessment processes in the region and ensure that chemical and petrochemical products and processes meet specified standards and regulations.
Additionally, it is aimed at streamlining accreditation procedures, fostering conformity across various certification activities, and establishing a robust quality infrastructure within the GCC region.
Environmental preservation
Recognizing the critical importance of environmental preservation, the MoU highlights a shared commitment by both GPCA and GAC to combatting plastic waste. The agreement will involve the adoption of an efficient plastic pellets, flakes and powder management scheme to address plastic material leakage and safeguard marine environments and marine wealth regionally and globally.
“Together we will collaborate closely on raising the bar and welcoming a new era in conformity assessment and accreditation across the industry in the region,” commented Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA.
“Together, we will pave the way for a future marked by accountability, transparency, and compliance, ensuring that our industry meets the highest standards and contributes to a cleaner, more environmentally responsible world,” remarked Eng. Moteb Al-Mezani, Director General, GAC.
Illustration of the RAMMS technology acquiring bathymetry data
Company to deploy cutting-edge hydrographic technology
The Saudi Arabian General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (known as GEOSA) has awarded Fugro a contract to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Kingdom’s eastern coastline with the primary objective of improving the safety and efficiency of shipping navigation, according to a press communique.
Covering an area of over 11,000sqm, Fugro will deploy its High-Speed Hydrography solution, a combination of Airborne Lidar Bathymetry (ALB), vessel-based acoustic methods and advanced processing techniques to acquire and analyse Geo-data in compliance with International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) standards.
These technologies will be deployed by a team of international hydrographic experts, including those with prior experience working on GEOSA contracts, the press statement continued.
Fugro will partner with IIC Technologies, a specialist in nautical chart creation, to develop the final project deliverables. Fugro and IIC Technologies have a successful track record of delivering similar hydrographic projects for GEOSA (previously GASGI) since 2010.
“By utilizing our cutting-edge hydrographic technologies, we’re committed to delivering rapid and reliable data in compliance with international standards. This project is a testament to our long-standing relationship with GEOSA and global track record in delivering high-speed hydrographic surveys,” affirmed Marco Filippone, Solution Director, Hydrography, Fugro.
CMA CGM and Maersk join forces to accelerate the decarbonization of the shipping industry
Both companies have set ambitious Net Zero target and invest extensively in the energy transition in shipping
Shipping giants AP Moller-Maersk and CMA CGM have decided to join forces on several areas relating to decarbonization, in full compliance with all laws and regulations, it was announced in a joint press release.
As frontrunners of the energy transition in shipping, both companies are convinced that joint action will help accelerate the green transition in shipping, learning from each other to go further and faster.
CMA CGM and Maersk have set a net-zero target for their shipping business, have identified scalable solutions that can create impact in this decade, and have already individually taken ambitious paths on promoting decarbonization for shipping.
Maersk has been ordering vessels that can be operated on bio/e-methanol. CMA CGM has been ordering LNG-propelled vessels, that can also be operated on bio/e-methane, the new green equivalent of current LNG, and has also placed orders for vessels that can be operated on bio/e-methanol.
While these two fuel streams appear now as the most mature among existing solutions, both companies expect the future fuel mix of shipping will include other streams that should be developed in the coming years.
Ambitious collaboration
An ambitious collaboration to develop the future of fuels for the shipping industry
Specifically, both shipping lines will work more together to develop the use of alternative greener fuels for container vessel propulsion, namely:
Developing high standards for alternative sustainable, green fuels – including the analysis of full lifecycle and related greenhouse gases – and helping to setting the framework of mass production of green methane and green methanol.
Developing and maintaining standards for operation of green methanol vessels with regards to safety and bunkering, as well as accelerating port readiness for bunkering and supply of bio/e-methanol at key ports around the world.
Continuing to explore jointly R&D on other components of the net zero solution as new alternative fuels, like ammonia, or innovation technology for their ships.
Two leading shipping companies will push advocacy together for the energy transition of the industry.
Regulation
Moreover, Maersk and CMA-CGM both agree to the fundamental role of regulation in securing the decarbonization of the sector. Both companies warmly welcome the outcome of the recent Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization during which the IMO’s 2023 strategy for reducing GHG Emissions from Ships was adopted, with reinforced targets to tackle harmful emissions.
“This partnership is a milestone for the decarbonization of our industry. By combining the know-how and the expertise of two shipping leaders, we will accelerate the development of new solutions and technologies, enabling our industry to reach its carbon dioxide reduction targets. We are looking forward to being joined by other companies,” says Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CMA CGM Group.
“AP Moller-Maersk wants to accelerate the green transition in shipping and logistics and to do so, we need strong involvement from partners across the industry. We are pleased to have an ally in CMA CGM and it’s a testament that when we united through determined efforts and partnerships, a tangible and optimistic path toward a sustainable future emerges,” asserted Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer, AP Moller-Maersk.
First Chinese airline to operate non-stop flights between Mainland China and Qatar.
Qatar Airways Cargo is pleased to announce a new partnership with Xiamen Airlines, the first Chinese airline to operate passenger non-stop flights from Mainland China to Qatar. The new partnership will allow Qatar Airways Cargo to provide additional belly cargo capacity for customers to and from Mainland China.
Under the cooperation agreement, Xiamen Airlines will launch daily flights between Beijing’s Daxing International Airport (PKX) to Doha’s Hamad International Airport. The flights will commence on 20 October 2023.
In addition to the flights from Beijing, Xiamen Airlines will also launch two weekly flights from Xiamen (XMN), the special economic zone of Fujian Sheng province, to Doha, commencing 31 October 2023.
Xiamen Airlines will connect DOH with PKX (seven times a week) and XMN (two times a week), providing more than 100 tonnes of capacity on board both flights. The new direct services from Beijing to Doha will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 and Xiamen-Doha-Xiamen service will be operated by a Boeing 787-8.
Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “China has always been a key market for us and our customers. We are delighted to be able to offer our clients even more capacity. We will now serve 9 destinations in Mainland China, offering over 2,800 weekly tonnes of cargo capacity. We welcome Xiamen Airlines and look forward to working closely with them.”
Mr. Tong Qianju, Vice President of Xiamen Airlines Cargo said: “Xiamen Airlines Cargo is very happy to expand its network reach for the first time to the Middle East, and we are very honored to do this with one of the top air cargo carriers in the world – Qatar Airways Cargo. Qatar is a huge hub for air cargo in the Middle East, and this relationship with Qatar Airways Cargo strengthens Xiamen Airlines’ commitment to air cargo excellence. We look forward to working closely with Qatar Airways.”
Hannover’s Industrial Fair Network 2023 Fosters a New Chapter for Advanced Manufacturing
The Industrial Fair Network, a benchmarking platform for advanced manufacturing exhibitions in the Asia-Pacific region, will kick off at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) on October 24-27, 2023. The Industrial Fair Network that never stops rendering high-quality industrial exhibitions in a professional spirit over the last thirty years will, by virtue of its abundant reserve of domestic and foreign quality enterprises and buyer resources, join hands with authoritative experts, associations, institutions, media and partners at home and abroad to provide a variety of services covering brand promotion, trade matching, technical exchanges, and new product display for well-known manufacturing enterprises at home and abroad. With a total exhibition area about 230,000 square meters, this event is expected to attract more than 3,200 enterprises and over 140,000 trade visitors from upstream and downstream manufacturing industries.
According to the Organizer, economic recovery in 2023 has helped boost confidence across industries, making this year critical for the development of advanced manufacturing. The pursuit of industrial development empowered by digitalization and intelligence and integrated development of advanced manufacturing and modern services is a key step taken to align with the new round of modern economic development, and also an important avenue to enhancing the core competitiveness and promoting high-quality and sustainable development of the industry.
A Professional Platform for Excellent Enterprises to Show Themselves and Output Frontier Achievements
The Industrial Fair Network 2023 consists of many industry exhibitions such as PTC ASIA, CeMAT ASIA, ComVac ASIA, APEX Asia, Heavy Machinery Asia, ICCE ASIA, CISSIE, E-PACK TECH and ISA, and pools together well-known enterprises from all upstream and downstream areas of industrial manufacturing to share with trade visitors respective latest products and technological deliverables under varying categories of professional exhibition themes in diverse display forms.
In the field of power transmission and industrial core components as a significant foundation underpinning manufacturing, a large number of well-known enterprises, including HAWE
HYDRAULIK, ATOS, Kawasaki, KTR Power Transmission Technology, Poclain Hydraulics, Hengli, Taifeng, Huade, Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Yuci Hydraulic Industry Co., Ltd., LIYUAN HYDRAULIC, JELPC, E·MC, STNC, DICHTOMATIK, SKF, TIMKEN, C&U, SEW, DONLY, Tailong, GNORD, NGC, JIEASIADRIVE, CHOHO, Hengjiu Group, Gates, SIT Indeva, etc., will take this opportunity to showcase respective flagship products and new launches so that the visitors can appreciate the innovative solutions under the trend of digital low-carbon upgrading.
Logistics is the top priority of high-end manufacturing. In the field of warehousing logistics and industrial automation, well-known enterprises like Dematic, KNAPP, Siemens, ABB, Schneider, Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machinery Industry, Beijing Materials Handling Research Institute, Kunming Shipbuliding Equipment, SIASUN, JD Logistics, Hangcha Group, BYD, NOBLELIFT, SANY, Hikvision, Quicktron, Geek+, HAI ROBOTICS, INFORM, JINGXING LOGISTICS, HUAZHANG, BlueSword, GALAXIS and ZHONGDING will exhibit the latest systematic solutions and equipment that continue to fuel high-quality development of the industry.
In the field of compressor manufacturing, in addition to the participation of many foreign exhibitors, Hitachi, BSC, ANEST IWATA, SCR, Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand, BAUER, BALDOR and other leading companies in the industry will display products such as air compressors, compressor parts, special compressors, compressored air after-treatment equipment, vacuum pumps, vacuum valves and vacuum parts on site, among which the exhibitors displaying complete machines account for 35%.
Heavy Machinery Asia co-sponsored by China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF), China Heavy Machinery Industry Association (CHMIA) and Hannover Milano Fairs China Ltd. will gather domestic giants like TZCO, CFHI, EHEC, CITIC.HIC, NHI and DHHI to display equipment and devices of national importance.
Blockbuster Talks and Knowledge Sharing about Advanced Manufacturing Between Authoritative Experts
In addition to traditional exhibitions, the Industrial Fair Network 2023 will also organize nearly 100 concurrent activities and forums in various forms by exerting its advantages of platform, in a bid to create better experience for the visitors and diversify the display forms of enterprises.
For example, the 2nd High-end Manufacturing Development Forum sponsored by Chinese
Mechanical Engineering Society intends to invite several academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and heavyweight experts in the manufacturing sector to give speeches on frontier studies on high-end manufacturing at present. Together with senior executives of many Chinese and foreign technology giants invited to share their latest products and technological achievements, this event is expected to attract more than 1,000 trade visitors in the field of industrial manufacturing.
The China College Students Mechanical Engineering Innovation and Creativity Competition – Intelligent Manufacturing Competition will be held again this year and attract numerous university elites, of which the annual finals will continue to take place as a concurrent event during the Industrial Fair Network 2023. This competition gathers nearly 3,000 contestants from participating teams of reputed universities, including Tongji University, Xi ‘an Jiaotong University and Zhejiang University. The three-day finals will select the winners of each group and present to them the technical certificates of TÜV Rheinland, an international third-party certification body. The judging panel is composed of leading experts in the manufacturing sector and experts from Siemens, Shanghai Xipu Intelligent System Co., Ltd., MOXA and other world-renowned enterprises. With an aim of facilitating learning and education through competitions, this event will demonstrate the latest industry-university-research transformation results of high-end manufacturing, and jointly contribute to the training of intelligent manufacturing talents.
On top of that, this event also features colorful activities including Logistics Innovation Salon, Intelligent Drive Forum, High-Tech Innovation Exhibition Area, Digital and Intelligent Hydraulic Square, Compressor Series Theme Forum, China International High-quality Special Steel New Materials Forum, etc., covering topics such as digital economy, industrial upgrading, development of high-end manufacturing equipment, AI, “Dual Carbon” Economy and sustainable development, SRDI small and medium industrial enterprises, and supply chain transformation. Each visitor can get answers and practical solutions from these wonderful keynote speeches and case studies.
GWC held its annual blood donation drive on Thursday 14th of September, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate. GWC organises these annual blood donation campaigns to support Qatar’s community and promote the values of social responsibility among its employees.
The drive that was conducted at the company’s logistics hub in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, in association with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The campaign attracted many donors who came in voluntarily to support the community and appreciate the gift of life. GWC’s Group CEO, Ranjeev Menon, expressed his appreciation for the donors and HMC personnel, stating, “I am extremely proud to witness the spirit of selflessness demonstrated by our team and other donors.
Donating blood is a noble cause, and it plays a critical role in saving lives. The blood donation drive is a key initiative of GWC’s CSR policy and our way of serving the larger community.” “We thank HMC for their efforts in making this drive a success, and for their continued support and innovation in improving the health sector in Qatar.” He added. GWC has been organising blood donation campaigns for more than a decade now and has seen an uptake in the number of participating donors, thus exemplifying the spirit of giving.
COP28 appoints Kuehne+Nagel as freight forwarding and logistics partner
Kuehne+Nagel to act as the sole ground handler for COP28 at the Expo City in Dubai
Highlights the expertise of Kuehne+Nagel in the expo and events space
Underpins Kuehne+Nagel’s commitment to its science-based emission reduction targets and decarbonisation efforts
COP28 has appointed Kuehne+Nagel as the official logistics partner at the global 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. From November 30 until December 12, the event is expected to convene over 70,000 accredited visitors to the restricted Blue Zone and 50,000 daily visitors to the public Green Zone. The appointment underpins Kuehne+Nagel’s capabilities in expo and events logistics, as well as its commitment to its science-based emission reduction targets and efforts to decarbonise logistics.
At Expo City Dubai, Kuehne+Nagel will be the sole ground handler responsible for steering all logistics activities on-site, like building country pavilions and stages for panel discussions. In addition, the team will support participants in their end-to-end and local logistics needs, from international freight forwarding, customs clearance and warehousing, to venue delivery – all supported by Kuehne+Nagel’s global network of experts and its portfolio of low-emission solutions.
Damian Raczynski, National Manager UAE and Oman at Kuehne+Nagel: „We are proud to have been appointed for this important conference. Kuehne+Nagel is well-known in the events and exhibition space in Europe, and this appointment underpins our efforts to further develop this segment in the Middle East – a region with world-class infrastructure to accommodate this industry.”
Sustainable logistics solutions and SBTi
Kuehne+Nagel’s appointment by COP28 can not only be credited to its logistics expertise, but also to its ambitions to decarbonise the logistics sector. Kuehne+Nagel has committed to the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) and has taken major steps to make low-emission transport solutions available for its customers. Cooperation with customers, carriers, international organisations, and other stakeholders is part of Kuehne+Nagel’s strategy to drive meaningful change.
Sarah Kreienbühl, Member of the Management Board, responsible for Human Resources and ESG at Kuehne+Nagel International AG: „Our current focus is on making low-emission fuels more widely available in the market. However, our industry needs to unlock new technologies to have more and better solutions. This is a challenge for which all actors across societies and industries need to work together. That is why the yearly Conference of the Parties is so important, alongside other forums and coalitions that bring actors together to address climate change.”
The partnership will bolster cyber resilience for the global insurance industry with multilingual tech support, and AI based end-to-end cyber security solution
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Surance.io, an innovative personal cyber insurance platform. The strategic partnership will provide international multilingual tech support and enhance cybersecurity solutions to reinforce secure digital transformation in the insurance sector.
With this partnership, Surance.io will leverage Tech Mahindra’s multilingual support to communicate with their global customers in more than 20 languages and provide seamless services to foster enhanced customer experiences. The partnership aims to protect insurance customers by providing round-the-clock expert support, best-in-class call centre services, advanced AI-based threat detection tools, and customised guidance to prevent cyber-attacks.
Vivek Agarwal, President – APJI (Enterprise), Corporate Development, Tech Mahindra, said, “The personal cyber insurance market is growing rapidly and remains relatively untapped. This presents a significant opportunity for us to create a strong presence in this market. Our offering of comprehensive end-to-end products in this domain places us in a favorable position for cross-selling and appealing to new market segments. The partnership with Surance.io will fuel the new era of cyber protection standards and steadfast our dedication to digital transformation and innovation within the global insurance industry. Together, we will redefine the benchmark for tech support excellence and spearhead a global revolution in cyber protection that will set a powerful precedent for the entire tech sector and insurance industry.”
With Tech Mahindra’s digital and domain expertise and Surance.io’s cutting-edge insurance platform, the partnership creates a powerful synergy to elevate customer experiences and drive business growth in the rapidly evolving cyber insurance landscape. Key services that insurance customers can leverage from this partnership include protection and recovery for social accounts, devices, smartphones, networks and data. The partnership will further provide anti-phishing verification & validation tools, social account assessment & protection against account hijack, Wifi and WAN network threat discovery and prevention plan.
Saar Bar, Co-Founder and CEO of Surance.io, said, “In 2022, cyber-attacks caused $10.3Bn in financial damage in the US, compared with $2.7Bn in 2018. In the world of cybersecurity, consumers’ end-to-end solutions are largely ignored and underserved due to lack of personalised and efficient solutions, timely responses, and effective communication. To address this, with Tech Mahindra’s multilingual expertise, Surance.io is ready to provide seamless services to a diverse global clientele. Surance.io can now partner with any insurance company in almost any language, making cyber protection accessible to all.”
In 2022,Tech Mahindra acquired 25% of equity shareholding in Surance.io to support the global expansion in the InsurTech industry. The partnership it is in line with Tech Mahindra’s DigitALL philosophy for comprehensive business transformation as it focuses on investing in emerging technologies and solutions that enable digital transformation and meet the evolving needs of insurance customers.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, together with ATS in the UAE, has established a specialized joint venture HellmannATS Road Solutions. Through this powerful partnership Hellmann expands its road logistics business in the Middle East enhancing the range of services that already includes the segments airfreight, seafreight, customs brokerage and contract logistics since entering the market in 1999. With ATS, Hellmann joins forces with a major road transportation provider in the UAE market, gaining access to a fleet of more than 600 vehicles operating in the region. Under the terms of the joint venture, HellmannATS Road Solutions will exclusively handle all road transport operations for Hellmann in the UAE. The joint venture will be managed by Mutasim Abuhmaidan, who comes with 20 years of Middle East road freight experience having led and developed regional road freight departments with global and regional freight forwarders.
With the joint venture, Hellmann and ATS responds to the fragmented FTL trucking sector in UAE, providing not just a seamless end-to-end road transport experience, but also enhancing supply chain visibility for local and international customers. The partnership combines the decades of cross-border expertise of a leading global freight forwarder with the modern fleet capabilities of one of the largest transport companies in the UAE. On this basis, the joint venture will offer a comprehensive technology-based range of B2B logistics solutions to meet the evolving needs of global trade. HellmannATS aims to significantly increase its market share in the road transport sector in the Middle East over the coming years, with a particular focus on FTL business for global and regional customers.
“As Hellmann, we are pursuing ambitious solutions in all product areas in the UAE and greater Middle East to support our customers with the strongest all-round solutions. In this context, the establishment of the joint venture with ATS is an important milestone in the expansion of our road network across the region. As globalization continues to shape the future of international trade, the joint venture stands as an unwavering partner, delivering tailor-made solutions and revolutionizing the way B2B logistics are managed,” said Madhav Kurup, Regional CEO IMEA, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“As two industry titans unite, the shared commitment of excellence and innovation shines through promising unparalleled reliability, efficiency, and sustainability in the transportation of goods. This joint venture brings forth a dynamic force that not only streamlines supply chains but also paves the way for a brighter, more connected future“, shared by Amit Gandhi, CEO, ATS.
Infor has announced that Nacita, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) company in Egypt, has implemented Infor warehouse management system (WMS).
The project was managed by Infor partner SNS, a leading provider of supply chain consultancy and software implementation, according to a press statement.
With a portfolio encompassing approximately 50 well-established brands, including HSBC, Orange, and Ericsson, Nacita relies on Infor WMS to enhance its warehouse and logistics operations.
Strategic move
This strategic move aims to bolster key processes like receiving, picking, shipping, and the efficient capture of serial numbers, solidifying Nacita’s standing as an end-to-end logistics solutions powerhouse.
To meet this challenge, Nacita partnered with SNS to implement Infor WMS. This choice was made after a thorough market evaluation due to SNS’ capability to address the complex requirements of the task.
Extensive customizations
“SNS has contributed significantly to the project’s success. Although we initially anticipated requiring extensive customizations to address the complexities of serial-number capture during receiving and picking, we found that Infor WMS’s built-in functionalities perfectly aligned with our requirements,” comments Michael Nazir, IT manager at Nacita.
“Our expertise in Infor WMS and our track record with similar projects enabled us to effectively facilitate robust control mechanisms in all warehouse processes,” remarked Mario Ghosn, General Manager, SNS.
“Deep warehousing functionality, ability to handle large volumes and highly experienced consultants, these are a perfect combination to get the maximum throughput from warehouse operations. Infor is proud to be Nacita’s partner on its journey to become end-to-end logistics provider leader,” commented Vishal Minocha, VP, Product Management, Infor.
The jointly created solution unites and simplifies the intricate IT system changes
SAP has announced that its BMW iFACTORY in Oxford, United Kingdom, has successfully gone live with SAP S/4HANA, using SAP’s cloud-driven solution architecture for automotive industries.
The MINI Plant in Oxford is the first of BMW Group’s connected factories moving to the digitized cloud architecture over the next few years, it was announced in a press communique.
Going live for the first time worldwide in the production environment at the MINI plant is the next milestone for BMW’s iFACTORY, which represents BMW Group’s revolutionary strategy for future automotive production.
BMW Group chose SAP S/4HANA and SAP’s supply chain logistics solutions to jointly create the first blueprint for process digitization of automotive plants of the future, establishing a new technology standard that could shape the automotive industry.
Joint solutions
The jointly created solutions unite and simplify the intricate simultaneous processes and IT system changes in the areas of parts logistics, finance/controlling and customs. As each upcoming following iFACTORY leverages the RISE with SAP solution, BMW Group expects to benefit from the standardization of logistics processes worldwide on the latest technology innovations, mutual plant support, flexible workforce allocation, and synergy in support and training.
“The Oxford plant is the first plant that will follow a global rollout within the BMW Group. From now on, more plants from the worldwide production network will be added every year until they all speak the same language,” asserted Alexander Buresch, Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Vice President, BMW Group IT.
“The BMW Group and SAP have had a longstanding partnership and collaboration spanning more than 30 years. I’m extremely excited that this is the first time the parts logistics solution has been deployed on a cloud architecture developed together by BMW Group and SAP,” affirmed Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE responsible for SAP Product Engineering.
· Arab paper industry players come together under Arab Federation for Paper, Printing and Packaging Industries (AFPPI) to fight dumping from overseas markets
· Call to participate in GCC Containerboard Index for market clarity
Paper containerboard segment in the region has been growing above the global average of 2.5 per cent at 3-4 per cent on the back of the strong GDP growth, evolution of e-commerce and population growth, an expert said at the Propaper Dubai 2023 expo today.
“Commodity industry in the region is also subject to technicalities like supply and demand, performance etc., but we are seeing the containerboard industry growing forward and accordingly regular investments are also happening to bridge the gap between demand and supply,” said Eng. Sami Al-Safran, President of the Arab Federation for Paper, Printing and Packaging Industries (AFPPPI), and Group President of the Saudi-based Middle East Paper Company (MEPCO).
Cost inflation, environmental concerns, raw material availability and policy vacuum are some of the challenges faced by the industry in the region, but this is offset by opportunities such as sustainability, e-commerce development, economic growth and a large end-user segment, he said in a presentation at the ongoing Propaper Dubai 2023, organised by Verifair at Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City. The show also incorporates Super Sourcing Dubai under the auspices of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).
“Propaper Dubai 2023 is focused on bringing market leading industry thought leaders to shed light on the market and trends to facilitate transparency and knowledge sharing. The participants at the expo represent a cross section of industry verticals and known for market leading innovation,” said Jeen Joshua, Managing Director, Verifair.
Regional players come together to fight dumping
Eng. Safran said the net containerboard imports to ME region stand at 20 per cent and the demand and supply could balance out by 2025, though further imports should be anticipated considering the excellent access to the regional market for overseas suppliers.
“At AFPPI, local industry players are coming together seeking support from government for different things and one of this is dumping. GCC companies have filed anti-dumping cases against suppliers from Germany, France and India, and investigations have confirmed that there is physical dumping and this will be addressed by putting in place safeguards such as higher duties,” he said.
GCC Containerboard Index
As a pioneering development in the regional paper industry, a GCC Containerboard index has been activated since May last year which captures market transaction data that can be accessed based on subscription as well as open data in some cases.
Industry experts urged paper industry players to participate in the index which will give all industry stakeholders from suppliers to end-users a facility to leverage and share data regarding transactions, price etc. which will help informed decision making contributing to more market stability.
India participation
Under the Super Sourcing Dubai 2023 organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and Government of India, around 47 companies are participating at the expo. The show has been a game changer ever since its inception during the COVID times, Indian officials said.
The endeavour of Indian exporters is to highlight quality and to showcase sustainable products at such global platforms where plastics are being replaced by sustainable recycled products and not trees,” said Mr. Yogesh Gupta, Chairman, FIEO (ER), emphasizing the imperative of having a sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable value chain.
Qatar Airways Cargo Joins Forces with Animal Defenders International for the world’s loneliest lion’s remarkable journey and new beginning
After enduring five years of isolation in an abandoned Armenian zoo, Ruben, known as the world’s loneliest lion, embarked on a remarkable journey of rehabilitation in Free State, South Africa, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Animals Defenders International (ADI) and Qatar Airways Cargo.
Ruben, who was left behind when a private zoo closed down in Armenia, suffered in a tiny concrete cell with no contact with other lions. Ruben’s happy ending was at risk when ADI could not find a suitable flight for him out of Armenia.
Qatar Airways Cargo orchestrated a 5,200-mile journey for the 15-year-old lion, where he is now re-discovering his voice and confidence as he roams the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. Despite physical challenges from years of captivity, Ruben’s resilience and determination shine through, offering hope for his remarkable recovery.
Elisabeth Oudkerk, SVP Cargo Sales & Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “We are committed to preserving wildlife and endangered species, that is why we launched our WeQare Chapter 2 initiative: ‘Rewild the Planet’ back in 2020. We pledged to return wildlife and endangered species back to their natural habitat, free of charge and we will continue to do so.”
“When ADI approached us and explained the sad story of Ruben, we immediately knew we had to help them. There are a lot of logistics involved in moving animals like Ruben; from the logistics at the airports involved, the process for loading and unloading the animals from the aircraft, to ensuring the correct cages and wellbeing of the animals are in place. It takes a lot of effort from our team to organise such transport – but it is something we are all collectively very proud to be a part of, knowing we helped give back to our planet.”
Jan Creamer, President, Animals Defenders International added: “Ruben was really in trouble until Qatar Airways Cargo stepped up. ADI had been funding his care in Armenia since December and when we could find no flights for him we feared he could be stuck there.
“Then Qatar Airways Cargo ‘WeQare’ initiative stepped in, moving a larger aircraft with hold doors big enough for Ruben’s crate, into the scheduled passenger route out of Yervan. We are so thankful to Qatar Airways Cargo for all their support in helping get Ruben to South Africa.
“Seeing Ruben walk on grass for the first time, hearing the voices of his own kind, with the African sun on his back, brought us all to tears.”
Qatar Airways Cargo’s WeQare sustainability programme consists of a series of focus chapters based on four core pillars: environment, society, economy, and culture and is a conscious endeavour to create a more positive impact on the industry and the world.
Chapter 2 – Rewild the Planet encourages the preservation of ecological balance by offering free transport to organisations involved in returning wild animals to their natural habitat.
Natural gas has lower carbon emissions compared to other fossil fuels
ADNOC Gas recently announced an agreement, valued between US$ 450mn (AED1.65bn) and US$ 550mn (AED 2bn), to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to PetroChina International Company (PCI), a subsidiary of PetroChina Company Limited, one of the leading oil and gas producers and distributors in China.
This agreement underscores ADNOC Gas’ growing global presence, particularly in the East and South Asian markets. Natural gas plays a crucial role as a transitional fuel, generating lower-carbon emissions compared to other fossil fuels, and ADNOC Gas is committed to ensuring reliable supply to its customers around the world.
“China continues to be a key market for ADNOC Gas, and this agreement further reinforces our role as a major LNG supplier across East and South Asia, and beyond,” commented Ahmed Mohamed Alebri, CEO, ADNOC Gas.
LNG serves as an important raw material in industrial value chains and its versatility allows its application across a broad range of industries, fostering economic growth.
“This agreement signifies an extension of the cooperation between our two companies and reaffirms PCI’s commitment to ADNOC Gas as our global partner,” remarked Wu Junli, Chairman, PCI.
The view from the airplane window on the clouds and clear blue sky. Tourism and Travel. Wallpaper, texture. Winter landscape. Christmas in Lapland.
Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming at enhancing their collaboration opportunities across passenger operations, loyalty programmes, talent development, and maintenance.
The signing ceremony took place at the Air France-KLM Group’s headquarters in Paris, France in the presence of Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Air France-KLM, and Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer, Etihad Airways.
Through this partnership, and subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, Air France-KLM and Etihad contemplate expanding their codeshare and interline agreements initiated in 2012. As a first step, more than 40 new routes covering destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia have been made available for booking as of today, for travel as early as the winter 2023 season.
The MoU also proposes the ability for frequent flyers of both Flying Blue and Etihad Guest to earn and redeem miles with Air France, KLM, and Etihad. The airlines will also explore terminal co-location, reciprocal lounge access and ground handling, among other initiatives.
Etihad currently operates daily flights to both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol from Abu Dhabi international airport.
Air France will start operating daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport from October 29, 2023.
Angus Clarke, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Air France-KLM, said: “I’m delighted to further develop our partnership with Etihad Airways. This 11-year collaboration is now expanding even further, as we aim to explore opportunities in maintenance and loyalty, in addition to enhancing our route network for the benefit of our customers from all around the world. The attractiveness of Abu Dhabi as a destination and a hub, powered by Etihad’s large footprint spanning South and Southeast Asia, as well as Australia, brings significant richness to this partnership. This moment marks our shared commitment to providing seamless, premium, customer-centric travel experiences to our shared global customer base.”
Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad, said: “We are excited to expand our collaboration with Air France-KLM, with this MoU serving as a testament to our shared vision of creating premium journeys for our guests. This MoU builds on our existing partnership by exploring deeper network enhancements as we offer improved connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Paris, and leveraging the extensive AF-KL network to Europe and beyond. It reaffirms Etihad’s intent to bolster Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic growth as we look forward to welcoming more guests to our home enjoying better travel benefits and enhanced customer experiences along the way.”
Earlier this year, Air France-KLM announced it had signed a MoU with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism with the aim of reinforcing connectivity between Europe and Abu Dhabi.
Deal reduces global GHG emissions footprints through certified low emission fuel
AP Moller-Maersk (Maersk) and Amazon have finalized a 2023-2024 agreement for the transport of 20,000 FFE containers using green biofuel through Maersk’s ‘ECO Delivery’ ocean product offering.
Maersk estimates this purchase will contribute to a reduction in 44,600 metric tons of CO2e vs standard bunker fuel, roughly equivalent to 50 million pounds of coal burned. This is the fourth consecutive year that Amazon and Maersk have arranged container shipping using low GHG (Green House Gases) fuel options.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Maersk, a Climate Pledge signatory and leader in shipping logistics, on actionable solutions to decarbonize maritime shipping,” affirmed Adam Baker, Vice President, Global Transportation, Amazon.
“We are excited to have containers in Maersk’s first methanol-enabled feeder vessel and to continue using their biofuel,” he added.
Emission reduction
The ECO Delivery biofuel option offers emission reductions that enable immediate and externally verified GHG savings for customers, without compensatory measures like offsetting. This year, Amazon will benefit from a new feature of the ECO Delivery product which will be enabled by also using green methanol in addition to the bio diesel as a second green fuel* in the vessel fleet.
ECO Delivery is using primary data for fuel consumption in the methodology to report emissions savings with greater precision, inclusive of other greenhouse gases in addition to carbon dioxide. The new model also provides price certainty and stability and is de-linked from the fossil fuel market.
Sustainable shipping
“Amazon’s record of securing sustainable shipping over the years, no matter the business climate, is testament to its contributions to building a better future. We share a common goal with Amazon to reduce our total GHG emissions to net zero by 2040,” asserted asserted Narin Phol, President North America, AP Moller-Maersk.
“As cosigners of the Climate pledge, we must constantly create new opportunities to make this a decade of action. Decarbonizing shipping is one significant step that is to be combined with many others to protect our future,” he asserted.
Co-founded by Global Optimism and Amazon, the Climate Pledge is powered by over 400 companies in 38 countries around the globe. The pledge is a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Signatories agree to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions on a regular basis; implement decarbonization strategies in line with the Paris Agreement, and neutralize any remaining emissions with credible offsets, a press communique concluded.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is taking over its long-standing partner Hellmann Worldwide Logistics S.p.A. (Hellmann Italy), thus continuing its expansion strategy in the European market.
The Milan-based company, which employs approximately 70 people at six locations, has been providing Hellmann Worldwide Logistics with all its sea- and airfreight services in Italy since it was founded in 2006.
With this acquisition, Hellmann is expanding into an important European logistics market and not only completing its network in the central Alpine region, but also strengthening its presence in the Mediterranean region, which is strategically important for global seafreight operations. Going forward, Hellmann will expand its range of services through its own national company in Italy, thus offering its Italian and international customers an even more comprehensive service. The operational business in Italy will continue to be managed by Daniela Coppola, who, as a long-standing and experienced Managing Director of Hellmann Italy, will ensure a seamless continuation of all activities.
“The organic integration of Hellmann Italy into the global Hellmann network will enable us to even better exploit the potential of the Italian market and tap into new market segments,” said Jens Tarnowski, Regional CEO West Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“We are pleased that we are now an integral part of the global Hellmann network. After years of working together as partners, the integration is an important strategic step towards strengthening Hellmann Italy in the long term and enabling us to operate on an even more global scale. The integration will also enable us to offer our customers an even more attractive product range,” added Daniela Coppola, Managing Director, Hellmann Italy.
Jose De la Fuente and Dustine Gascoyne appointed to top positions
Leading German tyre and automotive technology company Continental has announced significant leadership changes within its Middle East operations.
Continental welcomed back José De la Fuente as the Managing Director for the Middle East. De la Fuente brings a wealth of experience and expertise, having successfully led Continental’s operations in Mexico for the past five years.
“The Middle East is a strategically important market for Continental, and I look forward to collaborating with our talented team to deliver pioneering solutions that meet the evolving needs of our dealers, customers, and strategic partners,” remarked De la Fuente on his appointment.
Dustine Gascoyne
Continental also announced the appointment of Dustine Gascoyne as Sales Director for Continental Middle East. Gascoyne assumes this role with a remarkable track record of accomplishments, having previously held the role of Managing Director Continental Tyre Saudi Arabia.
“I am eager to work closely with our dedicated team to bring our customers and partners the highest quality products and services, fostering long-lasting relationships and driving the brand forward,” commented Gascoyne.
These leadership changes come at a pivotal time for Continental as the company continues to focus on innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction across its diverse range of products and solutions.
Karel Kucera
Karel Kucera, the former Managing Director for the Middle East takes on the new role of leading Continental’s operations in Thailand.
Juan Uruburu Alonso, the outgoing Head of Sales for Continental Middle East, will be stepping into the role of leading Continental Tyre Saudi Arabia, where he will continue to bring his expertise and energy to advance the company’s presence in the Saudi market.
Carbon capture is key lever in delivering ADNOC’s Net Zero by 2045 ambition
ADNOC has announced a final investment decision (FID) to develop one of the largest carbon capture projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The pioneering Habshan carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of carbon dioxide (CO2) within geological formations deep underground.
ADNOC’s announcement is part of the company’s wider carbon management strategy, which aims to create a unique platform that connects all the sources of emissions and sequestration sites to accelerate the delivery of ADNOC and the UAE’s decarbonization goals.
Using best-in-class technology, the project will triple ADNOC’s carbon capture capacity to 2.3mtpa, equivalent to removing over 500,000 gasoline-powered cars from the road per year. The project, to be built, operated and maintained by ADNOC Gas on behalf of ADNOC, will include carbon capture units at the Habshan gas processing plant, pipeline infrastructure, and a network of wells for CO2 injection.
Decarbonization efforts
As part of ADNOC’s ongoing decarbonization efforts, CO2 will be permanently stored in reservoirs deep in the sub-surface through the deployment of closed-loop CO2 capture and reinjection technology at the well site.
“This landmark project is one of many tangible initiatives that ADNOC is delivering as we accelerate our decarbonization plan to meet our Net Zero by 2045 ambition,” remarked Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, ADNOC.
ADNOC has placed sustainability at the heart of its long-term strategy. The company is decarbonizing its operations while also investing in renewables and low carbon fuels, building a global hydrogen value chain, deploying innovative climate technology solutions, and advancing nature-based solutions such as planting mangroves in the UAE.
Carbon capture
In 2016, ADNOC opened its first carbon capture, transportation and storage facility at Al Reyadah in Abu Dhabi. The facility has the capacity to process up to 800,000 tons of CO₂ per year captured at Emirates Steel Arkan.
ADNOC and Occidental are also working to assess potential investment opportunities in the UAE and the United States in both carbon capture and storage and direct air capture.
As part of its longstanding decarbonization drive, ADNOC currently acquires 100% of its grid power from the Emirates Water and Electricity Company’s (EWEC) nuclear and solar sources,
making the company the first major oil and gas company in the world to decarbonize its power at scale though an agreement of this kind.
Furthermore, ADNOC is developing a US$ 3.8bn (AED14bn) project to build a sub-sea transmission network, which upon completion, could reduce ADNOC’s offshore carbon intensity by up to 50%, a press communique concluded.
Deal to reduce carbon emissions of its transport fleet
Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has signed a partnership agreement with Dubai headquartered Neutral Fuels to reduce the amount of carbon emissions generated by its transport fleet, it was announced in a press communique.
Farnek has made a commitment to transition to Neutral Fuels’ B7 blend biodiesel which saves 6.14% of carbon emissions in comparison to using regular diesel. So, for every 100,000 litres of B7 biodiesel used there is a saving of 21,170kgs of carbon dioxide.
“It is not feasible for many companies with hundreds of vehicles, travelling thousands of kilometres a day, to replace their transport fleet with electric vehicles. Biofuel is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative,” remarked Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.
Neutral Fuels, which is the largest producer of biofuel in the Gulf region, collects waste cooking oil from local restaurants and kitchens and chemically transforms it into Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (commonly called biodiesel).
Reducing emissions
Neutral Fuels biodiesel is a clean, green renewable fuel which immediately and significantly reduces transport carbon emissions without any engine modifications enabling organizations to reduce their contribution to climate change.
“Our partnership reflects the commitment of both Neutral Fuels and Farnek towards sustainable business practices. It promotes the use of biodiesel, as a clean-burning and renewable substitute for petroleum diesel, is an excellent example of Circular Economy within the UAE, and significantly reduces environmental impact and enhances energy security,” commented Karl W. Feilder, Founder and CTO, Neutral Fuels.
“To realize our net-zero strategy, we are committed to making responsible decisions, such as implementing low-carbon technologies and resources. This will help to transform our business into a progressive and sustainable model,” noted Muna Al Nahdi, Head of Sustainability & Consultancy, Farnek.
Qatar Airways Cargo Launches SecureLift: a solution for Valuable and Vulnerable shipments
SecureLift is designed to offer optimum protection and secure storage for high-value and vulnerable shipments.
Qatar Airways Cargo today announced the launch of its special product SecureLift under its VISION 2027 and Next Generation strategy. SecureLift marks a significant milestone for Qatar Airways Cargo, as it allocates dedicated resources to cater to the specialised needs of valuable and vulnerable shipments, while maintaining an enhanced standard of security and vigilance.
Products having high declared value like precious metals, stones, gold bullions, banknotes, jewellery or watches would fall under the Valuable category while commodities that carry a risk of pilferage like high value electronics and newly launched products would fall under the Vulnerable category.
Key features include high loading priority, close monitoring of shipments, inclusion of approved data loggers and shipment escorts, in addition to secure handling, transportation and storage of the product. Valuable shipments would also be moved in specialised containers and boxes for protection of the product, and kept in the strong-room with restricted access providing added security.
The temperature inside the strong-room is maintained between 20°C – 25°C. The expert SecureLift team is well trained and plays a pivotal role by adhering to strict security protocols at every stage of the journey.
The cargo carrier achieved a remarkable track record having transported over 9,000 tonnes of valuable and vulnerable cargo in 2022, including electronics, banknotes, art shipments and various sensitive commodities. This impressive volume underlines the carrier’s expertise in handling cargo requiring special care with exceptional precision and attention to detail.
“SecureLift embodies our unwavering commitment to meeting the unique needs of our valued customers. This service redefines safety and security standards for high-value and vulnerable shipments, showcasing our dedication to excellence, safety and cutting-edge solutions,” says Miguel Rodriguez Moreno, Head of Cargo Products.
The carrier offers its customers an extensive network of more than 150 destinations as part of its scheduled services and can also provide part or full dedicated charters for SecureLift products to destinations not part of its network.
Digitalisation is a key pillar for the world’s leading cargo carrier and it enhances the service further as SecureLift shipments can now be easily booked through Qatar Airways Cargo’s innovative online platform, the Digital Lounge, streamlining the booking process for customers.
New state-of-the-art terminal offering a seamless biometric journey
Abu Dhabi Airports has announced the forthcoming opening of its state-of-the-art new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Known as Midfield Terminal Building during the construction phase, ‘Terminal A’ is scheduled to begin operations in early November 2023.
Adding a world-class facility to Abu Dhabi’s rapidly evolving transportation infrastructure, the opening will mark a significant milestone for the emirate that has the potential to transform the local aviation ecosystem, strengthen Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a destination of choice for travellers, and further boost its position as a global hub for trade and business, a press communique stated.
Equipped with the latest technologies, Terminal A boasts a range of interconnected biometric systems that will invite passengers to enjoy the speed and comfort of a seamless, digitised journey from pre-travel to boarding gate, facilitated by self-service kiosks, streamlined security checkpoints and state-of-the-art baggage handling systems.
Incremental capacity
Covering 742,000sqm of built-up area, Terminal A is among the largest airport terminals in the world and will significantly increase Abu Dhabi International Airport’s passenger and cargo capacity. Once operational, the new terminal will accommodate up to 45 million passengers per year, be able to process 11,000 travellers per hour and operate 79 aircraft at any given time.
The imposing and memorable architecture of Terminal A has won international design awards and adds an architectural landmark to Abu Dhabi’s cityscape. Blending modern, lightweight aesthetics with functional brilliance, the building’s glass exterior maximises natural light while creating a monumental civic space inside the terminal.
In line with the UAE’s sustainability aspirations and targets, the building features energy-efficient lighting, advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems and has incorporated sustainable materials in its construction.
As a major step towards realising Abu Dhabi Airports’ commitment to limiting its operational carbon footprint, a fully integrated solar photovoltaic system has been installed on the roof of Terminal A’s car park, which currently powers a three-megawatt (MW) plant that is saving nearly 5,300t of CO₂ annually.
World class amenities
The terminal will also feature an array of world-class amenities, including luxurious lounges, relaxation zones, and spa facilities where travellers can rest and rejuvenate before or after their flights. With 163 retail and food and beverage outlets catering to a wide variety of tastes and preferences, the retail offering within Terminal A will appeal to both leisure and business travellers.
“The opening of the facility, which is on par with the largest and grandest on our planet, turns over a new page in Abu Dhabi’s 55-year aviation history. A beacon of modernity and sophistication, it will be a pivotal driver for our emirate’s growth by spurring tourism and trade,” commented HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Airports.
“Through leveraging the latest technologies, Abu Dhabi’s reimagined airport experience will offer a seamless passenger journey, fostering connectivity, interactions, business, trade and tourism, all of which are essential elements in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position on the world stage,” remarked Elena Sorlini, Managing Director & Interim CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports.
The desalination plant’s coastal location underscores the demanding environment
Trina Solar has successfully powered a groundbreaking desalination plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, with its cutting-edge Vertex N 700W+ series solar PV modules.
The Jubail 3A Independent Water Plant, located in the eastern city of Jubail, represents Saudi Arabia’s pioneering leap into large-scale integrated water desalination bolstered by solar energy.
This innovative project serves as a landmark in the country’s sustainable energy journey, generating electricity to fulfill 20% of the plant’s daily energy requirements, according to a press notification.
Sustainable energy
“Our collaboration on this remarkable project marks a milestone in sustainable energy solutions. By combining advanced technology with environmental stewardship, we are enabling Saudi Arabia to meet its water and energy needs while contributing to a greener future,” commented Gonzalo de la Vina, President, Trina Solar EMEA.
The desalination plant’s coastal location, coupled with its complex climate conditions, underscores the demanding environment. Trina Solar’s global reputation as a trusted solution provider and its recognition by international institutions fortify its reliability
Saudi Arabia’s heavy reliance on desalination for 70% of its drinking water underscores the critical importance of projects like the Jubail plant. Utilizing seawater reverse osmosis technology, the plant contributes an impressive 600,000 tons of water daily, benefiting 3 million people and playing a crucial role in supplying water to the cities of Dammam and Riyadh.
Swisslog has announced its participation in Seamless KSA 2023 exhibition and conference, scheduled to take place on the 4th and 5th of September.
This premier event serves as a pivotal platform to delve into the future of the region’s retail and e-commerce landscape. Swisslog will take centre stage, showcasing its groundbreaking AutoStore robotic storage and order processing solution.
With a commanding presence in the region, Swisslog boasts an impressive client roster that includes industry titans such as Almarai, one of the largest vertically integrated dairy companies in the world, according to a corporate press release.
Moreover, Swisslog’s comprehensive suite of robotic and data driven solutions are strategically aligned with the goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, a visionary roadmap championed by the Saudi Arabian Government.
Live demonstration
At Seamless KSA 2023, Swisslog will captivate attendees with a live demonstration of the AutoStore, a digitalized robotic storage and order processing solution. This innovative solution integrates with existing infrastructures, effortlessly meeting the surging demand for rapid, precise, and reliable order fulfilment.
According to market research, the e-commerce sector is projected to reach an astounding US$
• This Marks the Third Significant Investment in EV Charging in line with Gulf’s Global Mobility strategy.
• The Acquisition Positions Gulf Oil to capture a share of India Market potential evaluated at USD 1 Billion to USD 1.4 Billion in 5-7 years.
In a strategic move to bolster its presence in the Electric Vehicle (EV) segment, Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited (GOLIL), a Hinduja Group Company, announced to acquire controlling stake in Tirex Transmission Pvt Limited for INR 103 Crores subject to the completion of definitive agreements and the satisfaction of predetermined closing conditions.
This is part of Gulf’s global ambition towards being a leader in the EV charging ecosystem, a market which is already valued at $20 Bn currently and expected to cross $200 Bn by 2030. As part of the same, GOLIL and its parent Gulf Oil International (GOI) have invested in Indra Renewables- a UK based AC charging (slow charging) company with a 8% share of the UK home charging market.
Indra has developed a leading bi-directional charging technology enabling V2G and V2X configurations. GOLIL has also invested in ElectreeFi, a leading EV SaaS player which provides charging management software (CMS) solutions for major OEM’s in India. The investment in Tirex, which is a manufacturer of DC Fast Chargers, will enable Gulf towards a synergistic end to end play in the global EV charging ecosystem.
Tirex Transmission is a key player in manufacturing DC Fast Chargers for EVs in India. With a track record of deploying over 400 high-capacity EV fast chargers across the country, it has carved a niche for itself as a leading technology player and a reliable brand in the fast-charging domain, with its comprehensive range of DC chargers, spanning from 30KW to 240KW.
Tirex caters to a diverse clientele, including PSUs, Charge Point Operators (CPOs), Automotive OEMs, and Retail with range of chargers available for all vehicles types, including e-Buses.
Projections from the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) suggest a demand surge for around 1 million chargers by 2030, translating to a potential market value ranging from $1 billion to $1.4 billion in India alone. Further, there is a multi-billion-dollar opportunity in the global market where DC Charging is a fast-growing segment. Coupled with Tirex’s differentiated technology roadmap, Gulf is well positioned to capture a significant global market share in the coming years.
Mr. Ravi Chawla, MD & CEO of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd, said, ” This acquisition of majority stake in Tirex aligns with our commitment to expanding our footprint in the EV landscape and make a significant play in EV value chain where Gulf in India and globally, in recent years, have already invested in a slow AC charger company Indra Technologies, UK and ElectreeFi, an EV SaaS provider. Tirex’s strong performance in the DC charger market, combined with Gulf Oil’s robust brand strengths, distribution reach and relationships with OEMs & Infra/B2B customers, sets the stage for a synergistic partnership. Our combined strengths will undoubtedly pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in EV charging, both domestically and internationally in line with our Global Mobility strategy.”
He added, “Tirex is respected for its innovation and customer service, which align with our vision, and their products are well established with a diverse range of customers. It’s an exciting time for us to be working together. We plan to leverage our current business model to penetrate the EV market and accelerate our growth plans.“
Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Arth Patel, CEO of Tirex, stated, ”Aligning with a global powerhouse like the Hinduja Group heralds a transformative chapter for Tirex. As we continue our journey in the rapidly evolving EV charger space, this collaboration will undoubtedly amplify our growth trajectory and technological advancements, fortified by Gulf Oil’s financial strengths, extensive reach and business expertise.”
Dubai packager Falcon Pack signals further trust in EPG supply chain product suite with TMS implementation
Supply chain software leader EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) has cemented its already strong partnership with Dubai-based Falcon Pack, as the disposable food packaging specialist is to implement EPG’s Transportation Management System (TMS). The two companies have forged strong bonds since Falcon Pack’s introduction of EPG’s LFS Warehouse Management System (WMS) in 2018.
With its adoption of the TMS, Falcon Pack is taking advantage of EPG’s much-admired suite approach to supply chain software solutions. The EPG ONE Supply Chain Execution Suite comprises bespoke applications for each branch of the supply chain journey, from Gartner Magic Quadrant-recognized storage and fulfillment (WMS) to transport and distribution (TMS). Key business drivers within the TMS are routing optimization and scheduling, provided by EPG’s Greenplan application, winner of the prestigious Best Product award at LogiMAT 2023. Dozens of Falcon Pack transport vehicles, from small vans to truck-trailer combinations, are to be implemented with the software.
Speed and efficiency via digital solutions
The digitization of transport execution processes will help Falcon Pack to improve speed, accuracy and efficiencies in its fast-growing ecommerce operations in Dubai. The state-of-the-art technology also enables the packaging experts to introduce same-day delivery to customers, alongside enhanced documentation control and shipment monitoring via an easy-to-use intuitive interface.
“Investing in EPG’s TMS was an easy decision for us to make,” comments Syed Ehtisham, Executive Director IT, Falcon Pack. “We have enjoyed a productive relationship with EPG’s expert engineers and on-the-spot field teams since we installed LFS five years ago. We have great trust in their portfolio, and we expect the TMS to provide us with valuable savings in terms of both time and money as well as clear transparency of our day-to-day operations and, consequently, even better relationships with customers. It is also a bonus for our hard-working staff that the system they have supplied us is so easy to get used to.”
Niels Meinken, EPG Logistics Consultant, is delighted with Falcon Pack’s decision to invest once more in EPG’s product expertise. “Our suite approach means that our customers can source all of their supply chain software needs from a single source, which results in smoother transitions and fewer pinch points, as well as a single contact. At the moment we are fully focused on implementing our TMS with them, and we look forward to expanding our relationship with Falcon Pack still further in the future.”
Woman using computer on table with new email message on laptop, communication connection message to global letters in the workplace
The new airline unlocks more choice for CargoMART users, empowering them with real-time pricing and capacity information on Emirates SkyCargo services
Emirates SkyCargo is now live on CargoAi’s marketplace solution, CargoMART, further advancing its digital customer experience and optimizing the booking process with real-time information.
The landmark partnership for Singapore-based CargoAi, was launched in the Netherlands, Spain and France; and will soon open up to customers in select countries across APAC, Europe, the Americas and Africa.
Through the CargoMART solution, customers will be able to access Emirates SkyCargo schedules, tariff and contract rates, along with real-time access to available capacity, enabling immediate bookings 24/7. On the backend, the partnership drives greater efficiency and accuracy. Once the system is fully operational, over 10,000 freight forwarders on CargoAi’s database will have access.
Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “As we increase our digital connectivity, we are able to offer more choice for our customers to connect with Emirates SkyCargo’s market-leading capabilities and extensive global network. CargoAi’s digital touchpoint enables both our existing and new customers from across the world to book with Emirates SkyCargo at their convenience, providing an additional channel that further strengthens our world class customer experience.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Emirates SkyCargo to enhance their digital customer experience through our marketplace solution, CargoMART. By providing real-time pricing and capacity information, we empower our mutual customers with greater choice and convenience, enabling them to make immediate bookings 24/7,” said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to driving efficiency and accuracy in airfreight, and we look forward to further strengthening the world-class customer experience provided by Emirates SkyCargo.”
Emirates SkyCargo’s five core products are listed on CargoMART, including Emirates Fresh and Emirates Fresh Breathe, an integrated and responsive cool chain designed for perishables; Emirates AOG for time-critical aircraft parts; Emirates Airfreight Priority for urgent shipments that depend on speed and reliability; and Emirates Airfreight for the quick and careful transport of general cargo.
The project involves the construction of a mega-container terminal at Tuna-Tekra
DP World recently signed a concession agreement with the Deendayal Port Authority to develop, operate and maintain a new 2.19 million TEU per annum mega-container terminal at Kandla in Gujarat on India’s western coast.
The concession agreement was signed between SK Mehta, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority and Rizwan Soomar, MD & CEO, India Subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa, DP World.
It was signed in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World and Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, at a ceremony in New Delhi.
BOT model
The Deendayal Port Authority awarded the concession in January to develop the mega-container terminal to Hindustan Infralog Private Limited — a joint venture between DP World and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, India’s collaborative investment platform anchored by the Government of India. The concession is on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years with the option to extend it for another 20 years.
The project involves the construction of a mega-container terminal at Tuna-Tekra near the existing Deendayal Port, at a cost of approximately US$ 510mn through a Public Private Partnership (PPP). Once complete in 2027, the 2.19 million TEU per year terminal will have state of the art equipment and a 1,100 m berth capable of handling next-generation vessels carrying more than 18,000 TEUs.
Hinterland
The terminal will connect to the hinterland through the network of roads, highways, railways and Dedicated Freight Corridors, supporting the growing demand for logistics solutions from across Northern, Western and Central India, connecting businesses in the regions to global markets. DP World currently operates five container terminals in India – two in Mumbai, one each in Mundra, Cochin and Chennai – with a combined capacity of approximately 6 million TEUs. With the addition of Tuna Tekra, DP World will have a combined capacity of 8.19 million TEUs. The project is part of the National Infrastructure Pipeline and will complement initiatives of the Government of India, such as the PM Gati Shakti Master Plan and National Logistics Policy.
Breakthrough “The signing of the concession agreement between Deendayal Port Authority and DP World is a momentous event indeed as it marks yet another significant breakthrough in building best-in-class
infrastructure in India under the Public-Private Partnership model,” observed Sonowal. “The Tuna-Tekra mega- terminal will be one of the largest container terminals to be set up in the country,” remarked SK Mehta.
Trade opportunities
“This project will enable DP World to deliver trade opportunities, by connecting Northern, Western and Central India with global markets, thereby driving value for all our stakeholders. India represents a significant landscape for opportunity,” stated Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. “This project is a testament to our ability to drive large-scale infrastructure development by partnering with strategic players,” stated Rajiv Dhar, CEO and Managing Director, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
National hires will benefit from industry-specific management skills, leadership coaching and accelerated career progression
Designed specifically for the UAE, the program supports ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision by creating a pipeline of Emirati business leaders
Amazon UAE today announced the launch of ‘Amazon Future Leaders Program – Injah’, a leadership development program, designed to accelerate career growth of Emirati talent at Amazon and prepare them for leadership roles. With a strong emphasis on nurturing women leaders, the new program kickstarts on Emirati Women’s Day, and is open to all Emirati employees.
The two-year talent accelerator program will equip Emiratis across all Amazon businesses units from retail, operations, technology and payments with deep knowledge by imparting industry-specific management skills, cultural assimilation and mentorship, to help the participants build global careers at Amazon.
Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon Middle East & North Africa, said, “Amazon continues to invest in cultivating future leaders who share a common vision of building the most customer-centric company in the world. This transformative program in the UAE will empower Emirati talent to unlock innovation, solve complex business problems and assimilate into Amazon’s customer-obsessed culture to drive meaningful change. ‘Amazon Future Leaders Program – Injah’ has been created specifically for the UAE, in support of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision to continue the country’s progress towards economic prosperity, social well-being and development of human capital.”
Tailored to develop essential leadership skills, the immersive program offers on-the-job training, cross-functional exposure, one-to-one mentorship, and regular meetings with business leaders, required for a progressive career at Amazon. Participants will apply the company’s management and leadership principles to conceive, design and launch innovative solutions for customers, placing them on an accelerated path towards leadership roles.
Bikram Walia, Director, Human Resources, Amazon MENA said, “We are excited to roll out ‘Amazon Future Leaders Program – Injah’ that aims to build a robust pipeline of Emirati leaders, including women leaders. The UAE has made phenomenal progress towards a gender-balanced workforce and this program has been created with the UAE’s gender balance goals in mind. We remain steadfast in our commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we believe this program’s personalized approach will empower Emirati women to build enriching careers at Amazon.”
Reem Aldhaheri, Retail Program Manager, Amazon UAE, said, “I am excited to sign up for ‘Amazon Future Leaders Program – Injah’ because it will allow me to explore various aspects of our business, identify my strengths and hone my skills. It is a unique opportunity to meet with senior leaders and understand how Amazon’s leadership principles and customer-centric culture drive the company’s success. I’m personally invested in the idea of fast tracking my career and I would encourage other Emiratis, especially women, to pursue programs like this one that provide tangible opportunities for career growth.”
‘Amazon Future Leaders Program – Injah’ has been developed as part of Amazon’s multi-year talent strategy to upskill and train Emirati employees for leadership roles across the region. Since its launch in the UAE, Amazon has been investing in the country, supporting the UAE’s economic and social development goals. Committed to developing talent for the digital future, the new program will further equip Emirati talent for the global economy.
To learn more about Amazon’s career opportunities in the United Arab Emirates, visit www.amazon.jobs.
Move to empower SME businesses in the realm of digital commerce
Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated exclusively to digital commerce in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, is a joint venture between the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and Wasl Properties.
The Zone has recently announced the launch of ‘Logi-Flow’, a move towards integrating block chain technology with the logistics operations of small and medium-sized (SME) companies. This integration aims to lower costs for these companies while enhancing the overall flexibility and efficiency of their logistics, particularly in digital trade.
Logi-Flow, a secure and measurable system, relies on a pay-as-you-go approach tied to transaction volume. It offers round-the-clock support without incurring IT service and maintenance costs, ensuring transparency throughout the entire order process, from creation to delivery.
Addressing challenges
“This step addresses challenges that companies might face across various stages of e-commerce operations, particularly during the initial setup. These challenges involve the costs of establishing a proprietary “block chain” platform, coupled with ongoing operational expenses due to continuous system operations,” commented Abdulrahman Shaheen, Senior Vice President, Property Management and Supply Chain, Dubai CommerCity.
“This platform will significantly contribute to the progress and expansion of the digital commerce sector in the upcoming phase. This is especially significant considering the projection that e-commerce retail sales in the UAE will account for 12.6% of total retail sales by 2026.” He added.
Spanning 2.1mn sqft and developed at a cost of AED 3.2bn (US$ 871mn), Dubai CommerCity aims to assist new and existing digital trade enterprises across the MEASA region. It provides modern offices, advanced warehouses, and last-mile delivery services, a press statement concluded.
With the summer vacation coming to an end and students preparing for their return to school, Hamad International Airport continues to provide a seamless and convenient arrival experience by implementing several procedures to welcome arriving citizens and residents, the airport said in a press statement
For the convenience of passengers, the airport advises passengers who are eligible to use the e-gates at the arrival immigration hall. Passengers are reminded that checked-in luggage that are oversized or of irregular shape will arrive at separate dedicated baggage reclaim belts.
Hamad International Airport offers passengers a wide variety of ground transport options that seamlessly connect the airport and the city. The bus pavilion and taxi pavilion are located on either side of the arrival hall.
Passengers are advised to use taxis from the taxi pavilion as these authorized taxis are subject to high quality & performance standards and a robust lost and found policy.
The metro station is a short indoor walking distance from the airport terminal and operates every three minutes, connecting the airport to popular spots around the city.
Rapid digital transformation in Saudi Arabia is increasing the risk of cyber threats leading to reputational damages
The confluence of the pandemic and digitalization in Saudi Arabia has further fueled the surge in interest towards Online Reputation Management services.
Online Reputation Management market size is forecast to reach a staggering SAR12.754 billion (US$ 3.4bn) by 2030 globally. Industry leaders confirm that 44% of a business’s value is tied to its strong reputation.
“The rapid digital transformation in Saudi Arabia is ushering in risk of cyber threats leading to reputational damages while presenting new opportunities for specialized technology companies to establish themselves in the Saudi market. At Seamless, we are wholeheartedly committed to contributing to Kingdom’s success story. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 digital drive shows an urgent need to address online reputation management for the public and private sectors and for individuals from both sectors,” remarked Nikita Prokhorov, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Reputation House.
Seamless Saudi Arabia 2023
Seamless conference and exhibition, taking place from September 4th to 5th 2023 at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center, will cover the latest innovations in payments, fintech, retail, e-commerce, home delivery and digital marketing.
Reputation House, one of the pioneers of the online performance and reputation management industry, is set to showcase and explain how and why Online Reputation Management (ORM) will boost by 2030. In addition, the company will demonstrate its innovative solutions at Seamless Saudi Arabia.
Reputation House’s Nikita will share his insights on the first day, September 4 at 12 noon. He will talk about Online Reputation Management (ORM) at the E-commerce University Stage located in the Digital Marketing Zone of Seamless Saudi Arabia, a press communique concluded.
Aerospace and defence industry to demonstrate innovation that can propel sustainable advancement.
As the aerospace and defence industries continue on their pathways to net zero, this year’s Dubai Airshow will be the ultimate platform for players from across these industries to convene, bringing the latest solutions that will help advance these crucial economic sectors towards a sustainable future.
The industries have taken bold steps towards decarbonisation, with innovation accelerating at an exponential rate. As Dubai Airshow leads up to the United Nation’s annual global climate change conference, COP28, which is also taking place in Dubai towards the end of the year, industry stakeholders will take the opportunity to showcase their latest solutions towards net zero emissions, discuss collaborations and gain new insights.
The aviation industry contributes approximately 2% to 3% of all global CO2 emissions but with a constant increase in passenger demand, this could rise to 25% to 30% by 2050 if no actions are taken, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan titled ‘Sustainable Technologies in Aviation’, which raises the urgency on manufacturers, airlines and airport operators to undertake sustainability initiatives.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Additionally, global production capacity for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) needs to exceed 30 billion litres by 2030 and 450bn litres by 2050 for airlines to be able to achieve net zero targets. In 2020, SAF production was just 450mn litres, according to IATA, which is less than 0.05% of the global demand of jet fuel.
However, several initiatives are already underway in the Middle East region. Recently, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) signed an agreement with Airbus, to support the development and growth of the global SAF market.
The agreement will also see the entities collaborate on Green Hydrogen, and Direct Air Capture technologies. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways signed a deal with Shell to source 3,000 metric tonnes of neat SAF at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, making it the first carrier in the Middle East and Africa to procure a large SAF amount in Europe, beyond government SAF mandates.
Globally, Shell Aviation has signed several other agreements to provide airlines including JetBlue and Japan Airlines (JAL) with SAF, and Air bp, the specialised aviation division of multinational oil and gas company BP, has announced the first sale of SAF from its Castellon refinery in Spain, marking another important milestone at it works towards making SAF more available.
Demonstration flight
Earlier this year, Emirates successfully completed a demonstration flight powered by 100% SAF on a Boeing 777-300ER, as part of its plans to help the global aviation industry meet carbon emission targets. The airline has also earmarked $200 million to fund R&D on advanced fuel technologies that can reduce commercial aviation’s environmental impact.
Exhibitors at the Airshow are set to showcase their latest technologies and innovations that will help advance the industry towards achieving global net zero emissions targets.
“At Airbus, we continue to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to leading the decarbonisation journey in the aerospace industry through our pioneering role in developing disruptive technologies. We are relentlessly pursuing ambitions of building a more sustainable future for aviation as we seek to make our commercial fleet capable of flying with 100% SAF by 2030,” remarked Mikail Houari, President, Africa and Middle East, Airbus.
Separately, Honeywell has launched a new technology called UOP eFining™ that produces lower-carbon aviation fuel from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from industry.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel represents a ready now opportunity to drive the sustainable growth of the aviation industry, yet it is still barely tapped into. Technologies that can harness readily abundant CO2 to produce SAF are transformational in terms of how we fuel aircraft, and will play an important role in the long-term decarbonization of the sector,” stated Mohammed Mohaisen, President and CEO, Honeywell Middle East and North Africa.
Dubai Airshow 2023
Dubai Airshow has confirmed that sustainability is an increasingly important topic of discussion and area of focus for its stakeholders at the upcoming edition, taking place from 13-17 November 2023 at Dubai World Central (DWC), Dubai Airshow Site under the theme of ‘The Future of the Aerospace Industry’.
The 18th edition of Dubai Airshow will build on the momentum across the industry with special sustainability-themed conference tracks. Boeing will be the host sponsor for the Aerospace 2050 stage, which will include a two-day Sustainability conference that is set to return bigger than ever given the topic’s ever-growing importance. Industry experts will discuss steps on creating a more sustainable aerospace ecosystem, covering some of the most pressing sustainable challenges and
opportunities.
“The aviation industry is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and Boeing is actively developing airplanes and technologies which will enable our airline customers to meet these goals. We look forward to sharing our experience and engaging with our industry peers and partners at Dubai Airshow 2023,” commented Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President, Boeing Middle East, Türkiye and Africa.
Sustainable conference
The sustainability conference, with sponsors including Air BP, Shell Aviation and Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), will focus on key topics for 2023 including hydrogen-powered aviation, SAF, COP28 predictions, efficient engines, streaming operations, hybrid and electric aircraft. It will also address how to prepare for carbon neutral passengers of the future and creating a low-carbon aviation energy hub through global leadership.
With the industry and the region setting a firm agenda for reducing emissions, visitors will be able to hear new insights and discussions on the sustainability trends shaping the industry’s future, as well as have the opportunity to explore a plethora of new technologies, innovations and initiatives, a press communique concluded.
Numerous Initiatives completed under the Abu Dhabi Programme for Effortless Customer Experience at KEZAD
AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics and industry has completed a number of initiatives under The Abu Dhabi Program for Effortless Customer Experience, a pioneering new model that enables effortless customer experiences across Abu Dhabi Government and positions the emirate as a leader in the field.
Spearheaded by the Group’s Economic Cities & Free Zones and Digital clusters, the initiatives were aimed at enhancing the omnichannel experience for clients at KEZAD. From improved service level agreements for walk-ins and contact centre enquiries to the launch of a digitalised Free Zone License application service through the Advanced Trade & Logistics Platform (ATLP), the initiatives included innovative approaches to making the flow of information more user friendly while enabling centralised access through KEZAD Cloud for investor-related documents to all key government stakeholders and partners, for quick turnaround. Another key service improvement, the Customs Registration Number integration, provides the investor with an importer code immediately with the issuance of a license.
The new service operating procedures allow investors to avail the license application service through UAE Pass application as well.
All initiatives were aligned with the Effortless Customer Experience Programme model’s four dimensions of direction, design, development and delivery, spanning from digitisation of services and systems’ integration to mapping stakeholder delegations for several relevant government entities, regular customer communication and comprehensive training for customer support functions.
The customer-focused approach resulted in completely transforming the investor registration process, cutting down the number of touchpoints required, offering a Single Window for free zone license application and post-licensing services for KEZAD; in addition to building a state-of-the-art investor dashboard that unifies information from all relevant entities, facilitating Foreign Direct Investment through overseas registrations on ATLP and more.
H.E. Dr Ali Hussain Makki, Executive Director – Logistics and Trade Facilitation Sector at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), said: “Abu Dhabi is firmly committed to continuously improving business ecosystem as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the emirate’s position as preferred destination for talent, business, and investment.
As catalyst for economic growth and diversification, ADDED has been rolling out initiatives to enhance customer and stakeholder experiences in the trade and logistics sectors. We believe the efforts made by AD Ports Group to enhance customer experiences are valuable addition to our trade facilitation solutions by simplifying procedures, reducing time and cost, and enhancing seamless integration of government services”.
Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO, Economic Cities and Free Zones, AD Ports Group said: “Customer Service is, and has always been one of the key differentiators at AD Ports Group and specifically KEZAD Group. We welcome initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Program for Effortless Customer Experience brings key organisations within the greater Abu Dhabi business ecosystem to work together to enhance this experience even further.
“Our Programmes like KEZAD Connect, Josoor, Tawasul are key initiatives that maintain our dialogue with our customers through in person and digital means, making us deliver on our promise of being available to our clients to listen, support and deliver exceptional experiences,” he added.
Dr Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Digital Cluster and CEO of Maqta Gateway, AD Ports Groupsaid, “At the Digital Cluster and AD Ports Group, we understand the importance of effortless omnichannel experiences and its impact on customer happiness. It has been our constant endeavor to accelerate the wise leadership’s vision of delivering world-class, effortless customer experiences for all interactions with the government.
“The Cluster’s technological developments geared towards transforming the trade and logistics industry follow design thinking approach. We are constantly monitoring direct and indirect feedback from customers, partners and stakeholders to reduce friction. The Effortless Customer Experience Programme has been instrumental in taking our efforts to the next level in the development and operations of ATLP, under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.”
The Advanced Trade & Logistics Platform (ATLP), developed and operated by Maqta Gateway under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Economic Development (ADDED), serves as Abu Dhabi’s Single Window for trade and offers 700+ services to the trade community in Abu Dhabi and beyond. With the recent launch of digitalised Free Zone Application service through ATLP, customers can easily lease land, warehouse, or showrooms and even flexi-desk space at KEZAD remotely.
The Abu Dhabi Program for Effortless Customer Experience model addresses the entire customer experience holistically, is benchmarked against international standards and will see major investment in human capital through a government-wide effortless customer experience training programme.
With the new PT 2,5-4L… four-level terminal blocks, Phoenix Contact offers a particularly compact terminal block family.
The front connection and the four levels enable wiring in a confined space. They are just 5.2 mm wide and feature a Push-in connection. The new terminal blocks, therefore, use the uniform system accessories of Clipline complete and reduce logistics costs.
The new product family consists of several four-level terminal blocks with Push-in Technology. In addition to feed-through versions, these also include function versions such as disconnect and knife-disconnect terminal blocks or sensor/actuator versions with and without LED indicator. The four-level terminal blocks have a function shaft on each level. This function shaft enables both vertical and horizontal potential distribution, thus achieving a high degree of flexibility.
Xylem is strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia with the strategic appointment of Eng. Alaa Nasser Karashi as the new Managing Director for the Kingdom.
In his new role, Karashi will be responsible for driving Xylem’s innovative water solutions and strategic growth initiatives in the nation, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Leading a specialised team, Karashi will be focused on fostering a collaborative effort in leveraging technology to transform water management practices in the region, while serving a breadth of local customers and partners.
Karashi brings over 20 years of experience, as well as unmatched local expertise to the role, having led diverse multinational and local companies across the water, WW infrastructure, industrial, and environmental sectors.
“I am very excited to work with a team of experts in the field of smart water management in order to collectively make a lasting impact in the region,” remarked Karashi on his appointment.
“Alaa’s extensive leadership experience and deep understanding of the local infrastructure align perfectly with Xylem’s commitment to providing innovative solutions to water challenges. We look forward to his contributions in furthering our mission in the Kingdom and the wider region,” commented Pietro Moro, Managing Director, Middle East & Türkiye, Xylem.
Etihad Cargo now provides additional cargo capacity via a weekly freighter service to Guangzhou.
The carrier operates ten freighter services per week to mainland China, including weekly flights to Guangzhou and Ezhou, and eight flights per week to Shanghai.
“With the introduction of a new freighter service between our Abu Dhabi hub and Guangzhou, combined with increased frequencies across China via Etihad Cargo’s freighter services and the airline’s passenger flights, customers and partners benefit from increased cargo capacity. Expanding the carrier’s reach into the Chinese market not only meets the increased demand for cargo capacity in this region but will also further strengthen ties between the UAE and China, providing more opportunities for increased collaboration between the two countries,” said Leonard Rodrigues, Head of Revenue Management, Fleet and Network at Etihad Cargo.
The Head of Marketing Department of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport said: “This significant milestone reflects our enduring partnership since the launch of Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi-Guangzhou passenger flight route in October last year, which played a vital role in the recovery of the Guangzhou market and the Greater Bay Area in the post-pandemic era. The introduction of this all-cargo scheduled flight route will further enhance trade and logistics development between Guangzhou and Abu Dhabi International Airport, while strengthening connectivity between the Middle East, China, and other Belt and Road Initiative economies. We eagerly anticipate a brighter future as we continue to work closely with Etihad Airways.”
In recent months, Etihad Cargo has continued to add depth to the carrier’s Asian network, launching a fourth Chinese gateway to its network, offering a weekly freighter service to the Hubei Province of China. The carrier’s inaugural flight to Ezhou Huahu Airport arrived on 18 August, making Etihad Cargo the first international carrier to operate flights to China’s first professional cargo airport. The carrier also offers eight weekly freighter flights to Shanghai.
Complementing Etihad Cargo’s expanding freighter network, the carrier offers additional belly capacity for China via ten passenger flights per week to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Via the carrier’s growing road feeder services network in China, Etihad Cargo also offers customers and partners access to 25 domestic mainland Chinese destinations, providing seamless connectivity across the Chinese market.
Etihad Cargo continuously evaluates its global network and remains committed to increasing frequencies and introducing new destinations to ensure the carrier can fully meet capacity requirements and remain the air cargo partner of choice.
Seamless Saudi Arabia and Fintech Saudi recently signed a memorandum of understanding to declare that Fintech Saudi will be officially supporting the event as Strategic Fintech Partner and the confirmation that both parties will be supporting each other as they move forward. Seamless Saudi Arabia is the leading payments, fintech, retail, e-commerce, home delivery and digital marketing event in the Middle East.
Joseph Ridley, General Manager at Terrapinn Middle East said: ““We are honoured to have Fintech Saudi as the Strategic Fintech Partner of Seamless Saudi Arabia through the establishment of this long-term partnership. Fintech Saudi are making amazing progress in both putting Saudi Arabia on the global fintech stage, along with their proactiveness in encouraging and enabling the fintechs to flourish within the Kingdom, something we are aligned on and actively trying to promote at Seamless Saudi Arabia.”
“We value the partnership between Seamless and Fintech Saudi, and are looking forward to a strategic partnership with them. We will be at Seamless to promote Saudi’s start-up space, and partake in engaging discussions with other industry leading professionals,” said Nezar Alhaider of Fintech Saudi.
Fintech Saudi was launched by Saudi Central Bank and Capital Market Authority in order to uplift and transform Saudi Arabia into an innovative fintech hub. At Seamless Saudi Arabia, Fintech Saudi will be helping start-ups to gain exposure on a global platform. Seamless will also be welcoming Fintech Saudi keynote speaker Nezar Alhaider, Managing Director of Fintech Saudi to speak on the topic of the national strategy for the fintech ecosystem.
Visit Fintech Saudi at Seamless Saudi Arabia, located at stand R44 in the Payments and Fintech hall. The event will be taking place in Riyadh on 4-5 September.
To register for free, please visit: https://bit.ly/45FP7t4
Challenge Group is thrilled to announce the latest addition to its fleet – the B767-300BDSF aircraft. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the company, enhancing its overall capacity and operational flexibility to better serve its customers worldwide.
The introduction of the B767 aircraft is part of Challenge Group’s fleet diversification project, designed to adapt to evolving market demands and cater to specific customer requirements. It is essential to note that the B767 is an addition to the existing fleet and is not replacing the B747-400 fleet. In the years to come, the B777F will also be introduced as an addition, emphasizing the company’s commitment to growth and expansion.
“We are excited to welcome the B767-300BDSF to our fleet, a testament to our dedication to providing exceptional service and solutions to our customers,” said Yossi Shoukroun, Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Group. “This aircraft’s enhanced efficiency and sustainability align perfectly with our mission to tackle the challenges posed by certain airport restrictions worldwide, including the 4-engine ban and noise level regulations that have been on the rise.”
The B767’s arrival will empower Challenge Group to be more competitive and versatile in meeting specific customer needs, allowing for greater flexibility when less capacity is required. This increased adaptability will also pave the way for exploring new markets, including short and medium-haul routes within the EU, the India sub-continent, and the Middle East. The aircraft’s volumetric ratio makes it an ideal choice for transporting commodities, making it highly suitable for e-commerce and pharma industries, where volumetric capacity is critical.
Or Zak, Chief Commercial Officer of Challenge Group, expressed his excitement about the fleet expansion, stating, “The B767’s introduction will revolutionize our ability to serve our customers better. With additional capacity and enhanced flexibility, we can offer improved frequency to our current destinations and venture into new markets, enriching our global presence significantly.”
Challenge Group has diligently prepared for this fleet diversification project, allowing sufficient time for specific trainings, operational adjustments, and targeted roadshows in key markets, like the recent one conducted in India. The continuation of the conversion program is set to begin in September, with two aircraft undergoing simultaneous conversion, and the full fleet of four B767 aircraft expected to be fully operational by Q1/2024.
The Challenge Group team is enthusiastic about the potential of the B767 aircraft to elevate their services, deliver value to customers, and explore new horizons, positioning the airline as an even more influential player in the aviation industry.
Development of 24km of Main Roads, Landscaping, Irrigation Network Upgrade Covers 288,000 sqm
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, the integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub of Abu Dhabi, today announced that it has commenced main road landscaping works across 288,000 sqm in KEZAD AL Ma’mourah.
The AED 42 million project includes landscaping of 24 km of main roads and roundabouts in KEZAD Al Ma’mourah. The project also includes the planting of 350 trees of different species along the roads, as well as plating of shrubs and hardscaping over an area of 120,000 sqm. Moreover, KEZAD will also construct irrigation pumping stations and water tanks connected to KEZAD wastewater treatment plant.
The enahncements, aimed at significantly improving the flow of traffic and facilitating the movement of goods, as well as the beautification of the area, are being executed in corrdination with relevant government agencies such as the Abu Dhabi Municipality and Integrated Transport Centre, among others, as well as the businesses in the area to ensure smoothest possible workflow at an accelerated pace.
Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, said: “KEZAD Group is continually looking for ways to improve the business experience of our clients, and maintain Abu Dhabi’s position and the heart of regional industrial and economic development.
“As with the recently started project in KEZAD Musaffah (ICAD 1), the imporvement of the road network system in KEZAD Al Ma’mourah is aimed at developing a faster and more efficiently connected economic zone, in line with the aim of our wise leadership. This upgrade reinforces the value proposition of KEZAD, and strengthens emirate of Abu Dhabi’s position as an advanced economic and industrial hub.”
The announcement follows KEZAD Group’s recent announcement of an AED 55 million infrastructure upgrade in KEZAD Musaffah (ICAD 1) across 40,000 sqm, and 23 km of roads. Both projects, being executed in compliance with the best global practices, standards and specificiations, to be completed by the third quarter of 2024.
Share of paper packaging rise in US$73.5 billion MEA packaging market
Global trend setters in innovative packaging & hygiene solutions are on display
The share of paper packaging in the estimated US$74 billion overall packaging market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) continues to see an exponential growth with e-commerce boom and consumer preference veers to sustainable and environment-friendly solutions.
Industry experts participating at the upcoming leading B2B exhibition, Propaper 2023, said that in line with this demand growth, investments in kraft paper mills have also risen in the region in the post-Covid era, with enhanced use of paper packaging across industry verticals such as food, catering hygiene, pharma and cosmetics driving up demand
Propaper Dubai 2023 will host a large contingent of global paper and packaging companies which are at the vanguard of innovation. The show which also incorporates Super Sourcing Dubai under the auspices of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), will run during September 12-14 at Dubai at the Festival Arena at Dubai Festival City.
“E-commerce continues to be on an upsurge in the GCC and larger MEA markets, and this has in turn catalysed the demand for packaging solutions across the board. Overall e-commerce market in the region may surpass US$25 billion within the next couple of years, and this will obviously fuel the need for paper packaging solutions, and paper industry with its sustainable and alternative propositions stand to gain,” saidMr. Majid Rasheed – Managing Director of the UAE’s Star Paper Mill Paper Industry.
Quoting a Data Bridge Market Research report, Propaper 2023 spokespeople said that kraft paper market will continue to gain market share. According to the forecast for 2020-2028, kraft paper market will grow at a CAGR of 3.8 per cent in the UAE alone to over US$54 million.
“The growth in paper food packaging which surged during and after the pandemic continues to create growth for paper players in the MEA markets, and specifically in the GCC, where internet penetration is the world’s highest aiding online commerce. The opportunity size has also grown with verticals like pharma, personal care and cosmetics taking to paper packaging solutions in a big way riding the e-commerce boom,” said Omar Ali Abdullah Al Hosni, Chairman, Keryas Paper Industry, Oman.
Anticipating increased demand in this sector, Keryas Paper Mills had announced investments in kraft paper segment to manufacture re-cycled kraft paper jumbo reels, unveiling a US$40 million kraft paper project in the UAE during the previous Propaper expo in 2022.
Star Paper Mills had also announced investments in kraft paper segment, and in collaboration with RC Paper Machines had announced an investment of over US$54 million in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) to manufacture re-cycled kraft paper jumbo reels.
A Mordor Intelligence report also confirmed the growth trend in B2C and B2B paper packaging solutions at an estimated CAGR of 4.30 per cent in MEA during 2023-2028.
“The paper industry has been seeing a steady surge of investments, both as expansion in existing projects as well as greenfield projects with market for paper-based products consistently rising. In the GCC alone, the growth has been pronounced for paper packaging with a digitally savvy and sustainability-conscious young population accelerating their online spend,” said Jeen Joshua, Managing Director, Verifair.
India participation
Indian companies at the Propaper 2023 form the single largest contingent of exhibitors, while China and Egypt are the other pavilion participants. Indian participation also comes in the context of the growing bilateral trade between India and the UAE.
India and the UAE recently celebrated the first-year anniversary of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE Ministry of Economy indicating that from May 2022 to April 2023, non-oil trade touched US$50.5 billion, a 5.8 per cent increase.
Propaper 2023 will be a platform or paper industry stakeholders to congregate, showcase products and explore partnerships and growth opportunities, The expo in its second year is a unique buyer-seller platform which will facilitate partnerships, joint investments, market entry and exploration as well as increased sales forays for the participants.
The show will host paper industry companies from across a wide spectrum, including corrugated paper board makers to paper mill machinery manufacturers to tissue and converting machinery, as well as printing and packaging equipment.
The robots utilize X-rays to carry out precise and swift tests and analysis
Dubai Central Laboratory of Dubai Municipality has used robots that employ X-Rays and other latest AI technologies to carry out automated chemical analysis and tests on various types of cement and other construction materials.
The cement testing services are linked to a smart platform for laboratory testing services in Dubai Municipality, enabling customers to receive inspection reports quickly through smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices.
“The robots utilize X-rays to precisely carry out chemical analysis of construction materials and cement products used, which allows for effectively meeting the requirements of the construction sector in the Emirate of Dubai that is characterized by the superior speed in completing tests with the highest accuracy,” commented Engr. Hind Mahmoud Ahmed, Acting Director, Dubai Central Laboratory Department, Dubai Municipality.
Eng. Hind emphasized that cement checks are important components of concrete mixtures and the results of their inspection have an impact on the quality and sustainability of buildings, significantly contributing to increasing their life span.
She also pointed out that this technology will be used in the future to prepare specialized research studies at Dubai Central Laboratory aimed at the preliminary assessment of various building constructions as well as construction products and materials, a press communique concluded.
The agreement entails a revolving financing programme
Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), the export-financing arm of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of International Cooperation, Ministry of Finance, and the General Authority for Supply Commodities in Egypt.
The agreement entails a revolving financing program valued at US$100mn, with annual renewals planned over a 5-year term, reaching a total of US$500mn. This initiative aims to facilitate the provision of wheat and essential commodities to the General Authority for Supply Commodities through Al Dahra Agriculture, an Emirati company.
On the UAE’s side, the agreement was signed by HE Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, the Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and Chairman of the Exports Executive Committee at the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX).
Framework Agreement
The Egyptian side was represented by Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, who signed the framework agreement, while Dr. Mohamed Moait, Minister of Finance, validated the funding guarantee.
“The collaboration among the Abu Dhabi Exports Office, the General Authority for Supply Commodities, and Al Dahra will play a pivotal role in fortifying the strategic reserves of essential agricultural commodities, thereby ensuring the food security of the Egyptian market,” H.E. Al Suwaidi added.
In her statement, Dr. Rania Al Mashat elucidated that the new agreement signifies the profoundness of the strategic ties between Egypt and the UAE. The two nations are committed to augmenting economic integration and advancing joint development endeavors.
Dr. Al-Mashat added that upcoming discussions will focus on exploring further areas of cooperation aligned with Egypt’s developmental priorities and the realization of Egypt’s Vision 2030.
RAKEZ is currently home to over 400 Chinese companies
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has recordedsubstantial interest from Chinese companies looking to navigate the business landscape and strategic investment opportunities in the UAE.
Following its successful business tour to major Chinese cities earlier this year, the economic zone hosted numerous Chinese business delegations from diverse sectors including construction, manufacturing, trading, electronics, and engineering.
The visitors toured RAKEZ’s industrial zones, Al Marjan Island and Jebel Jais, in addition to meeting with representatives of various Ras Al Khaimah-based entities. With a comprehensive overview of the industrial infrastructure and the real estate and tourism sectors in the emirate, the Chinese investors explored the potential of these promising locations for business expansion and the support extended by RAKEZ.
“As the UAE actively strives to boost its bilateral trade with China to US$ 200bn by 2030, we welcome more Chinese investors to explore the dynamic opportunities that Ras Al Khaimah has to offer,” stated Ramy Jallad, Group CEO, RAKEZ.
RAKEZ currently houses more than 400 Chinese companies ranging from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as large industrial companies.
· Q2 2023 Revenue grew by 66% YoY to AED 2.1 billion, driven by the Maritime, Ports, and Digital Clusters as well as acquisitions (+44% YoY on a like-for-like basis)
· Volume growth was strong across the board, +10% YoY for Ports Containers, +40% YoY for General Cargo, +64% YoY for RoRo, +152% YoY for Cruise, +27% YoY for Maritime Feeder Containers, and +8% YoY for Polymers
· In EC&FZ, 0.7 sq km (net) of new land leases were signed during the quarter while leased warehouses increased 53% YoY
· Q2 2023 EBITDA increased 29% YoY to AED 686 million (+13% on a like-for-like basis), implying an EBITDA margin of 33%
· Q2 2023 Total Net Profit increased 3% YoY to AED 310 million
· Completion of 100% Noatum acquisition with a total purchase consideration (Enterprise Value) of AED 2.65 billion
AD Ports Group today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2023, reporting revenue growth of 66% YoY to AED 2.1 billion, driven by volume growth in key sectors, business diversification as well as local, regional, and international expansion both organically and through M&A. Revenue growth reached 44% YoY on a like-for-like basis (LFL), excluding effect from M&A activity. Maritime, Digital, and Ports Clusters were the key growth drivers with 208%, 26%, and 22% YoY, respectively.
AD Ports Group Q2 2023 EBITDA rose by 29% YoY to AED 686 million, mainly driven by Maritime, Digital, and Ports Clusters as well as acquisitions (+13% YoY on a LFL basis). Change in the revenue mix, lower share of profits from JVs and associates, and ramp-up/one-off costs associated with new businesses resulted in a normalisation of EBITDA margin to 33.3% for the quarter vs. 38.5% in Q2 2022.
Total Net Profit increased by 3% YoY to AED 310 million in Q2 2023 as EBITDA growth was diluted by the increase in depreciation and amortisation charges as well as finance costs associated with deployment of new assets with deferred revenue effect. The Group’s Net Operating Cash Flows continued to improve to AED 508 million in Q2 2023 while Capital Expenditures (CapEx) reached AED 1.8 billion as per plan.
Net Debt to EBITDA ratio stood at 3.5x at the end of Q2 2023, but was distorted by completion of the Noatum acquisition on 30 June 2023, which was fully funded through debt in Q2 but with P&L effect only from Q3 onwards.
The Maritime Cluster reported an impressive revenue growth of 208% YoY to AED 1,160 million, primarily driven by the feedering (container and bulk) and offshore logistics and services business segments (+161% YoY on LFL basis).
The Economic Cities & Free Zones Cluster reported a 10% YoY decline to AED 441 million mainly due to temporary lower utilisation of Razeen staff accommodation as it ceased to be used as COVID-19 isolation and quarantine facilities. This decline was partly offset by the consolidation of Eskan Al Jamae (EAJ) since the beginning of the year and higher revenues from land leases. An additional 0.7 sq km (net) of new land leases were added in Q2 2023, taking the total land leased under the EC&FZ Cluster to 66.1 sq km.
The Ports Cluster reported Q2 2023 revenue growth of 22% YoY (+15% YoY on a LFL basis), with container volumes growing 10% YoY to 1.21 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). The Cluster also delivered 64% YoY growth in Ro-Ro volumes, 152% YoY growth in the number cruise passengers, and 40% YoY growth in general cargo volumes. In June, AD Ports Group secured a 50-year concession agreement for the existing container terminal operations of the Port of Karachi, which resulted in immediate earnings contribution.
The Logistics Cluster contributed AED 127 million to the Group’s revenue in Q2 2023, representing a 3% YoY increase as 8% YoY growth in polymer volumes was partly offset by cessation of COVID-19 vaccine business.
The Digital Cluster reported a 26% YoY increase to AED 117 million, supported by the newly acquired TTEK (completed on 22nd May), which develops and deploys border control solutions and customs systems, and strong performance of ATLP related services. The Cluster’s revenue growth reached 22% YoY on a LFL basis. Going forward, AD Ports Group’s revenue mix is likely to be more balanced across four of its five Clusters with the recently completed acquisition of Noatum, a global integrated logistics services provider with a presence in 26 countries across five continents. The Spain-headquartered company generated revenue and EBITDA of AED 5.69 billion (EUR 1.39 billion) and AED 433 million (EUR 106 million) in the last twelve months as at 30th June 2023, respectively, performing in line with expectations since the transaction was announced.
Based on 2023’s first six months financial performance for both AD Ports Group and Noatum, the latter accounts for over 50% of AD Ports Group’s revenue and 13% of its EBITDA.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “I am delighted with our strong financial performance for Q2 2023. With a remarkable 66% YoY revenue growth to AED 2.1 billion, we are successfully executing our diversification strategy and leveraging synergies from our recent acquisitions, paving the way for continued growth and value creation for our stakeholders, driven by the support of our wise leadership” Martin Aarup, Group Chief Financial Officer, AD Ports Group, said: “AD Ports Group’s solid financial performance in Q2 2023, evidenced by a 29% YoY increase in EBITDA to AED 686 million, showcases our resilient growth journey driven by our expanded service offering and geographic diversification. At the same time, we continue to invest large amounts of CapEx, AED 1.8 billion in Q2 2023, which will drive our future growth.”
Deal marks a significant advancement in the corporate travel sector
SAP Concur Solutions recently announced its partnership with dnata Travel Management, a world-renowned leader in the travel industry, part of the Emirates Group, now a certified reseller of its full range of travel solutions.
“This collaboration will enable dnata to empower its valued customers through streamlined and automated travel processes, leveraging SAP Concur’s innovative technology and state-of-the-art products. These solutions automate spend management, allowing us to provide customers with enhanced value, convenience, and flexibility,” commented Savio Vaz, Vice President of Government and Corporate Travel, dnata Travel Group.
The partnership between dnata Travel Management and SAP Concur Solutions marks a significant advancement in the corporate travel sector. By combining their unique strengths and resources, both entities are well positioned to respond to changing market demands, streamline travel processes, and enhance customer experiences, a press statement said.
“Cost control and compliance measures must be delivered while improving employee experiences – and this is where digital transformation can play a key role,” noted Gabriele Indrieri, Vice President and Managing Director-EMEA South Region, SAP Concur.
“This partnership with dnata is a key element in delivering exceptional end-to-end services for our customers. By integrating their sector-leading travel services to support our customers’ digital transformation agendas, this collaboration enables us to deliver the best-in-class technologies,” Indrieri added.
Dubai-headquartered Tristar Group recorded a sizable 78.3 per cent increase in consolidated revenues to US$ 554mn while EBITDA was up 33.1 per cent to US$ 101mn as of June 2023.
All business segments are growing at the pace of two digits, with the Fuel Farm Segment in particular, recording a big growth due to the contribution of the recently acquired HG Storage International in partnership with Glencore.
“The acquisition of 51 per cent ownership stake in HG Storage International, finalized in August 2022, strong Maritime market, and the good performance of Road Transport Segment (+ 23% Year on Year), are the main reasons for the strong performance recorded in the first six months of this year,” commented Eugene Mayne, Group CEO, Tristar.
“We are confident that the second half of 2023, will not only confirm the record growth of our Group, but I do believe that, thanks to the numerous initiatives put in place during 2022, will fuel additional growth for the Group in the coming years,” he continued.
Global expansion
Tristar continues to explore entry into new markets and new products in its drive to implement reduced carbon emission initiatives across its operations.
Tristar, annually, discloses it carbon footprint through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and is a member of the First Movers Coalition (FMC) launched by the US Government and World Economic Forum (WEF) with pledge to purchase products and services that are low or near zero as possible, a press statement said.
“Our road fleet decarbonization is being developed in phases as we explore modern technologies and fuels that are both environment friendly and cost-effective, to ensure that we remain competitive in the marketplace. For the long-term, the teams continue to explore options like hydrogen fuel cell, EV, Dual fuel, and biofuel vehicles that can lower current levels of emissions,” Mayne further stated.
“Meanwhile, we are readying approximately 10 percent of our coastal fleet to become Hybrid Vessels which shall cut emissions by 50% and are overseeing the design and engineering of a hybrid electric barge due to be launched in UAE coastal waters in 2024,” he added.
Tristar was founded in 1998 in the UAE and today operates in 29 countries across the world, the press communique concluded.
The leading provider of holistic and 360-degree engineering and technology solutions in the building industry, Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies (AFET), inaugurated a new state-of-the-art TOTO showroom to expand their solutions and offerings to the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. As part of the group’s ongoing strategy to strengthen TOTO’s presence in the United Arab Emirates, the showroom will showcase and meet the growing demand for luxury sanitaryware.
Located at Al Dana, Al Khazna Tower, Zone 1, the new showroom is set to display its trusted quality and latest luxury sanitaryware collection from the high end Japanese brand. The showroom will feature the latest in luxury and automated sanitary ware technology that includes the Neorest collection, Washlet+, Floatation Tub, Faucets, Touchless Faucets, Showers and Public Restrooms and more.
Commenting on the new showroom, Bahaa Malaeb, General Manager of the Building Products Division at Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies said, “We are proud to welcome our Abu Dhabi customers to our new TOTO showroom in Abu Dhabi and to cater to the growing demand for premium, high quality and high tech sanitary ware that is uniquely offered by TOTO, our long term partners in the UAE. At Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies, we aim to deliver exceptional products with high-end value to our customers, and the Japanese luxury brand, TOTO reflects the same in our offerings.”
TOTO is a world-renowned Japanese manufacturer of high quality, innovative, state-of-the-art, and luxurious bathroom equipment. Offering products that combine unique technologies and sophisticated designs, TOTO proposes restrooms that anyone can use in comfort and with peace of mind. TOTO brings to the region premium Japanese technology and innovations in sanitary ware. Some unique technologies include the CeFiONtect Glazing, Tornado Flush, Self-Power Generation Sensor Taps, Hydrotect Technology, Rimless Design, EWATER+ and other TOTO green challenge products.
With over 45 years of operations and a proven track record in the UAE, KSA, Egypt, and Qatar, Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies is the premium choice for holistic engineering and technology solutions in the market. The trusted industry leader provides superior reliable products and services such as MEP, Facilities Management, Air Conditioning, Scaffolding and Access Solutions, Elevators and Escalators, Control and Life Safety, Building Products, Energy Management, Digital Transformation and Technology Infrastructure to the building industry. Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies targets businesses looking to advance and elevate customer and business partners’ reputations with quality, reliability, and on-time work.
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About Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies
Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies, part of Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate, offers customers quality holistic engineering and technology solutions focused around their business.
Established over 45 years ago, the Engineering arm operates in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. The company provides a wide variety of premium products and services to its partners from MEP, Facilities Management, Air Conditioning, Scaffolding and Access Solutions, Elevators and Escalators, Control and Life Safety, Building Products, Energy Management, Digital Transformation and Technology Infrastructure in the building and construction industry.
In the UAE, the company continues to successfully represent strong international brands for building products including TOTO, Waterwalker, Airedale, KRANTZ and LG. The company is also the sole agent for well-known elevator and escalators brands like Hitachi, and BLT and in the Saudi Arabia and Qatar branches, the company works with trusted brands such as Toshiba.
Nissan has announced that its Yokohama Plant produced its 40 millionth engine in June earlier this year.
The Yokohama Plant commenced operations in 1935, two years after Nissan’s founding. It built its 10 millionth engine in 1976, its 20 millionth in 1986 and its 30 millionth in 1997. Reaching the 40 million milestone in the same year Nissan celebrates its 90th anniversary makes this achievement special.
“We were able to reach the 40 million milestone thanks to so many customers around the world embracing our cars,” remarked Tamiyo Wada, Manager, Yokohama Plant.
A number of engines made by the Yokohama Plant have left their mark in automotive history. These include the 1979 L20ET, which was Japan’s first turbocharged passenger-car engine, and the 1983 VG, the country’s first mass-produced V6 engine.
As society changes, so does the Yokohama Plant. Since the launch of the all-electric LEAF in 2010, the plant has also been producing motors, including those for e-POWER vehicles such as the Nissan Note. In the fiscal year 2022, motors accounted for approximately 40% of Yokohama Plant’s production.
As the Yokohama Plant approaches its 90th anniversary, it continues to play a leading role in the development of Nissan’s cutting-edge production technology. In addition to producing motors and engines, it also serves as a pilot plant for the development of powertrain production technology that will have global applications. Next year, a pilot line will be established in the plant to develop all-solid-state batteries, a press communique concluded.
RISE with SAP and S/4HANA will enable the group to predict and respond to market trends
Malia Group, a Lebanon-based regional leader in pharmaceutical, personal care and FMCG products, has announced it will transition to SAP cloud-based solutions to leverage AI and other embedded advanced technologies to fuel its growth while empowering employees in their roles and strengthening its commitment to sustainability goals.
According to Malia Group executives, SAP was selected as a partner in digital transformation largely due to its extensive focus on AI, automation and machine learning. SAP has made several announcements recently reinforcing its commitment to creating an enterprise AI ecosystem for the future that complements its business applications suite, and helps customers unlock their full potential.
“As we continue to expand our product portfolio and market coverage, we are excited to capitalize on SAP’s predictive analytics to anticipate market trends, customer preferences, and demand patterns. This will enable us to proactively adjust our strategies and maintain a competitive edge,” affirmed Joanne Sarraf Chehab, Chief Executive Officer, Malia Holding.
Diversified Group
Malia Group is eyeing growth in terms of both geographical and product line expansion. The family-owned group currently comprises 25 companies leading across sectors including industry, consumer goods distribution, technology solutions, fashion, engineering and more.
“I am excited by the potential generative AI will complement and empower our Malians with their tasks and support them in making informed decisions faster. Moreover, SAP’s robust security measures ensure that our critical business information is protected against ever-evolving cyber threats,” asserted Jennifer Younane, Chief Technology Officer, Malia Trust.
“Now customers are increasingly focused on the benefit of staying abreast of AI, which is embedded in our solutions with automatic updates delivered through our RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP programmes,” noted Alaa Jaber, Managing Director, SAP Qatar and Fast Growth Markets.
Entered six new countries and expanded to 18 new airports
Menzies Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, and an Agility company, is marking a year since it joined forces with National Aviation Services (NAS) to become the world’s largest aviation services company.
The company, which was acquired by Agility in August 2022, has enjoyed accelerated growth over the past 12 months, successfully entering six new countries and growing its workforce to 40,000 employees, the highest in the company’s 190-year history, according to a press communique.
Accelerating global growth
With a focus on accelerating growth, Menzies has created a solid platform for expansion especially in emerging aviation markets. Notable successes were seen in all four regions around the world:
In the Middle East, Africa & Asia, the company secured a new five-year license at nine airports in South Africa, where it also won a game-changing air cargo contract at three airports.
In the same period, Menzies has grown its air cargo footprint from 69 locations to 75 locations. Air Menzies International, its freight forwarding business, also expanded its global network with new branches in Frankfurt, Germany; Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan; and Toronto, Canada.
“We’re excited to look to the future, as we continue our journey to be recognised as the leading aviation services provider,” noted Philipp Joeinig, CEO, Menzies Aviation.
“We are equally committed to helping all our stakeholders achieve their sustainability goals, and we will continue to be responsible corporate citizens in our communities,” remarked Hassan El-Houry, Chairman, Menzies Aviation.
Atul has over 28 years of experience as a technology executive
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, recently announced the appointment of Atul Soneja as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).
With over 28 years of experience as a technology executive, Atul is a proven leader known for deep strategic expertise, building a culture of success, and driving business transformation through focused execution in challenging and competitive
Atul held several leadership roles in Infosys and its subsidiaries, from managing multi-billion service lines across multiple industry segments like Financial Services, Retail and Manufacturing, to heading the AI and Automation platform business of Edgeverve, a subsidiary of Infosys, conceptualizing and driving several strategic programs through his tenure.
“We are confident that Atul’s expertise will help us drive growth and enhance our capability to deliver innovative solutions,” observed CP Gurnani, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra.
“Atul Soneja complements our high-performance culture, and his execution-focused approach, firm belief in extreme ownership and zeal to build a collaborative culture make him the perfect choice to lead our operations,” commented Mohit Joshi, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Designate, Tech Mahindra.
“My vision is to continue the momentum that Tech Mahindra has by leveraging next-gen technologies,” remarked Soneja on his appointment.
Company bags order to operate and maintain the conveyor system at Palma de Mallorca Airport
Siemens Logistics has received an order to operate and maintain the baggage handling system at Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain. The service contract covers the conveyor system, two tilt-tray sorters, 192 check-ins as well as several baggage reclaim carousels.
Siemens will deploy proven corrective and preventive maintenance methods to maximize the availability of the belt conveyor. The contract has a term of two years and includes the option of two additional one-year extensions, it was revealed in a press communique.
“We are pleased about this new order from airport operator Aena, which we have been supporting with our services for already 17 years,” remarked Michael Schneider, CEO, Siemens Logistics.
“Our highly qualified service staff are very familiar with the system at Palma de Mallorca Airport. That is an excellent basis for us to provide the airport with a first-class service,” he added.
Palma de Mallorca Airport is one of the busiest airports in Spain, handling around 29 million passengers in 2022.
Siemens Logistics has been represented in Spain for decades with a regional company in Tres Cantos, Madrid. Recently the company was also awarded a comprehensive order to operate and maintain the baggage handling systems of all terminals at Madrid-Barajas airport.
New products are designed for exterior applications
Borouge and Borealis, one of the world’s biggest polyolefin manufacturers, recently announced the launch of two new sustainable polymer products for the automotive industry, in line with both companies’ sustainability drive.
Made from up to 70% recycled materials, these are the first sustainable products developed at Borouge’s Compounding Manufacturing Plant (CMP) located in Shanghai, China, which recently received ISO 14067 certification for carbon footprint assessment.
“The launch of our latest products signals our strong commitment to sustainability. By using recycled materials, and developing products with a lower carbon footprint, we demonstrate how circular economy goals are achievable with tangible results today,” commented Rainer Hoefling, Chief Executive Officer, Borouge.
“The rising demand for innovative mobility solutions has underscored sustainability as a crucial focal point for the automotive industry. In response, our customers are actively seeking ways to integrate sustainable polyolefin solutions into their latest car models,” remarked Eddie Wang, Senior Vice President, Asia South, Borouge.
The six-year contract includes conceptualand detailed design for roads and infrastructure projects
Parsons Corporation recently announced today that the company has been selected to deliver design engineering consultancy services to Qatar’s Public Works Authority, more commonly known as Ashghal, for a new road and infrastructure framework.
The US$52mn, six-year contract, includes conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design for roads and infrastructure projects within Doha city.
With a total population of just over three million, more than half of Qatar’s population lives in the capital city Doha. Establishing a new road and infrastructure framework supports the needs of current and future generations, which is one of the major challenges the Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to address.
Parsons first began working with Ashghal in 2002 and most recently collaborated with them to deliver transportation planning services for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, a press statement concluded.
(04/23) With the modular Charx system for 19″ rack mounting, Phoenix Contact offers a solution for the quick and economical setup of full-coverage fast charging infrastructure. The system in a standard 19″ format consists of several coordinated modules for distributing, transforming, and controlling the charging current. They can be combined to suit any charging situation.
The new Charx power distribution module supplies all components in the charging station with AC mains power. Integrated surge protection, miniature circuit breakers, and overheating protection ensure the safety of all downstream modules and cables. Along with a control module, up to five power modules can be connected and supplied. They convert AC mains power into the DC power needed for the fast charging of electric vehicles. To scale the charging power, the particularly efficient Charx power DC power modules can be interconnected as required.
The new Charx control integrated control module consists of a charging controller, cellular modem, insulation monitoring, power contactors, fuse, surge protection, and many other components. It combines all the necessary functions to control power modules and monitor the charging process in a single highly integrated space-saving device. The module also features extensive communication interfaces for easy system integration and remote access. It manages up to five power modules of 30 kW each, which means that charging power ratings of up to 150 kW can be realized.
Compared to classic assembly with DIN rail components, the modular setup with this system significantly reduces the complexity of a DC charging station. In addition, the fast-connection technologies from Phoenix Contact and the established 19″ standard dimensions enable the quick installation and replacement of modules. From the design and engineering through the installation and wiring to the maintenance of fast charging stations, all processes are thus accelerated and optimized for the charging station manufacturer.
Swisslog, leaders in data-driven & robotic solutions for logistics automation, recently announced the appointment of Rami Younes as the new General Manager and Head of Sales for Swisslog Middle East.
In his new position, Rami will be responsible for leading Swisslog’s business in the Middle East, with a primary focus on warehouse logistics. Working closely with Swisslog’s local and global senior management teams, he will identify and pursue new growth opportunities, while also delivering industry-specific automation solutions to companies in the region to help improve their operational efficiencies.
Prior to joining Swisslog Middle East, Rami was the Chief Operating Officer, ALS Logistics Solutions and successfully led a 4PL Logistics start-up in Saudi Arabia. Rami’s leadership skills in supply chain, logistics, and high-tech industrial products have consistently driven success for international teams, according to a corporate press release.
“Rami brings a strong customer-driven focus to his role and a deep understanding of the warehouse automation industry,” commented Jens Schmale, CEO, Swisslog EMEA.
“I look forward to working closely with the team to expand our portfolio of integrated automation solutions, catering to customers in the region. We will work together to execute our vision of establishing Swisslog as the frontrunner in data-driven robotic intralogistics automation,” remarked Rami on his appointment.
Offers shoppers in Kuwait a seamless shopping experience from the UK and US Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform of Emirates SkyCargo, has launched in Kuwait, facilitating fast, reliable, and cost-effective international delivery of items purchased from the UK and the US to shoppers in Kuwait, according to a press release. Emirates Delivers provides a seamless door-to-door transport solution with competitive shipping rates to bring customers the best e-commerce purchases from the UK and the US.
“Leveraging Emirates’ global network, the frequency of flights, our wide body capacity, and the trust and longstanding relationships we’ve built with consumers in market, Emirates Delivers is well placed to answer this need,” remarked Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo. With free storage of up to 30 days, Emirates Delivers allows customers to combine items from different retailers and vendors and consolidate their purchases into one package to further reduce the already-competitive shipping costs.
Using the ‘My Suite’ option on the Emirates Delivers website, customers can then confirm shipping to Kuwait, with full tracking visibility from the time the items are received at the facility, through to delivery of the package at their door.
Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale) announced the go-live of its most celebrated Airport Cargo Community System (ACS) at GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL). The platform aims to enhance efficiency, streamline procedures, and automate communication with stakeholders at the Airport’s cargo complex.
The new system seamlessly connects Airport, Cargo Ground Handlers, Transporters, Freight Forwarders, Customs Brokers, Airlines, Importers/Exporters and Customs on a common, highly secured cloud-based IT platform. The system is targeted towards promoting paperless trade with trade documentation now done online and ease of doing business. With this, Kale is now actively engaging at 100+ airport cargo stations worldwide.
GHIAL is the fourth busiest Airport in India in terms of passenger traffic and is the nation’s first greenfield Airport. The salient feature of the airport’s cargo terminal is its temperature-controlled pharma zone. It is the second airport in southern India to implement ACS to boost its cargo throughput. With the deployment of Kale’s ACS, the Airport will realise a significant improvement in cargo volumes and let the airport emerge as a hub for innovative activities. Moreover, this deployment with a 100 per cent adoption rate will enable the Airport to set sustainability benchmarks for airports globally.
Vineet Malhotra, Co-Founder and Director of Kale Logistics Solutions said, “GMR Hyderabad is a special milestone for us, it is the 100th air cargo station we signed last year. We have 99% adoption with go-live, which speaks volumes about the efficacy of the ACS platform and its benefits. We are happy to assist the GMR Group with its digital transformation.”
He further added, “Our airport cargo community system is gradually becoming the default choice for all airports, not only in India but also in North America. With these deployments, we expect to witness a significant transformation in the air cargo industry. We have more airports in the pipeline that will go-live with our flagship community platform. The future looks bright for us and the air cargo industry.” Kale’s Cargo Community Systems has received several global accolades, including awards at the United Nations’ award-winning cloud-based electronic platform for all stakeholders of the air cargo value chain to interact with each other digitally. Also, this platform is one of the most comprehensive systems, which connects the Airport ecosystem to simplify, standardise and modernise connectivity as well as information flow throughout the value chain.
Alpha Augmented Services AG (Alpha Augmented Services), an innovation leader in software-based transport optimisation, and global logistics provider Scan Global Logistics (SGL), have entered into a commercial partnership. Going forward, the international full-service logistics provider Scan Global Logistics A/S (SGL) will use the AI-supported software solution from Alpha Augmented Services and integrate it into its product range for both potential and existing customers.
As part of the partnership, SGL customers will, in the future, have the opportunity to significantly reduce their logistics costs and carbon emissions through AI-enabled loading and packaging optimisation. Scan Global Logistics is an established, fast-growing logistics service provider with a proven global track record with a defined purpose of making the world of logistics a little less complicated, which this partnership supports.
Massimo Rossetti, CEO of Alpha Augmented Services: “The partnership with Scan Global Logistics is another milestone in the market penetration of our product. We are delighted to be working with such a strong, global and fast-growing partner. We complement each other ideally, as SGL not only covers all transport routes and modes but also the supply chains as a whole. This is also the approach of our AI-based solution. Together we can enable customers all over the world to further optimize their entire supply chain, which combines ecological and economic advantages in an excellent way.”
Mads Drejer, Global COO & CCO from Scan Global Logistics: “With the Alpha Augmented Services solution, we can further expand our service and product offering to all customers across the globe. This solution can be integrated quickly and smoothly into existing processes and, because it is a SaaS model, does not require any material initial investments. The economic ROI is significant, and our customers know at the same time that carbon emissions are reduced immediately. Cost savings and sustainability go hand in hand as we see it, and loading and packaging optimisation is an area that we believe deserves more attention from all parties across the supply chain.”
· Etihad Cargo has achieved 82.7 per cent OTP for freighter departures and 82 per cent OTP for freighter arrivals, ahead of its 80 per cent target
· The carrier surpassed its 85 per cent DAP target, achieving 90.6 per cent
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has continued to surpass operational performance targets, achieving improvements across key performance measures in the first half of 2023.
Building on the strong operational performance of the carrier’s freighter operations in 2022, Etihad Cargo achieved 82.7 per cent on-time performance (OTP) for freighter departures and 82 per cent OTP for freighter arrivals. The recorded OTP for both freighter departures and arrivals in H1 2023 exceeds the carrier’s 80 per cent OTP target. Surpassing this target demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s commitment to providing reliable, high-quality cargo solutions with minimal disruption to the carrier’s partners and customers.
Etihad Cargo has also further improved the carrier’s delivered-as-promised (DAP) rate, achieving 90.6 per cent, ahead of its 85 per cent target and an increase on its 2022 DAP rate of 86.6 per cent.
Thomas Schürmann, Head of Operations at Etihad Cargo, said: “Exceeding OTP and DAP targets demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s strong commitment to reliability, building trust and being the air cargo partner of choice. The carrier’s freighter operations have played a critical role in Etihad Cargo’s ability to meet its ambitious growth targets, which has seen the carrier successfully launch new freighter routes to key destinations, including Guangzhou, and offer additional capacity across Etihad Cargo’s global network. Etihad Cargo’s state-of-the-art Cargo Control Centre monitors the status of all shipments in real time and tracks shipments, flights and road feeder services to enhance the carrier’s DAP promise to partners and customers.”
In addition to Etihad Cargo’s expanding freighter network, the carrier offers belly capacity to over 69 destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas with 674 weekly rotations. To complement the carrier’s scheduled services, Etihad Cargo operates charter flights and has expanded its road feeder service network to enhance connectivity to non-network destinations.
The agreement builds on the ongoing partnership between the signatories on maritime surveillance technology
AD Ports Group and Saab UAE, a leading defence and security company based in Abu Dhabi’s Tawazun Industrial Park, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic cooperative relationship, which will see both entities collaborate on the development of maritime surveillance solutions and sensors.
Under the agreement, AD Ports Group, with its vast experience and expertise in port operations, will provide access to relevant testing sites, offering necessary infrastructure and operational feedback to optimize the development process.
Saab UAE will build on its wide-ranging maritime traffic management expertise to bring new industry standards and next generation maritime surveillance technology to market.
Potential for improvement
“We also see significant potential for improving port and maritime security systems, effectively enhancing the safety and security performance of trade, logistics, and ports in Abu Dhabi and beyond,” stated Othman Al Khouri, Executive Director Corporate Authority, AD Ports Group.
“This MoU marks a significant step forward in our commitment to provide our customers with world-class security and surveillance solutions. This partnership has the potential to revolutionise vessel traffic management and port operations, setting new industry standards for efficiency and safety,” commented Anna-Karin Rosén, Managing Director, Saab UAE.
Saab is an early investor in the UAE having started its operations in the 1980s. Using its unrivalled innovation, expertise and capabilities, Saab UAE aims to create world-class Emirati defence and security solutions, for national needs as well as the global market, a press communique concluded.
Involves repair and recarpeting of 23km of roads and widening of junctions
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, recently announced that it has commenced the upgrade and revamp of the road network and facilities across 40,000 sqm in KEZAD Musaffah (ICAD 1).
The AED 55mn (US$ 15mn) project includes repairs and recarpeting of 23km of roads within KEZAD Musaffah (ICAD 1), as well as widening of junctions, enhanced road markings and lighting, in additon to hard lanscaping and provison of bus stops.
The enhancements are aimed at significantly improving the flow of traffic and facilitating the movement of goods to and from the area.
The project is being executed in coordination with relevant government agencies such as the Abu Dhabi City Municipality and Integrated Transport Centre, among others, as well as the businesses operating in the area to ensure smoothest possible workflow at an accelerated pace.
“By improving our road network systems and facilities in Mussafah, we are providing our existing clients faster and more efficient world-class connectivity,” stated Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group.
Al Jazeera’s US$ 68mn investment will see the first of its kind rolling mill in the region
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi–KEZAD Group and Al Jazeera Steel Products Co recently held the groundbreaking ceremony of the region’s first Rolling Mill with Rail production capability in Abu Dhabi.
The groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new era of industrial development in the region. The establishment of the mill over an area of 210,000sqm in KEZAD and a production capacity of 450,000 tons per annum, aims to spearhead technological advancements, enhance steel manufacturing capabilities, and add to the growing demand for high-quality steel products.
“Al Jazeera’s products will further enhance the self-reliance on quality products for the upcoming projects in the country and the region and give a significant boost to the well establish infrastructure and connectivity that Abu Dhabi has to offer,” observed Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi–KEZAD Group.
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Upon commissioning of the mill, will be able to easily supply rail products along with other products to the upcoming infrastructure, construction and oil & gas projects to the GCC markets, in conjunction with our global customer,” noted Sheikha Amal Suhail Salim Bahwan, Chairperson, Al Jazeera Steel Products Co.
The recently established Saudi Space division is looking to develop national talent within the Space sector.
Positions will include a secondment in Europe to gain experience with international space programmes.
Serco, the international public services company, having recently launched their Saudi Space Division based out of Riyadh, has opened applications for its Graduate Space Programme, with the aim of recruiting young national engineers. With the growth of its international reputation in the space industry a key pillar in Vision 2030, the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) is tasked with ensuring that local talent is nurtured and developed in what is still a developing sector for the nation.
Serco, as a government impact partner will, through its Saudi Space Division, utilise more than 40 years of space experience globally to develop the talent and skills of national residents within relevant fields. The launch of its graduate programme is the first phase in ensuring the transfer of operational knowledge and capabilities to young engineers and scientists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The space-specific programme is the first of its kind within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and across Serco globally.
With a strong international presence in the space industry, Serco employs over 2,000 space specialists globally. For more than four decades, Serco has supported civil and military space programmes, including those of the European Space Agency, the UK Ministry of Defence, and NASA and is now bringing that expertise to the region to support local talent and develop their capabilities.
Applications are now open for a two-week period with a number of graduates to be recruited by October. The application process will be kept open indefinitely past the initial closing date thus allowing other students across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to learn more about the opportunities available through Serco and express interest in new roles, as they become available.
Those graduates who are brought onto the programme will benefit from on-the-job training through the programme’s six-month placement at world-leading space facilities in Europe, offering them international exposure through Serco and its partners together with the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge in a global setting. Upon their return to KSA they will continue their growth, through theoretical lessons, on-the-job training, shadowing, and mentorship with the aim of deploying them into Serco’s own operational contracts in the regional space sector.
The inaugural Future Sustainability Forum marks the Year of Sustainability in the UAE and will be held in Dubai 4-5 October 2023.
Agenda supports COP28’s 4-pillar plan on fast-tracking the transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on adaptation to protect lives and livelihoods, and making COP28 fully inclusive, announced by COP28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology today 13 July 2023.
The Forum brings together global decision and change makers in the finance industry, to explore ways for the sector to lead action on climate change, deliver a just transition to a sustainable economy, and accelerate efforts to achieve the longer-term goals of the Paris Agreement and UN SDGs 2030.
The Future Sustainability Forum is part of DIFC’s sustainability programme in the run up to COP28, the largest finance-focused campaign for COP28, backed by international financial institutions and thought leaders in green and sustainable finance.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, today announced its first edition of the Future Sustainability Forum. The Forum to be held 4-5 October 2023, at the RitzCarlton DIFC, will focus on mobilising sustainable finance and innovation by connecting industry leaders, investors, tech disruptors, and policy makers, and channel investment flows between the global north and global south, to accelerate climate action.
Central to DIFC’s programme in the run up to COP28, the announcement of the inaugural Future Sustainability Forum (‘The Forum’), further demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to play a leading role in advancing COP28 priorities, aligned with DIFC’s chairmanship of the Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group (DSFWG), established in 2019. The Forum also marks the Year of Sustainability in the UAE and builds on DIFC’s vision to pave the way for coordinated global solutions to deliver on the climate financing needs of emerging markets and developing economies, whilst supporting sustainable economic growth for Dubai, UAE, and the wider region.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the world to Dubai and the Future Sustainability Forum as part of our ‘Path to COP28’ programme. As the nation prepares to host COP28, The Forum underscores our commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges. Through collaboration and innovative financial solutions, we aim to drive tangible progress towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. We are committed to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and look forward to enable meaningful dialogue and actionable outcomes at this important event and beyond.”
Set to mobilise key stakeholders, including the finance and insurance sectors, towards accelerating net-zero goals, the Forum provides a platform to explore future sustainability and climate technologies, critical for the world’s net-zero agenda as well as achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and contributing to delivery of the Paris Agreement. The Forum also aligns with DIFC’s 2030 Strategy to drive the future of finance, and on Dubai’s position as a global leader for Green and Sustainable Bonds and Sukuk, with NASDAQ Dubai representing a 110+bn market size with over 16 per cent being sustainable bonds and sukuks. The Forum’s Agenda supports COP28’s 4-pillar plan on fast-tracking the transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on adaptation to protect lives and livelihoods, and making COP28 fully inclusive, announced by COP28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology today.
The UAE and Dubai government have spearheaded a range of comprehensive sustainability programmes in the pursuit of a net zero future. With initiatives like the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative, and the UAE Vision 2070, a clear emphasis is placed on renewable energy adoption, water conservation, waste management, and sustainable urban development. These strategic endeavours serve as a testament to the nation’s proactive approach in addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future.
The Future Sustainability Forum will put the spotlight on the UAE’s sustainable practices particularly within the financial ecosystem, inviting global experts to connect, collaborate and share insight to accelerate the global transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Panel discussions and sessions include: ‘Supporting corporates in embedding ESG within their organisations’; ‘Empowering companies to design their path to Net-Zero’; ‘Unlocking the potential of ESG-driven innovation’; ‘Fostering sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems’; and ‘Transforming capital to drive the low carbon transition’.
With effect from August 2024 the Supervisory Board appoints Jens Drewes as CEO and successor of Reiner Heiken
The Supervisory Board of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE & Co. KG has appointed Jens Drewes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hellmann effective August 2024. Drewes will succeed Reiner Heiken, who has decided to retire next year.
Reiner Heiken has significantly developed the company in the past five years
Reiner Heiken has been CEO of the global logistics service provider since the end of 2018 and has since successfully developed and realigned the company. As a result, Hellmann has been able to significantly expand its market position in recent years – both through organic growth and acquisitions – and to achieve another record result in 2022 with revenues of EUR 5 billion. In order to continue this successful corporate development in the long term, under Reiner Heiken a new corporate culture was initiated with the Hellmann Promise. Most recently, in the summer of this year, also a new corporate strategy “4ward27” was adopted, the implementation of which he will hand over to Jens Drewes in the middle of next year.
The shareholders Jost and Klaus Hellmann, together with the Chairman of the Supervisory Board Dr. Thomas C. Lieb thank Mr. Heiken on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board for his very successful work as CEO and wish him all the best for the future: “Mr. Heiken has succeeded in repositioning the company in recent years and setting it up strongly for the future,” says Dr. Thomas C. Lieb.
Jens Drewes to take over as CEO in August 2024
The Supervisory Board has identified the ideal successor for Reiner Heiken early on, appointing Jens Drewes into the CEO role as of August 2024. Drewes brings a wealth of experience in the logistics industry with a track record spanning over 30 years, primarily in the Asia-Pacific region and lately in Europe. Since the late 1990s, Jens Drewes has worked for Kuehne + Nagel, where he was most recently responsible for the European business. Starting in August 2024, Drewes will take on the CEO role encompassing Hellmann’s five regions, HR, Sales&Marketing, Corporate Development as well as Corporate Communications.
Jost and Klaus Hellmann as well as the entire Supervisory Board, represented by its Chairman Dr. Thomas C. Lieb, welcome Jens Drewes in his new role: “We are convinced that we have found the right successor to Reiner Heiken with the appointment of Jens Drewes as CEO. With his many years of international logistics experience and his strong ability to lead teams and inspire customers, Jens Drewes will continue the successful development of the company and open up new growth areas within the scope of the “4ward27″ strategy.”
As of January 1, 2024, the Management Board will be expanded to include Stefan Borggreve as CDO
Furthermore, to meet the growing demands of IT and digitalization and to reflect the company´s new strategy “4ward27”, the Supervisory Board has decided to expand the Management Board by appointing a Chief Digital Officer (CDO) to complement the existing three roles. As a result, starting January 1, 2024, Stefan Borggreve will assume the new Board position overseeing the existing functions IT & Digital as well as the new functions Innovation and Sustainability – both important pillars of the corporate strategy “4ward27”.
As long-standing and experienced members of the Management Board Jens Wollesen and Martin Eberle will ensure ongoing continuity in the leadership team: As Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jens Wollesen will continue to focus on the strategic development of Hellmann´s products sea- and airfreight, overland transport, and contract logistics. The contract with Martin Eberle, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), was renewed as scheduled for another five years.
Allison Transmission, a global leader in the production of fully automatic transmissions, collaborated with bus manufacturer King Long and provided 40 buses to support this year’s operations during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The successful partnership supported the Kingdom’s objective of providing an exceptional Hajj experience to pilgrims.
Allison is renowned for its commitment to providing exceptional quality and comfort to passengers. Thanks to its advanced Torqmatic® Series transmissions designed specifically for transit and coach buses, Allison helped play a key role in facilitating the transportation of pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. Of the 40 buses, 21 were allocated to a customer in Jeddah and the remaining 19 were designated for another in Madina.
The buses served as an important mode of transportation within the country, helping to successfully navigate challenging conditions including the demanding journey between Aziziya and Arafat, which requires extensive start-stop operations. The buses also ensured a seamless connection between Makkah and Madina, further enhancing the convenience and comfort of the pilgrims.
“Allison Transmission is proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with King Long, one of the largest exporters of buses to Saudi Arabia, on this landmark project to meet the transportation needs of the Hajj season,” said Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Area Manager for Middle East & Pakistan. “The King Long partnership is of utmost importance to us. Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s objectives for this busy season, our aim is always to offer the highest standards of reliability, durability and comfort for the many pilgrims.”
Allison’s torque converter and Continuous Power Technology™ eliminate power interrupts resulting in a comfortable and smooth driving experience for both the driver and passengers. The fully hydraulic automatic transmission without mechanical clutches, has less wear and tear also on all parts of the drivetrain and therefore resulting in fewer costly breakdowns and repairs.
Allison, King Long and the bus manufacturer’s Saudi dealer have actively engaged in fostering a strong and mutually beneficial partnership since 2018. Allison’s exceptional service support, extended warranty options and close coordination with fleet operators in conjunction with the dedicated efforts of the King Long team have further contributed to the successful partnership.
Alltruck to provide 24/7 roadside assistance and fleet management services Commercial vehicle specialists to operate Tevva’s ‘Rapid Response’ call centre Alltruck joins growing list of suppliers joining Tevva in its mission to accelerate the decarbonisation of commercial vehicles
British electric vehicle manufacturer Tevva has appointed Alltruck plc, specialists in commercial vehicle contract hire, rental, and vehicle maintenance, as its 24/7 roadside assistance and fleet management partner.
Under this new partnership, Alltruck will provide 24/7 roadside assistance and fleet management services for Tevva’s cutting-edge 7.5t battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The centrepiece of this support is the Tevva ‘Rapid Response’ call centre, staffed by skilled IMI qualified technicians who promptly pre-qualify any issues to ensure the most effective recovery action is taken. Whether it’s a simple tire matter or a complex electrical concern, Tevva drivers can rest assured that they will receive expert care.
By leveraging their extensive network of 175 approved repairers throughout the UK, Alltruck will also extend a range of additional services to Tevva owners. These services include comprehensive documentation compliance, efficient accident management, and access to replacement vehicles when necessary.
Alltruck is the latest company to partner with Tevva in its mission to decarbonise medium duty trucks, as the London-based company looks to ramp up commercialisation of its 7.5t battery- and hydrogen-electric vehicles. This year, Tevva has already struck agreements with ZF (electronic braking system) and Ecobat (first-life battery management).
Tevva’s Asher Bennett, CEO and founder said: “Given the fact that electric vehicle maintenance is still a grey area for some, we were extremely particular in selecting our roadside assistance and technical partner. The collaboration with Alltruck gives our customers total peace of mind that if they face any maintenance issue with their electric truck, they’ll be supported by the best in the business.”
Paul Robinson, Director at Alltruck plc said: “We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with Tevva as its chosen partner for 24/7 roadside assistance and fleet management services. At Alltruck, we share Tevva’s vision of driving sustainability in the commercial vehicle sector, and we couldn’t be more excited to play an integral role in their mission to accelerate the decarbonisation of medium-duty trucks.
“As part of our commitment to providing the best support for electric vehicles, we have taken a proactive step to train all our in-house technicians, ensuring they are fully qualified to handle electric vehicles. This investment in upskilling our team is a testament to our dedication to delivering excellent services and contributing to the ongoing road to net zero.”
Alltruck emerged as the ideal partner for Tevva after an exhaustive selection process that highlighted their impressive national coverage and an average response time of 62-90 minutes—qualities that resonate with Tevva and Alltruck’s values of committed, progressive, passionate and proactive.
Tevva’s 7.5t battery-electric truck has this year begun mass production at the company’s London facility. This will be followed by a 7.5t hydrogen-electric truck, which benefits from a hydrogen range-extender that enhances vehicle range to 354 miles (570 km). The Tevva BEV offers up to 140 miles (227 kilometres) from its 105-kWh battery on a single charge and is ideal for last-mile and urban delivery fleets.
With Tevva and Alltruck united in their commitment to sustainable transportation solutions, the future of commercial vehicles is set to become cleaner, greener, and more efficient than ever before.
Customers now receive real-time, reliable, and personalised pricing with each shipment requested via Digital Lounge, marketplaces and host to host integrated connections, enabling them to book immediately with the best prices available
Qatar Airways Cargo, a global leader in air cargo transportation, is proud to announce that optimised, real-time pricing powered by PROS Smart Price Optimization and Management is now live on all online booking channels across its network. The real-time pricing engine provides Qatar Cargo customers an enhanced digital buying experience that allows immediate online booking confirmation with accurate, personalised pricing.
Part of The Next Generation initiative, Qatar’s Digital Lounge places an emphasis on user experience and ease of use, allowing customers to price and book cargo shipments without the need to call or email the sales team directly. With PROS Smart Price Optimization and Management solutions, Qatar Airways Cargo powers its online channels with real-time personalised dynamic pricing, accessing live capacity to offer accurate and bookable rates. The AI-powered optimisation solution models improve win rates by personalising the price offering and maximising sales.
Qatar Airways Cargo has been quick to adopt an omni-channel model, giving customers multiple choices to book shipments based on their own channel preference. With large volumes of complex pricing requests, PROS Air Cargo Orchestration Services enables Qatar Airways Cargo to provide real-time, optimised prices to third-party digital marketplaces such as WebCargo, CargoAI and Cargo.one. Being able to respond to these requests with profitable, accurate pricing in a way that is reliable, performant, and scalable provides customers with a premium experience few can offer.
“PROS real-time pricing engine provides a highly accurate, scalable pricing capability that directly translates to a reliable and responsive buying experience for our customers,” said Florent Bonello, Vice President Cargo Revenue Management at Qatar Airways Cargo. “As a next phase of our implementation, we are seamlessly integrating PROS Smart Configure Price Quote within our sales ecosystem, so that we can quickly manage and deliver omnichannel quoting across our spot, contract and allotment sales.”
“The air cargo market is extremely dynamic, and carriers need to be able to respond quickly and accurately to drive superior customer experiences,” says Surain Adyanthaya, President, Travel, PROS. “We are proud to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo to provide a highly scalable solution, with unparalleled response times, ensuring they can deliver fast, accurate, and reliable offers for each and every customer.”
Swisslog will implement intralogistics on behalf of Swiss Post as part of an expansion project at its Villmergen facility. In order to optimize the logistics processes as well as to increase the energy efficiency of the new warehouse location, the Swiss intralogistics expert Swisslog will realize the installation of an automated high-bay warehouse, an automated medium parts warehouse, and an AutoStore system as well as the material flow control system of Swisslog’s software SynQ. The order is worth 40 million Swiss francs.
Following a first joint automation project in Villmergen AG, Swiss Post is once again relying on the know-how of the Swiss intralogistics expert. Swisslog will take over the complete implementation of intralogistics for Swiss Post in the new construction of its logistics center in Villmergen (LZV). As part of this, Swisslog will install a new automated high-bay warehouse, an automated medium parts warehouse, and an automated small parts warehouse, including material flow control system. The new logistics center will triple the logistics center’s storage capacity for hospital logistics goods, hazardous goods or, for example, goods from online retail. Growing online trade has led to increased demand for Swiss Post’s services. As a result, Swiss Post is now repositioning itself in the area of contract logistics and expanding its logistics structures accordingly: As part of this 137 million project, it is expanding its logistics center in Villmergen with four extensions. The new building will increase the storage area from 20,000 to 57,000 square meters. Swiss Post is thus expanding the site to become its largest logistics warehouse. The groundbreaking ceremony for the major project took place on June 22, 2022. The logistics center is scheduled to go into operation in 2025.
Swiss Post and Swisslog are linked by a long-standing partnership. Swisslog has been working successfully with Swiss Post since the 1990s. At the Villmergen site, the first step in automation, with the installation of an AutoStore system, was implemented together in 2016. “We are very pleased that Swiss Post has once again placed its trust in us,” says Heinrich Lüthi, Managing Director of Swisslog Switzerland, “and are proud that we are able to jointly implement this flagship project for the region.”
Automated high-bay warehouse with space for 23,000 pallets, automated center parts warehouse for 20,000 trays, and an automated tote warehouse for small goods with a capacity of 125,000 totes.
“Swisslog convinced us with its logistical and technical solutions to jointly create the warehouse of the future,” says Roland Heizmann, Head of Freight Logistics at Swiss Post. “Successful projects in the past have also created a resilient relationship of trust.” The expansion now underway in Villmergen includes a high-bay warehouse with 23,000 pallet spaces, a medium parts warehouse with 20,000 trays and an AutoStore system with a capacity of 125,000 bins for small parts. For software control, Swiss Post also relies on the proven Swisslog material flow control system SynQ. SynQ stands for synchronized intelligence and is a fully integrated and end-to-end material flow automation solution, with the aim of simplifying and accelerating the integration of new technologies.
25 July 2023 / Doha: Gulf Warehousing Company Q.P.S.C. (GWC) announced the results for the first half of 2023, realizing a total 9% Revenues’ growth YoY at QAR 786 million, making a growth of 14% in Gross Profits at QAR 235 million, and a net profit of QAR 115 million. Earnings per share at QAR 0.196 during the same period ending on 30 June 2023.
This accomplishment is realized despite the global financial and economic headwinds caused by the surge in lending and borrowing Profit rates and the slowdown in trade. “The first half of 2023 was full of achievements, as we continue to focus was on growing the company’s business, diversifying sources of income, and building long-term relationships, along with human capital development. As we enter the second half of 2023 and getting closer to the go-live of second Phase of Al Wukair Logistics Park, we look forward for more successes, continuing our quest for growth, and contributing to the realization of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Remarked Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al-Thani, Chairman, GWC. In April 2023, GWC launched GWC Energy Services, a wholly owned subsidiary focused at providing the oil & gas sector with dedicated and bespoke services. This was followed by signing a strategic agreement with renowned global leader in the maritime industry Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) to support offshore energy services thus opening the pathway for significant opportunities in the maritime sector.
“We are delighted to present significant strides in achieving our strategic growth plan, which has solidified GWC Group’s position as prominent leaders in the regional logistics industry. Our strategic approach, driven by cutting-edge technology and employee development, reinforces our conviction, as we continue to deliver exceptional solutions and progress with utmost determination.” commented Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Collaborates with DNV to Establish the Maritime Decarbonization Center
▪ AlMazrouei: The Center will play a pivotal role in advancing our national and regional sustainability goals, while contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change
▪ Knut Orbeck-Nilssen: Initiatives like the Centre are essential as we look to accelerate towards a decarbonized future.
▪ AlMalek: The Center promotes knowledge-sharing, and facilitate the development of a skilled workforce capable of driving decarbonization efforts in the maritime industry
In a groundbreaking move that solidifies the UAE’s status as a global leader in sustainability and energy transition, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) has announced the establishment of the “UAE Maritime Decarbonization Center.” As the first-of-its-kind Center in the MENA region and the fourth globally. This pioneering initiative, developed in collaboration with DNV marks a historic milestone not only for the UAE but also for the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sets a new standard for maritime decarbonization efforts worldwide.
The official signing ceremony to commemorate this historic partnership took place at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, UK. The signing brought together high-level government officials, industry leaders, and international stakeholders to celebrate this momentous occasion.
By leveraging the expertise of DNV and harnessing the UAE’s strategic geographic location and maritime influence, the Center aims to drive research, innovation, and collaboration among key stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, technologies, and policies in the maritime sector.
Setting a new standard for maritime decarbonization
Commenting on this partnership, H.E Suhail AlMazrouei, the UAE Minister of Energy said, “The UAE leads numerous global competitiveness indicators in the maritime sector. It ranks 3rd globally in the Bunker Supply Index, 5th as a key competitive maritime hub and 12th in the transport lines index. This is a result of the competitive business environment the UAE provides, which attracts major international maritime companies and makes the country’s ports a preferred destination for international shipping lines. However, we will not rest on our laurels; we want to
occupy the top position in all international maritime indicators. We look forward to innovations and digital platforms to contribute to enhancing the UAE’s position and improving its global ranking.”
H.E AlMazrouei added, “The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonization Center reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices within the maritime industry. By collaborating with DNV, we aim to leverage their expertise and global network to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of decarbonization technologies. This Center will play a pivotal role in advancing our national and regional sustainability goals, while contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change.”
Reinforcing the UAE sustainability goals
The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonization Center is a testament to the UAE’s unwavering dedication to achieving its ambitious sustainability goals outlined in the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy. By spearheading the maritime decarbonization efforts, the UAE aims to drive greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions that exceed global ambitions, positioning itself as a leading force in the global fight against climate change.
The Center will serve as a hub for research, development, and implementation of innovative technologies and strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in the maritime industry. It will conduct joint-industry projects, incubator and accelerator programs, and future talent development initiatives. Furthermore, it will provide access to funding opportunities, foster collaboration among industry stakeholders, and serve as a knowledge hub by publishing research and information.
“We are very pleased to collaborate with the UAE’s Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy to establish the Maritime Decarbonization Centre,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime. “Initiatives like the Centre are essential as we look to accelerate towards a decarbonized future. We need to build via cooperation, foster innovation, and scale local strengths into global leadership. With its strategic location and strong support from industry leaders, the Centre is poised to become a hub for maritime decarbonization efforts.”
A maritime hub for business excellence and innovation
This initiative aligns perfectly with the UAE’s preparations for hosting COP28, where the nation will showcase its commitment to sustainability and energy transition on a global stage. The UAE Maritime Decarbonization Center will play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s position as a hub for sustainable innovation and global collaboration during COP28.
H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we seek to unify the maritime sector to build the UAE Maritime Cluster, and turn it into a powerhouse that enhances business growth opportunities and creates new capabilities
for companies by bringing them together. Digital technologies are the best way to build this cluster, standardise information related to the maritime sector and develop innovative mechanisms to explore business opportunities that can benefit all stakeholders.”
· The partnership will enable Saudia Cargo to widen its network in Europe and enhance its offerings to its customers.
· By combining one another’s resources and capabilities, both organizations stand to further advance the logistics industry.
Riyadh, July 19, 2023: Saudia Cargo, a leading provider of air cargo services, has signed a strategic agreement with Jan de Rijk Co., a prominent European transportation and logistics company, to enhance its services and expand its reach in Europe. The signing ceremony took place on the 19th of July, 2023, at Saudia Cargo’s headquarters in Jeddah, solidifying the collaboration between the two industry leaders.
Under this agreement, Saudia Cargo will leverage Jan de Rijk’s extensive trucking network, which comprises a fleet of specialist vehicles, to bolster its operations and strengthen its presence in Europe. Jan de Rijk Co., founded in 1971, is a top provider of European transportation, distribution services, and supply chain management solutions. The company’s expertise and in-depth knowledge of key industries make it an ideal partner for furthering Saudia Cargo’s ambitious expansion plans.
Jan de Rijk Logistics operates in five business units: international transport, Benelux distribution and last-mile deliveries, contract logistics, road freight forwarding, and intermodal transport. Over the years, the company has focused on continuous development and optimization to achieve a leading position in its desired vital market segments. With a solid commitment to customer-centric solutions, Jan de Rijk Co. has gained a reputation for delivering efficient and reliable services tailored to the unique needs of its clients.
Saudia Cargo’s collaboration with Jan de Rijk Co. marks a significant milestone in its growth strategy, enabling it to tap into new opportunities and further build up its European operations. Saudia Cargo aims to enhance its service offerings and deliver seamless end-to-end logistics solutions to its customers by utilizing Jan de Rijk’s extensive network and specialist vehicles.
“We are delighted to partner with Jan de Rijk Co. to extend our footprint in Europe and provide enhanced logistics services to our valuable customers,” said Teddy Zebitz, CEO of Saudia Cargo. “Jan de Rijk’s extensive experience and proven track record in the European transportation industry align perfectly with our business growth objectives. Besides, we both share same mission towards sustainability, which is an important issue for the air cargo industry, and air cargo carriers that adopt sustainable practices can help to protect the environment, improve safety, and enhance their brand reputation. Together, we will enhance our offering for innovative and efficient solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the regional and global market.”
Fred Westdijk, CEO of Jan de Rijk Co., expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This agreement with Saudia Cargo presents a remarkable opportunity for both organizations. By combining our strengths, we will unlock new avenues for growth and better serve our customers. We look forward to a fruitful partnership and its mutual benefits.”
The agreement between Saudia Cargo and Jan de Rijk Co. demonstrates both companies’ commitment to providing exceptional logistics services and advancing the logistics industry. By merging their collective expertise, resources, and networks, Saudia Cargo and Jan de Rijk Co. are poised to achieve several vital milestones due to the collaboration.
Unprecedented Growth: Challenge Group’s tonnage has skyrocketed from 78,000 tons in 2012 to an impressive 282,000 tons in 2022, showcasing the hub’s remarkable development over the past five years.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: The Liège hub spans an expansive 42,000 square meters and employs over 700 dedicated professionals across Challenge Handling, Challenge Airlines BE, and Challenge Technic.
Market Dominance: Challenge Group’s Liège hub has achieved remarkable milestones, including its 25th anniversary in 2021, and handles an average of 4,042 flights and 43,400 truck movements annually.
Liège’s hub has experienced a remarkable growth trajectory, expanding from a modest 7,500 square meters to an impressive 42,000 square meters over the past five years. The tonnage handled by Challenge Group has also witnessed an unprecedented increase, reaching 282,000 tons in 2022, making Challenge Handling an industry leader with its three state-of-the-art sites in Liège. With a capacity for 425,000 tons annually, Challenge Group remains committed to delivering exceptional services to its customers.
“Our Liège hub is a testament to our commitment to excellence and continuous growth,” said Or Zak, CCO of Challenge Group. “With our strategic investments and dedication to operational excellence, we have solidified our position as the market leader. We stand ready to support our clients, either freight forwarders, third party carriers or importers/exporters, and meet their most demanding logistics needs. Our dedicated team and advanced facilities make us the ideal partner for businesses across the industry.”
Challenge Group’s Liège hub is renowned for its sustainable practices and commitment to the environment. In addition to being a European leader in handling horses, the hub specializes in the transportation of pharmaceuticals, cars, dangerous goods, oversized cargo, live animals (beyond horses), concert equipment, and perishable goods. With its cutting-edge technology and tools, including the largest highloader in Europe, the hub embraces paperless operations with electronic data capture and handheld scanners.
Challenge Group’s commitment to excellence, unparalleled growth, and state-of-the-art facilities at Liège Cargo Hub make it the preferred partner for cargo handling and logistics ancillary services. With a solid foundation, dedicated team, and a vision for the future, Challenge Group continues to excel and set new industry standards.
Companies to develop innovative Abu Dhabi-based marine fuel and retail concepts
New agreement set to enhance Abu Dhabi’s world-leading maritime facilities, expanding ADNOC Distribution marine services
Abu Dhabi Maritime, part of AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), in cooperation with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), and ADNOC Distribution (ADX: ADNOCDIST) have signed a new agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) to work together, exploring consumer-facing and industry-leading innovations with the aim of enhancing Abu Dhabi’s coastal and marine locations.
Under the new agreement, Abu Dhabi Maritime and ADNOC Distribution intend to share expertise within a joint working team and delve into three proposed collaboration areas – an ADNOC fuel station at Rabdan Marina, fuel stations at future marinas within Abu Dhabi, and special services (floating fuel and grocery vessel.) The planned additional services will ensure effortless refuelling and convenience for customers.
H.E Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, the Director General of Operational Affairs at the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said: “This agreement demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the DMT, represented by Abu Dhabi Maritime, to elevate Abu Dhabi’s coastal and marine locations.
“As representatives of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and advancing the development of our maritime domain. This strategic partnership will not only enhance the world-class facilities and services available to residents and visitors but also contribute to positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading global maritime capital. Together, we will unlock the untapped potential of our shores, creating a thriving and sustainable future for Abu Dhabi’s marine sector.”
Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, Acting CEO, Maritime Cluster – AD Ports Group, said: “Abu Dhabi Maritime understands the critical role of providing exceptional services to mariners. By collaborating with ADNOC Distribution, a renowned provider of premier marine service stations and retail solutions, we are committed to enhancing the satisfaction of our existing patrons and attracting new ones seeking convenience and accessibility while out on the waters. These efforts align with our shared vision to establish Abu Dhabi as a preeminent global maritime centre.”
Eng. Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, said: “Purposeful agreements of this nature align with our strategic vision and represent tremendous opportunities for innovation and ingenuity benefiting the people and the environment of Abu Dhabi. ADNOC Distribution and Abu Dhabi Maritime are coming together with a clear aim of pursuing targeted and ambitious developments that have been identified as having a great promise to deliver superior facilities and services for all who reside in or visit Abu Dhabi. As a result, we expect the subsequent development of new marine concepts and facilities will add significant value, improving the lives of everyone who participates in marine activities in and around the beautiful shores of Abu Dhabi.”
This MoU signals a new milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance Abu Dhabi’s Maritime sector. ADNOC Distribution solely operates all marine fuel stations in Abu Dhabi.
Admiral has recently expanded its Global Footprint across Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, by partnering with few of the strongest distributors in various countries.
Admiral Appliances and Electronics FZE, a 100% subsidiary of Admiral Corporation of America based out of Dubai, UAE is a well-known American brand that operates across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and South Asia with an exhaustive and impressive range in categories like Air-Conditioners, LED TVs, Major Appliances, Built ins and Small Appliances.
Admiral recently celebrated its success by hosting a Grand Event with its Regional Partners & UAE Retailers, Dealers, Online & Re – Export Partners and signed New Partnerships with few of the top distributors in the region. Admiral is one of the fastest growing American Appliances and Electronics brands in the region. It demonstrated over 150 consumer appliance products that are currently retailed across all the leading outlets like Extra, Sharaf DG, Amazon, Noon and many more.
Admiral intends to enter one of the biggest markets in the world – India, by Q4’23. Admiral products will be available in the Indian market with one of the top online players.
Vishal Saxena, Chief Executive Officer, Admiral Appliances and Electronics said, “We are excited to expand in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asian markets after spending considerable time studying and adapting to the specific needs of our customers. We are currently operating in 23 countries of MEA and South Asia and by end of 2023, we will operate in more than 30 countries of MEA and South Asia. We are aggressively expanding to serve our consumers. We see a gap in the market that can be filled by Admiral.”
“All our channel partners were extremely impressed with our product portfolio, which is a testimony of Admiral’s commitment to its consumers. Admiral products are being retailed amongst all the top Retailers, Dealers and IR Channel Partners and Online Players. Our consumers are spoilt for choices with Admiral.”
Admiral’s range has attractive features like Active Fresh, Smart Technology, Energy Saving, Smart Inverter, Turbo Cooling and Reliability that transforms “Human Experience”. Admiral has recently introduced unique products such as the Laundry Centre and 100 cm Gas cooker from Turkey. At the recently held Grand Event, Admiral unveiled its unique and exclusive product
“The Laundry Center” that has no comparison in the market with 2 Drums – 5kg Washer at the top and 10 / 7Kg Washer & Dryer at the bottom.
Admiral has one of the biggest Consumer Electronics and Appliances range, with products that fit the requirements of both Domestic and Commercial customers. Admiral Group also operates in verticals like Mobility (Electric Commercial Vehicles) and Energy (Charging solutions of Electric Vehicles).
Netradyne, a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning-based solutions for driver and fleet safety, has been honored with the prestigious FICCI Road Safety 2022 Award in the category of ‘Product and Services in Road Safety by Corporates‘. This distinguished recognition is a testament to Netradyne’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance driver behavior and mitigate road accidents.
The FICCI Road Safety Awards, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), recognize companies that demonstrate outstanding contributions in the field of road safety. The esteemed jury selected Netradyne for its revolutionary AI and ML-based IoT solution, which significantly impacts driver behavior—a major contributing factor to road accidents.
“We are honored to be working with several businesses in India and other countries to improve fleet operations and on-road driving behavior, thereby contributing to reducing fatalities. With the vast amount of driving data, our AI algorithms offer more than 90% precision and accuracy level”said Avneesh Agrawal, CEO of Netradyne “We extend our gratitude to the FICCI for this prestigious recognition and our customers for their trust in our solutions. This recognition further validates our commitment to innovation, and we are proud to contribute to the efforts aimed at creating safer roads for all.”
Netradyne’s cutting-edge technology is implemented in organizations across sectors, including oil & gas, FMCG, hazardous and valuable goods transportation, logistics providers, and more. By adopting Netradyne’s vision-based technology, organizations have achieved remarkable results, such as a 50% reduction in road accidents and over 90% decrease in distracted driving incidents, while excelling in other performance indicators.
ISCM is an education, training, research, and consulting firm based in India. We are focused on supply chain, planning, logistics, and procurement training. Some of the leading MNCs and top Indian firms have chosen ISCM to develop their capability.
Need a moment of your time to introduce the Certified Digital Supply Chain Professional (CDSCP)– a new certification from the Institute of Supply Chain & Management Pvt. Ltd. (ISCM)
Certified Digital Supply Chain Professional (CDSCP)– The Certified Digital Supply Chain Professional will enable professionals to understand key digital technologies, transform their value chains, and create digital supply chain strategies. You will learn about emerging technologies like Blockchain, IoT, Digital Twins, AI/Ml, and RPA and their use cases in supply chain, identify opportunities for innovation and learning frameworks to build a competitive supply chain. You will also be able to understand the importance of digital supply chains in overall competitive strategy.
Who Should Attend:
CDSCP is best suited for Mid to Senior level supply chain, procurement, logistics, analytics, and planning professionals across all industry sectors.
Duration – 10 Weeks, with classes on Saturdays
Batch Starts on 29th July 2023
Fee for Indian Participants : INR 70,800/- inclusive of all taxes
Gas supplier to supply up to 1.2mn MT of LNG annually to India
ADNOC Gas recently announced a 14-year supply agreement with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) for the export of up to 1.2 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India’s largest integrated and diversified energy company.
The agreement, valued in the range of US$7bn to US$9bn (AED25.7 to AED33bn) over its 14-year term, signifies a major step forward in the partnership between the two industry leaders.
The landmark deal marks another significant milestone for ADNOC Gas as it expands its global reach, reinforcing its position as a global LNG export partner of choice, and reaffirming IOCL as its key strategic partner in the LNG market, a press statement said.
“We look forward to expanding our collaboration and take pride in the knowledge that ADNOC Gas’ LNG exports will further support the development of IOCL and contribute to India’s growth story,” commented Ahmed Alebri, CEO, ADNOC Gas.
Under the terms of the agreement, ADNOC Gas will deliver up-to 1.2 mmtpa of LNG to IOCL in India. The deal serves as a testament to ADNOC Gas’ ability to meet the growing global demand for LNG, a critical fuel in the energy transition, the press note concluded.
Quik’s order volume grew by 4.3 times and its customer base grew by 3.2 times
Careem recorded over one million grocery orders delivered in Dubai through its on-demand grocery service, Quik, which delivers fresh produce, groceries, and household items at supermarket-competitive prices in under 30 minutes.
Quik customers increasingly opted for healthy snacks this year, with bananas and blueberries making up the most popular order combination. Al Ain water was the most ordered item for both men and women, and single men were Quik’s most active demographic, a press communique stated.
“We’ve used our experience in last-mile delivery to optimize the entire delivery supply chain and bring quicker, better value, and higher quality experiences to our customers in Dubai. We are excited to expand Quik to other Emirates very soon,” commented Chase Lario, Head of Groceries, Careem.
Hyperlocal dark stores
Quik was launched in Dubai in November 2021 and uses a dense network of hyperlocal dark stores and advanced fulfillment and inventory management technology to prepare orders in under two minutes and eliminate item replacements.
Through its dark store network, Careem controls the entire supply chain process, from ordering and fulfillment, to managing inventory and delivery. When an order is placed on the app, order pickers, called ‘Quikers’ collect and process the order in dark stores that are fully optimized for rapid fulfillment, before handing them off to dedicated Quik delivery Captains.
Over the past year, Quik’s product selection has expanded from 2200 to over 6500, offering customers staples across multiple categories. Over the same period, Quik’s order volume grew by 4.3 times and its customer base grew by 3.2 times, the press statement concluded.
Company is an early mover in the production of clean hydrogen
ADNOC recently announced that it has begun construction on the Middle East’s first high-speed hydrogen refuelling station. The station, which is being built in Masdar City by ADNOC, will create clean hydrogen from water, using an electrolyser powered by clean grid electricity.
Hydrogen, which creates no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when used, has the highest energy per mass of any fuel and can give vehicles a longer driving range and quicker refuelling times compared with battery electric vehicles.
ADNOC also announced a partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Al-Futtaim Motors to test the high-speed hydrogen refuelling station using a fleet of clean hydrogen-powered vehicles.
“ADNOC is placing sustainability and decarbonization at the heart of its strategy and, while we decarbonize our operations today, we are making robust investments to be a supplier of choice for the clean energies of tomorrow,” commented HE Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO.
Under the partnership, Toyota and Al Futtaim Motors will provide a fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The pilot program will help ADNOC understand how hydrogen with high-speed refuelling can best be used in mobility projects to support the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to position the country among the largest producers of hydrogen by 2031.
Allows shippers to prepare shipments quicker on their mobile devices
FedEx Express has launched FedEx Ship Manager® Lite (FSML), a new mobile shipping solution, for shippers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Kuwait to prepare their packages with greater ease and flexibility.
FSML is a web-based mobile shipping solution providing shippers, even those without a FedEx account who are dropping off packages at the FedEx World Service Centres (WSC), the convenience of preparing shipments without filling out a paper airway bill and printing shipping labels and commercial invoices.
With FSML, shippers can easily fill out their shipment information and create a shipment reference QR code using their smart devices and present it to the FedEx agent when dropping off their package.
Making shipping simpler
FSML is another way we are making shipping simpler with digital solutions to make our customers’ lives easier. This solution brings shipping into the digital age, where convenience is a priority. With FMSL, customers in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait can now ship packages without printing any documents, right from their mobile devices,” commented Taarek Hinedi, Vice President, FedEx Express-Middle East and Africa operations.
In addition, the enhanced solution allows shippers in Kuwait to fill out the shipping information on their mobile devices and order a pick-up at their home address or place of work and simply present the QR code to the FedEx courier.
Airavat Aviation’s fleet of Hawker 4000, the super-midsize business jets will operate on demand to from Dubai
Airavat Aviation, a new venture by the Transworld Group, a leading global logistics conglomerate, is set to redefine luxury private jet travel in the Middle East with its launch of hyper-personalized services.
Airavat’s fleet of Hawker 4000 super-midsize business jets are poised to take the skies, offering on-demand flights to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East from its Dubai base.
With an eye on the growing market for luxury travel in the region, Airavat aims to cater to ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and business leaders seeking safe, luxurious, and environmentally conscious travel experiences and capture 8 to 10% market share over the next five years.
“Today’s UHNWIs, HNWIs, business leaders, and C-suites not only seek customized travel experiences but are also increasingly environmentally conscious,” commented Ramesh S. Ramakrishnan, Chairman, Transworld Group.
“Drawing on Transworld Group’s legacy, Airavat’s human-centric focus delivers best-in-class luxury private jet services to our customers,” he added.
In line with its commitment to sustainability, Airavat has partnered with a registered NGO to plant trees for every flight, effectively offsetting the carbon footprint of their operations. This initiative contributes to the aviation sector’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
As the demand for personalized and sustainable travel experiences continues to grow, Airavat aims to make a significant dent in the market, providing discerning travellers with new levels of luxury travel standards.
Flower shipments jump by 20% YoY as the peak period for weddings begin
Emirates SkyCargo is scaling up its cool chain capacity for perishables, preparing for a busy summer season of weddings and outdoor events. As the demand for decorative floral arrangements increases, May 2023 saw Emirates SkyCargo transport 3,590 tonnes of time- and temperature-sensitive fresh cut flowers, a 20% rise from the same period last year, a press communique stated.
Ecuador and Kenya are the top two export origin locations; Ecuador in particular has experienced a steady rise in flower trade in recent years, increasing its exports with Emirates SkyCargo by 21% in May this year, compared to 2022.
The Netherlands, a country that plays a major role in the world’s flower trade, remains in both the top three export origins and import locations. Other key import locations for this commodity include the UAE and Australia, with Saudi Arabia rounding out the top four.
“With 500 to 600 tonnes of perishables transported on Emirates SkyCargo flights every day, we are proud to be the partner of choice that connects the global agriculture community with their customers all over the world,” stated Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President – Product and Innovation, Emirates SkyCargo.
22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities monthly
Perishables are the carrier’s largest business by tonnage carried, uplifting an average of 22,500 tonnes of perishable commodities every month. Ranging from freshly picked mangoes from Pakistan, to salmon from Norway and brilliant blooms from Kenya, Emirates SkyCargo transports goods rapidly and efficiently across its global network of over 140 destinations.
Fresh cut flowers dominate as the leading perishable category transported by SkyCargo with chilled meat and fresh fruits rounding out the top three perishable product categories, as air cargo enables temperate-safe and rapid transit from farm to shop in as little as 24-48 hours.
Door-to-door cool chain delivered at scale via Dubai
As temperatures rise and summer produce is harvested, cool chain logistics play an essential role in keeping high-demand perishable produce fresh and high quality for consumers worldwide.
Emirates’ dedicated cool-chain handling capabilities have been developed with a focus on fast connection times and high-quality transfers. Its dual airport hub in Dubai is world’s largest and most technologically advanced cargo handling facility, offering a three-hour, air-to-air transfer service. Handling over 8,000 shipments per day, the facility has over 15,000sqm of dedicated storage for temperature-sensitive goods, including perishables.
Three options
Emirates Fresh, SkyCargo’s perishable-oriented service offers three different options for customers to choose the appropriate level of temperature protection for their cargo. This ranges from produce with a higher tolerance for temperature fluctuations, to high-end perishables that require active cool dollies for ramp protection.
Customers can track and trace their shipments and view temperature monitoring data online at every step, as well as make short-notice direct bookings, thanks to SkyCargo’s ecommerce platform.
Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand of Turkish Airlines, ranked the 3rd among the leading air cargo carriers in the world, in the wake of a prospering performance in May.
The successful brand, which was ranked 5th on the same period of last year according to the monthly data published by the International Air Transport Association, became one of the top 3 air cargo carriers by overtaking the top brands in America, Europe and the Far East during May of 2023.
According to the FTK (Freight Tonne Kilometers), derived by multiplying the cargo tonnage, carried by air, with the kilometers covered, Turkish Cargo increased its cargo tonnage by 17% compared to previous month while raising its market share to 5.4% from 4.7% by increasing it 0.8 points as compared to April.
In respect of the achievement of Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, said; “We, as Turkish Cargo, are continuing to reinforce our leading position in the industry in line with our target to grow and improve continuously. We recognize these achievements as a commitment to our future targets and work harder to add further value to the air cargo industry.”
As one of the fastest growing air cargo brands in the world, Turkish Cargo continues to raise the bar for success higher day by day and combines its wide range of services and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of its hub in Türkiye.
· More than 7 Million passengers in the first half of this year.
· 6 new flight destinations and 3 cargo destinations to the Airport’s operations
Sharjah – 17 July 2023: Sharjah Airport has witnessed an impressive surge in passenger traffic, with over 7 million passengers passing through its terminals during the first half of 2023. This notable figure reflects a remarkable growth rate of over 24.4 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
The airport also achieved substantial growth in cargo operations, managing to handle more than 70 thousand tons of cargo, including six thousand tons of sea-air cargo. These figures highlight the airport’s essential role in facilitating trade and logistics operations, further reinforcing its reputation as a reliable and efficient cargo hub in the region. Furthermore, the aircraft activity exhibited an upward trajectory, with a notable 14 percent increase in flights, totalling over 46.9 thousand flights during this period, in comparison to the same period last year. This rise in air traffic is a testament to the successful collaboration between Sharjah Airport Authority and its airline partners, as well as the airport’s commitment to provide seamless operations and exceptional facilities and digital services to its customers.
In order to meet the growing demand and enhance the airport’s operational capacity, the Authority announced the addition of 6 flight destinations and 3 air cargo destinations. The new destinations include Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ufa City and Samara City in Russia, Lar in Iran, Indore in India, and Bangkok in Thailand. The air cargo destinations, which have been newly included are Houston in the United States, Kigali in Rwanda, and Nashik in India. This move is in line with the Authority’s aim of boosting commercial ties and contributing to the economic expansion of Sharjah and the UAE as well as improving connection with the world through sustainable growth, enhancing the infrastructure and service offerings.
H.E Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “The current achievements signify the efforts of Sharjah Airport Authority to exceed expectations of passengers and enhance their traveling experience as well as elevate Sharjah Airport’s status to become one of the top five regional airports that offer an exceptional travel experience. These accomplishments come in line with the Authority’s strategy to strengthen Sharjah Airport’s leading position and achieve sustainable growth in the aviation and cargo sectors, in accordance with the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to reinforce Sharjah’s position on the world travel map.”
“We are constantly extending Sharjah Airport’s network in order to deliver exceptional customer experiences in accordance with best international standards. We are optimistic that the addition of more destinations will provide us with more travel and logistics opportunities,” he added.
Sharjah Airport Authority works relentlessly to develop and enhance the services offered to customers by streamlining check-in and registration procedures, offering amenities and state-of-the-art facilities, developing the infrastructure and employing cutting-edge technologies to cater to the requirements of travellers and ensure a seamless travel experience. The extension of Sharjah Airport will increase the airport’s capacity from eight to 20 million people per year, and it reflects the Authority’s objective to continue the developmental activities to guarantee the delivery of pioneering services in the aviation and air cargo sectors.
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment (CV&E) has further strengthened its partnership with Lavajet by providing a fleet of 134 UD Trucks to enhance the waste management sector in Al Ain region. The division, which is part of Al Masaood Group, is the sole distributor of UD Trucks in Abu Dhabi.
Al Masaood CV&E has been collaborating with Lavajet for the last four years to provide aftersales services for Croner and Quester Trucks in the waste management segment, which is utilised by Tadweer-Abu Dhabi Municipality’s Waste Management Centre.
As part of the new contract, Euro 5 versions of Quester and Croner trucks will soon operate in Al Ain region. These UD trucks are equipped with features designed to reduce their environmental impact, increase efficiency and uptime, improve profitability, and optimise the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Promoting sustainable practices
“These new vehicles, with their advanced features, will significantly reduce the environmental impact of waste management and promote sustainable practices,” emphasized Mohammad El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E.
“The addition of these cutting-edge UD Trucks to our fleet will play a crucial role in achieving our long-term sustainability goals and creating a cleaner environment. By leveraging advanced technology and safety features, we will enhance the efficiency and safety of our waste management operations, contributing to a cleaner Al Ain City,” stated Elie Salem, Area Manager, Lavajet.
The UD Trucks Quester comes with an automated transmission, whereas the UD Trucks Croner is furnished with an automatic transmission. Along with the newest advanced driver display, both trucks highlight a variety of other innovative features, including an advanced body builder module control unit and flexible chassis for all waste management applications.
“Al Masaood CV&E’s exceptional aftersales services further enhance the efficiency and uptime of our trucks. As a result, UD Trucks now offers the best Euro 5 value proposition for the waste management segment, solidifying our leadership position in the UAE and the GCC region,” remarked Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks MENA.
MoU to jointly research energy-saving technologies for SWRO desalination plants.
ACWA Power, a Saudi-listed company and the world’s largest private water desalination company, the first mover into green hydrogen, and a leader in energy transition, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese technology provider Toray Industries, to explore energy-saving technologies for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants.
Signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japan Investment Roundtable organised by the Ministry of Investment, the MoU will see the two companies engaging in joint research to reduce the energy consumption associated with membranes used in ACWA Power’s desalination plants.
ACWA Power will share operational details of its plants with Toray, allowing the latter to analyse and provide commercially viable solutions to improve energy efficiency.
Desalination
“This collaboration with Toray contributes to our vision to improve the way energy is utilised in the desalination of water and furthers our commitment to providing potable water to communities in a responsible, sustainable and cost-effective manner,” stated Raad Al Saady, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, ACWA Power.
“We are proud to support ACWA Power’s commitment to sustainability by jointly researching innovative ways to enhance the energy efficiency of membrane technologies, contributing to the overall sustainability objectives of both ACWA Power and Saudi Arabia,” commented Kimio Kimura, President of Toray Membrane Middle East.
Since 2007, ACWA Power has utilised Toray’s advanced solutions in several projects. Currently, nearly 4 million cubic metre per day (cbm/day) of desalinated water produced out of eight plants in ACWA Power’s portfolio, a press communique concluded.
Wilo Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a leading German pumps and systems manufacturer and digital pioneer in the industry, celebrated a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of its Dubai facility. The expansion is aimed at increasing production capacity and growing current manufacturing capability, which coincides with a striking increase in its business volume across the regional market.
The ceremony, which took place in the state-of-the-art factory of the Wilo Group in Dubai, UAE, was attended by distinguished guests, including colleagues and the management team from Wilo MENA. The expansion of manufacturing facility highlights Wilo’s commitment to meet growing customer demand for Wilo pumps and systems, widening its regional portfolio, increasing manufacturing capacity and enabling production and testing of larger-sized pumps.
Yasser Nagi, Group Director MENA region and Managing Director UAE, said: “We are delighted to expand our manufacturing facility and product offerings in the UAE, especially owing to the success we experienced in the region over the past five years. Our ‘Made in UAE’ line of products are being employed in numerous government projects throughout the MENA region, supporting the country’s vision and tackling important issues such as water scarcity. Additionally, I would like to express my profound gratitude to the management of Wilo Group for their immense confidence in the team’s skills and for their continued support in helping us sustain and build upon our success.”
During the ceremony, Ahmed Nabil, Production Manager of the MENA region at Wilo Middle East, highlighted the company’s commitment to the local market. He also emphasised that the company has been making constant efforts to provide high-quality, locally produced goods that are tailored to each customer’s requirements.
“The new expansion strategy indicates our unwavering commitment to catering to the local market and providing premium, locally produced products that are customised to meet every customer’s needs. This project will aid in Wilo’s efforts to further diversify its product offerings in the region. Over the years, the company has witnessed impressive growth potential in the UAE where it has been localising its services. The new investment will strengthen our position in both, the local and Middle East markets, and increase client confidence. We are truly excited about the new possibilities that this expansion plan provides, and we anticipate to continue providing our customers with cutting-edge pump and water management solutions,” he added.
The recent groundbreaking ceremony held at the facility in Dubai represents an important step for Wilo MENA as it works to meet the growing demand of its clients and provide cutting-edge pumps and systems solutions. In line with its dedication to innovation, focus and sustainability, Wilo Group is well-positioned to continue setting the pace in the water industry, especially in resolving water-related issues in the MENA region and advancing its regional development.
The inaugural Future Sustainability Forum marks the Year of Sustainability in the UAE and will be held in Dubai 4-5 October 2023.
Agenda supports COP28’s 4-pillar plan on fast-tracking the transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on adaptation to protect lives and livelihoods, and making COP28 fully inclusive, announced by COP28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology today 13 July 2023.
The Forum brings together global decision and change makers in the finance industry, to explore ways for the sector to lead action on climate change, deliver a just transition to a sustainable economy, and accelerate efforts to achieve the longer-term goals of the Paris Agreement and UN SDGs 2030.
The Future Sustainability Forum is part of DIFC’s sustainability programme in the run up to COP28, the largest finance-focused campaign for COP28, backed by international financial institutions and thought leaders in green and sustainable finance.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, today announced its first edition of the Future Sustainability Forum. The Forum to be held 4-5 October 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC, will focus on mobilising sustainable finance and innovation by connecting industry leaders, investors, tech disruptors, and policy makers, and channel investment flows between the global north and global south, to accelerate climate action.
Central to DIFC’s programme in the run up to COP28, the announcement of the inaugural Future Sustainability Forum (‘The Forum’), further demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to play a leading role in advancing COP28 priorities, aligned with DIFC’s chairmanship of the Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group (DSFWG), established in 2019.
The Airport Academy, Munich Airport‘s training and education center, has been awarded as Accredited Training Partner (ATP) by the Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports . The ATP program rewards selected training organizations, setting the standard for excellence in airport training.
The accolade was received by Airport CEO Jost Lammers (left) and the Head of the AirportAcademy, Alexander Hömer (2nd from right), handed over by Luis Felipe de Oliveira (Director General of ACI World 2nd from left) and Olivier Jankovec (Director General ACI Europe; right) at the ACI Europe/World Annual General Assembly in Barcelona at the end of June.
The award confirms that the AirportAcademy offers a high standard of quality, provides excellent training programs and enjoys a reputation as one of the leading training centers in the aviation industry.
The photo below shows from left to right: Jost Lammers (CEO Munich Airport), Luis Felipe de Oliveira (Director General ACI World), Alexander Hömer (VP AirportAcademy), Olivier Jankovec (Director General ACI Europe).
The two entities to work closely to diversify the Kingdom’s economy
ENGIE, the leading provider of low-carbon energy services and solutions for integrated utilities management, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) for the joint development of green hydrogen projects and its derivatives in the Kingdom.
The MoU was signed by Frederic Claux, Managing Director, Flexible Generation and Retail, AMEA, ENGIE, and Yazeed Alhumied, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments, PIF, paving the way for the two parties to explore opportunities to jointly develop projects for green hydrogen and derivatives production for export.
Robust foundations
“Our partnership with PIF will contribute to laying robust foundations for the green hydrogen industry, enabling the Kingdom to be one of the top exporters of green hydrogen worldwide,” affirmed Claux.
PIF and ENGIE are to evaluate the feasibility of co-development opportunity. Additionally, the two parties will jointly formulate a strategy to best approach the international market and secure offtake arrangements.
QAS Cargo is the first GHA in the Middle East and Africa to receive this certification.
The cargo carrier’s premier ground handling partner, Qatar Aviation Services Cargo has achieved a milestone certification, certifying the cargo facility at the Doha hub as a Smart Facility. QAS Cargo is the first cargo ground handing agent in the Middle East and Africa region to attain the Smart Facility Operational Capacity Certification (SFOC). This achievement complements the recent IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV Fresh) certification in June 2023.
The audit that was conducted in April 2023 included assessing the cargo handling infrastructure, equipment and implementation of procedures at the Cargo Terminal Complex. The IATA audit team validated the operational procedures of QAS Cargo in compliance with a number of IATA Regulations – IATA Cargo Handling Manual, Dangerous Goods Regulations, Unit Load Device Regulations, Temperature Control Regulations, Live Animals Regulations and Perishable Cargo Regulations.
Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said, “Our growth to becoming the world’s leading air cargo carrier today has been no easy achievement. Our teams have one goal in mind – customer experience. It is this goal combined with our Next Generation and VISION 2027 strategy through which we have implemented quality procedures in every area of our business. The certification of our hub in Doha reflects the high standards in place to ensure all types of cargo are handled seamlessly and securely, in compliance to all the IATA regulations.”
Mr. Deepak Balakrishnan, Vice President QAS Cargo said, “We are proud of our state-of-the-art handling facility, the services implemented, our robust and defined procedures as well as our teams who dedicatedly ensure that cargo is handled extremely well, no matter the type of cargo. IATA’s Smart Facility Operational Capacity Certification is testament to the hard work and dedication by both Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo teams.”
Mr. Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo said, “Customers of organisations attaining Smart Facility Operational Capacity Certification (SFOC) recognise it as a key differentiator, highlighting the additional efforts taken to improve cargo operations, safety, service quality and enhance the customer experience. We congratulate Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) on achieving SFOC certification. Cargo operations is the pivot of the air cargo supply chain, and with SFOC, QAS drive a safe, efficient and customer-focused operations.”
Both Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo are already certified for IATA CEIV Pharma, IATA CEIV Fresh, IATA CEIV Live Animals and IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certifications.
GWC is proud to announce that it is one of the first companies in Qatar to increase the foreign investor ownership percentage in the organization’s capital to 100%. This milestone development was achieved after receiving the approval of the honorable Council of Ministers session which was held on 17th May 2023.
Speaking about this, Hicham Nedjari, CFO, GWC said, “It gives us an immense sense of pride to be one of the first companies in the country to extend the ceiling of foreign ownership to 100%. In keeping up with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and promoting economic development and diversification, we believe this advancement is a recognition of the integral role foreign investors play in Qatar’s economy.”
The decision to amend was approved by the Extraordinary General Assembly and the amended system was issued and published in the Official Gazette.
In addition to this, the company will be disclosing their half-yearly financial results on the 25th of July 2023, for the period ending 30th June 2023.
Gulf Warehousing Co. (GWCS) is one of the leading logistics company in the Middle East and in less than 20 years, GWC has become a major logistics services provider in Qatar and across the region. Its state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure spanning more than 4 million square meters have been setting standards in the industry.
Etihad Cargo has appointed Wallenborn Transports as its road feeder service (RFS) partner for Europe to expand its scheduled and specialised services across 27 countries, facilitating the transportation of cargo between Etihad Cargo’s main European gateways, including Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt, and offline stations.
“Providing seamless connectivity between Etihad Cargo’s European main freighter gateways and offline destinations is essential to meeting the carrier’s delivery promises,” stated Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations and Delivery, Etihad Cargo.
“This partnership will give Etihad Cargo’s customers access to a comprehensive network connecting over 90 airports and a range of specialised logistics solutions, such as GDP-validated transport for temperature-sensitive healthcare products,” asserted Frantz Wallenborn, President & CEO, Wallenborn Group.
Etihad Cargo has entered into strategic partnerships with RFS providers around the world to bolster its operational footprint and ensure the efficient end-to-end journey of cargo. The new partnership with Wallenborn will enhance the carrier’s capabilities in Europe and will enable Etihad Cargo’s customers to benefit from specialised logistics solutions.
Another milestone in the digitalization of functional security with added value: The new HIMA Security Lab, in cooperation with IT security specialist genua, brings state-of-the-art OT security solutions within reach.
HIMA has opened a Security Lab in the Customer Solutions Center in the German town of Brühl. Going forward, the provider of safety-related automation solutions will use the lab to develop and test comprehensive OT security solutions for the digitalization of functional safety.
With the increasing digitalization of functional safety and the networking of safety equipment components, the dangers posed by cyberattacks are also on the rise.
“The ongoing threat to critical infrastructure from cyberattacks is pervasive. With the new Security Lab, HIMA is not only supporting our customers, but we are also making a relevant contribution to society” Managing Partner Steffen Philipp explains.
In the new Security Lab, HIMA is collaborating closely with IT security specialist genua. The technologies of the company, which is a subsidiary of the Bundesdruckerei Group, comply with numerous recommendations of the NAMUR user association. As part of their cooperation, HIMA and genua will use the new Security Lab to demonstrate data diode applications, which are prerequisites for ensuring highly secure and feasible implementation of the pioneering NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA).
“It’s truly a partnership of equals: both genua and HIMA are leaders in their fields, and as German technology companies, they share a long-term mindset,” affirms Jörg de la Motte, CEO.
“We are delighted to further expand our partnership with HIMA by working together in the new Security Lab. As trusted partners, we take a holistic approach to the various aspects of security. This allows us to deliver exactly what the market needs at any given time: Security solutions that meet the highest standards, tailor-made for companies operating in the process and railway industries” explains Matthias Ochs, CEO of genua.
To develop and test security scenarios under real-life conditions, HIMA has brought the ‘Security Environment for Functional Safety’ to life in the new Security Lab. Its security architecture uses solutions from partner and IT security specialist genua.
“The HIMA Security Lab allows visitors to experience our solutions first hand. The HIMA Security Environment for Functional Safety can be combined with various security zones. making it possible to simulate, optimize and test all scenarios. A lab full of opportunities for beginners and experts” explains Sergej Arent, Director Applications, responsible for the Customer Solutions Center in Brühl.
The integration of the HIMA Security Lab in the company’s own Customer Solutions Center will facilitate future analysis of HIMA customers’ automation networks (Cyber HAZOP). The results will help derive measures and develop templates for security solutions. To this end, the team of safety and security specialists builds complex networks zoned according to IEC 62443 and secures them with devices and methods from genua’s security product line.
By using different process control systems, architectures can be implemented that are very close to the real-world automation environment of the customers. As part of penetration tests, concepts and solutions undergo thorough testing in the Security Lab. At the same time, the specialists use their expertise to ensure that the IT/OT solutions are implemented in accordance with the latest standards and comply with the strictest data protection laws.
“The Security Lab will allow our customers to build on existing and pre-tested HIMA solutions and customize them for specific projects. The practical experience gained here in training courses and workshops will help our customers find answers to increasingly complex security issues” concludes Arent.
Following on from the concept in Germany, HIMA is planning to set up a Security Lab at the Asia-Pacific Customer Solutions Center in Singapore.
The newly launched offering will enable enterprises to increase proficiency, productivity
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, recently announced an integration with Microsoft to enable Generative AI Powered Enterprise Search.
The new offering, Generative AI Powered Enterprise Knowledge Search under Tech Mahindra’s TechM amplifAIsuite of AI offerings and solutions, will help enterprises increase effectiveness and personalization by using generative AI to unlock the full potential of enterprise data and present a multi-modal, multi-channel search experience, a press communique indicated.
Tech Mahindra’s Generative AI-powered Enterprise Knowledge Search integrates Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cognitive Search, and Azure Language understanding to help enterprises unleash knowledge accessibility in a unique way, which will eventually improve the knowledge quotient within organizations.
“We are delivering an advanced enterprise search offering, which will unlock the full potential of data in enterprise environments with generative AI and offer a user-centric and efficient search, ensure tagging and indexing are correct, de-duplicate content,” stressed Hasit Trivedi, CTO–Digital Technologies and Global Head-AI, Tech Mahindra.
“Tech Mahindra’s offering integrates Microsoft Azure AI to enable enterprises to tap into Generative AI, unlock the full potential of their data, and create a multi-modal multi-channel search experience,” commented Sangita Singh, General Manager IT&ITES, Microsoft India.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently held a ONE Record Hackathon in Frankfurt, hosted by Lufthansa Cargo. Twenty teams, including the first ever all-female team, submitted highly sophisticated and innovative solutions built on the IATA ONE Record data sharing standard to demonstrate innovative use cases that will change air cargo.
“ONE Record holds the key to revolutionizing air cargo, propelling efficiency and business outcomes. The hackathon is a dynamic platform for digital experts across the industry to develop innovative solutions, that will help strengthen the air cargo supply chain. IATA is committed to fostering innovation and creating a more efficient and sustainable aviation industry. We congratulate the winners and participants,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
The winning projects:
The Carbulator by Riege Software Their solution addresses the challenge of invisible CO₂ emissions in air cargo planning. By enriching flight options with CO₂ emissions data using the ONE Record data model, decision makers can make more sustainable choices. Details: https://lnkd.in/diGqxRgA
NE:ONE Play by Digitales Testfeld Air Cargo – DTAC NE:ONE Play is a user-friendly whiteboard app that simplifies ONE Record data. It allows viewing, editing, and troubleshooting of data, making it accessible and easy to reach. It features an infinite canvas, connection to any ONE Record server, live editing, error detection, tooltips, and dark mode. Details: https://lnkd.in/ddbz9brS
ONE Record Crew by Lufthansa Industry Solutions (the first all-female hackathon team) ONE Record Crew is a solution developed to solve cargo irregularities that disrupt transportation. The solution combines machine learning and ONE Record to predict and address issues, bringing transparency, customer satisfaction, and sustainability to the cargo industry. Details: https://lnkd.in/dUGX6fDG
Switcargo by Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Team SWITCARGO was developed as a solution to facilitate the transition to ONE Record. It enables airlines to execute shipments with partners using both ONE Record and other types of messaging. Details: https://lnkd.in/dbkWaDTq
CargoTracking by Awery Aviation Software Team CargoTracking.aero was developed to bridge the gap between Cargo iQ members and non-members, improving information sharing and real-time updates for enhanced planning and control. Details: https://lnkd.in/d7MrYgjB
Borderless Digital Salmon Movement by Vediafi Oy team Borderless Digital Salmon Movement was developed to simplify cross-border transportation of time-sensitive goods. BDI nodes facilitate information exchange between transportation
companies and border crossings, ensuring freshness and efficient passage. Details: https://lnkd.in/dAxFejw3
The vision for ONE Record is an end-to-end digital logistics and transport supply chain where data is easily and transparently exchanged in a digital ecosystem of air cargo stakeholders, communities, and data platforms. The goal of ONE Record is to replace the many data standards used for transport documents with a single record for every shipment.
The next IATA One Record Hackathon to be held from 24 to 26 November 2023, in Doha, Qatar sponsored by Qatar Airways Cargo.
Signs a Joint Venture with Premier Marine Engineering Services
AD Ports Group and Premier Marine Engineering Services, a UAE-based shipyard company specialising in ship building and repair services to marine and offshore industries, recently announced the formation of a new joint venture, SAFEEN Drydocks.
The hub of SAFEEN Drydocks’ operations will be located at Khalifa Port and encompass a 45,000sqm shipyard and repair facility, 350mquay wall for vessel afloat repair, and a floating dry dock for vessel maintenance and refurbishment.
Leveraging reputation
Through the new joint venture, AD Ports Group will leverage its reputation and experience as one of the world’s premier facilitators of maritime logistics, industry and trade, and contribute quay space at Khalifa Port for the development and operations of the new services hub.
Premier Marine will, in turn, contribute its technical knowledge and experience in helping customers build, repair and maintain vessels and other maritime assets in an environmentally sustainable manner.
“We look forward to working closely with our partners at Premier Marine in bringing together our global reach and their strong multi-decade track record in developing what we envision will be a regional and global hub maritime ship building, repair and maintenance,” remarked Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, Acting CEO Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, AD Ports Group.
“This joint venture marks a new beginning for us, and through our partnership, our teams of highly skilled experts, coupled with the formidable expertise provided by the Group, we aim to achieve great success within the shipbuilding industry,” commented Hemant Tandon, Managing Director, Premier Marine Engineering Services.
Commenting on the news that Saudi Arabia has completed its first air taxi test flight, Daniel MacGregor, Chief Growth Officer at Serco Middle East, said:
“The news of NEOM’s Volocopter Test flight highlights the major progress that is being made in the development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The recent test flights of eVTOL aircraft in NEOM are a big milestone, and they show that UAM is on the cusp of becoming a reality.
“I believe that UAM has the potential to revolutionise transportation, making it faster, more efficient, and more sustainable. eVTOL aircraft are noiseless and emissions-free, making them ideal for urban environments. They can also take off and land vertically, which means that they do not need runways, freeing up valuable space in cities.
“As the technology continues to develop, UAM is likely to become increasingly popular. It has the potential to transform the way we travel, and it could have a major impact on the future of cities.
“Serco Middle East has been has been operating in the air transportation sector since 1947 and is ready to support our clients in making UAM a reality. We are committed to developing and managing the air traffic management systems that will be needed to safely and efficiently integrate UAM into the existing airspace. We are also working to develop the training programmes that will be needed to integrate UAM with traditional air transportation.
“NEOM’s recent achievement in successfully completing a series of air taxi test flights is a significant step forward for the development of UAM in the region. This is the first time that an eVTOL aircraft has received a special flight authorisation and performed test flights in Saudi Arabia. This is a major step forward, and it shows that NEOM is committed to leading the way in the development of UAM.
“We congratulate NEOM on their achievement, and we look forward to working with them to further develop UAM in the region. We believe that UAM has the potential to make a real difference in the way people travel, and we are committed to helping make it a reality.”
Allison Transmission, a global leader in commercial-duty automatic transmissions and propulsion solutions, has expanded its presence in Saudi Arabia and Qatar with key partnerships, underscoring the company’s dedication to providing cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems across the Middle East. Recent successes for Allison in Qatar and Saudi Arabia include a major fleet deal in the kingdom, reflecting the company’s growing network of strategic partners and the increasing demand for its cutting-edge technology. These milestones highlight the pivotal role of the Middle East in the company’s global growth strategy.
In Saudi Arabia, Allison recently partnered with a Chinese manufacturer to supply 40 buses for the Hajj and Umrah periods equipped with Allison transmissions for the first time ever, reinforcing the crucial role the company has played in supporting the country’s transportation needs for these important religious occasions. Major Saudi fleet operators have selected Allison fully automatic transmissions for their reliability, efficiency and passenger comfort. Allison’s torque converter and Continuous Power Technology™ eliminate power interrupts resulting in a comfortable and smooth driving experience for both the driver and passengers. The fully hydraulic automatic transmission without mechanical clutches, has less wear and tear also on all parts of the drivetrain and therefore resulting in fewer costly breakdowns and repairs.
The company’s collaboration with leading bus manufacturers contributed to the delivery of some 450 buses in 2020 alone, the largest single sale in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. This achievement was made possible through partnerships with Chinese bus OEMs.
Allison Transmission is also celebrating a successful collaboration with TAM, a new Chinese brand of city buses making their debut in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Around 20 TAM city buses equipped with Allison transmissions arrived in Jeddah last month, demonstrating the partnership’s commitment to delivering reliable and efficient transportation solutions. This milestone reinforces Allison Transmission’s dedication to supporting emerging brands and expanding their presence in the Middle East market.
In Qatar, Allison has partnered with Yutong & Higer, a renowned Chinese bus manufacturer, to help supply over 250 school buses. These buses, equipped with the Allison 3000 Series™, embody the company’s top-tier technology and its commitment to delivering high-performance and reliable solutions.
Allison’s enduring partnerships with Chinese manufacturers in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are built on a foundation of trust and collaboration established over three decades. These alliances have enabled the seamless integration of Allison propulsion solutions, including its renowned T390R transmission, known for its reliability, ease of operation and fuel efficiency.
“These achievements in Saudi Arabia and Qatar highlight the importance of the region to our company and demonstrate our commitment to supporting its transportation needs,” said Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Area Manager for Middle East & Pakistan. “By collaborating with leading bus manufacturers and delivering top-tier technology, we contribute to the modernization of transportation networks, enhancing operational efficiency and meeting the evolving demands of our Middle East customers.”
A single point of contact that reliably assumes full logistical responsibility for the safe, in and on-time transport of challenging shipments such as aircraft engines or helicopters from shipper to consignee? What sounds like a supply-chain manager’s dream is long reality already when it comes to Challenge Group. Add large turbines, oil & gas equipment, automotive, big and oversize, e-commerce shipments to the commodity list and this describes 65% of Challenge Group’s core business. Over the years, Challenge Group has successfully specialised in End-to-End logistic solutions for complex verticals requiring carefully planned ancillary services, thus offering vital logistical support in a largely niche market.
“The larger the logistical challenge, the greater the involvement of our group subsidiaries. Challenge Group has always looked to take the load off our customers’ shoulders – both figuratively and literally, and that has led to our development as a cooperation,” says Or Zak, CCO of Challenge Group. “Our goal, from the beginning, has been to cover the entire supply chain, from shipper to consignee, and provide our customers with a first-class, all-in-one solution: End-to-End entirely within our own hands and responsibility. That is why Challenge Group, today, consists of three airlines, handling, maintenance, commercial, and logistics subsidiaries.”
What Challenge Group has been establishing with its inhouse airlines, charter, handling, road feeder network and even maintenance services, has become an increasing requirement over the past few years. “End-to-End services are in our DNA. However, during the pandemic, we noticed growing demand from our customers for exactly this kind of business approach,” Or Zak continues. Alongside traditional large end-to-end projects, e-commerce traffic has also joined the end-to-end commodity list, with its very different delivery needs, and the Group’s charter business is rapidly growing, with most of the projects concerning large shipments requiring a multimodal supply chain approach.
“We deeply believe that End-to-End will become best practice, especially when it comes to specific verticals. The pandemic highlighted the risks of relying on a single mode of transport or sole production location, hence global trade is becoming more international and multimodal. At Challenge Group, too, we are currently working on linking the railway service coming to Liège from China to our airfreight hub. Our second line warehouse is located just in front of the railway terminal in Liège, adding even greater access to our highly flexible global air and road network,” Or Zak concludes.
Challenge Air Cargo, the Group’s commercial arm, masterminds every End-to-End project, providing customers with a fully transparent logistics package detailing costs, commitment, and value proposition on the one hand, while internally ensuring network planning, loadmaster operations, handling, and respective trusted and reliable third-party providers for non-Challenge Group ancillary services.
Al Tayer Motors, the official Ford Trucks importer-dealer in the United Arab Emirates, is the only Middle East distributor to win the prestigious Champions Award 2022 for its outstanding performance in Customer Satisfaction, Sales, After-Sales Services, and Marketing.
The award win comes even as Al Tayer Motors records a strong year for its trucks business in 2022 with a sales growth of more than 11% over 2021, and recently opened a state-of-the-art 2700 square metre 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) facility for the brand in the strategically located Dubai Investments Park area.
“Winning the Champions Award from Ford Trucks for the fifth time is an extraordinary milestone. It underlines the commitment of the entire team in promoting the brand and providing exceptional services to our customers across the UAE. As a major player in this energetic region, we actively contribute to driving growth by providing efficient and cost-effective transportation solutions that keep big industries in motion. We are proud to be at the forefront of this dynamic landscape,” said Ashok Khanna, Chief Executive Officer of Al Tayer Motors.
The dealership delivered a solid performance throughout 2022 with major wins in the Construction, Oil & Gas, and Logistics segments while maintaining its presence in the Waste Management segment.
As Ford Trucks, the global brand of Ford Otosan, we highly prioritize enhancing our customers’ efficiency and fostering long-term partnerships built on collaborative value creation with our business partners. Over the span of nearly 10 years of collaboration with Al Tayer Motors, we have consistently delivered dependable and competitive products and services, resulting in substantial value for our customers in Dubai. Our shared vision and goals with the Al Tayer family have solidified our long-standing alliance and underscored our commitment to creating mutual value. As we look forward to many more years of this invaluable partnership, we remain dedicated to providing our customers with increased efficiency, enhanced performance, and state-of-the-art technologies,” said Ford Trucks Leader Emrah Duman.
Al Tayer Motors retails the full range of commercial vehicles in the UAE including the Construction series, Road series as well as Tractors.
In an era where global maritime trade and logistics are fiercely competitive, King Abdullah Port emerges as a leader in innovation, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence. This privately owned, developed, and operated infrastructure megaproject in Saudi Arabia has swiftly ascended to international prominence, garnering acclaim within an incredibly short period. The extraordinary success of King Abdullah Port is a testament to visionary leadership, strategic planning, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Strategically located at the crossroads of the most vital global trade routes, King Abdullah Port enjoys close proximity to key Saudi cities, including Jeddah, Holy Mecca, Al Medina, Yanbu, Riyadh, and Neom, as well as neighboring countries. Its direct access to extensive transportation networks facilitates cargo movement throughout the Kingdom and the rest of the region, further enhancing its role as an enabler of Saudi Arabia’s logistics infrastructure.
Within a mere four years of its operation, King Abdullah Port has secured a spot among the world’s top 100 ports, a remarkable achievement that showcases its growing influence on the global stage. The World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 2022 Container Port Performance Index report named the port as the most efficient container port globally, highlighting its relentless pursuit of operational efficiency and innovation.
The port’s astounding rise can be attributed to its strategic alignment with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. These national development plans have laid the foundation for the Kingdom’s transformation into an international logistics hub, with King Abdullah Port serving as an enabler of global trade.
A Statement from the CEO of King Abdullah Port, Jay New
“As we navigate the dynamic landscape of the global maritime and logistics industry, King Abdullah Port remains steadfast in its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, operational excellence, and collaboration. Our unwavering dedication to excellence and strategic foresight have positioned us at the forefront of private sector-driven state-of-the-art infrastructure development. We are proud to contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s economy, and we will continue to build upon our successes as we forge ahead with our ambitious growth plans.”
Despite global trade uncertainties in 2022, King Abdullah Port reported impressive growth across nearly all metrics, showcasing its resilience and ability to contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s logistics infrastructure. Notably, the non-containerized sector experienced substantial growth, with Break Bulk increasing by 143%, Agri-Bulk by 108%, and other bulk categories by 52%. Additionally, the port facilitated the shipping of 288 trucks to Australia as part of its first ro-ro trial.
King Abdullah Port’s accomplishments extend beyond mere numbers and rankings; they include groundbreaking milestones that have set new industry standards. The port recently recorded the highest handling volume on a single vessel call in Saudi ports, processing 20,152 TEUs within 77.46 hours of operation on the MSC Renee. This impressive feat demonstrates the port’s exceptional efficiency and capabilities. The port was also named the ‘Second Fastest Growing Port in the World’ for the second time in four years by Alphaliner.
The port’s commitment to innovation and collaboration is further exemplified by its recent partnership with Tabadul, a leading provider of advanced transport management systems. This strategic alliance aims to integrate King Abdullah Port’s smart gate system with Tabadul’s platform and connect with key government bodies, unlocking a plethora of opportunities and benefits for the services provided by the port. The primary objective of this collaboration is to boost operational efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance the overall performance of the port, solidifying its position as a crucial player in the global economy.
As King Abdullah Port continues to break new ground and redefine industry standards under the visionary leadership of CEO Jay New, it serves as a shining example of the potential that lies within private sector-driven infrastructure development. Its inspiring story of unwavering dedication to excellence, strategic foresight, and innovative thinking has undoubtedly captured the attention of the global maritime and logistics community at large.
CONMIX, a Bukhatir Group company, a well-established company manufacturer and provider of Ready Mix Concrete in the United Arab Emirates, has selected Renault Trucks for its latest fleet additions.
Supplied by Renault Trucks importer United Diesel, the 10 Renault Trucks K440 P8x4 HEAVY E5 with Liebherr 12 CBM mixers will be used to transport ready mix concrete across the United Arab Emirates.
CONMIX’ new additions, already in operation are set to optimize their logistics of ready mix concrete from their Production facilities of a combined capacity of 180,000 cubic meters per month.
The Renault Trucks K440 are known for robustness, exceptional reliability, and optimal fuel efficiency to meet the needs of CONMIX’ operations and to ensure maximize productivity and safety for their drivers.
The K range models are equipped with an Optidriver manual gearbox with automated gearshifting, as well as Renault Trucks’ unique Optibrake exhaust braking system which, with a power rating of 300kW, promotes driver safety. Additional selling points include hill-start aid, wheel anti-slip regulation (ASR), anti-lock braking system (ABS), emergency braking assist (AFU) and an electronic parking brake (EPB).
The ideal partnership for most effective operation
Ayman Ismail Ahmed, CEO of Bukhatir Group commented: “We are delighted to partner with Renault Trucks through United Diesel to strengthen our fleet with these 10 new mixer trucks.
At CONMIX, we are committed to deliver high quality Concrete solutions and services to our customers, and Renault Trucks’ reliable and efficient trucks with Liebherr mixers will help us achieve that goal. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to investing in the latest technologies and equipment to enhance our operational efficiency and provide our customers with the best possible service.”
In addition, CONMIX General Manager, Tim Senior added: “It is with great pleasure and pride to announce that CONMIX has chosen Renault Trucks to satisfy its future concrete requirements by purchasing 10 new transit mixers.”
Mr. David Sawiras, General Manager of United Diesel quoted: “At United Diesel, we take immense pride in supplying our customer, CONMIX, with Renault Trucks to enhance their fleet.
As a company, we provide the highest quality trucks, ensuring superior performance, maximum uptime, and optimal operation cost-effectiveness.
We are committed to upholding the values of the Al Rostamani Group, which is reflected in every aspect of our service and drives our quest for excellence.”
Renault Trucks committed to provide market-leading solutions
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East proudly stated: “Renault Trucks has proven once again to provide the most efficient trucks in the region. This first deal with a major national company such as CONMIX is the start of a long partnership. We are confident that the quality of our Renault Trucks K and the comfortable cab for the drivers will emphasize the trust of our brand.”
Photo:
Renault Trucks & CONMIX Deal 1 Photo: from left to right:
Ahmed Motaleb (Renault Trucks Middle East), Guillaume Zimmermann (Renault Trucks Middle East), Mohamed Adly (Renault Trucks Middle East), David Sawiras (United Diesel), Tim Senior (CONMIX), Gregoire Blaise (Renault Trucks Middle East), Ayman Ismail Ahmed (Bukhatir Group) and Tarig Ismal (United Diesel)
A leading manufacturer of commercial trucks has announced its participation in The Plastic Pledge, an innovative and impactful project aimed at addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.
In partnership with the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team, UD Trucks MEENA (Middle East, East & North Africa), is determined to help make a difference by reducing plastic consumption both within its organisation and on an individual level.
The Plastic Pledge Project is in keeping with UD Trucks’ firm belief in corporate responsibility and its dedication to creating a cleaner and greener future. By actively addressing the challenges posed by plastic waste, UD Trucks aims to set a precedent for sustainable practices within the automotive industry and inspire others to join the cause.
Multiple initiatives
The Plastic Pledge Project encompasses a range of important initiatives, each designed to make a significant impact on plastic consumption – currently, at least 11 million tons of plastic enter the world’s seas every year!
To drive change from within, UD Trucks will implement employee awareness and training programmes, ensuring that each member of the organisation understands the importance of reducing plastic waste, and actively participates in the initiative. Additionally, UD Trucks will engage with suppliers and partners to encourage them to take initiatives for sustainable packaging and plastic reduction efforts.
‘Better Life’ strategy
As part of its ‘Better Life’ strategy for the planet, UD Trucks will organize plastic-free events and actively support recycling and waste management practices. By forging partnerships with environmental organisations and government agencies, UD Trucks aims to create a network of like-minded individuals and entities dedicated to minimizing plastic pollution.
Earlier in May 2023, UD Trucks employees met with Toby Gregory, Founder and Captain of the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team, to learn more about the team’s historic achievement of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. Toby’s 42-day journey, alongside two other team members, was the result of arduous training and dedication.
“Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that requires immediate action. By joining forces, we believe we can make a significant impact and drive positive change. Every simple action counts,” stressed Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks MEENA.
The Saudi ports sector has recorded a remarkable rise in the UNCTAD’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) for Q2 2023 by scoring 76.16 points, a result that enabled the Kingdom to secure the sixteenth position from among 187 countries.
HE Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) used this occasion to thank the Kingdom’s Leadership for their unwavering support of the nation’s transportation, logistics, and ports sectors, noting that the landmark achievement will strengthen the country’s competitive position on the global maritime map.
He further added that the accomplishment was key in fulfilling the outcomes of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and boosting economic growth through a host of measures that include cost-efficient logistics and faster transit times, besides bolstering the value of Saudi products in global markets and unlocking new markets for Saudi exporters across the world.
The addition of 20 shipping services to the Saudi ports network in the first half of 2023 by global cargo carriers also played a key role in enhancing its attractiveness, optimizing operating efficiency, and cementing its standing as a leading logistics hub of choice, according to HE Al-Jasser.
The latest success closely follows the Kingdom’s 17-place jump in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI), securing the 38th position globally from among 160 countries. Strategically located along the world’s major trade routes, Saudi Arabia is currently linked to 348 ports through 97 shipping links.
The long-established and eponymous Hellmann Worldwide Logistics was founded in 1871 in Osnabrueck, Germany, by the legendary patriarch Carl Heinrich Hellmann. It boasts a rich historical legacy and corporate heritage.
Currently it operates with more than 500 branches in over 175 countries. Hellmann’s core philosophies come from its roots. The cohesion and flexibility of our customers comes from our people and the way we handle our daily business and critical events.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics characterizes itself as a logistics company focused on developing our customers’ businesses within their industries. Its Air, Sea, Land and Warehousing services blend with its advanced industry vertical process expertise and knowledge to deliver tailor-made supply chain services to each of our customers.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics network in the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East & South Asia (IMEA) region, and now in Africa, comprises of its regional Headquarter in the United Arab Emirates and with regional offices in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Global Supply Chain engaged exclusively with Madhav Kurup Rajan, the veteran Regional CEO, Indian Sub-Continent, Middle East and now the newly inducted African continent (IMEA), Hellmann Worldwide Logistics (HWL), for an expansive and comprehensive interview.
Here, Kurup, the official at the helm, fielded questions on a wide range of subjects on the expanded geographical territory he oversees, the company’s 2022 performance and prospects for 2023 through his corporate ‘Crystal Ball.’ The following are the transcripts of that key one-on-one interview.
Global Supply Chain: Earlier this year 2023, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics announced a regional merger of the MESA (Middle East South Asia) to further include the continent of Africa to constitute the Indian Subcontinent-Middle East-Africa (IMEA). Furthermore, you were appointed promoted to the position of CEO of the expanded geographical territory-IMEA.
This is a two-part question: Firstly: Congratulations on your promotion and what does this denote for you professionally in your elevated position and secondly, the corporate implications of the merger?
Madhav Kurup (MK): Thank you. I have been responsible for the Middle East and South Asia for the last seven years and we have achieved market leadership in many markets in our region through expanding our own operations as well as carefully created joint ventures.
This has helped us to have a strong regional structure that has the capacity and competence to take on more responsibilities. The addition of the African continent to our region will ensure the exchange and implementation of best practices to the new region and will provide us the ability to further penetrate the market in Africa more effectively.
We already have our own, independent operations in six countries in Africa and the rest of the region will have a strong partner network. While merging the regions, there is always an opportunity to learn from each other as well as to achieve economies of scale in certain parts of the organizational structure.
GSC: How significant is the Africa continent for HWL? Also, briefly comment on the extent of your Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent operations?
MK: Africa is a key market for Hellmann and the company sees great potential in joining forces with the MESA team to strengthen their activities in the entire region and expand their business across continents.
The goal is to gain additional market share and build on the successful development of recent years. Our success is based on trust and good cooperation within the Hellmann Family and the team as also on a strong leadership which sets goals and pursues them consistently. With our IMEA team, we are in a strong position to drive sustainable growth together.
The merging of the two regions into IMEA is timely as South Africa, the biggest Hellmann country on the African continent, is strategically a very important market for Hellmann, and more importantly for the new IMEA region.
In the Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent, we cover our own operations in nine countries—namely Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and strong partner setups in the remaining. For the past two years, Hellmann has become the leader in the Sea/Air solution via Dubai, expanded our warehousing footprint in majority of countries, with growth in our specialized teams from Healthcare, Automotive, Fashion, FMCG, Chemical and Oil & Gas projects.
In the Middle East, we have attained market leadership in the automotive, healthcare and fashion verticals through state-of-the-art infrastructure, globally bench-marked systems and, most importantly, best-in-class specialized resources.
We have always been the trend-setter in the market with innovative and out of the box strategies to drive our growth in the region. I like to think that we have taken Hellmann, over the last 15 years, from a small transactional freight forwarder to now stand among the top five fully integrated and exhaustive logistics services providers.
This year, we will also focus on expanding our business in the Hi-Tech and Industrial sectors, where many unique solutions are needed moving past the typical handling of Air, Sea, Land and warehousing.
GSC: Your tenure as CEO with Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, IMEA, now spans over 15 years. Briefly, how would you characterize your corporate and professional journey?
MK: The journey has been incredibly humbling and at the same time exciting. I joined Hellmann as the CEO of the Middle East in 2008, then expanded my responsibility to Indian Sub-Continent in 2016, and now to the African continent.
I have also been a member of our International Executive Board since 2016. When I joined the company, we were around 100 employees in the region and now the region has more than 2500 employees.
When I started there were two legal entities in the region and today, we have 20 operating entities in the region. We have created niche expertise in automotive spare parts, healthcare, chemical, fashion and E-commerce.
What is the geographical extent of your current network, and which are among the top three performing countries in the region?
The region extends from Bangladesh in Asia to South Africa in Africa. It has 14 countries with its own operations and more than 50 countries with partner networks. We also have five well-assessed vertical joint ventures in UAE, Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
All countries are doing exceptionally well including our recently opened two countries in the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt. The key markets in the region that are driving growth are India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
GSC: How are HWL’s E-commerce operations performing in the region?
MK: Our relationship with Dubai CommerCity (DCC) started two years ago and has grown substantially with more than 25 customers today using our multiuser facility for their B2C fulfillment. The partnership with DCC has been extremely satisfying and we look forward to making it a grand success in the coming years.
GSC: How is the Hellmann Caliper Healthcare Division faring, post Covid?
MK: Hellmann Caliper has been growing very well since Covid, and today we are operating at full capacity with more than 30 global pharma companies using it as a regional Hub. We have also expanded our operations into VAS activities by ensuring the Hub concept brings more value to the supply chain of our customers.
At present, we are planning further expansion by increasing our capacity DWC by an additional 40%. Our pipeline looks very good in the Pharma sector.
GSC: How did regional HWL fare in 2022 and what is your outlook going forward for 2023?
MK: We had an exceptional year in 2022 and it was one of the best performing years in the history of the company within this region. Our newly opened entities in Oman and Egypt also performing very well. 2023 is going to be tough in freight forwarding business due to availability capacity, declining demand, and freight rates.
Retail demand in Europe and North America will continue to decline and this has cascading effect on South Asian countries where exports are mostly related to fashion.
GSC: What are the opportunities and the corresponding challenges for HWL going forward?
MK: Our Sea–Air business is struggling due to increased air freight capacity in origins and performing far below expected volumes. Contract logistics and road are doing well. We are also about to launch a new road freight entity for GCC trucking.
How are new technologies and automation changing the landscape and face of the industry and how is HWL adapting to these innovations?
Hellmann has always been in the forefront of investing in new technologies. We are going through a major transformation by making investments in TMS (Transportation Management Systems) across all products plus in Finance, Sales, and HR. We are getting ready for the future, both digitally and from an organizational culture perspective.
GSC: Comment on your CSR and Sustainability initiatives?
MK: The concept of sustainability is not new to Hellmann, it has always been embedded into our DNA, corporate values and operations. We understand and embrace sustainability and we see it as the only way forward.
We live sustainability through multiple factors notably Leaders’ commitment; Sustainability investment in facilities and product service; compliance to local requirements and engagement with society; work with our partners towards sustainability goals; welcoming diversity and measuring and reporting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data.
Hellmann has recently reviewed sustainability strategy and carefully crafted new sustainability targets and measurable tangible improvement relating to awareness, involvement, green solutions, and sustainable investments.
With our people and reliable partners, Hellmann aims to passionately lead a global sustainability strategy using technology and compliance framework.
2023 is a special year for Phoenix Contact – the company can look back on 100 years of passion for technology and innovation this year. Part of this success story is also the establishment of the E-Mobility subsidiary in 2013.
Ten years ago, Phoenix Contact E-Mobility started in Schieder-Schwalenberg, located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as a startup in the electromobility market with just 23 employees. Today, the company is a global specialist in e-mobility charging technology with three manufacturing sites in Germany, Poland, and China. Included in its broad portfolio are all components required to set up charging infrastructure and also the vehicle charging interface. The company is already known for its CCS charging cable as well as its liquid-cooled charging connector for ultra-fast High Power Charging.
The dynamic development of Phoenix Contact E-Mobility GmbH continued in the 2022 fiscal year. The signs continue to point to exceptional growth for the next decade. As a global player with more than 1,000 employees and 25 production lines worldwide, the company’s sales increase over the previous year is more than 50%. Sales growth in the Chinese and US markets contributed particularly to this.
Also in 2022, Phoenix Contact E-Mobility successfully passed the audits for certification of its environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001. It also achieved accreditation for its test-and-release Laboratory in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025. The company meets the high quality and process requirements of the automotive industry in accordance with IATF 16949. 100% carbon-neutral production and the integration of environmental protection in all processes reduce harmful environmental impacts.
Along with clean power generation, e-mobility is a key foundation for the All Electric Society. With its products, Phoenix Contact E-Mobility is making a crucial contribution: Practical and networked fast charging removes hurdles such as “range anxiety”, accelerating the switch to electric, climate-friendly mobility. With Charx, the electromobility specialist offers a complete portfolio of high-performance charging technology components, both for the electrification of vehicles and for the development of sustainable and networked charging infrastructure. Another focus is the electrification of special and commercial vehicles. The portfolio described includes well over 600 Charx products in 2023.
The electric truck range by Volvo has already been tested for the region
FAMCO has announced the launch of the first-ever heavy-duty electric truck in the Middle East, solidifying their position as pioneers in the market and their commitment to sustainable solutions in transportation.
This groundbreaking achievement by FAMCO represents a significant stride towards reducing transportation-related emissions to zero, aligning with the UAE’s sustainable development strategy as the whole country prepares to host the COP28 in November 2023.
The launch event was held at the Al Serkal Avenue in Dubai’s Al Quoz district. and was attended by the high-level officials.
“While we currently offer a wide range of hybrid and electric vehicles, the launch of the first-ever heavy-duty electric truck range by Volvo represents a huge leap into a greener future,” affirmed Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director, FAMCO.
“FAMCO, part of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, continues to introduce new products and services to keep the UAE moving towards building a more sustainable future of mobility and support the UAE’s Net-Zero 2050 strategic goals,” he continued.
Unilever
Unlike other companies still in the testing or trial stages, Volvo offers a full range of electric trucks that are tested and available for purchase, as the first truck was already sold to Unilever, the FMCG giant for their UAE operations.
Through investing in Volvo’s electric trucks, business partners can, not only electrify their fleets but also, become pioneers in the green transportation movement, and eventually, a better future for the planet, a corporate press communique stated.
“We have committed to achieving net zero emissions throughout our value chain by 2039. Logistics will play a crucial role in achieving this ambition as it contributes up to 15% of our emissions,” asserted Ahmed Kadous, Head of Supply Chain MENA & Personal Care Category, Middle East & Turkey, Unilever.
“This is why we are pioneering the green transportation movement in the UAE, and this electric truck forms the second addition to our delivery fleet. Earlier in March we added the first Electric Van (EV) to our UAE delivery fleet, which was also the first in the UAE,” he concluded.
Company to supply sweepers for BEEAH’s municipal contracts
Karcher, a leading global name in cleaning technology, and the BEEAH Group, the region’s leading sustainability and digitalisation expert, have entered an agreement to collaborate across multiple projects and to enhance their strategic collaboration in key areas of technology enhancements, such as robotic cleaning solutions.
Joe Lahoud, Managing Director, Karcher Middle East and Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, BEEAH Group, and Fahad Shehail, Group COO attended the MoU signing which took place at BEEAH Headquarters.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to driving innovation and delivering state-of-the-art solutions for cleaning, waste management innovation and sustainability,” remarked Lahoud.
Preferred partner
Under the terms of the MoU, Karcher will be the preferred partner in the supply of equipment for large sweepers for BEEAH’s municipal contracts. The collaboration will enable BEEAH Group to leverage Kärcher’s cutting-edge cleaning technology to enhance waste management operations and maintain the highest standards of cleanliness in public spaces.
“Kärcher’s advanced cleaning technology and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to our mission of creating a sustainable and cleaner environment,” commented Al Huraimel.
This collaboration between Karcher and BEEAH Group aims to drive innovation and efficiency in waste management practices, further advancing the sustainable development goals of the UAE.
The 41st global edition of World AI Show in Dubai was a resounding success, bringing together top leaders and decision-makers who are using technology in innovative ways to drive businesses forward while delivering business value, and enhancing the overall customer experience. The event showcased cutting-edge technology innovations within the AI space for enterprises and governments to help build leaner business processes, develop innovative products, and automate tasks that can minimize costs. The show was held under the patronage of the private office of H.H. Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, and organised by Trescon.
The event exceeded all expectations, with an overwhelming turnout of attendees and positive feedback from participants, consolidating Dubai’s position as a global hub for AI development.
The conference featured a series of captivating panel discussions and keynote addresses that delved into topics shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Topics of discussion ranged from the latest trends and advantages, and ethical implications of AI deployment to the integration of machine learning in various sectors such as healthcare and finance.
One such discussion was the panel on how business leaders are embracing AI as a key driver of success. Moderated by Dr. Eng Suaad Al Shamsi, Technical Consultant, L2L consultation, the panel discussed the scope of benefits of AI adoption. The panellists, Robert Hahm, CEO, Mashreq Capital (DIFC) Ltd, Anshuman Anand, CEO of R&B (KSA) & VP of Apparel Group, Amine Sabri, CFO, Astra Tech, and Vikram Tanna, CEO, Mzallo (Eros Investments Group), also presented some interesting views while talking about the key skills that can accelerate AI adoption.
Another noteworthy discussion was on how to inspire the next generation of women in AI. The panel discussion moderated by Debbie Botha, Chief Partnership Officer, Women in AI, spoke at length about the challenges faced by women in the AI industry. The panellist, Fatmah Alabdouli, Director of Data Management & Statistics, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, Dr. Fatmah Baothman, Board President, AI Society, Dr. Christine Gulbranson, CEO, U+ Nova, Dr. Adhari Alzaab, Assistant Professor, Sultan Qaboos University, deliberated on how women can collaborate and drive an impact in the AI sector.
“We are proud to have hosted such a remarkable event that brought together distinguished thought leaders discussing about the future of enterprise AI solutions,” said Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO of Trescon. “The show provided a platform for conversations and invaluable knowledge sharing. It was a testament to Dubai’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving AI advancements on a global scale.”
The success of the conference was largely attributed to the generous support of its esteemed sponsors. “The World AI Show in Dubai this year exceeded our expectations,” said Valeria Sandei, CEO, Almawave, Gold Sponsor of the show. “We were able to network with key decision-makers and establish strategic partnerships. The interest and enthusiasm from attendees for our AI solutions were truly remarkable. This event has undoubtedly opened new doors for our company.”
Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, President, University of Dubai, said, “World AI Show was a remarkable achievement again from Dubai, the technology hub of the world and I was very glad to be a keynote speaker and part of this international event.”
Dr. Salim Al-Shuaili, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Development Program, Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, showed his appreciation towards the event and said, “World AI Show this year in Dubai was a turning point in the industry, most of the topics related to AI were covered. I believe the panel discussions were professionally planned and executed.”
The World AI Show has become an essential platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and business growth within the AI community. With plans already underway for the next edition, anticipation is building for an even more spectacular event.
The World AI Show has become an essential platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and business growth within the AI community. With plans already underway for next year’s edition, anticipation is building for an even more spectacular event. In line with our vision to build on the momentum and usher in the next wave of transformation, Trescon announced that the Digital Acceleration Transformation Expo (DATE). The event is set to take place in Delhi in November 2023 and Jakarta in 2024.
The van is designed to meet the needs of modern businesses
Al Masaood Automobiles Renault has announced the launch of the all-new Renault Express Van. This innovative commercial vehicle is set to redefine the market with its high-quality combination of efficiency, practicality, and safety features, a press communique stated.
The Renault Express Van is designed to meet the needs of modern businesses, offering the perfect balance of performance and functionality. Its introduction to the Abu Dhabi market is expected to make a significant impact, providing businesses with a reliable and versatile solution to their transportation needs.
“It is poised to be a game-changer in the commercial vehicle segment, providing a high level of efficiency, practicality, and state-of-the-art safety features that will transform the way businesses manage their transportation needs,” remarked Bachir Gemayel, Sales & Marketing Director, Al Masaood Automobiles.
The Renault Express Van is powered by a fuel-efficient 1.6-litre engine, ensuring smooth and reliable performance on the road. It has a generous cargo volume of up to 3.3 cubic meters, 191-meter loading length and a payload capacity of up to 750 kg, this vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle offers easy driving with cruise control and speed limiter, ensuring a comfortable and stress-free experience for drivers.
Safety is paramount in the Renault Express Van, which comes equipped with an emergency calling system that automatically connects the driver to emergency services in case of an accident. This feature, along with other advanced safety systems, ensures that drivers and their cargo are well-protected at all times.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is opening its first Direct Load branch in Switzerland: Since the beginning of June, partial and full truck loads are dispatched from Kloten between all European countries and Switzerland. The globally active logistics service provider is thus taking another important step in expanding its market presence in Switzerland beyond the air and sea freight product offerings, with which Hellmann became active on the Swiss market at the beginning of the year through the acquisition of its long-standing partner company ATS-Hellmann Worldwide Logistics AG. Additionally, the logistics provider is expanding its Direct Load activities in the European network, which is already represented in nine other European countries with more than 40 locations.
In this context, Christian Wanner joined the company as the new Head of Direct Load Switzerland in May. As part of its global growth strategy, Hellmann has already invested significantly in the Direct Load network in recent years – most recently in February with the opening of the branch in Kufstein, Austria, and previous inaugurations in France, the Netherlands, the Benelux countries and the Czech Republic, among others. Due to its central location between France, Italy, Austria and Germany, the move into Switzerland with the new branch in Kloten is of strategic importance and allows Hellmann to open up another important market in the heart of Europe.
The company intends to offer both existing and new customers a one-stop network expanded to include Direct Load, to serve the demand for transport solutions into and out of Switzerland. “We are delighted that, following the establishment of our Swiss national subsidiary just under six months ago, we have been able to reach another milestone in the further development of the Hellmann network with the opening of our new branch in Kloten.
This is of strategic importance for us in two respects: On the one hand, by opening up this inner-European hub, we are strengthening our connections between Northern and Southern Europe. Additionally, by adding Direct Load services to our product portfolio, we are also further strengthening our competitive position in Europe and Switzerland – a market in which we want to continue to grow sustainably in the future,” says Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is opening its first Direct Load branch in Switzerland: Since the beginning of June, partial and full truck loads are dispatched from Kloten between all European countries and Switzerland. The globally active logistics service provider is thus taking another important step in expanding its market presence in Switzerland beyond the air and sea freight product offerings, with which Hellmann became active on the Swiss market at the beginning of the year through the acquisition of its long-standing partner company ATS-Hellmann Worldwide Logistics AG. Additionally, the logistics provider is expanding its Direct Load activities in the European network, which is already represented in nine other European countries with more than 40 locations.
In this context, Christian Wanner joined the company as the new Head of Direct Load Switzerland in May. As part of its global growth strategy, Hellmann has already invested significantly in the Direct Load network in recent years – most recently in February with the opening of the branch in Kufstein, Austria, and previous inaugurations in France, the Netherlands, the Benelux countries and the Czech Republic, among others. Due to its central location between France, Italy, Austria and Germany, the move into Switzerland with the new branch in Kloten is of strategic importance and allows Hellmann to open up another important market in the heart of Europe.
The company intends to offer both existing and new customers a one-stop network expanded to include Direct Load, to serve the demand for transport solutions into and out of Switzerland. “We are delighted that, following the establishment of our Swiss national subsidiary just under six months ago, we have been able to reach another milestone in the further development of the Hellmann network with the opening of our new branch in Kloten.
This is of strategic importance for us in two respects: On the one hand, by opening up this inner-European hub, we are strengthening our connections between Northern and Southern Europe. Additionally, by adding Direct Load services to our product portfolio, we are also further strengthening our competitive position in Europe and Switzerland – a market in which we want to continue to grow sustainably in the future,” says Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Qatar’s GWC celebrated World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2023 as part of its continuous endeavor to support this important cause.
GWC has emphasized very stringent food safety measures and its food safety policy focuses on compliance, training and competency development, communication and a strong food safety culture to ensure customer satisfaction.
All the processes from receiving, storage, picking, until delivering are performed as per the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan of the organization. With stringent controls in place to inspect each inbound product for temperature, evidence of pest activity, mold growth or physical damage, the company ensures that food is segregated by the date of expiry, and the condition and cleanliness of the pallets used for repalletizing is up to standard, a press statement stated.
“GWC takes food safety very seriously and through technological advancements and our state-of-the-art facilities we have been able to be pioneers in this field,” remarked Elangovan Rajah, QHSSE Director, GWC.
With ISO 22000 certification for Food Safety Management System since 2007, GWC has long been a champion of setting high standards of quality including those for food safety, the press statement concluded.
The electric van, added to the UAE logistics fleet, is part of Unilever’s Net Zero strategy
Unilever Arabia recently announced the addition of the first-ever Electric Van (EV) to its fleet in the UAE.
Making deliveries to its key customers in Dubai as of this March, the incorporation of the 1-tonne battery-powered van signifies a major stride in Unilever’s efforts towards reduced emissions via its logistics operations and achieving net zero value chain emissions by 2039, the company said in a press notification.
As part of a strategic partnership with leading retailer, Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE, the EV van will initially deliver Unilever’s products to Carrefour’s Mall of the Emirates store. This will provide customers in Dubai with a sustainable delivery solution, reducing emissions by up to 15 per cent in comparison with traditional vehicles.
The region’s first EV van was launched in the presence of Youssef Lootah, CEO, Corporate Strategy and Performance Sector, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) along with Ahmed Kadous, Unilever’s Head of Supply Chain MENA & PC Middle East & Turkey; Khalil Yassine, Head of Unilever Arabia, and Luc Charrier Vice President, Merchandise, Carrefour, Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
Core ambition
“The introduction of electric vehicles to our delivery fleet is a core ambition and is central to Unilever’s sustainability commitment. We look forward to working more closely with the public sector and industry to further expand the infrastructure and seamlessly support the transition to electric mobility,” remarked Kadous.
“We are committed to sourcing and delivering sustainably sourced produce as part of our ‘Dare Today, Change Tomorrow’ strategy,” commented Bertrand Loumaye, Country Manager, Carrefour.
Prior to joining the existing fleet, the EV van underwent a series of planning and testing to ensure its readiness and compliance. These included driver training, vehicle maintenance, insurance and on-site charging port installation in collaboration with the EV distributor, Emirates Global Electric Motors, a member of Al Fahim group, and leading global logistics provider, DB Schenker, the press note concluded.
It is the first airline globally to attain this recognition
Qatar Airways Cargo along with its ground handling partner Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) Cargo has announced its latest achievement – the IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Perishable Logistics (CEIV Fresh) certification.
The IATA CEIV Fresh standard encompasses the entire supply chain, including both operational and technical aspects, ensuring that perishable goods maintain their freshness, quality, and integrity throughout the transportation process, a press communique stated.
This remarkable milestone not only sets a new benchmark for excellence in the industry but also establishes the cargo carrier and its ground handler in Doha as the first and only airline worldwide with its GHA to have attained the complete suite of IATA CEIV certifications – CEIV Fresh, CEIV Lithium Batteries, CEIV Live Animals, CEIV Pharma, IEnvA registered and United for Wildlife programme.
Pursuit of excellence
“Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo’s achievement of the IATA CEIV Fresh certification reflects our pursuit for excellence and our unwavering commitment to our customers, keeping them always at the heart of everything we do,” stated Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo, Qatar Airways.
“Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo are the first companies globally to complete the full suite of IATA CEIV certifications, reinforcing their position at the forefront of air logistics,” remarked Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
This achievement reflects the firm dedication of Qatar Airways Cargo and QAS Cargo teams in providing superior service to their customers while prioritising the safety and well-being of any cargo being transported and offering a seamless cool chain for all perishable products, the press communique concluded.
Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics, and real estate, has signed an agreement with Beijing New Aerotropolis Holdings China to establish a comprehensive framework for nurturing cooperative relations and encouraging mutual growth in areas like economic development, urban land-planning and sustainability.
The agreement was signed by Zhigang Liu, Chairman, Beijing New Aerotropolis, and Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Logistics District, Dubai South, in the presence of HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South.
The strategic alliance underscores a commitment to joint efforts that stimulate cooperation between private enterprises across both countries, ultimately bolstering economic synergy between the two airport zones and jointly pioneering new international trade standards adapted to the evolving digital landscape.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to share our expertise and work closely with Beijing New Aerotropolis to achieve our mutual goals that promise to bring forth reciprocal benefits,” remarked Ahmad.
“We are delighted to be working closely with the team at Dubai South and anticipate the prospect of exploring additional avenues of collaboration in the future,” commented Liu.
Dubai South was launched as a Dubai Government project in 2006, representing an emerging 145 square-kilometre master-planned city that focuses on an aviation and logistics ecosystem that houses the world’s largest airport when fully operational.
Beijing New Aerotropolis Holdings., China, was established in 2012 as the core platform for developing and constructing the Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions (V.A.S.) expands its footprint in North America with the establishment of an office in Texas and starts manual operations in preparation for commercial autonomous hub-to-hub transport.
V.A.S. has opened an office in Fort Worth, Texas dedicated to driving activities to set up its first autonomous freight corridors that will run from Dallas Forth Worth to El Paso and from Dallas to Houston. To prepare for commercial launch, V.A.S. has also started to haul loads with trucks using drivers for key customers like DHL and Uber Freight to test aspects of the transport solution and establish frameworks and procedures for safe and reliable operations.
“At Volvo Autonomous Solutions we believe the path to autonomy at scale is through reducing the friction and complications around ownership and operations for customers. This is why we have taken the decision to be the single interface to our customers and take full ownership of the elements required for commercial autonomous transport. With the opening of our office in Texas and start of operational activities, we are building the foundations for a transport solution that will change the way we move goods on highways,” says Nils Jaeger, President of Volvo Autonomous Solutions.
“Through our Autonomous Transport Solution, our ambition is to create a new source of industry capacity that will ease some of the burden of the increasing demand for freight while also enabling local drivers to shift into short-haul jobs that will keep them closer to home. This will unlock significant efficiencies in the entire supply chain and benefit everyone in the transportation industry,” says Sasko Cuklev, Head of On-Road Solutions.
Partnerships to drive industry innovation Volvo Autonomous Solutions is a part of the Volvo Group and tackling the transportation industry’s capacity constraints through safe, sustainable and efficient autonomous transport solutions. The Autonomous Transport Solutions (ATS) offered by V.A.S. includes hardware, software and services required to run autonomous transport operations. On highways, the solution is operated based on a hub-to-hub model where autonomous trucks take on the highway portion of the driving, operating all hours of the day and night between transfer hubs while human drivers complete local operations.
To accelerate the development and adoption of autonomous transport solutions, V.A.S. is partnering with others in the industry including DHL and Uber Freight who are part of the V.A.S. key customer program. The program is aimed at shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and freight brokers whom V.A.S. will work with to pilot and commercialize autonomous transport solutions.
V.A.S. has also formed a partnership with industry-pioneer Aurora. At the heart of the partnership is the integration of the Aurora Driver with Volvo’s on-highway truck offering.
E-commerce solution for businesses keen to setup and expand in the region
Dubai CommerCity, the first and leading free zone dedicated to digital commerce, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) and a joint venture with the property developer Wasl, recently signed a partnership agreement with the Wafi Group’s upcoming omnichannel department store Link at Wafi City to launch SparkBiz, a unique solution that offers exceptional benefits to businesses looking to enter and expand in the region’s market.
The launch came during a signing ceremony, attended by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mana Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman, Wafi Group, and Amna Lootah, Board Member, Dubai CommerCity, and representatives from both sides.
This partnership reflects the free zone’s commitment to achieving the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which seeks to double the size of Dubai’s economy and accelerate the growth of its digital economy. It also reaffirms its commitment to supporting the UAE’s digital economy strategy, which aims to create opportunities and enhance foreign direct investments.
SparkBiz
Further, the launch of SparkBiz contributes to enhancing Dubai CommerCity’s reputation as an ideal destination for global businesses to benefit from a competitive and advanced digital ecosystem that enables them to build their presence in the region.
SparkBiz is an initiative that seeks to encourage foreign companies to enter the region’s market by facilitating business establishment procedures and offering cost effective solutions, customs support, a unique omnichannel experience, optimized digital marketing, a platform to test the financial performance of products, and a state-of-the-art physical space at the free zone.
“Dubai has always been at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge technological solutions to enhance its digital ecosystem and facilitate business operations for companies in the UAE. This contributes to consolidating Dubai’s position as a global hub for trade and business, attracting foreign investments and global businesses to create a dynamic and advanced business environment through its economic zones,” asserted Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mana.
“This strategic partnership is an important development and aligns with our efforts to lay the foundations for a more integrated and flexible economy, based on innovation, and advanced technology as the main drivers of sustainable development,” affirmed Amna Lootah.
Multiple benefits
“The SparkBiz solution serves as an exceptional opportunity for retailers to access a diverse set of benefits and packages, including company setup processes such as visa services, leasing and licensing, and bank account opening, in addition to offering a unique omnichannel experience, and fulfillment services including customs documentation, storage, and handling, among others,” she added.
“Link will play a vital role in providing a seamless phygital experience, bridging the gap between physical and virtual retail to consumers, and offering global retailers a unique test market opportunity. SparkBiz, will offer exceptional benefits to businesses looking to enter and expand in the region’s market,” commented Stephanie-Alexandra Chartier, Head of Marketing, Wafi Group.
Dubai CommerCity offers a competitive digital commerce ecosystem and a comprehensive turnkey digital commerce solution for businesses to operate efficiently and with ease. Additionally, Dubai CommerCity offers digital commerce strategy consulting, guidance on digital commerce regulations in the region, end-to-end logistics solutions inclusive of warehousing and last-mile delivery, complete digital commerce platform solutions, digital marketing services, and other support services, a press communique stated.
Phydigital store
Link is a phygital department store, which is set to open at Wafi City in the heart of Dubai, who enables products to be displayed physically in its 3300sqm showroom and purchased digitally through its marketplace.
Consumers will be able to touch, feel, and try products from different categories, including fashion, electronics, accessories, cosmetics, and more. The products showcased in Link will primarily be new to the market and not found in retail stores in the region, offering a unique setting for discovery and experience.
GROHE customers can choose from a broad variety of colors and finishes to create a customized bathroom space
Innovative coating and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) technologies offer longevity
Coordinated bathroom concept possible thanks to matching color options across all product categories
The world is diverse, and so are our needs when it comes to our living environment. The bathroom, in particular, is a very personal space where we take time for ourselves and indulge in self-care rituals. In this “me-space”, we want to reflect our own personality and express our individuality.
But when it comes to fittings like faucets, timelessness and quality play a major role in the choice of color.
“We observe that consumers are becoming more design-savvy. They are looking for bathroom solutions that address their needs not only in terms of convenience and functionality but also allow them to make a design statement. And this should be customized exactly to their personal taste. With our GROHE Colors Collection, as well as the newest color Phantom Black for our Professional products, we are giving consumers and professionals a curated palette to let their creativity flow. At the same time, they can be sure to enjoy their bathroom for a long time thanks to the classic color selection and surface quality”, says Benjamin Kraus, Leader, Categories, LIXIL EMENA.
Long-lasting freedom of choice: GROHE Colors Collection
Faucets are one of the most frequently used products in the home. That’s why GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is paying extra close attention to the durability of its surfaces, to make sure these stand the test of time.
For the durable, beautiful yet classic products in colors that range from SuperSteel, through Cool Sunrise to Warm Sunset and Hard Graphite, GROHE relies on a technology which originates from the aerospace industry: Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). During the first step, the pre-treatment, the components are carefully cleaned and heat-treated in an oven where the plastic components undergo a degassing process. During the second step, the PVD coating is applied. This process takes place in a high-vacuum environment and itself consists of three steps: First, the substrate is cleaned again, then the base coat is applied, followed by the paint coat.
PVD results in finishes three times harder and ten times more scratch-resistant than galvanized finishes. This process also allows for GROHE to deliver on a broader range of colors.
The most elegant non-color of all: matte black
As a perfect contrast to the shiny-white and chrome bathroom concept, a matte black finish creates a sophisticated, balanced overall appearance. GROHE offers the new go-to color called Phantom Black for its Professional portfolio. Thanks to a lacquer-coating technique, all GROHE Phantom Black products have been enhanced to be more durable, as well as being more resistant against corrosion, fading and scratches than black variants treated with powder coating. In addition, Phantom Black is more repellent to visible fingerprints. So, they require less cleaning and are easy to take care of – perfect also for hospitality environments.
The GROHE Colors Collection, as well as the new Phantom Black, are available across the full suite of bathroom categories, including faucets, showers, thermostats, flush plates (also available as glossy black variants) and accessories, to ensure a coordinated design concept that lasts.
Qatar Airways Cargo reintroduced flights to Haneda, Nice, Manama and Sarajevo, while continuing to expand its Middle East operations
The world’s leading cargo carrier relaunched services to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport last week. The reintroduced passenger flights bring the total weekly tonnage available to and from Japan to 600 tonnes each way. General cargo makes up for the vast majority of exports from Tokyo, followed by vulnerable cargo and dangerous goods. As for imports, they consist of general cargo, fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables.
From 30th May, the carrier also commenced four weekly passenger Airbus A320 flights from Doha to Sarajevo with six tonnes of weekly cargo capacity. Commodities mainly consist of general cargo and also include vulnerable cargo and pharmaceuticals.
The carrier relaunched passenger flights to Nice earlier on 9 May with exports comprising of general cargo, dangerous goods, pharmaceuticals while on the imports front, general cargo, dangerous goods, vulnerable cargo and other types of cargo are flown in to Nice. With freighters to Lyon and Paris and belly-hold flights to Nice and Paris, the cargo carrier’s weekly cargo capacity to and from France increases to 1,100 tonnes each way.
Daily flights to Bahrain started on 25 May, providing cargo customers with 11 tonnes of cargo space on the A320 passenger flights each week, each way. In addition, Qatar Airways Cargo has also expanded its network in the Middle East, effective May. The airline introduced two Boeing 777 freighters to Dammam, bringing the weekly tonnage to 350 tonnes each way. A new freighter frequency was also introduced to Riyadh, bringing the total frequencies to five Boeing 777 freighters each week on top of the quadruple daily passenger flights, providing over 850 tonnes of cargo capacity each way to and from Riyadh.
Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “Customer-centricity has always been at the core of our business. Through such expansions, reintroductions and capacity increases via our Next Generation strategy and VISION 2027, we are bringing enhancements to our services and operations globally. The relaunch of flights to these destinations as well as the increased frequencies offer our customers direct and increased capacity to these destinations.”
The world’s leading air cargo carrier recently launched its first hub in Kigali in partnership with Rwandair, where customers of both airlines benefit from enhanced service levels, cost synergies and from a reliable intra-African network through Kigali.
The UAE treats its ships and P&I services as a cohesive unit
The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI UAE) has issued a circular requiring non-member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (IG P&I Clubs) to provide additional information to regulators if they insure any UAE-flagged ships.
This move reaffirms the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to upholding rigorous standards and driving the progress of the maritime sector around the world.
According to the circular, non-members of the IG P&I Clubs are required to demonstrate that they have a minimum S&P Global rating of ‘A’ and provide a list of claims exceeding US$ 10mn, or details of the five largest claims they have handled, including information on whether they have been settled or are still in reserve, before the 30June 2023.
Additionally, these clubs must have a claims settlement authority that is equal to or higher than the policy limit they offer; and provide copies of the Certificate of Insurance, approved financial certificates such as Blue Cards, and MLC (Maritime Labour Convention) Certificates.
“By prioritising stringent P&I standards, we ensure the safety, financial security, and environmental stewardship of our maritime activities, attracting reputable investors, fostering trade partnerships, and creating a conducive business environment,” remarked HE Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, MOEI UAE.
The Ministry’s decisive steps to enforce stringent requirements for all P&I clubs will ultimately safeguard the interests of ship owners, managers, and operators, as well as port authorities, and crew members, a Ministry press communique concluded.
As part of its clearly defined long-term digital innovation strategy, Challenge Group has chosen to work together with AMOS to anticipate, support and deliver on future market developments.
Challenge Technic has now embarked on the full implementation of Swiss-AviationSoftware’s AMOS Airlines Edition and AMOSmobile/EXEC, in line with Challenge Group’s strategic decision in January 2023 to adopt a uniform, high quality, and future-proof aircraft maintenance software system across its three airlines, Challenge Airlines IL, Challenge Airlines BE and Challenge Airlines MT, and maintenance subsidiaries.
“We are transitioning from our current Wings maintenance software to AMOS in two stages. The first stage, which focuses on Part 145 organisation, began this month, and the second, which will tackle the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO), will follow in August 2023,” says Magnus Johannsson. Technical Director at Challenge Technic. “Similar to our stringent maintenance check lists, we have carefully planned this staggered IT implementation so as to ensure minimum disruption to our international line business.”
AMOS was chosen because of its user-friendly interface and its high integrational flexibility enabling the complete overview of every aspect of the Group’s operations in a single software. As one of the leading aircraft maintenance software systems on the market, AMOS can not only optimise maintenance, maintenance planning logistics, engineering, and group interface efficiency, but is also scalable to suit airlines and MRO providers of all sizes.
“Once AMOS is fully installed at all of our Challenge Technic line stations around the globe, we can look forward to improved efficiency and transparency across the many entities of our group. With all group members being able to access the same live and complete technical data of our fleet and respective maintenance plans, we will be in a position to better streamline our activities and further improve our operational efficiency. AMOS’s digital support will also enable us to largely go paperless, so not only will this lead to an overall reduction in costs, but we will be more sustainable in the way we work, too. These are all advantages that will also benefit our many customers,” Magnus Johannsson summarises.
By partnering with AMOS, which has a long-standing reputation in airline maintenance and is continuously enhancing its products, Challenge Group is taking further steps towards ensuring that airline customers get the most efficient and expert MRO service.
About Challenge Technic
Challenge Technic is Challenge Group’s expert maintenance subsidiary, servicing more than 35 of the world’s airlines to date. The former Icelandic, independent EASA 145 / BCAA third-party line maintenance service provider, JETMX, was acquired 01 September 2021 and rebranded the following year. Challenge Technic currently employs around 80 certified technicians, mechanics, and stores staff at its five locations in Liège/Belgium, Hannover, Cologne, and Leipzig in Germany, and Sal/Cabo Verde. It is fully EASA 145, BCAA, UKCAA, and TCCA certified, and offers a wide range of line maintenance services for all B737 types through to B747, B757, B767, and B777 variants, and A318/319/320/321/330 versions. These include transit checks, ETOPS pre-flight checks, borescope inspections, daily & weekly checks, and A-Checks. Other services include engine washing, engine changing, cabin defect rectification and other troubleshooting measures. 24/7/365 AOG support is available, as are flying spanner services.
CEO Eugene Mayne addresses a gathering at the Tristar headquarters
Tristar Group celebrated World Environment Day (WED) on June 5 at its headquarters in Jebel Ali with both internal and external stakeholders, as well as with overseas staff who joined online.
There were two speakers who shared their knowledge related to this year’s WED campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. Jenson George of Carbon Middle East spoke on the topic ‘Ban plastic and then what?’ and enlightened the participants about producing more sustainable packaging products and avoiding plastic or plastic-related products. Marina Pugacheva from Quality Indeed Consulting spoke about the ‘Circular Economy’ and explained the importance of recycling plastics and other materials.
Showcasing commitment
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne addressed the audience showcasing the commitment which Tristar has shown for the last two decades on issues related to environmental protection. He led the ‘pledging’ to ‘avoid single-use plastic and to reuse or recycle plastic that we use’.
Since 2019, Tristar has banned the use of plastic water bottles in its facilities following its commitment to support the 2018 WED theme of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Its Maritime Logistics division also banned non-reusable plastic materials in its operations.
Last year, Tristar began disclosing its environmental impact through the global non-profit Carbon Discloser Project (CDP) and has partnered with Smart Freight Centre (SFC) for its GHG reduction programmes.
Practicing Sustainability
“We have been practicing sustainability long before it became today’s imperative. Our wide-ranging mitigation measures and mechanisms are monitored, and publicly reported in our annual Sustainability Report – since 2012,” affirmed Mayne.
All Tristar ocean-going vessels are compliant with the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), and their Carbon Intensity Indicators (CII) adhere to IMO standards. This year, Tristar plans to achieve more efficient management of energy, water, and waste, and introduce biodiesel or alternate sustainable fuels, a press communique concluded.
GWC (Q.P.S.C.), Qatar’s leading logistics provider, continues its support to vital economic sectors and was recently named Gold Sponsor for the Qatar Real Estate Forum which took place from 4-5 June 2023 in Sheraton Grand Hotel, Doha.
This Forum comes at a time when the real estate sector is witnessing strong growth backed by huge infrastructure and transportation projects and high domestic liquidity. This sector which is a cornerstone of Qatar National Vision 2030 got a major fillip with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM and has continued to ride that wave.
For GWC, this is an opportunity to support the exchange and development of new ideas and projects in the country and the region. GWC has proven track record and has been the partner-of-choice for public and private sector in developing their vision for bespoke logistics parks, over the last two decades.
This was exemplified in the successful delivery of GWC Bu Sulba Warehousing Park, the first Public Private Partnership project to bear fruit in Qatar, followed by signing the management contract for Bu Fesseela Warehousing Park, and most recently, the landmark launch of Phae-1 of GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park. And currently the construction works are on step to launch phase-2.
This Forum focused on key themes and issues related to regional and global best practices and facilitated discussions on how to set up relevant management mechanisms, as well as addressing other factors that impact the real estate industry.
The Forum achieved, among other things, to create a transparent and attractive environment for foreign investors and provide a platform for the various stakeholders to address and discuss issues related to the real estate sector.
With the opening of its first Asia-based Squair Service Center, ECS Group is increasing its capabilities related to the AWB Verification service offering (known as “Verify”). As demand for AWB verification outsourcing is increasing, the new team in Mumbai, India, will perform the AWB data capture activity for existing Squair customers and allow for future growth opportunities, especially in Asia.
The new team in Mumbai, India, complements the existing Squair team based in Sofia, Bulgaria that has been providing both AWB verification and customs reporting services to international airlines across 12 countries since 2019.
“There is a growing interest amongst airlines to maximise efficiency in their processes. AWB verification is a necessary, resource-intensive, yet non-revenue-generating activity,” says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. “ECS Group recognised this opportunity for a new service offering early on and is the first and only GSSA to offer AWB verification as a full quality “ability” since 2019. India is the perfect location for our Verify service expansion as it offers an abundant and skilled workforce with competitive unit costs and increases our time zone coverage”.
“Our Squair team in India underwent two months of intensive training from December 2022, using ECS Group’s internal training platform, Discovery, as well as through a thorough cross-training by their Squair colleagues based in Bulgaria” Ian-Alexandre McMartin, General Manager of Squair, explains. “Squair India officially started operating on 01 February 2023, carrying out AWB verification on behalf of a leading airline operating from Spain.” The team since then took over the AWB verification activity from that same airline in the Netherlands and is preparing to extend the geographical coverage in more European countries as the year progresses. “We offer a flexible service that allows for weekend and evening shifts matching our client’s SLAs on AWB verification,” he adds.
“Five new members joined our team in March, enabling this ramp up of operations, and we aim to treble the size of our Squair team in India to 20 by early next year,” Dimitri Arnaudin, Managing Director of Squair, outlines. “In the initial phase, our team in India is building on the “Verify” expertise of our team based in Bulgaria, where they are familiar with the specifics of the European markets. The long-term plan, however, is to establish dedicated Verify support for airlines located in and serving the Asian markets, operating in the same time zone as our Indian Squair Service Center.”
Mammoet-developed system delivers safety and sustainability benefits – with no drop in performance
Starting today, Mammoet offers a zero emission option for SPMT transport, compatible with any trailer in its fleet. This development has been made possible through a conversion process for SPMT power pack units (PPUs), which replaces the diesel powertrain inside existing trailers with an electric alternative. Once retrofitted, each trailer combination has comparable power to existing industry standard units.
The PPU vastly reduces noise levels at project sites, resulting in a safer and more productive work environment for our customers and colleagues. Communication between staff is clearer, while at locations where sound restrictions are in place longer operational windows are now possible.
The system represents another step towards zero emission on site, eliminating the carbon footprint of SPMT transport entirely. This allows our customers to meet increasingly strict environmental legislation more easily, reducing the impact of transport phases on surrounding communities and infrastructure.
It also demonstrates Mammoet’s strong commitment to the energy transition, and to its own sustainability. Retro-fitting existing SPMT fleets cuts down on both waste and additional fabrication, compared to sourcing new zero emission equipment.
This solution was part-financed by the DKTI, a Dutch government program to develop climate technologies and innovations in logistics. Mammoet worked with a leading provider of zero-emissions powertrains for heavy industry to bring the electric power pack solution to market.
Developed by Mammoet in 1984 and with over 40,000 axle lines in use globally, the SPMT, or Self-propelled Modular Transporter, revolutionized heavy industry by maneuvering practically any load safely, efficiently and with precision. This next step in its story will be just as significant, reducing their CO2 and NOx emissions to nil and pointing the way towards a sustainable future for heavy transport.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics takes over PKZ Group, its long-standing air- and sea freight partner in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and at the same time establishes its own Slovakian national company. With the acquisition of the 10 locations of the PKZ Group, Hellmann closes a gap in its existing road network in the partial and full load segment, enabling sustainable growth in this existing product segment. At the same time, Hellmann takes over the services previously performed by the PKZ Group in the areas of air- and sea freight, rail transport and contract logistics, thus creating the conditions for continuously expanding its cross-product market share via its own national company.
From June 2023, the existing business activities and the workforce of the PKZ Group will be transferred to the newly established Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Slovakia. The new national company will be headed by the current Managing Director of PKZ Group, Martin Kiaba, ensuring a smooth continuation of operational activities in all segments.
“After almost 30 years of successful cooperation with the PKZ Group in the air- and sea freight sector, we are now looking forward to further expanding our activities and broadening our product portfolio in Slovakia on our own under the Hellmann flag. We see great potential in both markets, particularly in the automotive and industrial sectors. Both will play an important role in particular with regard to the further interconnection of our pan-European and full load network,” explains Jens Tarnowski, Regional CEO West Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“The acquisition of PKZ Group is an important contribution to our growth strategy. Under the leadership of Martin Kiaba, PKZ has had a very successful development. We will now build on these successes as part of the global Hellmann network,” adds Andreas Lamping, Chief Legal Officer/ Head of M&A, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“Based on our long-standing good cooperation, we are now starting a new chapter. I am convinced that this strategically important step will further strengthen our market position and offer our employees a great opportunity to develop within the global Hellmann structure,” says Martin Kiaba, Managing Director, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Slovakia.
The new facility has a storage capacity of 2.7mn cubic feet, housing over 9mn products
Eng. Suliman Almazroua, CEO, National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), and delegations from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Transport General Authority, and Monsha’at, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, recently witnessed the inauguration of Amazon’s latest Fulfillment Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Following the ceremony, Abdo Chlala, Country Manager, Amazon Saudi Arabia, along with Prashant Saran, Director of Operations, Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Dr. Hatem Samman, Public Policy Lead, Amazon Saudi Arabia, guided the dignitaries on a tour of the facility, a press communique stated.
“The new Fulfillment Centre in Riyadh will further unlock the value of the Kingdom’s resources by empowering local startups and entrepreneurs with improved global connectivity and access to new markets,” remarked Engr. Almazroua.
Digital economy
As the Kingdom accelerates towards a digital economy with a growing ecommerce market, the new Fulfillment Centre will double Amazon’s total storage capacity in Saudi Arabia. The facility spans 390,000sqft across five floors, approximately the size offive football fields. The centre will be able to store over 9 million products.
“We are happy to see Amazon’s expansion in the Kingdom as the company continues its efforts to bring global standards and processes to the ecommerce sector in Saudi Arabia,” commented HE Eng. Saud Bin Rashid Al-Askar, Deputy Governor, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).
“Led by a diverse cohort of talented Saudi nationals in managerial positions, we expect this Fulfillment Centre to support the Kingdom’s digital economy goals,” stated Abdo Chlala, Country Manager, Amazon Saudi Arabia.
To reach a wider customer base faster and more efficiently, Saudi sellers can take advantage of the Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) offering that allows them to store, pick, pack and ship customer orders through Amazon.
“At Amazon, we relentlessly innovate on behalf of our customers and continue to strengthen our operations with state-of-the-art technology and global processes and programs in order to ensure a fast, convenient and reliable shopping experience,” noted Prashant Saran, Director of Operations, Amazon MENA.
As part of Amazon’s commitment to be net-zero carbon across its business by 2040, the facility is powered 100% by electricity, including its heating and hot water systems, avoiding the use of fossil fuel combustibles and with energy efficiency as a top priority, the press note concluded.
The Assar Gabrielsson Foundation has appointed Malin Lindén as the winner in the basic science research category and Aron Onerup as the winner in the clinical research category. The prize recipients are rewarded with SEK 100,000 each as extra research grants, administered by the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.
“Malin Lindén is awarded the prize in the category basic scientific research for advanced basic scientific studies of human sarcomas from the body’s supporting tissues, and specifically those caused by the highly potent FET family of tumor-specific proteins. The studies provide new understanding of how these types of sarcomas arise. The results may eventually lead to the development of new targeted treatment for patients with these types of sarcomas,” says Eva Forssell-Aronsson, professor at the University of Gothenburg and executive member of the Assar Gabrielsson Foundation.
“Aron Onerup receives the prize in the category clinical research for clinically relevant and well-conducted studies of the effects of so-called prehabilitation prior to surgery of colorectal cancer. The research showed that physical activity before surgery favored recovery after curative cancer surgery for colorectal cancer. The results can lead to a better understanding of how prehabilitation can be carried out in the best way and can also be applied to other forms of cancer,” says Professor Eva Forssell-Aronsson.
Assar Gabrielsson was one of Volvo’s founders. In accordance with his wishes, a fund was established for clinical research of cancer diseases. The fund has existed since 1962. It primarily supports research projects that are considered promising but have not yet reached the weight that provides funding from major research funds.
The Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE)’s Qatar Chapter organised an indoor cricket league last week.
This five-day event finished on 26 May 2023 and was held at two different locations – Al Arabi Indoor Stadium and The Hamilton International School. The indoor league match concluded with Al-Ta’adhod Group and Almoayyed Air Conditioning competing in the finals. Al-Ta’adhod Group emerged victorious, defeating Almoayyed by a margin of 35 run(s).
Through such sporting events, ISHRAE aims to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, leading to reduction of health risks. The Indoor Cricket League, like any other team sport, also served as a catalyst for team building among employees, encouraging communication and trust among colleagues from different departments.
GWC was the title sponsor for this event. Speaking about it, Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “Sports are based on the principle of discipline, fraternity and determination – all ingredients which are essential in all walks of life, and especially in building healthy communities and work-life balance. Supporting this event is our way of promoting team-building, healthy lifestyle and sharing of knowledge in Qatar.”
This exciting event brought together renowned companies in the field of heating, refrigerating and air conditioning along with ISHRAE Qatar members team.
This indoor cricket league is part of ISHRAE Qatar Chapter’s plan to conduct cricket and football league matches annually.
Joint venture to provide value-focused services to ship owners
Tristar Eships and MTM Ship Management recently announced the formation of Tristar-MTM Ship Management Pte Ltd, established to maximize value retention for ship owners and investors across the GCC, Africa and worldwide.
Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Athens, Dubai and Mumbai, the Joint Venture will be managed by an independent team of ship management professionals overseen by senior members of the Tristar Eships and MTM Ship Management organizations.
Tristar-MTM Ship Management manages vessels from the Tristar Eships fleet and will pursue third party tonnage in due course. MTM’s long experience with both chemical tankers and dry cargo vessels provides Tristar-MTM Ship Management with a full-service solution for owners seeking bespoke management for their vessels.
Maximizing service
“Both Tristar and the MTM Group are ship owners first, so we are inherently sensitive to value and maximizing service to charterers. Meanwhile, we all have regulatory and technical challenges ahead,” stated Tim Coffin, CEO, Tristar Eships.
“We observed a gap in the market to respond to the bespoke needs of owners in our region. Partnering with a first-class ship manager with a similar focus on value delivers a solution to ship owners across our region and beyond,” he continued.
Tristar Eships is the Maritime Logistics division of the Dubai-based Tristar Group, a fully integrated energy logistics solutions provider which serves the downstream oil and gas industry globally.
“We share the same values of safety, transparency, and service excellence. With a combined experience of 70 years, Tristar-MTM will focus on all aspects of quality ship management by providing tailored services with a unique competitive edge,” commented Rajiv Singhal, Managing Director, MTM Ship Management.
In support of the UAE’s net-zero ambitions and sustainability agendas, Renault Trucks Middle East and Al Masaood in collaboration with Tadweer, launched the first 100% electric waste truck in the United Arab Emirates, the first fully electric heavy truck launched in the Middle East.
The first Renault 100% electric truck will be used by Tadweer, the sole custodian of waste management for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, to collect waste household in Abu Dhabi. The truck was manufactured by Renault Trucks, under the dealership of Al Masaood, following the signing of an MoU between Tadweer and Al Masaood during the EcoWaste Exhibition and Conference.
Being the first electric heavy truck operating in the region, the Renault Trucks E-tech truck will also run a pilot programme to gauge the vehicle’s performance in the high temperatures such as the capital’s summer heat, in addition to addressing logistical challenges such as charging station availability along key routes.
Renault Trucks & Al Masaood, two partners committed to a more
sustainable future
“Renault Trucks has a legacy of providing market-leading transport solutions for nearly 130 years, and we have succeeded because our eye is always out on the future needs of the industry,” said Olivier De Saint Meleuc, President of Renault Trucks International. “The imperative for today is to tackle global warming, and we are proud that our state-of-the-art trucks are able to address the global requirement for low or zero emission vehicles, and to also contribute to the UAE’s visionary Net Zero 2050 strategic ambition. We are thrilled that we can bring our own electric mobility vision to the country, thanks to our partnership with Al Masaood, who share our values and future outlook for a zero-carbon future.”
“At Al Masaood, we have made a tangible and firm commitment to support the nation in meeting its Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative, and we do recognize that as a key industrial player in the nation’s capital and in the country as a whole, that we do bear a heavy responsibility in not only lowering our greenhouse emissions, but by providing innovative solutions to private and public partners to help mitigate their own emissions,” said Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager of Al Masaood’s Commercial Vehicles and Equipment division. “We are able to deliver these solutions thanks to our strategic partnerships, and with Renault Trucks Middle East and Tadweer, we found partners that can deliver on our aspirations.”
The Renault Trucks D-Wide E-tech has already demonstrated its effectiveness and performance in Europe, with urban centres like Paris and Barcelona adopting nearly 100 of the trucks each to fulfil their commitments to sustainability and their communities. By using these electric trucks, these two cities will remove over 4000 tons of carbon dioxide from the environment each year, equivalent to removing 1000 cars from the roads annually. With a range of up to 200 kilometres between charges, the trucks have already proven their worthiness from a zero-emissions and performance perspective. Tadweer is keen to start operating this 100% electric truck on Abu Dhabi’s roads to assess and monitor the vehicle’s performance in the summer temperatures.
The ideal solution for waste management
The first 100% electric waste truck in the UAE supports Tadweer in achieving its mission through building an integrated waste management system and achieving a circular economy.
The Renault Trucks D Wide 26t E-Tech Electric is the ideal vehicle for urban waste
collection with low operating costs while maintaining optimal range and payload.
Equipped with 23m3 Gorica-Farid electric garbage compactor, this 100% electric
Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide P6x2 will be operating, almost silently with zero tailpipe emissions.
“Tadweer has established its position as a pioneer in waste management and driving a sustainable future. The company incorporates state-of-the-art and modern technologies to ensure successful operation, while supporting Abu Dhabi’s Environment Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions as well,” said Ali Al Dhaheri, MD and CEO at Tadweer. “We therefore look forward for our on-going collaboration with Al Masaood and Renault Trucks and are excited to see what this E-Tech Waste management Truck has to offer in terms of performance and efficiency.”
“Our relationship with both Al Masaood and Renault Trucks is characterized by a robust and enduring partnership, and we are confident that this innovative zero-emissions truck will be an important added value to our existing Renault fleet,” added Al Dhaheri.
The launch of the Renault E-Tech waste management truck is also a commitment to both the UAE’s and the capital’s electrified mobility strategies; strategies which both the country and its capital find themselves at the forefront globally. Only recently, the federal government committed to placing over 800 EV charging stations across the country, while Dubai is moving towards a zero-emissions public transportation sector with electric vehicles now joining the taxi fleet.
The Kingdom has announced the launch of 59 logistics zones by 2030
In line with the Vision 2030 objective of transforming the Kingdom into a leading industrial powerhouse and global logistics hub, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Transport & Logistics Services (MOTLS) has laid out an ambitious strategy that aims to develop the Kingdom’s transport and logistics sectors and address the increasing global demand for logistics services.
Ever since, the sector has witnessed unprecedented growth and progress, making its mark on the global logistics industry, a direct outcome of the continuous efforts by MOTLS. In the recently released Logistics Performance Index 2023 (LPI) recently published by the World Bank, Saudi Arabia made significant progress, moving up 17 ranks to achieve 38th position, from 55th in 2018.
To bolster the Kingdom’s efforts in this direction, HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has launched comprehensive programmes focused on different aspects of the sector. The National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) was launched in 2021 with the aim to strengthen human and technical capabilities in the transport and logistics sector in the Kingdom.
NIDLP
Earlier in 2019, the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme (NIDLP) was launched to build the country’s industrial and logistical capabilities and position it as a global leader in the industry.
The programmes aspire to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub. With a unique geographical location, connecting three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa, the country is in an advantageous position to become the gateway facilitating easy trade and movement of goods across continents. Located on the Asia-Europe trade route, the country already hosts 12% of the global container trade passes annually.
Fast track
Saudi Arabia has been on the fast track to shift its economy away from oil and build a more diverse and holistic economic ecosystem. Currently, the logistics sector contributes 6% of the KSA GDP and is projected to contribute 10% by 2030, that is, around SAR 20.1bn. By 2030 it is expected to reach SAR 57.4bn
Boosting its cargo capacity and bolstering supply chains further, the Kingdom announced the launch of 59 logistics zones by 2030, 21 of which are already operational. The country also inaugurated its first Special Integrated Logistics Zone at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh.
The measures are part of the infrastructure development strategy and aim to fuel business growth, attract investment, and increase the sector’s non-oil revenue to about 45 billion riyals a year by 2030.
Vision 2030 is the roadmap to building a globalized country with sustainable progress. Transport & logistics are the backbone of any economy, and our aim is to develop the sector, build connectivity and enhance our global competitiveness as a country. We are putting all our weight into developing internal and external supply chains and streamlining processes to the best international standards to provide world-class infrastructure and services. Our focus is on opening Saudi to the world with a multitude of opportunities.
In October 2022, HRH The Crown Prince also launched the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (GSCRI) to attract local and international investments in the supply chain sector. Aiming to raise SAR 40bn (US$10.64bn) in its first two years, the initiative has set SAR 10bn in financial and non-financial incentives for investors.
Pushing toward a fast-paced transformation, the Kingdom has earmarked milestones for the rail, road, maritime, and aviation sectors. The largest and most populous GCC nation, the Kingdom also aims to create over two hundred thousand jobs in the sector by 2030.
Renowned national industry players come together to navigate future opportunities
The Emirates Shipping Association (ESA) strengthened the UAE’s status as a prominent global maritime hub through the successful hosting of the recent ‘Maritime Future Dialogues’ event.
As a significant part of the UAE Maritime Week, the event attracted influential industry players, stakeholders, and experts. This gathering facilitated connections, idea exchange, and the formation of valuable partnerships.
ESA aims to establish the UAE as a prominent global maritime hub. Hence, the maritime dialogue included impactful panel discussions which addressed key priorities, including advocating for the UAE registry as a Flag State and reinforcing decarbonization efforts in the shipping industry.
Industry leaders, regulators, and experts convened to explore strategies for reinforcing the sector’s world-class status under the upcoming UAE Maritime Law. Additionally, insights from the COP28 team and the International Chamber of Shipping were shared, highlighting opportunities within COP28.
Driving an integrated maritime business community
One of the highlights of the event was the signing of an MoU between ESA and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOI UAE) to further enhance the capabilities of the ‘Blue Pass’ initiative through collaboration and mutual support.
The platform was launched by the Ministry in partnership with Marihub to strengthen the national maritime sector by creating a digital cluster of local and international maritime authorities and associations, such as the ESA, to facilitate the exchange of services, and attract foreign investors.
“Through productive discussions and collaborative efforts, we aim to foster innovation, drive sustainable growth, and establish valuable partnerships within the maritime sector,” commented Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Chairman, Emirates Shipping Association.
Blue Pass project
“The Blue Pass project aims to establish an integrated maritime business community, where everyone can easily provide services and fulfil their requirements through a unified digital portal. The project goes beyond providing a platform for maritime services and supplies, as it also unifies the common needs of companies and ships operating in the sector,” remarked HE Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor, Minister for Maritime Transport and Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.
“The shipping industry has been a key enabler of the UAE’s economic growth over the years. Which is why, we at ESA have always been committed to catalysing the progress and development of the sector and enhancing its capabilities in various aspects,” noted Anders Østergaard, Secretary General of Emirates Shipping Association, and Group CEO, Monjasa.
The company is pursuing it growth strategies, further setting new goals to expand across Middle Eastern countries. The company will participate in Seamless Middle East 2023 to share insights on best practises.
Savoye, a leading global warehouse automation integrator and software publisher in the Middle East, achieved a remarkable milestone globally by attaining a global turnover of over AED 800 million in 2022, which is a six per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Savoye’s remarkable growth in 2022 can be attributed to its unwavering focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, despite the challenges posed by a rapidly changing and fiercely competitive market. By remaining dedicated and working tirelessly, Savoye has been able to retain its position as a leader in the fields of warehouse automation and software publishing. This achievement is a testament to its commitment to providing innovative solutions and exceptional customer service.
Furthermore, Savoye will share its expertise at the Seamless Middle East 2023, which will be held on May 23 and 24. The company will showcase its innovative ACR Robotic Solutions, goods-to-person X-PTS system, packing solutions and their most popular solution, the ODATiO, which is a combination of WMS (Warehouse Management System) and TMS (Transport Management System). Additionally, Alain Kaddoum will be a part of a panel discussion on day one titled ‘The promise of next-level automation: the future with autonomous robots’ during which he will share his insights on the best practices in the industry.
Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director of Savoye Middle East, said: “We are proud of Savoye’s successful journey, and the improvements we are bringing about through our innovative solutions in the logistics and supply chain industry. These milestones are a testament to our internal team’s tenacity and commitment, as well as their fresh concepts and ideas. The growth we saw last year motivates us to keep innovating and expanding our services and solutions. The lack of components throughout 2022 had an impact on our operations in terms of budgeting and planning.”
He added: “Our team’s mobilisation and the execution of action plans helped reduce the delay in realisation of the turnover. The supply-side conflict and the impact of price rises are still an issue in 2023. As one of the key companies in this market, which is still developing on a global basis, we plan to keep expanding our market share and sustaining our growth trajectory. We are also excited to be a part of Seamless Middle East this year and we intend to take the opportunity to meet new business prospects, forge new relations and share our expertise.”
Savoye conducted over 100 recruitment efforts in 2022 to reach the approximately 1,000 people who are currently employed by the global organisation. Furthermore, new production facilities are also a part of this exceptional growth. Moreover, sales results from new X-PTS automated preparation projects have been largely responsible for the rise in sales across Europe and the US in 2022. With a complementarity of technology and software that enables Savoye to complete larger projects, the company’s automated warehouse solutions stand out from the competition.
The growth in sales achieved through the network of Savoye Business Partners has also been exceptional. These global integration partnerships have been increasing in number, further making a considerable impact on sales of packaging machines, which broke their record in 2022.
Savoye aims at further expand across Middle Eastern markets to boost sales and introduce their innovative solutions in more countries. The company is currently setting up its office in Saudi Arabia and bringing new leads while providing its high-quality solutions.
Company has partnered with Talabat and Careem to provide a seamless service
WEE Marketplace has launched its last-mile logistics platform based on advanced technology to provide quick and seamless delivery service, tapping into UAE’s US$ 12.7bn e-commerce, it was announced in a press communique.
WEE’s platform aims to have over 500 reputed and trusted retailers and sellers by the end of 2023. Currently based on an invite-only model, the platform will feature a limited number of sellers to ensure minimal competition and maximum quality of products for UAE customers.
With a network of over 50,000 riders (along with local partners), WEE can offer customers across the UAE access to a wide range of high-quality products from top-tier brands/retailers with a speedy delivery service (within 45 minutes) and competitive prices on its platform, the press note continued.
“Our platform will allow retailers to provide a hassle-free on demand delivery service to its customers across the UAE. It will help them streamline the process even further by tackling the most crucial parts of their supply chain, giving them a competitive edge,” remarkedAnastasia Kim, Co-founder, WEE Marketplace.
Currently the platform features over 7,000 products from various categories like electronics and appliances, beauty and health, household, pet food, automotive, sports and leisure, books, kids and toys, and accessories. The company plans to expand its fulfillment services to stock more than half a million products by end of 2023, the press statement concluded.
Launches AI-powered autonomous cleaning and service robots in the Middle East
As part of its initiative to enable smarter work processes through AI-powered solutions, Acme has partnered with Gausium, the world-leading provider of autonomous service solutions, to launch an advanced line of robotic cleaning machines in the Middle East.
The AI-powered service robots perform key cleaning tasks such as autonomous floor scrubbing, vacuuming, sweeping and mopping. Gausium robots can effectively navigate large and complex spaces, detect obstacles, and avoid collisions, making them ideal choices for retail facilities, warehouses and other large commercial buildings, according to a press communique.
Portfolio
The Gausium range, available through Acme, includes the internationally acclaimed Scrubber 75, Vacuum 40 and other models. Scrubber 75 performs multiple cleaning functions, auto-charge and auto-refill water, and its size-to-productivity ratio is perfect for industrial sites and production lines.
Vacuum 40, on the other hand, is a commercial vacuum robot and is an ideal solution for narrow corridor aisles and carpet-tile flooring. With side brushes and an add-on mop, the automated floor cleaner can achieve simultaneous vacuuming and sweeping on carpets, as well as simultaneous sweeping and dry mopping on hard floors. Supported by 3D cameras, it can identify floor types and switch to the suitable cleaning mode autonomously.
Safety
“The pandemic increased the emphasis on cleaning and keeping cleaning workers safe. Robotic solutions can significantly reduce the manpower as well as the amount of time the cleaning team spends in germ prone areas. We are delighted to partner with Gausium, to bring to this market AI- powered solutions developed to deliver the highest level of autonomy possible,” stated Navin Narayan, CEO, Acme Intralog.
“The cleaning machines are designed to operate in complex environments with people, with utmost regard to safety. The cleaning route can be programmed into the robot, and it will follow the route with no human intervention required. If the machine needs assistance, it will notify the operator,” he added.
Gausium robots are capable of smart obstacle avoidance and rerouting, simultaneous scrubbing and sweeping, dust mopping, and other functions which are useful for facilities management, hospitality, healthcare, logistics, and other industries, the press statement concluded.
Leading Digital Ecosystem Players Highlight Major Digital Economy & Ecosystem Imperatives and Socio-Economic Benefits of Digital Transformation at the SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit 2023
SAMENA Telecommunications Council’s annual Leaders’ Summit of global and regional leaders, bringing market and government-sector representation from multiple continents, was held in Dubai on May 15th with the overall patronage of TDRA-UAE, partnership from the UAE Cyber Security Council for the event and the ITU. SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit 2023 had the leading collaboration of MOBILY, YANDEX, HUAWEI, strategic support from stc Group and Zain Group, as well as members’ ecosystem support of Avaya.
Under the theme “Sustainable Connectivity and Emerging Ecosystems in Digital Economy,” the Leaders’ Summit at Atlantis – The Palm, Dubai welcomed renowned regional and global private-sector players to delve into discussions centered on ICT Infrastructure Requirements in Emerging Markets, SA-ME-NA Digital Services Landscape & New Digital Enablers; Multi-Dimensional Approaches in Cybersecurity; Evolution of 5G Digital Technologies, Future Mobile and Metaverse based Life and Business, a need for New Frequency Allocations for Telecom Operators, Non-Terrestrial Network Integration, and overall Value-Creation, among other important subject areas.
Welcoming leaders of the Industry to the Leaders’ Summit 2023, a by-invitation-only industry leadership meeting in the region, Bocar BA, CEO & Board Member of SAMENA Council, stated: “This year’s Summit has attracted exceptional participation of stakeholders and privileged patronage and participation from UAE government bodies, including TDRA-UAE, as well as collaboration from the industry’s leading regional and international ICT bodies, including the ITU, GSMA, GCC governments, the United Nations Broadband Commission, Telecom Operators, particularly Mobily, Digital Platforms, and leading Technology Providers, such as Huawei. We anticipate achieving new milestones in industry collaboration and multi-stakeholder cooperation-building in pursuit of advocacy on behalf of the Industry.”
Mobily CEO, Eng. Salman Al Badran, who is also a Board Member of the SAMENA Council, stated: “Mobily is pleased to express its commitment to accelerating digital development and socio-economic progress in the region. As a major regional digital ecosystem player, having invested in the latest mobile technologies and being aware of the opportunities and challenges ahead, we strongly believe that sustainable connectivity and continued innovation are a requirement that we all must strive together to achieve. Dialogue continuously being enabled by SAMENA Council in the shape of Leaders’ Summit, serves as a great medium of support to Operators’ objectives.”
Huawei’s President of the Middle East & Central Asia, Steven Yi, stated: “We are stepping into the 5.5G era where all things are connected through intelligence, the value of connectivity is being unleashed, and the digital economy is booming. While increasing connectivity and digital innovation – as the foundation for digital transformation – will bring social-economic benefits to the region, new cybersecurity challenges will arise. Huawei calls for broad collaboration between all stakeholders to address the challenges and safeguard their digital future, as it is a shared responsibility that cannot be addressed by one person, organization or nation alone.”
“The ICT sector and, in particular, the 5.5G technological innovation that features full-scene IoT, L4 autonomous driving network, and green ICT will play a vital role in tackling sustainability needs of the Telecom industry and its contributions to other industries. Huawei is committed to innovation, and will actively work with industry and ecosystem partners to share its best practices to continuously drive the digital economy forward, and help telecom carriers and enterprises accelerate their digital transformation. We value the need to collaborate to achieve the region’s digital requirements that can speed up the arrival of an intelligent and sustainable future and SAMENA Leaders’ Summit 2023 is a platform, which supports stakeholders in adjusting to innovative realities and achieving sustainable digital development”, Yi added.
Since 2018, the SAMENA Council’s Leaders’ Summit has been focused on 5G, which has catalyzed a positive impact on 5G planning and development in the region, empowered cross-industry participation, as well as supported policy and regulatory consideration. The Summit has provided the SA-ME-NA region’s stakeholders visibility on what to expect and prepare for in the new Digital Age. In 2023, the Council aims to address the evolution of 5G digital technologies and 5.5G ecosystem development requirements, building 21st-century financial and telecom synergies, enabling digital competence and boost to the region’s digital economy, and supporting constructive enablement of a secure Cyberspace.
~Launched intra-city logistics services in the city with Light Commercial Vehicles, Two-wheelers~
~Plans to invest USD 50 million for international expansion in the next 5 years
Porter, India’s leading tech-based, on-demand logistics company has announced its first overseas expansion with entry to UAE offering intra-city logistics services in Dubai. The expansion comes under the company’s current plan to explore the GCC regions, and the Indian subcontinents. The logistics start-up, which is backed by some of the most renowned and active venture capital investors including Tiger Global, Sequoia and Lighrock India had earlier raised USD 100 Million in Series E funding for expanding operations.
The company will provide a tech-enabled platform to ensure hassle-free deliveries through its LCVs and 2-wheelers addressing the gap in intracity logistics requirements in the region for small package delivery requirements of both personal and businesses. Presently with more than 20,000 + customers onboard, Porter plans to make an investment of $6 million in UAE for the next 3 years. Additionally, the company is looking to bolster operations in these cities and further increase their customer acquisition by 2x to 40,000+ and vehicle base by 3.2x to 800+ by March 2024.
Porter offers cost-effective solutions that can help in improving lower vehicle utilisation, increasing the competence of the system, and ensuring the availability of appropriate vehicles for customer requirements. This will also result in efficient intracity logistics, lesser rates for customers and more earnings for driver-partners. The company currently has 300+ LCVs on the platform and recently introduced 15 two-wheelers to expand its operations in the region.
Pranav Goel, CEO & Co-Founder, Porter said, “We are thrilled to enter UAE as our first overseas market. Dubai being a global business hub, acts as an excellent facilitator for organisations that aim to establish their footprint in the region. We are thankful for all the business-friendly policies and infrastructure that the region has to offer and we expect to scale our business exponentially in the market. We further plan to invest USD 50 million into international expansion over the next 5 years. The expansion in UAE will catalyze the holistic growth of intra-city logistics ecosystem globally while also benefitting the local economy. We, at Porter are also actively focusing on generating employment opportunities for driver-partners and offering economical and efficient solutions backed by technology to the customers.”
“We are happy with the response that our platform has received and our learnings from the Indian market will help us in accelerating our growth in the UAE. Our model helps to bring efficiency into the system by addressing issues such as lower utilisation of vehicles, unavailability of the right vehicle type and the high cost for customers. This expansion should help provide a logistics solution for businesses as well as offer consumers direct control over their deliveries,” saidAnkit Dwivedi, AVP – International Business, Porter.
In April, during the holy month of Ramadan, Porter pledged to make a positive impact on the community by contributing iftar meals and clothes with every delivery. With this, Porter aimed at helping those in need by providing a healthy and fulfilling meal at the end of a long day of fasting.
The company looks forward to tapping more potential opportunities in the intra-city logistics segment in the future for scaling its business.
iSTYLE today announced that it will formally open UAE’s first Apple Premium Partner (APP) store on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 6 pm in Dubai Marina Mall (Level 1) with a grand opening event. The new Apple Premium Partner store is the perfect destination to shop the entire ecosystem of Apple Products and accessories in a spacious and welcoming environment. The store’s professional team speaks multiple languages to give customers the best-personalized service for all their Apple requirements.
“Established in 2005, iSTYLE has 13 Apple Premium Reseller stores in UAE, with Dubai Marina Mall being the first Apple Premium Partner store, taking the customer experience to the next level for all visitors. We cater to the needs of all types of customers, including business enterprises. We encourage you to drop by one of our stores, where iSTYLE’s professional team can tell you more about incorporating Apple hardware and software into your digital lifestyle” said Nicolas Daher, General Manager, iSTYLE- Middle East and North Africa.
“We conduct workshops, trainings, and group demo sessions regularly, where our customers can meet up, learn something new and share their experiences. Along with the products, we offer multiple services like AppleCare+, Trade-in & B2B solutions. The authorized Apple service center at the new store will take care of customers’ post-purchase requirements” said Julia Manzyuk, Retail Manager, iSTYLE UAE.
iSTYLE Apple Premium Partner runs more than 59 dedicated Apple points of sale in 12 countries (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa). iSTYLE is part of the Midis Group, which has over 50 years of experience representing the leading global technology vendors in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Further information about the new Apple Premium Partner store at Dubai Marina Mall can be found at the official website https://istyle.ae/ .
Pilot project to demonstrate the scalability of PCF data exchange
Together for Sustainability (TfS) and Siemens recently announced a partnership on decarbonization to advance the overall sustainability of the chemical industry.
TfS is a global initiative to promote sustainability in the chemical industry’s supply chain, consisting of 47 international companies, including some of the largest chemical groups.
Siemens, a leading technology company and supplier of automation and industrial software, will leverage the power of its Sigreen solution, a tool to track and manage product carbon footprint (PCF) and part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, a press communique indicated.
Combining expertise
In a pilot project, the two partners are combining their expertise and aim to demonstrate the scalability of PCF data exchange across an entire industry, which is a decisive step for decarbonizing the sector.
The Sigreen solution will be piloted and provide learnings for the exchange of PCF data in the chemical industry. It can then be deployed across the TfS members, contributing to further improve their expertise as pioneers in the PCF field.
Blueprint
“The partnership with TfS is a major step for the global chemical industry. We’re helping an entire sector become more sustainable! This is a blueprint for other industries,” affirmed Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG.
“Sigreen allows companies exchange emissions data from their supply chain securely and confidently. With this information, they can make better decisions to reduce their carbon footprint,” he added.
Data sharing solutions
“Sigreen will equip us with the solution for embedding our Product Carbon Footprint Guideline in operations at scale. TfS members, their suppliers and customers are looking forward to piloting the data sharing solution offered by Sigreen,” commented Bertrand Conquéret, President, Together for Sustainability.
Sigreen enables the secure and trustworthy exchange of PCF data throughout the supply chain. This information can then be combined with the data from a company’s own value creation processes to determine carbon footprints and enables companies to take targeted reduction measures with a quantifiable effect.
Deal to bring Electric Commercial Trucks to the UAE’s leasing market
Admiral Mobility, a company that provides accessible eMobility and energy charging solutions, has recently announced a major partnership with vehicle hire company, Avis, to bring electric commercial trucks to the leasing market in the UAE.
The strategic partnership represents a commitment to deliver the GCC’s largest rollout of electric commercial trucks, which will be leased to fleets across the UAE, a press statement indicated.
With a range of up to 220km, with full load, the zero emissions electric vehicle takes less than 90 minutes to fully charge via its efficient, and safe, liquid cooled CATL LFP battery. Advanced safety features include lane-keeping assist adapt cruise control, remote locking systems, high beam LED lights equipped with auto adaptation to the surrounding traffic, and of course, ease of comfort of driving.
“This commitment with AVIS UAE represents the largest rollout of EV trucks to be leased in the UAE to date. It is an exciting time to be partnering with a forward-thinking company the size of Avis, which has a major footprint in the commercial leasing market,” remarked Graham Bremer, General Manager, Admiral Mobility.
“The Electric commercial trucks in this agreement represent a step change in commercial fleets, by being the first of its kind available in its category, anywhere in the GCC. We are excited to be a launch partner for this vehicle,” commented Dominic Hagerty, General Manager, AVIS UAE.
Agreement to support LTLS’ logistics activities in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Logistics Services (SAL) and Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services (LTLS) have signed an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the recently concluded Transport Logistics Exhibition 2023 held in Munich, Germany.
Accordingly, SAL will collaborate and assist with all logistics activities of LTLS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Under the provisions of the MoU, SAL will provide freight forwarding, transportation, and customs brokerage services to support LTLS’ maintenance logistics operations for their key customers around the Kingdom.
This agreement marks the foundation of a strategic partnership between both parties, as they plan to explore other areas of cooperation in the future related to LTLS’ logistics activities in Saudi Arabia.
“We are excited about this partnership with Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services, which highlights our commitment as the National Logistics Champion to providing world-class logistics services to our partners and assures SAL’s dedicated role in complementing the National Transport and Logistics Strategy,” affirmed Faisal Al Bedah, CEO, SAL.
“With this cooperation, LTLS will enhance its presence in the Middle East, which is one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets. Thereby, we further strengthen our global logistics network, which ensures top-level logistics solutions to our aviation customers,” asserted Andreas Tielmann, Managing Director, LTLS.
GROHE SPA Portfolio and GROHE Blue Pure allow new benchmarks of individual expression.
The GROHE brand, part of LIXIL a global leader in complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has expanded its offerings to Kuwait through its premium sub-brand GROHE SPA and GROHE Blue Pure, enabling a new level of individual expression in the bathroom and kitchen environment.
Dedicated to progressive designs, fused with carefully selected colours, materials and finishes, the collection of GROHE SPA offers versatile customization options, according to a corporate press statement.
“We are delighted to bring this signature range of world-class products and smart solutions to our clients in Kuwait. Driven by redefining solutions, the GROHE SPA range features premium quality, cutting-edge technology, unrivalled precision, and progressive design,” asserted Alexy Bykov, Leader, Middle East, LIXIL EMENA.
The GROHE SPA portfolio ranges from elaborate faucet collections, customizable ceiling showers and intricate ceramics to complementary accessories.
Filtration
The unique GROHE Blue filter technology transforms ordinary tap water into fresh clean drinking water, removing the substances that can impair the taste and quality of the water like chlorine, biocides, pesticides, limescale, microplastics, bacteria or heavy metals, the press note continued.
GROHE launched GROHE SPA and GROHE Blue Pure in a private industry event held at Radisson Blu in Kuwait. The event was attended by regional brand representatives including designers, architects and project developers.
GROHE Blue Pure and GROHE SPA collections in limited colours are available across official retailers in Kuwait City, the press communique concluded.
Swisslog, a global leader in robotic, data-driven, and flexible automated solutions, has announced its participation in the upcoming Seamless Middle East 2023 – the region’s leading exhibition and conference exploring the future of digital commerce.
At Seamless Middle East 2023, Swisslog, which has already made its mark in the region with clients such as Mai Dubai, Robostores, Almarai, and Raha, will be showcasing AutoStore, with a spectacular live demo.AutoStore is a highly efficient robotic storage and order processing solution that integrates easily into existing buildings, designed to help retailers and e-commerce companies meet the growing demand for fast, accurate, and reliable order fulfilment while continuing to compress order cycles and delivery times.
The convenience of online shopping in the MENA region has led to a surge in demand for quick and reliable deliveries, putting pressure on warehouses to streamline their operations. Forward-thinking companies are turning to warehouse automation technology to optimise their processes and improve efficiency to keep up. Recent reports suggest that by 2025, autonomous robots will process up to 50% of alle-commerce orders, while the average order fulfilment time is projected to decrease from 4 hours to just 30 minutes by 2028.
In addition, the UAE is taking major strides towards becoming a global leader in therobotics and automation industry, aiming to increase the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) to 9%. The benefits of automation are clear, and the investment and effort required to implement these systems are worth it for their increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.
David Dronfield, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East, commented, “Seamless Middle East 2023 is a great platform for us to drive the message that automation is the prime force taking retailers and e-commerce marketplaces to new heights of success. One of our key USPs is the ease with which AutoStore and our other solutions can be implemented without impacting existing infrastructure, ensuring minimal downtime or disruption. Our tailored automation solutions improve order fulfilment, and accuracy, while significantly reducing operating costs. Our mission is to change the perception of automation in the Middle East and be at the forefront of this transformation.”
Swisslog’s automated solutions are at the forefront of effective smart warehousing and offer innovative ways for businesses across the Middle East to improve and streamline their operations. Their proven track record in the field of automation technology ensures that businesses can trust their expertise to provide tailored solutions that meet their unique needs. By embracing automation, businesses can stay ahead of the competition, improve their bottom line, and offer exceptional customer service.
Seamless Middle East 2023 is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from the 23rd to 24th of May 2023. To learn more about Swisslog’s innovative automation solutions, attendees can visit Booth R62.
Post-Covid GCC paper industry investments surge in excess of US$1.6 billion to cater to consumer demand growth
12th edition of Paper Arabia, the international exhibition on paper, tissue, paperboard and converting industry, will be held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre during May 16-18, 2023
Over 100 companies from 30 countries join the show to tap into the Middle East boom for paper products
The industry’s oldest and premium exhibition, Paper Arabia, is making a comeback in the backdrop of post-COVID new investments and expansions in the GCC paper industry surging in excess of US$ 1.6 billion in the last nearly two years.
At a media briefing today, spokespeople of Paper Arabia, organised by Dubai’s pioneer in events and expos, Al Fajer Information and Services, said a major share of these investments were in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in greenfield projects as well as in expansion of existing production facilities to cater to the growing consumer demand for paper products, particularly in packaging and hygiene.
“The paper industry in the Middle East has evolved over the years and it is now one of the world’s fastest growing markets. The COVID pandemic had brought in disruptions and production bottlenecks throwing in unprecedented challenges for paper mills across the world, but it also helped mushroom new opportunities in paper packaging and paper disposables, further fuelled by an e-commerce boom,” said Mr. Nadhal Mohamed, General Manager, Al Fajer Information & Services.
He said the relaunch of Paper Arabia comes in a growth context for the paper industry. “This is the 12th edition of Paper Arabia and the response have been robust with nearly 100 companies from 30 countries participating,” he said.
The B2B show will take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre during May 16-18, 2023. Saudi Paper Group, the Middle East’s biggest tissue manufacturer are the principal sponsors of the show. The group have been unwaveringly supporting Paper Arabia since 2007.
The growth of the Middle East paper industry investments also comes in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war which is a cause of concern for Europe with implications on the energy-intensive paper industry.
The demand for paper and pulp products in the Middle East and Africa market is being driven by the increased demand for green packaging solutions, and according to a research entity, Mordor Intelligence, the market is poised to touch US$28.72 billion in the next five years, growing at a CAGR of 3.28 per cent.
“Consumer attitudes and preferences have changed, and in the recent times, health and hygiene conscious consumers have fuelled the market for paper packaging and disposables like tissues with per capita consumption of these products on the rise,” said Mr. Naveen Seth, Assistant Secretary, PHD Chamber of Commerce, India.
Increasing environmental awareness is also driving the growth of paper products with governments in the region, particularly the UAE, clamping restrictions on the use of non-renewable products like single-use plastics, he said, adding that 30 companies taking part in the exhibition at the India Pavilion.
The growth of the packaging industry has also grown with e-commerce boom, and data from Statista for the UAE estimates that e-commerce now accounts for some 7 per cent of the retail spend.
France-headquartered supply chain software and technology company Savoye’s stated objective is to develop the supply chain sector by simplifying the management of complex systems while offering better service, greater efficiency and reduced costs.
The company prides itself in its product offerings from order placement to delivery, cloud services to packaging. Savoye experts design and integrate tailor-made solutions for Supply Chain and logistics operations.
Savoye’s wide range of services, developed over 35 years since its inception, extends from order picking to automated storage, including supply chain management software, according to a company post.
To bring us to current on technological advances at Savoye Middle East and to get the lowdown on other corporate developments, Global Supply Chain conducted a one-on-one, exclusive, exhaustive interview with Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director, Savoye Middle East.
The following are the transcripts of the engagement.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly trace the corporate journey of Savoye from its inception and its forays in the Middle East?
Alain Kaddoum (AK): Savoye launched its office in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, as part of our endeavours to expand and diversify our portfolio. We have benefited greatly from the strategic geographic location of the nation and its sophisticated logistics network, which allowed us to strengthen our position in the regional markets.
We further strive to support the national initiatives aimed at fostering industrial activity in line with the UAE Industrial Strategy 2030. Our primary goal of penetrating the UAE market was to introduce and showcase our best solutions to the region’s logistics and supply chain hub.
Our innovative and customised solution, ODATiO, which can combine a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and an Order Management System (OMS), is one of the latest advanced solutions we introduced to the region, along with our tailormade Goods-To-Person and allied robotics solutions.
Furthermore, in major breakthroughs, we forged strategic alliances with New East General Trading in 2023 and Incube in 2021, both of which represent a significant milestone for the company. By participating in several major events and awards, we were successful in raising awareness in the logistics and supply chain industry on technologies and software solutions required in the present age to modernise and accelerate operations and activities.
As part of our mission to expand our footprint in the Middle East, we have entered the KSA market this year, adhering to our pledge to be closer to our customers and offer professional expertise and cutting-edge solutions. We aim to innovate and offer the best solutions to the region’s ever-evolving logistics sector.
GSC: You were appointed Managing Director for Savoye Middle East in August 2021. What is your assessment of the company’s performance in the region under your helm?
AK: I was appointed as the Managing Director of Savoye in 2021 and my professional journey in this company has been incredible as I gained new experiences and skills. Increasing our team’s capabilities and coordination has been a top priority as I firmly believe that progress begins with the workforce.
Together, we embarked on numerous endeavours and continued attending events to raise awareness of our products, as well as network with potential clients and forge new contracts. We are pleased that we were able to establish new and strategic partnerships in both the KSA and the UAE.
At Savoye, we prioritise employee empowerment through training, skill development, and foster a working environment that values and appreciates their efforts, as employee performances have a direct influence on company’s overall growth and success. The incredible success and achievements we have achieved so far could be attributed to our dedicated team.
Our accomplishments define the relentless efforts of our team who work towards a common goal to offer our customers sustainable and innovative solutions. Through this journey towards achieving success, we have realised that prioritising our organisation’s strengths and competencies can lead to remarkable development.
GSC: How have Savoye ME’s priorities and expectations been rearranged and what kind of new demands or pressures are now being put on your business post pandemic?
AK: The effects of pandemic have been huge, bringing widespread economic transformations as well as restructuring and revolutionising industries across the spectrum. The growing demand in the e-commerce industry has driven clients to alter and transform their logistical processes to meet the increasing demand.
Owing to its prominent role in the global economy, the supply chain and logistics sector has experienced numerous difficulties. The pandemic brought about numerous obstacles and hurdles for the sector. Organisations were also under constraints due to the rising demand for sustainable integration, the expansion of e-commerce, and shifting trends.
The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated the need to value digital resiliency. Companies across industries are making investments in cutting-edge technologies, embracing and adopting digital innovations and automation, as it increases the competitive advantage of every business.
Automation is an ideal way to cut carbon emissions and maintain sustainable business models to satisfy the growing sustainability demands of consumers and the requirement for businesses to be environmentally responsible in their operations.
To handle the complexity of logistics operations, Savoye prioritises the creation of advanced and sustainable supply chain solutions. As a provider of logistics solutions, we work to meet the problems faced by our clients by balancing the investments made in procedures, organisations, and technologies. Innovative solutions that meet consumer expectations, enhance services, promote cost savings, and reduce environmental risks are necessary owing to the changing business environment.
Top of Form
GSC: Savoye ME is a leader in robotics / software …what do you count among your strengths and USPs-unique selling propositions?
AK: We possess extensive experience and expertise in design and execution of software and robotic solutions for logistics operations. Utilising our vast knowledge, we offer a diverse range of solutions that are tailored to meet each client’s demands. Furthermore, we highly prioritise environmental sustainability dedicated to offering sustainable logistics solutions that lower carbon emissions and help create a sustainable business model.
Our end-to-end solutions could be seamlessly integrated to fit into our clients’ current systems, streamlining installation procedures and reducing any potential hitches. To keep up with the evolving logistics sector and stay current with the advancements within the landscape, we further research and develop innovative technologies and solutions. Our capability for innovation and staying one step ahead of the competition is a strong USP for clients on the lookout for progressive and strategic partners.
Our global outreach includes projects in over 40 different nations across the globe. Our network enables us to offer comprehensive logistical solutions customised to meet local demands and specifications.
GSC: How important is automation for the logistics in the Middle East and what trends are you observing in the region?
AK: The demand for more streamlined and effective logistics operations is increasing as e-commerce in the region expands significantly. A trend we have noticed globally is the rise of robotic and piece handling automation in logistics operations and activities.
Automated systems are capable of boosting sorting and packaging process accuracy, minimising labour costs, and increasing operational efficiency. Automated vehicles such as drones and self-driving delivery robots are increasingly becoming popular in the last-mile delivery services and operations.
Utilisation of ground-breaking digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to streamline and increase efficacy of logistical operations is another major emerging global trend in the sector. IoT-enabled sensors provides real-time data and location of shipments, while AI-powered algorithms help forecast demand and optimise routes. Usage of such technologies improve supply chain’s visibility and control, in addition to enhancing overall customer experience.
We believe that to efficiently handle the rising demand for e-commerce and streamline logistical procedures, automation is essential for the Middle East logistics sector.
GSC: What opportunities and challenges confront Savoye ME in a competitive ambience?
AK: The world is significantly disrupted by advanced technologies, given its heavy reliance on digital solutions, and we are confident that there exists a tremendous opportunity for us to network with businesses and raise awareness on technologies that could transform their companies, as well as offer them our solutions.
Even though plenty of businesses are currently emerging in the market providing solutions similar to ours, Savoye distinguishes apart in this regard by constantly innovating and presenting new solutions that are unique to the sector.
For instance, at Savoye, we use one of our ground-breaking solutions, the ODATiO software, to address the complexity of the logistics systems. The warehouse and transportation management systems in this multipurpose solution are intended to improve productivity and communication.
We offer businesses the ability to manage their storage space, assure precise tracking of product arrival and departure, and assess the amount of fuel needed to ship the items using ODATiO. Similarly, our order management systems, robotic assistance, and packing equipment assist in meeting technological requirements of the sector. Through these, we address environmental challenges as well as keep our clients informed and on top of the ever-changing business landscape.
GSC: Savoye ME recently signed a contract with New East General Trading. Tell us more.
AK: We partnered with the New East General Trading L.L.C., a prominent regional distributor of automotive components, to supply automated solutions to the company’s Dubai Distribution Centre. This is a significant milestone for both companies as we work together to foster innovation and boost efficiency in the spare parts supply chain industry while raising the benchmarks for automated solutions in the Middle East.
By integrating our highly advanced Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACR) solution—the first of its kind to be used in the Middle East—we aim to automate the New East’s distribution centre and simplify complex internal systems. This cutting-edge solution is based on Savoye’s Pick-To-Light technology, Haipick Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACR), and Intelis conveyors.
The entire system is overseen by the Savoye Warehouse Execution Software (WES), which synchronises robots and conveyors with customer procedures in the most efficient manner. Our ground-breaking ACR solution is intended to revolutionise the supply chain industry by streamlining complicated internal systems and providing better services. Furthermore, the New East company will boost the efficacy of automotive parts trade between the UAE and other GCC countries.
GSC: What is the extent of Savoye ME’s participation in the upcoming Seamless Middle East 2023 and what do you hope to accomplish at the event?
AK: Participating in major events is an ideal opportunity to network and interact directly with other businesses as well as leaders to form meaningful alliances. We are confident that the Seamless Middle East 2023 will provide such an opportunity, further providing an excellent venue to showcase and raise awareness about our range of cutting-edge solutions in the sector and illustrate how they work.
For this year’s event, we aim to strengthen our ties with several major corporations, broaden our audience, and inform many new and up-and-coming businesses on improving their supply chain and logistics operations. We will also showcase at our stand one of our state-of-the-art robotic solutions for retail and e-commerce industries.
GSC: What new technologies will you be highlighting or introducing at Seamless ME 2023?
AK: During the Seamless ME 2023, we intend to showcase one of our state-of-the-art robotic solutions for retail and e-commerce industries. We will install at our booth a live demo system of our latest ACR solutions by Savoye.
The ACR system offers high scalability and flexibility which can be ideal for growing and evolving businesses. This innovative solution managed by our WES software, offers easy and seamless integration possibilities either with customer’s existing WMS or through our ODATiO WMS module.
Visitors will also have the possibility to experience our advanced supply chain execution software throughout look and feel demo sessions. In addition, we will have a special focus on our high-speed automated technologies such as our X-PTS shuttle solution which is designed to ergonomically address high throughput and high volumes requirements.
GSC: Generically, how important is technology in your business and how is Savoye staying ahead of the innovation curve?
AK: Our company is primarily centred on technology. It is what we create and innovate in. To keep abreast of innovations, we make significant investments in research and development as well as forge partnerships with various technological companies. At Savoye, we are committed to sustainability.
It is our key priority in and therefore, we invest in cutting-edge technologies that lower carbon footprint and promote environmentally friendly logistics operations. In addition, our global presence provides us with information about new technologies and trends in logistics, which we efficiently utilise in crafting our development goals and strategies.
GSC: What are your expansion plans for the company for the foreseeable future in the region?
AK: Currently, we are expanding to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We plan to extend our presence to other GCC countries as well. However, our primary vision, as well as a challenge, is to penetrate the ASEAN region. In addition, we are also working towards growing our suite of intralogistics solutions.
GSC: Who are among the top three performing countries in the region for Savoye ME?
AK: We clearly see high demand for warehouse automation and supply chain execution software in UAE and KSA. These two countries are traditionally dominating the region in terms of demand and number of automated projects installed. Both cater for almost 90% of the GCC automation market volume.
We also have high hopes on Kuwait market where we start seeing few initiatives of warehouse automation there. Last but not the least, recently Qatar had an extraordinary exposure worldwide during the World Cup 2022 which we believe will boost the tourism in 2023, generate more business opportunities and lead to an increase in supply chain demand that can be translated in more inquiries for automated warehouses in the country.
GSC: How significant is the region for Savoye?
AK: As a leading provider of cutting-edge supply chain solutions that make use of automation, robots, and software, we firmly believe that we will experience a substantial demand for our services in the Middle East since the region’s retail, pharma, spare parts and e-commerce sectors are expanding significantly.
In addition, the region serves as a vital logistical hub due to its strategic location at the intersection of major trade routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Businesses in the region can leverage our expertise in end-to-end logistics solutions that seamlessly integrate with their current systems to streamline operations and increase visibility of supply chains.
AK: At Savoye, we believe that our unwavering dedication to promoting sustainability and digital technology is the key to success in the region. Since Middle Eastern companies are increasingly looking for environmentally friendly and technologically advanced logistics solutions, we are concentrating heavily on enhancing our sustainability efforts.
We anticipate entering partnerships with multiple new companies in 2023, especially considering our recent cooperation with New East General Trading and other major organisations in the region. Furthermore, we are looking forward to accelerating our drive for innovation to deliver better and more advanced solutions.
Both parties to advance hydrogen technology innovation
ADNOC and Baker Hughes recently announced an agreement to accelerate the development and commercialization of technology solutions for green and low-carbon hydrogen, as well as graphene.
The agreement will see ADNOC collaborate with Baker Hughes as a strategic partner to study and pilot, the deployment of innovative solutions from Baker Hughes’ hydrogen portfolio.
These include new growth stage decarbonization technologies Baker Hughes has invested in across graphene, methane pyrolysis and next-generation electrolysis spaces.
Decarbonization
“We look forward to working in partnership with Baker Hughes, and its venture companies, as part of our continuing journey to transform, decarbonize, and future proof the way we provide energy to the world,” remarked Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Executive Director, Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth Directorate.
Within the agreement, ADNOC will leverage Baker Hughes’ extensive hydrogen expertise and broad portfolio to test and develop solutions to produce low-cost green hydrogen and graphene at scale, helping to decarbonize operations.
Climate technology solutions
“We are proud to support ADNOC on its continuing journey to deploy new climate technology solutions that can advance the global energy transition,” commented Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO, Baker Hughes.
“Collaboration is crucial to supporting and accelerating the growth of low carbon energy This agreement is a further testament to Baker Hughes’ strategy and commitment toward transforming the energy industry to support global climate change goals,” he added.
Baker Hughes has been a longstanding strategic partner to ADNOC, deploying advanced technologies and solutions across the energy value chain, a press communique concluded.
Estimated to handle US$ 27.25mn worth of gems and jewellery in 2023
Transguard has recently signed an exclusive deal with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), the autonomous, apex body of the industry with more than 9,000 members.
With this deal, Transguard will provide end-to-end logistics support – from round-the-clock transportation and door-to-door services to vault management and the safe storage of diamonds and jewellery.
As part of the agreement, Transguard will fully insure all exhibitors’ products stored in the vault. The team is expected to handle diamonds, jewellery and gems worth around AED 100mn (US$ 27.25mn) this year, with exponential growth predicted in the next three years as trade between India and Dubai continues to boom.
Exhibitors visiting Dubai can expect a seamless Customs process. Through Transguard’s unique arrangement with Dubai Customs, duty and VAT will be collected, only on sold items, at the end of the exhibition, a press communique stated.
“We’re extremely proud of being involved with the very first shipment that arrived in Dubai under the CEPA agreement. Our partnership with GJEPC is a bellwether of the larger and growing India-UAE trade ties, which will further boost both economies,” commented Rabie Atie, Senior Vice President, Transguard.
“Transguard was the obvious choice, being a Dubai Government entity who is renowned in the UAE as a reliable provider of business support and outsourcing services,” remarked Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC.
Attains zero-waste, net-zero emissions in first year of operations
The Sharjah Waste-to-Energy (SWTE) plant, a first-of-its-kind project in the Middle East, has achieved multiple landmark milestones since its inauguration a year ago. Tied to the Sharjah electrical grid, the plant has generated enough energy to power over 2,000 homes per year while offsetting 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Around 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE come from household and industrial waste decomposing in landfills. Since inauguration, the plant has processed over 100,000 tonnes of waste, equivalent to the waste produced by 180,000 people per year and recovered over 250 tonnes of metal during its operations. As a result, Sharjah has achieved a new record in its zero-waste to landfill journey, achieving a waste diversion rate of 90 percent.
Inaugurated in May 2022, the Sharjah Waste-to-Energy plant is a project of the Emirates Waste-to-Energy joint venture between BEEAH Group, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies.
“The Sharjah Waste-to-Energy plant demonstrates how clean energy can not only help meet energy demand, but also recover valuable material and tackle the mounting challenge of waste in growing cities across the Middle East,” commented Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO, BEEAH Group.
The plant is ramping up operations to produce 30 MW of power annually, while processing 300,000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise go to landfill. Over a 12-month period, the plant is capable of offsetting 450,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“We look forward to boosting R&D investment in waste-to-energy projects and working with BEEAH to further accelerate the reduction of global carbon emissions and divert waste from landfills,” remarked Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.
Vessel design to enable up to 30% reduction in CO2 emissions, in line with ADNOC L&S commitment to decarbonize its operations
Innovative unmanned vessels to be equipped with industry-leading automation and self-navigation technology to enhance offshore logistics offering
Agreement was signed at the UAE Climate Tech Forum
ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S), the shipping and maritime logistics arm of ADNOC, announced today it has signed an agreement with SeaOwl for the design of unmanned Remotely Operated Vessels (ROV) capable of transporting vehicles, equipment and supplies to and from offshore sites. The agreement was signed by Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S and Xavier Génin, CEO of SeaOwl at the UAE Climate Tech Forum organized by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
The innovative design of the ROV will reduce carbon emissions up to 30% as the vessel will be lighter and smaller, as facilities for a crew are not required. In addition, the smart automation systems will optimize routing and propulsion, further decarbonizing ADNOC L&S’ offshore operations in support of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and ADNOC’s 2030 Sustainability Agenda.
Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S said: “A strategic commitment to sustainability and innovation plays a crucial role in ADNOC L&S’ ability to serve its customers. The vessel is another example of this commitment as we leverage the latest technology to optimize our maritime operations, reduce our carbon footprint and improve safety while increasing efficiency.”
The design for the 55 meters long ROV will allow the vessels to be operated from an onshore control room through a satellite link using the latest automation and self-navigation technology. The design will utilize state of the art artificial intelligence systems to control propulsion, dynamic positioning, remote communication and cyber security.
SeaOwl, a French company specializing in the automation and digitalization of maritime services, will design the vessel, oversee its construction, and facilitate navigation permits. Seaowl will partner with Bureau Veritas (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, to facilitate obtaining the necessary navigation permits from the UAE maritime transportation affairs.
Xavier Génin, CEO of SeaOwl said: “After the success of our Proof of Concept supported by the French Government, we are delighted to join forces with ADNOC L&S to bring a new era of sustainable logistics operations through digital automatization. This project will create strong ties with the UAE industrial landscape, as we plan to engage many other UAE players in this exciting journey.”
This design will improve safety and reduce operational costs as the vessels will be able to operate in harsher conditions with no exposure to seafarers.
Upon construction, the ROVs will join ADNOC L&S’ large and diverse fleet of modern and technologically advanced vessels. Combined with its 1.5 million square meter logistics base in Abu Dhabi and its integrated logistics capabilities, ADNOC L&S is one of the region’s largest shipping and integrated logistics companies.
The company will augment freight forwarding with cargo charter operations
Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), one of India’s largest integrated logistics solutions providers, has announced commencement of Cargo Charter operations in the Middle East, headquartered in Dubai.
MLL is part of India’s Mahindra Group and provides technology enabled integrated solutions for 3PL, Express and cross-border supply chain management. The company provides freight forwarding and related value-added services, serves over 55 lanes across the world.
With this launch, the company will augment freight forwarding with cargo charter operations partnering with customers in Electronics, Consumer Durables, Pharma and Engineering.
The choice of Dubai, UAE as the hub for its global charter operations bears strategic importance. Over the past few decades, UAE has emerged as India’s third largest trading partner in the year 2021-22. Dubai has also emerged as a global and regional trading hub. Mahindra Logistics will service the large Middle East region from its Dubai operations.
Neutral player
As a neutral player entering the global air cargo charter business, the company will offer dedicated aircrafts, enhanced transit time, and the expertise in end market solution development, integration with other logistics services and a strong technology interface.
“The business expands our cross-border logistics business, in addition to our current freight forwarding business, providing our customers enhanced service options. The UAE, and Dubai, provide us a great launchpad to develop the business,” affirmed Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Logistics. “The charter business will be an independent division serving customers and partners across multiple vertical and geographies. We estimate this will significantly enhance our integrated solutions portfolio in line with our long-term business objectives,” assertedSaurav Chakraborty, Head – Global Cross Border Solutions, Mahindra Logistics Limite
Mahindra Logistics launches Int‘l Cargo Charter operations in the ME
The company will augment freight forwarding with cargo charter operations
Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), one of India’s largest integrated logistics solutions providers, has announced commencement of Cargo Charter operations in the Middle East, headquartered in Dubai.
MLL is part of India’s Mahindra Group and provides technology enabled integrated solutions for 3PL, Express and cross-border supply chain management. The company provides freight forwarding and related value-added services, serves over 55 lanes across the world.
With this launch, the company will augment freight forwarding with cargo charter operations partnering with customers in Electronics, Consumer Durables, Pharma and Engineering.
The choice of Dubai, UAE as the hub for its global charter operations bears strategic importance. Over the past few decades, UAE has emerged as India’s third largest trading partner in the year 2021-22. Dubai has also emerged as a global and regional trading hub. Mahindra Logistics will service the large Middle East region from its Dubai operations.
Neutral player
As a neutral player entering the global air cargo charter business, the company will offer dedicated aircrafts, enhanced transit time, and the expertise in end market solution development, integration with other logistics services and a strong technology interface.
“The business expands our cross-border logistics business, in addition to our current freight forwarding business, providing our customers enhanced service options. The UAE, and Dubai, provide us a great launchpad to develop the business,” affirmed Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director & CEO, Mahindra Logistics. “The charter business will be an independent division serving customers and partners across multiple vertical and geographies. We estimate this will significantly enhance our integrated solutions portfolio in line with our long-term business objectives,” assertedSaurav Chakraborty, Head – Global Cross Border Solutions, Mahindra Logistics Limited.
Partnership to meet the rising demand for e-commerce in the Middle East and Europe.
Saudia Cargo has signed a new 12-month ‘Space and Service Commitment’ agreement with Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of the Alibaba Group.
The one-year agreement, commencing 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, reserves exclusively selected SACC freighter flights from Hong Kong to Riyadh and Liege, the carrier said via a press communiqué.
The signing of the new agreement in Munich demonstrates Saudia Cargo’s continuing commitment to offering tailor-made solutions to one of the leading E-com retailers in the world.
Ongoing commitment
“This new agreement is a testament to our ongoing commitment to delivering reliable and efficient air freight services to one of the world’s leading ecommerce logistics corporations,” affirmed Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Saudia Cargo.
“We have increased our capacity and number of cargo flights to destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America to ensure we continue to meet the rising demand for e-commerce,” commented Vikram Vohra, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Saudia Cargo.
Saudia Cargo’s partnership with Cainiao is a win-win situation for both parties, as it provides Cainiao with increased access to Middle Eastern markets and allows Saudia Cargo to benefit from the growing global e-commerce market. The new agreement is a testament to the strong partnership and successful cooperation between the two companies, the press statement continued.
Exclusive reservation
“Our partnership with Saudia Cargo is a vital part of our business strategy, and we are thrilled to be expanding it further. By reserving exclusive space for their shipments on select Saudia Cargo freighter flights, we can ensure that our cargo is transported with the utmost care and efficiency,” asserted Wu Man, General Manager, Cainiao International Air Logistics Department.
This new agreement is a testament to Saudia Cargo’s commitment to providing tailor-made solutions to one of the world’s leading ecommerce retailers. As it continues to grow its partnership with Cainiao, Saudia Cargo is also exploring new lanes from Hong Kong and China to the Middle East, Africa, and possibly Latin America in the long term, the press note concluded.
Acquisition enables Deliverect to extend omnichannel solutions for the restaurant industry
Deliverect, a global scale-up that integrates and accelerates online orders for restaurants, recently announced today that it has acquired ChatFood, a leader in social media ordering, order and pay at table, and loyalty solutions.
This acquisition provides the restaurant industry with a unified solution to enable profitable growth and exceptional experiences, including social, dine-in QR, and direct channel ordering, as well as online food delivery, according to a press communique.
Together Deliverect and ChatFood serve over 43,000 restaurants and food service businesses around the world and power over 300 million orders in 42 markets. ChatFood’s strength is in the Gulf region with more than 3,000 food service locations relying on their technology.
“With ChatFood, we now provide a 360-degree solution inspired by the challenges our customers face, supporting them both with in-restaurant dining and online food delivery,” remarked Zhong Xu, CEO and co-founder, Deliverect.
When restaurants invest in social media ordering technology specifically, they can better understand, connect with, and engage their customers directly to grow repeat business and stand out from competition, the press statement continued.
“We’ve had an opportunity to observe Deliverect’s values and dedication to their customers through our existing integration and long-standing partnership. We recognised that their approach aligned with our own,” commented Ben Mouflard, CEO and co-founder, ChatFood.
“The acquisition of ChatFood is an important step for Deliverect in MENA in particular, given the company’s notable presence and success in the region” noted Naji Haddad, General Manager-MENA, Deliverect.
Announces two new Boeing 747-F leases which add immediate capacity
Emirates SkyCargo has added two Boeing 747-400Fs to its freighter fleet, showing its strong confidence in the global cargo market in a current environment of volatility, the carrier revealed in a press communique.
The cargo division of Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is expecting 15 more freighters to join its fleet from announced orders and its freighter conversion program, plus a boost in belly-hold capacity from new passenger aircraft deliveries starting with Airbus A350s in late summer 2024, followed by 777-Xs the year after.
Over the next decade, Emirates SkyCargo expects to double its existing capacity, add over 20 new destinations to its freighter network, and offer even more flexibility and services to its customers with a fleet mix of over 300 wide-body aircraft comprising: 777s, 777-Fs, 747-Fs, A350s, and A380s, the press statement continued.
“We believe even these additional planes will not be sufficient. By then, we’ll have the MRO set-up to quickly and efficiently scale-up our freighter conversion program if we needed to,” remarked Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo.
Secured on a long-term wet-lease basis, the 2 Boeing 747-Fs complement Emirates SkyCargo’s existing fleet of 11 Boeing 777 freighters and are currently being deployed to Chicago three times weekly, and to Hong Kong nine times weekly, the press statement concluded.
Kale Logistics Solutions, a global leader in IT solutions for logistics industry, today released its study report on airport sustainability titled Kale Shaping Sustainability at Airports at the Air Cargo Europe (Transport Logistic) 2023 event in Munich, Germany. This is the first study by the organization which is committed to drive a sustainable future for the logistics industry.
Kale conducted an industry-wide study to understand the impact of technology on airports and its allied community sustainability outcomes. The global study measured improvements at airport level on operational efficiency, visibility, truck congestion, carbon emissions and physical paper utility.
As per the report, technology can save $9 billion for the industry with approximately 16,000 gallons of carbon emissions being cut per airport. Cargo Community platforms have the potential to save 2000-3000 gallons of fuel being saved with lower truck wait times annually at an airport and a hector of forest saved every year with paperless operations.
Amar More, CEO and Co-Founder of Kale Logistics Solutions said, “Sustainability matters more than ever, our technology enabled strategy is helping power the logistics industry to march forward on the path of sustainability.”
“The study’s promising outcome gives us hope that the industry is moving in the right direction. Some exciting facts mentioned in this report will surprise industry patrons and stakeholders. There is no other better platform than Messe München’s Air Cargo Europe to bring these findings out. Team Kale is excited to launch the valuable insights gathered from this study.”
It is a notable fact that Kale’s Cargo Community System, Cargo Management System, and other point solutions have delivered carbon-neutral operations across more than 100 airports and ports globally.
The province of Gelderland has awarded Keolis Nederland the operation and maintenance contract for the rail service running between Amersfoort (Utrecht province) and Ede-Wageningen (Gelderland province), in the centre of the country. The 13-year contract will start in December 2023, generating €150 million in revenue over its duration. During the first two years, the trains will be modernised and redesigned to run under the brand RRReis1.
The 34-kilometre intercity rail line known as Valleilijn serves eight stations. The network’s seven electric trains and 35 employees will be taken over by Keolis as of 10 December 2023. During the first two years of the contract, the trains will be renovated to improve both passenger comfort (wider, more comfortable seats) and journey quality (more powerful Wi-Fi, USB connection points and power outlets). Passenger flows will be optimised by rearranging the train layout and increasing the number of seats.
As well as comfort and timetable reliability, Keolis will focus on the quality of passenger information. The trains will be fitted with an information system located on the outside of the trains to indicate occupancy rates in real time (green, orange, and red). Inside the carriages, a green light above the seats will indicate which seats are free. In addition, to allow for a smoother passenger journey, Keolis will recruit new employees, some of whom will be responsible for passenger service and safety.
Established in the Netherlands since 1999, Keolis is, with this new contract, developing its footprint in the country. The Group already operates the bus networks of the cities of Almere, the province of Utrecht and the Twente region, and three rail networks in the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed opens the world’s largest airport event amidst increased optimism
22nd edition of Airport Show attracts 150 exhibitors from 20 countries
Also open Airport Security Middle East, ATC Forum and the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum, Women in Aviation Middle East Anniversary Conference
Participants are bullish about growth prospects of the industry
The 22nd edition of Airport Show was opened in Dubai today amidst brighter outlook for complete and sustainable recovery, growth of passenger demand and focus on future mobility, sustainable infrastructure and innovation.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group inaugurated this morning the annual Airport Show, the world’s largest airport event, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which will run from 9 to 11 May 2023.
His Highness said: “The airport industry has come back almost to its full strength and picked up the lost growth momentum in most parts of the world. The construction of new airports and expansion and upgrading of existing facilities has gained pace to ensure airports meet the future demand as well as the needs and expectations of travelers.”
After opening, His Highness toured the exhibitors’ pavilions, during which he was accompanied by a number of senior officials from the aviation sector, where he
was briefed on the technologies and devices showcased by more than 150 international companies from 20 countries around the world.
His Highness added: “As the region’s airports look to maintain their status as top global hubs and attract a growing number of travelers, they are investing in the latest of technologies and concepts – biometrics, the Internet of Things, and more recently AI – to deliver an airport experience that exceeds the expectations of their customers, makes aviation sustainable, and keep them ahead of the competition.”
The trade show with the theme, ‘Together in Innovating Future Sustainable Airports,’ is the world’s largest annual airport industry B2B platform. This year more than 100 hosted buyers are expected to clinch substantial deals.
Exhibitors from the US, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Turkey, Netherlands, China, Belgium, Korea and Sweden and several other countries including the host, UAE, are showcasing the latest innovative products and technologies to make the aviation industry safe and sustainable, enhance efficiency and passengers experience with the expected increase in passenger numbers and aviation industry growth.
Emitting only water vapor, hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks will be an important part of Volvo Trucks’ zero exhaust emission product portfolio. Now, the vehicles have passed an important milestone – namely, being test-driven on public roads.
Last year, Volvo Trucks showcased its fuel cell electric trucks for the first time. These zero exhaust emission trucks use hydrogen to produce their own electricity onboard, can travel long distances, making them suitable for longer transport assignments.
Now, the trucks have been tested on public roads for the first time. But not just any public road. To make it extra-challenging, the tests have been conducted above the Arctic Circle in the north of Sweden – in an extremely cold climate.
“Trucks are operating seven days a week and in all types of weather. The harsh conditions on public roads in northern Sweden, with ice, wind and lots of snow, make an ideal testing environment,” says Helena Alsiö, VP Powertrain Product Management at Volvo Trucks. “I am pleased to say that the tests are going well, confirming tests we carried out beforehand, both digitally and on our confined test track close to Gothenburg.”
Fuel cell electric trucks powered by hydrogen will be especially suitable for longer distances and when using only batteries isn’t an option: for example, in rural areas with no charging infrastructure.
Commercially available in the second half of this decade Volvo currently offers the industry´s broadest product line-up of battery electric trucks, with six models in series production, catering to a very wide variety of transports in and between cities.
The fuel cell electric trucks will be available in the second half of this decade. Tests with hauliers will start a few years before the commercial launch.
To speed up the development, Volvo Group has joined forces with Daimler to develop and produce fuel cell systems that are tailor-made for heavy-duty vehicles.
Possible to cut CO2 already today For hauliers who want to offer zero exhaust emission transport already, Volvo Trucks currently offers six different battery electric models as well as trucks that run on renewable fuels, such as biogas.
“We need to act now in order to stop global warming. Regardless of the transport assignments or where in the world our customers are operating, waiting is not an option. In a few years, our customers will be able to completely eliminate CO2 exhaust emissions from their trucks,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Stephen Roy has been appointed as a new member of Volvo Group´s Executive Board and President of Mack Trucks. He will succeed Martin Weissburg, who will retire after a long and successful career within the Volvo Group.
Stephen Roy began his Volvo Group career in 1996 and currently holds the position of Head of Region North America, Volvo Construction Equipment. Prior to his current role he has held many senior positions in the company, including within Mack Trucks and the Group’s North American truck organization.
Martin Weissburg has served as a member of the Volvo Group Executive Board for over a decade and has been leader of Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Construction Equipment and Mack Trucks. He will now join the Board of Nova Bus.
Stephen Roy will take on his new position as of June 1st, 2023.
Aim to extend product lifecycle and reduce e-waste.
Cartlow has launched a new catalogue retail experience providing customers with a seamless and adaptable shopping journey through its app-based digital catalogue. Customers can explore a diverse range of pre-loved products, including electronics, toys, home, and lifestyle items, and select their preferred items from top brands such as Apple, Samsung, and Huawei. Unlike traditional online shopping, the new experience allows customers to view the item conditions physically, enabling informed purchasing decisions through a tactile and hands-on approach.
Cartlow’s catalogue retail experience is the first of its kind in the MENA region, providing customers with an innovative solution that helps to extend the lifecycles of products and reduce e-waste. Since inception, the platform has sold over 2 million products, resulting in a groundbreaking contribution to saving over 6 million kg of e-waste and 36 million kg of carbon emissions.
Mohammad Sleiman, Founder and CEO, has expressed the company’s commitment to sustainability and continuous innovation in the reverse logistics industry, through which the company aims to provide better solutions to its partners and customers.
Cartlow’s has had a significant impact on the shopping scene, with products up to 80% cheaper than the retail price. Additionally, the platform holds an international standard certification, demonstrating its commitment to environmentally responsible recycling practices.
As the platform continues to grow and expand its offerings, it is expected to become a major player in the global reverse logistics market, which is projected to reach $958 billion in 2028.
The deal provides Saudi exporters with greater access to the world markets
FedEx Express recently signed a collaboration agreement with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the ‘Made in Saudi’ programme, to be one of the logistics solutions providers for the authority’s customers.
The ‘Made in Saudi’ programme is one of the National Industrial Development and Logistics (NIDLP) programs led by the Saudi Export Development Authority. The program aims to enhance the image of the Kingdom’s exports and make national products the preferred choice for consumers locally, regionally, and globally.
The collaboration underpins FedEx commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s non-oil economic growth through international trade, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify the country’s economy, a press communique indicated.
Strategic partnerships
Eng. Abdulrahman Althukair, CEO, the Saudi Export Development Authority, indicated that the Authority is keen, through the ‘Made in Saudi’ programme, to enhance effective strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors.
“The aim of such public-private partnerships is to support the Authority’s goals to improve the efficiency of exports; help exporters expand and reach new global markets; and contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to increase the country’s non-oil exports to 50% of non-oil GDP.,” he asserted.
Efficient logistics solutions
“FedEx is committed to helping Saudi Arabia transform its economy through its Vision 2030. Our strategic collaboration with Made in Saudi will provide the country’s national goods and services greater access to efficient logistics solutions and an enhanced service experience,” affirmed Taarek Hinedi, Vice President, FedEx Express—Middle East Africa Operations.
“Our global network, customized solutions, value-added services, and in-depth industry expertise will help manufacturers and exporters expand their business to international markets and connect with a wider customer base. Our goal is to help them grow and transform into powerhouses that drive the growth of the Saudi economy,” he added.
New subsidiary of GWC Group set to become the preferred choice for energy projects.
GWC Group has reinforced its unwavering commitment to facilitating the growth and development of Qatar’s energy industry by unveiling a new subsidiary that will support increased demand for energy across the globe.
GWC Energy WLL will deliver solutions to clients in the energy sector and set new standards in integrated shipping, logistics and marine services for companies in Qatar, across the GCC and globally. The unveiling of GWC Energy marks a major landmark for the industry, according to a corporate press communique.
Delivering integrated logistics
“For two decades, GWC has been diligent in delivering integrated logistics and supply chain solutions for local and international companies. From day one, our focus has been world-class performance, a long-term relationship approach, innovation, ethics and strong human capital,” asserted Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, GWC.
The new subsidiary will support the expansion of GWC as it aims to become the preferred choice for energy projects in the region and globally.
Thanks to first-class health and safety and unwavering reliability, GWC has earned the trust of multinational conglomerates and currently operates more than 380,000m² of specialist infrastructure for the energy sector in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed industrial cities.
“Our vast infrastructure, trained and experienced staff, unwavering pledge to health and safety, and bespoke IT infrastructure allow us to handle a diverse array of integrated solutions both offshore and onshore,” remarked Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
Trained professionals
GWC Energy’s highly trained professionals already manage the logistics requirements for a stellar list of oil and gas clients in Qatar and across the world. The subsidiary will provide operational excellence and cost-effective solutions.
It will specialise in providing bespoke solutions while handling a diverse array of onshore and offshore operations. Its vast facilities are managed by experts, all knowledgeable about applicable laws, rules and regulations, and operated according to stringent quality, health, safety and environmental standards. GWC Energy will pride itself on the highest professionalism with a mission to deliver world-class energy services, the press statement continued.
GWC Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of GWC QPSC, Qatar’s top logistics and supply chain services provider, and one of the fastest growing companies in the region.
Move to enhance its footprint in the Sultanate of Oman
AP Moller–Maersk (Maersk) recently inaugurated a new corporate office at SOHAR Freezone in Oman. Present at the inauguration were Christopher Cook, Managing Director, Maersk UAE, Oman, and Qatar; Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi, CEO, SOHAR Freezone; and senior officials from both organizations.
“SOHAR Freezone was a natural choice for us to set up our new office because of its strategic location at the port and the world-class infrastructure of road network and air connectivity on offer,” observed Cook.
The new office in Oman, the third one in the country after Muscat and Salalah, will allow Maersk to get closer to its customers and create meaningful interfaces with them. Besides ocean transportation, Maersk will offer various services and solutions to its customers in Oman, such as landside transportation, including the cross-border movement of cargo, customs clearances, warehousing & distribution, cold chain logistics and air freight.
“Together with our partners, SOHAR continues to support Oman’s ambitions to further expand the transport and logistics sector, as per the objectives laid out in the Oman Vision 2040,” commented Al Mahrizi.
The new office complements the several other initiatives Maersk has undertaken to strengthen its footprint in Oman. In November 2022, Maersk added Khazaen Dry Port (KDP) to its extensive ‘Port of Call’ network, offering transportation, container terminal, and reefer container services to import and export goods easily.
Maersk has also launched a service through the Port of Salalah in Oman as a gateway to Yemen, ensuring seamless cargo movement. This has increased efficiency for the customers and has the potential to eliminate unexpected costs, a press communique concluded.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has concluded the 2022 financial year very successfully, continuing the company’s strong performance of recent years in the face of persistently challenging market conditions. Hellmann was able to increase its total sales by 24 % to EUR 5.0 billion (2021: EUR 4.1 billion) as well as shipment volumes, which grew significantly year-on-year to just under 20 million (2021: 18.1 million). At the EBIT line, Hellmann was able to achieve an increase of 31 % vs. the prior year, delivering an EBIT result of EUR 210.8 million (previous year: EUR 160.1 million). Thanks to the improved cash flow from operating activities of EUR 268.7 million, liquidity improved by a total of EUR 124.7 million despite a significant increase in investments.
Beyond its positive financial performance, Hellmann also successfully continued its strategic development last year. For example, even during continued market disruptions from the COVID pandemic and the war against Ukraine, the Group stuck to its digitalization strategy and invested significantly in digitalization of business processes and forward-looking technologies. Hellmann also made several acquisitions in support of further growth, such as the takeover of the joint venture in Peru and the acquisition of OptimNet, an overnight express provider operating in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The international growth course and the expansion of the Hellmann network also continued to show success: Having already expanded its business activities to Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, Oman and France since 2020, Hellmann also opened its own country organization in Switzerland last year to expand its product portfolio and its footprint into the Swiss market.
An important topic of the last year was the continued development of the company culture, particularly as regards the sustainable positioning the global family-owned Hellmann Group. With the guiding principle of “For the better. Together.”, a vision was defined that unites the global Hellmann FAMILY and shapes the daily behavior of all employees. In a rapidly changing world, Hellmann is living up to its goal of assuming responsibility for its employees and customers and to contribute to overcoming the current social and ecological challenges.
“2022 was once again a challenging year in many respects: While the first half of the year continued to be characterized by capacity bottlenecks, particularly in the air- and sea freight sectors, demand for transport services declined significantly from the summer of 2022 onwards due to changes in consumer behavior worldwide. This in turn led to overcapacity on global trade lanes in almost all product areas during the second half of the year and consequently lower freight rates. Despite these challenges, thanks to our strong global and regional teams and our solid network, we succeeded in offering our customers tailored logistics solutions throughout the year and were able to achieve another record result in 2022,” said Jens Wollesen, Chief Operating Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“The goal is to continue to expand our global competitive position across all product areas in the coming years. As such, we are planning further strategic acquisitions as well as sustainable investments in the modernization of our systems and processes,” added Martin Eberle, Chief Financial Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“Our vision for all of our actions in the years to come is “For the better. Together.” In this context, sustainability is of central importance. Together with and for our customers, employees, and partners, we are committed to further developing our sustainable logistics solutions,” emphasizes Reiner Heiken, Chief Executive Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Making strides towards a greener future with sustainable warehousing
GAC Bahrain has reached a major milestone in its drive to boost its sustainability with the installation of more than 550 solar panels on the rooftop of its warehouse in Bahrain Investment Wharf in Al Hidd.
The solar array is expected to generate up to 487,000 kWh of clean and renewable energy annually and reduce GAC Bahrian’s CO2 emissions by more than 485 tonnes and make about 195 tonnes of standard coal savings in the first year – the offsetting equivalent of saving approximately 26,298 trees.
Reputable renewable energy solutions provider Al Mannai Projects carried out the five-month long project in full adherence with all relevant local regulations and safety standards.
“We are fully committed to minimising our impact on the environment and taking further steps towards sustainability,” said Johan Fulke, Managing Director of GAC Bahrain. “The solar panel installation is a significant milestone in our sustainability journey and demonstrates our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint and adopting renewable energy sources.”
Talal Al Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of Al Mannai Projects, added: “We are delighted to have completed the installation of 550 Wp high-efficiency GCL solar PV modules, high-quality Al Mannai aluminium anodised solar mounting structure and balance of system (BOS) equipment for GAC Bahrain. The project was finished on schedule and met all international and Bahraini Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) standards.”
The solar panel project is the latest part of GAC Bahrain’s commitment to environmental responsibility, which is aligned with the wider GAC Group’s sustainability strategy that includes a commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and Goal 13: Climate Action. By investing in renewable energy, GAC Bahrain aims to reduce its carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Its efforts are also part of a larger trend towards renewable energy adoption in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has set a target of generating 5% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025, and the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30% through local decarbonisation projects and doubling the development of regional renewable infrastructure.
Hertz UAE, the well-established national franchise, aims to be at the forefront of the green mobility transition, having already become the first car rental brand in the country to introduce fully electric vehicles in its portfolio.
Currently the car rental giant has over 11,000 vehicles in operation in the UAE, 15% of which are either fully electric or hybrid vehicles. Volvo and Polestar feature within Hertz’s green mobility portfolio, with plans to soon include the Chinese BYD range. BYD is the world’s leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer and the brand was recently introduced into the UAE with Al-Futtaim Automotive as their regional distributors.
Hertz UAE has plans to further electrify the range, which makes a definitive statement, as they have the most diverse car rental offering in the market – ranging from small sedans to luxurious full-size SUVs, from commercial pick-up trucks to large passenger buses.
“Our focus remains on fulfilling our electric vision by ensuring we deliver a whole support system, a fully functioning ecosystem, to all our electric and hybrid vehicle customers – be they corporate or individual renters,” concluded Alexander Maas, Managing Director, Al-Futtaim Finance and Hertz UAE.
The past few years have had an unprecedented impact on customer needs, habits, and expectations. From fluctuating unemployment rates to global socio-political movements, the pandemic forced organisations and consumers alike to re-evaluate their financial and ethical priorities at every turn. In line with these shifts, the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Infrastructure reframed their core pillars to better reflect these attitudes alongside the all-encompassing nature of sustainability (GFC-6 June 2020).
Undoubtably, having a centralised vision of what sustainable infrastructure must encompass helps to unify global efforts, and enact long-term change. However, these guidelines can leave some unsure of which issues to confront first, or how to enact change efficiently. This sentiment became more complicated during the pandemic, as key assets ranging from labour shortages to natural resources became more difficult to access and develop consistently, regardless of industry or location.
Luckily, these shifts and their repercussions are stabilising as we collectively strive to find equilibrium once again. Today, it’s clear that ethics and sustainability are of greater importance to consumers than ever. Visible changes like sustainable packaging and reducing waste in the manufacturing process are amongst the most important sustainable practices amongst consumers, according to Deloitte’s 2022 Sustainability & Consumer Behaviour report. Further clarity on the environmental sustainability of products and services is also needed, meaning it’s up to individual brands to make their green status well known across practices and products alike.
Optimistically, environmentally sustainable innovation is increasingly gaining momentum across industries. The automotive industry, for example, is taking these consumer needs very seriously, with the electric vehicle boom often considered a tangible proof point of this change. Furthermore, the automotive industry starts to reap the rewards of a circular economy through the creation of new revenue streams, cost reduction, and overall profitability by around 1.5 times across the entire value chain, as explored in the World’ Economic Forum’s report, Driving Ambitions: The Business Case for Circular Economy in the Car Industry. Because of this, it’s crucial for related industries to pre-empt the ripple effect these shifts will have if they want to flourish.
Within the lubricant industry, it’s key we ensure customers have visibility around reliable brands that align with both their ethos and finances, as meeting these demands are crucial to growth and success. Customers’ requirements ultimately impact product development, drive demand, and shape the boundaries of innovation for years to come. Yet, many companies design products from the top down, with customer needs often becoming an afterthought, causing many products to perform poorly – simply because they aren’t being designed with consumer or industry needs in mind.
We understand that consumers are the driving force behind products, and that each product we create needs to offer a solution to specific consumer challenges, whether they’re environmental, economic, or ethical. That’s why we ensure our customers and partners play a key role in our dialogue from start to finish. It’s paramount that the lubricant industry not only meets these needs, but anticipates them. This enables us to provide customers with reliable products and services before their problems even take shape, so they can turn to our products with confidence. It’s time for customers to shine in 2023 – here’s what meeting their needs looks like for the year ahead.
Customer-centric perspectives drive innovation
It’s undeniable that 2023 brings a fresh set of customer challenges, largely centred around sustainability, ethics and the rising cost of living. We anticipate these needs by operating under the philosophy that customers are essential to providing better industry products and services, as well as helping to push our strategy and business constantly forward.
Because this philosophy is ingrained in our company, goods, and services, PETRONAS Lubricants customers understand that our products are designed to work specifically for their benefit, by extending the lifespan of both the product and the planet. We apply this ethos to more than just our products, too. End consumers rely on our partners and distributors to deliver reliable services and effectively communicate the features of our products and services, offering the best customer experience to the end consumer. For any consumers facing financial challenges, for example, it’s crucial that our partners are able to educate them on how our lubricants can increase the longevity of their vehicle, so that it can have a longer lifespan with fewer issues, and cause the least amount of financial strain as possible.
It’s equally important that we ensure this ethos applies within our organisation, too, which is why we’re very proud that PLI Italy is ranked #1 as the “Best Employers for Women 2022” in the Raw Materials and Energy Category (German Quality Institute ITQF). The company is also targeting over 24,000 beneficiaries through educational programmes between 2020 to 2024, in an effort to support young people who are keen to gain valuable skills for the future.
It is energizing to see the lubricant industry adapt to change and improve sustainability practices with such efficiency, too. At PETRONAS, we’re making small and big changes in line with these shifts. From utilising electricity from renewable energy sources and LED lighting (saving 50-150 tonnes of CO2) to replacing and recycling hardware in production with greener alternatives, we’re seeking out constructive change in every single aspect of our business by applying our three “R’s” policy: Re-use, recover, recycle. We are members of CONOU, one of Europe’s leading organizations in the field of circular economy with specific focus on the collection and regeneration of waste oils. In 2021, to quote only one piece of data, CONOU managed to regenerate 98% of the total waste oils from lubricants.
In the simplest sense, innovation is key to progression – whether our customers have visibility on these changes or not, they feel confident knowing that we’re constantly striving to improve. These ever-evolving customer considerations are vital, not only to PETRONAS, but to our partners and the wider lubricant industry as a whole.
Looking to the future
Customers are seeking out efficient, high-quality solutions that meet their environmental care expectations. Society has become much more cognizant of how industry practices can impact the environment and our livelihood, and they are making ethical choices in support of these considerations.
As we see governments become stricter with environmental legislation across all industries, it’s important we reflect on how to better our practices within the lubricants industry as well. The Plastic Tax currently being implemented across Europe is an excellent example of how the government is ensuring that organisations consider their granular impact on specific aspects of the environment.
In the lubricants industry, addressing topics like misinformation can be one of the biggest hurdles for businesses, customers and partners alike. To address this, technology has become an invaluable tool for communication and training, commercially and otherwise. It is up to reputable and qualified brands to provide accessible resources for the entirety of the lubricant industry. Beyond gaining a competitive advantage, this ethos is directly linked with progression, and minimises (if not eliminates) risks within this industry because it’s based on genuine needs. Ultimately, for those wanting to gain an edge in the lubricant industry, the first step is to look to your customers, and truly listen – you never know what you might learn.
Deal to enhance omnichannel solutions for its customers in the MENA healthcare market
The AMICO Group, a UAE-based leader in healthcare specialty markets in the MENA region, is continuing its digital transformation journey supported by technology company SAPto enhance its customer experience and engagement through personalized, omnichannel solutions, and to increase agility and enable future expansion plans, the Group revealed in a press statement.
The official signing ceremony was attended by executives from both enterprises. “AMICO continues to experience rising demand for our personalized solutions in MENA’s evolving healthcare market and, by leveraging cloud computing, we can respond in an agile way, with improved operational scalability and flexibility,” observed Ibrahim Itani, Chief Information Officer, AMICO.
“With SAP S/4HANA, Datasphere, and Analytics Cloud (SAC), AMICO will have access to real-time data and analytics to respond to changes in the market and better serve our customers, while simultaneously reducing the complexity of our operations and enhancing our innovation capabilities,” he continued.
The AMICO Group, established in 1984 in Saudi Arabia, has emerged as a leading medical device distributor in the MENA region. With a strong presence in 12 countries, the company specializes in eight key segments which include Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology.
Aeromexico Cargo becomes Wiremind Cargo’s first Latin American customer to opt for SKYPALLET. The two companies have formally embarked on the airline’s digital transformation with the implementation of SKYPALLET in the secondquarter of 2023.
With the signing of the contract on 24 March 2023, Aeromexico Cargo and Wiremind formalized a partnership interest that already began pre-pandemic. Now, having successfully navigated the many COVID disruptions, collaboration has begun in earnest to implement SKYPALLET within the Aeromexico cargo organization during the second quarter of 2023. It will progressively be rolled out to relevant users in the coming months, enabling sales staff to optimize flight capacities and minimize inventory wastage through more accurate quotes, improved flight plans, and more efficient build up instructions.
Wiremind and Aeromexico Cargo aim to intensify their partnership in future by incorporating the airline’s feedback and continue finetuning SKYPALLET accordingly, as well as exploring other optimization solutions where Wiremind’s product portfolio may be able to provide additional support to the Mexico´s global airline.
“Wiremind is exceptionally pleased to welcome Aeromexico Cargo as its first Latin America-based customer. Since late last year, Aeromexico Cargo’s team has been closely working together with us to test SKYPALLET’s functionalities against its internally developed business case,” states Nathanaël de Tarade, Chief Executive Officer of Wiremind Cargo. “Now that the decision has officially been reached to proceed with SKYPALLET, Aeromexico Cargo users will undergo comprehensive training with Wiremind product experts to ensure that they fully understand the product’s extensive features and use cases. Up to now, this has been done remotely, so we look forward to visiting Aeromexico Cargo in person, this year, to observe how the product is being used, gather product feedback to include in our joint roadmap, and further share user best practices within the organization.”
Alejandro Mendez, Executive VP. Aeromexico Cargo, explains, “The air cargo industry is changing – day by day, process by process. Companies need to incorporate technology and algorithms in their processes if they are to take advantage of opportunities in the market and succeed. SKYPALLET’s optimization algorithms support our staff, enabling enhanced decision-making. This will lead to faster quotations and optimized belly capacities – two critical and repetitive processes that we identified in our integral assessment. Implementing SKYPALLET is a cornerstone on our journey towards becoming a more digital Aeromexico Cargo. We have set ourselves the target of implementing and fully deploying the software in our Mexico City Hub operations this year.”
Aeromexico Cargo states that despite there being other software tools in the market, it opted for SKYPALLET because of the software’s comprehensive approach and intuitive application, as well as the added value of a Spanish-speaking support team – an important factor in onboarding operational staff.
While Wiremind’s global customers have users based in Latin America, Aeromexico Cargo is its first Latin America-headquartered customer. Not only does Wiremind intend to build on this relationship and better support Aeromexico Cargo geographically across its network and through the next phases of its digital strategy, but it has also been in extensive discussions with other Latin American customers over the past few years and has defined further expansion plans for the continent.
Value of agreement in the range of US$ 1 to 1.2 bn under current market conditions
ADNOC Gas recently announced a three-year supply agreement with the French multi-energy company TotalEnergies Gas and Power Limited a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, a French multinational energy company, for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The deal underscores ADNOC Gas’ position as a global LNG export partner of choice and cements TotalEnergies as a key strategic partner for ADNOC Gas in the LNG market, representing another important milestone as ADNOC Gas expands its global reach.
Under the terms of the agreement, through its subsidiary, ADNOC Gas will supply TotalEnergies LNG, which will be delivered to various export markets around the world. The agreement demonstrates ADNOC Gas’ ability to meet growing global demand for LNG, a critical energy transition fuel, a press communique indicated.
“We look forward to continuing our long-term strategic partnership with TotalEnergies, building on our shared commitment to sustainability and the energy transition,” commented Ahmed Alebri, CEO, ADNOC Gas.
“We are pleased to have signed this three-year contract with our long-standing strategic partner. These additional volumes will strengthen our global LNG portfolio, our ability to supply the growing Asian markets, and our ambition to accompany our customers in their energy transition.” Remarked Thomas Maurisse, SVP LNG, TotalEnergies.
The three-year contract is expected to commence in 2023 and will run through 2025, reinforcing both companies’ positions as key players in the global LNG market.
Acronis, the premier global cybersecurity company, prides on its wide range of capabilities, which includes signature-based AV, AI-enabled behavioural anti-malware, automated vulnerability scanning and patch management, advanced email security, DLP (data loss prevention), backup and disaster recovery–all managed from a single platform, with a single agent on the endpoint, an official company communique affirmed.
At this year’s Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference 2023 (GISEC), Acronis discussed the cyber threats landscape in the Middle East and provided its vision and recommendations. They discussed their EDR (endpoint detection and response) solutions, which can help detect and respond to threats in real-time.
Additionally, Acronis discussed the adoption of zero-trust networks and architecture in the global market and its relevance to the Middle East.
According to a pre-event Acronis media statement, the company unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world.
With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions.
Global Supply Chain engaged with a visiting official, Sara M. Pinheiro, Distribution Team Manager MEA / South Asia, Acronis,in an exclusive, wide-ranging one-on-one interview, on the sidelines of GISEC 2023. Sara, a Portuguese national, is presently based in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, (home to one of the company’s R&D Centres), in her current position and spoke expansively on several hot button issues impacting the industry. The following are transcripts of the interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Why is Acronis present at GISEC 2023 and what do you hope to accomplish with your participation?
Sara M. Pinheiro (SMP): The primary goal of Acronis at GISEC 2023 is to reinforce its purpose-driven objective and commitment to cybersecurity and data protection. That is our banner statement, this is how Acronis positions itself and that is what defines us.
Furthermore, here at GISEC 2023, the goals are manifold and as it goes this conference is right up our alley. Through this exhibition medium, we hope to project Acronis as a force to reckon with in the cybersecurity domain given its expertise and experience.
We are here to unfurl our newly developed and effective market-oriented strategies to counter risks and preempt cyber threats with our signature-imprint sophisticated technologies indigenously customized to suit client requirements.
Acronis is here to meet and interface with our existing customers and scout for new opportunities and clientele, to listen to them and their concerns and to offer pointed specific operational solutions. Here, we can also demonstrate our capabilities and skills and efficiently respond to cybersecurity protection strategies and challenges.
We have recently upscaled and supplemented our resources and offerings with new features and additions in the solutions portfolio. We are here to engage with our customers, associates, and stakeholders on how Acronis solutions can avert and head off disastrous consequences of cyber-intrusions while shielding companies and fighting and neutralizing malefic cyber-attacks.
GSC: Talk to us about the cyber threats landscape in the Middle East—how serious are these and expand on the Acronis solutions offered?
SMP: No country or region in the world is immune to cyber threats that know no barriers and boundaries. Like any place on the planet, the Middle East is also vulnerable to cyberattacks. Constant preparedness and capabilities to take countermeasures are key to fighting malicious arracks on computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data.
Fighting cybersecurity can never be about adopting an assembly line or cooker-cutter approach. It is about developing indigenous solutions. The Middle East is a significant and growing region for Acronis and that is why we have designated and designated the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as crucibles for pilot studies and research. Here, we offer a full suite of proprietary solutions as countermeasures to both repel and prevent cyberattacks.
GSC: How significant is the Middle East / GCC for Acronis?
SMP: The Middle East is an important and fast-growing region for Acronis with much promise and potential. The significance of this region is evident from the fact that Acronis, as a responsible and reliable vendor has consolidated and developed a potent network of distributors and Managed Services Providers (MSPs), constituting the backbone of our network of service agents.
We have further fine-tuned our service portfolio with professional client segmentation and investments in improving and upgrading services and capabilities. We are very buoyant about our prospects in the region.
GSC: How is the MSP mechanism imprinting your signature working model and how are you leveraging this to seek market and track record advantages?
SMP: The analogy I want to liken to our relationship with our MSPs is ‘partnership.’ We are on this journey together. We are in this pursuit and endeavour together as partners. We work in synchrony and stay committed whilst staying the course. Like two peas in a pod.
Acronis is a capable and accessible vendor, and we provide value-added and extraordinarily sophisticated solutions to our clients through our cohesive partnership with MSPs.
GSC: What are the opportunities and corresponding challenges for Acronis in the region going forward?
SMP: Cyberattacks are on the upswing in this region as elsewhere. We can substantiate this trend with facts. For example, in the Middle East in January 2023 year, 6% of Acronis-managed computers reported at least one cyberattack; however, in February 2023, just a month later, that number surged to 14%, more than double.
We also noticed that there is also a drift, and an increasing number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are also falling prey to cyberattacks. The conventional impression is that only large companies and MNCs are targeted but that tendency is now changing.
So, we are clearly alert and take our responsibilities very seriously. We strive to stay ahead of the competition in the cyberwarfare ecosystem. We build solutions customized and specific for clients based on our interface with them. We heed customer opinions and discussions.
GSC: What role and corporate vision do you perceive for Acronis in the cybersecurity realm going forward?
SMP: In the not-so-distant past Acronis was seen as primarily a backup company. However, we have since evolved and we are now recognized as a Cloud Backup Solutions company. The Acronis Cloud represents a bulwark for secure backup data and disaster recovery and retrieval.
As a case in point, Acronis Cyber Protect Connect is a remote desktop and monitoring solution that enables MSPs to easily access and manage remote workloads and fix any issues – anytime, anywhere.
We believe our Cyber Protect Cloud can nip ransomware and malicious software in the bud. With our Award-Winning data protection solutions and innovative security features, we provide backup with anti-malware for both homes and businesses and complete cyber protection. For us it is all about offering our customers the Acronis Advantage!
Madhu Vallur will play a key role in driving growth in this area
Qatar’s GWC Group recently appointed Madhu Vallur to spearhead its energy division in a move which reinforces long-term commitment to the Energy Sector, signalling expansion plans.
Vallur, who will be Executive Director, GWC, Energy Logistics Division, will provide strategic leadership, setting new standards in integrated shipping, logistics and marine services. He will work closely with stakeholders, including partners, customers, and regulatory agencies, to ensure efficient and sustainable movement of the energy supply chain, the company said in a press statement.
Vallur will also provide expertise in leveraging technology and innovation to optimise operational efficiency while supporting GWC’s drive to set new benchmarks in the industry.
“Madhu Vallur will play a key role in driving growth in this area. He has a proven track record of driving results, innovation, and leading successful operations and a deep understanding of the energy sector,” remarked Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC Group.
“I will leverage my expertise in the energy industry and my leadership experience to drive innovation and growth to the Energy Services division” commented Vallur, who has worked in the energy sector for more than two decades.
Carrier launches operations between China’s Wuhan and Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Airports, the owner and operator of five airports in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, recently welcomed the first SF Express cargo plane to Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The inaugural flight signalled the launch of operations for the global freight leader for the first time in the region. This strategic partnership is in collaboration with Etihad Cargo and Kerry Logistics, and further strengthens Abu Dhabi International Airport’s position as a key regional cargo hub, the Airport reported in a press communique.
Chinese-based SF Express, one of the world’s largest providers of express logistics services and solutions, has gained significant attention in the logistics industry due to its recent international expansion strategy. It made a breakthrough by launching operations between China’s Wuhan and Abu Dhabi.
“We eagerly anticipate further partnerships as we continue our growth journey to establish Abu Dhabi as a major air cargo hub in the region,” remarked Engr. Jamal Al Dhaheri, MD & CEO, Abu Dhabi Airports.
“Abu Dhabi Airports is an important cargo hub in the region, and we are eager to work together as we connect and create value for our customers and strengthen our growing network,” noted Li Sheng, Chairman, SF Airlines.
For the purpose of reinforcing the bilateral relation, a “Memorandum of Understanding” is now executed by and between Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand of Turkish Airlines, and DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, at the IATA World Cargo Symposium which has started on April 25 in Istanbul. The cooperation between the two global air cargo providers will not only further improve each other’s operational efficiency, but also enhance Istanbul’s potential to become a leading logistics hub for the world.
Based on the MoU DHL Global Forwarding will leverage SMARTIST, the mega cargo facility of Turkish Cargo at Istanbul Airport, as one of its global hubs. This will increase the air cargo traffic handled via Istanbul significantly. The combination of Turkish Cargo’s intercontinental air cargo network with Türkiye’s unique geographical advantages, enables Turkish Cargo to support DHL Global Forwarding global hub concept with its vast specialized knowledge and advanced operational capabilities at Istanbul Airport.
Commenting on such cooperation,Turkish Airlines Chief Cargo Officer, Turhan Özen said; “Integration of SMARTIST, our mega cargo hub, with the global network of DHL Global Forwarding will enhance our service quality and strengthen the hub position of Istanbul further. This cooperation will also enable us to offer more effective, productive and uninterrupted air cargo service to our customers and add value to the industry upon the establishment of a powerful partnership by and between Turkish Cargo and DHL. We hereby wish that this MOU, which stands out as a great source of pride and excitement to us, be beneficial to both parties thereto.”
Thomas Mack, Global Head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding states;“Spanning the European and Asian continents, Türkiye is geographically well-positioned to act as a logistics hub for Europe, Asia as well as the MEA region and the US. We are happy to intensify our long-lasting partnership with Turkish Cargo, that not only provides us with reliable air cargo capacity, but also state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure to handling air freight.”
Turkish Cargo and DHL will continue to explore new areas for partnership and deepen their cooperation further in future.
The company’s initiative enhances road safety with cutting-edge technology
The UAE’s Dulsco Group has enhanced its road safety performance with its recent implementation of the tried and tested DriveSafe Telematics initiative in the region.
This programme uses technology from DriveSafe, a leading provider of fleet safety management solutions, to monitor driver behaviour and record driving parameters such as overall speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering. It provides drivers with real-time feedback on their driving performance, the company revealed in a press communique.
In 2022, the Dulsco Group integrated the DriveSafe Telematics system (previously known as GreenRoad) into their entire 158 vehicle fleet, which is part of the Dulsco People division. The aim was to educate staff and drivers and create a culture that prioritises safe driving and secure commuting for all employees.
The fleet, which includes various vehicles such as buses, vans, and cars, transports around 12,000 employees daily within the UAE. It is maintained by professional mechanics and managed by an expert team, ensuring additional safety for Dulsco Group employees.
Multiple initiatives
“To ensure human safety, we have implemented various initiatives, such as DriveSafe Telematics and an in-house training academy. These cutting-edge solutions enhance our safety culture and allow us to achieve our goal to continuously improve and be better every day,” commented Antony Marke, COO, Dulsco People.
The DriveSafe Telematics system provides real-time guidance, control, and evaluation solutions to enhance safety and increase efficiency. It leads to a decrease in fleet accidents, fuel usage, carbon footprint, insurance claims, maintenance expenses and risk.
“Our collaboration with Dulsco Group has had a positive impact due to the implementation of DriveSafe Telematics. With the growing emphasis on sustainability and emission reduction in the market, DriveSafe emphasises eco-driving and accident prevention,” concluded Ali Javanmard, Regional General Manager, DriveSafe Telematics.
The Dulsco Group collaborates closely with Dubai Police and the Road and Transport Authority, the press statement concluded.
Group to take advantage of the expected digital commerce growth in the region
Dubai CommerCity, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has announced that BEUMER Group, an international manufacturer of intralogistics systems, has set up its new offices in the free zone.
BEUMER Group will be able to expand and support its regional operations in intralogistics solutions for airports, logistics, cement, chemical, ports & terminals, and minerals and mining at Dubai CommerCity.
Founded in 1935, BEUMER Group, based in Germany, is an international leader in the design and manufacture of intralogistics systems for conveying, loading, palletising, packaging, sortation, and distribution.
With its new offices, BEUMER Group will offer its customers in the Middle East and North Africa the latest material handling solutions that incorporate the latest technologies. Dubai CommerCity will support the Group to achieve enhanced operational performance through its world-class digital infrastructure, business support, customs consultations, and other services.
“With our state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, exceptional capabilities, human resources, and advanced technologies, Dubai CommerCity is uniquely positioned to empower BEUMER Group to accelerate its growth in the Middle East,” remarked Mitch Bittermann, Senior Vice President of Commercials, Dubai CommerCity.
“For more than eight decades, BEUMER Group’s work contributed to bolstering its leading position, supporting business growth, and meeting its customers’ requirements, in line with the highest international standards,” commented Torben Busch, CEO, BEUMER Group Middle East.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi said; “As a global air cargo brand, we are strongly committed to maintaining the supply chain for the lithium battery products and diligently fulfilling our responsibilities in this regard. Thus, participation in the CEIV Li-batt certification program, which is globally accepted as one of the highest standards, is a great source of pride to us. Such new certification program underlines the adherence of Turkish Cargo to the high-quality standards and its commitment to provide safe, fast and secure air cargo service to our customers, once again.”
Brendan Sullivan, the Global Head of Cargo at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), remarked;“The European freight market is one of the largest in the world, accounting for close to a quarter of total global trade. Having Turkish Airlines, one of Europe’s largest cargo carriers achieve CEIV Li-batt certification is a significant boost for meeting shippers’ expectations in terms of the safe transport of goods containing lithium batteries.”
Developed for the purpose of performance of global air cargo operations at a high standard, the CEIV Li-batt certification program is designed to improve the safety during the handling and shipment of the lithium batteries throughout the supply chain. Such new program also validates that the related policies, processes and procedures are implemented by the companies in accordance with the new CEIV program in line with the standards set by IATA.
IATA World Cargo Symposium, the greatest air cargo event in the world, is being held in Istanbul between April 25 and 27. The event, hosted by Turkish Cargo, stands out as a significant item in respect of global air cargo transportation.
Being held in various cities on annual basis, IATA World Cargo Symposium is globally accepted as the most prestigious organization in the air cargo industry. The event brings the industry leaders, airline companies, cargo operators, air cargo agents and such other industry stakeholders together to discuss the latest trends, best practices and innovations in air cargo industry.
It is expected that IATA WCS 2023 will not only make a significant contribution to the sustainability and digitalization journey of the global air cargo industry but also solidify the safety and security awareness in the industry. The event offers Istanbul the opportunity to attract the business world with its potential to become a logistics center, beyond being the junction point of the world trade.
Making the opening speech for the symposium, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said; “We are more than glad to host the World Cargo Symposium 2023 event in a manner to mark the 100th year of establishment of our Republic. Air cargo transportation plays a critical role with respect to the world economy and continuity of the supply chain. Our convention at the hub of global aviation, today, highlights once again the potential of Istanbul for the future of the logistics industry.”
Willie Walsh, the Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) remarked; “For the next three days Istanbul will become the air cargo capital of the world. The last time we met in Istanbul, for the World Cargo Symposium was in 2011 and we are delighted to be back in the year that marks the 100th year of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye. This year’s WCS promises to be another memorable occasion as the cargo industry comes together to discuss how to improve sustainability, safety, and reliability, as well as emerging opportunities with new markets, technologies, and digitalization.”
Appointment will further drive operations and growth
Dubai, UAE-based Volta Shipping recently announced the appointment of Debjit Sengupta as the company’s new Managing Director.
Sengupta brings with him an impressive background and more than 30 years of experience in shipping and related areas, which makes him a good candidate to lead Volta forward, a press communique stated.
Sengupta originally joined Volta in early 2019 as a Commercial Director and the role extended into all aspects of the company’s operations. In his new role he will be responsible for all aspects of Volta’s management, with a focus on driving continued growth for the company.
“I am honoured to be leading the team at Volta, and excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to working with our talented and customer-focused team to continue driving expansion and success for the company,” affirmed Sengupta on his appointment.
Prior to joining Volta, Sengupta had performed multiple roles in Emirates Shipping Line, including commercial, operations, and management positions, in Hong Kong and Dubai.
Volta Shipping Services is a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) established in 2017. Volta operates services to various ports in China, Red Sea, Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent, Mediterranean, Europe, and South-East Asia, the press statement concluded.
Together for Sustainability (TfS) recently announced that SABIC, a global diversified chemicals company, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has joined the TfS initiative for sustainable supply chains.
The TfS member company count is now 43 members. With the arrival of the new members, TfS strengthens its leadership with regard to driving and delivering sustainability through the chemical industry’s supply chains.
Against the backdrop of the climate challenge and increasing regulatory requirements, TfS provides the chemical industry with innovative solutions to enable supply chains to make a significant contribution to the company’s overall sustainability and resilience performance.
“I am proud to welcome SABIC to the TfS family. Together we will continue to increase our impact on the sustainability performance in chemical supply chains around the world,” remarked Bertrand Conquéret, President, Together for Sustainability.
“Given the regulatory landscape, the climate challenge, and market conditions, the need for sustainable businesses is only increasing. TfS is the crucial factor in making supply chains and businesses more sustainable, collaborative and resilient and contributing to the development of a better world,” he added.
“Embedding sustainability into our procurement processes, policies, and culture as a foundational pillar is a key part of SABIC’s sustainable procurement strategy. Joining TfS will enable SABIC to reach its goals faster, to allocate its resources to value-adding activities,” asserted Khaled Saleh Al-Kharboush, Vice President Procurement, SABIC.
Together for Sustainability (TfS) is a global, procurement-driven initiative created by chemical companies with the goal of assessing, auditing, and improving the sustainability practices within their global supply chains.
More than one in ten global pharmaceutical shipments are entrusted to Qatar Airways Cargo’s Pharma service each year: a growing product that is now evolving under its Next Generation strategy.
Qatar Airways Cargo today announced the relaunch of its Pharma product in line with its Next Generation and VISION 2027 strategy. The relaunch includes several enhancements that benefit its customers and streamlines the handling of different categories of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, including animal healthcare items that fall under the umbrella of Pharma.
“In less than a decade, Qatar Airways Cargo has grown to become an acknowledged carrier of choice when it comes to pharmaceutical products,” says Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways. “Since we first launched our pharma service in 2014, we have invested heavily to bring on board the best industry experts, equipment, and training. We have also proactively involved ourselves in leading industry working groups* to keep a finger on the pulse of this ever-evolving market.”
From the current offering of two sub-categories, the cargo carrier now offers five product sub-categories – Pharma Critical Advanced, Pharma Critical Passive, Pharma Advanced, Pharma Passive and Pharma Care. These new enhanced categories enable Qatar Airways Cargo to offer customers a diverse range of solutions to transport their healthcare shipments and ensure optimal handling of all cool-chain pharma products transported on its flights.
The airline has also introduced a two-tier system for its 90 approved pharma stations to provide more information and transparency to its customers. This enhancement helps in differentiating between the distinct capabilities available at various stations. Tier 1 stations offer both +2°C to +8°C & +15°C to +25°C temperature-controlled storage, while having the ability to service electronic containers and dry-ice containers. Tier 2 stations offer only one of the two categories of temperature-controlled storage, handle certain temperature-controlled containers or have limited storage capacity.
Active container milestone updates have also been introduced to regularly inform customers on the status of their shipments moving within these containers. The updates are sent to pre-configured email addresses inserted in the booking. Important information includes the temperature and battery readings of each unit transporting the shipments. The project has been rolled out to selected locations only and a global roll-out will take place over the course of this year.
The airline also considers animal health a top priority and offers comparable solutions through its Pharma product to transport animal healthcare shipments in a safe and efficient manner, all within the customer’s sub-category of choice.
Miguel Rodríguez, Senior Manager Cargo Products at Qatar Airways, explains “With ‘Next Generation Pharma’ we are working on evolving product offerings to meet new and anticipated industry needs, and focussing on digitalising processes and activities to increase transparency and provide more real time information to customers. Better visibility means greater assurance, and faster information flows lead to a more agile, collaborative supply chain, enabling decisions based on actual, in-the-moment facts.”
“Our endeavour is to offer customers a wide range of options based on their transport requirements. We aim to be a one-stop-shop for our customers, providing every packaging and container uplift solution necessary to match their diverse product portfolio, and complementing this with our flexible network, temperature-controlled facilities and equipment, as well as professional, expert handling,” Miguel Rodríguez concludes.
Last year, Qatar Airways Cargo transported over 84,000 tonnes of medical and healthcare shipments across its global network via Doha and its regional hubs in Europe. IATA CEIV Pharma certification was achieved in December 2020, confirming the airline’s and its ground handling partner QAS Cargo’s industry-standard quality performance and handling.
In the interest of offering customers a wide range of sustainable, high quality transport solutions, Qatar Airways Cargo was one of the first airlines to endorse Envirotainer’s newest generation active Releye® RLP & RAP containers. The airline also worked together with Sonoco ThermoSafe to launch Pegasus ULD®, on its routes before the end of 2022. In addition, diligent efforts have been undertaken to approve dozens of different monitoring devices or data loggers used in the healthcare industry to be uplifted on the Qatar Airways fleet, with more to follow.
*Qatar Airways Cargo is an active member of the IATA Live Animals and Perishables Board, Pharma.Aero, the Cool Chain Association, and Validaide.
The US$ 50mn Emtelle’s facility will be one of their largest manufacturing facilities globally
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi-KEZAD Group and Emtelle recently announced the ground-breaking of one of their world’s largest facilities for the manufacture, distribution and R&D of blown fibre units and ducted network solutions in Abu Dhabi.
The ground-breaking represents the beginning of Phase 1 of the three phases of development of this Emtelle facility, which is being jointly overseen by KEZAD under its Build-to-Suit solution. Emtelle plans to invest approximately US$ 50mn over the three phases of the development, it was announced in a press statement.
Emtelle aims to boost the service level to its growing customer base with presence in the Middle East and APAC markets including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.
“The development of this facility under our Build-to-Suit service provides our clients with a customised solution to develop in line with their requirements and budget and according to their specifications,” asserted Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO Khalifa Economic Zones, Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group.
“This investment demonstrates Emtelle’s commitment to the UAE, and especially to its customers in the Middle East and APAC regions,” commented Tony Rodgers, CEO, Emtelle Group.
“Once operational, the new facility will provide Emtelle with the capability and the capacity to manufacture and distribute a wider range of our innovative fibre-optic solutions to the Middle East, Asia Pacific and globally,” remarked Sanjay Nischal, Managing Director (Middle East & Asia Pacific), Emtelle Group.
The zones to create new hubs for businesses across key growth sectors
Four special economic zones are to be established in Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently announced.
The aim of the new zones, located in Riyadh, Jazan, Ras Al-Khair and King Abdullah Economic City, is to open new opportunities for international investors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“Saudi Arabia is open for business and welcomes investors from all around the world to see first-hand the historic opportunities we have to offer,” the Crown Prince affirmed.
“The new special economic zones launched today will significantly impact how business is done in the country, create tens of thousands of jobs, and contribute billions of riyals to our gross domestic product.”
The zones will take advantage of the Kingdom’s strategic location to create new hubs for businesses across key growth sectors so that they can launch and expand companies and technologies that will help shape the future, according to the SPA.
Fresh Solutions
The zones, which will be regulated by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, will provide fresh solutions to the challenges many global businesses face as they attempt to localize and strengthen supply chains, they added, and help the Kingdom take advantage of key macroeconomic shifts to create a truly differentiated business environment, activating new sectors and value chains.
“This is an exciting moment. We are proud to see the launch of these four special economic zones that offer the chance for foreign investors to have a stake in the world’s fastest growing economy,” commented Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and Chairman, Saudi Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority,
With hugely attractive financial incentives, world-class infrastructure, business-friendly regulations and streamlined procedures for investors, there has never been a better time to be part of Saudi Arabia’s economic success story,” remarked HE Nabil Khoja, Secretary General, Saudi Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority,
The zones launched today cover a wide range of industries:
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) SEZ:
KAEC is the premier destination for advanced manufacturing and logistics, from automobile supply chain and assembly to consumer goods, ICT to MedTech. Set in a prime location on the Red Sea, less than 90 minutes from Jeddah Airport, this 60sqkm site offers unrivaled access to global trade routes through King Abdullah Port, ranked the world’s most efficient by the World Bank in 2022.
Jazan SEZ:
An industrial center and key platform for trade with fast-growing markets in Africa and Asia, Jazan SEZ offers access to the largest port in the region for export of goods and import of materials, helping investors benefit from and contribute to large-scale infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia and around the world, backed by easy access to both natural and industrial resources.
Ras Al-Khair SEZ:
A launchpad on the Arabian Gulf for leaders in the maritime industry, Ras Al-Khair SEZ is a fully integrated marine ecosystem, with a rich network of existing investors – 40% of the zone is already reserved – and myriad opportunities across shipbuilding and repair, offshore drilling and maritime value chains.
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST):
In King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), a new Cloud Computing SEZ will serve as a hub for emerging and disruptive technologies. A direct manifestation of the Kingdom’s ‘Cloud First’ policy, the Cloud Computing SEZ underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to digital innovation and the fast-growing tech sector.
As the world becomes more focused on sustainability, businesses across all industries are exploring ways to reduce their environmental impact by driving revenue, reducing operational costs, improving business reputation, building consumer perception, and fulfilling corporate social responsibility. Traditional oil-producing countries are moving towards electrical-based production, and businesses are increasingly adopting innovative strategies to make their supply chains more sustainable.
Green logistics, also known as sustainable logistics, is a growing trend that focuses on reducing the environmental impact of extensive transportation and distribution of goods involved in maintaining global commerce. Companies must embrace a range of green logistics strategies to achieve a sustainable supply chain. These include the use of electric or hybrid vehicles for transportation, optimizing routes to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, and implementing waste reduction and recycling programs. Additionally, companies can use automation to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their intralogistics operations, such as by implementing real-time tracking and monitoring systems.
Storage, transport, and inventory management are three important aspects of warehouse operations. With the adoption of robotics and automation systems such as the Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), companies can consider using efficient motor drives (IE3 or IE4 level), reusing the energy from braking, and using the latest battery technology (LTO) with the longest life cycle. In addition, this is a way for warehouses to utilize the cubic meter vertical space of a warehouse, thereby reducing the overall footprint of the facility. With the advantage of the cost of buildings and land, there is also less area to heat or light up, resulting in energy savings. This is even more critical in applications of frozen warehouses, where there are fewer walls and roofs to absorb heat from the outside, resulting in lower refrigeration costs. This is evident in the Middle Eastern market. Each country, be it in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, or Bahrain, has its own set of challenges due to its proximity to the sea or being placed in the midst of a location far away from electrical transmission lines.
With real-time inventory updates from advanced Warehouse Management Software (WMS), warehouse managers can easily effectuate FIFO (the first-in-first-out) method to reduce inventory wastage with fixed shelf lives. AI-powered software provides analytics to predict demand and accordingly creates inventory. Inventory can also be managed at forward locations such as smaller warehouses or micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) to not only improve consumer experience but also reduce on-road transportation of vehicles or reduce vehicles with suboptimal capacity utilization. Smart Fleet Management Systems (FMS) and Truck Management Software can combine inventory management with efficient transportation by planning inventory routes, task allocation, and scheduling. With such collaborative and intelligent transport systems, supply chain managers will reduce transition times, leading to energy savings. It also ensures the optimal capacity utilization of vehicles, reducing overall carbon emissions.
A fully automated warehouse can be seen as a lights-out (dark) warehouse with almost no human involvement. When space is better utilized, operations are optimized to every bit, and wastage is reduced significantly; there is less space to illuminate, less distance to transport, and less waste to process. In addition, it increases the efficiency, reliability, and accuracy of warehousing operations.
An automation solution provider with both hardware and software capabilities, such as Addverb, can offer all of these require a higher upfront investment but pay off in energy consumption and is better for the environment.
The future of logistics is green, and companies that embrace sustainable practices are better positioned to succeed in the long run. By reducing their environmental impact and building a reputation for sustainability, companies can attract customers and partners who share their commitment to a sustainable future.
Deal to explore joint opportunities in sustainable feedstocks
The Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company (Tadweer), and OMV, a leading international, integrated oil and gas company, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore joint opportunities in the areas of sustainable feedstocks for fuels and chemicals production.
The MoU aims to establish a partnership between the two parties to leverage both companies’ expertise and resources to identify and develop sustainable and innovative solutions that support the conversion of waste to an asset.
“Tadweer is committed to finding new and innovative ways to turn waste into valuable resources, and we are pleased to partner with OMV in this endeavor,” stated Ali Al Dhaheri, CEO, Tadweer. “By combining our strengths and expertise, we believe that we can make a significant impact in the sustainability space and contribute to the development of a circular economy in the UAE,” he continued.
The MoU represents a significant step in the companies’ efforts to advance sustainability and address global environmental challenges. The parties will work together to evaluate the potential for new projects and initiatives that support the development of sustainable feedstocks, including the use of waste as a feedstock to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals.
This collaboration will help to promote the development of a circular economy in the UAE, where waste is seen as a valuable resource rather than a challenge. The MoU reflects the commitment of both companies to advancing sustainability, reducing waste, and contributing to a more sustainable future, a press communique concluded.
Fugro, the world’s leading Geo-data provider has announced that the 12 m Blue Essence® uncrewed surface vessel (USV), the Fugro Pegasus, has received full navigation licensing from the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure. This is the first registration of an over-the-horizon USV in the country, making the Fugro Blue Essence USV the first vessel in its class to meet multiple independent maritime authorities’ operational standards.
The Blue Essence® vessel, built by Fugro’s partner SEA-KIT International, can be controlled from anywhere in the world, was designed for inspecting subsea assets. The Remote Inspection Solution incorporates the Blue Volta® e-ROV, that extends the inspection portfolio up to 400 m water depth.. Blue Essence® allows experts to deliver projects from Fugro’s onshore remote operations centres (ROCs) safely out of harm’s way while experiencing a better work-life balance. Its advanced systems, and an array of geophysical sensors, allow subsea inspection asset and site characterisation surveys, enabling the Fugro Blue Essence® vessel to conduct operations safely and efficiently, reducing emissions by 95% versus conventional vessel operations.
“There were no existing regulations for uncrewed vessels, so we formed a working group with UAE authorities and local partners to facilitate the process,” said Hannes Swiegers, Director of Remote Operations, Middle East and India, at Fugro. “We are proud to have achieved the first-ever registration of an over-the-horizon USV in the country and are confident that the vessel will support the UAE’s efforts to maintain their subsea infrastructure, whilst contributing to environmental protection and maritime safety.”
Ravi will be responsible for the operations of the Sobha Group
Sobha Realty, Dubai’s leading premium real estate developer in Dubai, has appointed Ravi Menon as Co-Chairman of the organization, it was announced in a press communique.
In his new position, Ravi Menon will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the several companies under the Sobha Group, alongside his father, PNC Menon, Founder and Chairman, Sobha Realty.
After his 20-year stint at Sobha India, Ravi Menon is set to join at the helm of Sobha Realty, Dubai with an aim to boost the ongoing developments of the company.
Ravi Menon, a Civil Engineering graduate from Purdue University, USA, joined Sobha India as Director in June 2004. Since then, he has been instrumental in the development of the organisation and defining its success path.
He has been in the leadership team of Sobha India for nearly 20 years, and during the time, his vision and tenacity enabled the business to diversify its product lines and expand its horizons. Under his direction, the organisation has strengthened its reputation for on-time delivery and achieving high global quality standards, the press statement continued.
“At a time when the real estate is witnessing an exponential growth, I am committed to advancing the company’s growth trajectory, and will be dedicated to upholding the core values of Sobha Realty,” stressed Ravi Menon.
Sobha Realty appoints Ravi Menon as Co-Chairman
Ravi will be responsible for the operations of the Sobha Group
Sobha Realty, Dubai’s leading premium real estate developer in Dubai, has appointed Ravi Menon as Co-Chairman of the organization, it was announced in a press communique.
In his new position, Ravi Menon will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the several companies under the Sobha Group, alongside his father, PNC Menon, Founder and Chairman, Sobha Realty.
After his 20-year stint at Sobha India, Ravi Menon is set to join at the helm of Sobha Realty, Dubai with an aim to boost the ongoing developments of the company.
Ravi Menon, a Civil Engineering graduate from Purdue University, USA, joined Sobha India as Director in June 2004. Since then, he has been instrumental in the development of the organisation and defining its success path.
He has been in the leadership team of Sobha India for nearly 20 years, and during the time, his vision and tenacity enabled the business to diversify its product lines and expand its horizons. Under his direction, the organisation has strengthened its reputation for on-time delivery and achieving high global quality standards, the press statement continued.
“At a time when the real estate is witnessing an exponential growth, I am committed to advancing the company’s growth trajectory, and will be dedicated to upholding the core values of Sobha Realty,” stressed Ravi Menon.
The King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport will offer metro services and acomprehensive bus network in the Saudi Capital
SNC-Lavalin, a fully integrated Canadian global professional services and project management company, has been awarded a project management services contract by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of its bus network as part of the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project, it was announced via a press communique.
The King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport will offer metro services and a comprehensive bus network. Combined, the project will have a capacity of 1.7 million passengers daily in the initial operation phase.
The Riyadh Metro Project, including six lines and 86 metro stations, is the backbone of the public transport network in Riyadh. The Riyadh Bus Project, including 80 routes and 2,860 bus stations served by 842 buses, is fully integrated with the metro network, connecting the districts of Riyadh with the business and commercial centers.
As part of the contract, which is a joint venture (JV) with Germany’s Dorsch Holding, SNC-Lavalin will provide project management and site supervision services for the O&M of the Riyadh bus network, including managing all assets related to the automatic vehicle management (AVM) and automatic fare collection (AFC) systems, and intelligent infrastructure through a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
“The King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project is one of the most ambitious plans set by RCRC to provide integrated transport solutions, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance the quality of life for the people of Riyadh,” stated Mohamed Youssef, Senior Vice President, Projects and O&M, Engineering Services, Middle East and Africa, SNC-Lavalin.
CEIV certification is an assurance of the quality of transportation for healthcare companies in the region.
Leading global logistics operator GEODIS has announced that it has strengthened its air freight temperature-controlled pharma shipments capabilities in Asia Pacific and Middle East (APAC&ME) with the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification. The certification covers multiple locations in China (PVG), Indonesia (CGK), India (DEL & BOM), South Korea (ICN), Thailand (BKK), United Arab Emirates (DXB) and Singapore (SIN).
This certification supports GEODIS’ strategic goals of establishing Pharma Healthcare as a key organizational vertical and expanding its global network by accrediting sites in numerous countries throughout the APAC region.
According to Onno Boots, Regional President and CEO of GEODIS for APAC and Middle East, “With the CEIV Pharma accreditation, we can ensure our customers of our competence and commitment to handle pharmaceutical temperature-sensitive products with the utmost care and attention. Pharmaceutical businesses need to find logistics solutions that are dependable and effective, and GEODIS is in a perfect position to offer them the best services in the area.”
This series of certifications is a reflection of the tremendous investment GEODIS has made in guaranteeing the highest levels of quality and compliance in its Pharma Healthcare capabilities.
“Without a doubt, we are responding to the healthcare industry’s demand for options in the selection of global supply chain partners and we look forward to establishing GEODIS as a key service provider for pharma and healthcare companies, particularly in Asia Pacific and Middle East where we see the key hubs of production and distribution”, adds Boots.
The CEIV Pharma certification for GEODIS further demonstrates its dedication to offering customers supply chain transparency and visibility. GEODIS can provide customers with shipment location and temperature data using GPS data loggers controlled by a control tower, enabling more openness and visibility.
In addition, the capabilities of GEODIS in customs brokerage and contract logistics are of particular interest to the decision-makers in Pharma Healthcare in this region. The best illustration of GEODIS’ capabilities for contract logistics is in Singapore, where GEODIS has GDP, GMP, and ISO13485 in its warehouses. GEODIS is well-positioned to manage the trade compliance needs of the healthcare companies as they expand their operations into new markets.
The route is launched in partnership with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
The once weekly Boeing 777 freighter will offer close to 100 tonnes of cargo capacity
Qatar Airways Cargo has introduced direct freighter service from Bogotá, capital of Colombia to Dallas Fort Worth in Texas. The once weekly Boeing 777 freighter departs from Bogota on Mondays and flies to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
The freighter offers close to 100 tonnes of cargo capacity and will be transporting perishables like flowers, fruits, vegetables, coffee, as well as live animals, machinery and other general cargo destined for DFW.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said: “The Americas is highly important for us and we have a strong presence in the region. Through this enhancement on the route, we are pleased to grow our existing partnership with Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Our customers in DFW now benefit from a direct freighter service to uplift perishables and other cargo directly from Colombia.”
John Ackerman, EVP of Global Strategy and Development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport added: “Qatar’s service direct from Bogota to DFW reduces transit times for high-quality perishable goods by two to three days, extending shelf life for retailers and providing fresher products for consumers. This route adds a vital link to South American markets, enhances our global air cargo network and strengthens our ability to flow goods between Latin America and Asia.”
Since the first Boeing 777 freighter took off from Doha to Chicago in August 2010, Qatar Airways Cargo has expanded its network across several countries in the American continent. The carrier serves the Americas with freighters as well as belly-hold cargo flights, flying to 14 freighter destinations and 14 belly-hold cargo destinations. The world’s leading cargo carrier offers more than 5,300 metric tonnes of weekly cargo capacity each way, to and from the Americas.
By applying its Next Generation vision to all areas of its business, Qatar Airways Cargo is bringing enhancements to its services and operations throughout the network.
Yango Deli Tech, a global tech company that provides proprietary technologies and expertise for retailers and Nana, the leading online grocery and commodities delivery platform in Saudi Arabia, have signed an agreement to implement Yango Deli Tech’s technologies into Nana’s current operations in KSA, laying the foundation for its future expansion plans. The partnership will enable Nana to improve unit economics, significantly enhance the client experience and support the company’s expansion into new markets.
The move follows a pilot project conducted at one of Nana’s dark stores earlier this year. The test showed the delivery platform could cut down the average missing items per day by 97% by implementing an innovative Warehouse Management System that enables almost 100% stock accuracy. A purpose-built dark store picker app also helped to decrease the time needed for order preparation by more than 35% via implementing smart in-store routing as each stock-keeping unit (SKU) is assigned to a specific shelf. At the moment, the partnership is working at full capacity across all planned stores.
Max Avtukhov, CEO at Yango Deli Tech said: “We are honored to partner with Nana to advance on a global mission of making high-tech e-grocery the reality of today and provide best-in-class user experience to consumers in Saudi Arabia and other markets in the Middle East. We strive to keep up with consumers’ rapidly evolving preferences and streamline operations for our customers. Together, we will set a new bar for the industry as a whole.”
Sami Alhelwah, Nana Co-Founder and CEO commented: “Tackling one of the major pain points of the retail sector within the region, we have partnered with Yango Deli Tech to provide our company with the technological and operational experience of other markets to address stock inaccuracies and replenishment inefficiencies which will support our vision and fuel our ambitious goals for further expansion and growth.”
Yango Deli Tech provides smart technology solutions that can significantly enhance the operational efficiency of e-grocery businesses. The company’s comprehensive tech stack includes various solutions for fulfillment and delivery processes, commerce, client experience and analytics. With AI algorithms trained on millions of orders and assortment management tools tested on mature markets, Yango Deli Tech can help e-grocers optimize their fulfillment and delivery processes, improving overall performance and customer satisfaction.
Nana is Saudi Arabia’s leading online grocery delivery platform with over 22,000 products organized for easy household shopping. The platform offers two services, Nana Express for daily grocery needs and Nana Hyper for weekly and monthly requirements. With a presence in 18 cities, Nana is known for its speedy delivery times and is expanding to reach even more households with its top-quality service.
LIXIL renews its certification from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in line with its targets to cap global temperature increase at 1.5ºC compared to pre-industrial temperatures.
In each of these three focus areas, the updated strategy sets out new mid-term targets across LIXIL’s operations, value chain and beyond, to expand the positive impact the company is having on environmental and social issues of the world. The company’s approach extends beyond the mitigation of risks and adaptation, but throughout its value chain; leveraging its expertise to change the way people live, today and tomorrow.
Kinya Seto, President and CEO of LIXIL said: “As a purpose-driven organization, LIXIL is embedding ESG activities and commitments into our core business strategy, to ensure that we are having a positive impact and to strengthen our business over the long-term. Our updated environmental strategy is central to this approach, ensuring that we are aligned across our business to important environmental commitments, but also because it will allow us to capture new opportunities and manage risks.”
Demonstrating the company’s strengthened commitment to accelerate efforts for sustainable business practices from operations and in collaboration with business partners, LIXIL recently marked its third consecutive year on the Supplier Engagement Leaderboard and Water Security A List by the CDP, one of the founding partners of the SBTi.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Buildings accounts for around 28% of energy related CO2 emissions of which housing accounts for 17%. Energy efficiency and high-performance housing is an urgent issue to be tackled¹.
LIXIL has renewed its certification from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in line with its targets to cap global temperature increase at 1.5ºC compared to pre-industrial temperatures. Aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, LIXIL has set approved targets in June 2022 for absolute GHG emissions reductions – from previously 30% to 50.4% for Scope 1&2 and 15% to 30% for Scope 3 by the fiscal year ending March 2031 from the fiscal year ended March 2019 base year2, 3.
LIXIL is introducing functional yet efficient solutions for end-users to reduce consumption of energy in both new and existing homes, driving impact for LIXIL and the environment – contributing to mitigation by enhancing the line-up of high-performance windows, doors and construction methods, and by energy saving water technologies such as faucets and toilets; while offering solutions such as shades, shutters, and storm doors designed to alleviate the effects of rising temperatures and heavy rainfall for adaptation.
Water Sustainability
By 2050, an estimated 40% of the world’s population, will suffer from severe water depravation⁶. As the world’s leading water technology provider, LIXIL has set new targets that are focused on the social and environmental sustainability of water for future generations that are supported by its efforts to reduce, reuse, filter and improve accessibility to safer or better tasting water.
LIXIL will improve water use efficiency by 20% in its operations by FYE2031 and will reduce water usage at water-scarce business sites in accordance with TNFD. Optimizing water usage and using water responsibly at production sites, LIXIL will ramp up its efforts to recycle water and reduce its water footprint in its operations needed for manufacturing.
Through water efficient products and solutions, LIXIL can enable consumers to use water more efficiently and responsibly, reducing daily consumption. LIXIL’s water saving toilet and faucet products, and smart water controllers targets to reduce a total of 2billion cubic meters of water per year by FYE2025, globally.
Circular Economy
With the world’s growing population, global consumption is expected to double by 2050⁷.Today, construction-related sectors consume nearly half of the world’s extracted resources. Resource efficiency and innovation of circular solutions are imperative for sustainable growth, and LIXIL has set targets that contribute to the world and industry.
Updated targets include recycling 90% of waste from operations by FYE2026 globally, improving efficiency. Across the value chain, LIXIL has set enterprise-level targets to reduce single-use plastics used for packaging, increase resource efficient products and solutions, building take-back systems for product to product use; supported by repairing, resale or leasing services to ensure products can be used longer. By rethinking conventional processes, LIXIL aims to minimize the amount of waste produced, promote reuse or recycling.
Efficient use for a variety of raw materials have also been sought throughout the years, driving innovation. LIXIL’s GROHE brand has steadily increased products with Cradle to Cradle certification over the years and released EPDs (Environment Product Declarations) for 18 product groups that cover 777 products. In Japan, the EcoLeaf label certified PremiAL extruded profiles made from 70% recycled aluminum launched in December 2022. Leading the industry with recycling efforts that span over two decades, PremiAL is spearheading the company’s new target of using 100% recycled aluminum in its products by FYE2031.
Uchu Mukai, Chief Technology Officer and Chair of the Environmental Strategy Committee said “With the updated Environment Strategy we want to reduce our CO2 targets by evaluating our total emissions, including Scope 1, 2, and 3, protect water – one of the most precious resources – and focus on circular solutions that can have a positive impact on our planet; aiming at waste reduction from our facilities, resource efficiency, circularity throughout our products along the value chain. With the addition of Biodiversity as an interconnecting material issue, we believe that this strategy is an important step forward in addressing challenges and to have a positive impact on our business and the environment.”
GWC recognised for its digital innovation at the ICC C4DTI Awards.
GWC (Q.P.S.C.), Qatar’s leading logistics provider, was felicitated as the “Best Logistics Systems Operator” at the inaugural C4DTI Awards which were hosted at the Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn in London on Tuesday 4th April 2023. The ceremony saw the logistics industry come together and celebrate excellence in digital trade and innovation.
The awards ceremony supports the objectives of the Center for Digital Trade and Innovation (C4DTI) and takes place alongside the Digital Trade Conference (DTC) to bring together industry and government practitioners and recognises excellence on both a corporate and individual level with regards to those involved in delivering a cheaper, faster and simpler trading system.
The Award comes as a reaffirmation of the ground-breaking logistics mandate delivered by GWC during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM. Through its MDS project (Master Delivery System), GWC was able to prioritise deliveries, minimise unplanned deliveries and reduce bottlenecks.
With a strong focus on responsibility, accountability, consensus-oriented solutions, and transparency, GWC followed a holistic approach to overcome challenges and bottlenecks associated with this new system.
“For a successful logistics delivery – two components matter the most – technology and human capital. The MDS system was offered free of charge to the FIFA delivery partners and customers to make deliveries to all stadiums and training sites, as well as several non-official sites, that require screening at a RSP (remote search park). This represented a key example of a winning combination between people and technology.” Stated Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
Menon further added that GWC has always been committed to raising the bar, on being innovative and finding new solutions to lead the logistics industry. “We give a lot of importance to due diligence and our teams trained to get accustomed to the systems and understand the MDS process. Qatar 2022TM was a momentous year for us and a validation of the hard work our team has put in over the last decade.”
Delivering the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world involved a gigantic logistical mandate, which was handled in Qatar by GWC; the First Regional Supporter and Official Logistics Provider for the tournament.
The numbers involved are staggering
GWC handled more than 15 million cans of beverage, 3.8 million linens, 1.8 million pieces of equipment, 200,000 hospitality match tickets, 200,000 packages of media equipment, 193,600 pieces of fixtures. This was in addition to all the tournament equipment, including kits, uniforms and footballs. Transporting food and beverages to a host of tournament sites was another key deliverable. Everything delivered to and from eight stadiums, 32 team base camps, two airports, two seaports, two media hubs, nine fan zones and other sites.
Alexey Bykov to head operations for the Middle East Region
GROHE has announced the appointment of Alexey Bykov as the new Leader of the Middle East region at LIXIL EMENA. The appointment came as a testimony of GROHE’s continued focus on growth, innovation, and customer success across the globe, a press communique stated.
With over 20 years of experience in the construction and sanitary ware industry, Bykov will now spearhead GROHE’s operations across the Middle East as he has previously held leadership positions in various renowned organizations and has a proven track record of driving growth, innovation and digital transformation.
In his new role, Bykov will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to drive regional business growth and profitability. He will also focus on expanding the customer base, building partnerships and driving innovation to contribute to the company’s overall success, in addition to overseeing the company’s operations in MENA.
Bykov extensive experience and passion for driving growth through innovation make him ideally suited for this role, as his leadership and GROHE’s team of experts in the region will provide customers with the best products and services, the press statement continued.
Bykov previously served as Leader, Grohe Russia, Central Asia and Caucasus, where he helped establish a strong brand presence in the region. He has also held leadership positions at several other multinational companies in the building materials and fast-moving consumer goods industries.
TALKE, one of the world’s leading providers of logistics solutions for the chemical industry, is satisfied with the developments in 2022, despite global uncertainties. The company has seen a significant increase in global sales compared to 2021.
Growth in overseas business has exceeded expectations and made a positive contribution to the Group’s earnings. The company sees challenges for the domestic market because of the energy crisis and its impact on the industry. To effectively address these, the company has introduced a performance programme, a press communique indicated.
TALKE’s sustainability framework is called ‘Crafting Responsible Logistics’ and covers four areas of action, which the company is progressively fleshing out and implementing. The company has also forged ahead with its digitization initiatives.
In this context, TALKE has introduced real-time tracking in the transport area and automated processes through various SAP extensions.
Middle East: Record results with a special focus on safety
In the Middle East region, TALKE has completed its chemical hub in Dubai with a fully automated filling facility directly connected to the hazardous materials warehouse.
In addition, the company has decided to build a second ‘Multi-User Logistic Centre’ on a 300,000sqm site at the Jubail Commercial Port in Saudi Arabia. The new distribution centre will be used by the surrounding industry and offers a comprehensive, integrated range of services.
The company has received multiple awards for its high safety standards, such as commendations for achieving 20 million working hours without any lost-time incidents in the Saudi Arabian TALKE joint venture and 6.5 million working hours without any lost-time incidents in Qatar.
As part of its commitment to the UAE’s ‘Operation 300bn Strategy’ to develop the country’s industrial sector and encourage production of ‘Made in the UAE’ brands, prominent warehouse automation solutions provider Acme Intralog recently launched a locally manufactured Radio Shuttle system named ‘Namla’.
Meaning ‘ant’ in Arabic, Namla is inspired by the natural intelligent system employed by nature’s tiny creatures–ants, who diligently carry items from one place to another, a press communique noted.
“Namla is hundred percent made in the UAE by Acme. It is the only robotic Radio Shuttle that is locally manufactured in the country, and I am proud of this pioneering initiative by our team. Our new generation Radio Shuttle can drastically improve pallet storage density for standard pallets of up to 1,500 kg,” affirmed Navin Narayan, CEO, Acme Intralog.
Customised operations
“Customised options for specific needs and higher load requirements are available on request. Namla improves productivity as well as safety of operations in a high-density distribution centre,” he continued.
The semi-automated system can be handled by forklift in a customised rack. Namla can be operated remotely with an industrial grade touch panel that allows for quick task management. The Li-ion battery is designed to last through a typical shift operation of a distribution center for a minimum of eight hours. The batteries are easily interchangeable for continuous operation.
Acme also offers a Namla polar edition, which operates safely in harsh temperatures and can be deployed by the cold storage industry, operating safely between -30 to + 40 degrees, the press statement continued.
“We have had a great response for Namla from our clients and we are currently looking for regional distributors and integrators for our Radio Shuttle,” concluded Narayan.
Investment reflects Honeywell’s commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s localization and economic diversification objectives
Honeywell is to open an advanced regional manufacturing centre at the King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), Saudi Arabia’s new energy industrial zone.
The new facility will become Honeywell’s eighth site in Saudi Arabia, reflecting both the company’s strategic growth objectives in the Kingdom and its support for Aramco’s In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program to advance local capabilities in research, development and manufacturing of cutting-edge technology, it was announced in a press statement.
The facility will include engineering, manufacturing and assembly lines spanning Honeywell’s industrial automation and control equipment, field instruments, rugged mobile computers, gas detection equipment, fire safety systems and building management systems hardware. Additional capacity for potential future manufacturing expansion, as well as customer demonstration facilities, is also planned.
Significant investment
“The ground-breaking of our new facility at SPARK represents a significant investment and an important milestone in Honeywell’s long history of partnership Saudi Arabia, which dates back to 1948. We are proud to support Saudi Arabia’s most important companies in localizing and developing innovative technologies to advance critical sectors of the economy,” affirmed Abdullah Al-Juffali, President, Honeywell, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
“SPARK is the perfect location for us to continue our journey of investment, localization and growth in the Kingdom in-line with its sustainability goals and broader Vision 2030 objectives,” he continued.
The new facility will be developed in phases, with Phase One expected to be completed in 2024. Honeywell broke the ground for the facility at a ceremony attended by a delegation of global and regional Honeywell executives including Vimal Kapur, President and Chief Operating Officer; John Waldron, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer; Ben Driggs, President, Global High Growth Regions, and Mohammed Mohaisen, President and CEO, Honeywell Middle East and North Africa, as well as and senior leaders from SPARK and Aramco.
Expanding the Kingdom’s capabilities
“We are delighted to welcome Honeywell to SPARK, in support of our localization objectives and commitment to expanding Saudi Arabia’s capabilities as a manufacturing and engineering powerhouse for the region’s energy sector. Honeywell’s investment in our ecosystem will contribute to local economic growth and help create more job opportunities for Saudi nationals in advanced technology sectors,” commented Saif Al Qahtani, President and CEO, SPARK.
SPARK is being developed into a 50sqkm industrial ecosystem designed to capture the full value from the energy value chain by acting as a principal gateway for the region’s energy sector. It contributes to Vision 2030 by supporting the Kingdom’s efforts in building a strong economy through diversification and localization of key sectors.
King Salman Energy Park is a new megaproject being constructed and located between Dammam and Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. This project is being developed, operated and managed by Saudi Aramco.
HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan tours AD Ports Group’s Development Projects in Al Dhafra
HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, recently inaugurated Mugharraq Port in Al Dhannah City, in the western (Gharabiyah) Al Dhafra Region.
Strategically located on the western coasts of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the port has served as a hub for offshore, oil and gas, general cargo, logistics support, bulk and break-bulk handling services since 2017.
HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed was briefed on Mugharraq Port’s facilities and its expansion activities upon arrival at the inaugural ceremony. Mugharraq Port, achieved international port status by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code).
Since then, the port has developed relationships with international oil and gas companies, channelling essential cargo, such as oil and petrochemicals. The first international shipment was received in August 2022.
“Today’s inauguration of Mugharraq Port reflects our commitment to the continued enhancement of our wider maritime and logistics capabilities within the Al Dhafra Region,” commented HH Sheikh Hamdan.
“AD Ports Group’s strategic investment projects will continue to aid the development of the Al Dhafra Region, as well as promote growth opportunities for local businesses, supporting economic growth, enhancing leisure and recreation, and preserving the region’s rich maritime heritage,” observed Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman, AD Ports Group.
“The expansion of Mugharraq Port will attract more international companies, particularly within the energy and shipping sectors, which will significantly benefit from the specialised services offered,” remarked Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group.
Abu Dhabi’s Upwards Solutions Technology and Mindwise Information Technology have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build successful long-term relationships that will benefit both the parties and their customers.
Upwards Solutions Technology has local subsidiaries supporting and maintaining key enforcement agencies in the UAE. Its expertise in IT consultancy, infrastructure development and maintenance, IT security equipment, surveillance, and computer training has helped the company establish a strong foothold in the market.
Mindwise Information Technology is engaged in the business of software development and consulting in AI/ML. Its core competencies include the development of AI/ML solutions, technical specifications and functional descriptions, and consulting in digital strategy development.
The MoU will enable the two companies to collaborate on joint R&D to develop AI models for different business use cases. Additionally, the companies will focus on R&D to develop AI models for the tax industry, targeting required countries.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Ali Naser Yabhouni Dhaheri, Proprietor, Upwards and Mikayel Pashayan, Proprietor, Mindwise, in the presence of Upwards CEO Abdullah Lei Shen; Tahaluf Al Emarat CEO Yahia Alhami, Dr. Ramzi Halasa, and other senior executives.
The collaboration between Upwards and MINDWISE will help the companies unlock new sources of revenue and reduce operational costs through the best utilization of technology. The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to develop innovative AI solutions that will help drive growth and improve operational efficiency, a press communique concluded. .
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) recently launched self-storage units at Al Hamra Industrial Zone to offer individuals a convenient and cost-effective solution for managing their extra belongings.
“Our flagship storage solution to Ras Al Khaimah community members is perfect for those in need of additional storage spaces, where they can store their belongings for flexible periods,” noted Ramez Jallad, Group CEO, RAKEZ.
The launch of RAKEZ’s self-storage units is a significant step towards addressing the storage needs of the community. Many people in the UAE face the challenge of limited storage space in their homes and offices, which can make it difficult for them to manage their belongings efficiently, a press communique stated.
Self-storage units are not only a practical solution but also offer a more minimalist and clutter-free way of living. This also helps simplify one’s lifestyle by freeing up valuable space in their homes, allowing them to store seasonal items and equipment conveniently, the press statement continued.
The RAKEZ self-storage facility is the first-of-its-kind in Ras Al Khaimah conveniently located in Al Hamra, making it easily accessible for all. The storage units are 5sqm in size and 15cbm in capacity, fully secured with 24/7 CCTV surveillance and security guards, climate-controlled, and available on flexible rental terms starting at AED 400 (US$ 109) per month.
Every year, 241 million containers are transported across the seas with over 7 trillion dollars’ worth of food, clothes, electronics and other goods we all need. While crucial for the smooth functioning of the global supply chain, containers and their cargoes can also harbour and transfer contaminating pests. All parties in the supply chain have a shared responsibility for stopping the spread of pests by keeping cargo and containers clean when in their custody. The updated Prevention of Pest Contamination of Containers: Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers published by BIC, COA, IICL and WSC provide easy-to-use best practices to help everyone carry out their responsibilities.
The original version of the Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers, published in 2017, was well received by regulators and industry, and has become a valued source of guidance when it comes to preventing pest contamination. Since then, we have learned more about the transfer of pests, our climate conditions have changed, and trade has grown. Together these developments send a clear message: Pest contamination is an issue of societal concern. In response, industry parties representing different parts of the container supply chain – the Bureau International des Containers (BIC), the Container Owners Association (COA), the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) and World Shipping Council (WSC) – are now launching an updated version of the guidelines.
Experience shows that the introduction of new pests can severely upset an existing ecosystem, with serious ecological consequences and possibly billion dollar impacts on a nation’s economy. Regulators and national authorities play a central role in stopping the transfer of pests, but given the scale of global trade it is prevention – stopping pests from entering cargo or containers in the first place – that is the best solution. With the updated “Prevention of Pest Contamination of Containers: Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers” BIC, COA, IICL and WSC are looking to further improve the level of prevention across the supply chain to stop the transfer of pests.
“When each party in international container supply chains makes sure to start and end their work with clean cargo and containers, then containers will reach their destination faster while our agriculture, forestry and natural resources are preserved,” says Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President of WSC.
All parties in the supply chain – from manufacturers, to exporters, packers, freight forwarders, inland logistics providers, warehouse storage providers, ocean carriers, and importers – must take responsibility for maintaining cargo and containers clean when in their care. By applying the best practices described in this Guide the parties can keep containers and their cargoes clean, fulfilling their custodial responsibility and reducing the risk of pest contamination and transfer.
The total e-commerce market value in the MENA reaches US$ 37bn and is expected to surpass US$ 57bn by 2026
EZDubai, the fully dedicated e-commerce zone in Dubai South, recently launched the third edition of its ‘E-commerce Report in the MENA region’ in collaboration with Euromonitor International, the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence, market analysis and consumer insights.
The report revealed that the MENA region’s total e-commerce market size reached US$ 37 bn in 2022, with a double-digit growth rate from 2021 and a 32% CAGR over the 2018-2022 period.
The MENA’s double-digit growth is due to robust internet usage, a well-developed infrastructure, and supportive policies. Several trends also contributed, including the increasing popularity of digital payment platforms, the rise of online grocery shopping, and expanding tech initiatives.
Furthermore, economic stability, technology investment, and a young, tech-savvy population fueled the strong development of the digital landscape in the MENA region, as highlighted in the report.
Top three
The UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Israel accounted for 72.1% of the total market size, with the growth in these countries attributed to factors including their technologically advanced populations, high-internet usage rates, and strong government finances. Specifically, Israel’s innovative economy and the rising demand for speedy delivery services propelled it to the forefront of the market.
The report also notes that companies in the UAE are making use of dark stores to streamline inventory management and provide delivery. Meanwhile, the KSA’s rapidly growing population, technological advancements, and development of secure payment systems contributed to its strong performance in the e-commerce sector.
The MENA e-commerce market size is expected to reach US$ 57bn in 2026, with a CAGR of 11% over the 2022-2026 period. Although countries like the UAE, KSA and Israel are expected to remain leaders in e-commerce market share, countries like Algeria are expected to see strong growth.
E-commerce importance
“At EZDubai, we recognise the strategic importance of e-commerce to the region’s economic development. We are committed to working closely with the government sector, and local and international businesses to further support the growth and success of this dynamic industry,” commented Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Dubai South Logistics District.
SAP’s ERP offering has long enabled end-to-end transparency across the business for the world’s leading companies
SAP recently announced ‘GROW with SAP’, a new offering to help midsize customers adopt cloud ERP that enables speed, predictability and continuous innovation. GROW with SAP customers get the same best practices powering the world’s industry leaders, while benefiting from rapid deployment and frictionless updates.
“SAP’s ERP offering has long enabled end-to-end transparency across the business for the world’s leading companies. With GROW with SAP, we’re taking this to the next level for midsize companies, with a tailored offering that helps them grow their business,” affirmed Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE.
“GROW with SAP provides the agility and innovation midsize companies need not just today, but for their success in years to come,” he continued.
For 50 years, SAP has been working hand in hand with customers across every industry and using this expertise to benchmark and define best-in-class, industry-specific processes. GROW with SAP provides these preconfigured best practices that midsize companies can immediately adopt. Embedded AI and automation capabilities mean customers see rapid results, a press communique indicated.
The GROW with SAP offering also brings together SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, with accelerated adoption services, a global community of experts and free learning resources, helping customers go live in as little as four weeks, a press communique stated.
“When we develop a new product and we have it on SAP S/4HANA Cloud, public edition, with one push of the button, everyone sees the exact same prices, the localized naming, product data, sales for today and the expected sales next week,” asserted Guy Claesen, CEO, RIHO.
“With GROW with SAP, SAP recognized they need to better fit the business and technology requirements of midsize companies looking for a cloud ERP solution,” observed Mickey North Rizza, VP, IDC Enterprise Software Group.
Middle East airports to handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040
Saudi airports expansion entails US$147 billion investments
Sharjah International Airport Expansion to get completed by Q4 2024
Kuwait expanding Passenger Terminal 2 to handle 13 million passengers
Doha passenger terminal expansion to raise capacity to 60 million
Musandam Airport expected to be completed by Q4 2026
After most of the multi-billion dollar airport construction projects were put on the back burner or temporarily curtailed over the past three years, operators and investors have been racing down the tarmac as the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions are expected to account for 58 per cent of the global air passenger demand in 2040.
The CAPA – Centre for Aviation, one of the world’s most trusted sources of aviation market intelligence, says there have been 425 major construction projects at existing airports, with US$450.7 billion in total committed expenditure globally, each of which is at various stages, from preparatory to about to conclude, along with 225 new airport projects and airport investor numbers swelling to 1074, including 258 airport operator groups or consortiums. Its database has region-wise listed the total numbers of the airport project and the volume of investment include 155 in Middle East worth US$209.4 billion.
The Middle East region, positioned at the strategic crossroads of major economies of Asia, Africa and Europe, has transformed into a major international hub and continues to be an inspirational growth story. With over 110 airports, this is already among the fastest growing in the world, accounting for 170 million of the global traffic.
Airports in the Middle East will need to invest US$151 billion in capacity expansion as the global air passenger demand is expected to increase more than two-fold in 2040. “This necessitates an investment totaling US$2.4 trillion for Middle East and Asia-Pacific airports until 2040 to accommodate this growth,” the Airport Council International said. The ACI forecasts close to 19.7 billion passengers are expected to traverse the world’s airports by 2040 and the Middle East airports will handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040 – a significant increase from 2019’s 405 million.
The airport industry’s growth story is far from over as new airports are coming up and existing facilities getting expanded and upgraded to meet future passenger demands. The airport industry players, seeing the huge investments coming back on the tracks, will get into an energized enthusiasm at the Airport Show in Dubai from May 9 to 11. It will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
The 22nd edition of the world’s largest annual airport industry B2B platform will connect over 200-plus aviation brands and 100-plus buyers from over 30 airports and aviation authorities from 20 countries. Also taking place on the sidelines of the Airport Show is the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF).
The high-profile global platform will see over 4,500 visitors, and exhibitors have been confirmed from the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Turkey, Netherlands, China, Belgium, Korea, Sweden and the UAE. May Ismail, Event Manager at Reed Exhibitions, its organizer, said the Airport Show-2023 will see almost everything that airports require being on display. The 2022 edition witnessed 4,200-plus attendees from 71 countries and over 160 exhibitors from 23 countries and 100-plus buyers from 35 companies and 23 countries along with five country pavilions. This edition will break those records for sure as aviation is coming back in its full splendour.
According to GlobalData, the total pipeline of new airport construction projects had a combined value of US$1.64 trillion while the global fleet of aircraft is projected to touch 36,500 aircraft by 2031 and the global airport construction market size has been revised to US$1.4 trillion by 2026. There are several countries which are pursuing airport developments at a break-neck speed now.
India, the world’s third-largest civil aviation market, plans to increase to 220 operational airports by 2027, up from 141 now. Its most populous neighbour, China, is expanding and by 2025 will have more than 30 civil airports with a targeted capacity of two billion passengers. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines to are in the race to catch up with new airport developments. Turkey’s TAV will continue its investments in Almaty and Antalya airports in 2023 and it is building a new terminal and additional units in Almaty with an investment of US$200 million to double the capacity to 60 million. TAV will start investing in Esenboğa Airport in the Turkish capital Ankara. Oman Airports has inked a MoU to develop Kilimanjaro Airport and an ambitious plan is to develop a southern Africa hub in Harare in Zimbabwe.
In the UAE, the New Sharjah International Airport Expansion, costing an estimated US$517 million, will get completed by Q4 2024. The work involves the construction of a new passenger terminal and supporting infrastructure to raise its capacity to accommodate 20 million passengers by 2023. Earlier, it had been reported that the Arab world’s most vibrant economy had planned investments of over US$23 billion in airport development and expansion projects over this decade. The Kuwait Airport’s Passenger Terminal 2 expansion, costing US $4.36 billion will boost the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity to 13 million passengers per year with the flexibility to increase to 25 million passengers and 50 million passengers in the future. As the project aims for the status of the world’s first LEED Gold-accredited passenger terminal building, the project is expected to be completed fully by 2025.
In Qatar, Hamad International Airport Phase 2B’s expansion work on the passenger terminal and extension of concourses D and E in Doha will commence likely this year and will enhance passenger capacity to more than 60 million annually. The new cargo terminal will be completed by 2023 and will feature a new 3-level facility and an 85,000-square metre building footprint. Musandam Airport in the Sultanate of Oman, costing US$250 million, is expected to get completed by Q4 2026. The work includes the construction of two runways and a passenger terminal with a capacity of 250,000 passengers per year. In Egypt, plans to build Terminal 4 at Cairo International Airport are advancing. Saudi Arabia is set to build one of the world’s largest airports which will have six parallel runways. The airport will help drive annual passenger traffic to 120 million by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. The Kingdom is undertaking a massive airport expansion and upgrades programme to serve 330 million travellers by 2030 through US$147 billion investments. The Red Sea International Airport is set to open in late December 2023. King Salman International Airport aims to accommodate up to 185 million passengers and process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050. Jeddah Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) is taking airport-centric development to a new level. Its expansion could push the passenger capacity to 114 million passengers per year after 2035, after its completion in 2028. Total investment is estimated to be US$4.5 billion. It will be Saudi Arabia’s first airport city development in line with Vision 2030.
The Containerization and Intermodal Institute (CII) announces that Jahan Byrne has been elected to CII’s Board of Directors. Byrne brings with him a wealth of supply chain leadership expertise built on a solid foundation in sales, business development, brand management and marketing.
“As CII enters its 63rd year, we welcome Jahan as our newest board member with the full knowledge that he will bring new insights and energy that will elevate our mission of promoting and supporting the business of international trade and the intermodal container transportation community,” said Mr. Steven Blust, CII’s President.
Byrne, who has over 28 years of industry experience, is the Director of Corporate Marketing at Matson Logistics, a top 25 3PL and supply chain solutions provider that is part of the Matson Group. He oversees the global branding and marketing operations for the business.
Based in San Francisco, Byrne has held various leadership positions in sales, marketing, and brand management for several maritime transportation and logistics firms, including American President Lines, Horizon Lines, National Shipping, and the Pasha Group. He was also in charge of the commercial development projects at the Port of Oakland.
From its inception in 1960, CII’s mission has been to promote and support international commerce and the intermodal container transportation sector as well as recognize supply chain and academic excellence. In fact, CII’s scholarship program which was established in 1992, has awarded nearly one million dollars to deserving students seeking careers in the sector, as well as institutions that are developing future leaders.
The CII leadership team includes: President, Steve Blust of Blust Intermodal Advisors; First Vice President, Chris Brooks of The Journal of Commerce; Second Vice President, Michael J. DiVirgilio of MJ DiVirgilio & Associates; Treasurer, Michael Mendoza of OEC Group; secretary, Cate Avolio of the International Longshoremen’s Association. Barbara Yeninas is Senior Advisor. Lisa Aurichio is Executive Director.
AZFreight, the world’s leading air cargo information portal and directory, has announced that it will be providing its users with access to the latest product from CargoAi, airfreight’s fastest growing digital enabler, CargoWALLET.
From April 2023, AZFreight users will get access to the full CargoMART booking experience, using a white-label solution from CargoAi. CargoMART is a digital marketplace that allows freight forwarders to search, quote, book, track and, now, pay for shipments within one interface, as well as monitor carbon emissions per shipment via Cargo2ZERO.
“We are excited to offer our users the latest in airfreight technology, significantly growing our user experience beyond a directory and information site. We have chosen to partner with CargoAi now, after the release of CargoWALLET, which will make a huge difference in the experience we offer to our users. We are also pleased with Cargo2ZERO features as part of the booking flow, aligning with our commitment to promote sustainable practices in the industry,” Tim Brocklehurst, Digital Transformation Lead of AZFreight
CargoWALLET is CargoAi’s payment solution for air cargo with supply chain financing capabilities, allowing freight forwarders to pay for shipments instantly, without the need for IATA Cass Number, AWB stock, or bank guarantees. Additionally, CargoWALLET enables bookings to be made from any origin and provides the lowest exchange rates in over 30 currencies, increasing the global reach and business potential for AZFreight members.
Integrated in the CargoMART booking flow, Cargo2ZERO provides CO2 visibility emission data on all CargoAi’s airline schedules, Routes and AWBs, calculated as per IATA RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1678 STANDARD. With data provided from Cargo2ZERO, AZ Freight forwarders can report on their Scope 3 emissions and be fully aligned for environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting requirements. AZFreight forwarders can also purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) with Neste, the leading producer of SAF, as an ‘add-on’ to each booking to scale climate action rapidly from an individual level.
“We’re excited to partner with AZFreight, bringing their users our latest solutions, CargoWALLET and CargoMART. This partnership provides members with a superior experience, combining sustainable carbon-efficient route options and instant payment solutions, into an all-in-one booking experience,” said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
The AD Ports Group (ADPG) recently announced the launch of a new direct shipping service dedicated to Ro-Ro, between UAE’s Khalifa Port and Kuwait’s Shuwaikh Port. The new service aims to improve commercial connectivity and facilitates trade with Kuwait.
“As the region’s premier facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, AD Ports Group is committed to utilising its integrated logistics capabilities to meet customers’ requirements, help grow their businesses,” stressed Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, Acting CEO, Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, AD Ports Group, commenting on the launch of the news service.
The long-standing bilateral trade ties enjoyed between the two GCC countries in recent years saw a rapid growth in several key commodity markets. During 2022, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre’s preliminary data shows an increase in non-oil trade exchange between the two countries estimated at AED 43.5bn (US$ 11.85bn), compared to AED 38.5bn (US$ 10.48bn) in 2021, recording 13% growth.
The launch of the new shipping service between Khalifa Port and Shuwaikh Port is part of AD Ports Group’s efforts to enhance trade connectivity and facilitation in the region.
The partnership will leverage technical capacity through hardware technology and analytics
nybl, the Saudi-based AI-driven deep-tech development company, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lenovo, the world’s largest IT and Solutions provider, according to a press communiqué.
The MoU is aimed at strengthening joint activities in the areas of Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) to deliver customized solutions for municipal authorities, future smart cities, and environmental protection.
The collaboration was formalized during a signing ceremony at the recently concluded LEAP 2023, in the presence of Noor Alnahhas, CEO, nybl, and Giovanni Di Filippo, EMEA President, Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), as well as other high-level delegates from nybl and Lenovo.
In alignment with the Kingdom’s large-scale digitalization programme and increasing demands for advanced technological solutions, the new agreement will see Lenovo and nybl working together to explore innovative solutions and insights through the exploration of emerging datasets.
The collaboration will see nybl facilitating the use cases of its technology for Lenovo global clients and its partners. This will include nybl’s Artificial Intelligence technology stack (Anything.ai) and other ground-breaking Machine Learning (ML) models and solutions.
In turn, Lenovo will provide nybl with its expertise in High-Performance Computing, as well as access to areas in its Innovation and Creativity Centre, thereby enhancing nybl’s early access to high-efficiency advanced technology.
“As a global leader, Lenovo offers us opportunities to explore future Ai innovation and drive the development of smarter solutions for the public sector,” affirmed Alnahhas.
“We look forward to supporting nybl with our core competencies and hope to leverage their experience in real-life deployment with their ambition to tackle global challenges with end-to-end Ai solution,” asserted Di Filippo.
New partnership will accelerate Al Naboodah Group’s business-to-business trade, providing visibility of products at the click of a button
DUBUY.com has welcomed the UAE’s Al Naboodah Group onto its wholesale e-commerce platform to help accelerate its growth, by providing instant access to new markets via its online business-to-business marketplace.
Al Naboodah Group, one of the oldest family conglomerates in the Middle East, will partner with DP World’s innovative and trusted platform DUBUY.com to sell its diverse portfolio of brands. By providing end-to-end supply chain solutions, DUBUY.com will provide a gateway for the group of companies to enter new international markets.
The product-led parts of Al Naboodah Group, such as the electrical, agriculture and auto-parts divisions, will see benefits in the partnership and thanks to the collaboration with DUBUY.com, customers registered on the platform will be able to buy wholesale products across a variety of categories from Al Naboodah Group at the click of a button. It will also provide a secure and reliable supply chain for getting the goods from A to B, through DP World’s global ports and logistics network.
Commenting on the partnership, Mahmood Al Bastaki, COO of Digital Trade Solutions at DP World, said: “We are proud to welcome Al Naboodah Group to DUBUY.com and we are looking forward to building a long term mutually beneficial partnership here. By being part of the platform, Al Naboodah Group will enjoy greater visibility and access to markets such as Africa to accelerate its growth. It will also enable them to trade using a unique combination of advanced technology and DP World physical infrastructure – which includes reliable fulfilment, secure financial transactions and the safe movement of goods.
“DUBUY.com has been operating as a trusted online marketplace for buyers and sellers since November 2021, and in this relatively short time, we have accrued more than 10,000 registered customers, 2,000 registered vendors, and have facilitated the trade of more than 1.4 million products every day. This latest news is a testament to the major growth in e-commerce solutions, and we’re proud at DP World to be at the forefront of digital innovation.
“We have no doubt that Al Naboodah will grow their business further, and we look forward to more UAE companies joining our platform to open up to the rest of the world,” Al Bastaki added.
This fully integrated e-commerce platform brings buyers and sellers together with a single window for transactions, payment and delivery; cross-border business-to-business (B2B) settlement, as well as domestic B2B and business-to-consumer (B2C) capabilities. Al Naboodah Group joins a diverse range of businesses already trading on the e-commerce platform.
Swaidan Saeed Juma Al Naboodah, Chairman of Al Naboodah Commercial Group, said: “As a leading Group of companies with a strong heritage in the UAE, we are honoured to start the cooperation with the e-commerce platform DUBUY.com by DP World. We are proud to strengthen our strategic partnership with DP World, by growing the strong roots we have cemented in the UAE, by expanding into new markets. The technology and the scale that DP World provides via DUBUY.com is unprecedented and we are looking forward to the mutual rewards both parties will benefit from when it comes to providing greater breadth of products for buyers across muti-territories at the click of a button. We will enjoy greater access to key markets – such as Africa – and we are proud to be able to scale our operations with a trusted platform.”
Indoor multi-purpose vertical farming platform for fresh produce in partnership with ZERO marks the operational phase of ADQ’s AgTech Park
Project tests and adapts breakthrough technologies under local climate conditions to transform the nation’s food and agricultural landscape
ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, announced the operational phase of its cutting-edge AgTech Park ecosystem with the launch of a vertical farming project in partnership with ZERO, a high-impact technology company headquartered in Italy. The ZERO project is the first of several controlled environment agricultural concepts that will be housed in the AgTech Park and will aim to enhance indoor farming locally, as well as explore and push the boundaries of desert-climate farming in the UAE.
The inaugural farming facility is situated in KEZAD (Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi Group), the UAE’s largest operator and developer of fully integrated and specialized economic zones. KEZAD has a well-established ecosystem for food industries across the entire value chain, thereby creating a strong base for growth, both for local producers and the food industry as a whole. Additional sites exploring different technologies will be launched in Al Ain Industrial City within the coming year.
Set to strengthen the local production of crops, fruits and vegetables for multiple applications including fresh food, nutraceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, the first joint project between ADQ and ZERO draws on the benefits of growing crops in vertical layers in a controlled environment, which includes higher yield, shorter growing times and lower water usage, in addition to bringing the production of a wider variety of fresh produce geographically closer to the UAE’s consumers.
The ZERO project is retrofitted in a 1,000 sqm warehouse and will achieve an initial production volume of approximately 10 tons per year at the proof-of-concept stage. This pilot phase is expected to conclude in the summer of 2023, following which a 40,000 sqm commercial phase of the vertical farm is envisaged to be launched in Al Ain, alongside other projects featuring controlled-environment technologies. At full scale, the 200-hectare AgTech Park will target production volumes of over 40 kilotons of fresh fruits and vegetables annually, which would account for up to 6 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, of the UAE’s total consumption and import of the produce grown within the park.
The announcement of ADQ’s agricultural facility entering the operational stage follows the UAE President’s declaration of 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability”. Aiming to spearhead a variety of sustainable farming techniques and localize the food supply chain in line with the National Food Security Strategy 2051, the park was first revealed in August 2021 and is estimated to contribute more than 7 per cent to the UAE’s agriculture GDP once operating at full scale.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamsi, Managing Director and AD Ports Group CEO, said: “We are pleased to host Zero Farms as part of ADQ’s AgTech Park. KEZAD has a well-established ecosystem for food industries that spans the entire value chain with a strong base for growth for both local producers and the food industry as a whole. Working alongside KEZAD’s Food Processing Ecosystem, Abu Dhabi Food Hub, and Al Rawabi’s dairy complex, the project will contribute to the National Food Security Programme and help establish Abu Dhabi and the UAE as the regional hub for food.”
Gil Adotevi, Executive Director of Food and Agriculture at ADQ, said: “As our vision of creating a state-of-the-art AgTech Park takes shape with the support of ZERO, one of our trusted partners, we are harnessing technology to create a controlled environment that advances the UAE’s ability to grow fresh, nutritious and tastier foods year-round. The breakthrough technology utilized in the park for the first time in the UAE explores new solutions to help tackle the challenge of sustainably farming in arid and desert climates, allowing us to contribute to not only shortening but also ‘greening’ the food value chain, which is top of the agenda for policymakers around the world as we progress on our net zero journey.”
Daniele Modesto, Chief Executive Officer, ZERO, said: “Vertical farms respond to the urgent need to rethink agriculture, making it more environmentally friendly and sustainable in a world prioritizing the responsible use of resources. We are exceptionally proud to partner with ADQ as a forward thinker in the local food and agriculture sector to bring our vertical farming capabilities to the UAE. The collaboration allows us to play a role in building one of the most diversified indoor farming facilities in the region that will contribute to realizing the nation’s food security strategy.”
As the nation is making strides towards strengthening self-sufficiency in critical sectors, ADQ has anchored itself as a leader in the food and agriculture sector as part of its vision to drive Abu Dhabi’s resilience for future generations, uniting national champions with regional growth ambitions and home-grown brands addressing market gaps within its thriving priority clusters.
New Institute to generate strategic insights that help global business leaders integrate fragmented operational efforts and transform their supply chains
Institute to draw on expertise of leading supply chain experts at global consulting firm
With interest in supply chain resilience and excellence at an all-time high, leading global management consulting firm Kearney was pleased to announce today the formation of the new Kearney Supply Chain Institute. The Institute adds to Kearney’s legacy as the pioneering management consulting firm in the operations and supply chain space.
“Understandably, supply chains have been a regular topic of discussion in the news and top of mind for executives over the past few years,” said Kearney associate partner Rupal Deshmukh, a supply chain expert who will serve as the global lead for the Institute. “Supply chain excellence has long been critical to business success, and now more than ever there is a strong need for agile end-to-end supply chains to avoid disruption and supply shocks while ensuring that product gets to market in a timely fashion. We look forward to the Kearney Supply Chain Institute being a valuable partner to businesses seeking to navigate these challenges.”
“Kearney has a proud history as the global leader in supply chain consulting, and we remain on the leading edge in an age where human intelligence, AI, and automation are combining to create supply chains that power growth, control costs, improve resilience, and enhance sustainability,” added Kearney partner Suketu Gandhi, global lead of the firm’s operations and performance practice. “The Institute will help us to place new emphasis on our position as the authority on supply chain foresights and leading operational practices by generating critical strategic insights for global business leaders.”
The Kearney Supply Chain Institute will help to promote the firm’s legacy operations studies and competitions, including the annual Assessment of Excellence in Procurement (AEP), Global Factory of the Year competition, Reshoring Index report, and State of Logistics Report. Additionally, the Institute will highlight Kearney’s latest operations and supply chain content, such as a new study conducted in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) that surveyed more than 100 executives from large organizations. This study, “Optimism in operations: why COOs are the key to corporate regeneration,” reveals that forward-thinking COOs are setting their sights on making operations more resilient, investing in innovation and sustainability, and building groundbreaking partnerships with their suppliers.
Kearney will also use the Institute to promote efforts like our work with the World Economic Forum, which led to the creation of The Resiliency Compass, a framework companies use to assess their value chain resilience across eight key dimensions. Moreover, the Institute will partner with Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council, which translates macro insights at the market, sector, and firm level to improve strategic planning and performance.
A newly formed board of advisors from outside of the firm will help to ensure that the Kearney Supply Chain Institute focuses on the most critical and timely topic areas.
Honouring winners of the “Matari” Sharjah Airport for Organizational Excellence Award
Sharjah Airport Authority hosted its annual ceremony at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention to commemorate its achievements in 2022 and to honour the employees that contributed to this success. The event was held under the presence of His Excellency Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, His Excellency Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority, and directors of departments. Winners of the second edition of Sharjah Airport for Organizational Excellence Award ‘Matari’ were also honoured during the ceremony.
The annual ceremony commenced with highlighting the journey of Sharjah Airport Authority last year. Subsequently, H.E. AL Midfa delivered a speech commending the persevering efforts of their employees during 2022, which was regarded as a year to reach the excellence matching the pre-pandemic level. In addition, he lauded the unity and coordination within the Authority, which assisted in attaining the Authority’s goals and encouraged them to maintain their excellence and readiness to provide innovative and creative ideas.
Furthermore, H.E Bin Saoud Al Qassimi delivered a speech emphasising the commitment and tireless efforts of the Authority’s staff that ensured distinctive travel experiences and services for the passengers. Followed by the speech, the UAE Choir performed a song titled ‘Heartbeats’, which expressed gratitude and admiration towards His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his wise directives and vision.
Additionally, the event included the honouring of the winners of Sharjah Airport for Organizational Excellence Award ‘Matari’, which aims to encourage and support employees to secure highest global standards in institutional excellence and leadership. The award also seeks to promote innovation, highlight exceptional talents and competencies, developing the Authority’s operations, and evaluating the efforts of various departments in managing their activities and initiatives. The Award includes several categories, namely, Distinguished Management category, Excellent Working Team, Best Innovative Idea, Best Leader Award, Best Supervisory Officer Award, Best Customer Service Employee Award, Best Specialized Employee Award, Best Innovative Employee Award, Best Administrative Support Employee Award, and Best New Employee Award. Apart from these categories, the Chairman directly honoured employees for their efforts and achievements in all fields.
H.E. Al Midfa said: “The annual ceremony celebrations coincide with the announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to mark 2023 as the year for sustainability. The event further signifies the robust commitment of Sharjah Airport Authority to the vision of the wise leadership and our efforts to adopt sublime principles to adopt eco-friendly practices to meet the objectives of our unique strategy based on innovation and sustainability.”
“The year 2022 has been outstanding in terms of statistics and qualitative accomplishments and accreditations. This has enabled us to fulfil our vision, which prioritises the passenger’s experience. Additionally, we constantly strive to provide passengers with seamless and convenient experiences to ensure highest levels of customer satisfaction, thus positioning Sharjah Airport as the most preferred airport for travelling, among leading regional airports,” he said.
Furthermore, H.E. Al Midfa applauded the winners of ‘Matari’, Sharjah Airport for Organizational Excellence Award, and said: “We look forward to popularising the culture of excellence and innovation in all aspects of institutional operations. We encourage everyone to keep up their diligent efforts to uphold the Airport’s leading position and the reputation and trust we have garnered from our customers over the years.”
From his side, H.E. Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, said: “Sharjah Airport Authority constantly strengthens its leadership both domestically and internationally each year, particularly owing to its cadres, advanced infrastructure, technological and digital developments, and smart solutions. The Authority is keen on staying updated with new developments in the aviation and tourism industries by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, recognising the importance of constant growth and development as well as prioritising the sustainability goals across its operations.”
“We further aim to promote factors of our success and achievements and to motivate all our employees to be a significant part of the growth and leadership journey of Sharjah Airport Authority. Through this strategy, we aim to continue the present accomplishments and move towards a positive future,” he said.
It is worth noting that, the ‘Matari’ award launched by Sharjah Airport Authority in 2020, received an immense support in its first edition and become a success. The Award has since developed into a motivating factor and incentive for staff members to consistently put forth their best efforts to achieve the Authority’s strategic goals.
As a cargo expert operating on behalf of airlines since 1998, ECS Group has a proven track record in Total Cargo Management. Dedicated to this all-inclusive service, the All-In ability makes ECS Group more than ever before the GSSA to be reckoned with in today’s troubled market.
Designed and continuously updated according to airlines’ feedback and needs, All-In offers the most comprehensive air cargo management solution in the industry in line with ECS Group’s Augmented GSSA strategy.
With 15 employees dedicated to All-In based at its headquarters, ECS Group is currently operating on behalf of 9 airlines, in 180 airports and from a steadily growing number of live stations – currently 217 – that are being audited on a regular basis. This organization, combined with ECS Group’s high standards of service, has enabled the GSSA to successfully maintain stable contracts while gaining news ones. This stability, largely due to the GSSA’s great level of expertise and reliability, also testifies to a genuine market demand. In spite of a sharp change from excess demand to excess supply within a few months, ECS Group managed 2300 tons of cargo on behalf airlines under All-In contracts in 2022.
Considering today’s testing market conditions, delegating their operations to a trustworthy partner can be a strategic move for airlines. Signing up to All-In can allow them to focus on unexpected difficulties and pressing challenges knowing their day-to-day cargo operations are in good hands. Another significant advantage to this solution is the cost saving aspect: the absence of structure costs as ECS Group supplies its own staff, the sales optimization through the GSSA’s market coverage and interline potential, and the insurance of a guaranteed annual revenue as capacities are purchased by the GSSA.
In this respect, ECS Group is expecting a 30% rise in All-In tonnage in 2023 due to a strong increase in airlines’ frequency in this post-pandemic period. The activity of leisure carriers is indeed due to intensify leading to more capacity and business opportunities for the GSSA. Robert Van De Weg, Chief Commercial Officer of ECS Group explains: “2023 will be a very tough year market-wise for cargo but it will be good for the passenger side. So, it will be an interesting year, as passenger capacity continues to expand and new carriers aiming to benefit from this passenger boom will need solutions to get revenues from cargo as a by-product. With that in mind, it will make total sense for these airlines to consider ECS Group’s All-In.”
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group adds: “With 25 years’ experience in cargo, ECS Group is the original TCM provider to airlines and we are more than ready to satisfy the current growing demand from airlines. We know the cargo business inside out, we have the expertise to handle all its intricacies and specificities. We actually have an airline mindset. That’s why airlines trust us with their cargo. They know we can rise to the challenge as we excel both on the commercial and the operational front.”
Showcases key product offerings and channel partner programmes at the Middle East Energy Exhibition 2023
Himel, the award-winning global manufacturer and supplier of electrical products, participated in the recently concluded Middle East Energy (MEE) Exhibition 2023 in Dubai, UAE.
The brand showcased its comprehensive portfolio of products and projects for residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
The Himel Pavilion displayed key product offerings in low voltage power distribution, final distribution, industrial automation, energy management and home electric categories.
Solar range of products
The attractions included the recently launched solar range of products and smart series for appliance automation along with live Reactive Power Compensation Control cabinet and earth leakage demo of Himel’s Residual Current Circuit Breaker, according to a corporate press communique.
“At Himel, our commitment to value engineering is at the heart of everything we do. Through our vast portfolio, we are facilitating access to affordable and reliable electrical products required for the safer infrastructure of homes, commercial spaces, and industrial facilities,” affirmed Shrinivas Chebbi, Global Business Head, Himel.
Expansion
The company has also recently expanded its distribution and retail network multifold, creating robust ecosystem in Middle East and Africa. During the exhibition, Himel welcomed new retail channels Danube Group, one of the largest suppliers in the UAE for building materials and home interiors and Homesmiths, the leading home improvement store chain in UAE.
” Leveraging our on-ground and digital marketing capabilities and resources, we aim to support our network in a wholesome way,” asserted Vibha Thusu, the company’s Global Head of Marketing and Communication.
“At Himel, we believe in building strong alliances with our channel partners to provide the best possible solutions to end-customers,” noted Onur Ural, Head of Channel Marketing & Management.
7000 horses made their way through the Horse Inn at Liège Airport in 2022, and onto carefully planned charters flying to the world’s equestrian events at destinations such as Doha, Mexico, Miami, New York, or Shanghai. From racehorses to dressage or thoroughbreds, Challenge Handling has handled them all. The Challenge Group subsidiary has been running the Horse Inn since the state-of-the-art facility was opened in 2016. It is the sole operator serving the entire Liège cargo community and enjoys an excellent standing among leading specialised horse shippers, forwarders, and international airlines, alike. That reputation reaches beyond the Belgian borders. European horse transports to the world’s leading events primarily pass through the Wallonian airport.
“The infrastructure we have at the Horse Inn is unique within Europe,” says David Alexis, General Manager of Challenge Handling in Liège. “Every aspect, from the size of the 55 individual horse stalls to the specific type of feed and cleaning products, is in alignment with the strict regulations and requirements stipulated by leading equestrian bodies. Horses are highly sensitive and valuable, requiring complex handling and ultimate comfort, particularly if they are being flown to compete in prestigious events. Our specialised staff ensure top quality, VIP service.” Not only does the Horse Inn serve as a place for horses to rest prior to their flight or further road transport, but it also offers affordable accommodation for their accompanying grooms, with good connections to restaurants and other facilities in the vicinity. Around-the-clock access to vets and dedicated customs procedures complete the service. Liège’s proximity to Europe’s largest airports such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Frankfurt, adds to its suitability.
“The wellbeing of any animal is in our corporate culture. Respect and the correct care and protection is ensured by assiduous, trained staff, who are experts in handling all kinds of animals – with the strict exception of any animals intended for laboratory use, as per Challenge Group’s ethical code of conduct,” says Hay Sasson, Chief Operating Officer of Challenge Group. “Our expertise has meanwhile established Liège as one of the best gateways in the world for horses. Not only is Challenge Handling an Olympics partner for horse transports to locations outside Europe, but we were also proud, in 2022, to be appointed to continue to run the Horse Inn for another five years. And our Challenge Airlines, too, are regularly entrusted with some of the world’s most valuable horse transports. In 2022 we carried around 5000 horses on our own aircrafts.”
Several Challenge Handling customers wrote reference letters to Liège Airport when the management of the Horse Inn came up for renewal in 2022: “We would highly recommend and request the airport authorities not to change winning teams and to keep Challenge Handling as operator of the facility, and even to make the use of the Horse Inn compulsory for all live equine shipments through Liège Airport. This is in the interest of animal safety and wellbeing” was Belgian-based European Horse Services’ recommendation. Others, such as Janah Management Company Ltd, commended the professional expertise of the staff, and the cleanliness of the facility.
Challenge Group’s many years of specialised equine experience in the air and on the ground, has led it to invest in and develop its own horse stalls as well as a unique, horse trailer prototype to transfers the animals from the Horse Inn to the aircraft and vice versa. While Challenge Airlines IL was awarded CEIV Live in September 2022, Challenge Handling’s separate, official certification is due to be presented later this year.
Shipsy, a leading global SaaS-based logistics management platform provider, announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Monsha’at, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to support Saudi Vision 2030.
This development took place at the sideline of the recently concluded Beban 23 Forum, the Kingdom’s largest start-up, SME, and entrepreneurship conference.
The MoU highlighted that Shipsy would offer its technology at a significant concession for all customers channeled through Muntajat. The leading logistics SaaS provider also earmarked an investment worth US$ 10mn over 5 years in the region to drive technology innovation and research and development.
The Kingdom’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are most important in supporting the national economy. SMEs in KSA will increase exports, create new job opportunities for Saudi youth, diversify sources of income and expand the production base in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
This MoU’s objective will be to develop and support SMEs and entrepreneurship under the laws and regulations in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and commensurate with the available resources, aiming to drive growth and economic diversification.
“Technologies like AI, automation, ML, IoT, Blockchain and data analytics will create numerous employment opportunities and unlock efficiencies that will help logistics stakeholders build sustainable, agile and cost-efficient logistics processes,” noted Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-Founder, Shipsy.
As part of the event and the Seatrade Maritime Offshore Marine & Workboats Forum, industry experts will highlight the growth prospects in the sector and several challenges faced
Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, the flagship event of the UAE Maritime Week, will shed light on the region’s offshore marine sector that is an increasingly important market segment within the maritime sector.
Scheduled to be held on 16-18 May 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the conference and exhibition will delve into the fundamentals of the sector as part of the “Seatrade Maritime Offshore Marine & Workboats Forum” that will be hosted on 18th May.
Evolution of the Offshore Marine Sector
Oil and gas supply is the major driver for the demand of offshore vessels and structures. Thus, the oil and gas sector is vital to the offshore marine segment both in the UAE and around the globe.
Currently, the UAE stands among the world’s top 10 largest oil producers. The country produces an average of 3.2 million barrels of petroleum and liquids per day. Approximately 13 per cent of the country’s exports come directly from oil and gas, representing about 30 per cent of the country’s GDP. Key players such as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have thus been integral to the growth of both the oil and gas and the offshore marine sectors.
Jamil Al Ali, Middle East Regional Commercial & Business Development Director, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore said:“As the oil and gas sector continues to be a priority sector in the UAE and beyond, the offshore marine sector will always stay relevant. With that said, the constant evolution of the maritime sector has caused a trickle effect in the offshore sector too, whether it is digitalization or sustainability, both in terms of operations and the environment. While adapting to the changing times, we at BV invest heavily in research and development, helping our experts gain a deeper knowledge of maritime conditions, and improving our suite of software programs, contributing to the development of our offshore marine clients.”
Determining Pain Points and Solutions
As part of the event that has four key segments, including “Seatrade Maritime Business Excellence Forum”, “Seatrade Maritime Logistics Excellence Forum” and “Seatrade Maritime ShipTech Forum”, the Seatrade Maritime Offshore Marine & Workboats Forum” will explore offshore marine projects in the region, the flow of foreign investment, and the marine support vessel market.
Andrew Williams, President, Maritime Group, Informa Markets said: “With the developments in the oil and gas industries, the offshore marine sector is laden with a great variety of opportunities., though it has its own set of challenges too. Via the newly introduced forum, at Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, we will be bringing to light the numerous opportunities and roadblocks associated with the sector to help further its success.”
Fazel Fazelbhoy, CEO, Synergy Offshore and Chair of the Seatrade Maritime Offshore Marine & Workboat Forum said: “After seven years in the wilderness, the OSV market has finally started emerging from the trough that it’s been in since 2014. 2022 was a turnaround year, with utilisation moving into the upper 80-percentile-levels towards the end of the year. Rates have also finally started inching upwards, which augurs well for 2023. This means we are now on the cusp of the next ‘super cycle’.
Swisslog, a leading provider of automated intralogistics solutions, is rebranding to better reflect its position in the digital and dynamic world of the future. At the heart of the rebranding is a new logo design that has been optimized for the digital era. It builds on the strengths of the existing logo that served Swisslog largely unchanged for the last 25 years.
“The new digital brand fits the direction of our business. Swisslog is becoming more digitalized, through the solutions we provide and in the way they are deployed and serviced,” says Antonio Trioschi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swisslog, “We are proud to be launching a fresh brand that drives this commitment across the logistics automation industry, representing Swisslog’s core strategy of creating exceptional value for our customers.”, through the solutions we provide and in the way they are deployed and serviced,” says Antonio Trioschi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Swisslog, “We are proud to be launching a fresh brand that drives this commitment across the logistics automation industry, representing Swisslog’s core strategy of creating exceptional value for our customers.”
Agile and future-ready
The shape of the new logo is adaptive, reflecting the digital world of today and tomorrow. Through movement, it reflects the dynamic world of logistics. It is modern, agile and future-ready. A strong ‘S’ element of the new logo design is a bold signifier of Swisslog as a provider of innovative, data-driven and robotic solutions, setting new standards in warehouse automation. The design also reflects the bold, self-confident and passionate personality of Swisslog and its people.
Powering growth – empowering people
“Our rebranding strategy further positions Swisslog as a future shaper in logistics automation, but it is also about much more,” Trioschi continues. “It also reflects the strength and expertise of our people. Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do, and we want our customers to know that they can count on Swisslog to deliver solutions that are backed by the expertise and knowledge of our team.”
As a mark of recognition of the central importance of Swisslog’s people to the strength of its brand, the rebrand was pre-launched to colleagues on 9th March 2023. Experience the change today @swisslog.com.
Nearly 9,500 guests have registered to be a part of the first digital GROHE X Summit
Two keynotes, one panel talk, one masterclass and three fact snacks looked at the question of when we call a place home
Experts and senior GROHE brand representatives shared first-hand insights on trends that are shaping the future of our homes
Keynotes, panel talks, masterclasses and more: during the first GROHE X Summit Under the theme “Caring for Water”, GROHE leadership, experts, researchers and business leaders came together to discuss the numerous social, economic and environmental issues we face today. The three-day event focused on the question of when we call a place home, as well as looking at how our homes have evolved and will evolve in the future. The Summit was packed with unique insights, inspiring conversations and exciting discussions. “Water is the basis of life and our shared passion – and it needs protection, now more than ever”, said Jonas Brennwald, Leader, LIXIL EMENA, as he welcomed viewers, guests and experts to the GROHE X digital experience hub, where the digital event took place through the 3 days.
The summit welcomed many experts in the field, one of which was Elina Hiltunen, Finnish researcher and advisor on future thinking. Her work over the past twenty years has resulted in the analysis that the keys to the future are anticipation, innovation and communications. In her keynote, Elina brought numerous techniques and all her knowledge to the important question of how we can anticipate the future to find a better way forward.
The summit also shed light on the question of: How do we envision the home of tomorrow? A question so fundamental to GROHE’s business and the industry in general that it was discussed by a roundtable of experts: Jonas Brennwald, Leader, LIXIL EMENA; Katrin Franzen-Löhning, Leader Market Research, LIXIL EMENA; Gudy Herder, Futurist; and Steve Collinge, Managing Director at Insight Retail Group. They discussed trends, consumer behavior and scientific research on the matter. Katrin Franzen-Löhning concluded: “There is a higher need for relaxation and conscious me-time; and when we look at sustainability, it’s not a trend any longer. It is really an obligation for all of us. Consumers look for products that save money and water.”
First masterclass analyzed the influence of megatrends on product design
In the event’s first masterclass entitled “Adapted to our needs: Interior design and products for new spaces” LIXIL experts Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design EMENA, and Carina Buhlert, Leader LIXIL Global Design Brand Environment, discussed the needs and forces that drive changing consumer expectations. For GROHE, the megatrends that determine these drivers are urbanization, sustainability, and health and wellbeing. In fact, many of the current trends in interior design can be traced back to the workings of these forces. Both Carina Buhlert and Patrick Speck explained that “GROHE tries to reflect a personal and ever-growing individuality and style within its product portfolio, with different finishes, sub-brands and technological innovations. Through our products we want to empower that sense of belonging – because in the end home is a feeling.”
Key companies from the UAE take centre stage at `The Bright World of Metals’ expos in Dusseldorf to explore global trade partnerships
World’s leading international trade fair quartet – GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST to take place in Düsseldorf, Germany during June 12-16 2023
In the backdrop of the accelerated energy transition to achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050 as well as the exponential growth in infrastructure development and construction activities in the UAE, the minerals and metals industry is estimated to grow at a rate of over 3 per cent, touching an estimated value of nearly US$10 billion by 2025, industry experts said today.
At a press conference to announce participation of companies from the UAE and the region at the upcoming trade fair quartet, `The Bright World of Metals’ expos in Dusseldorf, Germany – GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST – spokespersons said the severe disruptions the industry experienced during the COVID pandemic period with sharp fall in volumes and growth rates is being reversed now.
“From a period when production volumes were in negative to the current growth phase and the future prospects, the industry is on a turnaround with demand continuing to pick up from a host of economic sectors including construction and building materials, infrastructure etc. The Metallurgical and Foundry industries form the backbone of development in any economy, and the UAE with the fast-paced economic expansion will open diverse opportunities for the industry to grow,” said Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, Global Portfolio Director, Messe Dusseldorf.
`The Bright World of Metals’ expos comprise four leading global trade fairs under one canopy – the casting technology show, GIFA, metallurgy-focused METEC, industrial thermal processing technology, THERMPROCESS and the customized cast products show, NEWCAST.
Elaborating on the Middle East participation at `The Bright World of Metals,’ expos slated during June 12-16, 2023, he said that three blue-chip companies from the UAE have announced their participation to explore trade partnerships and business opportunities in the overall growth scenario.
The three key companies participating at the expo include Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), which is the world’s largest premium aluminium producer and the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside the oil and gas sector. Other companies are Ducast, Middle East’s leading manufacturer and supplier of manhole covers, gratings and municipal castings, and steel products’ trading company Wirex FZE.
The Bright World of Metals’ expos will be a platform where the paradigm change the industry is passing through will be highlighted, including new technologies, rising demands made on energy efficiency and the desire for careful handling of resources along the entire value chain for industries.
The importance of promoting circular economy will also be part of the discussions at the expo in the backdrop of supply chain disruptions during COVID as well as from geopolitical challenges such as Ukraine war and dependency on imports compared to in-country secure production and supplies.
“Our trade fair quartet is well known as the gateway to the world market. It is only here in Düsseldorf that decision-makers, experts, supplier to, and users in these industries can obtain a complete overview, exchange ideas and design trends for the markets of the future at not one but four trade fairs,” added Kehrer.
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has opened a brand-new distribution center in Indianapolis, USA, which was officially inaugurated on March 1. From the new site, Hellmann handles all contract logistics services for its long-standing customer Endress+Hauser in North America. The approx. 50,000 sq. ft. distribution center, from where Endress+Hauser´s customers in the US and Canada are supplied, is a state-of-the-art new build in the ideal location just minutes from the client’s facility and from the airport.
Hellmann has been operating a consolidation and distribution center in Germany for the Swiss group Endress+Hauser since 2014, being responsible for the global supply of B2B markets. Based on the very successful cooperation, the two companies decided to expand their partnership overseas. In a first step, Hellmann took over large parts of the CL-business for Endress+Hauser in Mexico in May of last year. Since August 2022, the Germany-based service provider has also been handling all of Endress+Hauser’s contract logistics in North America from the new site in Indianapolis, including warehousing and cross-docking operations.
“We are very pleased that we can now support Endress+Hauser on its growth path also in the Americas. Thanks to the long-standing and very trustful cooperation, our two teams have been able to realize a smooth start in Indianapolis and I am convinced that we will continue to expand together in the years to come,” says Volker Sauerborn, Chief Operating Officer Contract Logistics, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Massive YANMU East Logistics Park to go operational in August 2023
Hassan Allam Utilities, the investment and development arm of Hassan Allam Holding, and Agility, the industrial development specialist, have formed a joint venture, YANMU, to develop, build and operate modern logistics parks and Grade A warehousing facilities in Egypt.
Hassan Allam Utilities and Agility announced that their first park, YANMU East Logistics Park, is a 270,000sqm site, located on the new Cairo Suez Road, 15 km from Cairo Airport and with proximity to the Ring Road. YANMU East Logistics Park will open in August 2023. A second park, YANMU West Logistics Park, is planned to launch in 2024.
YANMU parks are designed to meet the storage and distribution needs of companies in e-commerce, manufacturing, consumer products, food and beverage, technology, automotive, energy, industrial goods, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors.
Unique location
YANMU East Logistics Park offers Grade A warehousing at a unique, strategic location and provides tenants with 24/7 security, power, connectivity, and facility management. In addition, the facility provides advanced warehouse engineering features, such as 14m ceilings, super-flat floors, efficient docking systems, and docking.
Furthermore, YANMU is a green park incorporating sustainable design, including solar rooftops and other features that reduce power and water use and increase operational efficiency, a press communique stated.
“YANMU will offer Egypt’s most modern, efficient, and sustainable warehousing. We are proud to have strategically partnered with Agility, which has nearly four decades of experience in developing and operating Grade A warehousing across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia,” affirmed Amr Allam, Chairman, Hassan Allam Utilities.
Modern infrastructure
“When it comes to warehousing capacity and distribution capability, Egypt is underserved. YANMU will fill the gap with modern, efficient infrastructure that is going to power growth domestically and strengthen Egypt’s role as a vital trade partner and crossroads,” observed Tarek Sultan, Vice Chairman, Agility.
Both Agility and Hassan Allam Utilities recently announced significant new investments and expansion plans in Egypt.
‘Health through Water’: GROHE SPA invites users to luxurious water rituals, taking advantage of the positive effects on body, mind and soul
For unique wellness spaces: With diverse customization options, GROHE SPA enables the transformation of the bathroom into a home spa tailored to individual needs
Masterpieces for the bathroom: Portfolio encompasses GROHE’s premium products, characterized by the highest quality, cutting-edge technology, unrivalled precision and progressive design
GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has revitalized its GROHE SPA collection, The GROHE SPA portfolio ranges from elaborate faucet collections, customizable ceiling showers and intricate ceramics to complementary accessories. Progressive designs are combined with carefully selected colors, materials, and finishes to create luxurious home spa experiences.
Taking place from the 18th until 25th of April 2023, visitors can experience GROHE SPA first-hand at Milan Design Week, Located in the Brera district, GROHE SPA will be showcased by a celebration of our true passion for water – through a water surface installation which will reflect the stunning architecture of one of the world’s most prestigious art museums, the Pinacoteca di Brera, while expressing the overall GROHE SPA Health Through Water concept. The exhibition will be complemented by innovative bathroom designs occupying four immersive cubes nestled within the space, each expressing one of our four tiers: exclusive 3D metal-printed products, bespoke Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections, trend-leading GROHE Colors, and a multi-sensory experience for the brand’s shower solutions.
GROHE SPA enables a new level of individual expression in the bathroom. The GROHE Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections in particular present customers with a choice of different color, material, finish and handle options to help them design one-of-a-kind bathroom pieces. In order to enable end-consumers to enjoy an authentic marble style with a high-quality finish, GROHE is partnering with Caesarstone, the global pioneer of premium countertop surfaces, to craft faucet handles in the brand’s timeless and durable quartz designs. Caesarstone has a long-standing reputation for designing and producing high-end engineered surfaces, used in some of the most exclusive residential and commercial buildings around the world. Caesarstone surfaces can also be combined with GROHE SPA Private Collections.
Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design, EMENA, stated: “GROHE SPA products sit at the intersection of premium quality, cutting-edge technology, unrivalled precision, and progressive design. We are driven by a spirit of redefining what is possible, using industry-leading production techniques like 3D metal-printing to create exclusive designs and the ultimate water experience for the bathroom”.
This launch comes from GROHE’s belief that Nothing compares to water and that water is considered a source of vital energy as It can be cleansing, invigorating, healing. Whether it’s the soothing sounds, or the feel on the skin, through our experiences with water, we can switch off from the noise of the outside world – to find peace for body, mind, and soul. It is usually the bathroom that serves as a personal space of retreat where the positive effects of water on the body and mind can be fully embraced. It’s the place for precious me-moments of indulgent bliss where we find hidden strength and new energy.
Richard Morgan appointed as the Regional Managing Director for IMEA
In an effort to strengthen its integrator strategy and serve its customers even better, AP Moller–Maersk (Maersk) has integrated two emerging markets – West & Central Asia and Africa to form a new combined Indian Subcontinent-Middle East-Africa (IMEA) region.
This new region will encompass the core geographies of the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa, including important markets such as India, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana, amongst others.
“This will not only allow us to harvest synergies in these markets in a unified way but also serve our customers better through strengthened offerings and resilient solutions,” stressed the newly appointed Richard Morgan, Managing Director, Maersk IMEA region.
The IMEA region has a geographically strategic location, with the natural advantage of creating hubs for both ocean and air transport that will connect the manufacturing and consumer markets across the globe. Through this, the customers’ supply chains will have further access and ease, creating more efficiency with increased reach and scope, a press statement stated.
The newly launched Smart Performer Eicher Pro 2000 series comes equipped with next-gen smart features
Additional Eicher Pro attributes improve profitability for owners for best-in-class fuel efficiency and superior uptime.
Al-Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO), part of Al-Futtaim Automotive and one of the leading dealers of heavy vehicles, commercial vehicles and machinery, recently officially launched the all-new Eicher Pro 2000 series of Light Duty Trucks.
Powering the logistics and intra-city distribution sector of the UAE, the successful launch reinforces the partnership between FAMCO and VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Joint Venture.
Eicher Pro2000 series, with a host of next-gen features aimed at significantly improving profitability for owners through best-in-class fuel efficiency and superior uptime. This new range of highly reliable trucks comes equipped with Smart features that help improve operating efficiency as well as enhance driver safety and comfort.
Thoroughly tested
This new range of trucks has been thoroughly tested to deliver best in class performance for customers in the UAE. The modern Eicher Pro2000 series delivers a power of up to 150HP and is designed to meet application-specific customer needs with variants of Eicher.
“These trucks have been designed to deliver superior value proposition to customers in the region with host of smart technologies that enhance operating efficiency and focus on driver comfort and safety,” affirmedVinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VECV.
“As the industry becomes more geared towards smarter technologies that enable better productivity, cost-efficiency, and payloads, the all-new Eicher trucks is perfectly positioned to cater to the diverse needs of our corporate and government customers,” assertedRamez Hamdan, Managing Director, FAMCO.
Big role
With this introduction of Pro 2000 series, the Eicher brand intends to play a big role in the region’s development and would take care of the logistics and transportation needs of the market. This would further enhance the growing contribution of India and is in line with the ongoing effort of strengthening business relationships with the UAE.
“With the introduction of Smart Performer Eicher Pro2000 series of trucks, the focus is on enhancing operating efficiency and driver productivity for both inter-city and intra-city distribution. These comfortable, safe, and dependable trucks offer superior uptime with longer service intervals thus further increasing profitability for our customers,” stated SS Gill, Executive Vice President, International Business, VECV.
Established in the UAE in 1978, Al Futtaim Auto and Machinery Company (FAMCO) serves a diverse range of industries and commercial businesses across the transportation, construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, warehousing, and marine sectors.
Reports fourfold increase in newly registered Chinese companies and a 30 percent rise in new Indian companies
DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) witnessed the highest customer registrations in a decade, marking a 30 per cent year-on-year growth, and taking the total number of companies to over 9,500 in 2022, the Authority revealed in a press communique.
The Free Zone has created unparalleled opportunities in a variety of sectors through end-to-end logistics solutions, digital trade platforms and access to DP World’s global portfolio offering trade enablement support at every step of the supply chain.
An ideal business hub for diverse industries
During the past 10 years, Jafza has seen a 13-fold increase in logistics customers, while the vehicle and transport segment saw a compound annual growth rate of 26 per cent. The increased reliance on manufacturing, logistics and e-commerce opened new market opportunities for retailers and general traders and created a demand for logistics and transport companies to handle the movement of goods through the Free Zone.
Strengthening ties with key trade markets
China and India remain key trade and economic partners for the Free Zone. The number of newly registered Chinese companies in Jafza saw a massive fourfold increase. The UAE and China have strengthened their relationship through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the UAE-China Economic Partnership.
The total number of new registrations of Indian companies increased by 30 per cent from 2021. DP World’s India-UAE Trade Bridge, and economic partnerships like the UAE-India CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) have increased customers’ confidence in expanding their reach through Jebel Ali.
Expanding trade
The notable increase in newly registered Chinese and Indian companies in the Free Zone has undoubtedly played a vital role in UAE-China trade, valued at AED 264.5bn (US$ 72mn), and that of UAE-India trade at AED 180.9bn (US$ 49.25mn), in 2022, the press statement continued.
“Initiatives such as trade bridges, alongside multimodal connectivity and access to DP World’s global portfolio for end-to-end logistics and supply chain solutions have only enhanced the attractiveness of Jafza to business owners and allowed them to stay ahead of the curve,” affirmed Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World UAE and Jafza.
When it comes to communication, what you see is what you are. Consequently, the same goes for women’s representation in the media. This is Lemon Queen’s deep belief and what motivates the agency to encourage the industry to shed a positive light on women to change mentalities…every day of the year.
Women’s representation in communication and the media in general is key in forging the way they are perceived by our society. This representation can not only have a great influence on opinions but also on the behaviours toward them. Quite often, negative representations using sexist stereotypes worsen the existing inequalities and discrimination.
Yet Lemon Queen believes this trend can and must be reversed since a positive representation of women in all their diversity can help change mentalities for the best and promote sex equality. And who better than a communication agency to have a direct impact on this representation? What better way than using this press release as a platform to get key messages across?
In an ideal world, there wouldn’t be a need for Women’s Day because celebrating all the queens would be common practice. Representing women in a fair and equitable way across all media should be the norm. And Lemon Queen is proud not only that most of its clients share this view and make sure they consistently send positive messages throughout the year but also to collaborate with like-minded media and journalists.
If there are glimmers of hope in the general media, there is, however, still room for improvement for a large part of the air cargo press. While there are many women occupying top positions in the air freight business, they sadly rarely make the front page.
Audrey Serdjebi, CEO of Lemon Queen observes: “The very existence of specific award categories for women is enough to show that there is still work to be done, in our industry as in others, unfortunately. Not to mention the sudden surge of interviews with women that appears at this time of year and the sometimes patronizing angle of the questions that seem to forget that those women are, first and foremost, experts in the industry, 365 days a year…”
Communication and the media have a huge influence on the way women are portrayed in our society. This is especially true in advertising where strong visuals can make or break stereotypes. To show women in a different light can empower them, make them stand up for their rights, boost their self-esteem, encourage them to explore new roles and aspire to greater heights.
While this necessary change may seem slow, it is definitely underway. Because everyone can be an actor of change for our society, we all have a role to play in accepting, or not, the messages we are submitted to. Achieving a constant and normalized positive representation of women in the media is totally within our reach if we put our mind to it. Should this not be, after all, the least to be expected when dealing with no less than 52% of the world population.
Qatar Airways freighter QR8960 operated from Doha to Shanghai on 5 March, managed entirely by female crew and female ground staff.
Qatar Airways Cargo celebrated a landmark flight on Sunday 5 March as its scheduled Boeing 777 freighter from Doha to Shanghai was operated entirely of a crew of made up of women. From the ground staff overseeing and handling the cargo, to the flight deck crew operating the flight, this is the first time a Qatar Airways Cargo freighter aircraft has operated with an all-female crew and all-female ground staff.
Captain Sarah Abigail Comerford from United Kingdom, First Officer Edith Mala Diop from France and First Officer Hedfa Mohammed Al Marri from Qatar operated the flight. The Boeing 777 freighter departed Doha with 100 tonnes of cargo destined for Shanghai.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “I am proud to have such a diverse workforce within Qatar Airways Cargo. We are committed to promoting gender diversity and that women are equally represented in our workforce, which is why we can proudly say we have almost 50 percent of women in various age groups and roles working globally for Qatar Airways Cargo.
“Women not only promote inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, they also bring in creativity and success to a business. Our success as the world’s leading air cargo carrier is due to the hard work and talent of all our employees and this includes the female staff we are so proud to have within our business.”
Elisabeth Oudkerk, Senior Vice President Cargo Sales and Network Planning added: “As a woman who has worked in the industry for over 20 years, I am proud to see the great strides females have made in the field of aviation and air cargo. It is an industry that has so many opportunities and so many varied roles, I encourage any woman looking for a career in this industry to pursue their dream.”
To celebrate the special occasion and the contributions and achievements of women worldwide, several female staff from Qatar Airways Cargo participated in a group photo session donning purple vests and expressing their solidarity with women all over the world. The colour purple represents justice and dignity and is associated with International Women’s Day.
Embrace Equity is the theme for 2023 International Women’s Day. Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of how much progress has been made while also highlighting the work still left to be done for the advancement of women worldwide.
Sustainability and environmental-friendly ecosystems will continue to be a priority in 2023
By implementing green supply chains, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, limit waste and pollution, enhance their reputation and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market, as well as play a role in addressing global challenges like climate change and depletion of natural resources, affirmsDr Shereen Nassar, Global Director of Logistics Studies and Director of MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management Suite, Heriot-Watt University Dubai in this OpEd for Global Supply Chain.
The increased awareness of the impact of human activity on the environment is driving the rising demand for products and services produced and delivered in an eco-friendly manner. According to a survey by Nielson IQ, 72 per cent of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
The continued growth of the e-commerce sector has increased consumer demand, creating pressure for businesses to compete by offering more sustainable solutions. As concerns for sustainability and environmental responsibility continue to grow in both business and society, the discussion around the green supply chain in 2023 remains crucial.
Strategic implementation of a sustainable supply chain
According to a 2021 Insight Report by Boston Consulting Group, eight supply chains, from raw materials to end-product manufacturing account for more than 50 per cent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Food industry has the biggest carbon footprint at 25 per cent of global emissions, followed by construction industry at 10 per cent.
To improve the supply chain sustainability, companies must implement a holistic and continuous approach to regularly evaluating and adjusting their practices as necessary. They must also adopt sustainable transportation methods, such as using electric vehicles or ships powered by alternative fuels, to reduce their carbon footprint.
Additionally, companies can consider certifying their supply chain as environmentally friendly through recognised sustainability standards, such as LEED or ISO 14001. Advanced technologies like AI and machine learning in the supply chain can assist companies in identifying risks, trends, and opportunities, thus reducing waste, and enhancing efficiency.
Although sustainable supply chain solutions like using renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving recycling and waste management, promoting fair labor practices, and ensuring ethical sourcing of materials are obvious choices for businesses to adopt, it takes years of disciplined approach to drive the overall change.
Regional outlook
The GCC region is well-positioned to lead the way in sustainable business practices and reducing the environmental impact of industries. Governments are also taking steps to promote sustainability, with initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy. For instance, Saudi Arabia has initiated Vision 2030 National Agenda to diversify its energy sources and create sustainable communities like NEOM.
Building the next generation of transport and logistics solutions, Etihad Rail is promoting a technologically advanced and sustainable transportation system to enhance the global business landscape. This aligns with the goals of Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Centennial 2071 by providing faster, greener, and more efficient transport solutions.
These initiatives aim to develop a future-focused and eco-friendly environment for living and working. Moreover, it is creating a supportive environment for companies that adopt green supply chain practices, which can improve their reputation and competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.
Since UAE will be hosting COP28, the supply chain sector in the region will face growing demands to tackle environmental concerns. This will lead to enactment of new laws that motivate businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability in their supply chain operations.
Key challenges to be addressed
Companies constantly struggle to streamline business processes and balance costs while creating an efficient and resilient supply chain. The perceived cost associated with implementing sustainable practices, investment in new technologies, and employment training are some key concerns for companies.
Additionally, there can be a lack of understanding about the benefits of green supply chains, making it difficult for companies to secure the necessary resources and support from stakeholders. Moreover, the resistance from suppliers unwilling or unable to adopt sustainable practices, makes it challenging for companies to fully integrate sustainable practices throughout their supply chains.
Furthermore, the lack of standardisation and transparency in reporting environmental impact can make it difficult for companies to compare their performance with others and set meaningful sustainability goals. Overcoming these barriers requires a commitment to sustainability at a strategic level, a clear understanding of the benefits, and revisiting business and supply chain strategies, and the development of industry-wide best practices and standards.
Upskilling and acquiring knowledge about green supply chain practices can significantly help the existing and future workforce to successfully incorporate sustainability in supply chains. Academics can play a significant role in providing knowledge and training in green supply chain management, which can prepare the professionals to deal with the challenges while helping organisations stay ahead of the.
It will not be an overstatement that knowledge capital will drive successful businesses and help companies incorporate sustainability in supply chains and overall operations to drive change.
UD Trucks and Allison Transmission held a joint event in Dubai to showcase the Croner range and its advanced automatic transmission
Participants at the event had the opportunity to test a selection of Croner models on the Dubai Autodrome circuit and experience the capabilities of the Croner line-up
The integration of Croner’s engine with Allison Transmission’s technology provides advantages leading to a reduction in overall operating expenses
UD Trucks and Allison Transmission recently held a joint event to showcase the impressive Croner range and its advanced automatic transmission. The event brought together partners from across the Middle East region and offered participants the opportunity to experience the capabilities of UD Trucks’ Croner line-up, while also learning how Allison Transmission is pushing the boundaries of technology with its cutting-edge automatic transmissions.
Participants were granted an exclusive opportunity to test a selection of Croner models on the Dubai Autodrome circuit. The 5 and 8-litre engines of the Croner provide impressive power and acceleration, while the advanced technology of the fully automatic transmission ensures smooth gear changes and optimal fuel efficiency, delivering a superior driving experience.
The integration of Croner’s robust engine with Allison Transmission’s cutting-edge technology provides a multitude of advantages to customers. These include increased productivity, decreased maintenance costs, and heightened vehicle uptime, leading to a substantial reduction in overall operating expenses. Furthermore, the Croner range between 11-19T is available with both manual and Allison gearboxes, offering customers a wider range of options to choose from.
The updated Croner vehicle offers waste management companies even more flexibility in choosing the right vehicle for their needs. The LKE series, which meets Euro 5 standards, provides a range of power options with 210 HP and 825 Nm torque, or 240 HP and 900 Nm torque. The PKE series offers 250 HP and 950 Nm torque, also meeting Euro 5 standards. With these options, waste management companies in particular and other sectors can choose the power range that fits their operations and terrain, all while enjoying the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the Allison gearbox and the real-time performance feedback of the new instrument cluster.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa, emphasised the importance of the Middle East market to UD Trucks: “This close partnership with Allison Transmission is another example of our unwavering dedication to delivering dependable, efficient, and long-lasting trucks that cater to the unique requirements of our Middle East customers.
“The Croner truck offers a remarkable range of attributes and advantages, which include outstanding power and acceleration, fuel efficiency, and advanced safety features. The Croner has become an extremely popular model, known for its versatility, adaptability, and reliability, making it an ideal choice for businesses across a wide range of industries.” Allison Transmission’s Regional Director, Atak Talas, highlighted the company’s commitment to developing cutting-edge technology that can enhance the performance of commercial vehicles. Talas emphasised Alisson’s focus on delivering superior products that are designed to provide faster acceleration and smoother shifting, helping to improve the speed and efficiency of commercial vehicles. “At Allison, we are dedicated to developing innovative technology that can help our customers optimise their operations in various ways. Our transmissions are engineered to deliver superior fuel efficiency, increased productivity and enhanced safety for our customers,” Talas remarked.
GWC was awarded the “ISO 31000:2018 Record of Verification” certification by LRQA for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) System, after a thorough assessment, which found the company in full compliance with the guidelines provided by ISO Risk Management Standard.
This certificate is an internationally recognized standard that ensures that a company is managing “risks” effectively and reaffirms its ability to consistently deal with and contain uncertain situations. ERM identifies risks which are potential, emerging or existing within an organization that could have an impact (positive or negative) in achieving its strategic and operational objectives.
Speaking about it, Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said “GWC being awarded this ISO certificate is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the highest level of service and always keeping all our stakeholder’s interest at the heart of what we do. This certificate gives significant confidence to all our customers, clients, partners and stakeholders that our corporate risk-management is fully integrated in our processes and internationally validated.”
Being awarded this standard also provides an assurance to all of GWC’s stakeholders that the company has open lines of communications, and coordination when it comes to assessing and managing risks across all levels and functions of the organization. This provides relevant data to the management, supporting the decision-making process based on logical reasoning and factual data.
ISO 31000:2018 is an international standard that provides guidelines on managing any type of risk in any business activity. The standard provides guidelines on principles, risk management framework, and application of the risk management process. The standard covers the risk management principles which are the foundation for managing risk and guides organizations in developing a risk management framework by implementing a risk management framework and ensuring that risk management is an integral part of organizational structures. It is also important to evaluate the effectiveness and viability of these measures at periodic intervals.
– Ends –
About GWC
Established in 2004, GWC has become the leader in logistics and supply chain solutions in the State of Qatar and one of the fastest growing companies in the region. The company offers best in class logistics and supply chain services that include warehousing, distribution, logistics solutions for hazardous materials, freight forwarding, project logistics, sporting events and equestrian logistics solutions, fine art logistics, supply chain consulting services, transportation, records management, and local and international relocation services. The company provides these services, utilizing a global freight network and a solid logistics infrastructure spanning over 3.8 million square meters. GWC was the first regional supporter and official logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Move aimed at empowering importers and exporters with best-in-class offerings
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recently announced the addition of Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port to the newly launched India-Saudi-Iraq (ISI) shipping service by Singapore-based feeder operator Bengal Tiger Line (BTL).
Aimed at empowering importers and exporters with best-in-class offerings, the regional route further strengthens the Kingdom’s maritime connectivity in its quest to establish itself as the world’s leading logistics destination in alignment with the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), a press communique indicated.
The ISI service links the Dammam-based hub to the Indian port of Mundra and the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr aboard a 929-TEU vessel.
A total of five cargo services linking Saudi Arabia to 43 global hubs were added to the rosters of Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port, and Jubail Commercial Port during January 2023.
With state-of-the-art infrastructure spanning 19sqkm. alongside a host of integrated logistics capabilities, the world-class trade hub overlooking the Arabian Gulf was ranked fourteenth in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index for 2021, the press statement concluded.
Adopts RISE with SAP and S/4HANA to control over supply chain functions
Aramtec is delivering on a year-long strategy to become cloud-based and digitally empowered through solutions from global technology company SAP SE, it was revealed in a press communique.
To fully automate and enhance Aramtec’s import of premium food brands and goods, as well online store Butchershop.ae, the company has committed to a transformation journey including an upgrade of its ERP landscape.
The new Aramtec strategy, titled Project Phoenix, will enhance the company’s food services it delivers to hotels, restaurants, airlines and other commercial F&B outlets. With a need for flexibility, agility, and scalability, Aramtec’s adoption of cloud computing using RISE with SAP and S/4HANA solutions met all these criteria while delivering a tailored strategy based on SAP’s deep expertise in supply chain management and food service industries, the press statement continued.
“We are set to achieve greater visibility and control over all areas of Aramtec’s operations as well as our complex supply chain and distribution network, as we have more than 2000 stock keeping units (SKUs) distributed to thousands of customers. Ultimately, Aramtec will have the capacity to respond quickly to our customers’ needs and changes in the supply chain environment,” noted Edgard Chalhoub, General Manager, Aramtec.
“By leveraging SAP’s cloud-based S/4HANA, Aramtec will benefit from the latest SAP technologies and updates. It will enjoy precise stock control and record keeping, 360-degree views of all operations, automation of business processes, reduced total cost of ownership and the ability to manage business change and scale operations rapidly,” observed Zakaria Haltout, Managing Director, SAP UAE.
United Trans transforming transportation in partnership with Dubai RTA and other local transport authorities
Leading transport services provider United Trans, a subsidiary of the Alserkal Group, is transforming regional transportation with its revolutionary on-demand bus service in partnership with local authorities such as Dubai RTA, Abu Dhabi ITC, and Ajman Transport Authority.
United Trans and Via, the leading transport service provider and public mobility solutions developer, were the first to successfully introduce bus on-demand ride-sharing service in the region, thanks to a contract with RTA. Dubai Bus on Demand has received high ratings and has become an important part of Dubai’s public transportation infrastructure.
The service has achieved a landmark one million rides since its launch in early 2020. United Trans and Via are focused on further expansions of on demand transportation for both public and private sectors in the region.
Force for good
“On-demand public transit can be a powerful force for good in achieving the region’s ambitions for a greener future, greater social and economic mobility, and smart cities. United Trans is committed to strengthening public transport networks throughout the region by leveraging the latest and greatest technology to serve our communities,” affirmed Ahmad Alserkal, Chairman, Alserkal Group, United Trans.
“We look forward to the future of our partnership with RTA and United Trans as we continue to introduce new and innovative approaches to transportation and, together, set a strong example for what is possible for communities across the Middle East,” asserted Dillon Twombly, Chief Revenue Officer, Via.
The technology from Via used by United Trans to power Dubai Bus on Demand can be used to help other local authorities and organisations best meet customers and employee demands and to provide a high quality of service and user experience.
Increased ridership at lower costs
Such public-private partnerships increase ridership, reduce operational costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Dubai Bus on Demand, for instance, has been able to solve the city’s first- and last-mile challenge of getting residents to existing transportation infrastructure in a comfortable, flexible, and affordable manner.
From students and office workers to families and tourists, the transport needs of a large swathe of the population are being served, proven by over one million trips taken since launch in 2020, out of which more than 400K were completed last year alone.
In partnership with Ajman Transport Authority, United Trans and Via also launched an on-demand public transportation service in Ajman. The service has quickly gained popularity, and demand is expected to rise even further in the Emirate of Ajman.
During the pandemic, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi launched a new on-demand emergency transportation system in Abu Dhabi in partnership with United Trans and Via to provide free rides for medical workers, a press communique concluded.
The Park is set to create over 10,000 jobs in the logistics sector
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently inked an agreement to set up an integrated logistics park at Al Khumrah in the south of Jeddah at a cost of SAR 1bn (US$ 266.5mn).
The logistics development will further bolster Mawani’s role as a key player in the national transportation ecosystem and boost its drive to position the Kingdom as a global logistics destination in line with the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) that aim to transform Al Khumrah into a world-leading platform for logistics and supply chain activities.
The Park further strengthens Jeddah Islamic Port’s pivotal position as a major maritime hub delivering top-tier services and increased throughput capacity. Spread over 3sqkm, the logistics park comprises of three zones that include shared warehouses, medium-sized storage yards and single warehouses, and large storage yards and on-demand warehouses.
The various zones fulfil importers’ and exporters’ requirements of stocking multipurpose cargo, chilled and frozen goods, food commodities, and fragile goods while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency in addition to housing dedicated areas for administrative, commercial, and residential use as well as a one-stop services centre.
The park offers move-in-ready warehouses, storage yards, re-export zones, custom storage, logistics amenities, commercial units, residential units, and staff accommodation in addition to state-of-the-art infrastructure like roads and green spaces as well as a host of other essential services.
Netradyne, a SaaS leader in artificial intelligence (A.I.) and edge computing focusing on driver and fleet safety, today announces that CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd, one of the largest logistics providers in India, has selected Netradyne to provide advanced fleet safety solutions. The engagement provides fleet of 1000 vehicles of CJ Darcl with AI-enabled embedded safety technology, helping the company improve fleet operation performance, driver behavior, and reduce thefts.
By deploying Netradyne’s Driver•i, CJ Darcl Logistics enhances their fleet management and further builds upon cost-effective services and sets new safety standards. The Driver•i system helps the company achieve its goals of improving driving behavior through automated driver coaching. It also supports in expediting driver exonerations as well as in handling insurance claims.
Durgadutt Nedungadi, Vice President – International Business, Netradyne, said, “We are thrilled to partner with CJ Darcl Logistics, and we will deliver our industry-leading AI-based safety technology solutions to its fleets. The partnership paves the way for us to showcase our technology’s flexibility to cater to our customers’ diverse needs.”
A joint venture between DARCL Logistics and CJ Group from South Korea, the company serves more than 2000 varied customers through its 174 offices across India. The company stays ahead of the curve when it appears to adoption of technological advancements and safety. The company remains at the forefront of adopting technological advancements and prioritizing safety. To enhance road safety, the company is integrating technology and safety measures by installing AI devices on its trucks. These devices control visibility and speed, which in turn improves the overall safety and security of the road.
“Our vision is to train and to make the drivers follow the best road practices to avoid accidents. CJ Darcl aims to accomplish zero accidents and to understand and address the areas of concern while driving. Partnering with Netradyne’s Driver•i with smart safety dash cams will help to control the driver’s distracted sight. We have also conducted certain trials. Hence, it is helping in maintaining the Driver’s scorecard with other promising results.” said Nikhil Agarwal, President- CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd.
Cathay is excited to announce the launch of Cathay Cargo, a rebrand of its cargo business, and a change of name from Cathay Pacific Cargo. The change aligns with the airline’s overarching brand redesign, and reinforces the existing strong brand association and perceptions held by its customers. Cathay Cargo aligns with the same purpose, vision and values of our master brand Cathay and all of its subsidiary brands, including Cathay Pacific, the passenger airline, and Cathay, the everyday lifestyle offering.
Cathay Cargo is united behind Cathay’s vision to become one of the world’s greatest service brands, and plays an integral role in helping to fulfil that aspiration through its world-class air cargo network, which transports products that facilitate trade across the entire Cathay network and beyond. Shipping directly to more than 70 destinations worldwide, Cathay Cargo is committed to advancing the development of all destination countries served by Cathay’s more than 200 aircraft.
Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Cathay’s cargo business has played a vital role in the success of the Cathay Group since 1946, when we carried our first shipment between China and Australia. Our cargo services operate out of our home base of Hong Kong, which is also the world’s busiest international air cargo hub.
“This is an opportune moment to align our cargo business with the master brand as we continue our cargo investments in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area for a promising future. This rebrand reflects our Cargo business’ commitment to the same ‘Move Beyond’ ambition as the Group, while building on a strength that the Cathay brand has long been known for – offering leading-edge services to our customers.”
Reflecting this commitment to invest, Cathay Cargo has recently introduced a number of exciting refreshed solutions, including Cathay Priority and Cathay Pharma. Cathay Mail is scheduled for a refresh in March. These services cater to the respective burgeoning demands by customers for effective temperature-sensitive solutions, and efficient and reliable delivery solutions with new digital technology that better meets the requirements for shipment visibility, reliability and speed.
Director Cargo Tom Owen said: “Cathay Cargo continues to innovate new solutions, services and technology for customers as we build towards being one of the world’s greatest service brands. Continued investment in technology and logistics will solidify our position as a leading player in the industry.”
Cathay Cargo has invested in technology in recent years. This includes Ultra Track, a multi-dimensional track-and-trace service that gives customers near-real-time information on the airport-to-airport leg of the shipment journey using low-energy Bluetooth data-loggers; and, Click & Ship, an intuitive online booking service available 24/7 with instant processing and confirmation.
As part of its rebranding campaign, Cathay Cargo’s website has been revamped to reflect the brand ethos, and enable users to easily access popular features such as booking, track and trace, and flight availability, whilst also providing a clear showcase of recent campaign offers and featured solutions. The rebrand will connect Cathay Cargo to the master Cathay brand – a premium travel lifestyle brand offering a range of products and services that create more value for customers and partners. Cathay Cargo will have more exciting initiatives in the coming months as the company works toward a complete rebrand.
While conflict, natural disasters and factory closures have severely impacted the supply of global food products, DP World maintains a robust food supply chain in the Middle East and beyond, through state-of-the-art infrastructure and unmatched digital trade solutions. Abdulla Al Hashmi, the Chief Operations Officer for Parks & Zones at DP World UAE explains the key role the company plays in securing the food supply chain.
Al Hashmi said that “The National Food Security Strategy 2051, launched in 2018, played a massive role in supporting the country’s progress towards ranking first in the Food Security Index. As a result, in 2022, the nation ranked 23rd worldwide and 1st in the Arab world for food safety and quality. To further support the national agenda, companies in the UAE need to capitalise on advanced technologies to ensure a sustainable food supply, increase local food production, and diversify sources of food imports.”
How do DP World’s Parks & Zones support the UAE’s national food security strategies?
DP World operates four economic zones in the UAE and supports various other development areas. Two key contributors to the food sectors in the UAE are Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), our flagship free zone adjacent to Jebel Ali Port, and National Industries Park (NIP), an industrial zone in the local market.
“Jafza has always been a significant contributor to the UAE’s food sector and plays a vital role in supporting its long-term objectives; the free zone is home to over 600 food and agri-commodity companies from 68 countries.” Al Hashmi added, “Our strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure provide access to the GCC markets, which rely on imports to meet 85 per cent of their F&B requirements, and global access to the fast-growing F&B markets in MENA, South Asia, and Africa. Our role as a regional logistics hub is to ensure availability and access to F&B resources for the entire region,” he concluded.
NIP comprises 21 km2 of industrial development land in the local market. It sits only four kilometres from Jebel Ali Port, and benefits from direct road access to Dubai’s main international airports. Al Hashmi explained, “Demand for food processing and distribution has been extremely high at NIP. Its location and local zone status make it an ideal destination for companies focusing on processing and distribution within the UAE and GCC.” Major food distribution, processing, and packaging companies such as Carrefour, Hunter Foods, Al Maya, and Nesto have established large-scale operations in NIP. Technology-focused F&B companies such as Kitopi, the multi-brand smart kitchen operator, are also present. “We have significant plans for the F&B sector’s development within NIP, and expect to make some important announcements soon,” Al Hashmi added.
In addition to supporting the food security strategy, Jafza and NIP’s F&B clusters contribute to national initiatives such as ‘Make it in the Emirates’ and ‘Operation 300bn’, increasing self-sufficiency through sustainable domestic food production supported by modern technologies.
To what extent does Jebel Ali’s Agri Terminal contribute to achieving zero hunger worldwide?
“In line with our aim to focus on facilitating global food trade, diversifying food import sources, and identifying alternative supply schemes, we launched Jebel Ali’s Agri Terminal. With the help of this new state-of-the-art facility, we look forward to enhancing the year-round availability of essential grains and pulses,” Al Hashmi explained.
The F&B Terminal will have a one million square metre quayside terminal of about 2 km to handle bulk shipments and dedicated space for 12 berths with a 14-16 m draft capable of handling large bulk carriers. It will be equipped to process cereals, meat and seafood products, bottled water, and dairy products, with specialised facilities for oil, tea, coffee, cacao, spices, and various other Agri commodities. The terminal will also have connectivity to the GCC via rail.
“We are working with existing and new partners to develop additional infrastructure and services that contribute to the UAE’s strategies and strengthen Jebel Ali’s position as a global gateway for trade in the F&B sector. The hub supports farm-to-shelf supply chain activities by enabling the development of new technologies for sustainable food production and deployment across the region,” he added.
One F&B company in Jafza, Fish Farm LLC, has already developed a fully environmentally controlled salmon breeding system with 34 fish breeding tanks and state-of-the-art technology to support the growth of the aquaculture sector in the region. Recently, the free zone also partnered with Prime Aquaculture FZE to build the region’s first shrimp-recirculating aquaculture system farm, a significant step to aid in the cultivation of shrimps and significantly increase output in the UAE to meet growing demand.
“The steady growth experienced by the F&B industry serves as a catalyst for businesses to set up distribution and processing activities in Jafza. In 2021 alone, the free zone facilitated the trade of F&B goods worth AED 15.9 billion. Despite current economic headwinds, industry experts forecast a yearly increase of 6.8 per cent between 2022 and 2027. Therefore, Jafza offers an ecosystem that provides multiple growth opportunities for food, livestock, and agriculture businesses,” Al Hashmi said.
What steps is the free zone taking to reduce the complexity of time-sensitive food imports and re-exports?
“As part of our objective to reduce the complexity of time-sensitive food imports and re-exports, we joined forces with Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality to launch Zadi, an online cross-border trade facilitation service dedicated to food shipments. The digital F&B trade solution eliminates redundancies and connects all food inspection and border control authorities under a single window. One direct result of its implementation is increased efficiency and ease of doing business for suppliers across global markets,” Al Hashmi emphasised.
The Jafza Advantage
Stressing the added advantages offered by the free zone to its F&B cluster, Al Hashmi said, “We are an attractive destination for F&B companies due to several reasons, including our regulatory benefits, advanced infrastructure, and multimodal logistics options.”
Strategic location: Jafza is connected to Jebel Ali port, which is now the largest in the region and 12th globally, and Al Maktoum International Airport, with an annual cargo capacity of 250 thousand tonnes. Companies in Jafza can also reach any GCC destination within 1-2 days by road.
Regulatory benefits: Jafza offers zero tax and duty incentives and simplified processes for setting up and operating a business.
The F&B industry is rapidly evolving, and the free zone is keeping in step with the UAE’s efforts to embrace technological advancements and adopt sustainable food practices that secure the nation’s food supply requirements.
Today, Jafza can effectively cater to all the growing and diverse needs of the F&B industry, from storage and processing to customised farm-to-shelf supply chain activities.
The cooperation aims to stimulate innovation in the UAE’s maritime sector to enhance doing maritime business and promote the attractiveness of the country’s ports and their maritime services
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has launched a strategic partnership with Marihub, a leading e-commerce service provider for commercial ships and maritime companies, to develop value-added services for the maritime sector and the UAE’s ports. The move, which coincides with the ‘UAE Innovates’ initiative, is part of the Ministry’s endeavour to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s maritime sector and consolidate its position as one of the best maritime hubs in the world.
The partnership aims to explore opportunities to enhance the maritime sector through digital tools and solutions, especially after the significant shift the industry has witnessed in terms of adopting digital solutions after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on this partnership, H.E. Eng. Hassan Mohammed Al Mansouri, Under-Secretary of Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The UAE leads numerous global competitiveness indicators in the maritime sector. It is ranks 3rd globally in the Bunker Supply Index, 5th as a key competitive maritime hub and 12th in the transport lines index. This is a result of the competitive business environment the UAE provides, which attracts major international maritime companies and makes the country’s ports a preferred destination for international shipping lines. However, we will not rest on our laurels; we want to occupy the top position in all international maritime indicators. We look forward to innovations and digital platforms to contribute to enhancing the UAE’s position and improving its global ranking.”
Al Mansouri pointed out that this partnership complements several initiatives that seek to increase the contribution of the maritime sector to the UAE’s GPA, which is currently estimated at about AED 90 billion annually. The aim is to make the UAE’s blue economy a major pillar of its national economy.
More than 27,000 maritime companies work in the UAE. Last year, over 25,000 commercial ships called the UAE’s ports. The country has over 20 leading international seaports and some of the largest oil export ports in the world. The UAE ranks 7th globally in the volume of container handling.
Promote doing maritime business
H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport, Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we seek to unify the maritime sector to build the UAE Maritime Cluster, and turn it into a powerhouse that enhances business growth opportunities and creates new capabilities for companies by bringing them together. Digital technologies are the best way to build this cluster, standardise information related to the maritime sector and develop innovative mechanisms to explore business opportunities that can benefit all stakeholders. Our partnership with Marihub, which has a pioneering experience in the digital sector, will attract more companies specialised in developing digital solutions to join the UAE Maritime Cluster.”
Al Malek added, “This partnership is yet another step to promote innovation in the maritime sector, especially that this month, the UAE celebrates innovation and developing the capabilities of the government system, which has become an international incubator for quality ideas. At the current stage, we focus all our innovations on building a sustainable and environmentally-friendly maritime sector. There is no doubt that technological tools and digital platforms that improve the work cycle and reduce unnecessary procedures are key means for achieving sustainability.”
Supporting innovation and entrepreneurship
Karim El-Najjar, Director of Marihub, said: “Our partnership with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure confirms that the Ministry is the top sponsor of creativity and innovative ideas in the maritime industry. This supports the UAE’s endeavours to adopt digitisation and modern technologies to add value to the maritime industry and provide the best tools to improve the efficiency of businesses and increase their profitability. Since the inception of Marihub, we have seen the great impact digital solutions can achieve by saving time and operational costs.”
El-Najjar added, “Through our cooperation with the Ministry, we aim to make technology a cornerstone for building the UAE Maritime Cluster as well as enhance the UAE’s directions and leadership in sustainability and green technologies through the power of data. Our goal is to achieve the maximum benefit for the end consumer as this will promote the attractiveness of the UAE’s maritime sector and enhance its global position and competitiveness.”
This partnership is complemented by many other quality projects and initiatives the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has already launched. These include the UAE Maritime Cluster initiative and the Maritime Network, which aims to build a global network of professionals and experts to enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s maritime sector and market it globally, making use of the strong presence of international maritime companies in the UAE.
Last year, the number of heavy electric trucks on the roads in Europe and the United States grew faster than ever before. Volvo Trucks have now sold more than 4,300 electric trucks globally in more than 38 countries. In Europe, Volvo Trucks is the market leader with a 32% share of the market for heavy electric trucks, and in North America, nearly half of all heavy electric trucks registered in 2022 were Volvo trucks.
In 2022 the market for heavy (≥16 tonnes) electric trucks in Europe, grew by 200% to 1,041 trucks, and Volvo Trucks holds the highest share of this market.
“We are determined to lead the electric truck transformation and our market leading position in 2022, not only in Europe, but also in North America and other markets, is proof that we are doing just that. Although, the market for electric trucks is still small, but the trend is clear: many of our customers are now starting their own shift to electric. We intend to be the catalyst for this transition and aim for 50% of our global sales of new trucks to be electric in 2030,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Since Volvo Trucks started production of fully electric trucks in 2019, the company has sold more than 4,300 electric trucks in more than 38 countries around the world. Volvo currently offers the industry´s broadest product line-up with six products in series production, catering to a very wide variety of transports in and between cities.
“We now have a product portfolio that can cover most types of transportation for all kinds of customers. Looking at the goods flow patterns, it’s possible to electrify nearly half of all transports with our line-up of electric trucks,” comments Roger Alm. “We see it as our mission to support our customers in making that happen.”
With this partnership, customers in South Korea will have enhanced visibility of rates and capacity when booking their shipments on Qatar Airways Cargo.
The world’s leading air cargo carrier has partnered with iNOMAD, a Korea-based cutting-edge air cargo platform.
The partnership with iNOMAD will enable better connectivity for one of the airline’s major customers in South Korea, Woojung Air and also help the airline increase its footprint in South Korea as SMEs operating with Woojung Air will be able to compare Qatar Airways Cargo’s offerings on the iNOMAD portal. Woojung Air is a prominent consolidator in South Korea and one of the top customers of Qatar Airways Cargo.
Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “Digital transformation is high on our agenda as part of our VISION 2027 and Next Generation Strategy. The integration and partnership with iNOMAD brings multiple benefits to our customers in South Korea such as enhanced visibility of our capacity, rates as well as real time confirmation of their shipments. Customers can benefit from instant access to these features at their fingertips and that is the huge advantage digitalisation brings in.”
Joon-suk Yim, the CEO of iNOMAD, said, “Its strength is to promote the accessibility of air cargo service by optimizing extensive logistics data for clients and provide boundless service and information to both IATA/CASS members and non-members in real-time. Developing this business, we are grateful and proud to start a new partnership with Qatar Airways, a top-tier airline, that can provide us with vital information in expanding our logistics service.”
He also added, “We aim to become a search engine for the air logistics field in which clients can check the information they need in real-time, regardless of time and place. We thus plan to do our best to nourish our customized services to build a stronger partnership, cherishing the meaningful opportunity to join Qatar Airways Cargos’ digital transformation.”
iNOMAD is an air cargo platform, Korea-based, with a cutting-edge logistics system created by its own software development team and air logistics experts. They have designed the system to transmit and receive information from logistics-related service providers and master loaders including airlines. Being the first company connecting API(application program interface) with airlines in Northeast Asia, the platform is operating as an online all-in-one portal that provides air cargo booking, rates, schedule, tracking, etc. Starting from South Korea, they have been rapidly expanding the business to Hong Kong (established in 2022) and Vietnam (to be launched in 2024).
iNOMAD signed an MOU with Cello Square of Samsung SDS in June 2022 to build up its customer base by presenting competitive rates. Along with this, iNOMAD is now expecting the opening of a logistics center of 20,000 square meters in Sep 2023 as an air cargo platform terminal in the Incheon International Airport, one of the most active airports in the world, which would be a milestone in developing a smart logistics system. The logistics center will be equipped with various smart devices and a security x-ray inspection system to provide safe and advanced logistics services.
In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo launched Digital Lounge, a premium booking experience, that provides a much more connected experience for its customers. Qatar Airways Cargo will be elevating this booking experience with more focused enhancements tied in with clear operational strategies to complete the journey of cargo till its final destination. Other than its own booking platform, Digital Lounge, the airline has also partnered with a number of connected marketplaces to provide live access to capacity for its customers.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s Next Generation Strategy includes a complete corporate mindset shift, taking a new innovative approach to the business of air cargo, develop new talent while also attracting new ones and tapping into the digital potential for optimal user experience as well as the transparency, convenience and speed that digitalisation brings. With this approach, Qatar Airways Cargo is defining its role in the air cargo industry.
By Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty
Supply chain operations in real estate development represent the most tangible, yet least flexible anchor points of a supply network. Likewise, the growth of e-commerce and the increased agility that this growth demands, makes it more crucial for businesses to evaluate supply chains when making real estate decisions. A strong supply chain is emerging as a critical demand in the property and construction industry, in order to effectively manage costs and complete projects within tight timelines. In a market that is recovering from the pandemic, it is widely acknowledged that businesses need to closely analyze their supply chain strategies to mitigate as much risk as possible.
Supply chain management for real estate firms comprises the coordination of people, properties, processes, vendors, information, and resources, that facilitate the timely delivery of products or services to the final customer. Due to the pandemic, the role of the supply chain has increased in importance and is even transitioning from an operational to a strategic level, where it can be further optimized by lowering costs and improving performance. Moreover, the supply chain has the biggest chance of assisting a business in achieving its objectives, when it is controlled at the operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
However, it is recognized that the construction sector suffers from supply chain management inefficiencies, which have led many successful businesses to insolvency. This can be significantly reduced if firms use new-age technology, which can streamline their supply chain and do away with labor-intensive paper-based invoicing and signing-off procedures that some organizations still use. The latest technologies can also increase the stakeholders’ access to real-time information, which would prevent delays and other issues before they arise. In addition to having the right technologies, it is also important to have the right people in charge and collaborate effectively in order to ensure success.
Effective supply chain management can greatly affect the success, quality, and profitability of construction projects. As a result, real estate developers are now focused on embracing resiliency and responsibility in their supply chain management to adapt to external factors such as geopolitical conflicts, irregular shipping schedules, and new global legislations and policies, while also improving their impacts on the workforce, local communities, and the environment. Furthermore, by fostering cooperative communication between themselves and their suppliers, combined with technological innovations, improved efficiency, and supplier diversity, developers can effectively gain a competitive edge in the supply chain.
Wexco Group and Teleport have signed a GSSA contract to promote and grow AirAsia X (D7), Thai AirAsia X (XJ), and Indonesia AirAsia (QZ) in Australia.
Australia’s longest-serving GSSA, ECS Group subsidiary Wexco Group, signed a GSSA contract with Teleport, the logistics venture of Capital A (formerly known as AirAsia). The contract covers three airlines in one of Asia’s fastest growing airline groups: AirAsia X (D7), Thai AirAsia X (XJ), and Indonesia AirAsia (QZ), for all belly capacity originating from Australia and New Zealand. The contract puts Wexco in charge of filling a total of 43 flights per week out of Sydney (SYD), Perth (PER), and Melbourne (MEL), with an average weekly uplift of 120 tons. With this, both Teleport and Wexco Group can capitalize on the strong movements of perishable cargo, health food supplements, electrical goods, general cargo (consolidations), and mail within the region.
AirAsia X’s 22 weekly flights operated with widebody A330-300 aircraft, include daily services from Sydney (SYD) to Auckland (AKL), and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Kuala Lumpur is also served four times a week out of Melbourne (MEL), and four weekly from Perth (PER). The airline’s main hub offers a multitude of connections across its vast Asian network, covering prime global cargo hubs such as Taipei (TPE) in Taiwan, and Incheon (ICN) in South Korea.
“We are excited to collaborate with Wexco as a partner, who brings onboard their robust experience and quality customer service to help better serve our cargo customers in this region. This is in line with Teleport’s growth strategy for Australia and New Zealand, where businesses here can also take advantage of our extensive ASEAN network for further distribution into the region” says Francis Antony, Group Head of Cargo Commercial at Teleport.
Thai AirAsia X runs seven weekly flights, also deploying A330-300 widebodies: three weekly services from Melbourne (MEL) to Bangkok (BKK), and four weekly flights from Sydney (SYD) to Bangkok (BKK). These flights can be booked to connect to popular cargo destinations within the Asia Pacific region, namely Japan and India, amongst others.
Indonesia AirAsia operates 14 weekly flights operated with narrowbodies A320 aircraft, twice daily between Perth (PER) and Denpasar (DPS).
“Quality attracts quality. Our success in gaining the AirAsia group as a customer, grew out of an opportunity for Wexco during the pandemic. We began operating charter flights in April 2021, which led to close cooperation with Teleport head-office, and resulted in an invitation to tender. The rest is history! We now enjoy an excellent GSSA contract with 3 very dynamic airlines serving all the major Australian gateways, and offering a great network to New Zealand, South-East and North-East Asia,” says Cedric Millet, Managing Director of Wexco. “Wexco is the perfect match for AirAsia airlines in Australia, on account of our shared impeccable reputation, our customer centric approach, and our adoption of the latest technologies to ensure optimum revenues.”
Wexco’s focus, since the start of its AirAsia GSSA operations in September 2022, is on solid customer relationships and service quality. This has helped to reinforce the AirAsia brand, image, and reputation across Australia. Wexco’s existing, strong customer base has generated greater traffic towards AirAsia, allowing the airlines to rapidly gain market share in a very competitive post-covid environment. The GSSA’s goal for 2023, is to develop the year-round perishable shipment flows, as well as increase its agent and commodity mix throughout the AirAsia network.
Savoye, a leading global warehouse automation integrator and software publisher in the Middle East, signed a contract with New East General Trading L.L.C., a leading automotive parts distributor in the region, to provide the company’s Dubai Distribution Centre with automated solutions. Savoye will automate New East’s distribution centre by integrating its highly efficient Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACR) solution, which is the first-of-its-kind to be employed in the Middle East region.
The agreement is a key milestone for both parties as they are collaborating to advance the spare parts supply chain industry by fostering innovation and increasing its efficiency, while setting higher benchmarks for automated solutions in the Middle East. The advanced solution offered by Savoye is based on Savoye’s Intelis conveyors, Haipick Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACR) and, Pick-To-Light technology. The entire system is managed by the Savoye Warehouse Execution Software (WES), which synchronizes robots and conveyors with customer processes in the most effective and seamless way. Savoye’s innovative ACR solution is designed to revolutionise the supply chain sector by streamlining complex internal systems and delivering better services, quicker results, and reduced prices.
Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director of Savoye Middle East said: “We are delighted to be chosen by New East General Trading, a long-standing parts distributor in the automotive spare parts industry since 1992, and offer our innovative solutions to further improve their operations. This move reflects our constant efforts to expand our portfolio by forging alliances with businesses across the region. Furthermore, we consider this cooperation to be an ideal opportunity to increase awareness on our software and automated solutions in the region and beyond. Over the years, the supply chain sector has witnessed enormous changes owing to the growing demand from consumers. As a result, this has pushed companies to evolve and cater to the changing needs of its customers. As a leading provider of supply chain and logistics solutions, we are committed to serving the industry and advance its growth through our host of cutting-edge technologies.”
Ahmed Ahli,CEOat New East General Trading said: “We are pleased to join forces with Savoye and leverage its solutions to further enhance the efficiency of our storage and order preparation operations. Through its suite of most advanced and ground-breaking technologies, Savoye has been driving growth in the supply chain industry, increasing its transparency, efficiency, as well as streamlining operations within the sector. By integrating Savoye’s expertise into the operations of our Dubai Distribution Centre, we hope to improve efficiency in the trade of automotive parts between the UAE and other GCC nations.”
Savoye has been contributing to the digital transformation of the supply chain sector through its advanced end-to-end technological solutions that cater to all the industry needs. The company efficiently handles a variety of small to large-scale projects in entirely manual or highly automated warehouses. Automakers have witnessed unprecedented pricing power and profits per vehicle due to resilient demands and low inventory in the market. This has led to disruptions in the supply chain of parts, which in turn has an impact on vehicle production. To satisfy these growing expectations and demands, solution providers within the sector are innovating and delivering superior solutions.
Since the demands in the supply chain industry are expected to continue growing, Savoye’s prowess in software, automation, solution design and integration will help enhance its partners’ operations and efficiently cater to each customer’s requests and demands.
February is the month of the world’s four most prominent Fashion Weeks. As an established fashion logistics expert, Challenge Group is actively involved, transporting top designer pieces across the world.
10:00 on a Monday morning in Milan, Italy. A well-known designer label has just completed a final, last-minute collection which is listed to show at the New York Fashion Week in the following few days. The designer’s logistics manager immediately contacts Challenge Air Cargo, who arrange for a dedicated truck to collect the valuable haute couture and deliver it to Challenge Handling at Liège Airport in Belgium later that evening.
Experienced Challenge handling staff carefully transfer the high-priority shipment from the truck and load it onto the waiting Challenge Airlines BE New York flight. The Boeing 747 freighter takes off the next morning, arriving in New York that same afternoon. Less than 48 hours after the urgent Milan phone-call, the world’s A-Listers and Who’s Who in the fashion world admire the designer’s latest creations as they are artfully modelled on the catwalk, stealing the show with their simplicity and line.
Challenge Group has been involved in transporting high-end fashion from some of the world’s top designers for twenty years. Last-minute shipments like the one described here are rare but do also happen. Normally, shipments from Italy destined for the New York fashion week, for example, are planned seasonally, with final preparation cooperation taking place in the month running up to the event. During that time, each week around five to ten main deck positions on the New York flights out of Liège are blocked for containers loaded with all kinds of often fragile fashion accessories, shoes, and hanging garments.
China-bound shipments are more than double the size, with ten to fifteen weekly main deck positions dedicated to designer wear. And because high-end fashion is also high value fashion, Challenge Group takes every precaution to ensure the absolute integrity and safety of the shipments. Every pallet is checked at origin against a specific internal checklist, boxed trucks are used, and all containers are sealed using Challenge Group’s own seals and are kept under the watchful eye of the Challenge Group security team.
“Milan, New York, and China Fashion weeks are routine staples in our annual Challenge Air Cargo operations,” says Or Zak, Commercial Vice President of Challenge Group. “Unlike the haute couture fashion collections themselves, which present incredibly stunning new designs every time, Challenge Group faithfully delivers its own consistent style: high quality, an eye for detail, and seamless transport. A great deal of planning goes into ensuring that each Fashion Week is a perfect performance every time, showcasing the world’s latest trends. Challenge Group, too, is a trendsetter here in its own right!”
CargoAi, airfreight’s fastest-growing digital enabler, is proud to announce the launch of CargoWALLET.
CargoWALLET is a modern payment solution for air cargo with supply chain financing capabilities, allowing freight forwarders to make payments for their air cargo shipments directly within the CargoMART booking flow.CargoWALLET’s key USPs for freight forwarders are summed up as follows: Streamlined Booking & Payment: Search and book shipments instantly – no IATA Cass Number, AWB stock, or bank guarantees required.Flexible Finance: Manage cash flow effectively with extended payment terms (PayLater). Global Reach: Book air cargo from anywhere in the world, with local payment in more than 30+ currencies.Started as a project 2 years ago and accelerated with the CargoTech partnership, this groundbreaking payment solution is revolutionizing the way the air cargo is booked and is now finally released to all freight forwarders, following months of successful testing. CargoWALLET enables shipments to be booked and paid for without an IATA Cass Number, without an AWB stock, AND without any bank guarantee, specifically tailored to empower small to medium-sized freight forwarders.
CargoWALLET also addresses the needs of medium to large freight forwarders who have an IATA Cass number, but may not have AWB stock with all the carriers due to expensive bank guarantees, or certain airlines still requiring such forwarders to produce bank guarantees. All of these scenarios require additional steps for freight forwarders to fulfil their daily business demands, adding up to more costs and time required. CargoWALLET has the additional benefit of allowing freight forwarders to place bookings from any origin as well as long payment terms (PayLater).
“We are excited about the exponential capabilities CargoWALLET brings to the industry. Not only does air cargo booking become more seamless, but the entire procurement from search, quote, booking, and now payment can be done within minutes on just one interface – CargoMART”, said Magali Beauregard, CCO of CargoAi. “Similar to our other products (such as Cargo2ZERO) we are helping not just the large industry players connect with each other in the digital air freight ecosystem, but ensuring stakeholders of all sizes get to stay ahead in the digital adoption as well.”
How does it work?CargoWALLET is embedded as part of CargoAi’s current booking solutions (CargoMART and CargoCONNECT booking flows). If a user has their CargoWALLET activated, they will be able to search all of the airline carriers’ capacities instantly and seamlessly pay for any booking using the digital wallet linked to their company account. The basic functions of everyday digital wallets such as ‘Top Up’ , ‘View Account Balance’ and ‘Transaction History’ are all features of CargoWALLET, replicating the ease of use that many forwarders are already familiar with, in their personal lives. Using a large and proven finance provider in the backend, users of CargoWALLET benefit from the lowest exchange rates in 30+ currencies, and minimal transactional costs – therefore, using CargoWALLET is no more expensive than a bank transfer.
“We are thrilled to be launching CargoWALLET, which brings the best practices from other industries to air cargo and enables a seamless process regardless of any freight forwarder’s import origin”, said Matt Petot, CEO of CargoAi. “By having multiple different functions within one digital solution, CargoWALLET is the first of its kind to having so many benefits for freight forwarders of all sizes. Our goal is to provide a secure and efficient platform, while maintaining the user-friendly and intuitive experience that CargoMART users praise, and we are confident that CargoWallet is just what the industry needs.”
CargoWALLET is powered by the latest in fintech security technology and all CargoMART users can already start to request for their free account at an ‘Office Level’ to be registered and activated today.
GWC Q.P.S.C, the leading logistics provider in the State of Qatar, held its Ordinary and Extraordinary Assembly General Meeting at the GWC Regional Hub, on 19 February 2023 and approved the Group’s financial results for the year ending 31 December 2022.
The meeting was chaired by GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani, and was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GWC’s external auditors Ernst & Young, the company’s shareholders, and media representatives.
The General Assembly ratified all the items on its agenda including the approval of cash dividends to shareholders of 10% of the nominal value of the company’s shares, which is 0.10 Qatari Riyals per share.
The AGM also discussed and approved the Board of Directors’ report on the company’s activities and its financial position during the year, and the auditor’s report. The General Assembly also discussed the budget of the Group and approved it, as well as assigning the external auditor and setting their remuneration. The assembly also approved to release the board members from liability, and distribute rewards to each member based on the evaluation of the board committees. Furthermore, the AGM presented a comprehensive review of the Group’s compliance with the Corporate Governance Code.
GWC, besides the successful delivery of the logistics mandate for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, has had a stellar year, with various accolades and milestones which were highlighted during the General Assembly, such as being recognized as the “best customs brokerage company” and accredited as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) by the General Authority of Customs.
GWC also developed its existing partnerships and entered into new partnerships with strategic partners such as Ponticelli Frere Group, launched the “Delivering Glory” campaign in cooperation with CNN International and organized the second edition of GWC Forum entitled “Ready for the Game”, which focused on micro, small and medium enterprises, with the participation of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar National Bank and other partners.
Speaking about it, GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, stated, “In the wake of the successful delivery of the FIFA World Cup, we are observing more growth opportunities than any other point in the history of GWC. We remain committed to our current investments, those of which are already yielding positive returns and I firmly believe that the future holds more promise for the company and its shareholders.”
Adding to this, Mr. Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC commended the effort put by the GWC team to deliver an unparalleled FIFA experience not only for the country but also for the world saying: “GWC team showed courage and determination in a very dynamic and challenging work environment for the FIFA World Cup. And I have no doubt that moving forward, through our partnerships, our commitment to sustainability and innovation, GWC will continue to be efficient, value-creating and resilient and achieve its ambitious objectives. “
For the Company’s Extraordinary Assembly General Meeting, the company presented some amendments to Article (13) of the AOA, as well as ratified all the items on the agenda.
The company achieved a net profit of 240 million Qatari Riyals at the end of December 2022, compared to 225 million Qatari riyals in the same period of 2021, achieving a growth rate of 7%.
Gas turbines handled by Fujairah Terminals are the largest to be deployed in the UAE region
Fujairah Terminals, part of AD Ports Group, has completed another significant milestone as part of the ongoing development of the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project, with the successful handling of three of the largest gas turbines to have ever been deployed in the UAE region.
Scheduled for commissioning in 2023, the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project will be the largest Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) facility in the UAE, generating sufficient electricity to power the equivalent of 380,000 households across the UAE.
One of the largest and most technical project cargoes received in the region, the latest operation saw the successful shipment and delivery of three gas turbines, which feature one of the highest levels of efficiency within the market and weigh 528 tonnes each and measure 13.85 metres in length, 6.12 metres in width, and 5.98 metres in height.
Reflecting the complex nature of the project, a team of highly specialised operational and safety experts were mobilised to handle the extensive planning and preparations to ensure the successful handling and delivery of the power plant components. Engineered heavy lifting and transport specialist, Mammoet, is responsible for the receiving, transport and installation of the components.
Abdulaziz Al Balooshi, CEO of Fujairah Terminals said: “The stand-out efforts by the Fujairah Terminals’ team in successfully handling the latest turbine shipment marks a significant step in the realisation of the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project. The shipments were handled in record time while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency”
The 2,400MW Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project, which is being developed by the South Korean firm Samsung C&T Corporation, is owned and operated by Fujairah Power Company F3 LLC, a special purpose company (SPC) jointly owned by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Mubadala Investment Company, as well as Marubeni Corporation and Hokuriku Electric Power Company.
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) will procure the electricity from the plant under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement as part of its strategic plans to provide secure and reliable power to match the needs of consumers in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Established in 2017 following the signing of a 35-year concession agreement between AD Ports Group and the Port of Fujairah, Fujairah Terminals remains the only multi-purpose terminal located on the UAE’s eastern seaboard. In 2021, the terminal passed a key milestone as part of its long-term expansion programme that saw the development of new infrastructure supporting an annual TEU capacity of 720,000 and a general cargo capacity of 1.3 million tons.
Fujairah Terminals Handles 3 Gas Turbines forF3 Power Plant
Gas turbines handled by Fujairah Terminals are the largest to be deployed in the UAE region
Fujairah Terminals, part of AD Ports Group, has completed another significant milestone as part of the ongoing development of the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project, with the successful handling of three of the largest gas turbines to have ever been deployed in the UAE region.
Scheduled for commissioning in 2023, the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project will be the largest Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) facility in the UAE, generating sufficient electricity to power the equivalent of 380,000 households across the UAE.
One of the largest and most technical project cargoes received in the region, the latest operation saw the successful shipment and delivery of three gas turbines, which feature one of the highest levels of efficiency within the market and weigh 528 tonnes each and measure 13.85 metres in length, 6.12 metres in width, and 5.98 metres in height.
Reflecting the complex nature of the project, a team of highly specialised operational and safety experts were mobilised to handle the extensive planning and preparations to ensure the successful handling and delivery of the power plant components. Engineered heavy lifting and transport specialist, Mammoet, is responsible for the receiving, transport and installation of the components.
Abdulaziz Al Balooshi, CEO of Fujairah Terminals said: “The stand-out efforts by the Fujairah Terminals’ team in successfully handling the latest turbine shipment marks a significant step in the realisation of the Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project. The shipments were handled in record time while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency”
The 2,400MW Fujairah F3 Power Plant Project, which is being developed by the South Korean firm Samsung C&T Corporation, is owned and operated by Fujairah Power Company F3 LLC, a special purpose company (SPC) jointly owned by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Mubadala Investment Company, as well as Marubeni Corporation and Hokuriku Electric Power Company.
Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) will procure the electricity from the plant under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement as part of its strategic plans to provide secure and reliable power to match the needs of consumers in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Established in 2017 following the signing of a 35-year concession agreement between AD Ports Group and the Port of Fujairah, Fujairah Terminals remains the only multi-purpose terminal located on the UAE’s eastern seaboard. In 2021, the terminal passed a key milestone as part of its long-term expansion programme that saw the development of new infrastructure supporting an annual TEU capacity of 720,000 and a general cargo capacity of 1.3 million tons.
The amenity is equipped with over 250 autonomous mobile robots
Starlinks, a leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider in Saudi Arabia, recently announced the launch of the most technologically advanced fulfilment centre in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Located in Agility Logistics Park and adding to Starlinks’ 18 fulfillment centres across the Kimngdom, the facility comprises a storage area of 400,000sqft. It is equipped with 254 autonomous robots for picking and sorting, thereby providing storage capacity for over 12mn units.
Starlinks aims to process an average of 3.6mn units orders per month. Combining world-class technology and industry-leading know-how, the solution will provide market-leading flexibility, accuracy and agility. The facility will be fully operational by Q2-2023.
Acing an opportunity
With a total investment exceeding SAR 100mn (US$ 26.65mn), Starlinks championed an opportunity to address the ever-growing market demand and to stay true to its brand promise of providing the fastest e-commerce fulfilment cycle through an omnichannel fulfilment facility.
The project is aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to maximize the potential of the country’s non-oil sectors and bolster its role as a transit hub at the heart of the Middle East.
Starlinks has partnered with Geek+ for automation technology, joining their top tier clientele, which includes Nike, Decathlon, and Walmart. The Fulfilment Centre is run on a hybrid model that employs both robotics and manual picking systems and sortation functions.
Adopting a working formula that involves both machines and humans, the company will bring promising top-end employment opportunities to over 500 talented Saudi Nationals.
Multiple solutions
“Our new solution comprises a pallet storage and handling storage system, a manual pick tower as well as a robotics solution allowing us to cater to a wide range of customer requirements and operations complemented by micro fulfilment centres distributed strategically across the Kingdom,” stated Salah Taha, Director of Operations, Starlinks.
“We are committed to driving further innovation in the logistics and supply chain industry in the region and reducing lead time to e-commerce shoppers,” he continued.
“Advanced automation and big data analytics enable us to better track and manage inventory, predict demand, and optimize routes for transportation thus helping us to increase efficiency, reduce operating cost and provide seamless services to our customers,” he further added.
Innovation
“Starlinks’ brand promise to innovate and deliver market-leading customer experience is demonstrated in this milestone investment. We are proud to represent the Kingdom’s commitment to the Vision 2030, with our most exciting innovation of 2023,” commented Gary Blythe, Managing Director, Starlinks.
The company provides direct and smooth integration with Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, OpenCart, Amazon, eBay, and a further 60 platforms through direct APIs.
Starlinks is the first in the region to offer a hybrid picking solution that allows humans and machines to co-deliver a world-class efficiency manual picking operation, thereby leading to an unrivalled solution for e-commerce fulfilment, a press communique concluded.
First electric adventure in the Arctic Trucks re-engineered SUV to demonstrate the capability of EVs
The Nissan Ariya AT39, the first EV constructed by world-leading extreme vehicle specialists, Arctic Trucks operating from four key locations—UK, Iceland, Norway and the Middle East, will embark on a 17,000-mile trip from the Magnetic North Pole to the South Pole.
British adventurers Chris and Julie Ramsey will undertake the ten-month journey, taking them through 14 countries, starting on March 23, 2023.
The Ariya AT39 is a professionally re-engineered high mobility platform that balances the performance and efficiency of Nissan’s electric vehicle architecture with adaptations and enhancements to the body, suspension, steering, wheels, brakes, and more, according to a press statement.
“We acknowledge that battery-based electric vehicles have important hurdles to overcome for use in the extreme cold, a challenge for which we are excited to be a part of developing solutions,” stated Emil Grimsson, Founder, Arctic Trucks.
Arctic Trucks are providing key consultation, route planning, and logistical support for the expedition, with a focus on the polar extremes. The expedition will provide important information about how vehicles can be developed for use in the polar regions and will demonstrate the real, everyday capabilities of EVs.
“We aim to make minimal changes to clearly demonstrate its real, everyday capabilities, regardless of where you are driving it,” commented Chris Ramsey, Pole to Pole EV Expedition Leader.
“The planning and preparation for Pole to Pole has been such a big part of our lives over the past four years so I am really looking forward to getting the expedition underway in March,” concluded Julie Ramsey, Co-driver.
Valentine’s Day has become a key date in Qatar Airways Cargo business calendar. On this occasion, the leading carrier is able to demonstrate the excellence of its extensive services and its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Transporting over 4,000 tonnes of flowers all around the world over a two-week period is a logistical prowess that only few airlines can achieve. And Qatar Airways Cargo is certainly at the top of the list. Exported from two main areas, Latin America (Ecuador and Colombia) and Africa (Uganda and Kenya), the flowers are travelling to 5 major international destinations: USA, Amsterdam (for distribution across Europe), Australia, the Middle East and Japan.
To satisfy the significant demand during this peak time, Qatar Airways Cargo is intensifying the frequency of its flights to increase capacity. This translates into 10 additional B777 freighter flights from Nairobi to Liege and 10 additional flights from Quito to Amsterdam and Miami, on top of the regular cargo and passenger flights. In addition, the carrier is also using road transport services from European airports to Amsterdam where logistics are set up for major consumer countries.
Ensuring that this fragile cargo is handled with the utmost care and delivered on time not only requires a great deal of planning and preparation from the Qatar Airways Cargo team but also a very high degree of expertise and experience. Qatar Airways Cargo has indeed been involved in the transportation of flowers from Nairobi for over 10 years and will be the largest cargo operator there by Valentine’s Day 2023. Moreover, always innovating to perfect its level of service, the carrier has implemented an elaborate temperature-controlled forwarding system to guarantee that flowers arrive fresh at their final destination. Because the Valentine’s Day period necessitates considerable coordination to arrange charters with the authorities and to manage the extra volumes and flights, close and constant contact with customers to ensure proper planning of shipments on the respective flight days is also essential.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “In a constantly evolving market, Qatar Airways Cargo has always been able to improve its offering to meet new needs. The launch of The Next Generation, which is accompanied by a new vision of business, is proof of this. Today, in the very demanding period of Valentine’s Day, we are proud to put our expertise and efficiency at the service of our customers.”
True to its motto “Moved by People”, Qatar Airways Cargo can be trusted to deliver impeccable service and to guarantee that love will prevail on this special day.
A 60,000-ton consignment of barley arrives in Jeddah Islamic Port
The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia recently announced that its tanker ‘SARA’, with 60 thousand tons of barley, has arrived at the Jeddah Islamic Port, coming from the Australian port of Bunbury.
The Agricultural Development Fund financed the supply contract concluded between Mansour Al-Mosaid Company and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company ‘SALIC’. Upon arrival in the Red Sea Port, the shipment was received by several officials from all stakeholders concerned.
“Providing staple grains such as barley, wheat, and corn to Saudi Arabia is one of our greatest accomplishments as part of the supply chain,” commented Eng. Ahmed bin Ali Al-Subaey, CEO, Bahri.
“SALIC has contributed to achieving the national goals for food security in strategic commodities by receiving over one million and three hundred thousand tons of commodities and products in the Kingdom during the year 2022,” remarked Engr. Sulaiman Bin Abdulrahman Al-Rumaih, CEO, SALIC Group.
“The funding comes within the fund’s initiative to finance the import of agricultural products targeted in the food security strategy, in line with its objectives of supporting and developing the agricultural sector, strengthening and stabilizing the food security system,” commented Munir Bin Fahd Al-Sahli, General Manager, The Agricultural Development Fund.
“Over the past forty years, Mansour Al-Mosaid Company has played a key role in importing and trading barley in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we are delighted to cooperate with two of the Kingdom’s largest companies,” stated Ahmed Bin Mansour Al-Sudairy, Chairman, Mansour Al-Mosaid Company
It is worth noting that this cooperation between SALIC and Bahri companies is the second of its kind after their strategic partnership in 2020 AD in the establishment of the National Grain Company to establish a Yanbu grain handling station in Yanbu Commercial Port.
Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Public Investment Fund, wholly owns SALIC and 22. 55% of Bahri, a press communique concluded.
This pioneer project was developed by Makani Real Estate, the real estate arm of ADCOOPS. Significantly tall and standing at an impressive height of 27m, the warehouse is equipped with a phenomenal capacity of accommodating approximately 35,000 palettes.
Designed and built in line with international retail standards, this distribution centre is the bridge between partners to enhance delivery systems within and around the region. Equipped with a wide range of multi type rack systems, from VNA (Very Narrow Aisle) to mobile and selective racking system, this warehouse has six main chiller and freezer areas with the capability of housing products with an immense volume of 75,000cbm.
The facility will provide adequate storage methods of raw materials or manufactured goods for distribution and will enhance ADCOOPS logistics to its diverse network of hypermarkets and supermarkets.
Providing adequate infrastructures along with amenities for communities and local people is of utmost priority. Thus, the establishment of a distribution centre of this magnitude constitutes a driving force to support the path of success and a milestone in the history and future of Makani Real Estate and Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society,” commented Saeed Eid Saeed Al Ghafli, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, ADCOOPS.
The in-person event received the support of leading industry players, and aims to elevate the region’s breakbulk and project cargo sector
Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the 2023 edition of Breakbulk Middle East (BBME) opened its doors on the 13th of February at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Registering an increase in visitors, the region’s leading breakbulk and project cargo event witnessed strong interest from industry professionals. The massive participation also indicated the industry stakeholders’ keenness to be a part of a well-knit network that has been instrumental in fuelling the growth of the sector in the past few years.
In addition to reuniting the sector under one roof, BBME’s agenda is strategically prepared to reinforce the growth of the sector, and bolster the region’s economy. Day one of the exhibition and conference incorporated discussions on opportunities that lie in the MENA region, most significant projects in the pipeline, latest trends, potential to tap into new markets, and digitalisation.
Kickstarting day one with his opening remarks, H.E. Eng. Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “Since the past three years, the world has faced significant challenges due to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and geopolitical unrests. However, the UAE and its maritime sector emerged resilient and responded swiftly to overcome challenges, and satisfy global needs. Despite the unprecedented crisis, our ports demonstrated exceptional resilience to ensure a smooth flow of goods from one part of the world to the other, ensuring economic stability locally, regionally, and internationally. One of the key factors that enabled us to ensure business continuity and support industrial operations was our early adoption and active utilisation of advanced technology, positioning ourselves as a global icon for resilience and growth.”
“Our commitment to securing supply chains and ensuring the wellbeing of our maritime industry can evidently be seen in our competitive global ranking. In addition to ranking third in transport services trade and bunker supply index, the UAE was also re-elected to the Executive Council of the IMO under Category B, further consolidating our role in the global maritime spectrum. Despite these achievements, we look forward to constantly innovate and improve our capabilities in order to cement our position as a leading logistics and shipping hub. The support we have offered Breakbulk Middle East over the years aligns with this vision. BBME has proven to be one of the most successful and reliable events for the industry’s progress, offering a plethora of valuable opportunities, not only to formulate strategies, but also advance the sector in competitiveness,” H.E. Al Mansouri added.
Insightful sessions
The opening session, “MENA Project Review”, highlighted some of the most significant projects in the region’s pipeline. Led by Ryan McPherson, Director, Middle East, Africa, Russia & CIS, EICUK Middle East (Branch), the session provided insights on the potential economic impact of projects such the NEOM and King Salman Energy Park in Saudi Arabia, as well as the North Field East LNG expansion project in Qatar. The day also incorporated discussions on the opportunities that lie in markets such as Africa for the breakbulk and project cargo sector’s expansion during the “Africa as a Region of Opportunity: Outlook, Projects and Entering the Market” session.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World UAE & Jafza said: “At DP World, we recognise that the project cargo and breakbulk industry is the backbone of many businesses, from energy to construction and everything in between. As a leading smart trade enabler, we continually invest in technological solutions like Dubai Trade and CARGOES and upgrade our infrastructure to cater to the increased demands. Our investments allowed Jebel Ali Port to handle over 40 million metric tonnes of breakbulk cargo in the last 10 years. In 2022 alone, the port handled more than 4 million metric tonnes, up 11 per cent year-on-year and marking one of our most successful years in this sector.”
“As the host port of Breakbulk Middle East, we see the event catalysing growth and development while providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and experts to exchange ideas and drive progress. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the project cargo and breakbulk sector can be at the forefront, playing a vital role in accelerating the growth trajectory of the industry” Bin Damithan added.
Uniting industry players
Ben Blamire, Event Director, Breakbulk Middle East, said, “At BBME, our goal has always been to drive the sector’s growth by bringing together industry experts, aspiring professionals, and students for a constructive dialogue and collaboration on new projects. Day one’s sessions were very informative and received a positive feedback from our attendees. We hope to continue the same momentum on day 2, and build on this success for next year’s event. We are grateful for the unwavering support we have received from the government and private sector entities. We are excited for the day two, where we will address crucial topics such as the role of the women in the sector, and the future of the industry.”
The first day of BBME 2023 incorporated several insightful sessions. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to attend informative discussions on business outlook, rates, capacity, and sustainability, as well as insights on the role of mega projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and beyond.
Tomorrow promises to be another exciting day with several key sessions and initiatives, including Women in Breakbulk networking breakfast; End-to-End Logistics: Artificial and Business Intelligence Driving Efficiency in Ports; and Wind Energy in the UAE: Transportation, Installation, and Lessons Learnt. The conference will also host the Education Day for students, providing a unique opportunity for the next generation to learn and engage with industry leaders.
Investors stand to benefit from Qatar’s ultramodern infrastructure and its promising ecosystem
Qatar’s Investment Promotion Agency (IPA Qatar) makes the case for making the country a magnet for investment as it emerges as a potential hub as a logistics nerve centre in the GCC and the wider Middle East.
Few events have tested the global logistics and supply chain network as drastically as the Covid-19 pandemic. The aftereffects of the worldwide disruptions will likely be felt for years. At the same time, the crisis brought existing vulnerabilities as well as opportunities to light.
In its midst, a strategically located Gulf state with links to Asia, Europe and Africa has reinforced its role as a reliable logistics hub, recording US$ 22,462mn revenue in logistics and warehousing in 2021.
Excellent connectivity
With 2bn people across more than 25 countries worth US$ 6tn in combined GDP within just 3,000 km reach, Qatar benefits from a unique sense of connectivity. Its national airline, Qatar Airways, connects to more than 150 international destinations, while Hamad Port, the largest multipurpose port in the region, services over 15 direct shipping lanes.
A recent Trading Hub sectoral study by the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) indicates that the country’s logistics market is forecast to outpace all competitors in the GCC region in terms of growth between 2020 and 2026.
Placed against the promising outlook of the global supply chains, logistics and warehousing industry, with a market size of US$ 9.5tn in 2021, investors stand to benefit from Qatar’s ultramodern infrastructure, booming industrial activity, and open approach to business.
Key drivers
The country already ranks in the top 20 per cent in logistics performance globally and second in the Middle East. But what are some of the key drivers of its flourishing trading sector?
Access to capital: Ready and complete industrial facilities for SME owners and entrepreneurs, coupled with low tariffs including for electricity, tax holidays and no customs duties on imports at Qatar Free Zones.
Robust support system: World-class free zones, industrial areas and logistical parks that offer a business-friendly environment and other support services for foreign investors.
Resilient transport & logistics connectivity: Global connectivity through Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Hamad Port with one of the world’s largest air cargo carriers, along with diversified trade partners for critical commodities and goods.
Technological infrastructure: Qatar ranks third in the Arab world on the Network Readiness Index 2021 and continues to work towards innovation. As an example, the Qatar Centre for Artificial Intelligence develops the latest AI tools and tech in the logistics, warehousing, and management space.
For foreign investors, it is a space of untapped potential, not least due to exponential growth in e-commerce and Qatar’s extensive trade and investment treaties, covering over 25 bilateral investment treaties, more than 80 double taxation treaties, and over 20 free trade agreements.
Strategic location
In addition to its strategic location, Qatar has developed advanced logistics systems, tying in world-leading air and sea ports with modern road and warehousing infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, the country’s logistics market experienced a 7 percent uptick in the last five years alone.
Perhaps one of its greatest feats has been the successful integration of the entire trading value chain, seamlessly connecting key players from the import/export side such as Milaha and Maersk, and logistics providers like DHL and DB Schenker with warehousing companies and retailers.
The world continues to search for ever-faster, more sustainable and streamlined ways to transport, store and deliver goods, much of this activity will focus on integrated logistics hubs such as Qatar creating a wealth of opportunities for investors and businesses in Qatar’s supply chain and logistics related sectors.
Plans to carry 100 tons of relief goods to victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquake
In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Emirates has set up an airbridge withthe International Humanitarian City (IHC),to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support on-ground aid efforts and search and rescue activities in both countries.
The first two recent shipments consisted of high thermal blankets and family tents from UNHCR, followed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) relief cargo of medical kits and shelter items, coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.
Furthermore, more consignments of blankets, tents, shelter kits, flash-lights, water distribution ramps and trauma and emergency health kits will be transported on Emirates, and the carrier plans to dedicate cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian relief goods over the course of the next two weeks across its daily flight operations to Istanbul, according to a press communique.
Aid logistics hub
“Emirates supports the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to support Turkey and Syria, and Dubai’s unique position as the world’s largest international aid logistics hub means that we can efficiently reach disaster stricken areas and the most vulnerable people as quickly as possible,” commented HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive.
“We are taking urgent action by facilitating airlifts of vital medical supplies, shelter items and other relief goods from the UNHCR, World Health Organization (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) to address the pressing demand for aid in the affected regions,” remarked Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Chairman, Supreme Committee for the Supervision of IHC.
The freight division of Emirates has a long-standing partnership with the IHC, enabling the airline to nimbly and quickly lead on numerous relief missions, deploying humanitarian supplies to communities around the world impacted by natural disasters, medical emergencies, global outbreaks and other crises, the press note concluded.
The growth of procurement within the region is on an uphill trajectory combined with the adoption of technology and supply chains. The market growth factors are the increasing need for procurement process automation and the rapid adoption of e-procurement technology. The rapid strides with which digital technology is being adopted by businesses are transforming the way they operate. From finance to procurement to marketing, digital technology empowers teams with better control over operations.
Verve Management is taking the lead with another premier initiative in the region, The Middle East ProcureTech Summit 2023. The summit devoted to a disruptive procurement sector will be unveiled on February 21–22, at Swissotel Al Murooj, Dubai, UAE.
At the summit, this year, will take a deep dive into the modified paradigm of the procurement industry, focused on the new technology adopted by the industry to change the procurement game. The summit aims to provide a platform for like-minded individuals to gather and discuss the new era of Digital Procurement with topics such as Cloud procurement, E-Procurement Solutions, and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), to name a few.
Over the course of two ground-breaking days, the summit is setting out to headline experts and key leaders within the industry including:
• Dirk Karl, Group Chief Procurement Officer, MTN
• Waleed Saeed Al Saeedi, Director, Procurement and Supply Management, Department of Tourism and Culture (Abu Dhabi)
• Prasanna Rajendran, Vice President – Head of Business, Kissflow,
• Abhinav Suresh, Director and P&L Leader- Middle East and Africa, Locus
The Middle East ProcureTech Summit will be an invaluable opportunity to network with industry leaders, who will set out to delve into all of the latest technological advances in procurement to help drive businesses forward.
Middle East ProcureTech Summit 2023 is supported by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Supply Chain and Procurement Society (SCPS), and Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG). The summit will be braced by the presence of some key industry leaders and solution providers like Ivalua, a leading provider of cloud-based Spend Management software, and Kissflow Procurement Cloud, a flexible source-to-pay platform for procurement teams to manage all their procurement spends in a single place.
The Middle East ProcureTech Excellence Awards 2023 will be held at the summit as part of the Middle East Procuretech Summit. The Awards will celebrate Procurement, Supply Chain, and Logistics leaders who have worked constantly towards improving disrupted supply chains through innovating and adopting advanced technology.
For registration and to participate in the event: info@verve-management.com
For more information, please visit our website: www.meprocuretech.com
Voice picking innovator EPG has underlined its further global growth with two significant new European hires. Sascha Egener is Sales Director Voice Solutions, based out of the group’s Aachen, Germany office, while Russell Holland joins the supply chain software specialist’s increasingly impressive UK operation as Strategic Alliance Manager, Voice Solutions.
“We are delighted to welcome Sascha and Russell to the EPG family,” enthuses Tim Just, CEO Voice Solutions. “We are a true technology leader enjoying phenomenal global growth – we are the number one voice solution on Android, and in the last 15 months alone, more than 25,000 voice users have made the switch from other voice solutions to LYDIA Voice. The calibre and expertise in voice and logistics technology that Sascha and Russell bring will help take us to even greater heights.”
Faster, more accurate picking with LYDIA Voice
EPG’s LYDIA Voice picking solution has been at the heart of the automation revolution in global warehouse logistics over the past decade, with customer numbers showing consistent upward growth and reporting productivity increases of 7-15% after switching from other voice systems to LYDIA Voice. The world’s number one pick-by-voice solution on Android devices, LYDIA Voice speeds up and optimizes picking processes while slashing picking error numbers. It is easy to use, recognizes over 50 languages (including dialects) and requires no voice template training.
Consistently ahead of the pack, the latest LYDIA Voice 9 release is now capable of recognising multiple languages in parallel – a unique first in the voice market and a real game changer for multinational teams.
Completely hands-free and eyes-free, it gives manual pickers more freedom to pick quickly and accurately without the constant interruption, and potential distraction, of a hand scanner. Customers include some of the world’s biggest and best-known names in retail, warehouse logistics and parcel delivery.
Proven technology and innovation expertise
With a Masters in Information Technology supported by 20 years at the cutting edge of logistics software optimization, Sascha Egener is ideally placed to lead the next stage of the EPG Voice Solutions sales journey. “I have a strong background in innovation, for instance in the fast-developing field of drone logistics,” he reveals. “I recognize in EPG’s voice packages that same appetite for innovation closely matched to precise customer needs and I’m very much looking forward to playing my part in taking it further with both existing and new clients.”
A sales and marketing veteran in the supply chain sector, Russ Holland joins EPG after several years covering 24 European countries as Regional Sales Manager for Honeywell Voice Solutions, working with retailers and 3PLs in the delivery, implementation and management of voice picking systems. “It’s exciting that EPG have continued to invest in LYDIA Voice to make it the best it can be as customer preferences and habits change,” he comments. “I am thrilled to have this chance to work with everyone on the team towards even more future success.”
More than 50 startups have developed their ideas at CampX, the global collaboration hub for innovations by Volvo Group. The concept gives promising startups a physical place to explore and accelerate new ideas together with Volvo Group using an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, Volvo Group is taking the next step by adding a new track called Incubator where early-stage startups are invited to further develop innovations.
CampX by Volvo Group is a global collaboration hub for innovations that was launched in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2019, and has since then been extended to four countries. The startups are working side by side with many Volvo Group expert engineers, giving the startups vital access to mentoring, networks and business insights.
By launching the new CampX Incubator, early-stage startups with promising cutting-edge technologies will be invited to collaborate for better support to bring their new innovations to life, to scale them and take them to market. It continues to mark Volvo Group’s commitment to supporting startups in developing viable and impactful innovations with focus on sustainability, specifically via electromobility, autonomous vehicles and digital solutions.
“We are confident that the CampX concept can help catalyze an urgent transformation of the transport industry towards a sustainable future. Speed in innovation is perhaps the most crucial factor on this challenging journey,” says Lars Stenqvist, Chief Technology Officer Volvo Group. “CampX is a strategic engine where we can accelerate technology and business innovation through partnerships. Our thousands of technical and business experts can assist startups in co-creating and validating their new ideas, for example by using our laboratories, test vehicles and workshops.”
The first batch of Incubator startups are working across a targeted range of prioritized high-tech areas. They are:
Radchat, a company working with technology that enable radars to communicate to get precise positioning in for example underground mines
Repli5, whose software automates the creation of 3D environments for simulation
Kite, working with thermal management solutions for electromobility to enable efficient cooling
Fyrqom, a company working with automated tire pressure measurement and management.
Autonomous Knight, whose multi spectral camera enables better all-weather vision.
“Ideas from startups such as these first five can lead to important benefits for the transport industry. We help entrepreneurs to validate their potential breakthrough solutions as quickly as possible, to advance sustainable mobility,” says Helene Niklasson, Head of CampX at Volvo Group. “By having these startups literally next to our Volvo engineers, we thus encourage spontaneous interactions. Everyone knows the best ideas are often brainstormed next to the coffee machine.”
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has appointed Timo Schamber as its new Global Airfreight Director CEP (Courier, Express and Parcel Services), effective February 1. With the creation of this new position, the company is responding to the increasing global airfreight market demands and the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce business, which will be a major growth driver for years to come. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this business segment has grown significantly and is expected to continue to expand under Timo Schamber’s leadership in the future.
Most recently, Timo Schamber was the Managing Director at Lufthansa subsidiary heyworld GmbH and, with over 15 years of work experience, he brings a wealth of expertise in logistics and e-commerce. Throughout his career, he has also been involved in the launch of various start-ups, focusing on the development and marketing of new products, the acquisition and retention of international e-commerce customers, and the development of organizational structures and processes.
“We are delighted to have Timo Schamber, a highly experienced industry expert, join the team to drive the further development of our Courier, Express and Parcel Services in the airfreight sector worldwide. Given the ongoing volatile market environment, we face new challenges daily. In this setting, it is particularly important to provide stability to our customers as a reliable partner, while at the same time adding value by offering new solution-oriented service options,” says Jan Kleine-Lasthues, COO Airfreight, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has appointed Timo Schamber as its new Global Airfreight Director CEP (Courier, Express and Parcel Services), effective February 1.
With the creation of this new position, the company is responding to the increasing global airfreight market demands and the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce business, which will be a major growth driver for years to come. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, this business segment has grown significantly and is expected to continue to expand under Timo Schamber’s leadership in the future.Most recently, Timo Schamber was the Managing Director at Lufthansa subsidiary heyworld GmbH and, with over 15 years of work experience, he brings a wealth of expertise in logistics and e-commerce.
Throughout his career, he has also been involved in the launch of various start-ups, focusing on the development and marketing of new products, the acquisition and retention of international e-commerce customers, and the development of organizational structures and processes.”We are delighted to have Timo Schamber, a highly experienced industry expert, join the team to drive the further development of our Courier, Express and Parcel Services in the airfreight sector worldwide. Given the ongoing volatile market environment, we face new challenges daily. In this setting, it is particularly important to provide stability to our customers as a reliable partner, while at the same time adding value by offering new solution-oriented service options,” says Jan Kleine-Lasthues, COO Airfreight, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Standing for Total Cargo Expertise, TCE proposes a comprehensive range of services for airlines, placing quality, safety and security at the heart of all its activities. Having developed new services in 2022, it continues to broaden the scope of its offering in 2023.
In 2022, TCE’s activity has indeed been fast evolving, in line with the market. In addition to its existing services, ranging from auditing to risk assessment and from operational process standards to dealing with the legal aspects of cargo, some new services were introduced due to the growing demand from airlines. The first one, on-site freighter turnaround supervision, was specifically customized to fulfil customers’ needs. TCE also started carrying out on-site third-party supplier audits at warehouse and ramp handling agents on behalf of its airline partners, a service including special ACC3 audits and validations. In accordance with its key principle of flexibility, TCE made this service available on-demand to any airline wishing to benefit from its specific audits. Finally, an entirely new dedicated customs reporting team was built to provide the ultimate guidance to customers.
Robert Van De Weg, Chief Commercial Officer of ECS Group is aware that flexibility is crucial: “In these changing times, keeping abreast of the market shift has never been more essential to GSSAs. Taking our customers’ needs into account and implementing solutions to solve their challenges can only impact our business positively.“ These evolutions within TCE have indeed reaped some great rewards. That same year, as well as offering its services to a growing number of airlines, bringing it to a total of 14, TCE has successfully conducted 78 audits, performed 6 ACC3 validations and supervised 225 freighter turnarounds. Moreover, it has reported an impressive 3,631 flights to customs with 11,398 AWB in that period.
Continuing on this rising curve, TCE is gearing up to develop its network and serve more airlines in the future. With several European stations where it supervises full freighter aircraft turnarounds, TCE is currently expanding this service to North, Central and South America as well as Asia. In addition, the full 24/7 support it currently provides to one dedicated ATR freighter will soon be extended to a second one. As for the team of 13 fully trained experts, it is also growing as TCE is presently looking for more talents to hire.
Sarah Scheibe, Managing Director of TCE is delighted by the current state of affairs: “I’m very proud of the constant evolution I have witnessed at TCE since its beginnings. To top it all off, 2022 has been an amazing year. Thanks to our expert staff, we have performed flawless services and we need to carry on building on this momentum. That’s why I’m very excited to expand our team in order to provide continuous support to customers and to satisfy all their requirements with regards to ground operations.”
Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group says: “The role of GSSAs has evolved from agents who arrange cargo bookings for airlines to strategic partners. By bringing its customers its full support and top standards of safety, TCE guarantees them the total peace of mind that they need to focus on their core business.”
With plans to expand its on-site supervision network, to further develop its product portfolio and to hire more talents, TCE is certainly proving the importance of keeping an ear to the ground in today’s fluctuating market.
For more information on TCE, please visit ECS Group’s website: https://ecsgroup.aero/ability/tce
The international air cargo conglomeration, Challenge Group has chosen to partner with EXSYN with a focus on aircraft data migration.
EXSYN’s aircraft data management solution, NEXUS, will play a vital role in managing the complex aircraft data flows as Challenge Airlines and Challenge Technic migrate to the recently selected MRO/M&E system (AMOS) over the coming weeks. Challenge Airline BE will be the first of the Group’s companies to migrate to the new system and will also benefit from the technical expertise of EXSYN’s team of Aircraft Data Consultants. This is augmented with technical expertise provided by EXSYN’s team of Aircraft Data Consultants.
Veronique Paquay, Technical Director of Challenge Airline BE says, “EXSYN’s global expertise on the migration of aircraft data through their tested method and tools will enable us to efficiently manage the complex data migration process. This partnership will help us to reduce the time required to integrate our fleet and reap the benefits of our new MRO/M&E system, AMOS, faster.”
Sander de Bree, CEO of EXSYN Aviation Solutions adds, “As EXSYN we are leaders in the migration and management of aircraft data. Partnering with Challenge Group directly made sense to us in order to provide our technology and expertise to support Challenge Group to successfully onboard their airworthiness and maintenance data to the new MRO software, AMOS.”
EXSYN’s Aircraft Data Management Platform focuses on the three main elements of aircraft data management: Data Migration, Data Integration, and Data Analytics. The platform is powered by the two products NEXUS and AVILYTICS. Functions in the platform range from MRO system data migration capabilities for all commonly used aviation industry MRO software, building SPEC25000 compliant aircraft redelivery binders, transforming aircraft delivery binders to be automatically loaded into airline MRO software and a wide range of aircraft data health reports to monitor data quality.
The full range of analytics capabilities caters for aircraft reliability management, maintenance costs optimization, and prediction of upcoming aircraft component failures. With these data integration tools, airlines and MROs can automate business processes that make use of – or generate the data available in their MRO systems. Clients using EXSYN’s Aircraft Data Management Platform can also opt to augment this with expert services provided by EXSYN’s team of Aircraft Data Consultants.
Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation have signed an MoU to expand their existing partnership and enhance cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi
As part of Astral Aviation’s expanding partnership with Abu Dhabi, the airline will operate a number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi as part of the capacity sharing agreement with Etihad Cargo
Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation will share up to 50 per cent of all available capacity on additional flights between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi
The agreement demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s commitment to partnerships that expand the carrier’s global network and will increase the cargo capacity available to its customers in the African market
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Astral Aviation Ltd to expand the partnership between the two parties and enhance the cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi, further growing Etihad Cargo’s reach into the African market.
Through the comprehensive MoU, Etihad Cargo’s customers will benefit from additional cargo capacity out of Nairobi via the introduction of additional services from Nairobi to Etihad Cargo’s hub in Abu Dhabi from 1 April 2023.
The expansion of the partnership between Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation will further enhance Etihad Cargo’s capabilities in the African market. In 2021, the carrier signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Astral Aviation to provide reliable and cost-effective air freight solutions for the transport of pharmaceuticals across the continent. The SLA was Etihad Cargo’s first Pharma Interline agreement and ensured the carrier’s partners’ full compliance with latest IATA Pharma and GDP regulations and standards.
This latest agreement builds on Astral Aviation’s expanding partnership with Abu Dhabi, which will see Astral Aviation operating more flights to the UAE’s capital, supported by Etihad Cargo.
“The signing of this MoU demonstrates Etihad Cargo and Astral Aviation’s shared commitment to joint network development and providing a more comprehensive solution to international cargo transportation between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Airways. “The partnership will enable Etihad Cargo to expand its African network and offer increased cargo capacity both into and out of Nairobi, strengthening the connection between the two cities via this key route and further developing this critical African gateway.”
“We are truly honored to enter into a MoU with Etihad Cargo as a part of our strategy to expand our network globally, which will enhance accessibility and connectivity via Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Hub,” said Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation. “We look forward to transporting Perishables from Kenya into Abu Dhabi and beyond on Etihad’s network, and on the return with cargoes from Asia, USA and Europe to connect into Astral’s Intra African network in Nairobi. This cooperation will create new opportunities for our respective clients and will be a win-win partnership.”
The agreement will see Astral Aviation and Etihad Cargo sharing up to 50 per cent of all available capacity on the new Nairobi-Abu Dhabi-Nairobi flights, increasing the capacity Etihad Cargo offers air cargo and air mail customers. Via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub, the carrier’s global network will offer connectivity to destinations around the world. Etihad Cargo will utilise its expansive road feeder service network to transport cargo arriving in Abu Dhabi from Nairobi to destinations throughout the UAE and other offline stations.
Scan Global Logistics partners with CVC to further accelerate international growth
Scan Global Logistics (SGL), the fast-growing global transport and logistics provider, announces that CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII (CVC) has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in SGL.
Copenhagen, Denmark, 6 February, 2023; Scan Global Logistics (SGL), headquartered in Denmark, announces that CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII (CVC) has agreed to acquire a majority shareholding in the company from an investor group led by AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity (AEA).
With revenues of more than $3bn, SGL offers a full suite of end-to-end services across +150 locations in 45 countries and through +3,300 logistics professionals. The company, known for its customer-first, purpose-driven approach, has since 2017 seen an average annual growth in revenues of 33 %, driven by above-market organic growth, combined with more than 30 acquisitions during the same period. SGL’s service offering comprises end-to-end, logistics and freight forwarding solutions tailor-made for each region, vertical and individual customer. The company holds leading positions in key verticals such as aid & relief, fashion & retail, automotive, technology, general manufacturing, food ingredients & additives, and pharma & healthcare.
SGL’s asset-light business model and scalable platform forms the basis for continued potential future growth in a market where increasing supply chain complexity is expected to drive further demand for freight forwarders such as SGL capable of offering complex, multi-modular solutions.
Allan Melgaard, Global CEO and Co-Founder of SGL, expands on the growth strategy: “Our people are our most valuable asset. We want to become the industry’s preferred workplace, attracting the best talent with a defined ambition of becoming the most purpose-driven logistics company in the world. We are ambitious and believe that we can reach our revenue target of more than $5bn during the next few years by continuing to leverage our entrepreneurial culture, agile decision making, and high customer satisfaction obtained through tailored competitive logistics solutions.”
The transaction will see both AEA and management co-invest alongside CVC to participate in the journey that lies ahead. This serves as a testament to the positive conviction about the future prospects of the business that is shared between current and future owners.
Allan Melgaard welcomes CVC: “We are excited to welcome CVC onboard. Our talks over the past months and CVC’s support for our ambitious growth strategy and plans have convinced us that they are a perfect match for SGL professionally and culturally, and will support our future plans via their deep industry knowledge.”
Christoffer Sjøqvist, Senior Managing Director at CVC, adds: “SGL has built a competitive company and global logistics platform in a relatively short period of time. We are excited about our investment in SGL and believe that the company has the potential to become one of the leaders in its industry, and continue to improve its competitive situation, including during a more challenging economic climate in 2023.”
Philip Ropcke, Director at CVC, adds: “We have been truly impressed with SGL and look forward to working with Allan and his talented team to grow and develop SGL’s global market position further, both organically as well as through acquisitions. We feel privileged that management has chosen us as their partner for the journey that lies ahead.”
John Cozzi, Partner at AEA & Co-Head of Small Business Private Equity, comments: “We have tremendously enjoyed the partnership with the SGL team since 2016, supporting them in their transformative quest to become a global network logistics provider. We are therefore very pleased to remain a significant minority shareholder and participate in the company’s future growth and value creation.”
Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2023 and is subject to regulatory approval and certain financing conditions.
Barclays served as the exclusive sell side M&A advisor to SGL, and Rothschild & Co. served as the exclusive buy side M&A advisor to CVC.
Targets $300 million revenue from the new terminal
New facility to boost the petrochemical trade in the Middle East and globally
State-of-the-art Chemical Terminal covers an area of 20,000 square metres
Project’s tank-farm has a total storage volume of over 34,000 cubic metres
New terminal leverages Jebel Ali Port’s unique role as a global trade facilitator
The global petrochemical market is expected to reach $5.4 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period
AquaChemie Middle East – a leading regional player for process industry chemicals in the GCC region and part of the UAE-based AquaChemie Group – has formally inaugurated its world-class Petrochemical Terminal in DP World’s Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. The advanced $50 million (AED 184 million) terminal will be one of the most functional and versatile bulk liquid terminals in the GCC region serving as a vital gateway to facilitate and boost the growing petrochemical trade between manufacturers and end-users across the Middle East and globally.
The facility was officially inaugurated on February 2, 2023 in a well-attended opening ceremony by the chief guest, Abdullah Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World UAE & JAFZA; guest of honour, Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India, Dubai & Northern Emirates; together with Subrato Saha, Managing Director, AquaChemie; and Anand Kumar, Managing Director, AquaChemie; in the presence of senior DP World and JAFZA officials, industry associates, and the media.
AquaChemie commissioned Mott MacDonald, the globally renowned engineering, management, and development consultancy, for the new facility’s design detailed engineering and project management, with the region’s leading mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and civil contractors also being on boarded for the project’s completion in record time.
The foundation of the Petrochemical Terminal was laid on November 23, 2020, with the new facility being awarded its OFC (Operation Fitness Certificate), along with all of the required regulatory certifications from Dubai Civil Defense and DP World on January 18, 2023.
The facility has been fully CDI-T (Chemical Distribution Institute – Terminal) assessed and is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certified. The terminal has already serviced the first vessel carrying chemicals.
The Chemical Terminal covers an area of 20,000 square metres and is located some 500 metres from Chemical Berth 4 in Jebel Ali Port. The new facility is linked by five SS pig-gable jetty pipelines, making it one of the most functional and versatile bulk liquid terminals in the GCC region.
With a total storage volume of over 34,000 cubic metres, the 26 large tanks in tank-farm A, B, C, and D are well equipped to handle over 100 UN Class 3 and 8 chemicals. The terminal has three tanker truck loading bays for top and bottom loading of tankers and ISO tanks, five semi-automatic drumming lines, a warehousing facility with over 6,300 drums, a dedicated ISO tank storage area, and a weigh bridge at the truck entry point.
The terminal is fully monitored and controlled from a central control room. AquaChemie’s corporate headquarter building is located on the same site as the terminal facility, so as to allow the leadership team to stay in close proximity. The corporate building houses the terminal’s operation control room, support and sales staff offices, dining and recreation areas, management office and board room.
Speaking on the occasion, Subrato Saha, Managing Director of AquaChemie, said: “It took us over four years to bring the AquaChemie terminal from concept to reality. We are thankful to have met such capable collaborators along the way who assisted us in shaping it. We pledge to our customers, employees, investors, and neighbours that we will conduct business in the safest, most environmentally and socially responsible manner possible, for both current and future generations.”
“AquaChemie group’s revenue target for the new terminal over the next three years is $300 million (AED1.1 billion). The storage facility has been built primarily for AquaChemie’s captive distribution of products. It strengthens the business case for chemical supply by increasing economies of scale, lowering freight costs, and expanding into new industries and geographies,” Saha added.
Petrochemical manufacturers and end-users are located globally, meaning that chemicals must constantly move between them. In terms of packing volumes and the geographic location of the manufacturer and end-user industry for petrochemical products, there is a significant supply chain gap. The new terminal, which is essentially a break-bulk facility, now fills the supply chain void by serving as a strategic hub for the liquid petrochemical trade and distribution.
The regional petrochemical industry also stands to benefit from the new terminal as the facility is located in Jebel Ali Port, which is part of a trade network connecting one-third of the world’s locations, while also offering the advantage of streamlined customs clearance and other trade-related processes.
With the new facility the petrochemical sector also gets to avail of expanded opportunities in the local ecosystem involving logistics, transportation, and other service providers. The sector can now also enjoy the benefit of increased competition and professional players, while customers can additionally benefit from improved cost efficiency and services and higher end-user companies’ access to international markets.
Highlighting the benefits of the newly opened facility Anand Kumar, Managing Director of AquaChemie, explained: “Our new state-of-the-art terminal is a step towards backward integration of our current oil and gas offering for the upstream and downstream petrochemical sectors. The supply reliability and lower supply chain cost will immensely benefit our existing customers as chemicals will be delivered on time so that the customers’ operations are not disrupted.
“The new terminal will also assist in the formation of strategic alliances with regional and global manufacturers of petrochemicals, in order to distribute bulk products to customers in smaller packaging. To maximise capacity utilisation and partially offset operation costs, a few tanks in the new facility will be leased for third-party storage. Chemicals hold enormous promise for the region. We hope, humbly, to contribute to this value chain,” Kumar added.
Snehal Karia, VP Business Development of AquaChemie, stated: “I am especially excited about our combined offering of a centrally located storage terminal supplemented by local setup in each Middle Eastern country. We will become a dependable chemical product supplier all year round, and serving on all days. Our new facility now enables the storage of several new products with improved pricing and availability for end-users.”
Vishal Patel, GM Terminal of AquaChemie, noted: “Having worked in chemical multinationals, I was pleasantly surprised to find AquaChemie’s safety and professional mindset to be on par with the best. The new terminal is also extremely adaptable and reliable in terms of asset availability and operability. Furthermore, outsourcing operations to MDR’s professional team, internationally recognised for process facility operation, has simplified my job.”
China, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea are amongst the top six countries, by volume, producing bulk petrochemicals worldwide. The global petrochemical market is expected to reach $5.4 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period.
Qatar Airways Cargo re-instates Penang (PEN) to its network, offering more than 70 tonnes a week to Malaysia’s second-busiest cargo airport
Qatar Airways Cargo will recommence belly capacity services to Penang, Malaysia, effective 2 February 2023. Qatar Airways Cargo will operate an A330 passenger freighter to Penang via Qatar Airways’ passenger flights to Phuket, four times a week. This adds more than 70 tonnes of available capacity each week, that will feed into Qatar Airways Cargo’s extensive international network via its state-of-the-art Doha hub.
The service complements the existing seven weekly belly-hold flights to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, providing customers with over 200 tonnes of cargo capacity from Malaysia.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “Qatar Airways Cargo is implementing its meticulous Next Generation approach throughout its network, aiming for optimum resource deployment in alignment with customer requirements.
“Our network planning team saw a perfect opportunity in the passenger A330 flight’s ground-time in Phuket, and have worked hard to establish a well-scheduled, interim passenger-freighter connection to Penang and back to maximise the cargo capacity into and out of Malaysia’s second-busiest cargo airport.
“This Next Generation-style multi-modal strategy sees Qatar Airways’ Doha-Phuket passenger connection becoming a Phuket-Penang-Phuket passenger-freighter for four days of the week, before returning to Doha again as a passenger service with lower deck cargo.”
“The re-launch of our Penang connections in an innovative and unique manner illustrates our ambition and ability, at Qatar Airways Cargo, to provide connectivity to our customers in the best possible way.
With the exception of Mail, the destination is open for all commodity types. Penang is the largest export contributing state within Malaysia, with mostly electronics/electrical equipment, general cargo and vulnerable cargo being sent by air. Capacity to Penang can be booked online on all channels including Qatar Airways Cargo’s Digital Lounge at www.qrcargo.com
SITA’s latest Air Transport IT Insights report reveals accelerated digitalization to help airlines and airports meet rising passenger demand
Faced with increased disruptions, baggage mountains, and staff shortages, airports and airlines are ramping up their investment in technology to digitalize their operations and speed up the passenger journey by offering more self-service options.
SITA’s 2022 Air Transport IT Insights report, published today, reveals that with the post-pandemic recovery CIOs want to ensure operations are as agile and resilient as they are efficient, with IT solutions seen as central to their success. This has spurred an acceleration of digitalization, with airlines and airports looking to key technology solutions to fortify their operations against disruption while automating the passenger experience.
The industry’s IT spend is projected to continue its steady year-on-year growth trend since 2020 to support this push for digitalization, with a full 96% of airlines and 93% of airports expecting their IT spend to stay the same or increase in 2023 compared to 2022. Last year airline and airport IT spend rose to an estimated 37 billion USD and 6.8 billion USD respectively.
David Lavorel, CEO, SITA, said: “Air travel has recovered faster from the pandemic than anyone in the industry had initially expected, particularly in Europe and the US. While the recovery is welcome, airports and airlines have found themselves on the back foot with staff and resource shortages. This has put strain on operations, resulting in an increased risk of congestion, delays, cancellations and mishandled baggage. Digitalization is seen as key to addressing these challenges, providing more scalability and flexibility.”
Digitalizing operations to achieve more with less
Airlines are placing great emphasis on IT tools to manage irregular operations and provide the best passenger experience possible even amid staff shortages. Over the next three years, 90% or more of airlines are investing in IT service management enhancement and disruption warning systems, as well as business intelligence initiatives for aircraft turnaround management, passenger processing, and baggage processing.
Business intelligence solutions are at the forefront of airport IT investment priorities too, with 93% or more planning business intelligence initiatives for asset management and flight operations by 2025. The emphasis on agility, adaptability to disruption, and prompt communication with customers and stakeholders is clear; by 2025 half of airports are seeking to implement automated predictive alerts prior to flight disruption events as well as business intelligence initiatives to enable scaling of operations based on demand.
Streamlining the passenger journey with smart technologies
Both airlines and airports are investing in key technologies to smooth the passenger experience across every step of the journey, to help curb bottlenecks and in turn allow redistribution of key staff resource to focus on more complex tasks. Biometrics and self-service technologies are seeing major emphasis.
Airlines have identified self-service technologies as key to helping manage irregular operations, and this remained their top investment priority in 2022, with touchless solutions and biometric ID management following closely.
To support effective baggage management and empower passengers following a period of significant disruption, a majority of airlines plan to provide real-time baggage tracking information to passengers by 2025.
Airports are similarly prioritizing self-service initiatives, placing strong emphasis on self check-in and self-bag drop, with 86% planning implementation by 2025. Airports’ implementation of a secure single biometric token across all touchpoints has surged from just 3% in 2021 to 39% in 2022, with over half planning implementation over the next three years. This signals a strong commitment to the next-generation travel experience where passengers can breeze through the airport using their face as their boarding pass.
Turkish Cargo released new commercial films depicting the opportunities offered to the global economy by its mega hub SMARTIST, which is interconnecting the world.
Raising the bar continuously for success by combining its global flight network of more than 340 destinations with Türkiye’s unique geographical advantage; Turkish Cargo operates from its state-of-the-art facility, SMARTIST, which is one of the most advanced cargo hubs in the world. The global brand showcases its strength and potential with a series of three commercial films.
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, stated; “We, as Turkish Airlines, have covered a remarkable distance and made great achievements in the course of our journey throughout our country’s aviation history as its national flag carrier. We have always distinguished ourselves from our competitors with our service quality beyond expectations along with our strong foundation and agile structure. We built SMARTIST, our mega cargo facility that ranks among the largest hubs in the world. With this strategic investment, we have become the bridge of trade between east and west. These achievements stem from not only our unique geographical advantage, but also due to the strategy drawn up in line with the vision, namely “the Future is in the Skies”, created during the early days of our country’s aviation.
As the year 2023 is the 100th anniversary of our country’s foundation, this year carries a special significance for us. As part of the targets of Türkiye for its 100th year, we as Turkish Airlines are committed to deliver much more by taking courage from our accomplishments in the past. We have been turning Istanbul into the logistics center of the world with the investments we make and the strategies we have created.”
SMARTIST; The Logistic Center of the World in Türkiye’s 100th Anniversary
Having been designed as the largest industrial building under single roof at Istanbul Airport, SMARTIST is strategically located. At the crossroads of continents, the hub is situated at a flight distance of 4 hours to more than 50 countries worldwide. A very wide range of products, from automotive to perishable goods arriving from all corners of the world to the SMARTIST hub, are then distributed worldwide through Turkish Airlines extended network.
Furthermore, the mega facility also stands out with its logistics, storage and smart system technologies. Coupling the leadership of Turkish Cargo in terms of flight network, infrastructure and unprecedented geographical advantages of Istanbul, SMARTIST has become an indispensable gateway for international trade.
Providing the best connections in terms of transportation to production and trade centers in the world, Turkish Cargo has been developing attractive opportunities with its high-quality service approach to meet the needs of its customers and industry partners. By developing tailored and practical solutions for the ever-increasing demand for logistics, the global air cargo brand aims to provide support to exporters as well, while promoting regional and global trade.
GWC has been accredited in the GCC Authorized Economic Operator Program, adding another feather to its cap as it pursues out its mission to deliver unrivaled service to its clients.
Following the formal commencement of the GCC AEO Program on 1 January 2023, enabling GWC to function as an authorized economic operator. This comes as a progression to GWC becoming the first logistics company in Qatar to get Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification in customs clearance category in 2021.
With quicker turnaround and greater compliance with top-notch safety and security standards, GWC was able to offer its diverse range of services.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO of GWC, commented, “Obtaining the GCC AEO Program accreditation strengthens our position as the top logistics supplier in Qatar. This is the result of our efforts to provide the best caliber of services, and it gives us tremendous pride. We look forward to helping our clients and providing them with enhanced supply chain solutions”.
In accordance with World Customs Organization norms, the General Authority of Customs introduced the Authorized Economic Operation Program in 2019 to foster engagement and cooperation with the private sector to facilitate international trade.
The GCC AEO program gives GCC-wide benefits on procedures, laws, customs clearance, among other advantages, and enables qualified traders to collaborate with customs authorities and the private sector.
The GCC Authorized Economic Operators are given additional benefits and incentives by the General Authority of Customs in the State of Qatar which streamlines the customs’ processes for the certified businesses.
UD Trucks has continued its journey of exceptional growth throughout the (MEENA) region by registering an average 30 per cent growth for the second year in a row
Sales of HD UD Trucks in Qatar were up 35 per cent
Saudi Arabia, UD Trucks’ largest market by volume, enjoyed a 32 per cent increase in sales, and the brand has now expanded into every segment
As part of its expansion plans, the brand is working to launch in new markets in 2023
UD Trucks has continued its journey of exceptional growth throughout the Middle East, East, and North Africa (MEENA) region by registering an average of 30 per cent growth for the second year in a row. This boost for the Japanese truck manufacturer strengthens its position as a market leader in a largely European-dominated regional truck market. UD Trucks continues to place its “Better life” Strategy for people and the planet at the core of its objective to become the Japanese Sustainability Leader by 2025.
There were positive stories for UD Trucks right across the region over the past 12 months. Sales of heavy-duty trucks in Qatar were up by 35 per cent thanks to the brand’s reputation for producing robust and modern trucks. This also contributed to UD Trucks’ steady performance in other key segments, including the waste management and construction sector in the UAE.
Saudi Arabia, UD Trucks’ largest market by volume, enjoyed a 32 per cent increase in sales, and the brand has now expanded into every segment, from construction and logistics to waste management. The brand is now involved in a large number of Kingdom-wide projects – many of its partners are involved with the NEOM project.
Further contributing to this growth and supporting its ‘Better Life’ sustainability strategy for the planet, UD Trucks has entered other key segments in the region. Irrigation vehicles were used to clean up waste oil contamination from the soil in Kuwait as part of the second soil remediation project, while water tankers, vacuum trucks, and jet cleaners were provided by the brand to the Babil municipality in Iraq. In Abu Dhabi, UD Trucks will lead the waste management project after winning a large portion of the business, helping to position the company as a leader in this field.
In 2022, the brand added the Euro5-compliant Quester model with ESCOT as well as the Croner PKE19 with automatic transmission to its fleet.
UD is active across all key areas
In Africa, specifically in Ethiopia and Uganda, UD Trucks delivered a significant number of vehicles primarily intended for general cargo use, despite the hard economic conditions and currency shortage. In 2023, further countries are set to be added to UD’s operations as the brand continues with its plans for expansion on the continent.
With a focus on efficiency, uptime, and customer service, UD Trucks and its partners have invested significant time and resources in developing a network of workshops across the region to meet customers’ needs. UD Telematics, with a penetration of more than 40 per cent in targeted markets, is a key USP for the brand, as it helps customers by providing information in real-time about vehicle location, speed, fuel consumption, driver behaviour and other relevant data to improve uptime and total cost of ownership. By optimising its fleet management processes, UD Trucks helps fleet managers to increase efficiency and reduce costs, resulting in improved customer satisfaction.
The company’s customers also benefit from the availability of comprehensive Service Agreements, ensuring greater control over costs and easier administration, thus providing full peace of mind to fleet managers. In 2022, the company registered a 35 per cent service contract penetration.
The company is dedicated to achieving proficiency in every aspect, not only through improvements in its fleet and the services it offers to customers, but also through investing in the needs of its employees. Some 2,135 hours of technical, soft skills and driver training, for over 1,000 personnel, have been conducted in the past 12 months, both in-person and online. These sessions were based on blended learning modules and physical training, and were designed to facilitate competence development, while reducing costs.
Positive sentiment about the brand has been reinforced by its ‘Better Life’ strategy. In line with the company’s commitment to focus on people, UD launched several initiatives in 2022, including supporting the Arabian Ocean Rowing team to raise awareness of plastic pollution and environmental sustainability, as well as supporting employees and partners participating in Dubai Marathon to promote physical and mental wellbeing.
Mourad Hedna, president of UD Trucks MEENA, commented: “2022 has been an excellent year for UD Trucks in the region, a confirmation year that its trucks, services and values are well appreciated by our customers. UD is clearly recognised as a brand providing its customers with efficient, reliable, and cost-effective products and services.”
He added: “With a strong foundation in place, we are on track for another successful year in 2023. We will continue to work on our growth and customer satisfaction in all areas.”
GWC (Q.P.S.C.) has announced its results for the financial year ending 31 December 2022 achieving net profits of QAR 239.6 million, with gross revenues reaching QAR 1.519 billion at the end of 2022, and EPS at QAR 0.41 by the end of the same period. The Company’s Board has recommended QAR 0.1 cash dividend to shareholders which is subject for discussion and approval during the company’s Assembly General Meeting scheduled to be held on 19 February 2023.
He also praised the GWC team over the last decade for innovating new benchmarks in the logistics industry.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM
The successful implementation of the World Cup was an endorsement of the company’s confidence in delivering seamless logistical execution. Building a dedicated workforce of 5,000+ spread across diverse geographies around the world that was skilled to tackle logistical challenges at scale was no easy feat. GWC also set up a fan zone throughout the duration of the tournament for all the GWC staff which witnessed a huge turnout and gave the employees a sense of what they have worked to achieve.
Strengthening Partnerships and thought-leadership
2022 was also the year where we built on longstanding partnerships and forged new ones with global strategic partners, such as with Qatar University and Ponticelli. GWC also successfully organised the second GWC Forum – “Ready for the Game” with focus on MSMEs and how they can leverage this mega sporting event to foster innovation and explore new opportunities for growth. Our esteemed panel of speakers outlined the trends they expected to see after the tournament.
Promoting Sustainability
GWC continued being a part of Qatar Sustainability Week, which serves as a platform to showcase all the work being done by the government and the private sector to protect the environment for future generations. For GWC, sustainability has been at the core of all its initiatives, whether it is a beach clean-up, and tree plantation or recycling wooden pellets to delivering a sustainable FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Recognised for excellence
GWC was recognised by the Ministry of Labour for its commitment to occupational health and safety – a cause that the Group takes very seriously. GWC through its various measures, whether it included preparing and organising periodic emergency drills, or conducting safety drills, warrants that all measures possible are taken to empower, educate and protect its employees, and contractors.
“The safety of our workers is of paramount importance to us and preventing accidents, injuries and illnesses arising out of, or occurring due to work, by eliminating or minimising the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment, remains a top priority.,” Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, remarked.
He was also very proud of GWC being the first company in Qatar to get accredited as an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) from Qatar’s General Authority of Customs. Speaking about it, he said, “We will now be able to offer our diversified services with quicker turnarounds and a stricter compliance to world-class safety and security standards. Getting this certificate is a testament of our due diligence in ensuring that all requirements and procedures are followed.”
The Way Forward
In 2023, GWC will strive to build on the economic momentum created by the World Cup. As always, it will also continue to work towards the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals with a strict eye on innovation and sustainability. This is an important year to focus GWC’s attention to the legacy of the World Cup and the medium- and long-term impact on the economy.
Supporting MSMEs thorough its various initiatives will be a top priority for GWC, as will be the health and safety of its employees.
“I am sure 2023 will bring with it, its own set of challenges, opportunities and never-done-before-experiences and we are ready for all that and more,” Mr. Menon added.
Discovery, ECS Group’s in-house training platform, offers more than 50 digital training modules and a solid knowledge database to its employees. Professional training and life-long-learning are a winning combination when it comes to business and personal success.
Discovery was launched in September 2020, and covers a comprehensive, up-to-date, online training pallet aimed at efficient knowledge transfer and skills enhancement. Thus, Discovery offers a host of courses that have been developed in-house to introduce users to ECS Group’s Quantum and Apollo digital solutions, and partner technologies such as SkyPallet or CargoSpot. Comprehensive onboarding courses are available for team members who are new to the air freight industry, helping them to integrate quickly. Discovery contains role-related training plans for the different job functions within ECS Group, such as Sales, Customer Service, or Finance, for example, which managers assign to their team members.
“Most of the courses available on Discovery have been created by ECS Group employees for ECS Group employees. The end-user training for the digital solutions created by our Cargo Digital Factory – Quantum and Apollo, are obvious examples, and were put together by their respective product owners. However, we also offer 5 training modules for CargoSpot, and one for SkyPallet. Internally produced training courses ensure a much more efficient knowledge transfer because they are directly based on our ECS Group business processes, and are thus more specifically relevant and tangible,” Cedric Millet, Chief Strategy & Digital Officer of ECS Group , explains. The average duration of a course module is one hour, and participants are required to pass a test at the end of each module, to allow them to proceed with the next one.
“Life-long-learning is what makes us stand out – personally and professionally – and the achievements of each and every one of our employees is what drives ECS Group’s continuous competitive success,” says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group.
Two new training projects are lined up for 2023: a Dangerous Goods Transportation overview course, and an in-depth Sustainability module. The Sustainability module is due to be launched in the first quarter of the year and will be made mandatory, given that Sustainability is the fourth core pillar of the Augmented GSSA concept.
Following the opening of a new chemicals and dangerous goods warehouse in Malaysia last year, Leschaco has now signed a lease with industrial land developer DHG (David Hart Group) developing a new ADR warehouse facility in Moerdijk, Netherlands.
Situated in a strategic location between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp – the two most important seaports in Europe – Moerdijk guarantees optimal accessibility to the European hinterland and ensures that customers’ products are transported in an efficient manner in terms of cost, speed, accessibility and frequency. The new facility is scheduled to be ready in the 3rd quarter of this year.
The new chemical logistics center has optimal multimodal transport links: In addition to the proximity to the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, access to the two most important waterways in the Netherlands – the Rhine and the Meuse with daily barge traffic to/from Rotterdam and Antwerp – as well as direct connections to the A16 (Antwerp-Breda-Rotterdam), A59 and A17 (Moerdijk-Roosendaal-Antwerp) are essential prerequisites for smooth transport handling. In addition, two public rail terminals in the vicinity are available for use.
The warehouse offers space for approximately 45,000 pallets on an area of 29,000 sqm. It is divided into five sections. Four of them are equipped with CO2 extinguishing systems, specifically designed for the storage of chemicals and dangerous goods, while the fifth is for the storage of general cargo and is equipped with ESFR sprinklers.
“This project is an important strategic milestone for our presence in Europe. It is also necessary to meet the increasing demand in the region and to be closer to our customers,” says Constantin Conrad, Managing Partner of Leschaco Group.
“The new logistics center offers our global customers in the chemical, healthcare, automotive, industrial materials and consumer goods sectors a wide range of services and, in combination with other Leschaco products, complex logistics solutions at the highest level. In addition to pallet storage, this includes various kinds of value-added services according to our customers’ demands,” adds Sebastian Haebler, Head of Global Contract Logistics at Leschaco.
David Hart, Owner DHG, supplements “Leschaco and DHG are both family businesses, our motivation, standards and values are very similar. Partly for this reason, we are honored to add Leschaco to our DHG “family” and to be a part of their expansion within Europe.”
The new building meets all safety and environmental standards. Solar panels on the roof will be able to cover part of the electricity demand. Other sustainable measures, such as the use of electric floor heating instead of gas or oil installations, LED lighting, and the highest construction standards for isolation, also contribute to improving the climate balance, as do the short distances to the port of Moerdijk for transport by barge and rail and e-charging stations for cars.
Information DHG: DHG is the biggest developer of large logistics real estate at its own risk in the Netherlands. Since 2015, DHG has realized over 1.3 million sqm of distribution centers according to the SMARTLOG concept – DC’s of guaranteed quality and with defined specifications. These distribution centres are designed in such a way that they are suitable for a wide range of types of user. All our distribution centres and terminals are situated in top logistical locations, right by waterways, roads, terminals and airports. At this moment approximately 300.000 sqm is under construction, planned to be delivered in 2023.
Company information: The Leschaco Group is a traditional, owner-managed logistics service provider and offers intercontinental logistics solutions for sea and air freight as well as contract logistics and tank container operation. As proven partner for leading companies in plant construction and mechanical engineering, automotive, chemical and related industries, producers of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals. Leschaco offers comprehensive logistics solutions from one single source. Our globally standardised IT–environment guarantees the required high process transparency. The company was founded under the name of Lexzau, Scharbau by Wilhelm Lexzau and Julius Scharbau in Hamburg in 1879. Today, the group is represented in 24 countries worldwide. This network is supported by a carefully selected network of agents. The company insists on a sustainable business development and its headquarters are in Bremen.
As part of its ambitious growth strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, GROHE is partnering with Bayt Alebaa to showcase its latest breakthroughs, reiterating its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s transformation, and contributing to its vibrant economic diversification. GROHE, one of the global leaders in complete bathroom and kitchenfittings is partnering with Bayt Alebaa, Jeddah – the Kingdom’s go-to destination for ceramics, marble, kitchens and sanitaryware. This is the first-of-its-kind showroom featuring GROHE’s exquisite designs, innovative sustainability solutions, and advanced technology.
The partnership with Bayt Alebba is another strategic step by GROHE as it expands its presence in the Kingdom. The showroom will showcase GROHE’s GET collection of faucets available exclusively at Bayt Alebba. In addition, consumers and businesses in the Kingdom will have access to GROHE’s range of bestselling bath and kitchen solutions that have been specifically designed to meet sustainability and design standards, with their contemporary design and future-oriented functions.
Fawzi Dernaika, Leader, KSA, LIXILEMENA, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Bayt Alebaa in Jeddah, which will enable our customers to experience the beauty, elegance and cutting-edge innovation that defines GROHE’s products. Saudi Arabia’s rapid economic progress is spurred by new projects in real estate, hospitality, and public infrastructure. We are proud to support this strategic growth with a strengthened product portfolio for consumers as well as the commercial and residential sector, which will be showcased at Jeddah. Our vision is centered on delivering some of the smartest and most innovative solutions for our customers in KSA and beyond.”
With the launch of GROHE’s partnership with Bayt Alebba, many Saudi consumers can now enjoy access to GROHE products that champion sustainable and responsible water consumption. GROHE’s Saudi expansion is also aligned with the Kingdom’s key objectives in Saudi Vision 2030 to reach net zero by 2060 through new investments in energy and water conserving technologies. GROHE’s range of products offers contemporary designs adapted to suit modern lifestyles and sustainability demands – such as touchless faucets that can reduce water consumption by up to 70% and contribute significantly towards green accreditation. In the last ten years alone, GROHE has received over 300 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings as one of Germany’s most sustainable large brands.
PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) strengthens its historic partnership with IVECO by co-developing fluids for IVECO’s new zero-emission eDAILY vehicles, designed to maximise performance and enhance sustainable solutions for the commercial automotive industry.
The long-standing collaboration between the two industry leaders, grounded in automotive innovation and resilience since 1975, has resulted in thousands of hours of co-engineering, producing the highest-quality standard of lubricants to meet the needs of IVECO drivers. The new fluids demonstrate both PLI and IVECO’s common goal towards achieving a sustainable future.
Described to be the ‘electric twin’ of IVECO’s iconic ‘Daily’ vehicles, the eDAILY covers all commercial vehicle usage applications – including heavy-duty missions and conversions. The new EV represents a significant contribution to the decarbonization of transport vehicles for commercial use, backed by fluids that improve performance to make vehicles last longer.
PETRONAS Iona Integra Plus has been developed for the eDAILYs e-Transfer box, specifically designed to reduce churning losses, whilst ensuring the durability of the system. This is comparable to higher viscosities in standard fluids and ensures excellent oxidation properties, even in the case of high temperatures. PETRONAS Iona delivers impeccable optimised performance and durability for modern-day, high-level EVs.
The eDAILY vehicles will also be using the PETRONAS Tutela Axle 900 HD, a SAE 75W-85 axle oil that has been developed for the whole range of IVECO axles, including light and heavy-duty vehicles, to maximise efficiency and meet the latest regulations requirements.
Domenico Ciaglia, Managing Director EMEA at PLI said, “We know that unbeatable performance is vital for IVECO drivers, many of whom take on long and demanding journeys. The PETRONAS Iona and Tutela ranges for IVECO’s new eDAILY EVs demonstrate the importance of partnership between our two companies. The joint efforts in innovation, co-engineering and collaborations will certainly contribute to creating a more sustainable future for the automotive industry.”
The co-branded lubricants are only the latest result in a thirty year-long collaboration between PLI and IVECO, which benefit IVECO drivers and provide them with a guarantee that their vehicles will stay the course and perform to the highest industry standards.
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment (CV&E) is participating in EcoWaste Exhibition and Forum 2023 to showcase the latest environmentally friendly trucks from global brands UD Trucks and Renault Trucks that offer sustainable waste management solutions. The division, which is part of Al Masaood Group, is the sole distributor of UD Trucks and Renault Trucks in Abu Dhabi.
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E) will be participating in EcoWASTE which is being held during the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) between January 16 and 18, 2023, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The Exhibition is a forefront of the zero waste in the MENA region and is dedicated to advancing new business opportunities and practices for sustainable waste management.
Mohammad El Zeftawi, General Manager of Al Masaood CV&E, said: “We are pleased to participate in EcoWaste 2023, which emphasises the need to deploy more sensible and sustainable waste management solutions. UAE’s market is ever evolving with more demand for the greener solutions. Therefore, as a key player in the waste management sector, we at Al Masaood CV&E are dedicated to providing sustainable and environmentally friendly options that fulfil the needs and requirements of our customers. The displaying of UD Trucks’ and Renault Trucks’ products at EcoWaste 2023 directly reflects on our pledge towards a sustainable future.”
As sole distributor of Renault Trucks, the division is showcasing Renault Trucks K480 Euro 5 Evolution with Optidriver Gearbox, which will soon operate in the national capital as part of Al Masaood CV&E’s partnership with Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre, TADWEER. Renault Trucks’ K-Range Tractor Head 6×4, is a EURO 5 Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle (EEV), producing engine power of 480 HP with a high efficiency of fuel consumption for vehicles operating on tough road conditions.
Guillaume Zimmermann, Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, said: “Renault Trucks is well-established as one of Europe’s leading suppliers of truck solutions for the waste management sector and has been forging a significant presence in the region with over 400+ units already running in the UAE in this segment.”
Al Masaood CV&E is also displaying UD Trucks’ flagship MD Croner model, PKE 19T chassis equipped with 16 CBM Compactor. UD Trucks Croner PKE has latest UD Trucks 250 hp EURO 5 complaint engine with SCR technology generating high torque of 950Nm, coupled with fully automatic transmission with push button gear selector and is also equipped with advanced body builder module control unit. With these advanced and unique spec, UD Trucks is leading the way to lift the productivity level in waste management from MD Trucks. With these advanced and distinctive specifications, UD Trucks is paving the way to enhance the productivity in waste management. The division will also be providing the full range of UD Trucks Quester and Croner in the market with Euro 5 emissions, Automated/Automatic transmission, and latest advance driver display, amon g many other advanced features available for the full range of trucks.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, said: “Since few years now, UD Trucks is becoming a leader in the waste management sector in the UAE, and we are proud to be supporting some of the biggest waste management companies in the region along with our long-trusted partner Al Masaood. We can clearly see that the UAE market is one of the most advanced markets in the region in terms of emissions and specs requirements and we are strongly committed to our customers to always bring the best solutions to the market to support their businesses.”
The EcoWaste Exhibition and Forum is exploring how waste management is becoming more sustainable, embracing circular principles, and exploring zero landfill options, such as waste to energy initiatives. The event is also examining ways that companies can incorporate circularity into their operations, waste minimization methods, the role of technology in delivering better understanding of waste management, and ideas for generating revenue from waste.
The Association for Finnish Work has awarded the Key Flag symbol to Nokian Heavy Tyres’ heavy-duty tires, wheels and retreading materials. The symbol can be awarded to products manufactured or a service produced in Finland, with a minimum domestic content of 50 percent of their break-even cost. Design from Finland mark indicates the products are designed in Finland – and the company has demonstrably invested in Finnish design.
The world is changing rapidly, and that has elevated the demand and appreciation for domestic work and products. And so, it is natural that Nokian Heavy Tyres wants to honor its origins and point out that its products are made in Finland. That is what the respected Key Flag symbol stands for.
Every heavy-duty tire, wheel and retreading material by Nokian Heavy Tires has been designed and manufactured in Finland – where the roots of the company lie. Only the truck and bus tires are manufactured elsewhere in the EU.
“We have always wanted to make sure our customers and stakeholders know, where our tires are designed and manufactured”, says Manu Salmi, the managing director of Nokian Heavy Tyres.
“We are proud of our long history and high expertise, which represents the world’s absolute top in our industry – our forestry tires being one prime example.”
A flag to carry with pride
The Key Flag has been in use from 1965. It has a long history and a great reputation. Reetta Mentu, the marketing manager of The Association for Finnish Work, describes the importance the symbol:
“Consumers associate the Key Flag symbol with a positive image of domestic quality, reliability, safety, responsibility and employment”, Mentu lists and adds: ”With the Key Flag symbol, companies can communicate important values to their customers and other stakeholders. 92 percent of the companies that have been awarded the Key Flag symbol state that the symbol supports the sales of products and services.”
Exporting domestic design
Design from Finland mark is a testament to Finnish, responsible and professional design.
“When it comes to our products – for example the tires and wheels for heavy machinery – we pick our chosen materials based on their sustainability and safety”, the managing director Salmi tells.
“We want to ensure the usability and high quality of our products. The new research and development center, in Nokia, which has been running since 2020, is one concrete example of this endeavor.”
During the recent years, large investments and relentless effort have been put in the product development. New products with unique and uncompromising design have then come to fruition. They have already attracted a lot of attention worldwide.
“We are a global player. And we wouldn’t do this well without our international staff and partner network”, tells Manu Salmi gratefully. “But at the same time, we are very proud of our Finnish roots It is an honor for us to show the rest of the world what amazing design work and products we do here in Finland. And I am very happy this effort has now been recognized.”
2022 saw the launch of Qatar Airways Cargo’s groundbreaking concept “The Next Generation” and its new web platform “Digital Lounge”. The cargo carrier launched two more WeQare chapters in 2022: Chapter 3, Let’s Stand Together and Chapter 4, Diversity
With an overall tonnage of more than 1.7 million tonnes in 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo serves more than 170 destinations, of which 70 have a dedicated freighter service, ten more than in the pre-Covid period, Qatar Airways Cargo can boast an impressive growth last year.
In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo successfully managed a broad range of demanding shipments. With an overall 84,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical products transported, including 4,000 tonnes of vaccines and over 1200 tonnes of COVID vaccines, the cargo carrier has maintained its strong engagement in helping curb the pandemic. Moreover, providing safe transportation of 12,600 horses has confirmed its leading position in this field. Qatar Airways Cargo has also achieved a considerable number of charter operations with more than 1,400 charter flights last year, which includes charters for e-commerce, exotic animals, music band tours and FIFA related activities.
By applying its Next Generation vision to all areas of its business, Qatar Airways Cargo has brought enhancements to its services and sharply accelerated its digital transformation. In that respect, another key event in 2022 was the launch of the Digital Lounge, Qatar Airways Cargo’s new web platform, designed to provide a more streamlined and connected booking experience to customers. As part of the carrier’s omni-channel strategy, the platform offers users direct access to the main three bookings platforms of the industry.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said, “We are really proud of all that we accomplished in 2022. Launching The Next Generation has allowed us to bring an entirely new perspective to everyone involved in the air cargo value chain. This truly represents a milestone in our development and in the way Qatar Airways Cargo is doing business.”
“We are grateful to our customers for their long-term trust and loyalty, and we will endeavour to preserve these relationships in the future. We are also thankful to our great teams for their dedication and hard work. With a motto such as “Moved by People”, Qatar Airways Cargo has always been aware of the major role played by its team in achieving success and is committed to promote it.”
This commitment resulted in the launch of two major WeQare chapters in 2022: Chapter 3, Let’s Stand Together, consisted of organising the collection of donations for children; as for Chapter 4, Diversity, it was a spectacular celebration of the carrier’s highly diverse team in the form of a livery showing some of their faces.
Environmental sustainability and decarbonisation are central to Qatar Airways Cargo’s corporate strategy. In 2021, Qatar Airway Cargo was the first cargo carrier to join the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) CO2NNECT platform. In 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo launched an online CO2 emission calculator for customers to determine their shipments’ carbon emissions.
Qatar Airways Cargo is currently working on the development of a fully integrated carbon offsetting tool on its Digital Lounge portal which will offer customers an option to offset their shipments as part of the booking process.
IATA certifications being so essential to vouch for best practices in the industry, completing the IATA IEnvA Stage 2 re-certification was a real asset for Qatar Airways Cargo especially since it was the first airline in the Middle East to obtain this environmental certification back in 2017. In addition, it was also one of the first airlines to gain the CEIV Lithium Batteries certification which came as a rightful recognition of its active involvement in this matter.
Ending the year on a high note, Qatar Airways Cargo won Air Cargo Week’s Cargo Airline of the Year award for the second year in a row and received the Development2030 Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year at Aidex 2022.
The UAE’s leadership supports the transformation of the country’s industrial sector into a global manufacturing hub
‘Make it in the Emirates’ is an open invitation to investors, innovators and developers to contribute to the UAE’s industry and advanced technology strategy, ‘Operation 300bn’.
Increasing numbers of investors notably manufacturing and production companies are gravitating to the UAE, taking advantage of the Government’s resolve to provide incentives, sops, tax relief’s, subsidies and waive-offs.
The call to ‘Make in the UAE’ provides them with an opportunity to benefit from the UAE economy’s tremendous and unique value proposition by investing in future industries and advanced manufacturing and exporting UAE products to new global markets.
“The decision by HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to issue a new law to regulate and develop the country’s industrial sector helps to create an attractive business environment for investors, strengthens the UAE’s position as a global industrial hub, and reflects positively on the performance and growth of the industrial sector.
This law will drive industrial development through empowerment, integration, and partnerships, pillars of empowerment,” affirmed Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director and Group CEO, ADNOC and Chairman, Masdar.
“This law provides the flexibility to issue more incentives in the form of policies and programs, which are linked to national strategies, some of which have already been implemented, such as the National In-Country Value program, Industry 4.0, and the Technology Transformation Program. It will encourage new programs to be rolled out in the future to support the efforts of the industrial sector,” the Minister further asserted.
Why invest in the UAE?
The UAE’s industrial ecosystem is conducive to growth, as industrialists can easily access financial, advisory and technical support to establish and develop their businesses. The offer is particularly attractive to companies associated with the logistics and supply chain sectors.
The country boasts a diverse energy mix at competitive prices. Topping regional and global indices in logistics, transport and communications, its advanced infrastructure comprises 10 civilian airports, numerous cargo companies (and counting), as well as 12 sea and commercial trading ports capable of handling more than 17mn tons and a cargo capacity of 80mn tons annually.
The UAE also ranks high in global indicators that measure economic performance and ease of doing business, in addition to enjoying a strong credit rating. The country’s legislative framework is considered the most advanced in the region and its strategic location makes it a global link. From the UAE, it is possible to reach global markets spanning five billion people through flights that do not exceed eight hours.
How can companies benefit from the campaign?
Through a partnership between Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologies (MoIAT) and Emirates Development Bank (EDB), industrial investors, innovators and entrepreneurs can receive significant financial and advisory support from EDB.
The bank is the financial driver of Operation 300bn and provides a wide variety of services to industrial players. Services include financing advanced technology and equipment, sponsoring machinery and equipment upgrades, especially those involving Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0) applications, as well as green finance, business expansion, structured financing and capital investment, feasibility studies and business incubators.
Global Supply Chain highlighted two UAE companies—Acme Intralog from Dubai and Lubrex from the Hamriya Free Zone, Sharjah, as lead case studies for successful track records in their pursuit and resolve to ‘Make it in the UAE’.
Acme records increased demand for its warehouse automation solutions
UAE based Acme Intralog has recorded a 30% increase in demand for the company’s warehousing automated solutions and manufactured products all produced in the UAE in fiscal 2022.
“This growth is predominantly driven by retail and e-commerce sectors that are looking for solutions for order picking and sortation. If operated manually, these processes are often the most time-consuming, while also being repetitive and dull. Automating these processes can increase productivity as well as accuracy significantly,” affirmed Navin Narayan, CEO, Acme Intralog.
Range of solutions
At the company’s manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Acme develops and produces a complete range of material handling solutions such as conveyors, AS/RS control systems. They also design and manufacture customised factory automation solutions for a variety of industries in the region. Acme continues to make significant investment in R&D to develop competitive and innovative solutions.
Acme provides its customers with an end-to-end life cycle support service that can be deployed both on-site as well as on an on-call basis. Their team can help customers manage equipment maintenance, safety, and obsolescence management as well as training customer maintenance staff to safely maintain and improve machine and system longevity.
“As a local manufacturer, we have strong design and consulting capability based out of our Dubai facility. This enables us to provide quick and accurate solutions that cater to our customers’ requirements,” Navin Narayan observed.
Advanced manufacturing facility
“With a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali, we are able to manufacture to European specification and CE standards at affordable prices with short lead times and therefore fast project delivery times,” he added.
“In addition to this our large after sales team in the region can support our customers with life cycle maintenance as well as operation support so that they are never left without support once the system is handed over. Particularly in the UAE, we have seen great opportunities in the push for the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative by our Government as well as the increasing appetite for Industry 4.0 solutions across the whole region,” he asserted.
Over the past over 47 years since inception, Acme has gained great trust and respect within the MENA region and developed a huge base of customers. Their continuing successes can in no small measure be attributed to Acme’s local manufacturing capabilities and indigenous production that enables the company to deliver customised solutions that are tailored to the needs of the region.
Lubrex: Championing Indigenization – Home-grown manufacturer supports local production
Lubrex FZC is a leading lubricant manufacturing company, registered in Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah, UAE. It was established in 2005 as the flag bearer in the UAE of a group of lubricant manufacturing oil exporting companies with decades of experience.
With a primary focus on the GCC, Middle East, Far East and Africa, Lubrex is uniquely positioned to lead in manufacturing, development and marketing in the regional and international markets, providing unmatched level of support and services for its customers.
Producing its distinctive products in the UAE is a trademark and Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for the company. The company has made local production the centerpiece of its corporate objectives.
Critical factors
Having realised that a critical factor of success in any venture is the access to specific industry knowledge, the company is founded and articulated by a team of leading industry professionals, strategic partners, and business associates, which in turn have encouraged and emboldened the company to participate in one of the most challenging markets in the world.
Lubrex uses state of the art automated blending systems with latest machineries to keep products precisely blended avoiding any avoid human errors, ensuring consistency in the delivery of products in scheduled time without compromising in quality.
Lubrex lubricants are made from first grade mineral oils, virgin base oils, and high-quality additives to meet industry standards. According to a company official local procurement, given the advanced, highly developed infrastructure complemented by the investment policies of the UAE, the local sourcing and local production makes sound economic sense.
Furthermore, this move strengthens the local and national manufacturing ecosystem thereby consolidating the national economy whilst providing employment opportunities.
Abbas Moniri
Lubrex has an impressive track record built on the ‘Make in the Emirates’ model. Abbas Moniri, Managing Director, Lubrex,responded to a questionnaire from Global Supply Chain specific to localization of its operations and advocacy of manufacturing in the UAE.
Abbas Moniri (AM): We are proud of our global expertise and international staffs, but we are also proud of our regional roots and our understanding the local market needs.
By adopting ‘Make it in the Emirates’ campaign, we can ensure our costumers the best of both worlds, global know-how and local understanding. Briefly, make the case for ‘Make it in the Emirates’…. incentives of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT)
UAE has always been a major player in the regional and global trade routes. This is not just for its strategic location, but also for its infrastructure that incubates innovation and incentivises creativity in all aspects. ‘Make it in the Emirates’ campaign is a great example of that, and we are proud of being part of it.
GSC: Describe your partnership with Acme Intralog?
AM: We appointed Acme Intralog to design and build an end-of line solution for us that would seamlessly integrate with our automated production line.
Through this partnership, our palletisation will be fully automated, which will enhance our overall productivity as our production capacity was significantly higher than the volumes we could handle at the end of line.
It was important to us to work with a solution provider who manufactures their systems in the UAE as they could offer a custom solution for us as well as fast installation and maintenance services.
GSC: How did Acme empower local production and profitability? How specifically was Acme associated with your operations?
AM: With Acme’s solution we can now palletise our range of close to 200 types of products coming from four production lines onto two outbound lines. The new optimized system (which includes two palletising robots) would help us increase our end of line productivity by 210%.
The robots are equipped with customised universal grippers that can lift boxes of different sizes and shape as well as prepare empty pallets on the outbound lines. That way, we do not have any interruptions when the production lines change, or a pallet is filled and ready for shipping.
GSC: What are your UAE and regional expansion plans?
AM: Our plan is simple: To be the best, and then to remain the best.
As simple as it can be said, this is only achievable by hard work, and investing in research and development. With ambitions like ours and the support we have from the UAE as an incubator of success, the sky is the limit.
WestJet Cargo proud of the impressive achievements in 2023
For WestJet Cargo, 2022 will certainly be a year to remember. The essential changes of the last few months have indeed been key in building the foundations for its future success. To start with, working with GTA contributed to massively increase its services and shipping capacities in Canada. Moreover, launching a new cargo platform in partnership with SmartKargo, new routes such as Los Angeles (LAX) and Orlando (MCO) and the announcement of 4 dedicated freighters to start operating in the new year have all contributed to affirm WestJet Cargo’s position as a strong player in the demanding Canadian air freight market.
But it is above all by strengthening the team dedicated to cargo that WestJet Cargo has distinguished itself. The appointment of Kirsten De Bruijn as Executive Vice President, followed by the arrival of Bharat Bhatia as Head of Cargo Operations and Hao Cai as Manager of Network Planning, Revenue Management & Interline Analytics will certainly reap great rewards for the carrier in the coming months.
In 2023, WestJet Cargo is due to continue to follow its clear vision to be the up and coming cargo carrier, providing customers with creative, agile and flexible solutions and always committing to reliability. Forthcoming recruitments will complete an already highly skilled and expert team of customer-oriented and open-minded professionals. It is also through its people that WestJet Cargo will achieve its mission: to ensure customer satisfaction through a unique creative approach based on human qualities, out of the box thinking and a strong will power.
Kirsten De Bruijn, Executive Vice President, is optimistic about the future: “What was achieved in 2022 was colossal and I am so proud that we managed to overcome the obstacles we encountered on the way. With our new freighters due to start operating in March, WestJet Cargo will be asserting its position in the market. Our strong identity supported by a new wave of energy and team spirit will hugely boost our development, allowing us to meet the coming challenges and making us an essential player in the industry.”
With a new digital platform, a new team, new routes and new freighters on top of a clear vision and mission, WestJet Cargo is ticking all the boxes to look forward to a bright future. With that in mind, 2023 will definitely be significant for WestJet Cargo. There is no other option.
EPG’s proprietary Supply Chain Execution Suite (EPG ONE) is in the vanguard of enabling Smarter Connected Logistics
Ehrhardt + Partner Group (EPG), of which Ehrhardt + Partner Solutions (EPS) is an integral subsidiary, is the embodiment of an exemplary company’s success story. By the company’s own admission and in its own words, the consistent alignment with customer needs and demands coupled with the highly developed and the sophisticated, premier EPG ONE™ supply chain execution suite, is the surefire recipe for success.
Meanwhile, the company continues to thrive and monitor current market demands. A combination of well-ingrained corporate characteristics including ingenuity, a passion for innovation and commitment for in-house developed, targeted software solutions alongside successful application, implementation and effective monitoring is boosting EPG’s reputation, revenues and performance not only in the region but globally, as Global Supply Chain found out in a recent visit to the company’s office and facility in DWC-Dubai Logistics City and an exclusive interview with Dr. Makrem Kadachi, General Manager GCC, Ehrhardt + Partner Solutions DWC LLC.
The Ehrhardt + Partner Group is a leading international innovator and operator in supply chain and logistics. With extensive experience in more than 700 successful logistics centres all over the world, the company’s interdisciplinary engineering teams realize investment and future-proof solutions for clients around the globe.
To get the lowdown on the latest updates and performance, Global Supply Chain journeyed to Dubai South for an exclusive, one-to-one interview with Dr. Makrem Kadachi, General Manager, Erhardt + Partner Solutions GCC. The following are excerpts from that meeting.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us a brief thumbnail profile of Erhardt+Partner Solutions and the company’s origins in the Middle East?
Dr. Makrem Kadachi (MK): I would like to point out at the very outset that EPG is a very R&D centric and solutions-oriented company with extensive expertise and importantly experience in developing and implementing in-house and independently developed supply chain software for our customers across the globe.
We are very customer-focused and offer tailored software solutions that best meet the requirements and expectations of our clients and ensure streamlined operational efficiencies.
Ehrhardt Partner GROUP has enjoyed a long presence in the Middle East. We established an independent, stand-alone, full-service office with comprehensive facilities in Dubai in 2006 and have the distinction of being the first tenant in Dubai Logistics City.
Currently EPG employs over 800 in 22 locations globally. We presently serve 1600 customers drawn from multiple industries. Our interdisciplinary engineering teams have capabilities to realize investment and future-proof solutions along the supply chain execution.
GSC: What are your core activities of Erhardt + Partner Solutions DWC and what industry verticals do you cover?
MK: We offer our growing clientele emanating from a variety of industry verticals with a vast array of software technology solutions including WMS (Warehouse Management Software), TMS (Transportation Management Software), and Voice solutions to empower and optimize logistics processes.
EPS’ other applications and software offerings include WCS (Warehouse Control Systems), WFM (Workforce Management), , Dock & Yard Management Software (DOCK), Contract & Billing (CnB), International Shipping System (ISS) and EPG ONE APP (Digital workflow designer).
EPG solutions cover the entire scale of the supply chain—from warehouse, retail, e-commerce, manufacturing and road to ground and cargo handling solutions at airports.
GSC: What sets EPG apart? What are your core brand strengths and how are you leveraging these capabilities to increase your market share in the region?
MK: Our core strengths are our human resources twinned alongside our sophisticated technology solutions. Our employees are fully trained and adept with understanding customer demands and needs and initiating adaptable, implementable and demonstrable solutions?
The technological research and consulting firmGartner has clearly put its seal of approval for EPG characterizing ‘WMS as a sophisticated and proven solution offering a whole host of different functionalities that can be scaled up to handle even highly complex warehouse environments, including highly automated warehouses.’
Our technologies are very advanced, the most modern and meet the highest quality industry standards and benchmarks. Our employees are highly qualified, much experienced and both involved and committed.
Furthermore, our software technology, developed entirely in-house, is proprietary and bears the EPG imprint and signature. Our suite is protected by IP (Intellectual Property) statutes and protocols.
From an implementation perspective, our experts both institute and monitor the rollout of software to ensure oversight and its appropriate enforcement.
Our ‘best practices’ offering of solutions is comprehensive . Additionally, we offer logistics consulting, cloud services, managed services and logistics courses at the company’s own academy.
GSC: How significant is the Middle East for EPG?
MK: The Middle East is a very important geographical region for EPS. This expanse also includes the continent of Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Our performance in this progressive region has been exemplary and we have also been instrumental in assisting other geographies in software development.
GSC: How did EPG fare in 2022 and what is the outlook for 2023 in the Middle East?
MK: The year 2022 was a very good year for EPGin this region. Being a privately owned Group, I am not able to reveal figures, but suffice to say our performance in 2022 was extraordinary and we closed strong.
Continuing in this vein, EPG holds a positive outlook for 2023 and we resolve to maintain the momentum in 2023 and surpass targets and meet expectations.
GSC: What are you expansion plans for the region?
MK: EPG has performed well in this region and both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are demonstrating a lot of promise and potential.
We are rapidly expanding in the Kingdom and consistent with the strategy and ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, our prospects there are very encouraging, and we are excited about the future. Saudi Arabia will be the subject of our focused attention in 2023.
We are also performing well in the UAE, our regional home base, and we are optimistic about growth in the forthcoming months.
I am also delighted to point out that EPG has now expanded into the continent of Australia, and we now have full-fledged operations in the country.
Thanks to the new partnership, AJEX will now operate logistics services from King Fahd International Airport, expanding its services throughout Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province
AJEX Logistics Services, the leading Middle East specialist in express distribution and shipping solutions, has signed a new partnership agreement with Dammam Airports Company to provide logistics services from King Fahd International Airport, located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Dammam Airports Company CEO – Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hassany and AJEX CEO – Mohammed Al-Bayati signed the agreement at the Dammam Airports Company headquarters.The new partnership agreement supports both companies’ strategic objectives for the year ahead.
In 2023, AJEX has plans for significant expansion across the Middle East, with new services, operations and facilities set to be launched across the region, while Dammam Airports Company is working on expanding the logistical capacity of its facilities as King Fahd International Airport grows in regional importance.Speaking on the new partnership, the CEO of Dammam Airports Company, Eng. Muhammad bin Ali Al-Hasany said, “At Dammam Airports Company, we are keen to raise the capacity of our express cargo facilities at King Fahd International Airport.
This new partnership with AJEX Logistics Services supports our strategic objectives, which are aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy for transportation and logistics services.”“Located just a few hours by road from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, Dammam, with its strategic location, is an important logistics centre to the GCC region that will enable us at AJEX to enhance our capacity and service times for our customers. Moreover, thanks to our new operations at King Fahd International Airport, we are vitally supporting the Vision 2030 objective to transform the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the preferred logistics hub in the region and a leading logistics hub globally,” added Mohammed Al-Bayati, CEO of AJEX.
Dammam and the wider Eastern Province serve as Saudi Arabia’s main oil-producing hub and are home to many large industrial companies in sectors including petrochemicals, chemicals, steel, cement, aluminium, plastics, and service-providing companies. Located just 20 kilometres from Dammam, King Fahd International Airport seeks to become a regional logistics hub, with plans underway to expand its facilities to process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050.
2022 was a year of triumph, and it culminated in an unforgettable celebration: the best FIFA World CupTM in history.
For GWC, the leading logistics provider, it was an endorsement of the company’s confidence in delivering seamless logistical execution of hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
GWC celebrated the success with honoring the outstanding team delivering on the 2022 commitment to deliver glory. This recognition comes from the company’s ethos in the importance of appreciating every sincere work and distinguished effort.
Speaking about this, Shaikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman of GWC stated: “delivering the World Cup was a huge and complex logistics mandate and required immense coordination, agile execution and quick thinking, and the GWC team delivered on all counts. The team serves with so much dignity and pride in what they do.”
“The World Cup made Qatar the center of the world for that one month – and it was up to the GWC team to ensure that people all over the world remember our nation’s achievements, and the team delivered beautifully.” he further added.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO of GWC commented: “A human-centered supply chain model has been at the heart of GWC since the very beginning in 2004. Port executives, skilled warehousemen, packing specialists, delivery drivers, installation crew, inventory experts, quality supervisors, safety experts and line managers to name a few. Building a strong people-driven workforce of 5,000+ spread across diverse geographies around the world and seasoned to tackle logistical challenges at scale.”
“It is an honor to lead such a dedicated and responsive workforce. The successful execution of this World Cup wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and diligence of GWC staff. For more than a decade, every member of GWC’s team has performed their role remarkably, thus setting a benchmark for professionalism.” Added Menon,
GWC’s workforce occupies a very important part of the company’s mandate for employee welfare. For this very purpose, GWC had set up a fan zone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM for all the GWC staff which witnessed a huge turnout throughout the tournament and gave the employees a sense of what they have worked to achieve. The fan zone featured live screening of all the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM matches, bringing them closer to the actual event and echoing the ambience of the stadiums.
Netradyne, an industry leader in fleet safety and management solutions, today announced a five-year contract with B.D. Dhalla Transport, a leading Indian transport company with more than 60 years of experience in express cargo services, bulk movements, refrigerated transport, and remote area operations. This move will allow B.D. Dhalla Transport to utilize intelligence provided by Netradyne to make strategic fleet management decisions to mitigate on-road incidents.
Catering to India’s top manufacturing and multinational companies, B.D. Dhalla Transport moves more than 100,000 metric tons of cargo annually. The company selected Netradyne’s AI-powered embedded technology to provide the safest, most consistent, and most cost-efficient services to its customers. The solution will also help B.D. Dhalla Transport further enhance its fleet safety and service levels.
“It is indeed a pleasure to partner with Netradyne – an organization focused on providing cutting-edge products with after-sale service to match. We were thoroughly impressed by the company’s Driver•i product and continue to discover new benefits of using the solution with each successive month. With this engagement, we are sure that we will be equipped to deliver top-tier safety levels to our employees and business partners, as well as all other users on the Indian roads,” said Jehaan Dhalla, Director, B.D. Dhalla Transport.
The engagement emphasizes a strong message of road safety, while helping B. D. Dhalla Transport to achieve its goals of safeguarding lives, reducing road accidents, and improving fatigue management. Netradyne’s Driver•i technology will provide clear insights into driving behavior through real-time monitoring systems and real-time driver coaching. An analytical report will also be generated as part of the service, which will assist in devising effective improvement plans, thereby positively impacting B. D. Dhalla Transport’s overall business.
Westernacher Consulting has joined hands with National Central University Taiwan (NCU) to cultivate a new generation of digital transformation talent through theoretical and practical training. NCU is a member of the SAP University Alliances program in Asia Pacific which enables the next generation to learn, research and innovate with business applications for the intelligent enterprise. Under this program NCU integrates SAP education into its curriculum and research.
Benjamin Dewilde, Westernacher Group CEO, and Prof. Ping-Yu Hsu, Dean of the School of Management of NCU, signed a deal on this groundbreaking university-industry collaboration on the beautiful campus of NCU. Above all Westernacher supports NCU in talent development by expanding its education landscape for supply chain, Industry 4.0 and big data. We hope to create learning opportunities that go beyond textbooks and classrooms by combining basic education with hands-on experience in the industry. This will allow students to have a more diverse learning experience – a stepping stone for their careers.
This university-industry partnership is the first of its kind for Westernacher in Asia, following on from the one with FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik (Computer Science Research Center) in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Prior to this partnership, Howard Tsai, Westernacher Taiwan Market Unit Lead, was invited to the School of Management of NCU to talk to the undergraduate students. He served as a judge in the consultant training program, giving students perspectives on the industry and directions for future learning. In addition, he participated in the corporate recruitment process in the Enterprise Resource Planning Center – a platform for both academic and practical learning. We hope that through the university-industry collaboration with NCU, we can equip students with the right skills and capabilities in supply chains and data analysis, as well as nurture digital transformation talent that will excel in building platforms, innovating management and optimizing supply chains.
Saudi Arabia-based Hassana Investment Company, on behalf of the Saudi Arabian pension and social insurance organization, General Organization of Social Insurance, will invest approximately US$2.4 billion in a new joint venture with DP World, through which it will hold a stake of approximately 10.2% in Jebel Ali Port, Jebel Ali Free Zone, and the National Industries Park. The investment by Hassana implies a total enterprise value of approximately US$23 billion for the three flagship assets.
This investment is the second tranche of the sale by DP World, a global infrastructure-led supply chain solutions provider, of a strategic minority stake in these three UAE assets, following the first tranche US$5 billion investment which successfully closed in June 2022.
Jebel Ali Port, Jebel Ali Free Zone and National Industries Park together comprise a best-in-class group of infrastructure assets, with a solid long-term track record of growth. Combined, they form a world-class integrated ecosystem for the supply and logistics chains of over 8,700 companies from around the world, serving more than 3.5 billion people globally. The three assets will remain fully consolidated businesses within the DP World Group, and their day-to-day operations, customers, service providers and employees will not be affected.
The Addleshaw Goddard team, which was led by partner Ian Le Pelley, acted as co-advisers to DP World alongside Clifford Chance. The DP World legal team was led by James Pointon, with assistance from Angela Wang.
Ian Le Pelley said: “It was a real pleasure advising DP World on this complex second tranche investment in three of their key UAE assets. Jebel Ali Port is the largest international gateway port in the Middle East, and Jebel Ali Free Zone is the largest free zone, and these critical infrastructure assets play an important role in the global economy. This partnership will serve to enhance DP World’s assets and allow DP World to capture the significant growth potential of the wider market. In addition, the investment will further strengthen DP World’s balance sheet and support its target of achieving a strong investment-grade rating for the DP World group.“
GWC outline extensive logistics mandate during Qatar 2022TM as the country looks forward to hosting more major international mega-events in the future.
The resounding success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ lays a platform for the country to host major international events long into the future. The tournament will also significantly boost the development of business sectors across the country – including logistics.
Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman, GWC, said: “we have spent years preparing for this mega-event and stood ready to support Qatar, the local organizing committee and FIFA to deliver a memorable edition of international football’s showpiece event. We are also determined to leverage this tournament to deliver a robust economic legacy that benefits businesses large and small for generations to come – in line with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
A colossal undertaking
Delivering the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world involved a gigantic logistical mandate, which was handled in Qatar by GWC; the Official Logistics Provider for the tournament.
The numbers involved are staggering: GWC handled more than 15 million cans of beverage, 1.8 million pieces of equipment, 117,900 pieces of furniture, 20,400 traffic and safety assets, 34,700 office supplies and 20,000 spectator and traffic barriers. This was in addition to all the tournament equipment, including kits, uniforms and footballs. Transporting fresh food and beverages to a host of tournament sites was another key deliverable. For the media, GWC handled more than 30,000 pieces of equipment, including cameras, tripods and lighting, with everything delivered to and from eight stadiums, 36 team base camp hotels, two airports, two seaports, media hubs, fan zones and other sites.
Serving the logistics requirements of an event as large as the FIFA World CupTM needs a forward-thinking strategy in order to deliver a seamless operation. GWC implemented a control tower approach for Qatar 2022TM which delivered according to a master delivery schedule (MDS). This acted as the central point for all logistical activities; from the time an order needs to be picked up, where it has to be delivered, the time it is due and its current status.
Vision coming to fruition
From a logistics standpoint; people, processes and technology are the key ingredients, according to GWC’s Group CEO, Ranjeev Menon. “When you are delivering the logistics mandate of the FIFA World CupTM, detailed planning is imperative,” said Menon. “What we saw during Qatar 2022TM was the result of years of preparation. It was our plans – and those of our stakeholders in Qatar and globally – coming to fruition.”
“In order to optimise the value chain and unlock maximum potential, it is essential for companies to get the right balance between people, processes and technology. At GWC, we believe the success of Qatar 2022TM was people-driven, technology-fuelled and goal-orientated,” Menon added.
Qatar’s growing MSMEs sector
Hosting the FIFA World CupTM has cemented Qatar’s status as a global hub for major international events – laying a platform for significant economic development, in particular helping micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) flourish in the country and across the region.
In early 2022, GWC opened Al Wukair Logistics Park, its largest logistics park to date. Covering an area of 1,500,000m² that caters specifically for MSMEs. The site provides all their commercial needs, as well as affording an opportunity to network with like-minded businesses. GWC is an enabler and catalyst for MSMEs – helping them to establish and grow their businesses and leverage Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
Menon said: “MSMEs have benefitted massively from the World Cup in a vast range of sectors, including logistics. The challenge now is for MSMEs to leverage the tournament’s legacy and grow their businesses, supported by the platform which Qatar built.”
Menon praised Qatar’s leadership for fostering a conducive business environment and helping the logistics industry to flourish – boosted significantly by hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet.
“We have received massive support from all sectors from day one of our journey. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the vision, commitment and passion of Qatar’s wise leadership,” said Menon.
“One area of particular support would be Qatar’s management of the public-private-partnership, something GWC is proud to be taking part in. Through this partnership, we are committed to developing Qatari abilities and reinforcing the logistics sector’s role and contribution to economic development, while offering direction to government projects for new approaches and modern vision in managing national projects efficiently and sustainably.”
Integrated systems and dedicated staff
Delivering Qatar 2022TM involved an extensive range of services, including asset management and tracking, asset recovery and dissolution, pre-receipt processes, warehousing, pick, pack and dispatch, logistics fleet management, materials distribution, vehicle delivery permit distribution, freight forwarding, customs clearance, reverse logistics and last mile delivery.
A prime example of such operation was the distribution of +200,000 match tickets both locally and internationally. The operation included collection of tickets, parking passes and other ticketing accessories, sorting, segregating, inventory creation, all the way to international and local delivery.
The compact nature of the tournament proved a huge advantage. Qatar delivered the most compact edition of the FIFA World CupTM in modern history, with every stadium located within an hour’s journey time from central Doha.
Menon said: “From the very beginning, Qatar highlighted the opportunity to host a compact World Cup for the benefit of fans, players and officials. While it has been amazing for fans to attend more than one match a day, Qatar’s geographical footprint has also proved to be hugely beneficial in terms of logistics, making it simple for people and products to be in the right locations at the right time.”
A dedicated 50,000m² warehouse footprint, plus more than 150 dedicated vehicles – all within 45 minutes of any stadium and more than 400 key sites – were the foundations for success. More than 200 truck drivers covered 1,900,000km of distribution journeys over 288,000 hours, backed by 1,200 venue operations staff and six bespoke logistics systems. All were dedicated to delivering on-time and in-full for a host of stakeholders, including FIFA, participating teams, commercial affiliates, broadcasters, media, fans, staff, suppliers and vendors.
“The key to everything is long-term planning, dedicated training for thousands of staffs and a range of relevant test events. We benefitted significantly from staging tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup, on two occasions, and the FIFA Arab Cup, along with local events such as the Amir Cup,” said Menon.
“Going forward, we will focus on the further integration of artificial intelligence and automation, to make it simpler and quicker to deliver our objectives. We have also seen a major focus on sustainability and delivering environmentally-friendly solutions during the FIFA World CupTM and we will continue to support these trends to continue in the future,” added Menon.
He continued: “The final lesson learnt is that hosting mega-events in a compact setting is not only preferable for fans and players – it is also hugely beneficial for organisers and the people and businesses involved in logistics planning and delivery.”
The importance of reverse logistics
While the players head back to their clubs and competing week to week in leagues around the world, GWC will focus on reverse logistics, which means returning every item to its next destination.
Menon said: “Just about everything that arrived in Qatar needs to be returned home safely. Reverse logistics is a major part of our operation, and our work will continue long after the trophy has been lifted. We will work closely with our stakeholders to carefully demobilize every item and ship it securely back to its next destination.”
A bright future
Menon is looking forward to a positive future for Qatar, GWC and the logistics sector.
He said: “What has been clear from day one is that hosting the FIFA World CupTM is part of a long-term plan for Qatar. It is accelerating the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and helping a number of industries to grow and develop, including the vital logistics sector.
“Our goals now are to continue supporting the country in its mission to host major international events, building on the incredible legacy of hosting the first FIFA World CupTM in the Middle East and Arab world, and expanding our footprint into countries across the region. We are very confident a bright future lies ahead for both Qatar and GWC.”
Tristar Group conducted its 8th annual External Stakeholders’ Workshop with its customers, suppliers, private companies, media partners and NGOs who were updated on the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and goals. The gathering was held at the Tristar head office in Jebel Ali last December 14.
The attendees were asked to rate Tristar’s Materiality issues related to ESG and Sustainability. The results will be shared by Tristar in its 2022 Sustainability Report in line with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Ten Principles and GRI Standards.
The UNGC has required all member-companies to submit an annual Communication on Progress or COP which mentions their adherence to its Ten Principles covering Labor, Human Rights, Environment and Anti-corruption.
The external stakeholders were also enriched with the insightful speeches of Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), about the ‘Importance of Stakeholder Materiality’, John Katsos, Associate Professor of Business Law, Business Ethics and Social Responsibility at the American University of Sharjah, on ‘Managing Sustainably During Times of Crisis: Tackling Climate Change, Globalization, and Inequality’, and Suman Ghosal, Business Head- Digital Assurance, Supply Chain & New Product Development at DNV Business Assurance India Limited, regarding the developments on ‘Sustainability in Supply Chain’.
The three highlighted the importance of private companies to imbibe the culture of sustainability and to utilize the concept of the Materiality framework and assessments to look at challenges and risks beyond profitability related to climate change, globalization, inequality and the impact of these challenges on the overall community at large.
Eugene Mayne, Founder & Group CEO of Tristar in his opening address said: “We believe we can make more positive impacts by not only addressing our own contributions, but also, by empowering our stakeholders and engaging with our broader ecosystem to create solutions that facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy. We invite all of you to come on board with this commitment and maintain a say in our future direction.”
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment (CV&E), the sole distributor for UD Trucks in Abu Dhabi, has received two awards, ‘President Award 2022’, and ‘Parts Sales Team of the Year 2022’ – at the annual UD Trucks Partner’s Conference 2022 held recently in Dubai.
The division was honoured for its constant efforts to raise the standard of the customer services at all touch points and overachieve sales targets, outperforming other regional dealers in these segments. The awards were presented to Mohamed El Zeftawi by UD President; in the presence of all GCC partners during the conference at the Dubai Queen Elizabeth II Hotel.
The ‘UD Trucks President Award’ is a special award category that was awarded to Al Masaood CV&E by Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA. The division received the award in recognition of its consistent excellent work in truck sales for the waste management industry, its continued focus on marketing, expanding and elevating their services through the division’s all-new facility, and improving the customer experience with outstanding Parts Sales results throughout the year.
Meanwhile, Al Masaood CV&E’s remarkable growth in automotive parts sales was recognised with the ‘Parts Sales Team of the Year 2022’. The award demonstrates the team’s perseverance and passion, as well as the division’s dedication to achieving the goals established by UD Trucks. With the increased sales of automotive parts, the UD Trucks’ parts purchases exceeded the target of 44 per cent to 69 per cent.
Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E, said: “We are truly honoured to receive these awards. This strengthens our position in the market as a leading company in
the commercial vehicle and heavy equipment sector and recognises our efforts in contributing to national and economic development. These awards also highlight the effort that our teams have invested to ensure that the overall experience of our customers is as seamless, convenient, and value-added as possible. Customers are at the heart of all our operations, and as such, we are continually seeking to elevate their experience with us across all our touch points. We also express our gratitude to UD Trucks MEENA for this honour and look forward to strengthening and diversifying our long-standing collaboration, to enhance our products and services to meet the customer needs and requirements in Abu Dhabi.”
The UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa Partner’s Conference is a dedicated event for UD Trucks’ distributors and partners in the MENA region. This year’s edition offered each participant the opportunity to present their success stories with the brand and review its past year’s performance as well as discuss new strategies for the coming year.
As a household name in the industry, Global GSA Group has never been so active. With a new office in Greece and having acquired three companies in Italy this year, the GSA is demonstrating how its extreme flexibility, extensive local expertise and highly engaged workforce are driving its success.
True to the company’s motto “Making the impossible possible!”, the Global GSA Group’s team distinguishes itself not only by its dedication and passion but also by its access to the right network locally. “We are currently present worldwide with a team of energetic, reliable and experienced professionals with the highest standard of expertise, which we have been perfecting since our beginnings. This constitutes a real strength and a substantial asset to our partner airlines’ business.” says Ismail Durmaz, Chief Executive Officer.
Founded in 1995, Global GSA Group was able to adapt to the industry’s constant evolutions, including digital transformation to become a forerunner in the world of GSAs. This agility enabled it to successfully support its clients in particularly difficult periods such as the Covid pandemic and beyond. By exceeding clients’ expectations during those troubled times, Global GSA Group proved it has what it takes to tackle any challenging situation.
Aytekin Saray, Chief Commercial Officer explains: “Although the last few years have been a testing time for airlines, we proved that we were a reliable partner. Thanks to our strong local ties, we managed to supply them with regular market information, enabling them to always be a step ahead and to adapt their strategy accordingly.”
Today, Global GSA Group boasts 74 offices in 46 countries, represents 62 airlines and ranks in the top 5 GSAs worldwide. Always seeking to conquer new territories, it is planning to further expand its presence worldwide, with a focus on the South America and Southeast Asia regions.
As Global GSA Group continues its rising curve in an increasingly tense climate, 2023 clearly promises to be the year it unleashes the true lion inside it, reinforcing its unique position on the market as the ideal committed partner with solid solutions.
The new facility double’s the group’s food storage capacity with room for further expansion
Jaleel Holdings, one of the leading UAE-based investment companies, has opened its new US$ 24.5mn (AED 90mn) facility at Dubai Industrial City, a member of TECOM Group.
As a part of the region’s largest industrial hub, the facility comprises the latest store of UAE’s largest consumer goods wholesaler, Jaleel Cash & Carry and the integrated logistics centre of Crosswell Logistics.
The ceremony was presided over by HE Mariam Bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Also in attendance was Abdulla Belhoul, CEO, TECOM Group, and Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President, Industrial Leasing, TECOM Group; MV Kunhumohammed, Chairman, Jaleel Holdings; Sameer K Mohammed, Managing Director, Jaleel Holdings, among other dignitaries including government officials and VIPs.
Jaleel Holdings owns and operates retail, wholesale, distribution and processing companies in the fresh food and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors. With a presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Ghana, the group is one of the largest consumer goods distributors in the region.
Crosswell Logistics
The facility also includes Crosswell Logistics, a fully-owned subsidiary of Jaleel Holdings and Contract Logistics Services provider. It offers more than 28,000 palletised tons of multiple-temperature controlled storage ranging from ambient to -20 C and transport services.
This Facility allows Jaleel Cash and Carry to ensure a 30-day stock for all customers and fulfil the daily requirements of hotels, restaurants, caterers, retailers, offices, and bulk-buying families. The 30-day stock is also large enough to serve 5% of UAE’s population.
“The opening of the new facility of Jaleel Holdings is a significant step in this direction, which will go a long way in supporting a sustainable supply chain and marketing homegrown products,” observed HE Eng. Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
“Food security and sustainability rely on advanced manufacturing. Government strategies and initiatives such as ‘Operation 300bn’ and ‘Make it in Emirates’, are attracting significant investment with benefits in key sectors like fresh food and FMCG, while providing a roadmap for sustainable and innovation-led operations.,” stated Alshawareb.
“Apart from the Cash and carry store we have our new integrated logistic venture in the same facility with a 28,000 MT storage capacity. We will be offering world class 4PL Services to the market through this facility,” noted Sameer K Mohammed.
UAE’s largest consumer goods wholesaler
The facility will be the company’s largest in the region, with a total built-up area of 281,000 sqft and an investment of more than US$ 24.5mn. Benefiting from Dubai Industrial City’s proximity to key transport networks, including land, sea, air, and soon Etihad Rail, Jaleel Holdings will be able to cater to customers across the GCC and Africa.
The new facility will enable the group to double its storage capacity, currently built for 19,000 pallets (approximately 28,000 tonnes).
Built for sustainability
The new facility features an ammonia plant to manage the temperature in the facility and prevent harm to the environment. An average of 9,000 litres of water from the cooling equipment is recycled daily for all irrigation, sanitation, and flushing requirements.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) accounted for over 50 per cent of Dubai’s Polymers and Petrochemical trade, valued at more than AED 49 billion in 2021
Global economies are facing increased pressure from uncertainty in oil prices, capacity, and supply chain disruptions. The petrochemicals sector is not exempt from these global challenges. Despite this, Jebel Ali Free Zone’s (Jafza) petrochemical sector witnessed stability. One indication of this is the increase in export volumes in 2021, which grew 52 per cent year-on-year. Additionally, last year, the free zone alone accounted for over 50 per cent of Dubai’s Polymers and Petrochemicals trade, valued at more than AED 49 billion.
Enabling Seamless Trade
DP World, through its local and regional assets, multimodal connectivity, cost-effective supply chain solutions and digital trade platforms has supported petrochemical trade lanes and ecosystems worldwide. The company plays a crucial role in facilitating the growth of the regional and global petrochemicals sector through Jebel Ali.
The integrated logistics offerings, supported by connectivity across international petrochemical
trade lanes and the ecosystem at the Jebel Ali hub, give the industry the most attractive logistic
proposition. Additionally, its vast network of global liners has contributed to the success of the
UAE and the region.
The Jebel Ali Connectivity
DP World’s petrochemical hub, which spans the port and the free zone, handles over one-third of the UAE’s polymer and petrochemical trade through Jebel Ali Port. With storage being an essential factor in the industry, finding a suitable site with convenient connectivity for trade and transport, and a very high standard of safety due to the nature of the products is integral. Jebel Ali Port’s solutions meet all these requirements while ensuring reduced costs and time-efficient operations for customers.
Jebel Ali Port complements the traders’ ambitions with tank terminals and warehousing, specialised storage space for packed lubricants, fuels and industrial chemicals, ISO tanks storage and hazardous goods warehouses.
The port comprises tank terminals with 11 dedicated berths for liquid handling, spread over an area of 2 million square metres with over 1 million cubic metres of liquid bulk storage space. The Chemical berth is well equipped with a storage capacity of over 250,000 cubic meters to store various grades of chemicals.
Prominent industry players such as DOW, BASF, Total and Gulf Petrochem are now headquartered within Jafza and create the basis of a healthy ecosystem of almost 600 companies in the sector. Jafza’s strategic location is also ideal for serving demand in the Middle East and Africa. Its industrial facilities for processing and value-added services make it the perfect base for chemical and petrochemical traders serving growing markets in the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East.
WestJet Cargo, the air cargo division of WestJet, has spent the last few months putting a solid structure in place in order to take its cargo activities to another level.
Today, WestJet Cargo is able to confirm the launch of 4 dedicated Boeing 737-800 freighters on March 26, 2023 to massively increase its operations, thereby meeting the growing demand of the Canadian market.
Kirsten De Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice President of Cargo is confident about the future: “WestJet Cargo is about to enter a very promising and exciting period in its development. The arrival of our new fleet will enable us to meet the rising demand of the Canadian market, more than ever before.”
2023 will undoubtedly be a significant year for WestJet Cargo. Further announcements about the forthcoming launch will be issued very soon.
WestJet Cargo, the air cargo division of WestJet, has spent the last few months putting a solid structure in place in order to take its cargo activities to another level.
Today, WestJet Cargo is able to confirm the launch of 4 dedicated Boeing 737-800 freighters on March 26, 2023 to massively increase its operations, thereby meeting the growing demand of the Canadian market.
Kirsten De Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice President of Cargo is confident about the future: “WestJet Cargo is about to enter a very promising and exciting period in its development. The arrival of our new fleet will enable us to meet the rising demand of the Canadian market, more than ever before.”
2023 will undoubtedly be a significant year for WestJet Cargo. Further announcements about the forthcoming launch will be issued very soon.
New facility effectively doubles capacity – can handle 30 trucks and 12 body repairs at a time
New workshop will strengthen UD Trucks’ market share
UD and Al Masaoods’ support communities with Abu Dhabi 2030’s goals
UD Trucks and Al Masaood senior executives met ahead of the launch of a new facility in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, that is scheduled to open soon to support the growing number of customers of the Japanese truck manufacturer. This brand-new state-of-the-art service centre will help UD Trucks to meet growing demand without compromising on quality or customer satisfaction, and by putting a high value on uptime.
UD Trucks Senior Vice President, Jacques Michel, UD Trucks Middle East, East & North Africa President, Mourad Hedna, along with Hani Tannir, CEO Group Industrial at Al Masaood, met with customers and discussed the brand’s long-term vision and direction as well as its future within the Isuzu Motors Group. Customers from across the emirate attended the event, which allowed them to visit the brand-new facility and learn more about its capabilities.
This new facility will double the brand’s servicing capacity in comparison to its previous facility, providing service space for 30 trucks and 12 body repairs. The number of technicians has also increased substantially – from 21 to 39.
By focusing on providing and delivering the highest quality customer service and after sales support, the new workshop reflects the commitment of both UD Trucks and Al Masaood to positively contribute to the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain communities in accordance with the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision, which seeks to develop a resilient and sufficient infrastructure that can support economic growth in the years ahead.
The workshop is expected to contribute to strengthening UD Trucks’ market share by providing sustainable aftersales services, while Al Masaood will continue to provide the highest standards of support to UD Trucks customers on a larger scale. Also included in the expanded workshop will be a large parts warehouse, which will result in faster turnaround times.
TMS with intelligent automatic routing: sustainable and efficient route planning for logistics of the future
EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) is considered one of the global market leaders in the field of warehouse management systems (WMS). The international group of companies bundles its solution portfolio in its supply chain execution suite EPG ONETM and recently added a new transport management system (TMS). For intelligence (the TMS algorithm), EPG now relies on the innovation power of Greenplan – one of the strongest innovators in route planning. By working with Greenplan, EPG is expanding its TMS solution to include a unique and powerful algorithm for automatic routing and scheduling solutions, with efficiency increases of up to 20% compared to standard solutions on the market. By working with EPG, Greenplan is gaining a partner whose global presence and complementary supply chain product portfolio provide an ideal basis for joint global growth.
EPG’s work with Greenplan is the result of a successful cooperation in which both companies have already jointly implemented logistics projects. From now on, customers also always benefit from Greenplan’s innovative route planning algorithm as part of a TMS project with EPG. Both companies are counting on the strong synergy potentials to strengthen their joint market position.
Intelligent complete solution for transportation management
For Greenplan, the decades of experience, the global reach and position as well as EPG’s distinctive expertise are decisive arguments for the cooperation. Greenplan CEO Dr Clemens Beckmann: “With EPG, we can now offer a complete TMS solution in addition to perfect route planning. This, along with EPG’s global presence, will help us achieve our ambitious growth targets.”
Significant savings thanks to unique algorithm
For EPG, the addition of an intelligent route calculation algorithm to the product portfolio is now the next development step: “We have been aware of the need in the market for a modern and powerful TMS solution for some time now. With Greenplan’s solution, we have now found the ideal complement in the form of a unique and powerful algorithm that can be optimally integrated into our TMS,” says Marco Ehrhardt, President of EPG. Especially given the shortage of skilled workers we are currently experiencing, increasing demand for sustainable and efficient solutions in logistics as well as rapidly rising transport and energy costs, the cooperation with Greenplan is an equally important step for both companies. In addition, there are synergy effects with EPG’s existing product portfolio, such as the WFM workforce management system for scheduling drivers in the transport sector or in field service management.
For Greenplan, the investment by a major and strong stakeholder in the industry is a significant milestone in the company’s still relatively young history and a clear indicator of the quality of its own software. This also supports the company’s goal of becoming one of the global market leaders in the field of TMS. Greenplan was founded in 2020 as a subsidiary of DHL and has been completely independent since the management buyout by its founders, Dr Clemens Beckmann and Florian Merget, in early 2022. In 2020, Greenplan won the “PostEurop” innovation prize of the Association of European Postal Companies. In spring 2021, one of the leaders of the Greenplan algorithm, Prof Dr Stephan Held, achieved first prize in the “Amazon Last Mile Challenge” by a significant margin over the runner-up, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This year, Greenplan was selected as one of seven scale-ups for the econnections programme. Here, seven companies, including Dutch Post, bol.com and Deloitte, have joined forces to deliver 500 million e-commerce items more sustainably in the future.
Etihad Cargo’s partner, DSV, has become the carrier’s first transport and logistics partner to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to offset the carbon emissions of its shipment
Etihad’s first NetZero transatlantic flight from Washington Dulles to Abu Dhabi utilised SAF combined with SAF Book & Claim, demonstrating the potential to utilise current technology to achieve net-zero aviation
The NetZero flight, operated with Etihad’s Boeing 787 “Greenliner” programme, incorporated SATAVIA technology to prevent warming aircraft contrails
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has announced that DSV Global Transport and Logistics has become the carrier’s first partner to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to offset the carbon emissions of its cargo shipment.
Via the book and claim system, Etihad Cargo facilitated DSV’s SAF purchase, enabling the transport and logistics provider to offset CO2 emissions and reduce non-CO2 climate impact. Etihad Cargo transported DSV’s cargo shipment from Washington Dulles to Abu Dhabi on Etihad’s first transatlantic NetZero flight on 13 November.
Etihad’s Boeing 787 “Greenliner” combined SAF with contrail prevention technology from its partner, SATAVIA, to actively manage carbon emissions and non-CO2 climate effects from contrails, or condensation trails, which cause surface warming and are responsible for up to two-thirds of aviation’s climate impact.
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Etihad was recently named the Environmental Airline of the Year, and Etihad Cargo is committed to providing solutions that enable its partners and customers to achieve their sustainability ambitions. Etihad Cargo is witnessing more focus on sustainable air cargo from customers who are seeking to establish partnerships that provide SAF utilisation, carbon offset initiatives and management of non-CO2 climate impact. Etihad Cargo’s partnership with DSV to transport cargo utilising the SAF book and claim system has showcased the power of collaboration and demonstrated the future of net-zero aviation. The successful delivery of DSV’s shipment has proved net-zero air cargo operations are possible and is the first step in transforming the possible into the routine.”
Offering partners and customers the option to transport cargo more sustainably via the SAF book and claim system is the latest step in Etihad Cargo’s sustainability journey. In alignment with Abu Dhabi Environment Vision and Etihad Aviation Group’s sustainability strategy, Etihad Cargo has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The carrier is targeting a 20 per cent reduction in emissions intensity by 2025 and aims to cut 2019 net emissions by 50 per cent by 2035.
Demonstrating the carrier’s commitment to achieving sustainability through partnerships, Etihad Cargo became the first Middle Eastern carrier to join TIACA’s BlueSky verification programme, enabling the carrier to assess its progress against eight critical sustainability criteria via an evidence-based desktop verification process. Etihad Cargo also recently announced a partnership with IATA to trial a cargo-specific CO2 emission calculation tool, which will provide a valuable proof of concept for the cargo component of the IATA CO2 Connect carbon calculator. During the three-month trial, Etihad Cargo will share data on fuel burn, load factors and other key variables from flights and cargo shipments and advise on various use cases. IATA and Etihad Cargo will use the world’s first cargo-dedicated CO2 emissions calculation tool to manage and report on sustainability progress to provide the entire value chain, including shippers, forwarders, investors and regulators, with reliable and trustworthy data.
The monitoring and transparency of global supply chains are becoming increasingly important. This is where Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and Finnish startup Logmore come in the picture: Jointly, they are launching a passive dynamic QR data tracker named “Hellmann Smart QR”. It measures temperature, humidity, light as well as shocks and generates a new QR code with each measurement, which is displayed on the device and can be downloaded via cell phone camera upon cargo arrival. By integrating this additional data into the already established platform-based Hellmann tracking systems SmartAir! and Smart Ocean, each deviation can be directly associated with a specific point in the cargo’s journey.
“Hellmann Smart QR” enables cost-efficient and user-friendly visibility along the entire supply chain for sensitive cargo such as perishable goods or pharmaceuticals. With the help of push notifications, deviations become visible at a single glance and available directly after scanning both via cell phone or the cloud-based platforms SmartAir! and Smart Ocean. This makes it easy to track and assign responsibilities within the supply chain.
“With the integration of “Hellmann Smart QR” into our existing digital tracking platforms, the passive data trackers already used millions of times are for the first time combined with a real-time solution: Through this new tool and its passive data tracking, we achieve an equally efficient but more cost-effective solution compared to active tracking systems. At the same time, the new tool generates tracking data up to 95 percent faster than other passive trackers,” says Stefan Borggreve, Chief Digital Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
In November 2022, Hellmann acquired the rights to the exclusive distribution of the hardware developed by Logmore in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Mexico, making it the responsible local product contact.
“Not only our very strong international logistics network, but also our Smart Solution product portfolio provides the perfect framework for the new Smart QR System. With “Smart QR”, Hellmann establishes a unique data link between system environments which provides our customers with comprehensive transparency along the entire transport chain,” adds Henning Pottharst, Product Manager Smart Solutions, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
The former Vice Chairman and CEO, SABIC and Founding Chairman, GPCA, will be recognized at a special award ceremony during the 16th Annual GPCA Forum on 6 December 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical and petrochemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, is proud to recognize Mohamed Al-Mady, former Vice Chairman and CEO, SABIC (1998 – 2015) and Founding Chairman, GPCA (2006 – 2015), with the 4th GPCA Legacy Award “Al-Rowad” (الرّواد) – The Honor of a Lifetime.
Mohamed Al-Mady will be recognized at a special award ceremony during the 16th Annual GPCA Forum on 6 December 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for his role in developing and advancing SABIC and making tremendous contributions to the chemical and petrochemical industry in Saudi Arabia. Al-Mady, a renowned industry pioneer, will be awarded during GPCA’s flagship event, where industry peers and senior leaders are expected to pay tribute to his accomplishments and celebrate his legacy.
During his management of the company, SABIC’s global ranking grew from 25th in 1998 to 4th in 2015. Between 1998 and 2015, under Al Mady’s leadership and thanks to the government’s support, SABIC’s assets quadrupled to USD 87.5 billion, its production capacity grew to over 65 million metric tons, net profit increased dramatically to over USD 5 billion, and its employees more than doubled.
Al-Mady is the latest industry pioneer to be recognized with the GPCA Legacy Award alongside H.R.H. Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdulaziz AI-Saud, Advisor to the Royal Court, Saudi Arabia and former Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; Yousef Bin Omair, former Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, UAE, former Group CEO, ADNOC and former Chairman, Borouge (3rd GPCA Legacy Award, 2021); Abdulaziz Al Zamil (1941 – 2019), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and former Chairman, SABIC (2nd GPCA Legacy Award, 2019); Ghazi Al-Gosaibi (1940-2010), former Minister of Industry and Electricity, Saudi Arabia, and founding Chairman, SABIC; Yousef Al Shirawi (1927 – 2012), former Minister of Development and Industry, Bahrain; and Abdulbaqi Al-Nouri (1929 – 2010), former Chairman and MD, PIC, Kuwait (1st GPCA Legacy Award, 2017).
This year, a specially developed Hall of Fame at the Annual GPCA Forum will showcase the Arabian Gulf Chemical Industry Pioneers who were recognized at previous editions of the Award. The exhibit will encompass interactive media narrating their achievements with a mixture of video, audio and text, providing delegates with a fully immersive experience of the history of the regional industry and the personalities who overcame the challenges of their time to establish a globally competitive regional industry.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “We are honored to be recognizing Mohamed Al-Mady with the 4th GPCA Legacy Award “Al-Rowad” (الرّواد) for his contributions to the development and growth of the chemical and petrochemical industry of Saudi Arabia, including for putting SABIC on an upward trajectory of growth and significant global expansion. One of Al-Mady’s key legacies in the region as our founding Chairman is the establishment of GPCA in 2006 as the first and only regional association to represent the interests of the chemical and petrochemical industry. I look forward to welcoming over 2,500 delegates from 90+ countries and 600 companies from across the globe to celebrate the legacy of Mohamed Al-Mady and make his achievements known to the current and future generations of young leaders.”
Launched in 2017, the GPCA Legacy Award takes place on an annual basis and honors individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to foster and strengthen the chemical industry in one or more of the GCC states.
Bridgestone, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, has applied its very latest tyre technologies and specialist expertise in supporting electric mobility to the development of bespoke tyres for the BMW iX, the company’s first all-electric vehicle since its pioneering BMW i3. The ultra-low rolling resistance Bridgestone Alenza tyres feature a host of cutting-edge technologies that perfectly complement the BMW iX’s performance and character.
The custom-engineered tyres feature Bridgestone’s proprietary and lightweight ENLITEN technology to reduce tyre rolling resistance and weight by up to 20%[1], helping to keep the BMW iX’s overall weight to a minimum, and delivering increased vehicle mileage as a result.
The BMW iX’s EV-marked Alenza tyres also feature a specially-developed material compound and tread pattern, complementing the BMW iX’s four-wheel drive transmission and eDrive Technology to deliver outstanding performance, extraordinary range and impressive acceleration.
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Forest Road Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: FRXB, FRXB.WS, and FRXB.U) and will trade under the ticker “HYPE” upon closing.
HyperloopTT is a leading technology licensing platform for the disruptive hyperloop technology, with extensive intellectual property (IP) assets, consisting of 66 global patents1 and more than 80 trademarks.
Strong relationships with the United States Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (“DG MOVE”) have resulted in legislative and regulatory advancements and opened pathways to expedite commercialization.
HyperloopTT’s “Hyperloop-as-a-Service” business model will enable it to potentially earn both upfront and recurring licensing fees for sharing its technological IP and know-how with customers including governments, infrastructure operators, and transportation operators.
HyperloopTT relies on an innovative, crowd-powered development model based on a global network of technologists, scientists, engineers, expert contributors, and partners, minimizing costs while maximizing development speed.
The transaction will result in the issuance of $289 million of common stock to the shareholders and convertible note holders of HyperloopTT at close, and the combined company will assume the outstanding options and warrants of HyperloopTT.
HyperloopTT expects to receive up to $330 million of net proceeds, assuming no redemptions, to fund growth and accelerate technology, testing, and resourcing globally, enabling potential customers to build the next generation of transportation.
Global supply chain software specialist Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has deployed its innovative Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) LFS at Schneider Electric’s Sarre-Union warehouse and distribution center in France, boosting logistics capacity at the facility by 15 per cent.
Responsible for all enclosures and related accessories to Schneider Electric’s local distribution centers and third-party suppliers all over the world – the equivalent of 30 trucks per day leave the site carrying a collective 30,000 tons of goods, with over 7500 products in storage, and 15,000 pallets in internal and external locations – reliable and always-on IT and software systems are vital in running the 10,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution center efficiently.
As a company with almost 200 years of history in sustainable innovation, Schneider Electric is a leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and the provision of electrical distribution equipment and secure energy equipment for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industry.
Prior to the upgrade, the center’s previous WMS was built on a legacy mainframe, and with existing data becoming less reliable, Schneider Electric looked to EPG to install a flexible, state-of-the-art WMS that could both match their own specific needs more closely as well as future-proof the business at the same time.
Fast, trouble-free implementation
LFS is EPG’s off-the-shelf WMS, customized to intelligently connect the planning and control of all material flows in a logistics facility. It actively guides the movement of all manual and automated storage units with 100 per cent safety and transparency, a clear advantage over rival systems.
Implementation of the project was trouble-free, and required no downtime at Sarre-Union, despite the added pressures of the Covid lockdown, which did delay the first ‘go-live’ target date. The entire process of took 18 months, and the EPG team worked closely with Schneider Electric teams with initial workshops and project specification to prepare for the customization, tests and deployment.
Immediate performance uplift
Since implementing LFS, the center has since significant improvements to its processes, including a 15 per cent uplift in logistics capacity. In just three months, the center was outperforming previous benchmarks and has boosted capacity by 15 per cent.
Schneider Electric is delighted with the flexibility benefits provided by the multiple functionalities incorporated within the customized LFS. “All configurations are controlled by our own key users, who can manage the jobs, change the flows and processes all by ourselves,” confirms Department Operations Manager Kevin Cartolano. “The label management facility enables us to print directly via LFS. The benefits of that include no fixed batch jobs and no downtime needed to integrate new orders. Meanwhile, the printer management function permits key users nominated by us to manage individual printers.”
Schneider Electric managers and staff were also impressed with the system’s easy-to-use interface. This makes it more comfortable for relevant teams to adopt, particularly as it is flexible enough to be used on several platforms as required throughout the facility, such as tablets, handheld units, laptops and desktop computers.
“Schneider Electric is delighted with the flexibility benefits provided by the multiple functionalities incorporated within the customized LFS,” Kevin Cartolano shared. “The quality and speed of communication provided by EPG’s versatile and expert support personnel have been commendable, and we look forward to working with EPG on many future upgrading projects.”
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is launching three new Industry Solutions for growing sectors “Consumer Goods”, “Technology” and “Industrial”. With the additional offering of highly specialized logistics services for these individual industries, Hellmann is significantly expanding its services and optimizing processes along the entire value chain for its customers – from procurement, production, and distribution to returns processing and repair management. The three new so-called “verticals” complement Hellmann’s five existing Industry Solutions which are already successfully established on the market for the automotive and cruise industries, the fashion and pharmaceutical industries, and producers of renewable energies.
While the “Consumer Goods” sector focuses primarily on global transportation solutions by providing the optimal combination of all available modes of transport as well as setting up online stores and providing support at the point of sale, the “Industrial” and “Technology” Industry Solutions will additionally provide traditional contract logistics services such as supply and returns management.
All Industry Solutions aim to cover the entire life cycle of products with end-to-end logistics concepts from a single source and thus meet the specific requirements of each sector. The “Technology” vertical is aimed particularly at manufacturers of consumer electronics, high-tech goods and robots. The “Industrial” vertical is targeted at producers of machinery, power and hand tools and producers of industrial electronic components. Consumer goods include products with comparatively short life cycles, such as toys, non-perishable foods, electrical and household appliances, as well as cosmetics and personal care products.
“With the three new Industry Solutions, we are taking another strategic step on our growth track. Based on Hellmann´s global infrastructure and the sophistication of our processes, we consistently develop individual logistics concepts for our customers, making us a reliable and future-oriented partner even in times of increasing demands,” says Patrick Oestreich, Chief Commercial Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
GWC was recognized as the “Employer of Continuous Collaboration” by Qatar University in acknowledgment of their partnership and the role GWC has played in supporting the University’s endeavours. The award was presented by Dr Hassan bin Rashid Al-Derham, President of Qatar University, and was received by Hamad Mohammed R M Abuqaba Al-Marri – HR Director on behalf of GWC. Speaking about this award and what it meant to GWC, Hamad Mohammed Al- Marri remarked that GWC has always been committed to interacting with students and guide them, as the leaders of the future. The company takes its role in supporting Qatar Vision 2030 and the economy very seriously. Partnerships such as this play a critical role in giving students a glimpse of the real-world challenges and what can be done to overcome them. This Award is a recognition of the role that companies, such as the GWC, play in fostering innovation and promoting talent. This collaboration gives students an opportunity to connect the dots between theory and reality. GWC, the leading provider of integrated logistics solutions in Qatar, caters to both the largest and most influential companies in Qatar, as well as small and medium enterprises, providing them world-class turnkey solutions customized to their specific needs. It has developed these solutions while gaining nearly twenty years of experience in the local and international markets. -Ends- About GWC جامعة قطر تكرّم شركة الخليج للمخازن (جي دبليو سي) الدوحة: حصلت شركة الخليج للمخازن على جائزة “جهة العمل ذات التعاون المستمر” من قبل جامعة قطر تقديراً للشراكة التي تجمع بين الجهتين ودور الخليج للمخازن في دعم جهود ومساعي جامعة قطر. قدّم الجائزة الدكتور حسن بن راشد الدرهم، رئيس جامعة قطر، واستلمها نيابة عن الشركة، السيد حمد محمد أبو قبا المري، رئيس إدارة الموارد البشرية. بالحديث عن هذه الجائزة وما تعنيه للخليج للمخازن، قال السيد حمد محمد المري أن الخليج للمخازن لطالما كانت ملتزمة بالتفاعل مع الطلبة وتوجيههم ليصبحوا قادة المستقبل، وهي تسعى من خلال دورها إلى دعم رؤية قطر الوطنية 2030 والاقتصاد في البلاد. إن الشراكات من هذا النوع تلعب دوراً أساسياً في إعطاء الطلاب لمحة عن تحديات الحياة الواقعية والعملية وما يمكن فعله للتغلب عليها. تأتي هذه الجائزة تقديراً لدور الشركات، على غرار الخليج للمخازن، في تعزيز الابتكار وتشجيع المواهب الجديدة. كما أن هذا التعاون يمنح الطلبة فرصة للتعرّف على كيفية تطبيق الأمور النظرية على الواقع العملي. تقدم الخليج للمخازن، المزود الرائد للحلول اللوجستية المتكاملة في دولة قطر، خدماتها لأكبر الشركات وأكثرها نفوذاً في قطر، فضلاً عن الشركات الصغيرة والمتوسطة، مما يوفر لهم حلولاً عالمية المستوى ومتكاملة، ومخصصة حسب احتياجاتهم الخاصة، وقد طوّرت الخليج للمخازن هذه الحلول من خلال خبرتها التي اكتسبتها على مدى قرابة عشرين عامًا في الأسواق المحلية والدولية. – النهاية – نبذة عن شركة الخليج للمخازن (GWC)
Established in 2004, GWC has become the leader in logistics and supply chain solutions in the State of Qatar and one of the fastest growing companies in the region. The company offers best in class logistics and supply chain services that include warehousing, distribution, logistics solutions for hazardous materials, freight forwarding, project logistics, sporting events and equestrian logistics solutions, fine art logistics, supply chain consulting services, transportation, records management, and local and international relocation services. The company provides these services, utilizing a global freight network of more than 600 offices and a solid logistics infrastructure spanning over 3.8 million square metres. GWC is the first regional supporter and official logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Challenge Airlines MT has brought back to Malta the Flemish Tapestries in its inaugural fight.
“320 years ago, these valuable Flemish Tapestries made their way by ship from Belgium to Malta. Today, we are honoured and delighted to have been chosen to return them again to their home in St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta,” Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of Challenge Group, commented on the occasion of the welcoming ceremony held on 15 November 2022, to celebrate the transportation of the Flemish Tapestries to Malta, from Liège, Belgium, where the historic masterpieces had undergone meticulous and careful restoration.
In a similar vein, their return journey was planned in collaboration with Maltese government departments and the private sector, with the same dedication and attention to detail that characterises all of Challenge Group’s logistics services. For Challenge Airlines MT, the transport of these priceless tapestries signified both a celebration of history as well as the creation of a new historic moment: the valuable cargo was the first to be carried by the airline on its inaugural flight, having been awarded its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Transport Malta on 01 November 2022. As a mark of respect and in honour of the occasion, Challenge Airlines MT provided both the flight as well as logistical support.
Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, emphasized the joint commitment of all those involved: “It is a pleasure for us to see that, with a strong intervention from our Embassy in Belgium, through Clint Tanti and the rest of the employees, we were able to bring these tapestries to Malta without any costs for the Maltese Government. Above all, these can now be enjoyed by the public and the tourists who choose to visit the St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.”
Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, outlined the historic and sentimental value for Malta and its visitors: “These tapestries have been a property of the Co-Cathedral for 350 years. The finished restoration of these tapestries is certainly a step forward for the wider appreciation as well as a unique experience for those who will see them in the coming years.”
For Challenge Group, the Flemish Tapestries coincidentally have additional significance: “Not only do we have the utmost respect for this priceless and unique cargo but, in a way, these tapestries also reflect Challenge Group, since they depict Christian art scenes from Jerusalem, Israel, and were carefully woven over a period of four years in Belgium for Grand Master Fra Ramon Perellós y Roccaful of Malta. Hence, they combine the three countries where Challenge Group has set up hubs and for which we hold Air Operator Certificates.” added Yossi Shoukroun. He went on to thank the Maltese authorities for Challenge Airlines MT’s AOC.
Challenge Airlines MT, registered as 9H, owns a fleet of two B767-300ER, each capable of uplifting a payload of 60 tonnes. Ten pilots are stationed at the Group’s headquarter in Malta, ready to operate regular flights between Liège (LGG), Tel Aviv (TLV), Sharjah (SHJ), New York (JFK), and Indian Sub-Continent (ISC), in the coming future.
• Mercedes-AMG F1 and PETRONAS announced a multi-year renewal of Title and Technical Partnership from 2026 onwards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The renewal extends the sport’s most successful title partnership, with 115 Grand Prix wins and eight constructors’ championships so far since 2010.
• The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and PETRONAS will take on the exciting challenge of developing a standard-setting 100% advanced sustainable fuel for the 2026 power unit regulations.
• The partnership will expand to include a greater focus on new sustainable technology solutions beyond the racetrack.
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is delighted to announce the renewal of the Title and Technical Partnership between the team and progressive energy group, PETRONAS from the 2026 season onwards. Not only will this renewal power the partnership towards two decades of success at the pinnacle of motorsport, but it also signals a commitment to a more sustainable future – and the determination to excel in the exciting technical challenge presented by the 2026 power unit regulations. The partnership extension was announced in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the iconic PETRONAS Towers.
“We are doing something a little bit unusual – announcing a partnership that will begin in four years’ time. This sends an important message: our team and PETRONAS are no longer just partners, we are family, and we will be one team for many more years to come,” said Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal.
“From 2026, advanced sustainable fuel will be at the heart of F1 performance – and this gives us a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in this domain, through both the power unit and PETRONAS Fluid Technology Solutions™. We are excited to be racing into the future alongside PETRONAS, with the ambition to set the standard once again, in our on-track performance and by pioneering the transition of a global sports team to a net-zero future.”
Since 2010, the partnership has been founded on a shared ambition to achieve world-class performance. In the space of nearly 13 seasons so far, we have won together eight constructors’ world championships and 115 Grand Prix victories – an achievement unmatched in F1. And this success has been underpinned and enabled by continuous technical innovation.
Through this experience, PETRONAS develops class-leading fluids for consumers around the world, namely PETRONAS Primax fuel, PETRONAS Syntium engine oil and PETRONAS Tutela functional fluids.
Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik, PETRONAS President and Group Chief Executive Officer said, “What you are witnessing today bears testimony to the shared conviction of both PETRONAS and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team: that the synergy and shared ambition of both parties will deliver a pathway to responsibly provide the sports and our customers with energy that is cleaner and more sustainable.
“Given the accumulated experience as a team over the last decade, and the technical capabilities and expertise sourced from our combined talents, PETRONAS looks forward to
charting the next chapter with a focus on advanced sustainable fuel for Mercedes and its customer teams. Together with our partners, PETRONAS will keep pushing boundaries with our Fluid Technology Solutions™ through innovative offerings. At the heart of our efforts will be sustainability – as we all progress towards a lower-carbon future,” he added.
For 2026, the sport has set its most significant challenge yet with its ambition to race towards a more sustainable future. With a target of 50% electrification of the power unit and development of road-relevant 100% advanced sustainable fuels, the new rules will require innovative solutions to lead the way in the sport’s next era. Currently in line with the 2022 regulations, PETRONAS is supporting Mercedes and its customer teams with advanced sustainable E10 fuel, comprising 10% second-generation non-food based ethanol E10, which reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions overall.
Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of PETRONAS Downstream said, “With our longstanding partnership and extensive experience in formulating the Fluid Technology Solutions™ for the team, PETRONAS is fully equipped with the capacity and capabilities to perfect the technology to produce and supply 100% advanced sustainable fuel for the next-generation power units.”
“In that same vein, we are already on track with developing a greenfield biorefinery and co-processing at our facilities to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a cleaner and more viable option for aircrafts in our effort to support the aviation industry needs,” added Datuk Sazali. This is in line with Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) which is expected to come into mandatory effect by 2027 as well as Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) net zero by 2030 commitment – both of which will affect the logistics operations of F1 teams.
The planned biorefinery will also have operational flexibility to produce hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) for on-road vehicles, diesel-powered trains, and marine transportation as well as petrol range products which can be included and/or upgraded for on-road vehicles. Beyond that, PETRONAS also offers a suite of cleaner energy solutions such as EV chargers and fluids, liquefied natural gas and solar as well as other renewable energy solutions as a concerted push to support its partners’ sustainability goals.
“PETRONAS is an important part of our heritage and history, and we’re delighted that they will continue as our Title and Technical partner long into the future,” commented Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Commercial Director, Richard Sanders. “The partnership with PETRONAS will now span two decades and we look forward to making this the most enduring and successful sponsorship in elite global sport.”
Formulating a vision and strategy to sustain profitability is one of the most important expectations from the C-Suite. However, executing that strategy and taking it from top floor to shop floor also requires a strategy affirms Sandeep Walia, Chief Transformation Officer—CTO, Slimstock Middle East Africa (MEA).
In all competitive businesses, strategy execution is as important as strategy formulation. Organisations that derive greater value-add from their strategies are ones that have an effective way of putting them into action on the tactical and operational level, which is where S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), on top of S&OE (Sales & Operations Execution), plays an essential role.
Since it originated in 1980s, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) has become a business management process of choice for thousands of organizations all over the world. S&OP is a structured process that aligns all functional areas of a Business (Commercial, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and others) under an aligned set of assumptions to achieve goals set in the Strategic and Operating Plans.
What is S&OP? S&OP aims to be a decision-making forum where plans are reviewed and validated, key business issues are identified, and different organizational functions come together to align on strategic, tactical, and operational objectives. The key input for any monthly S&OP review is the annual Strategy / Operating Plan that aims to ensure strong alignment between Business and Supply Chain Strategy.
Supply chain strategy ultimately comes down to making choices. Businesses evaluate the needs of their customers and consumers, and the unique CVP (Customer Value Proposition) that can be offered. It becomes important at this stage to ensure that Supply Chain design is in line with CVP that a business is trying to deliver.
If the focus of the business is on NPS (Net Promoter Score), CX (Customer Experience), Customer Service but Supply Chain is focusing only on costs / working capital, there will be lost opportunities surely.
* Ensure risks are identified, and mitigationplans are in place
* Cost and working capital efficiency
At the heart of S&OP is a four-step monthly planning cycle, comprising a series of scheduled review meetings. Product portfolio review: What changes are taking place (and when) over the horizon to ensure an attractive product portfolio, that will deliver market share and profitability objectives? Which products will be introduced, discontinued, or changed; what will be the effect of marketing-led promotional activity and what is the timephased product plan?
Demand review: Assess forecasting capability and sales planningperformance, and to use this information to generate the latest view from marketing and sales, under-pinned with volume and revenue projections. The sales views reconciled to gain consensus on a ‘most likely’ demand plan.
Supply review: What is the impact on the supply chain of changes in demand and the timing of product development? Are there material constraints in supporting the new demand plan and is there sufficient resource? What are the options and opportunities?
General Management Business review: Review of key performance indicators and analyses of trends in operational & financial performance Highlighting gaps vs business and strategic plans Validating Action Plan. The objective at each step of the scheduled review is to sign-off the ‘plan’.
Sign-off implies: * The plan is realistic and can be achieved with existing resources available * The plan meets the business requirements
Why is S&OP important? S&OP helps the organization align on single version and source of truth so that decisions are taken from holistic standpoint. The five-step approach below, if followed with discipline can add value to top / bottom line ambitions of organizations.
How are we performing now? * Have we met our stated objectives YTD (year to date)? * If not, how does it impact our YTG (you’re the greatest) assumptions? * What do we need to get back on track?
Is the agreed plan valid? * Are the assumptions sound, wellunderstood, agreed upon and likely to produce the expected result? * Is the plan realistic?
Is the plan sufficient? * Does it help us achieve our monthly, quarterly, yearly AOPs (Annual Operations Planning)?
‘What if’ scenarios? * Is the plan sensitive to “upside and downsides? * Is the management aware of alternative scenarios? * Do we have contingency plans?
Which resources are required? * Do we have all bases covered? * Any additional capital or resources needed to execute the above agreed plan? * Which decisions need to be made? What are the key challenges S&OP aims to resolve? The consequences and pitfalls of silo-planning are common knowledge and very well documented. Moving from a silo-based culture to a cross-functional collaborative planning is a transformational journey that takes time. If done properly, S&OP helps to align sales, marketing, finance, operations on a realistic achievable plan to satisfy the business growth and ambitions. S&OP ensures demand signals reflect the state of the market and customer expectations and there is an adequate supply response for it.
S&OP process aligns the organisation on corporate health and wealth related KPIs and helps to evaluate ways to improve:
* OTIF (on time in full) / Customer Satisfaction / Gross Margins * Working Capital Utilization * Asset utilisation / ROA (Return on Assets) * Inventory turns * Productivity / efficiency * Demand accuracy
What are the main benefits of S&OP? Apart from the organisational, cultural, and other intangible benefits, there are some key benefits of implementing a X-Functional S&OP. See chart
How to get S&OP right? The key to ensure that S&OP adds value to the Business relies on few fundamentals: S&OP requires the hands-on participation of executive management, up to and including the leader of the business (President, CEO, COO, General Manager, Managing Director, and other key appointments) because: * S&OP needs to occur at the level where bottom-line responsibility resides * S&OP contributes to decision making around policy, strategy, and risk * Demand side dynamics and Supply side constraints need effective steering * SLT (Senior leadership team) participation ensures consistent behaviors across organization.
S&OP is cross-functional and collaborative. It involves, at a minimum, Sales / Marketing, Operations/Supply Chain, Product Development, Finance, and General Management because: * It allows to raise potential problems and conflicts in a proactive manner before they become crises. * All business problems are most effectively solved cross-functionally, not in a silo.
Making S&OP work in a company is largely a matter of managing change. It is not in the data; it is not in the software; it’s not in the process charts – it is in the people. S&OP is a decision-making process that balances demand and supply at the aggregate level, aligns operational planning with financial planning, links strategic planning with day-to-day sales and operational activities, and sets the tactical direction of the business.
Executive Management rarely has the time or the desire to deal with large amounts of detail, nor should it be necessary It is extremely important to split the decisions that we need the senior leadership team to take during S&OP into two categories 1. Review and Respond – Operational Horizon 2. Plan and Align –Tactical / Strategic Horizon at aggregated levels of product and location hierarchy
The most critical part to get right is to set the FOCUS of the Organisation when implementing or running S&OP across strategic, tactical, and operational horizons.
On the Strategic horizon, the business leaders need to have visibility on what are the different risks to their sustainable profitability goals and accordingly initiate transformational initiatives to mitigate those risks. Disruptions can come from anywhere, FOCUS on strategic horizon allows leaders to ensure that businesses are resilient and ready to deliver when needed.
On the Tactical horizon, the goal of the business leaders is to ensure that Corporate Health &Wealth is in safe waters and all the GROWTH assumptions are agreed and aligned cross-functionally
On the Operational horizon, the aim for the business leaders is to manage the volatility and gaps between demand and supply, capacity, and resources available versus the need to achieve a high degree of proficiency in AOPs and more.
The carrier introduces new routes and frequency increases to support its customers.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading air cargo carrier is poised and ready post the COVID pandemic with strategies in place to adapt to the changing environment and customer needs. The cargo carrier has further boosted its growing network, with increased flight frequencies to multiple popular destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Americas that will benefit its customers’ business globally to meet growing demand this winter season.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo said, “We are always ready to adapt to our customer needs and there is a great potential for growth in many regions as our winter schedule changes indicates. We are happy to introduce frequency upgrades and give our customers access to more direct capacity which will ultimately benefit their business. In line with our Next Generation strategy, we will always put customer at the heart of everything we do by continuing to invest in our fleet, infrastructure, network, products, service and technology.”
Qatar Airways Cargo serves over 20 passenger and freighter destinations in the Middle East. The carrier recently launched a new freighter service to Riyadh, the capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia, operating Boeing 777 freighters twice a week, with 100 tonnes cargo capacity each way, per flight. Cargo capacity is also set to increase to and from other Middle Eastern cities, as the airline increases its flights from 2 to 4 for Kuwait, and from 1 to 3 for Muscat by adding two A310 freighters per week to each of these cities.
In Europe, the cargo carrier offers its air freight services to and from 48 destinations, operating both, belly-hold cargo services as well as freighters. The carrier recently launched two new freighter stations in Athens, Greece and Vienna, Austria. Qatar Airways Cargo will operate once a week Boeing 777 freighter to Athens with 100 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, per flight and once a week A310 freighter to Vienna, with over 35 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, per flight.
Effective 15 November 2022, Qatar Airways Cargo has also introduced belly-hold cargo services to Dusseldorf, expanding its network in the European region. The launch of daily flights between the two cities increases cargo capacity from Germany to over 1,500 tonnes each way, each week. The carrier will also be increasing its flights to Amsterdam by adding three weekly freighter flights effective 5 November 2022 and three weekly passenger flights effective 23 December 2022.
Lastly, in the Americas, the airline covers 21 passenger and freighter destinations and has introduced additional frequency to Chicago increasing its freighter flights from 10 weekly to 11 weekly in addition to a daily passenger service.
The cargo carrier recently launched its Next Generation strategy, with digitalization as a key pillar. Qatar Airways Cargo has also pioneered its next generation Digital Experience platform with a revamped, comprehensive, and intuitive cargo customer portal called Digital Lounge bringing added value to the airline’s customers, offering better engagement and interaction, increased productivity and time management, as well as better visibility, transparency and performance monitoring. Qatar Airways Cargo’s customers will benefit from the many enhancements to the portal such as booking, tracking and tracing, account management, and reporting.
Qatar Airways Cargo increases:
Muscat – from 1 weekly to 3 weekly effective 2 November 2022 (in addition to daily Passenger flights)
Kuwait – from 2 weekly to 4 weekly effective 3 November 2022 (in addition to 35 weekly Passenger flights)
Amsterdam – from 11 weekly to 14 weekly effective 5 November 2022 (in addition to 10 weekly Passenger flights eff. January 2023)
Chicago – from 10 weekly to 11 weekly effective 5 November 2022 (in addition to daily Passenger flights)
Qatar Airways Cargo new freighter stations:
Riyadh – from 0 weekly to 2 weekly effective 1 November 2022 (in addition to 12 weekly Passenger flights)
Athens – from 0 weekly to 1 weekly effective 5 November 2022 (in addition to daily Passenger flights)
Vienna – from 0 weekly to 1 weekly effective 4 November 2022 (in addition to 10 weekly Passenger flights)
Fans from all over the world can look forward to 29 days of football, music, culture, and lifestyle – a true festival of football!
During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the FIFA Fan Festival will take place at Al Bidda Park – in the centre of Doha, in the heart of Qatar. Special attention will be given to entertaining all types of fans, from devoted supporters to music, food, culture, and lifestyle enthusiasts. A highly anticipated test event is also announced for Hayya Card holders on 16 November ahead of the actual fan festival that coincides with the World Cup from 20 November to 18 December. It is the place to be for all football fans!
In addition to watching 64 matches live on giant screens, fans will be able to participate in and enjoy a wide range of cultural and educational experiences. Each is designed to help them connect and engage with the global football culture. The FIFA Fan Festival™ will have something for everyone.
A reimaged World Cup experience
An integral part of every fan’s football journey, this festival focuses on making football a global, accessible, and inclusive sporting event, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to fans. The reimagined festival is set to augment the fan experience by providing millions with the opportunity to celebrate their shared passion for football while experiencing the best in music, entertainment, culture, food, and games in a safe, friendly, and highly entertaining environment.
Logistics and supply chain will play a major role in bringing such a global event to fruition with the goal of making the FIFA Fan Festival™ a memorable experience for locals and visiting fans alike. “Providing fans from various regions of the world the opportunity to take back a memorable World Cup experience is a tall ask which will be made possible by employing a complex set of logistics operations”,explains Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO of GWC, the Official Logistics Provider for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Logistics behind the fan experience
Bringing to life the world’s biggest football festival is no easy feat. Setting up such an extraordinary event often involves an exhaustive checklist that needs careful planning and execution. At the heart of it, logistics has a critical role to play in ensuring that everything runs on time and smoothly without any bottlenecks. All towards ensuring that fans do not fall short of a splendid experience!
Football brings with it numerous associated experiences such as F&B, hospitality, and retail, thus enabling local, regional, and international brands an opportunity to serve the fans. Creating an exciting and safe environment for football fans to enjoy the game alongside these associated aspects will be a massive logistical undertaking. The planning, construction, and operation of such a venue is a complex logistical exercise that involves various critical factors such as the installation of power, water supply, drainage, catering, perimeter fencing, etc, in addition to provisions for security and medical facilities.
A resource-consuming project, the fan festival calls for support from specialist event logistics agencies, right from the preliminary planning to transporting furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), setting up the venue, to ensuring smooth supply chain operations throughout the duration of the festival. Ensuring success for the largest football party on the planet comes down to immaculate planning and execution, right from shipping consignments inside the host country to warehousing under product-ideal conditions, from where replenishments can be distributed to the end destination.
The goal of the FIFA Fan Festival™ is to provide fans with an experience of a lifetime. To that end, dedicated teams from GWC will continue to work hard behind the scenes providing solutions such as safe warehousing, venue delivery, installation set-up, site dismantling after the festival, and return shipping to the next destination. As the Official Logistics Provider, GWC will be at the heart of all the action providing the necessary logistical support to make the FIFA Fan Festival™ a grand success.
Alongside the FIFA Fan Festival™ at Al Bidda Park, refer to the various other Entertainment Destinations planned in Qatar to add to the world-class fan experience: The Corniche in Doha City, MiddleBeast presents Aravia in Al Wakrah, Lusail Boulevard, Arcadia Spectacular in Ras Bufontas, Al Khor Fan Zone and Industrial Area Fan Zone.
· Top 15 top energy Korean companies at the second edition of the Korean Energy Week in UAE hold over 278 potential partnership meetings and sign 12 MoUs
· CEPA will catalyse joint ventures, investments in renewables and carbon-neutral initiatives between Korea and the UAE
Dubai, November 11, 2022: Korean companies in the second edition of the Korea Energy Week UAE said they have bagged deals worth over AED 385 million during the two days of the expo, and said they are looking at deepening investments and business partnerships in the UAE in sustainable green energy initiatives with a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries in the immediate pipeline.
In a statement, organisers of the just concluded Korea Energy Week UAE 2022, Verifair Dubai, (www.verifair.org) said a majority of exhibitors at the show represented the renewable energy sector, keen to make inroads into the UAE’s sustainable energy market with the increasing focus on circular economy and carbon-neutral alternative energy projects, which will contribute to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050 for the UAE.
“There is a significant number of joint venture projects with the quantum of investments running into billions of dollars taking place in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, which will mutually benefit both the countries in supporting strategic carbon neutrality in their respective countries,” said Mr. Chul Won IM, President, Energy Value Enterprise Development Institute (EVEDI)., adding that such partnerships are crucial to drive renewable energy projects and tackling climate change challenges as well as in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The organisors of the high-profile expo were Ministry of Trade, Energy and Industry, Korea, along with the futuristic investment destination, JeollaNamdo, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), operators and developers of the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant, Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, Jeonnam Technopark, EVEDI and Interfairs Korea.
This year over 278 potential one-on-one partnerships meetings were held at the exhibition and so far 12 MoUs have been signed, while more are in the pipeline.
“The opportunities for Korean companies to join hands with Middle Eastern partners have significantly increased, particularly in the energy sector, and this will offer a win-win situation for businesses from both countries,” said Mr. Ki Hyun CHO, General Manager, KEPCO.
According to Mr. Dong Ok KIM, Director, Jeonnam Technopark, the scope for investments in renewable and alternate energy projects and in 4IR tech have also expanded. He cited some of the recent projects for green hydrogen and ammonia in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“Korea and the UAE have a strong bilateral relationship for over 40 years, and the impending CEPA will further boost this, added Mr. Jung Seob KIM, New Energy Industry Section chief, Jeollanam-do province.
The UAE is the largest trading partner of Korea in the Arab world with a bilateral trade valued at US$9.4 billion as of 2020 and more than US$2 billion in the first half of 2021.
“There are many more MoUs in the pipeline from the robust partnership meetings at the expo, and we are confident that the size of the deals will increase in the coming days as the discussions between many Korean and the UAE companies conclude,” said Jeen Joshua, Director, Verifair Dubai, adding that CEPA will be another milestone in catalysing bilateral cooperation between both the countries.
Taking another step forward in a trend that has been transforming the shipping industry, Leschaco, a global logistics service provider with more than 140 years of experience, has decided to digitize its House Bill of Lading (HBL) transactions. To do so, it has partnered with WAVE BL, a leading provider of secure digital document solutions.
In a typical digital HBL transaction, Leschaco receives a Master Bill of Lading (MBL) on the WAVE BL platform and then issues multiple House Bills of Lading (HBLs) to each exporter in the transaction. These, in turn, receive their HBLs and transfer possession to the importers. Each importer surrenders its HBL to Leschaco, and Leschaco surrenders the MBL.
Because each eBL transfer is performed digitally within minutes on the WAVE BL platform, entire document transactions can be completed in hours rather than the multiple weeks that paper-based transactions can require. Part of the simplicity of these transactions’ stems from the fact that WAVE BL allows all parties to connect on a single, unified network.
Leschaco’s move to digital BLs was prompted by the unreliable nature of paper BLs, particularly during periods of instability. Courier delays had been holding up cargo releases and financing processes, and the tendency of paper BLs to be lost or misplaced had long been a pain point for customers. In adopting WAVE BL’s electronic BLs, Leschaco was able to eliminate these inefficiencies as well as benefit from WAVE BL’s anti-fraud safeguards and outstanding customer experience.
Digitization is rapidly transforming the global shipping industry. Leschaco’s pioneering use of electronic House Bills of Lading – one of the first in the industry – is a further demonstration of how digitization can replace every type of paper-based communication.
WAVE BL’s CEO, Noam Rosenfeld, adds: “Leschaco’s use of electronic HBLs is an exciting milestone. Digital is the direction the industry is going in, and we’re proud to offer a solution that’s easy to use and tailored to the industry’s needs. One of our top priorities is making the transition to eBLs as easy as possible, with full support along every step of the way.” Constantin Conrad, CDO of the Leschaco Group added: “Fast and secure transport of commercial documents is an essential part of the supply chain. Digitalization is becoming more and more important. Leschaco was therefore looking for a digital solution and selected WAVE BL as our provider. The Leschaco eBL solution will increase our customer satisfaction and make our documentation more efficient and sustainable.”
• Fleemo™ by Toyota is a dynamic cloud-based solution for commercial fleet managers in the UAE
• Fleemo™ can monitor vehicle locations, driver behaviour, trip history, dispatch planning, delivery navigation and real-time delivery management
• Solution supports Android and iOS applications for driver navigation and e-signature for delivery proof, as well as optimisation for delivery routes
Al-Futtaim Toyota, the exclusive distributor of Toyota vehicles in the United Arab Emirates, has launched Fleemo™ by Toyota, a dynamic fleet management solution for their commercial customers in the UAE. Fleemo™ by Toyota supports the real time monitoring of fleets on a comprehensive dashboard and helps users optimise dispatched deliveries from their laptops and mobiles.
Fleemo™ is supported by Toyota Tsusho Connected Middle East (TTCME), and can be installed in any vehicle of any brand. As a first step, Al Futtaim Toyota will roll out Fleemo™ with the Toyota LiteAce compact Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) in the UAE.
Commenting on the launch, Carlos Montenegro, Managing Director Fleet Strategy at Al-Futtaim Automotive said: “Based on Toyota’s famed cornerstones of quality, durability and reliability, we are thrilled to launch Fleemo™, a one-stop cloud-based fleet management system that facilitates agile and cost-competitive transportation. Having an optimal analysis of driving behaviour, petrol consumption, route selection, maintenance schedules and more will reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of every vehicle equipped with the Fleemo™ solution. With its initial rollout through the Toyota LiteAce, we are confident that Fleemo™ will become an essential part of fleet management operations across the UAE.”
Offering a deep data service to monitor the health and performance of vehicles, Fleemo™ facilitates enhanced visibility across a wide range of information, from vehicle locations, driver behaviour, trip history and incident location records to dispatch planning, delivery navigation and real-time delivery management.
Featuring a simple dashboard that supports daily operations for fleet owners by visualising the current status of fleets, Fleemo™ provides a comprehensive overview of processed data such as device telemetry, fleet administration, and manager and driver data. Through the help of a simple app, users can monitor the available vehicles and upcoming maintenance status, get deep insight into their fleets’ fuel usage and mileage, assess the impact of events by analysing driving behaviour tendencies, track delivery status through order completion, and check the rate of vehicle utilisation for more efficient delivery management.
Optimising the LiteAce
With a clear focus on last-mile deliveries, fleet optimisation, and maximising efficiencies, Fleemo™ is a dynamic fit for the Toyota LiteAce, which caters to a wide range of customers, including fleet businesses in need of compact commercial vehicles and last-mile delivery service providers in the UAE’s flourishing e-commerce market.
With a four-speed automatic transmission, 750-kg payload, 3.4 m3 of load space, and sliding doors on both sides, the Toyota LiteAce offers outstanding loading capacity and comfort, along with practical and reliable performance. This capability will be further enhanced through the use of Fleemo™, enabling Al-Futtaim Toyota to take the lead in a segment where demand is skyrocketing as the UAE consolidates its position as a global hub of commerce and logistics.
Multiple other features of Fleemo™ will also help boost its deployment for the Toyota LiteAce and vehicles in similar categories. Fleemo™ supports Android and iOS applications for driver navigation and e-signature for delivery proof, and allows drivers to easily navigate to the next waypoint as mathematical optimisations calculate the most efficient delivery route automatically.
The system requires essential data input before onboarding, such as the driver and fleet manager details and vehicle information, after which all necessary data is displayed in the tab of vehicles for both drivers and managers.
One of the most integral parts of Fleemo™ is its dispatch planning capabilities, where the system generates plans on the web application that is sent to drivers to monitor and navigate to the next waypoint. Fleemo™ also supports multiple driver assignments, a feature especially beneficial for fleet operators who might assign the same vehicle to multiple drivers. The feature helps other use cases, such as corporate car-sharing, which enhance vehicle utilisation for companies.
The wide range of industry-leading features make Fleemo™ an essential choice among the UAE’s commercial vehicle users – ideally suited for a diverse catalogue of sectors ranging from leasing companies providing services to large MNCs, courier companies and retailers, corporate fleets and SMEs.
The All-New Zero-emission Hydrogen-Electric Commercial Vehicle in Lead up to Production of Hydrogen HGV
Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) is a new UK-based hydrogen vehicle emerging OEM and an innovator in the heavy commercial vehicle segment
Today HVS takes the wraps off its 5.5-tonne technology demonstrator, developed from initial design to full dynamic prototype in just 10 months, showcasing some of the technology that will power HVS’ HGV
HVS will launch an all-new zero-emission 40-tonne hydrogen HGVfeaturing a unique powertrain and radical cab design, making it the first indigenous UK Hydrogen HGV, designed and built from the ground up.
A reinvention of commercial vehicle design, aimed at optimising range, payload, weight distribution, direct vision, aerodynamics and ergonomically-practical cab design, produces a sector-leading vehicle.
HVS’ investment partner, EG Group, enables route-to-market through fleet operator connections and infrastructure development via their international refuelling site network
HGVs are the second largest contributors to UK transport emissions. They make up a disproportionate amount of road transport emissions (18%) whilst only contributing 5% of vehicle mileage. HGV numbers are increasing on the roads, so this emissions figure is likely to increase.
H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, will deliver the inaugural address at the 16th Annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum, which will be held in Riyadh for the first time from December 6-8, 2022. Hosted by SABIC, this year’s forum will be held under the theme ‘Chemistry in Action: Shaping a Sustainable Future.’ H.R.H. the Minister of Energy will also lead the inaugural panel discussion with Gulf energy ministers.
“The Annual GPCA Forum arrives at an important time, as the chemical industry contends with some of its most critical challenges and opportunities yet,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA. “Climate change, food insecurity, and economic upheaval are converging to create a future that looks increasingly uncertain. With a fantastic speaker line-up, we hope to shed light on how the chemical industry can continue to provide solutions to global challenges, the role of innovation and digitalization in helping to achieve this, and what plans companies have got in place to meet their commitment towards sustainability and decarbonization,”
It is noteworthy that the forum’s program this year includes various events, such as a ministerial panel with regional energy ministers, one plenary address, two keynote sessions, two inaugural sessions, and four leadership dialogues.
The welcome address will be delivered by Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Chairman, GPCA, and Acting Chief Executive Officer, SABIC. Chemical industry leaders, including Amin Nasser, President and CEO Saudi Aramco; Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF; Peter Vanacker, CEO, LyondellBasell; and Conrad Keijzer, CEO, Clariant, will participate in sessions discussing vital topics such as how the chemicals sector can thrive in the era of sustainability and decarbonization.
Other esteemed industry leaders to speak at the forum, include H.E. Mohammed A. El-Kuwaiz, Chairman of the Board, Capital Market Authority Saudi Arabia; Ken Grahame, Managing Director, Head of Global Chemicals Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs; Mutlaq Al-Morished, CEO, Tasnee; Hazeem Al-Suwaidi, CEO, Borouge; Olivier Thorel, Vice President of Chemicals and Hydrogen, Aramco and Board Member, SABIC; Eng. Fahad Alajlan, President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC); Abdulrahman Shamsaddin, CEO, SABIC Agri-Nutrients; Dick Richelle, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, Royal Vopak; and Suliman AlRumaih, Group CEO, SALIC.
The forum’s Leadership Dialogues will shed light on some of the most pressing issues impacting the chemicals sector today, including clean energy transition; turning the ESG theory into action; shaping future chemicals supply chains; and innovation in the agri-nutrient industry.
Launched in 2006, the Annual GPCA Forum has established itself as the premier event for the global and regional chemical industry. This year, the forum is set to attract over 2,500 delegates from more than 600 companies in 91 countries.
Forum highlights the pivotal role of MSMEs in powering Qatar’s economy
With just little over a fortnight to go for the greatest show on earth, the GWC Forum 2022 set the spirit of the soon-to-be-staged FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Games into motion. The second annual Forum, titled ‘Ready for the Game’, highlighted how Qatar’s economy will continue to flourish after the World Cup.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from the special guest speaker FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, who addressed the forum with a video message. During her video address, Samoura said: “MSMEs represent the backbone of a successful and diverse economy. They create jobs and foster innovation. Qatar has been a hive of innovation in recent years – developing cooling technologies for stadiums and state-of-the-art public transport infrastructure, including the Doha Metro and light rail tram systems.”
“GWC, its partners and stakeholders are utilising the assets and experience of hosting the FIFA World Cup to deliver an economic legacy that is aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030. One of Qatar’s great strengths is its determination to leverage the power of hosting the FIFA World Cup like no other country in history. And it is heartening to see that legacy being delivered even before the big kick-off.” She added.
The first panel discussion titled ‘Direct and Indirect Impact of Qatar 2022 on MSMEs’ included contributions from Jose Dhooma, Head of Event Logistics and Transport, FIFA, Fatma Al Nuaimi, Communications & Media Executive Director, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Nazli Berberoglu, General Manager, Coca-Cola, and Syed Maaz, Chief Business Development Officer, GWC.
Dhooma said hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar had raised the bar for a vast number of businesses.
“There is a better understanding of international requirements as a result of the World Cup,” he commented. “Many businesses now have FIFA on their CV. This helps them to grow. When they work with FIFA, they’re working to an international standard. It is great for whatever Qatar does in future – whether it is sporting events, conferences or anything else. You should also consider the people involved in the organising committee – they will be thinking how they can create companies and take their services around the world. Working on a World Cup gives people confidence.”
Al Nuaimi said the SC had worked closely with MSMEs in Qatar and the region on a large number of infrastructure projects, including stadium developments.
“We have been engaging MSMEs from the start, whether it is building stadiums or training sites. A number of businesses will be involved in the entertainment and fan experience activations during the World Cup, including event companies and food and beverage businesses. Whenever we have opportunities, we make sure to involve MSMEs – many businesses have been developed here since Qatar won the rights to host the World Cup.”
Berberoglu commented on Coca-Cola’s commitment to working with MSMEs.
“We support a large number of businesses and help them take advantage of opportunities,” said Berberoglu. “We always try to take a long-term approach and build a sustainable ecosystem. One example came during COVID-19 when we helped small businesses create home delivery strategies and worked with them to digitise their businesses so they could better serve their customers.”
She also spoke about two main issues addressing the 21st century. Women Empowerment and Recycling / Waste Management. “Under the directives of Coca Cola, we have been driving our market under these guidelines and empower women and also make sure we pay a careful attention to the recycling industry of our bottling plants across the world,” she asserted.
Maaz outlined GWC’s contribution to the MSME sector, including the development of 4 million square meters of logistics infrastructure and an ever-expanding ecosystem for small enterprises.
“The MSME sector has grown a lot in the last 10 years and is now a major driver for the economy,” said Maaz. “GWC has created an infrastructure to make it easy for MSMEs to set up in business. We are now managing a huge amount of warehousing in the country, including Al Wukair Logistics Park, which was built specifically to support MSMEs.”
The second panel session, titled ‘The Way Forward’, looked into the trends and challenges faced by MSMEs. Participants included Charles Nahas, Regional General Manager, Microsoft, Dr Manal Al Zaidan, Director of Pharmacy, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Dr Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor, HBKU, and Dr Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor, HBKU. The panellists discussed the impact of the FIFA World Cup on their various sectors and outlined the trends they expected to see after the tournament.
Nahas spoke on three points related to MSME’s namely startups, home grown businesses and commercial / small shop owners.
“We go out of our way to assist all three levels of MSME’s with innovative ideas to equip them for the current and future build of their company,” he emphasized.
Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University observed that they have been doing research for the last 10 years and will continue to use this in the development not only for potential World Cup organizers, but also the MSME’s in their quest for market intelligence which will equip them on the global stage. “They will also help MSME’s to leverage their geographical location of Qatar to the region and Middle East,” he noted.
Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Business Development & Investment Promotion, Ministry of Commerce of Industry, gave a presentation about the 1,000 Opportunities scheme, which invites businesses in the private sector to partner with global brands. He also discussed the business ecosystem in Qatar, describing the FIFA World Cup as a golden opportunity for the country’s economy to prosper in future.
Aysha Khalifa Al Romaihi, Manager of Special Programmes – Incubation, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), gave a presentation about Scale7 – the country’s first fashion and design incubator, set up to support creative entrepreneurs.
The final workshop was led by Dr Adel Elomri Assistant Professor, HBKU, and Dr Laoucine Kerbache, Professor, HBKU, and focused on the research undertaken to track the impact of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup and how the education sector can work with industry to support students and alumni.
Following the event, Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “GWC is proud to be at the forefront of MSME development – helping the current and next generation of businesses in Qatar as the country aims to deliver the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
“This year’s forum has illustrated the impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup and how Qatar is leveraging the numerous opportunities that hosting a sporting mega-event offers. We look forward to continuing our work with partners across various industries as we strive to power Qatar’s economy long into the future.”
Menon continued: “I would like to thank all our valuable partners and stakeholders for taking part in another successful edition of the GWC Forum. We look forward to continuing the conversation as Qatar reaps the benefits of hosting the FIFA World Cup in legacy mode.”
The forum partners included QNB Group as strategic partner, research partner Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), media partner beIN SPORTS and Floward the gift sponsor.
The discussions were moderated by Al Jazeera English Senior Presenter Emily Angwin.
Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports are preparing to launch a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical cool chain facility at the Abu Dhabi hub.
The facility will double the cool chain capacity at the airport and support the logistics requirements for the latest in specialised medication and life science.
The 3,000-square-metre facility is equipped with the latest technology and is in full alignment with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a life science and pharmaceutical hub.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, in partnership with Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports, are preparing to launch a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical cool chain facility. Due to go into operation soon, the facility will significantly expand Abu Dhabi International Airport’s (AUH) pharmaceutical handling and storage.
Prior to the opening of the new pharmaceutical facility at the carrier’s Abu Dhabi hub, Etihad Cargo transported over 50,000 tonnes of cool chain products, including pharmaceutical and healthcare products via its PharmaLife product and fresh produce via its IATA CEIV Fresh-certified FreshForward product, in the past twelve months. The launch of the expanded, dedicated pharmaceutical hub will double Abu Dhabi Airport’s cool chain storage capacity and enhance the airport’s capabilities for the storage, handling and transportation of cool chain products.
“Etihad Cargo is proud to have collaborated closely with Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports to launch the new pharmaceutical storage and handling facility. The expanded infrastructure will offer best-in-class pharmaceutical shipment solutions to Etihad Cargo’s customers and is the latest step in supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision to cement its position as a global pharmaceuticals and life sciences hub,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group. “This joint venture located at Etihad Cargo’s hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport provides the perfect location to link the Middle East to not only Asia and Europe, but also the US and Africa, so life-saving medicines and the latest treatments can be transported seamlessly around the world to those that need them the most. Investment into the carrier’s infrastructure and Abu Dhabi hub will enable Etihad Cargo to meet the future challenges of the pharma supply chain and will play a significant role in co-creating a robust and future-proof healthcare ecosystem here in the UAE and around the world.”
The additional 3,000 square-metre facility comprises the latest technology and features, including bulk loading docks with levellers, high-speed roll-up shutters, insulation and a real-time temperature monitoring system, which will enable faster and more efficient loading with stricter temperature controls, increased storage space, additional build-up and breakdown zones for improved production workflows and upgraded cool chain facilities for Etihad Cargo’s PharmaLife handling and storage operations. The new facility will also feature new x-ray screening for customs inspections within a fully temperature-controlled environment and new dedicated thermal covers.
Steven Polmans, Vice President of Business Development & Regulatory Affairs at Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone (ADAFZ) said, “The upcoming launch of this dedicated pharmaceuticals storage and handling facility will enhance AUH’s capabilities as a cargo hub and aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a global business, pharmaceutical and life science hub. The strong collaboration between Etihad Cargo, Etihad Airport Services and Abu Dhabi Airports will continue to increase pharmaceutical cargo volumes and further position Abu Dhabi as a major solutions provider in the logistics supply chain.”
The new cool chain facility will enable the safe storage and handling of a vast range of pharmaceutical products requiring different temperatures and conditions. To meet the requirements for transporting dangerous goods in frozen and deep-frozen conditions, PharmaLife provides premium tailored solutions to handle temperature-controlled conditions from -80 to 25 degrees Celsius via the carrier’s portfolio of leased active and hybrid containers. Etihad Cargo also utilises traditional containers that meet standard temperature requirements, from 2 to 8 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Jubran Al Breiki, General Manager at Etihad Airport Services – Ground & Cargo, said, “This state-of-the-art pharmaceutical facility has been made possible through the partnership between Etihad Airport Services, Etihad Cargo and Abu Dhabi Airports and the expertise each brings to a project of this scale. In addition to offering a fully equipped pharmaceuticals centre, temperature-controlled rooms and 24/7 end-to-end cargo support, the innovative systems within the facility enable pharmaceuticals to be effectively tracked and traced. This benefits Etihad Cargo’s customers and all other stakeholders with greater transparency, real-time status updates and makes the transportation of cargo quicker and more efficient.”
From the newly established pharmaceuticals hub, Etihad Cargo will continue to work closely with customers and partners to ensure the smooth, efficient, safe and on-time delivery of pharmaceuticals and life sciences products. To meet the requirements of personalised medication and treatment, including cell and gene therapies, Etihad Cargo is exploring the utilisation of artificial intelligence to improve forecasting and automation to enhance the carrier’s current capacity and capabilities.
Via the expanded cool chain facility, Etihad Cargo will also be further investing in sustainable solutions to make the transportation of pharmaceuticals more environmentally friendly, in line with Etihad Aviation Group’s sustainability plans and pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The carrier has already replaced 3,000 containers from its original aluminium unit load device (ULD) fleet with a more environmentally friendly, lightweight version. More recently, Etihad Cargo entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with B Medical Systems to develop and launch the world’s first airline-specific passive temperature-controlled container. In the coming months, Etihad Cargo will be participating in Pharma. Aero’s green pharma lane project, expanding on the successful launch of Pharma Corridor 2.0.
SkyTeam Cargo the global Cargo alliance, announced the re-election of Teddy Zebitz, the Chief Executive Officer of Saudia Cargo, to be the chairperson of the SkyTeam Cargo Executive Board for another consecutive term. The appointment was endorsed at their recent meeting in London, which is composed of the cargo executives of all Cargo alliance members and oversees SkyTeam Cargo’s global strategy.
With his re-election, Mr. Zebitz will continue to strategically lead the SkyTeam Cargo board for a further period of two years.
“I am honored to have been re-elected to the Cargo Executive Board and look forward to paving the path for SkyTeam Cargo’s success. We are proud of how much we have accomplished in the past two years, and we have set strategic goals in place for the near future that will further elevate SkyTeam Cargo’s global position as the largest cargo alliance. We will continue to empower our people, while collaborating with our customers and partners, providing innovative and customized solutions to help them achieve their goals and realize their ambitions,” said Mr. Zebitz.
With over 40 years of global industry expertise, and before leading Saudia Cargo, Mr. Zebitz has worked across several markets such as China, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe.
SkyTeam Cargo the global Cargo alliance, announced the re-election of Teddy Zebitz, the Chief Executive Officer of Saudia Cargo, to be the chairperson of the SkyTeam Cargo Executive Board for another consecutive term. The appointment was endorsed at their recent meeting in London, which is composed of the cargo executives of all Cargo alliance members and oversees SkyTeam Cargo’s global strategy.
With his re-election, Mr. Zebitz will continue to strategically lead the SkyTeam Cargo board for a further period of two years.
“I am honored to have been re-elected to the Cargo Executive Board and look forward to paving the path for SkyTeam Cargo’s success. We are proud of how much we have accomplished in the past two years, and we have set strategic goals in place for the near future that will further elevate SkyTeam Cargo’s global position as the largest cargo alliance. We will continue to empower our people, while collaborating with our customers and partners, providing innovative and customized solutions to help them achieve their goals and realize their ambitions,” said Mr. Zebitz.
With over 40 years of global industry expertise, and before leading Saudia Cargo, Mr. Zebitz has worked across several markets such as China, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Europe. SkyTeam Cargo’s Executive Board will continue to benefit from his extensive leadership background gained from his previous experience in executive roles at SAS and Emirates Airlines.
Tetra Pak, the global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, held a signing ceremony with Nuitree Food to establish a specialized plant-based manufacturing facility in the UAE to provide a comprehensive End-to-End processing and packaging solutions delivery.
The collaboration is set to be one of the region’s premier solutions by Tetra Pak, a regional pioneer and Nuitree Food, a UAE based company which is part of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla AlQasimi Group of Companies. The solution comes in line with both entities’ visions on sustainability. Tetra Pak’s strategic vision is to provide sustainable food packaging that ensures food safety and availability, while reducing the environmental impact on our planet.
According to a Tetra Pak study, by 2032, the market for plant-based foods is expected to be worth $34.5 billion, as consumption habits and patterns are changing rapidly. Together with a better awareness of the food production process and the rise of today’s more ethical consumer, there is a positive perception that plant-based products are nutritionally sound. Whether it is local manufacturing, GMO-free ingredients, packaging, or transportation; transparency, sustainability, and sourcing are crucial factors.
Omro Kakah, Managing Partner of Nuitree Foods, added: “With the global food and beverage trends moving towards healthy and sustainable Plant-Based Alternatives, we are proud to be leading this shift in the diary and beverage industry in the UAE and the region. Our partnership with Tetra Pak with its vast experience in such projects reflects our commitment to producing high quality Plant-Based Diary alternatives products that transcend global competition. We are also glad to announce that this project will include establishing the region’s first Technology and training center of its kind. This will facilitate Research and Development and promote innovation in our product offerings as well as provide training facility for students who wish to advance their career in the beverage sector.”
Niels Hougaard, Managing Director, Tetra Pak, said: “At Tetra Pak we are committed to helping our customers bring their visions for the future to life. We are proud to be collaborating with a forward-thinking company like Nuitree Food, to advance the plant-based industry in the UAE and the region to meet expanding demands. Tetra Pak has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and solutions, and we will continue to provide businesses with sheer excellence to enable our customers to advance their ambitions.”
CargoAi, airfreight’s fastest growing digital enabler, and Chain.io, the leading cloud-based integration platform that connects partners across the global supply chain, announced a strategic technology partnership that will supercharge the freight forwarder experience. The partnership will allow most large and medium-sized freight forwarders on Chain.io’s network to easily connect to CargoAi’s platform to make instant bookings to the GSAs and airlines, while remaining on their own TMS.
“These functionalities were requested by most of our existing users. We are delighted to solidify this strategic partnership with Chain.io to enable new efficiency gains and drastically improve the visibility of our airline partners around the world” says Matt Petot, Founder and CEO of CargoAi.
The CargoAi platform provides a simple end-to-end interface for freight forwarders to make quotes, schedules, bookings, shipments, tracking, purchase orders, as well as reporting capabilities. With the addition of Chain.io, users can now complete the same experience within their TMS system, without navigating between multiple airline websites or making different phone calls.
“Our partnership with CargoAi extends the powerful network we offer to freight forwarders,” said Brian Glick, Founder and CEO of Chain.io. “Technology is more impactful when it doesn’t live in silos, so the ability to make instant bookings with CargoAi and get air visibility from within a TMS will give forwarders more efficiency and flexibility.”
The partnership will commence with Rates, Capacity, eBooking and Tracking information as well as CO2 calculation, bringing modern capabilities to the TMS, and enabling airlines and GSAs who are live on CargoAi to be directly accessible and visible.
In 2025, Volvo Group’s truck plant in Ghent, Belgium will start to produce battery modules. To date, partners supply both cells and modules to the Group. The investment decision to install battery module manufacturing capacity in Ghent is another important step for the Volvo Group to shape its future value chain for battery systems. The battery module manufacturing line in Ghent will be able to use battery cells both from partners and from the planned battery cell plant in Sweden.
“We have started the investment process to establish battery module manufacturing in Ghent. The building is expected to be 12,000 m2 and be located at the Volvo Group manufacturing site. The new high-tech module factory will consist of an almost fully automated process with robots. This means that employees with the necessary competences will be recruited, both externally and by building on our internal competences,” says Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice President Group Trucks Operations. The investment frame for this first step of module manufacturing is Euro 75 million.
The Volvo Group truck assembly plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, is already building heavy-duty electric trucks as the first global manufacturer in the world. In the second half of 2023 the plant in Ghent will also start to produce battery electric heavy-duty trucks. The battery packs needed to power these electric trucks are built in the Ghent plant. Volvo Group’s ambition is that at least 35% of the vehicles sold worldwide will be electric by 2030.
GWC (Q.P.S.C.), one of the region’s fastest growing companies, announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2022.
During the nine-month period ending on September 30, 2022, the company achieved a net profit of QAR 174.20 million. The company also achieved total revenues of QAR 1.11 billion, and earnings per share of QAR 0.30 during the same period ending on September 30, 2022.
Speaking about GWC’s mandate for the future, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman, GWC stated, “in this historic year of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, GWC continues its endeavor to provide logistics services that will support the success of this mega event, and also continues to support and empower micro, small and medium enterprises in Qatar by giving them a platform to establish their businesses and grow beyond 2022 in line with the vision of 2030.”
Being the Regional Supporter and Official Logistics Provider for the World Cup, GWC is playing a very crucial and pivotal role in the successful organization of this sporting event and is well- prepared to deliver timely, seamless and efficient suite of services pre, during and post event.
Besides gearing up for this, GWC recently delivered two pandas – S’hail and Thuraya to the Al Khor Panda Park. These pandas, which have been gifted by China as a token of friendship and Qatar being the host for the World Cup, were taken to their new home successfully in temperature controlled containers with all safety and security measures in place.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC remarked, “despite increased workload in the lead up to the tournament, GWC remains diligent in terms of commitment, quality standards and health and safety. We are eagerly awaiting the start of this mega sporting event which will set a new benchmark for how such events’ logistics are planned, executed and delivered.”
He further added, “we remain committed to keep environmental protection at the heart of all our services. Whether it is a beach clean-up, tree plantation or recycling wooden pellets to delivering a sustainable FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.”
GWC also took part in the Qatar Sustainability Week earlier this month to highlight the work being done by GWC to protect the environment.
For the first time in the region, Dubai hosts assistive technology to serve 50 million persons with disabilities
Wide participation of the “Living Independently” initiative in providing direction to the inventions of Arab innovators to serve people of determination
Ahmed bin Saeed: “The UAE is among the first countries that have put in place a sustainable enablement strategy”
Ahmed Aboul Gheit: “We are glad to participate, and the Expo is a qualitative start to serve persons with disabilities”
WHO: “The number of persons with disabilities worldwide will reach 2 billion by 2050”
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, Patron of AccessAbilities Expo (AAE), stressed that the UAE is among the first countries in the world to have put in place a sustainable enablement strategy to help empower people of determination on different levels.
“There are amazing efforts by the relevant entities in the government and private sectors to build an inclusive society for the people of determination and their families, as part of the national policy devised by our wise government to ensure they get the opportunities, experiences and distinguished lifestyles available to any other individual in our country,” H.H. said.
H.H. expressed happiness as to the size of local and international attention to and participation in the 4th edition of AAE that serves as a global platform showcasing cutting-edge technologies and rehabilitation programmes that are not only of vital importance to people of determination, but are also of key significance in terms of strengthening countries’ cooperation on the level of building a sustainable future catering to their aspirations. H.H. indicated that the “Living Independently” initiative organized by the Union of Arab Chambers in cooperation with the League of Arab States and UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, in the Expo represents a qualitative addition to this event in terms of availing the opportunity to learn about the capabilities of Arab innovators and how to direct their innovations to serve millions of people of determination in the countries of the region, and qualify them to be part of the business and projects ecosystem that supports their quest towards more self-reliance as successful business owners.
His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, expressed his happiness to participate in this important Arab international event, which represents a qualificative start to the benefit of persons with disabilities not only in the Arab states, but also across the whole world. H.E. thanked His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for his continual patronage of this important international event during which there will be the launch of the “Living Independently” initiative that represents a significant additional step in the framework of the League of Arab States mandate and efforts to support the implementation of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In this respect, H.E. Aboul Gheit commended the close cooperation with the Union of Arab Chambers and its initiative, as a representative of the private sector, to promote independent decent living for this important segment, through technological programmes and distinctive entrepreneurship projects targeting all types of disabilities.
H.E. Secretary General expressed that the “Living Independently” initiative forms an important pillar of his initiative that aims to prepare the Second Arab Decade of Disabled Persons (2023-2032), which serves this important segment in the various social, economic and legal fields, consolidating its rights and actively supporting efforts aimed at its full integration in society, as well as the implementation of relevant Arab and international conventions and treaties.
The “Living Independently” Initiative
The General Secretariat of the Union of Arab Chambers had launched, with the support of the Arab League of States and in cooperation with UNIDO Bahrain the Living Independently Initiative, and signed on March 30th a joint cooperation agreement with the management of the AAE, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed and His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, with the aim to showcase the innovations of Arab entrepreneurs during the exhibition with a view to support the technologies that serve people of determination.
The initiative aims to encourage Arab innovators and entrepreneurs to manufacture advanced systems, programmes and technologies to serve persons with disabilities in the context of a competition that is subjected to high standards, according to which the technology most appropriate to the needs of people of determination is selected and the necessary funding is solicited.
Sharing minds and opportunities to serve people of determination
Ghassan Suleiman Amhaz, Managing Director of the Expo, said: “We are proud of the event’s achievements on the level of providing cutting-edge technologies to the 50 million people of determination in the Middle East, and we thank the government entities and private companies that contribute, through the Expo, to providing a better life for this dear segment of our society and helping to empower them at all levels.”
“The sharing of minds and opportunities to serve people of determination is part of the vision of this event that reflects the exceptional attention provided by the UAE and other countries in the region to provide a decent living for this dear segment of our society; hence enabling them to live independently, while also working to attract cutting-edge technologies that play a crucial role in making their lives better,” he added.
Innovative products to serve all types of disabilities
From November 15-17, Dubai will witness the launch of the widest and most impressive display of innovative assistive technology products and rehabilitation services, through the 4th edition of AAE-2022, which will focus on ensuring access to products and services that enhance the capacities of people of determination.
The largest of its kind in the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian sub-continent region, the Expo will turn into the largest platform for manufacturers and distributors of assistive products, as well as government authorities, rehabilitation centres, and health and educational centres dealing with people of determination. The event, which will be held at Halls 5, 6 and 7 of the Dubai World Trade Centre, represents the ideal solution to meet the aspirations and expectations of more than 50 million people of determination living in the Middle East and North Africa.
Event organisers, Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management, expect the number of participating government and private sector companies and centres to rise to 250 exhibitors from 50 countries, and to attract more than 10,000 professional visitors from different countries of the world.
4,500 Global Technologies
The over 4,500 global advanced technologies on display – serving motor, visual, hearing, intellectual and autism disabilities – play a crucial role in empowering people with special needs, who constitute between 10-15% of the population of a given country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the number of this segment at present at about one billion people around the world; the number is expected to jump to 2 billion people by 2050 as a result of ageing, wars, ill health, poverty, lack of services and other reasons.
Hosting the FIFA World Cup™ will significantly boost enterprise as the nation fulfils the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The second annual GWC Forum, titled ‘Ready for the Game’, will be held on 1 November – coinciding with 20 Days To Go to the start of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, Brazil’s national team base camp during the tournament.
The event follows last year’s inaugural forum, titled ‘Getting you in the Game’, which attracted more than 800 delegates from 59 countries. The successful 2021 forum generated extensive media coverage, with the hybrid nature of the event attracting strong online engagement amidst COVID-19 restrictions.
This year’s forum, which will be moderated by Al Jazeera Network’s Senior News Anchor Emily Angwin, will highlight the businesses’ benefit from Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup™, which will be held from 20 November to 18 December.
Leading the charge in the logistics and supply chain solutions space is GWC Logistics. As the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, GWC is playing a major role in tournament preparations. It is also helping to deliver an economic legacy by enabling Qatar’s blossoming micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Empowering Qatar’s MSME sector is one of our long-term goals and we look forward to sharing a range of insights from high-level local, regional and international participants during this year’s forum,” commented GWC’s Group CEO, Ranjeev Menon.
“We believe MSMEs will supercharge Qatar’s economy in the coming decades as the country leverages hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet,” continued Menon. “The FIFA World CupTM is bringing new opportunities to Qatar and is enabling economic growth across a range of sectors. As Qatar’s number one logistics and supply chain solutions company, we understand the significant role we are playing in capitalising on World Cup opportunities – and this is something we will illustrate during the forum.”
The hybrid forum aims to champion and enable MSMEs in Qatar by giving them a platform to showcase their successes and grow beyond 2022, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Special keynote message will be given by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, who will address the forum on the vital role MSMEs play in building a nation’s economy and society.
GWC Forum 2022 partners include Hamad Bin Khalifa University (research partner) and beIN SPORTS (media partner).
A host of senior level speakers will represent the forum partners and other global brands, which will facilitate insightful discussions on the role of logistics at mega-events like the FIFA World Cup™. Panel sessions and workshops will offer a deeper dive into key subjects as delegates look to glean knowledge from the biggest sporting event ever to be held in the region.
Panel sessions
The first panel session will examine the direct and indirect impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup™ on MSMEs in various sectors of the Qatari economy.
The second panel session will delve into the trends and challenges faced by MSMEs by taking the discussion to major enablers of business transformation.
GWC, one of the largest logistics services providers in the region, has successfully transported Thuraya and Suhail to the Panda Park in Al Khor. These two giant pandas have been gifted by China to Qatar as a token of friendship and to celebrate Qatar hosting the FIFA World CupTM, which begins on 20 November 2022. GWC was responsible for the ground logistics and delivery once they arrived in Doha. This included customs clearance and transport from Hamad International Airport (HIA) to the Panda Park in Al Khor. The pandas were transported in two closed temperature-controlled trucks, with temperature set to plus five (+5oC) to plus ten (+10oC) degrees centigrade. GWC’s expertise in transporting precious and endangered species was tested and successfully passed test runs from the airport to Panda Park, Al khor to check if the temperature can be maintained as per the above conditions. Transporting such endangered species requires a high level of due diligence and attention to detail. GWC also conducted a site survey at Panda Park, Al Khor to check the location and safety of the place where the Pandas would be offloaded. An extra truck was with the contingent to deal with any emergency situation. The Company works closely and regularly with the Qatar Ministry of Environment’s Veterinary Affairs.
Department to ensure all processes comply with the highest standards of biosecurity at all times. GWC worked closely with Qatar Airport Services, General Authority of Customs, Hamad International Airport, Ministry of Interior and Qatar Airways along with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment representative to discuss and plan the scope and to facilitate this operation.
Egyptian carrier to operate two flights a week between Sharjah and Cairo
Sharjah Airport welcomed the inaugural flight of Nile Air, the largest private airline in Egypt, which flew in from Cairo International Airport. The carrier will operate two flights a week between Sharjah and Cairo on Friday and Sunday.
The welcoming ceremony organized by Sharjah Airport was attended by several department heads, stakeholders and strategic partners from the authority, alongside Ahmed Oraby, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer at Nile Air.
H.E. Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nile Air to Sharjah, and are pleased that they chose the emirate as a new destination to enhance air connectivity for travelers from both destinations. We are committed to constantly expanding the network of global destinations available to travelers and attracting new international carriers to Sharjah Airport, in line with the Authority’s aspirations to support tourism movement between the two destinations. This will also help meet our customers’ growing demand for travel and will support our strategy to strengthen Sharjah Airport’s position as a global aviation hub for passenger travel.”
Ahmed Oraby added: “We are pleased to have launched operations connecting Sharjah and Cairo international airports, especially at a time when Sharjah is witnessing an accelerated pace of development, not to mention its importance as a destination of great cultural and historical significance, which also makes it a unique tourism hub as well.”
Oraby also thanked Sharjah Airport Authority officials for the remarkable support they provided in realizing Nile Air’s expansion of operations to the UAE in accordance with the highest international standards of accuracy and quality, reflecting the Authority’s wise leadership values and governance.
Nile Air, which entered the UAE market in 2016, is the first and largest private airline in Egypt. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircrafts in Egypt and offers both the economy and business class options to its customers, providing them with easy and comfortable choices to choose from.
Sharjah Airport offers a wide array of services and support to all its partners in order to ensure smooth operations and meet the evolving needs of its customers and travelers, ensuring their happiness and satisfaction.
The company will display its cutting-edge Fire Protection, Fire Detection, Security, and Telecommunications Systems in the show
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, is participating at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2022) slated to take place from October 31st to November 3rd.
Johnson Controls is a leading total integrated solutions provider for the oil & gas and petrochemical industry. As a pioneer in this space, the global company contributes to the safety and security of the industry’s high-value assets, including telecommunication solutions and digitalization across onshore and offshore plants.
At the upcoming exhibition, the company will showcase its end-to-end integrated solutions related to fire protection, fire detection, security, renewable energy, PAGA (public address & general alarm) and telecommunications systems used by leaders across high-risk verticals.
“ADIPEC is an important platform to connect with industry leaders across the spectrum with a common goal to revolutionize the energy sector. At Johnson Controls, we offer integrated solutions that not only deliver actionable insights for the industry, but also streamline processes and enhance operational performance. Our deep expertise and long-standing experience in the segment make us a trusted partner across the value chain,” said Mohammad Khalid, vice president and general manager, Middle East and Africa at Johnson Controls.
Johnson Controls’ vast Fire, Security and Telecommunication portfolio which includes renowned brands like Tyco, Ansul, Autocall, Zettler, Spector Lumenex, to name a few, sets the standard for the industry across the region. Its specialized division is dedicated to the needs of the offshore, onshore, LNG, and pipeline market segments through a comprehensive range of customized solutions. A key player in the renewable energy sector, Johnson Controls’ provide innovative, next-generation solutions that guarantee safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
Hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ADIPEC is known as one of the world’s most influential gathering for energy industry professionals. This year ADIPEC will accelerate the energy transition and unlock real value in a decarbonized future.
Bridgestone marks important step towards sustainability goals: Roma Plant, Italy becomes first to achieve Internationally Recognised ISCC PLUS Sustainability Certification
· Bridgestone takes an important step in support of its global ambition to achieve 100% sustainable materials by 2050, with ISCC PLUS certification at its high technology, specialised tyre manufacturing plant in Rome
· Bridgestone’s Aiken plant in America joins Roma plant in achieving ISCC PLUS certification, further advancing Bridgestone’s focus on the production of sustainable tyres
Bridgestone, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, announced that its tyre manufacturing plant in Rome, Italy (‘Roma’) has become the first tyre plant across the whole of Bridgestone to achieve the coveted and globally recognised International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification.
ISCC PLUS recognises compliance with and transparency around sustainability and traceability of raw materials including bio, bio-circular and circular-based material in the manufacturing process. Working towards a more sustainable world, ISCC PLUS aims to support the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy by contributing to the implementation of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production.
The certification, which evaluates all the sustainable raw materials in the value chain to determine and verify compliance with environmental requirements, also marks a step in Bridgestone’s ambitious global journey towards the use of 40% sustainable materials by 2030, and 100% sustainable materials by 2050.
Roma plant became the first tyre manufacturing facility of Bridgestone to achieve ISCC PLUS certification at the beginning of September thanks to its use of Bio-Circular and Circular-based materials. Bridgestone EMIA will be expanding the assessment programme across further plants in Europe from 2023.
Commenting on the ISCC PLUS certification Emilio Tiberio, COO & CTO at Bridgestone EMIA said: “We are on a journey to 2050 and the delivery, by then, of our major environmental goals; carbon neutrality and the use of 100% sustainable materials. This ISCC PLUS certification for Roma plant is a step along the way to become a leading sustainable solutions company and reflects our hard work and dedication to overcome the technological and market challenges to fully sustainable and renewable tyres.”
Bridgestone’s Roma plant isn’t the only facility to enjoy success with ISCC PLUS certification this month, as the Bridgestone Aiken County Passenger/Light Truck Radial tyre plant also became the first tyre manufacturing facility in America to earn ISCC PLUS recognition.
The sustainability certification at both Bridgestone’s Roma and Aiken plants aligns perfectly with the “Ecology” and “Energy” values in the Bridgestone E8 Commitment – the broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value Bridgestone is promising to deliver to society, customers, and future generations in eight focus areas.
Air Europa Cargo recently came across SkyPallet whilst actively looking to address a pain point in one of its hubs; the airline is already feeling the benefits and looking to expand its use across its business.
Easy, intuitive, and customizable are the three words that Air Europa’s Head of Cargo, Jordi Piqué, spontaneously comes up with when asked how he would describe working with SkyPallet. The airline opted for Wiremind Cargo’s flagship end-to-end capacity optimization product earlier this year, with a view to improving its flight planning processes in the warehouse and with its Global Handling Agent (GHA).
Air Europa Cargo discovered SkyPallet as a possible solution to optimization issues at one of its hubs. Given its intuitive, straightforward application, SkyPallet quickly became a welcome and integral part of daily operations within the warehouse and the GHA’s processes. SkyPallet’s comprehensive algorithms not only facilitate ULD build-up, but also enable greater capacity control, more efficient capacity usage, as well as anticipate key information relevant to issuing quotations to freight forwarders. Though Air Europa Cargo’s primary objective with SkyPallet was to improve its operations, its commercial teams are also now increasingly using the software to support their quotation decisions.
Though it is still too early to be able to draw on consolidated data to prove Air Europa Cargo’s success since using SkyPallet, the airline’s impression is that the software has already brought resource-efficiencies. Air Europa’s independent cargo subsidiary, founded in 2018, has systematically been looking to streamline existing processes and establish a strong and resilient cargo foundation. Digital solutions play a core role.
“Air Europa Cargo can look forward to around an average 4% improvement in its capacity utilization, as a Wiremind Cargo survey of other airlines and freight forwarding companies using SkyPallet, found,” says Nathanaël de Tarade, Chief Executive Officer of Wiremind Cargo. “We enjoy working together with Air Europa Cargo, as they have come up with ideas to make SkyPallet even easier for operational staff when applying the build-up plan. Our products grow through application and new perspectives, and we gladly adapt and enhance accordingly. The best digital solutions are those that adapt to changing requirements.”
Jordi Piqué agrees: “Wiremind Cargo’s flexibility, willingness, and speed in adapting the system to our requirements, is reflected in the carefully crafted solutions it produces. It clearly has the expertise and always puts the customer first – not only when it comes to online user experience, but also offline collaboration. Wiremind Cargo is always on hand when we need it.”
Dubai, UAE, 18 October 2022: Blue Carbon, recently founded in the UAE with an aim to support carbon removal projects around the world, hosted a four-day workshop for Angola’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry delegation in Dubai.
Commenting on the visit, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, the Founder and the Chairman of Blue Carbon said, “We see great potential in Angola because of its huge forests which are natural ‘carbon sink’ sites. Therefore, we are confident that Angola can play an instrumental role in the world’s efforts to fight climate change.”
It may be mentioned that Angola’s forests are spread on over 69.3 million hectares of land, 55.6 per cent of its total territorial area, with 68.9 million hectares of native (natural) and 61,000 hectares of planted rainforests. Leveraging on preserving its forests, Angola has a significant potential globally to fight the negative effects of the climate change.
In order to collaborate with Angola in preservation of Angolan forests, Blue Carbon shed light on its newest and innovative solutions which play a key role in monitoring, reporting and verification of forest carbon, thus developing the most appropriate solutions.
As Blue Carbon supports carbon removal projects across the world, the discussion explored ways of bringing in nature-based solutions for Angola to help the country in its reforestation campaign.
Expressing her views on the occasion, Blue Carbon CEO Josiane Sadaka said, “We at Blue Carbon will explore ways of accelerating the transition of Angola into de-carbonized economy as well as intensify our global fight against climate change leveraging on Angola’s natural resources.”
Blue Carbon focused during the workshop on youth, being a significant segment of the Angolan population as the company underscored the importance of building local capacities in Angola via enabling sustainable knowledge and awareness programs as well as organizing workshops, webinars and e-learning sessions.
During the workshop, Blue Carbon also offered conducting national forestry inventory and aggregate data to Angola.
Participants of the workshop agreed that it is imperative to take constructive steps now in this direction, otherwise the world will have to face huge losses to prevent negative effects of climate change.
The participants stressed on the need to adopt serious measures for low carbon economy to ensure sustainability for generations to come.
GWC once again shows its commitment toward sustainability by taking part in Qatar Sustainability Week 2022.
The Qatar Sustainability Week, which is a national initiative, was organized by Earthna (formerly known as the Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC)) has taken place from 8-15 October 2022, with the aim to engage the relevant stakeholders and the community in a wide range of sustainability-oriented activities and raise awareness while showcasing Qatar’s progress in various areas of sustainability.
GWC, through its various initiatives, has endeavoured to keep environmental protection and sustainability at its core. Whether it is a beach clean-up, tree plantation or recycling wooden pellets to delivering a sustainable FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, GWC has put in place many active and passive measures.
With a strong focus on digitalisation and Qatar National Vision 2030, GWC has been working diligently to provide holistic and innovative solutions to its clients while keeping a firm grip on its ESG framework.
“When it comes to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, sustainability has been at the core of our design, preparation and delivery measures. We are determined to assist our various clients and stakeholders in all sectors by reducing the ecological footprint through streamlining their logistical operations,” remarked Jawaher Al Khuzaei, Marketing & Communications Director, GWC.
She further added on the importance of the Qatar Sustainability Week for GWC and the nation as a whole, as a platform to showcase all the work being done by the government and the private sector to protect the environment for the future generations. She highlighted that this year, besides continuing the usual initiative, GWC participated in the Community Garden, by repurposing used wooden pallets and creating 30 plantation beds. Sustainability initiatives and its continuous improvement have always been a part of GWC’s operations across all its facilities globally.
The inauguration was attended by Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District – Dubai South, Christian Drenthen, Board Member – Land Transport/Contract Logistics of DB Schenker; Christopher Smith, CEO – Middle East Africa of DB Schenker; and Ako Djaf, Vice President – Contract Logistics at SCM Middle East and Africa – DB Schenker; among other senior executives from both companies.
The third facility, which is also temperature-controlled, offers a total space of 90,000 Euro pallets providing warehousing solutions for different industries, including dangerous-goods storage and B2C e-commerce delivery services, leveraging its ideal connectivity to land, sea, and air freight transportation modes. The facility also has a 5,000 square-metre mezzanine floor exclusively designed for various value-added service activities.
Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District – Dubai South, commented: “DB Schenker’s new facility will strengthen the entire ecosystem of the Logistics District, thanks to its innovative solutions and best sustainable practices, all of which are a testament to its progressive business strategy. We will spare no effort to consolidate DB Schenker’s prominence and offer sustainable logistics solutions in line with the UAE Net-Zero 2050 strategic initiative. Global and regional players benefit from Dubai South’s customer-centric processes and the seamless, multimodal connectivity between road, air, and sea transportation. As part of boosting Dubai’s global position, we are committed to establish a progressive ecosystem to build a global logistics & e-commerce hub that caters to the evolving demands of our existing and potential clients.
In his comments, Ako Djaf, Vice President – Contract Logistics/SCM, DB Schenker Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted to inaugurate our third facility on Dubai South grounds toward strengthening the logistics industry and meeting the changing needs of our valued customers. As with the second facility, the new centre will further cement our sustainability commitment and agenda, and the construction of this expansive green logistics centre will elevate our capacity and network. The three-phase growth plan we established in 2015, with our facilities in proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali port — one of the most important transportation hubs globally — was an important strategic decision. Dubai South’s strategic location, as well as its revolutionary infrastructure and exceptional business facilitation, will enable us to sustain our growth in this competitive landscape. By designing models comprising catalysts anchored in sustainable best practices, DB Schenker aspires to facilitate the industry by leapfrogging the barriers toward net-zero targets.”
DB Schenker in the Middle East and Africa region facilitated the market entry of many international companies to expand their footprints across the globe in this high-potential market. This has made the company one of the fastest-growing logistics service providers in the region expanding the total area of its operated logistics centres from 40,000 to 325,000 square metres in the past seven years.
GWC Logistics has announced Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) as the research partner for this year’s GWC Forum, which will be held at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa on 1 November.
‘Ready for the Game – Empowering Qatar’s MSMEs’ follows the success of the inaugural forum in 2021, titled ‘Getting you in the Game’, which was attended by 800 delegates from 59 countries and attracted significant media coverage.
GWC – Qatar’s leading logistics and supply chain solutions company – is the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. As well as supporting tournament preparations, GWC is helping to deliver an economic legacy by supporting Qatar’s growing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). HBKU will support the Forum’s objectives in capturing the direct and indirect impact of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM on MSMEs’ and the transformation affecting the sector in the aftermath of 2022.
This year’s hybrid forum will feature senior-level speakers representing partners and other global brands. Panel sessions and workshops will offer a deeper dive into key subjects as delegates glean knowledge from this year’s FIFA World Cup™, which will be held from 20 November to 18 December.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “We are delighted to announce HBKU as the research partner for this year’s GWC Forum, which will help businesses across Qatar understand the benefits of hosting the FIFA World Cup and the numerous post-tournament opportunities. HBKU is already collaborating with us closely to research the impact of Qatar 2022 – particularly in relation to the economy and the impact the tournament will have on MSMEs. The forum will further strengthen our ties as Qatar seeks to leverage the hosting of the FIFA World Cup and power the nation towards Qatar National Vision 2030.”
This is the latest collaboration between GWC and HBKU, following the announcement of a research initiative last year. GWC and HBKU are working together to assess the impact of Qatar 2022 on the country’s economy, with a focus on MSME empowerment.
In addition, GWC is working closely with the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at HBKU to promote impactful and innovative research and development in the fields of engineering, technology and science, with a special emphasis on logistics and supply chain management. The outcomes will be geared towards boosting industry performance and achieving mutually beneficial opportunities, while offering a scientific approach to problem resolution for issues facing the industry.
Dr Laoucine Kerbache, Professor and Coordinator of the Engineering Management and Decision Sciences Division at HBKU’s CSE, said: “We are very pleased to be working closely with GWC in relation to this year’s forum, which will shine a light on the pivotal role MSMEs are set to play in powering Qatar’s economy beyond the FIFA World Cup. We have seen over recent years – due to the global pandemic and vaccine distribution challenges particularly – the crucial importance of logistics and supply chain management. HBKU is keen to support this industry through its various programmes as we help the development of Qatar’s economy and drive highly innovative approaches to research.”
Furthermore, the partnership provides for GWC to collaborate with HBKU’s degree programmes, including master’s and PhD programmes in logistics and supply chain management, and assist with research opportunities. It also aims to enhance knowledge diffusion between the private and education sectors to improve employment possibilities, and broaden the career paths of young professionals in the logistics sector.
Under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Tristar Group will host its 4th annual ‘Safety at Sea’ conference in Dubai on November 22 2022. The event will be attended by senior government officials, prominent leaders of the regional maritime industry, and representatives from numerous maritime organizations, in addition to seafarers.
Al Mansouri: The event honours seafarers who are the heroes of global trade, who actively contribute to the continuity of maritime operations despite challenges
Al Malek: The UAE is a logistics hub linking international shipping lines. Receiving more than 21,000 ships annually, it accounts for the largest share of ships reaching the region’s ports
Mayne: We are in the fourth year of organizing our ‘Safety at Sea’ conference and it is our endeavour to continue hosting this event annually to bring all stakeholders together for the ultimate benefit of our sea-going colleagues
The conference launched by the Maritime Logistics division of Tristar will continue to draw industry and global attention to the importance of the well-being of workers at sea such as their physical and mental health. The inaugural conference was held in Dubai on November 10, 2019, and was attended by more than 150 decision-makers and senior officials from the maritime industry and watched remotely by over 500 seafarers.
Supporting seafarers is a major goal
The UAE is a key logistics hub, connecting global shipping lines, and receiving over 21,000 ships annually, the largest number of ships heading to the region’s ports. With 27,000 local and international maritime companies, the country’s ports handle more than 17 million containers each year. These achievements would not have been possible without the dedication of thousands of seafarers who arrive in the UAE waters on ships from all over the world.
H.E. Eng. Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, emphasised: “When we talk about the shipping sector in the UAE, we must recognise the influential role the country plays in the global maritime sector as it is one of the key maritime hubs globally. To ensure the sector’s development, we introduce initiatives, laws and legislations based on best practices, while also taking care of the seafarers’ community which is an integral pillar of the industry. We are constantly working to help them overcome the challenges they face onboard and beyond. The “Safety at Sea” initiative confirms our continuous support for seafarers and reflects our firm belief in the active role they play towards strengthening the role of the UAE as an unparalleled global maritime hub.”
H.E. Eng. Hassan Mohammed Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, emphasised: “When we talk about the shipping sector in the UAE, we must recognise the influential role the country plays in the global maritime sector as it is one of the key maritime hubs globally. To ensure the sector’s development, we introduce initiatives, laws and legislations based on best practices, while also taking care of the seafarers’ community which is an integral pillar of the industry. We are constantly working to help them overcome the challenges they face onboard and beyond. The “Safety at Sea” initiative confirms our continuous support for seafarers and reflects our firm belief in the active role they play towards strengthening the role of the UAE as an unparalleled global maritime hub.”
Al Mansouri added, “Safety at Sea also contributes to the UAE’s leading status as one of the top countries in protecting the rights of seafarers, especially bearing in mind the prominent role they played in facing the impact of the pandemic on the global economy. At the Ministry, it is our role and responsibility to put in place legislations and laws related to the maritime sector, whilst we ensure compliance and implementation of these laws. Our legal system thus also serves seafarers who significantly contribute to achieving the economic development of the UAE. The most recent of these achievements was the Cabinet’s decision regarding marine debris and violating ships, which binds all ships carrying the UAE flag or sailing in its waters to ensure the rights of seafarers and provide their requirements.”
Saudia Cargo is proud to announce its agreement with IATA to work on its Center of Excellence for Independent Validators for Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) Certification, the global standards in the safe and secure air transportation and handling of pharmaceuticals. Saudia Cargo CEO Teddy Zebitz and IATA Senior Vice President Commercial Products and Services Mr. Frederic Leger signed the agreement on 28th of Sep on the sidelines of World Cargo Symposium, the largest and most prestigious air cargo event, held this year in London.
For the next few months, Saudia Cargo will continue rigorous preparations across multiple aspects of its operations, particularly on staff competency to handle pharmaceuticals, to comply with IATA’s requirements for CEIV Pharma Certification on top of GDP (Good Distribution Practice). The process is meant to ensure that critical healthcare cargo such as COVID-19 vaccines and other pharmaceutical and bioscience products are not compromised while they are being transported on air.
Commenting on this milestone to Saudia Cargo’s continuing drive as a globally competitive market leader, Teddy Zebitz, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This move shows Saudia Cargo’s commitment to the highest global quality standards and compliance when it comes to transporting pharmaceuticals and life sciences products. Human lives are paramount in our operations whether it involves staff or end-users. This give our customers and partners the continued confidence and peace of mind that the pharmaceuticals we transport are treated with utmost care in line with international standards.”
When it comes to transporting pharmaceutical products across continents, Saudia Cargo has successfully built a trusted name. For decades now, it has been the preferred shipper for vaccines and other medicines across the Middle East and Africa. As the company’s global humanitarian mission continues, it also demonstrated its strong commitment to UNICEF’s goal of distributing COVID-19 vaccines for free to developing countries.
Uniquely positioned bridging the East to the West, the Jeddah-based Saudia Cargo offers fast and efficient air transport services with minimal ground handling time. In recent years, the company unveiled its multimillion new cold chain facilities with state-of-the-art features at its sprawling new cargo terminal in Jeddah and other parts of Saudi Arabia. Saudia Cargo joined the rest of the world to save humanity, successfully carrying over 500,000 tons of cargo, mostly healthcare, and operated over 6,000 cargo flights.
In today’s new normal, the airline sees its role in handling pharmaceuticals as critical to people’s lives and livelihood that deserves deepening capabilities and expertise in the supply chain.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted four priorities to build resilience and strengthen air cargo’s post-pandemic prospects.
The priorities, outlined at the 15th World Cargo Symposium (WCS), which opened in London today are:
· Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050
· Continuing to modernize processes
· Finding better solutions to safely carry lithium batteries
· Making air cargo attractive to new talent
“Air cargo had a stellar year in 2021 achieving $204 billion in revenues. At present, however, social and economic challenges are mounting. The war in Ukraine has disrupted supply chains, jet fuel prices are high and economic volatility has slowed GDP growth. Despite this, there are positive developments. E-commerce continues to grow, COVID restrictions are easing, and high-value specialized cargo products are proving resistant to economic ups-and-downs. Going forward, achieving our net zero commitment, modernizing processes, finding better solutions to safely carry lithium batteries, and making air cargo attractive to new talent are critical,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
The road to Net Zero by 2050
In 2021 the aviation industry agreed a balanced plan to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. A potential scenario for this is:
· 65% through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
· 13% from hydrogen and electric propulsion
· 3% from more efficient operations
· 19% through offsets and eventually through carbon capture, as an out-of-sector solution while technology develops.
“SAF is the key to achieving net zero emissions. Airlines used every drop that was available in 2021. And it will be the same this year. The challenge is SAF production capacity. The solution is government incentives. With the right incentives, we could see 30 billion liters of SAF by 2030. That would be a tipping point by 2030 towards our net zero ambition of ample SAF quantities at affordable prices,” said Sullivan.
Modernization and Efficiency
“The challenges of the COVID crisis gave us confidence that we can change and adapt fast. We need to use that confidence to get even closer to the expectations for modernization that our customers have. And we need to be true to air cargo’s unique selling point and move even faster,” said Sullivan.
IATA highlighted two areas where progress was being made:
· IATA’s ONE Record is making it possible for everyone across the industry’s value chain to see the same information on shipments. Already 156 companies and four customs authorities are using it.
· IATA Interactive Cargo Guidance provides a common framework so that tracking devices can monitor the quality and accuracy of conditions of time and temperature sensitive goods.
Government support for the modernization agenda through facilitating trade is also critical.
“The Revised Kyoto Convention which brings standardization, technology, predictability and speed to trade facilitation and the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE Framework of standards to facilitate and secure trade are major steps forward in supporting global trade. But we are still seeing far too many diverging requirements by governments in areas that should be harmonized by these two tools. This needs to change quickly so we can continue to support global trade—and its vital contributions to economies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals—with modern and efficient air cargo. Universal adoption and implementation will deliver the greatest benefits,” said Sullivan.
Safety
Safety, specifically finding better solutions to safely carry lithium batteries was highlighted as a priority for the industry.
“We can be proud of the progress that we are making to further improve the safe handling of lithium batteries. For air cargo, this is a top priority. But even the best regulatory structure means nothing if the rules are not followed. Compliance is an issue with the transport of lithium batteries, particularly with the proliferation of new—and inexperienced—entrants in e-commerce activities,” said Sullivan.
IATA called for:
· Regulatory authorities (EASA and FAA) to accelerate development of a test standard that can be used to demonstrate that fire containment pallet covers and fire-resistant containers are capable of withstanding a fire involving lithium batteries.
· Government authorities to step up and take responsibility for stopping rogue producers and exporters of lithium batteries.
· Industry to use technology such as DG Autocheck to more easily and accurately verify that the shipment complies with DG requirements.
To embed best practices on the safe carriage of lithium batteries across the value chain, IATA has expanded its CEIV Lithium Battery program to include airlines and shippers.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be trialing a CO2 emissions calculation tool specifically developed for cargo flights together with Etihad Airways.
To effectively manage and report on sustainability progress, the entire value chain – shippers, forwarders, investors and regulators – along with consumers are asking for reliable and trustworthy data calculations. This trial will provide a valuable proof of concept for the cargo component of the IATA CO2 Connect carbon calculator. IATA has been successfully providing IATA CO2 Connect for passenger flights since June this year, with actual fuel burn data of 57 aircraft types representing ~98% of the active global passenger fleet . By using airline specific data on fuel burn and load factors, it is the most accurate in the market.
Calculating the carbon impact of cargo shipments has more challenging parameters, not least of which is the unpredictability of routing at time of booking an air cargo shipment that can often include non-air segments. In addition, cargo can be carried on both dedicated freighter aircraft and in the bellies of passenger aircraft. To achieve equal levels of accuracy to the passenger calculator, it is essential to collect actual data on fuel burn, load factors and other key variables in trials.
IATA will be working with Etihad Cargo to track the necessary data for cargo shipments during a three-month trial. Etihad will be sharing data from flights and advising on various use cases to achieve the highest levels of accuracy, consistency and transparency.
By mid-2023 IATA aims to launch CO2 Connect for Cargo providing the industry with precise and consistent methodologies for both passenger and cargo operations.
“With a strong commitment to innovation, Etihad Cargo actively seeks out and facilitates the development, trials and launch of promising solutions for its customers and partners. The airline’s development with IATA demonstrates the ability and willingness to co create solutions to support Etihad Cargo’s journey to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and demonstrates the carrier’s agility in adopting state-of-the-art technology and digital solutions. IATA’s CO2 Connect carbon calculator will be an effective tool in making the transportation of cargo more sustainable and will benefit not only Etihad Cargo’s customers but also the wider air cargo sector in the future” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group.
“Aviation will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And our customers—travelers and shippers—need accurate information on the emissions related to their activities to manage their own commitments
and reporting obligations. For all these purposes, accurate data is critical. IATA CO2 Connect already provides this for passenger operations. This trial with Etihad will help us in bringing an industry-leading carbon calculator for cargo in the coming months,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Products & Services.
Oman-based Keryas Paper Industry to set up 200,000 MTPA Kraft Liner project in UAE at US$40 million investment
Signs MoU with C2C Consultancy, India, at Propaper Dubai 2022
Keryas Paper Industry LLC, announced that it will set up their upcoming Kraft liner project in UAE with a capacity of 200,000 Metric Ton Per Annum (MTPA) at an investment of 40 Million USD in the pulp and paper manufacturing unit.
On the side lines of the just concluded Propaper Dubai 2022, the Keryas Paper Industry Group also signed a MoU with C2C Consultancy, India, for the complete design and engineering of the proposed project.
The project is designed to produce low GSM Kraft packaging paper with a basis weight of 60 to 80 as anchor GSM. The mill will also have the capacity to produce 150 GSM basis weight of Kraft packaging paper. The project helps fulfil the gap in market demand particularly for the lower GSM ranges.
The project will be one of the largest across GCC countries and expected to commence the production within 18 to 20 months, a Keryas Group statement said. Keryas Paper Industry LLC has its existing production line in Sohar, Oman, with the capacity of 180,000 TPA which was commissioned in July 2021. The existing line has achieved more than 120% of its design capacity in a short span of time with superior quality end product.
In view of continuous developments and sustainability, Keryas ordered the advanced cleaning system for their dryer screen area from Europe and America in order to ensure the quality of the finished product and to enhance the machine run ability.
In order to preserving the Nature and to reduce the vulnerability to environment, Keryas invested in the egg tray manufacturing unit to handle the sludge waste from the paper making process.
QUANTRON presents a h2-powered world premiere with championship range of up to 1,500km for its Nordic version and up to 700 km for its standard EU version at IAA Transportation 2022: The hydrogen heavy duty truck QUANTRON QHM FCEV
Due to a strong demand and more than 250 initial inquiries, QUANTRON orders the first 140 fuel cell engines from Ballard Power Systems, one of the world’s leading hydrogen experts
The QUANTRON FCEV system developed by Ballard Power is the first heavy duty truck specific tailor made system in 43 years of Ballard history – and QUANTRON the global launch client
In the next step, a total of four FCEV models are planned in cooperation with Ballard Power for 2023, all hydrogen-powered and zero-emission.
At the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover, QUANTRON is currently presenting the QUANTRON QHM FCEV hydrogen truck, a world champion in terms of range. The vehicle with integrated FCmove™-XD 120 kW fuel cell from Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP), one of the world’s leading hydrogen experts, reaches up to 1,500km in the QUANTRON QHM 44-2000 variant. The QUANTRON QHM FCEV was unveiled yesterday at the trade fair and more than 250 initial inquiries and the first orders for the vehicle have already been placed. These include Germany with a particularly high demand in the context of the recent funding applications as well as Norway for which the QUANTRON QHM FCEV 44-2000 variant was specially developed as an operating area.
As a result, QUANTRON ordered 140 fuel cell engines from Ballard to secure the supply chain, totaling approximately 17MW with an option to purchase an additional 50 units. The fuel cell modules are expected to be delivered in 2023 and 2024.
As of September 2021, QUANTRON and Ballard are engaged in a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of heavy duty hydrogen vehicles. Resulting from this strong cooperation, Ballard has made a minority equity investment in Quantron AG as part of QUANTRON’s financing round of up to 50 million euros. Ballard’s investment proceeds will be used by QUANTRON to develop their truck fuel cell vehicle platforms, under the terms of a Joint Development Agreement. Ballard will be the exclusive fuel cell supplier to QUANTRON for these platforms.
The zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicle platforms developed by QUANTRON will integrate Ballard fuel cell products for various truck applications in Europe and the US. QUANTRON’s initial market focus is Germany, where their new 44t fuel cell truck has been unveiled at IAA Transportation 2022. In the next step, a total of four FCEV models are planned in cooperation with Ballard Power for 2023.
“We are seeing growing global demand and policy support for zero emission transport as companies strive to reach decarbonization targets. This collaboration accelerates our entry into the European truck market and aims to have QUANTRON’s initial hydrogen-powered, zero emission trucks on the road in the next 18 months,” said Randy MacEwen, CEO, Ballard Power Systems.
“QUANTRON is thrilled to advance our strategic partnership with Ballard. We see compelling mobility use cases where fuel cell engines are the most suitable zero emission solution, given the power and range requirements of the application,” commented Andreas Haller, founder, and Chairman of Quantron AG.
Michael Perschke, CEO of Quantron AG added, “We want to offer our customers the best solution possible, and our continued collaboration with Ballard allows us to advance our environmentally friendly offerings to meet our customers’ needs, including range, payload, and refueling time, with an increasingly competitive total cost of ownership. As a next step we need to solve the chicken and egg situation and form multiple green hydrogen production & fueling partnerships.”
The sector adapts and morphs in its quest for a sustainable future
The recently concluded Frost & Sullivan’s Annual Intelligent Mobility Summit 2022, (APAC, Middle East, India & Europe) held virtually on 7 and 8 September 2022, was themed: ‘Towards a Sustainable Future’. This year marked the 14th edition of the flagship mobility event.
“The intensifying climate change crisis and rapid resource depletion have magnified the need to identify alternative business paradigms. Industries worldwide, including mobility, are moving towards models of sustainable, innovation-led growth, where environmental and social considerations are being merged into business and investment decisions,” affirmed Darrell Huntsman, Chief Executive Offer, Frost & Sullivan.
The push towards decarbonization and sustainability is particularly crucial for the mobility industry, which has long been indicted for its disproportionately large carbon footprint and high emissions levels. Accordingly, the mobility industry is being seen as a key catalyst in the quest to achieve global net-zero emissions by 2050.
CASE
Advanced technologies mirrored in connected vehicles, autonomous driving, shared mobility and electromobility (CASE) trends, changing customer preferences, and regulatory pressures are fast-tracking sustainable models of growth in the mobility industry.
Across the mobility spectrum, stakeholders are designing comprehensive sustainability blueprints that cover products like zero-emission vehicles and software-defined vehicles, processes like carbon-neutral manufacturing and circular economy, and business models like “lifestyle-as-a-service.”
“The mobility industry is undergoing fundamental shifts in its push towards decarbonization and a resilient, resource-responsible future,” noted Vivek Vaidya, Associate Partner and Senior Vice President, Mobility Practice, Asia Pacific, Frost & Sullivan. “While stakeholders have shown purposeful intent, there is still tremendous potential to integrate sustainability more effectively into business models to drive greater innovation, growth and profitability,” he added.
Networking sessions
Indicative of the scope and scale of the challenge at hand, the Summit brought together a diverse network of industry experts, innovators, and policymakers, with over 2,000 delegates participating in thought-provoking debates, panel discussions, and networking sessions.
Over 30 thought leaders from industry and government shared their insights on an array of hot topics. Featured speakers included Ponz Pandikuthira, Vice-President, Global Product Marketing, Nissan; William Wei, CTO Foxconn/MIH; Daniel Majewski, Head of R&D Strategy and System Solutions, ZF Group; and Benjamin Maillard, GM North America Free2move, among many others.
Discussions covered an eclectic range of topics, including decarbonization as a driving force in sustainable mobility, strategies to achieve a carbon-neutral vision, current and upcoming trends in the electric vehicle market, creating smartphones on wheels, implications of government regulations on automotive industry prospects, the battle for supremacy between traditional automakers and technology start-ups, and the circular economy of batteries. Discussions also focused on the future of automotive retail, commercial trucking, and mobility.
As a logistics solution partner, Turkish Cargo contributes to the globalization journey of Togg, one of the most ambitious manufacturing projects of Türkiye.
Turkish Cargo transported Togg, which is set to be one of the global brands of Türkiye, to perform its winter tests.
The Togg smart device, whose road, safety, performance and range/battery tests are continuing at accredited test centers in different parts of the world, flew to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina for its winter tests. After the journey that started at Istanbul Airport and continued to Argentina, a commercial film about the cooperation of Turkish Cargo and Togg was released.
On the shipment, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated;“We are celebrating the successful performance shown at international tests by Togg smart device, one of the most ambitious projects of Türkiye. Doing our part as the national flag carrier with the power of being the airline that flies to more countries than any other in the world, we are proud to deliver the Turkish automobile and our country’s technology exports worldwide.”
Togg CEO M. Gürcan Karakaş stated that they are happy to cooperate with Turkish Airlines first for CES 2022, and now for the winter testing in Argentina, and said: “From the first day we set out on our journey, we have been acting on the principle of choosing our business partners among the best in our country and the world. Following our ‘Transition Concept Smart Device’, which we exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show CES in Las Vegas, the USA in January 2022, we have now undertaken yet another solid collaboration by transporting our Togg Smart Device to the accredited test center in Ushuaia, Argentina, the closest point to the South Pole, in cooperation with Turkish Cargo, for the continuation of our winter testing. Our tests continue in various accredited test centers, which are the world’s leading ones. We stand by our word be it snow, winter or mud, even on the other side of the world if need be. We are taking firm steps towards our goal to launch on the promised date.”
Togg’s new brand identity and concept car took its place on the international stage for the first time at the CES fair held in Las Vegas on January 5-8 2022, and the vehicle was transported with a special flight of Turkish Cargo.
Turkish Cargo makes use of special equipment for sensitive products requiring special shipment processes. The movements of valuable cargoes stored in sensitive cargo compartments are kept under continuous supervision by means of cameras installed around the storage facilities. With its unique solutions, global air cargo carrier, which has an experience over 30 years in special cargo shipments, ranks among the first choices of global companies in search of reliable business partners.
Fugro transforms the maritime industry in the Middle East with the introduction of its first uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the region. The Fugro Pegasus, the latest addition to the Blue Essence family of uncrewed vessels has arrived in Abu Dhabi and is ready for its first sail in the Gulf.
The 12m class built USV will be the Middle East region’s first fully uncrewed vessel that can go beyond the horizon, with the capability of launching an e-ROV. With its cutting-edge hybrid power system, compact size and advanced satellite technology, The Fugro Pegasus will set a new standard for asset inspection by eliminating human exposure to the offshore environment and reducing emissions by 97% versus conventional vessel operations. Furthermore, the Fugro Pegasus can be stationed offshore for longer, without the need to demobilise for crewing or re-fuelling activities at the port.
The introduction of Pegasus marks an exciting time for the maritime industry in the region and allows Fugro to further enhances its capacity to deliver world-leading geo data services to clients.
Managed from one of our Remote Operating Centres (ROC) in the region, Fugro will be able to deliver world-lead geo-data solutions faster, safer and more efficiently than ever before.
By embracing remote-operated asset inspections, surveys, and positioning solutions to the maritime industry. Fugro’s partners and clients can now explore the world of Autonomous Asset Management where artificial intelligence can be used to eliminate production downtime through a deep understanding offshore infrastructure.
Al Masaood Group Industrial, a part of Al Masaood Group and a highly diversified UAE-based business enterprise that offers a wide range of industrial solutions, is participating in the upcoming Middle East Manufacturing & Technology (MEMT) Expo, which is taking place from the 12th to the 14th of September 2022, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The Middle East Manufacturing & Technology Expo, which is the region’s only event dedicated to the manufacturing and industrialisation industry, will witness the participation of key players from local and international companies. During the event, businesses will showcase their technologies and solutions in construction and manufacturing.
Al Masaood Group Industrial, represented by Al Masaood Bergum and the manufacturing department of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E) at the Expo, is highlighting its latest solutions for the construction and oil and gas industries.
Al Masaood Bergum, one of the UAE’s leading modular and prefabricated building solutions providers, is showcasing its latest construction solutions: Hybrid Modular Solutions (HMS) and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).
Hybrid Modular Solutions (HMS) are rapidly growing cold formed materials used by Al Masaood Bergum to make the construction process easier and products stronger. Used in residential and commercial building structures, the Hybrid Modular Solutions are recyclable, time efficient, easily transported and installed, with minimal requirement for manpower on site.
The second construction solution showcased by Al Masaood Bergum is the Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which is a prefabricated, solid engineered wood panel made by a highly sustainable carbon capturing material. It provides solid structural capabilities, thermal and acoustic properties, and other benefits, including 40 per cent faster construction and 30 per cent better manpower utilization. Using Cross Laminated Timber reflects Al Masaood Bergum’s commitment to foster sustainability and reduce carbon emissions during construction.
Meanwhile, the newly created manufacturing department of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E) division is highlighting various products designed to meet the needs of the Oil and Gas industry. The department designs and manufactures a wide range of customized, efficient, and safe oilfield servicing equipment – including blending equipment, centrifugal pumps, high pressure pumps and servicing stimulation equipment.
Hani El Tannir, CEO, Group Industrial, said: “The manufacturing sector in the Middle East has embraced technological innovations in recent years, keeping in mind its critical role in diversifying the economies of the region. We are delighted to be a part of the Middle East Manufacturing & Technology Expo as it provides an excellent platform for leaders in the sector to highlight their technologies and solutions. It also highlights our support of the UAE’s Industrialization strategy and ‘Make it in the Emirates’ campaign to offer more sustainable options that serve the country’s manufacturing industry.”
Tannir added: “We are also happy to introduce our new manufacturing department under our Commercial Vehicles & Equipment division at this event, in line with our vision to provide holistic and customized solutions to serve our customers in this vital sector.”
The Middle East represents a vast opportunity for the global manufacturing industry given its strategic location between Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. By bringing a wide array of international companies and brands under one roof to foster new concepts and ideas for business growth, Middle East Manufacturing & Technology (MEMT) Expo provides a highly effective environment for manufacturing, technology, and industrialisation industries to upscale their businesses.
On 1 September, only seven months after opening its first wholly owned operation in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the global logistics provider Scan Global Logistics (SGL) opened its second office in Abu Dhabi. Setting up business in the UAE capital, the fastest-growing international trade hub in the Middle East, is also a step towards enhancing SGL’s presence in the economically flourishing region while expanding its global foothold.
Strategically located in the Abu Dhabi Airport Freezone, the new office is equipped with a dual license of a Freezone and a mainland company for offshore and onshore requirements. Located at the centre of the industrial zone close to the Khalifa seaport and the Etihad Cargo and International Airport, air and ocean customers will benefit from quick and easy freight handling, including expedited customs handling.
Operational 24/7/365 As the first logistics provider in Abu Dhabi, the new office is operational 24/7/365. For customers within verticals such as aid and relief or pharma often requiring urgent handling of shipments, the round-the-clock service hours enable fast customs clearance, even during night time.
“By having customs close by, we can provide our air and ocean customers with fast inspections and efficient solutions in no time. Customs optimization can save considerable time and money and keep our customers’ vital supply chain running smoothly,” says Leslie Farnworth, General Manager, Abu Dhabi, who holds 23 years of experience in the industry.
He continues, elaborating on the power of proximity and collaboration with the Abu Dhabi office:
“Our proximity to import and export gateways enables us to provide speedy turnaround times, especially for our customers in the Abu Dhabi area. And, in close collaboration with our sister office, we can ensure smooth operations for customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including land transportation to our neighbouring countries in the region.”
Logistics of tomorrow SGL offers a range of tangible, low-emission solutions to help decarbonize their customers’ supply chains. For example, customers worldwide can opt for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
“Sustainable logistics can provide customers a competitive edge. Therefore, we engage daily in helping our customers reduce their CO2 emissions, including long-term planning, allowing for choosing the most environmentally friendly modes of transport,” says Leslie Farnworth.
Ayman Kabbara, Managing Director, UAE, concludes:
“The opening of the Abu Dhabi office follows the trajectory of SGL’s growth strategy, expanding our extensive, worldwide network, providing entrepreneurial logistics solutions to our global and regional customers. Our industry experts are handpicked within aerospace, pharma, aid & relief, retail, agriculture, and defense. Coupled with Abu Dhabi’s logistical capabilities, connectivity, and strategic location as an important gateway to the African continent, Europe and Asia, we look forward to providing efficient logistics and helping uncomplicate our customers’ world.”
· Maersk’s second facility will span 162,000 square feet in Dubai South and aims to strengthen its offerings across different sectors in the UAE
· The new facility features a fulfilment centre for end-to-end e-commerce solutions
Maersk Kanoo UAE, the global integrated logistics company, today signed an agreement with Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate, for its new warehousing and distribution (W&D) facility in Dubai. The agreement was signed by Christopher Cook, Managing Director, Maersk UAE and Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District, Dubai South, at the regional headquarters of Maersk West & Central Asia in Dubai.
The 162,000 square feet ‘Maersk Integrated Logistics Centre DWC’ facility in the Dubai South Logistics District will have a capacity to cater to 15,000 pallet positions and 10,000 bin locations; it will also serve as an e-fulfilment centre.
Ocean shipping, as well as inbound logistics and distribution, have traditionally been shared among multiple stakeholders in the Middle East, resulting in complex logistical requirements. To create a seamless experience and integrated logistics solution for its customers, Maersk has strategically invested in W&D facilities and provided ocean and landside transportation. Following the inauguration of the first W&D facility (108,000 square feet) in Dubai at JAFZA earlier this year in March, Maersk will more than double its total footprint in the UAE with the new fulfilment centre.
In his comments, Christopher Cook said: “At Maersk, we are in constant dialogue with our customers to understand their logistics requirements and supply chain pain points. Our customers have appreciated the single-window access to all their logistics requirements through our integrated solutions.”
He added: “Upon carefully studying different possibilities, we zeroed in on Dubai South for our new fulfilment centre considering its strategic location connected to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and the mainline port and hub of Jabal Ali. This will allow us to further build on our air-sea hub operation, which has become increasingly important while also satisfying the right balance between speed and cost with tremendous flexibility.”
Mohsen Ahmad said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Maersk, which will help expand its footprint across the UAE. Our mandate at Dubai South is to attract top international players to the Logistics District with the aim of boosting the sector, and diversifying the emirate’s economy, in line with various government initiatives and strategies. In reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global trade and air-freight
logistics hub, we will spare no effort to offer Maersk optimal solutions to further advance its air cargo operations as well as support them in their growth journey.”
The Maersk Integrated Logistics Centre DWC at Dubai South will become operational later this month. The new facility will allow Maersk to operate a hybrid model of a bonded and non-bonded warehouse and truly fulfil different customer needs, including that of a fulfilment centre for end-to-end e-commerce solutions. The facility will also play an important role in supporting Maersk’s existing services, including ocean shipping, landside transportation, customs clearance, etc. Customers taking advantage of the integrated solutions from Maersk will benefit from reduced handovers of their cargo through its journey, leading to potentially faster turnaround times, higher visibility, better control, and more predictability of their supply chains.
The origins of Acme can be traced back to 1975 when the company was founded in Dubai by visionary Indian entrepreneur Nambron Narayanan. His goal then was modest—to support the needs of the local logistics industry by providing manual shelving and storage solutions and other industrial hardware products. The home-grown company has since expanded radically over the past 47 years.
Since then, it’s vast range of sophisticated industrial hardware products and solutions for warehouse and factory automation have evolved with changes in the industry, while maintaining and staying the course of adhering to its core values of supporting the regional industry and retaining its family business ethos. The focus was on working as a system integrator and introducing new international technology to the region.
The turning point occurred in 2018. That year triggered the biggest transition undertaken by Acme when the company set up a full-scale manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali that focuses on designing, manufacturing, and installing a wide range of automation systems including complex warehouse as well as factory automation solutions. The baton has since passed on to a new generation with Navin Narayan, Founder-CEO, now at the helm of the company. He spoke exclusively and expansively to Global Supply Chain on a wide-ranging interview for the Acme Intralog lead story.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): How is automation and digitalization getting indispensable in the present context fuelled in part in a pandemic-ridden era?
Navin Narayan (NN): Clearly, the pandemic has opened the eyes of stakeholders in the region. They now understand how dependent a lot of industries are still on manual labour for their production as well as partners for robots and collaborative robots themselves as well as grippers and applicators and AI vision that complement our offering and intralogistics operations.
When the workforce had to be reduced to implement safety protocols or in cases where there was work stoppage due to contracting Covid-19, while demand for many industries was at all-time highs, the financial repercussions were often grave. The adoption of automation and digitalisation of processes therefore has seen a drastic increase. Even though the pandemic has waned, it is still difficult to get manpower that is keen to work in such environments. Most companies start with simple solutions and scale up over time as they, seeing the positive effects and are able to gain savings due to the new systems.
GSC: Given growth in demand, challenges in supply chain and a changed working ambience wrought by Covid, do you see a greater focus and orientation towards technology going forward in the logistics and supply chain sectors?
NN: I believe the focus on technology will always continue to increase in the future, however, the type of technology the logistics and supply chain sectors are looking for, will vary. We currently see an increasing demand for Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems both for pallet and tote handling, which drastically enhances visibility and traceability of available stock among other benefits.
Also, more and more operations are looking for automated or semi-automated order picking solutions as well as sortation systems. Order fulfillment is one of the most labour-intense processes in most businesses, while not being a value-adding one. Modular automation solutions that can be bolted on as the business grows, are expected to find a niche market with start-ups and SME companies that have a vision for growth.
GSC: How do you perceive the role of Acme in this transformed ecosystem?
NN: Since the beginning, Acme has transformed with the changing demands of our customers, and this is our ethos we firmly believe in. We have established a strong standing in the ecosystem and are able to deliver on different scales of requirements with a quick turnaround: we have built a portfolio that offer both smaller, scalable solutions to customers that are not yet ready for complex automation as well as fully automated turnkey solutions for businesses that are ready to embark on a larger scale transformation.
GSC: How is the exponential surge in e-commerce over the last say three years impacting the financials for Acme?
NN: We have seen a similar trend in our books – the e-commerce sector has increasingly contributed to our revenue and now generates over 40% of our turnover. Both existing and new customers have been rethinking their processes and are looking for ways to enhance their productivity and efficiency. Businesses have understood the need to implement automation to deliver a truly seamless omni-channel experience to their customers.
GSC: What are your short and / or long term expansion plans for the region?
NN: We have been focusing on our geographical expansion in the last few years and have meanwhile opened operations on two more continents with our offices in India, Germany and since beginning of this year also in Colombia in Latin America. Within each of the new regions we are working on increasing our market share and bringing our technology to a wider range of customers. Besides we are focusing on expanding our product range as well as our team to keep up with the increasing demand. Our R&D department is always looking for the most efficient ways to solve our customers’ challenges. We are developing new systems that will offer suitable and scalable solutions.
GSC: What opportunities in store and challenges do you foresee going forward?
NN: As for the challenges, the current semiconductor shortage is one that effects many industries including automation. It has become harder to source key elements which bears the risk of delays in project deliveries. Particularly in the UAE, we have seen great opportunities in the push for the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative by our government as well as the increasing appetite for Industry 4.0 solutions across the whole region.
GSC: What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
NN: I believe the recent growth of e-commerce combined with the increasing impatience of consumers, who expect to receive orders as fast as possible, will lead to the rise of micro-fulfillment centres. More businesses see the benefit to being closer to their customers and there with able to better react to their expectations. Through automation they can further enhance their operational efficiency. There is also a growing market for modular automation solutions for smaller operations. When warehouse space is limited and expensive, vertical storage systems can be a good start in automating processes.
GSC: Is Acme planning to take on new partnerships and representations— perhaps mergers and acquisitions?
NN: We are always open to building new partnerships and representing global brands that we believe would add value in the regions we are operating in. Recently our focus has been heavily on robotics as we see the high potential these solutions have for a wide range of industries. We have great partners for robots and collaborative robots themselves as well as grippers and applicators and AI vision that complement our offering and expertise and therefore allow us to serve our customers better. In automation there is no one size fits all solution, hence, we remain on the look-out for innovative products and build partnerships when we see a long-term benefit for our customers.
GSC: How big is the Acme footprint in the food and cold chain sectors?
NN: We have worked with some of the largest companies in each of these industries in the GCC on both small and large projects. One of the major food & beverage players has appointed us to build multiple new warehouses for them in the recent years, automating their entire supply chain in these facilities.
We have completed a sortation facility for one of the largest supermarket chains earlier this year, to handle fresh fruits and vegetables. With our system, the customer is now able to handle perishable goods faster and distribute these more efficiently and accurately to their retail stores as well as end customers ordering online while at the same time minimising the amount of manpower needed on the shop floor. We also delivered an automated kitting centre for a humanitarian agency in Dubai that helps them prepare much needed pharmaceutical as well as emergency response kits to disaster hit areas globally.
GSC: How is Acme currently faring thus far in 2022 and how does that compare with 2021 and what is your outlook for the remainder of this year?
NN: 2022 has been an extension of the previous year. Our order books remain strong as we still see customers focusing on transforming their operations and focusing on implementing industry 4.0 solutions in the region. With the added emphasis on digitalization and improving process efficiency, customers are increasing their focus on end of line solutions as well as intralogistics automation.
Though supply chain disruptions with regard to semiconductors do plague the industry, we have worked closely with our strategic partners to ensure that the delays are limited and that we are able to deliver on projects within the project timelines.
GSC: Make the case for Acme; what sets Acme apart and what are your USPs (Unique Selling Propositions)?
NN: Acme is the largest warehouse automation developer and integrator in the MENA region. We are the only integrator with local manufacturing as well as an on-ground R&D department, where we continuously work on new products and solutions as well as customised approaches to specific needs.
We have a proven track record of reliable and highly durable products with a growing list of references. I believe, our most important USP is our highly experienced, multi-cultural team. Our company culture is based on family values, and we are proud to have a team of highly committed, solution-oriented experts in their respective fields working closely together driving our success.
Part II To get up close personal and get the low down on the company, Global Supply Chain also conducted supplementary interviews with the top company quartet comprising Atanas Khagerian, VP Sales, MENA; Uli Pausch, Sales Director Europe, Acme Intralog Europe GmbH; Jaideep Bauskar, Head of India Operations, Acme Intralog India Pvt. Ltd and Manuel López, Regional Sales Director – Latam, Acme Intralog Latam S.A.S. The following are the transcripts. Interview with Atanas Khagerian, Vice President Sales, MENA, Acme Intralog.
GSC: For Acme it all started in Dubai in the UAE. As the official based on its home turf, how significant is the MENA, the region you oversee for Acme?
Atanas Khagerian (AK): Over the past 47 years since inception, we have gained great trust and respect within the MENA region and developed a huge base of customers. We are keen to continue supporting our existing and new customers in the region with our unique products and services. We see a high potential for us in our home region. Our customers appreciate the benefit of Acme’s local manufacturing capabilities and our mission to deliver customised solutions that are tailored to the needs of the region.
GSC: How does the MENA region stack up vis-a vis the other global theatres of operation from a performance perspective?
AK: The MENA region has a different economic growth pace compared with other global markets. The number of on-going mega projects and the upcoming project plans are huge, we are very confident that our expansion plan is in the right place and on the right track and that the MENA region has the vision and the ability to invest in the latest automation technology. The shortage of skilled manpower in the region is one of the fundamental triggers for automation in the logistics industry.
GSC: Make the advocacy case for Acme’s ‘Make it in the UAE’ mantra?
AK: We are proud to be a homegrown business and we have heavily invested to develop our capability to design and manufacture advanced automation solutions here in the UAE. Having operated in this market for as long as we have, we believe this is the best location for us to support the specific requirements of the regional industry as well as globally with custom solutions. Besides, the infrastructure the UAE government provides and initiatives such as ‘Operation 300bn’ and ‘Make it in the Emirates’, have been fostering our growth and supporting our expansion to other global markets.
GSC: What Acme product lines and range are manufactured in Dubai?
AK: Our team is manufacturing all types of conveyors, including roller and belt conveyors and accessories, a range of AS/ RS, such as ‘Mother and Child’ shuttles, miniloads, stacker cranes, high bay stacker crane and tote shuttles. We also manufacture and integrate robotic palletisation as well as end of line solutions for the logistics and manufacturing industry.
GSC: What advantages are there generically in manufacturing products and processes indigenously in the UAE?
AK: As a local manufacturer, we have strong design and consulting capability based out of our Dubai and Riyadh facility. This enables us to provide quick and accurate solutions that cater to our customers’ requirements. With a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali, we are able to manufacture to European specification and CE standards at affordable prices with short lead times and therefore fast project delivery times. In addition to this our large after sales team in the region can support our customers with life cycle maintenance as well as operation support so that they are never left without support once the system is handed over.
GSC: How well received are Acme products in other markets?
AK: Having 47 years of presence in the Middle East, customers in the region trust the products and solutions offered by Acme. This has provided us the track record and references that global customers are looking for. By ensuring the quality and reliability of our systems in addition to conforming with global certification requirements, we can build confidence in the eyes of our global customers. They know that they are in safe hands with solutions from Acme!
GSC: What are your expansion products for the region? Do you also have another GCC country in mind to opening manufacturing facilities?
AK: At the moment we would like to centralise manufacturing here in Jebel Ali to ensure better control of production and delivery. Meanwhile, we now have a service and maintenance hub that is staffed with experienced engineers and service technicians in Saudi Arabia. This will help us to warrant on time support to our existing as well as upcoming customers in Saudi Arabia.
PART III Interview with Uli Pausch, Sales Director Europe, Acme Intralog Europe GmbH
GSC: How significant is the European continent for Acme?
Uli Pausch (UP): With almost 50 countries and a population of more than 750 million people, Europe is the third most populous continent in the world. Considering only the European Union (EU) within Europe, the EU is worldwide on second place in view of shares at world trade exports and trading inside the European continent. This level of industrialisation and the acceptance of automation within the intralogistics space makes it a very attractive region for Acme.
GSC: What challenges do you encounter in the region and what are the opportunities ahead?
UP: Within the last year Acme Intralog Europe was facing and fighting two major challenges as a newly founded branch: the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent increase of gas / fossil fuel prices, especially in Europe. However, these developments have shown most industrial companies clearly what they need to do to prepare for similar challenges in the future – as material, skill, and staff shortage are more real than ever: Implementing intelligent industrial and warehouse automation operations become crucial to remain competitive. With Acme being the leading solution provider in the Middle East for such solutions, we see a great opportunity to now support European companies with our knowledge, technology, and experience to help them eliminate bottlenecks in their operation and create more efficiencies.
GSC: What trends are you seeing for automation in logistics on the European continent?
UP: In the future, Europe is bound to have rising personnel costs paired with skills & staff shortage. This coupled with the need for more efficient internal processes, larger SKU portfolios and little available land will lead companies to further invest in automation solutions in logistics. We also see more and more companies working or considering working with ‘Industry 5.0’ solutions in Europe, such as human-robot collaboration, cognitive systems, mass customisation, etc.
This means ‘Industry 4.0’ (IoT, networking, machine learning, etc.) have become a standard for most, pushing simple automation within the last decade. ‘Industry 5.0’ implies a steady increase in new, elegant, and demanding requirements, challenging automation companies to continuously up their game.
At Acme we are proud to have a highly talented R&D department who are committed to come up with customised solutions, combining new technology with our standard repertoire as required.
GSC: What makes Acme stand out of the clutter in Europe? UP: One of our key priorities is customer focus; supporting customers to find the best automation solution to achieve their desired operational efficiency goals. With our high quality and service standards as well as fast project delivery times, we are well equipped to meet the needs of European customers.
GSC: Which Acme solutions do you see highest demand for in Europe?
UP: Automated Storage and Retrieval systems are seeing highest demand currently. This includes stacker cranes, mini loads and mother and child systems.
PART IV: Interview with Jaideep Bauskar, Head of India Operations, Acme Intralog India Pvt. Ltd
GSC: How rapidly is automation in logistics increasing in the India?
Jaideep Bauskar (JB): Automation in Logistics and related industries is growing with a CAGR of 8-10% in India. We have seen a drastic increase particularly in e-commerce order fulfillment automation as well as AMR and AGV based automation.
GSC: What potential do you foresee for Acme in India?
JB: The Indian market has a strong base of manufacturing industries, including FMCG, pharma, white goods, automotive, heavy engineering and more. These sectors are traditionally prone to automation and offer great potential for us. Particularly with government initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, we see the demand for automation further increasing for the manufacturing industries. The e-commerce industry has also grown rapidly, which is another high potential sector for us.
GSC: What are the opportunities and challenges for Acme in India?
JB: India is a highly competitive market when it comes to the automation field. Entering as a relatively new brand with a headquarter abroad, we had faced the typical challenges. We have set up a complete, albeit lean organisation in India to be able to support our customer’s on-ground to provide the same level of service our customers in MENA receive. Our close collaboration with our headquarters, the expertise across multiple markets and industries provides us with the opportunity to compete with local players on big projects, which a typical start-up would not be able to do.
GSC: What trends are you seeing for automation in logistics in your region?
JB: Nowadays, we are seeing that end users in the industry are looking to go vertically to increase the storage capacity, while focusing on cost effective and scalable solutions that are capable of providing accurate and high throughput order processing. 3PL businesses in India are now expanding their services to the manufacturing industries and are providing value added services such as re-packing, labeling, assembly, etc. This has further necessitated the need for automation within the warehouse.
GSC: What is the level of receptivity for ‘Made in the UAE’ Acme products in India?
JB: We see an acceptable level of receptivity in the market for products ‘Made in the UAE’, however, that depends of course on the products. In our sector, the key drivers for deciding for a vendor are quality, price and of course how well a solution is meeting the customer’s requirements. In 2022, India and UAE have signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which provides the benefit of reduced or zero import duties between the two countries and this has helped our pricing become even more competitive in India.
GSC: What are among the most popular Acme product range in India?
JB: ASRS (for pallets & totes), radio shuttles, Mother and Child systems, robotic palletisation and various robotic applications as well as complete solutions for material flow are popular Acme product ranges. Besides, our USP is our ability to provide tailor-made solutions as per the customers’ needs and that gives us an edge in the market.
PART V Interview with Manuel López, Regional Sales Director–Latam, Acme Intralog Latam S.A.S., Colombia
GSC: How significant is the LATAM continent for Acme and Colombia where you are based?
Manuel López (ML): Latin America is a region with constant growth and a lot of potential to explore as most organisations have turned their focus towards automating their processes. During the critical months of the pandemic in Latin America, we have seen a slight growth in the implementation of new technologies in storage and picking solutions, particularly in sectors such as Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage and Fashion. We are not oblivious to the importance that this will have for Acme in the coming years. Colombia is projected to have the highest growth in Latin America over the coming years. Due to its geographical location and air connectivity with other countries, we believe it will play an important role for our growth and performance in the region.
GSC: What challenges do you encounter in the region and what are the opportunities ahead?
ML: Like for any new company that launches in a new market, there are several challenges, but to mention a few: Customs and political restrictions in the ports of some of our regional markets as well as the political and economic situation some countries are facing, which also affects currency exchange rates. As a new brand in Latin America, we are still bringing in awareness of our solution portfolio and providing technical consultancy to businesses that are keen to explore automation.
As for the opportunities, our ability to develop competitive solutions that fit our customers’ needs in terms of space, performance, price, and after-sales service will set us apart. The experience of our team makes us more competitive and attractive to the customer. Our speed of response when it comes to developing a concept, providing an offer and right to manufacturing and delivering the solution sets us apart from other global players.
GSC: Which are among the top three performing countries on the continent?
ML: With regard to businesses investing in warehouse automation we have seen Mexico, Brazil and of course Colombia being the top three performing countries. As the industrial base in regional countries grow, we expect that there would be an increase in demand for intralogistics solutions coming for neighbouring countries too.
GSC: What trends are you seeing for automation in logistics on the LATAM continent?
ML: We are seeing a demand for High Bay Warehouses fitted with stacker cranes and mother and child solutions to handle industrial pallets. Lately, there has also been an increased demand for picking and sortation solutions from the e-commerce industry as this market begins to heat up.
GSC: What is the appetite for UAE manufactured Acme products in LATAM?
ML: Latin American customers give high value to quality and reliability. Systems manufactured by Acme at our Dubai facility are known for being reliable, state of the art and built to European specifications. Therefore, there has been a growing appetite for ‘Made in the Emirates’ Acme solutions in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Peru.
GSC: What prospects do you foresee for Acme in LATAM?
ML: It is hard to pin a number to our expected growth as we only begun operations early this year. However, our expectations are high given the big appetite for scalable automation solutions in the region. Our solution portfolio is in line with the needs of the region, and this gives us enormous confidence in our ability to help local industries in their journey towards intralogistics automation. Customers in the region value the quality, reliability, and experience that Acme brings to Latin America.
GSC: What are the fast-moving Acme products in LATAM?
ML: Our core product portfolio for Latin America is pallet handling solutions such as conveyors, stacker cranes and high-density mother and child solutions. We have also seen demand for sortation solutions increase in the region as the e-commerce market heats up. We also provide conventional solutions, such as racking and multi-level mezzanines for retailers and manufacturers.
In an effort to mitigate climate change, Hahn Air announced a partnership with veritree, a technology platform enabling and tracking global restoration projects. Hahn Air committed to restoring coastal mangrove forests in Kenya and Madagascar by planting 150,000 trees which equals an area of 15 hectares (37 acres). The Hahn Air tree population, once matured, will sequester for an average of 32,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
“We are very excited about this project”, says Hahn Air CEO Kirsten Rehmann. “Hahn Air’s partnership with veritree is the first of a number of nature-positive initiatives we are implementing. This involves reducing the carbon footprint of our own flights, of our business operations and our business travel activities. In this regard, it is important to us to work with a trustworthy partner who closely oversees and monitors the progress of our planting initiative. With veritree, we can be sure about every single tree being planted and nurtured to reach its full carbon absorbing capacity. We can also trust that our contribution is not only benefitting the environment but also the local community.”
“To contribute to a more sustainable air transport, we are also looking into solutions for our travel agency and airline partners”, adds Alexander Proschka, Executive Vice President Commercial. “It is our clear goal to offer carbon compensation options for flights distributed through Hahn Air in the future.”
veritree serves as a fully integrated management system that connects businesses, like Hahn Air, directly with the local planting and execution teams on site. Through proof-of-stake blockchain technology, veritree ensures transparency and traceability of the tree planting activities. The trees planted through the veritree platform are tracked via QR codes to validate, monitor, and analyse the planting progress.
Mangroves forests are a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the coastal intertidal zone and that play a key role in many coastal ecosystems. They provide primary habitat for thousands of species and are breeding and nursery grounds for many fish and invertebrate species. Not only are Mangroves able to absorb and store three to four times more carbon than mature tropical forests, but they are also protecting shorelines from winds, waves, and floods. And finally, the mangrove forests in Kenya and Madagascar are a crucial source of livelihoods for coastal neighbourhoods. veritree includes the local communities, involves them closely in safeguarding the projects, for example through reporting and verification, and thereby creates jobs and income sources through ecotourism and agriculture.
“veritree and Hahn Air share a vision that the future of business is restorative, and collectively we can make a difference by investing in verified nature-based solutions.” said Derrick Emsley, CEO of veritree. “veritree’s mission is to make it simple for businesses to incorporate, and steward, nature-based solutions. We’re excited by our newly founded partnership with Hahn Air.”
For more information about Hahn Air’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, visit www.hahnair.com/esr.
Kirsten Rehmann Alexander Proschka
About Hahn Air
Hahn Air is a German scheduled and executive charter airline. Since 1999 it offers indirect distribution services to other airlines and thus provides ticketing solutions to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets. With more than 20 years of experience, the company has established itself as the market leader. Today, Hahn Air’s partner network encompasses more than 350 partner airlines.
Hahn Air offers its distribution services exclusively to transportation companies and ticketing solutions to travel agents only. However, travellers benefit as well as they are able to choose from more carriers, more routes and more destinations. Every year millions of passengers travel between 4,000 locations using Hahn Air’s HR-169 tickets. It is the first and only airline worldwide that offers free and comprehensive reimbursement in case of insolvency of the operating carrier. Hahn Air is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and a globally connected stakeholder playing a leading role in the airline industry.
Hahn Air is 100% owned by the Hahn Air Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich near Frankfurt, Germany. The fleet of Hahn Air Lines operates out of the airports Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Egelsbach. The Group has offices around the world, including Minneapolis, Montevideo, Casablanca, New Delhi, Manila and Johannesburg.
About veritree
veritree is a data-driven, restorative platform that connects nature-based solutions with mission-driven companies ready to lead the restorative economy. With on-the-ground monitoring and blockchain verification, veritree improves transparency and trust through data and tools that revitalize ecosystems, strengthen communities, and build climate solutions.
The success behind tentree’s planting program, veritree scales consumer-centric programs between planting organizations and corporations around the world. veritree’s mission is to restore the planet – planting and verifying one billion trees within the decade. For more information, visit veritree.com.
In an effort to mitigate climate change, Hahn Air announced a partnership with veritree, a technology platform enabling and tracking global restoration projects. Hahn Air committed to restoring coastal mangrove forests in Kenya and Madagascar by planting 150,000 trees which equals an area of 15 hectares (37 acres). The Hahn Air tree population, once matured, will sequester for an average of 32,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
“We are very excited about this project”, says Hahn Air CEO Kirsten Rehmann. “Hahn Air’s partnership with veritree is the first of a number of nature-positive initiatives we are implementing. This involves reducing the carbon footprint of our own flights, of our business operations and our business travel activities. In this regard, it is important to us to work with a trustworthy partner who closely oversees and monitors the progress of our planting initiative. With veritree, we can be sure about every single tree being planted and nurtured to reach its full carbon absorbing capacity. We can also trust that our contribution is not only benefitting the environment but also the local community.”
“To contribute to a more sustainable air transport, we are also looking into solutions for our travel agency and airline partners”, adds Alexander Proschka, Executive Vice President Commercial. “It is our clear goal to offer carbon compensation options for flights distributed through Hahn Air in the future.”
veritree serves as a fully integrated management system that connects businesses, like Hahn Air, directly with the local planting and execution teams on site. Through proof-of-stake blockchain technology, veritree ensures transparency and traceability of the tree planting activities. The trees planted through the veritree platform are tracked via QR codes to validate, monitor, and analyse the planting progress.
Mangroves forests are a group of trees and shrubs that grow in the coastal intertidal zone and that play a key role in many coastal ecosystems. They provide primary habitat for thousands of species and are breeding and nursery grounds for many fish and invertebrate species. Not only are Mangroves able to absorb and store three to four times more carbon than mature tropical forests, but they are also protecting shorelines from winds, waves, and floods. And finally, the mangrove forests in Kenya and Madagascar are a crucial source of livelihoods for coastal neighbourhoods. veritree includes the local communities, involves them closely in safeguarding the projects, for example through reporting and verification, and thereby creates jobs and income sources through ecotourism and agriculture.
“veritree and Hahn Air share a vision that the future of business is restorative, and collectively we can make a difference by investing in verified nature-based solutions.” said Derrick Emsley, CEO of veritree. “veritree’s mission is to make it simple for businesses to incorporate, and steward, nature-based solutions. We’re excited by our newly founded partnership with Hahn Air.”
Global conflict, supply chain disruptions, and the continued economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to keep global food prices at historically high levels until 2024, according to a recent market report from the World Bank.
Among the factors driving price inflation are record levels of food wastage, with up to 40% – 70% of fresh food in supply chains being damaged or wasted due to unfavourable storage conditions or poor handling. There has also been a reduction of farm labour capacity, leaving a significant volume of produce unpicked in fields after harvests, and 23 countries have implemented food export bans, with seven implementing export-limiting measures, as of August 2022.
As a result, policymakers, innovators, and international leaders are looking for new ways to reorganise supply chains to prioritise food security and ensure access to healthy diets.
The World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference 2022, which will be held in the Middle East for the first time in October, will bring together government bodies with leading fresh food producers and wholesale market authorities to discuss key challenges and potential new approaches to bring food from farms to the table.
H.E. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) said: “Under the wise leadership of the UAE, our nation has taken proactive steps to develop agile food supply chains and support technology-enabled food production. We are actively working with global partners to share key learnings and address the critical challenges facing global food supply chains today.”
ADAFSA is launching several initiatives that aim to boost local production and enhancing market accessibility and competitiveness for local products. These initiatives also look to encourage food and agricultural supportive industries, in addition to improving wholesale markets for livestock and other agricultural products.
UAE companies participating in the conference will discuss some of the major projects being undertaken to enhance access to fresh food and reduce wastage. AD Ports Group, which is developing one of the region’s largest food trading and logistics centres at KIZAD in Abu Dhabi, is also establishing an integrated food storage and distribution hub in Uzbekistan to enhance the nation’s food trade across global markets and drive Central Asian food security.
Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO, Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group, said: “AD Ports Group is rapidly internationalising our expertise in developing food markets with all the supporting infrastructure necessary to ensure food security. As the host of the WUWM Conference in Abu Dhabi, we are looking to learn from our global partners about the different routes wholesale markets are taking to improve efficiency and ensure sufficient food supplies.”
Under the theme, “Global food security in the XXIs: Risks, challenges and solutions to ensure resilient and sustainable fresh food supply chains”, WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 will be one most significant meetings of the global food industry held this year, building on the work of their 2021 conference which examined the food supply challenges in the post COVID-19 world.
Stephane Layani, WUWM Chairman, said: “The key aim of the conference is to find pathways to provide communities with balanced, healthy and nutritious diets, and to overcome the current challenges restricting access for a significant proportion of the global population. We have made good progress in recent years, but the current wave of global political and climate-related challenges risk pushing us back, particularly with the long tail impact of COVID-19. I am optimistic that, by bringing together key stakeholders in Abu Dhabi, we will be able to actively address the current issues and look ahead to a more stable, food secure future.”
Other topics set to be discussed at WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 include logistics, the role of food hubs in ensuring healthy diets and the role of digitalisation.
The conference will take place from 19-20 October 2022 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Early bird rates are available for delegates who book tickets before 16 September.
Etihad Cargo has transitioned to the Microsoft Dynamics 365-driven Pulse CRM to optimise response times and make it easier for customers to communicate and provide feedback
The new system will enable Etihad Cargo’s Customer Contact Centre to track all queries, improve response times and further improve customer service quality
Etihad Cargo’s Customer Contact Centre handles over 13,000 transactions per month, including customer enquiries and feedback, bookings and information requests. As the latest step in the carrier’s digitalisation and continuous improvement journey, Etihad Cargo has transitioned to the Microsoft Dynamics 365-driven Pulse CRM system to empower customer service agents with more customer-focused data. This will enable them to communicate with customers more efficiently. The new system provides Etihad Cargo’s customer service team with improved tools, including an updated case management system, and customer information, such as the customer’s history, purchase records, sales interactions and a 360-degree view of customer queries.
“Etihad Cargo continuously reviews processes, procedures and systems to ensure the delivery of the highest levels of customer service,” said Tim Isik, Vice President Commercial at Etihad Cargo. “The transformation of Etihad Cargo’s Customer Contact Centre through the launch of this new system provides greater transparency and visibility, enabling customer service agents to track each transaction from initial contact through to resolution. This data will enable the Customer Contact Centre to identify processes where efficiencies could be achieved, which will ultimately provide Etihad Cargo’s customers with a streamlined and more efficient communication process.”
Using the new system’s real-time dashboards, Etihad Cargo’s Customer Contact Centre agents can access all data related to a specific customer or transaction. The Microsoft Dynamics 365-driven Pulse CRM also provides customers with the option to leave immediate feedback and access a Net Promoter Score questionnaire, enabling the carrier to measure customer satisfaction at every query level.
To further optimise the quality of the carrier’s sales, marketing and customer service offering, Etihad Cargo is exploring additional enhancements, including the integration of Microsoft Power BI, which will facilitate additional efficiencies through reporting and dashboards that will enable customer service agents to measure, monitor and optimise the customer experience. The carrier is also planning to incorporate conversation intelligence and the automation of routine transactions, which will further reduce the time between first contact and the completion of transactions.
Isik concluded, “Etihad Cargo’s primary objective is to be the air cargo partner of choice. The launch of a new system within the Customer Contact Centre is the latest step taken by Etihad Cargo to ensure customers can interact with customer service agents as easily as possible, making the booking process more convenient and intuitive than ever before.”
Prime Shipping was recently awarded three ISO certifications – namely, ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015 for Environment Management System and ISO 45001:2008 for Occupational Health & Safety Management System.
These certifications are an affirmation of the Company’s relentless pursuit of excellence and setting new benchmarks in the shipping and logistics industry. By meeting the extensive criteria of these standards, Prime Shipping as proved its commitment to protecting the environment and consistently delivering quality outcomes for clients and employees.
“Prime Shipping is providing specialized services with sole focus on shipping & logistics services, enabling the company to pay attention to innovation and deliver higher quality services which are more effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly,” stated Mr. Vaibhav Raval, General Manager, Prime Shipping.
The world’s most widely used quality management system standard, ISO 9001:2015 helps businesses prove that they can consistently provide products and services that meet customer requirements. Achieved through exhaustive external audits the certification aims to enhance customer satisfaction through the effective application of a company’s system, including processes for continual review and improvement.
On the other hand, ISO 14001:2015 looks at a very critical aspect of any organisation – its environmental management system. This certification provides the framework for protecting the environment by using a holistic approach for product life-cycle and putting in place compliance measures for minimizing negative impact on the environment.
Lastly, ISO 45001:2018 is a globally recognized occupational health and safety standard to help organizations improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create safer working conditions. Achieving ISO 45001:2018 certification demonstrates Prime Shipping’s commitment to its employees, community and customers, and a drive to continually improve and evaluate its work environment.
Prime Shipping, through its extensive network, offers shipping agency representation to global shipping lines and markets their products and services in Qatar at the highest professional standards with integrity and loyalty.
Get in touch For media related inquiries, please contact us at +974 33211010 or +974 3336 8059 or by email at media@gwclogistics.com
According to the World Air Transport Statistics data, published on yearly basis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA); Turkish Cargo, the rising logistics brand of Turkish Airlines, ranked the 1st among the European air cargo companies while it ranked the 4th among the global airlines, thanks to its total transportation performance.
According to the FTK (Freight Tonne Kilometers) data, the succesful brand increased its business volume by more than 32 percent by showing a transportation performance of 9.2 million tonne kilometers in 2021, and hit the top by outdistancing the leading air cargo brands in Europe.
Regarding the successful performance of Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said; “As the fastest-growing air cargo brand in the world, we continue to add value to the air cargo industry with our contributions to the supply chain and maintain our critical role when it comes to increasing the global trade’s competition power. We are on the march towards our target to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world in 2025 by carrying this success performed by Turkish Cargo in Europe to all corners of the world.”
A Record-Breaking Growth in Market Share, Flight Network and Carried Tonnage
With the fleet, infrastructure, process and quality improvement investments performed by Turkish Cargo since 2017, global carrier rose to 4th from 22th in the global rankings and increased its market share to the level of 5.2% from the 2.6% during the last five years.
The successful brand, which had 13 cargo planes in its fleet in 2017, increased this number by 53.8% to 20 in 2022. In parallel with the expansion of the fleet, the number of the destinations operated with freighters nearly doubled by reaching 100 in 2022. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines became the airline that operates flights to the highest number of international destinations for cargo just as it does for the passenger operations. Thanks to the air bridges built by Turkish Cargo, Turkish exporters can now establish commercial connections directly with approximately 85% of the world, on GNP basis.
As the market share of Turkish Cargo increased by 8 percent on the medical cargo shipments, successful brand also played a crucial role in the fight against the pandemic not only in Türkiye but also on the global scale. Having delivered innovative solutions in the crisis environment, Turkish Cargo once again demonstrated that it is a reliable logistics brand with more than 6.500 pax-fre* flights it has operated in order to overcome the capacity bottleneck resulting from the disruption of passenger flights during pandemic.
Furthermore, SMARTIST, the facility in which Turkish Cargo has started to carry out its operations as of the end of 2021, is now in service as the largest and the cutting-edge air cargo facility in Europe, in terms of its facility capacity and its technological infrastructure.
*Paxfre; a cargo flight operated by a passenger flight without any passenger on board.
From 15 November, Etihad will increase cargo capacity to the US with 27 weekly passenger and freighter flights
With the introduction of additional services, Etihad Cargo will offer 1,084 tonnes of cargo capacity into and out of the US per week
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has reinforced its commitment to the US market with the introduction of an additional 50 tonnes of belly capacity via four new weekly direct passenger flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from 15 November 2022. With the addition of these flights, the carrier will offer a total of 11 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and New York.
In addition to offering 11 weekly flights to JFK, New York, Etihad Cargo provides capacity to other key destinations in the US via freighter and passenger flights to Chicago and Washington D.C. The carrier operates nine flights per week to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and daily flights to Dulles International Airport, Washington. The introduction of additional capacity to Etihad Cargo’s winter schedule brings the total cargo capacity into and out of the US to 1,084 tonnes per week.
Existing daily services will continue on Etihad’s new Airbus 350 aircraft, which has been deployed on the New York route since June 2022. The new flights will be operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. These aircraft types are two of the most efficient in the world, providing significantly less fuel burn and CO2 emissions than previous-generation twin-aisle aircraft. Etihad Cargo also operates two dedicated Boeing 777 freighter flights per week to Chicago via Europe, supported by an offline network.
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Cargo continuously reviews its network to add more capacity to meet the needs of its partners and customers. The introduction of four additional weekly flights to New York to the carrier’s winter schedule further demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s commitment to customers, offering additional capacity on this key trade lane and strengthening the US’s connection to the rest of the world via Etihad Cargo’s hub in Abu Dhabi.”
Providing additional capacity to New York is the latest step by the carrier to expand operations in the US. Earlier in 2022, Etihad Cargo strengthened the carrier’s US commercial team with the appointment of Caroline Pappas to the role of General Manager – Americas.
The 7th edition of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Research and Innovation Conference will return to Dubai, UAE on 26-27 September to discuss the theme ‘Catalyzing a Sustainable Future through R&I’. The conference will be held at the Address Sky View Hotel, Dubai for the first time since the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which posed long lasting disruptions to the industry, economy and communities across the region.
The 7th GPCA R&I Conference will shed light on the importance of research and innovation to transition towards a low carbon future, trends in green fuels and new technologies for energy and transportation, the latest hydrogen developments at chemical companies in the region, circular economy and sustainable feedstocks. GPCA’s only event of its kind dedicated to chemical research and innovation in the region will open its doors to senior decision makers from private and public organizations, value chain stakeholders, industry leaders and academia from the Arabian Gulf and other leading nations in the innovation field.
Delegates will be welcomed on day one by Dr. Bob Maughon, EVP, Sustainability, Technology & Innovation and Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, SABIC, and Chairman, R&I Committee, GPCA. Next on this year’s must-see conference agenda will be a fireside chat with Abdulmohsen Almajnouni, Advisor to the President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Member, Core Development Team, RDIA, on the role of regulators in enabling a globally competitive chemical industry.
A must-attend plenary address will feature Dr. Kevin Cullen, VP of Innovation, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), who will share learnings from industry and academia collaboration, while the second session of the day will spotlight four unique case studies from the region of successful cooperation between chemical companies and academic institutions.
Dr. Moayyed Al- Qurtas, Advisor, GPCA R&I Committee, will deliver the welcome address on day two, followed by Ahmad Al Khowaiter, Chief Technology Officer, Saudi Aramco, who will participate in an executive panel discussion on energy security and sustainable feedstocks for the GCC. Other not to miss topics on the final day of the conference include a look at the new technologies catalyzing the drive towards net-zero, and a masterclass on how the industry can shift to new circular business models led by Dimitri Daniels, Leader, Circular Economy Business EUR, SABIC.
According to a recent GPCA report, entitled ‘The Innovation Imperative of the Chemical Industry in the Arabian Gulf’, GCC chemical producers invested USD 480 million in research and development in 2019 prior to the pandemic, registering a 9% increase on the year before and exceeding the industry’s long-term average growth of 5.6% per annum. However, the report found that at just 0.7%, annual R&D investment by regional chemical producers as a portion of chemical revenue is almost four and a half times lower compared to the 3.1% at leading chemical players in the world.
These figures demonstrate the size of the opportunity that lies ahead for chemical and petrochemical producers to grow their research and innovation capabilities and improve their competitive position globally. According to GPCA, developing the research and development sector can yield significant socio-economic benefits across the region. To measure R&D’s economic footprint, GPCA worked with Oxford Economics to assess the number of jobs supported by R&D, and R&D’s contribution to a country’s gross value-added. Based on the assessment, GPCA found that every direct R&D job in the GCC chemical industry supports five jobs elsewhere within the economy like the broader supply chain and through the procurement of goods and services.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “The GCC region has ambitious aspirations to transform their economies into a hub for innovation where new inventions are incubated, and technological developments are born by indigenous local talent as well as by attracting leading scientists and innovators from across the globe. However, the region has a long way to go to realize its innovation ambitions. A recent GPCA survey has revealed that while the majority of executives at our member companies say innovation is a top priority, only a small percentage of them believes that their companies are successful innovators.”
He added: “To help advance the innovation efforts at chemical companies in the region, GPCA has set out a number of recommendations, among which are transforming the corporate culture at chemical firms, aligning their innovation strategy with their wider business strategy, improving collaboration with customers and the value chain, and embracing external sources of ideas. Building an enabling research and innovation environment at chemical companies in the region has never been more important as the sector is faced with balancing its business, environmental and societal obligations. I am confident that the 7th GPCA Research and Innovation Conference will provide the right platform for some of the best and most technologically savvy industry thought leaders to come together, exchange learnings and collaborate towards a more sustainable future.”
In line with its mission to support talent development in the region and promote STEM, the 7th edition of the GPCA R&I Conference will feature a dedicated competition for undergraduate and postgraduate university students who will be provided with one-of-a-kind opportunity to present their innovative ideas to industry leaders on the first day of the conference. Now in its 2nd edition, the GPCA Innovation Competition was launched to bridge the gap between industry and academia in line with GPCA’s efforts to foster an innovation culture in the Arabian Gulf.
The Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) concluded its practical training program for engineering students designed to help them gain practical experience and technical knowledge of the various engineering systems of advanced vehicles and the mechanisms for maintaining such systems. This program was aimed at helping university students develop skills in vehicle maintenance and repairs.
The program is aligned with DGW’s endeavors to foster continuous improvement and the adoption of cutting-edge processes and techniques, as well as to empower and enhance human resources and equip them with skills and knowledge. This move is also aimed at supporting the young generation and the students by promoting their career paths and enabling them to meet the requirements of the labour market in line with DGW’s vision to enhance the work ecosystem and build a new generation of multiskilled workforce.
Mr. Aqeel Mustafa Al Janahi, Director of the Engineering Maintenance Department, said: “The training program reflects DGW’s commitment to enhancing students’ engineering skills, technical knowledge and providing them with the tools to further their career options in the fields of fleet management, vehicle maintenance and repair. We are pleased to offer students the opportunities to work in an environment that fosters innovation and excellence, as well as to provides them training on the use of the latest fleet management, maintenance technology and set them up for successful careers in this field.”
The program improves students’ understanding and academic skills while providing them with the tools they need to keep up with the industry’s rapid technological advancements by leveraging the expertise of DGW’s team and experts.”
Excellence in composability and its platform ecosystem, commercetools is a leader in digital commerce once again
commercetools, the inventor of headless commerce, announced it has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce for the third year in a row. commercetools received the highest ratings in many of the Critical Capabilities Gartner identified, including composability, which, as a result of commercetools’ modular architecture, provides the ability to auto-scale, continuously upgrade and deploy microservices.
“We set out over 12 years ago to improve the way consumers experience commerce digitally. Since our founding, we’ve built a best-in-class portfolio that has withstood the trials of ever-changing consumer behavior, various market forces, and the emergence of new channels and trends to allow businesses to provide the most beautiful, innovative experiences,” said co-founder and CEO Dirk Hoerig. “The recognition by Gartner is a testament to the impact our modern, MACH-based technology has on businesses as we progress forward on our mission of challenging and changing the world of enterprise commerce software.”
The recognition from Gartner comes on the heels of a period of exponential growth for commercetools, with the company recently being named Google Cloud’s Industry Solution Partner of the Year, signing new customers including Sephora, Lululemon, Primark, and New Look, among many others, reaching unicorn status in 2021 with the close of $140 million in Series C funding.
Red Sea Gateway Terminal has been selected by Bangladeshi Ministry of Shipping as the preferred operator of the 500,000 TEU annual throughput capacity facility now under construction at the busiest container port on the Bay of Bengal.
Dhaka, Bangladesh- Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), operator of the largest terminal facility in Saudi Arabia, at Jeddah Islamic Port, has been nominated over several competing proposals by the Bangladesh’s Ministry of Shipping to respond to an upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) to operate the new USD $240 million Patenga Container Terminal (PCT) currently nearing completion at Chittagong, Bangladesh’s primary port. RSGT was officially advised of the decision of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Shipping on July 28th, 2022
The Port of Chittagong (recently renamed as Chattogram), handled a record 3.2 million TEUs in FY 2021, with 4,209 vessel calls, and is the busiest port in the Bay of Bengal, serving as the gateway for 90% of Bangladesh’s import and export ocean cargo. The majority of import shipments are destined for Dhaka, Bangladesh’s Capital, and largest city, a distance of 265 km (165 miles) distance from Chittagong. The port also serves as the main gateway for Bangladesh’s fast-growing exports including its garments trade, one of the largest globally. The new facility, being built by the Bangladeshi Government, will feature 600m quay and will be able to handle 3 vessels simultaneously augmenting the ship handling capacity at Chattogram port.
“We are extremely pleased to have been selected for this opportunity. The rapid growth of Chittagong Port’s cargo volumes necessitates further investment in modern equipment, advanced technology and building new human capacity. This project fits well with Red Sea Gateway Terminal’s competencies and its expansion strategy for emerging markets. We are very confident that, through this investment, we will be able to contribute significantly to Bangladesh’s fast-growing trade and economy” noted RSGT’s Director of Global Investments, Gagan Seksaria.
In 2017, the Government of Bangladesh adopted a “Policy for Implementing Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) Projects through Government-to-Government Partnerships (G2G)”. In July of 2019, RSGT and the Ministry of Shipping of Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which RSGT will invest in and provide operational assistance and expertise to the
Bangladeshi port sector. A further MOU was signed between the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) and the PPP Authority (PPPA) of Bangladesh, on October 28th, 2021. This was followed by the First Joint Platform Meeting between the two parties, held on February 23rd, 2022.
At the February meeting, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Shipping proposed a plan for the equipping, operation and maintenance of PCT based on the PPP Model to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which in turn nominated RSGT as the Saudi investor. At present, the Government of Bangladesh is in the advanced stages of appointing a Transaction Advisor, which will provide advice on the structuring of the PPP transaction, preparation, negotiations, and final implementation of the PCT project.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) will focus on building resilience to further strengthen air cargo’s post-pandemic prospects.
COVID-19 tested the resilience of the air cargo business. Despite challenging conditions, air cargo delivered critical medical supplies and vaccines across the globe and kept international supply chains open. For many airlines, as passenger numbers plummeted, air cargo was a crucial source of revenue. In 2021, air cargo revenues reached a record $204 billion, which was more than double as compared to 2019 and accounted for some 40% of total airline revenues in 2021.
“Air cargo proved its resilience during the pandemic, and it is emerging stronger. The challenge now is to retain the momentum achieved in digitalization and other customer-centric efficiency gains. There is good reason to be optimistic. Air cargo is maintaining its strength even as economic and geo-political uncertainty grows. And this year’s WCS will focus on how the industry can capitalize on this resilience to build an even more promising and sustainable future for global air cargo,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
Sullivan, and David Shepherd, Managing Director, IAG Cargo will be speaking at the event, which is taking place in London, UK, from 27 to 29 September. Other speakers include:
· Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA Chief Economist
· Dorothea Von Boxberg CEO of Lufthansa Cargo
· Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Cargo
Session tracks will cover several key aspects of resilience: · Digitalization
· Sustainability
· Air cargo safety
· Attracting and retaining talent
· E-commerce
· Air cargo market dynamics
· Digital distribution and booking
· Digital Cargo and ONE Record
The WCS program will be complemented by a series of workshops, including: · A first-time workshop focused on improving the efficiency of billing settlements between airlines and freight forwarders (using the new CASSLINK (the Cargo Accounts Settlement System).
View the WCS program IATA Cargo Claims and Loss Prevention Conference Immediately following WCS, at the same venue from 29 September to 1 October, IATA will be hosting the Cargo Claims and Loss Prevention Conference. This event brings together experienced professionals to provide insights on claims and loss prevention practices around the world.
Defuzzy Labs, a leading robotics company specialising in unmanned systems in the UAE, collaborated with SubUAS, the US company behind the Naviator Air/Sea Drone platform, to demonstrate its latest robotics fleet management solution and shed light on the future of offshore inspections. The demonstration, which was held at the AWS Energy Symposium in Houston, featured the Sharjah-based operator instructing a Naviator drone fleet to perform an inspection from over 11,000 kilometres away, alongside the SubUAS team based in New Jersey, USA.
The live demonstration showcased Defuzzy’s latest development of its robotics fleet management solution, which uses AWS’s Roborunner service to command multiple Naviator drones over the cloud. This scalable and modular solution enables Defuzzy to easily integrate robots of various makes, models, and forms into the fleet and control them. The cloud services will further help enhance remote monitoring solutions and complete accurate robotic inspections, thus improving the safety and efficiency of inspection operations.
During the demonstration, Defuzzy engineers stationed in Sharjah, UAE, displayed their ability to monitor and command multiple Naviator drones located in New Jersey, USA. The fleet management solution automatically planned a mission and assigned it to the available drone in the background, after which the Sharjah-based operator was seen monitoring the fleet’s status and the live video stream of the inspection routine.
Volvo Trucks and Deutsche Post DHL Group have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate the shift to zero exhaust emission vehicles. DHL intends to intensify its transition to heavy electric trucks by deploying a total of 44 new electric Volvo trucks on routes in Europe.
The intended order includes 40 electric trucks of the model Volvo FE and Volvo FL, to be used for package deliveries in urban transports. Electric trucks for longer routes are also part of the scope and DHL has decided to begin using Volvo trucks for regional hauling, starting with four Volvo FM Electric trucks in the UK.
The first trucks have been ordered already, six by DHL Parcel UK and two by DHL Freight. This will result in annually savings of nearly 600 tons of CO2 and nearly 225,000 liters of diesel fuel for Deutsche Post DHL Group.
“We are committed to meet growing customer demand for green and sustainable solutions and achieve our long-term goal of net zero emissions by 2050. As a logistics service provider, the conversion of our vehicle fleet is an important lever to help us avoid CO2 emissions on the road as well. Several of our divisions will thus benefit from this agreement with Volvo Trucks,” explains Pablo Ciano, Executive Vice President for Corporate Development at Deutsche Post DHL Group.
An important factor in DHL’s decision to ramp up the transition to zero emission vehicles is due to the positive experience it has with using an electric Volvo truck in London since November 2020 – making last mile deliveries into the West End shopping district. The vehicle was the very first fully electric commercial heavy truck used for urban logistics in the UK.
“DHL is an important global logistics provider, committed to reduce its impact on climate change. Together we can make a difference for the better and I’m proud we will work in the spirit of partnership, aiming to reach our science-based targets to reduce our climate impacts,” says Roger Alm, President at Volvo Trucks.
The cooperation involves adoption of new Volvo technologies and joint development activities within the field of electrification. The agreement also includes analysis by Volvo Trucks of DHL’s transport operations, with the goal to ensure successful deployment of tailor-made electrical transport solutions.
Volvo Trucks is leading the market for heavy all-electric trucks in Europe, with a market share of 42% in 2021. Already in 2019, Volvo Trucks started serial production of electric trucks, as one of the very first truck brands in the world to do so. The company has delivered electric trucks to a wide range of customers in Europe, North America and Australia.
Today at the SAP® Sapphire® conference in Orlando, Florida, SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) is announcing new innovations that deliver business value for customers in four critical areas: supply chain resilience, sustainability, business process transformation and no-code application development.
According to a recent survey from Boston Consulting Group, while 80% of companies are turning to digital solutions to navigate current business challenges, only about 30% are successfully achieving a true digital transformation of their business. The innovations announced today will help SAP customers accelerate their transformation journey with cloud-based solutions that provide the end-to-end business process support customers most need. The announcements come on the first day of SAP Sapphire, SAP’s global customer and partner conference, taking place in person and virtually May 10–12, 2022.
“For 50 years, SAP’s mission-critical solutions and deep industry expertise have helped businesses around the world run their best,” said Christian Klein, CEO and member of the Executive Board of SAP SE. “We’re uniquely positioned to continue enabling our customers’ success in a rapidly evolving world by driving cloud-based digital transformation that solves customers’ most pressing challenges, from supply chain resilience to sustainability.”
Resilient Supply Chains and Intelligent Business Networks
SAP innovations improve supply chain efficiency and transparency, enabling improved performance and resilience. Through its ongoing partnership with Apple to transform the way people work on iPhone and iPad, SAP announces today a new suite of apps that streamline the digital supply chain and empower workers with intuitive tools. The first two of these apps – SAP Warehouse Operator and SAP Direct Distribution – launched today and are available now in the Apple App Store.
In addition, the new SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud solution brings together the latest analytics, edge computing, automation and state-of-the-art innovations supporting manufacturing processes end to end to help customers optimize manufacturing performance. SAP Business Network also continues to evolve as the world’s largest business network, and with the planned integration of Taulia software customers can unlock the value tied up in their working capital.
Moving Businesses from Talk to Action on Sustainability
The increase in number of SAP solutions for sustainability uniquely positions the software to help companies move from well-meaning talk to meaningful action. New innovations out today include new capabilities in the SAP Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises solution to help companies innovate across key areas of sustainability management. The enhanced SAP Product Footprint Management solution helps customers reduce product carbon footprints at scale with live connectivity with SAP S/4HANA® Cloud, including transport and travel capabilities.
Enabling Business Process Transformation
Customers continue to adopt the RISE with SAP solution to redesign their end-to-end business processes and transition to a modular, agile ERP in the cloud. Several customers will be on stage at SAP Sapphire to showcase how they use RISE with SAP to deliver business innovation. Partners are also helping our customers scale these innovations through best practices and bespoke solutions: RISE with SAP and SOAR with Accenture now integrate and deliver what businesses need for a cloud-based transformation, including cloud infrastructure management, application management and operations services. The latest release of the SAP Service Cloud solution includes new dynamic case management and case modelling capabilities. The solution supports native integration with Qualtrics® XM Discover and Microsoft Teams to improve organizations’ ability to deliver on their brand promise with better visibility, greater accountability and faster time to resolution.
Accelerating Innovation with No-Code and Low-Code Development, Process Automation, Data and AI
SAP AppGyver®, a leading no-code, low code development environment for enterprise applications, now includes native integration with the SAP Service Cloud solution and is available as part of the free tier model for SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). The SAP Process Automation solution, also part of the free tier model for SAP BTP, has been enhanced for no-code workflow management and robotic process automation (RPA).
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Kemps Creek NSW
Swisslog Automation
Autostore
C&HG
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Varner AS, one of the largest fashion groups in the Nordic area with the chains Dressmann, Cubus, Carlings, Bik Bok, Volt and Junkyard, is investing in another AutoStore facility from Swisslog. In 2016, Varner’s first AutoStore from Swisslog was inaugurated in the company’s newly built central warehouse in Vänersborg. The decision has been taken to make a comprehensive expansion of the central warehouse with an additional 19,000 sqm and to install another AutoStore.
“The purpose of the expansion is to increase our capacity for the rapidly growing online trade, but also to provide our customers and stores with better and faster service. In future, our existing AutoStore will serve our 1,200 stores and the new facility will exclusively serve our e-commerce customers,” says Anders Eriksson, Supply Chain Director at Varner AS.
The background to the investment is the rapid growth of e-commerce in combination with Varner’s own ambitions to expand its e-commerce sales.
“Our owners have set tough targets for continued rapid growth in e-commerce sales. Given that there are long lead times in this type of project, we had to start early,” says Anders Eriksson, noting that such rapid growth places demands on a flexible, reliable and fast automation solution.
The new AutoStore solution will consist of 425 robots, 250,000 bins, 62 grids in the first phase, but has the capacity for further expansion. The order for Swisslog also includes SynQ software, which checks and controls the automation as well as conveyor systems, packaging machines and five additional miniload cranes. With the new automation solution, Varner will be able to handle 7,500 order lines per hour, making the AutoStore solution one of the most high-performance ones built.
“Since we started our partnership with Swisslog in 2013, we have developed a comprehensive partnership, based on professionalism, flexibility and focus on results. With that background, it was a natural choice to continue the good cooperation,” says Anders.
Installation of the new solution will begin in the summer of 2022 and the system will be phased into operation starting in June 2023.
SOHAR Freezone has introduced new incentives to help businesses start trading with the world immediately. Until the end of 2022, new and renewing tenants can purchase a General Trade Licenses (GTLs) for one, two or three years at up to 50% of the usual cost. SOHAR is also offering a complete working solution for companies looking to relocate to the complex through its commercial office partner, Corporate Parks, which offers a reduction of between 30% and 45% in office rental rates for up to three years. The new offers are designed to encourage investment in SOHAR across all sectors and provide the spark for existing businesses to take the next step in their development. Companies can enjoy all of the benefits of working and trading in the Freezone with added flexibility and greater cost-efficiency.
SOHAR Port and Freezone is one of the fastest-growing complexes of its kind in the world. Located at the crossroads of East and West, the complex offers unrivalled access to key markets in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, as well as across the Middle East through well-connected modern highways. The SOHAR Freezone offers sector-specific zones and clusters, and integrated, bespoke logistics solutions across the value chain, with warehousing and cold storage facilities available. The Freezone is connected to SOHAR Port through a bonded transport corridor and is reachable within 14 minutes, ensuring goods reach their destination in optimal condition.
Omar Al Mahrizi, CEO of SOHAR Freezone & Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port, said, “SOHAR is committed to supporting the growth of new and existing business throughout the complex and by offering reduced rates on GTLs and office space, we are introducing another incentive for companies to join or expand their operations within the rapidly-expanding Freezone. We also caterto the rising demand for hybrid working environments by offering cost-efficient office space within close proximity to a wide range of local and international clients for the times when face-to-face meetings are essential. Being based in SOHAR offers a wealth of advantages to companies, including access to raw materials, a world class port and exceptional transport links to key markets.”
With competitive rates starting from one to three years, companies can register for a SOHAR GTL electronically from anywhere in the world and secure all required permits through the on-site one-stop shop. Investors also enjoy 0% personal income tax, 0% import and re-export duties and a corporate tax holiday of up to 25 years.
The partnership with Corporate Parks allows businesses access to meeting room space when required, high speed internet and utilities for a single annual fee. Options start from a one-year to three years, including a reduction of 45% on the normal rate offered.
For more information on GTL and office space options, please contact SOHAR on +968 7151 8812 or +968 7992 2998, or by email at GTL@soharportandfreezone.com. The full range of opportunities at SOHAR Port and Freezone are available at soharportandfreezone.com.
Emirates Post inviting global partners to join them in the journey of making UAE one of the largest e-commerce hubs in the world
Emirates Post, the official postal operator and leading express provider in the UAE, will host the World Mail & Express Europe Middle East & Africa (WMX EMEA) conference from May 11 to May 12, 2022, in Dubai.
The two-day conference, which will be attended by over 200 global executives and feature more than 30 expert speakers, aims to give industry players the tools to build flexible and future-proof companies by deliberating and understanding the latest trends in the e-commerce and postal sectors. The last time the WMX conference took place in the UAE was in 2005.
As one of the speakers, Peter Somers, CEO of Emirates Post, will outline major industry trends, the growth of e-commerce in the region and Emirates Post’s capabilities: “The postal and parcel industry has been witnessing a significant shift over the years with technology and e-commerce being amongst the driving forces behind this change. The timing of the event could not be better, with Emirates Post continuously stepping up its efforts to strengthen its status as the Middle East’s leading postal and e-commerce logistics partner. Hosting the WMX EMEA not only reflects this commitment but will enable us to also help advance the ever-evolving global postal and parcel industry in today’s digital age.”
Day 1 program: Global trends impacting the industry
The first day of the event will witness several discussions on issues of global importance. The session titled ‘The Big Postal Perspectives’ will feature postal leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, who will provide a top-down perspective on past, present and future trends. The day will also include a session titled ‘Maximising Cross-border Productivity to Progress the eCommerce Experience.’ It will focus on how carriers can develop greater efficiencies to ensure outstanding customer satisfaction.
Meanwhile, operators and facilitators from EMEA will tackle the insights, regulations, challenges, and solutions that accompany cross-border and customs activities during a session themed ‘Navigating cross-border and Customs Obstacles.’ Other sessions during day one will include ‘Unlocking Global eCommerce Growth Through the Power of Data;’ ‘Driving Innovation to Optimise cross-border Efficiency;’ ‘Technology Problem of cross-border;’ ‘API as a solution;’ ‘Reshaping cross-border Trade with AI-based Solutions;’ and ‘How to Adapt Your Pricing Strategy to Face High Inflation.’
Day 2 program: Postal transformation
On the second day, the conference will commence by exploring how the postal and parcel industry can transform to anticipate and overcome disruptions. It will also examine how stakeholders can exploit changes by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and expanding mobile functionality and other technological capabilities to ensure customers receive exceptional service.
This will be followed by these sessions: ‘Achieving Successful Outcomes by Coordinating with People and Disruptive Technologies to Accelerate last-mile Delivery;’ ‘Transformation to Technology Savvy Trendsetters;’ ‘eCommerce Experience and Efficiency;’ ‘How Consumer Behaviour Impacts eCommerce Logistics;’ and ‘Sustainability – Paving the way.’
Experts will also highlight sustainable strategies and practices to help encourage a wider network of logistics companies to invest in and adopt innovative solutions towards sustainability, and optimistically create a more environment-friendly industry. The conference will end with discussions on e-commerce trends and challenges in 2022 and how supply chain automation is shaking up the industry.
High volume utilisation, faster picking speed, reliability and system availability combined with real-time data processing. The Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has added an industry-neutral solution for automated small parts storage as an extension to its LFS Warehouse Management System. The new AutoStore solution communicates with the data from the small parts warehouse and makes it available to the LFS in real time, ensuring the best possible exchange of information between warehouse management, AutoStore, customers and suppliers. The solution is highly effective at reducing costs. The module has been running at YKK DEUTSCHLAND GmbH since the beginning of the year. The world’s largest manufacturer of zips has been using EPG’s Warehouse Management System since 2014 and is now running the LFS extension for the newly installed AutoStore at its site in Wenkbach, Hessen.
Whether jackets, bags or trousers, the zips from market leader YKK, which was founded in 1934, are woven into lots of clothing from major fashion brands and, the special sizes, on tents. The Japanese company relies on EPG’s LFS Warehouse Management System for its warehouse logistics in Germany and the Netherlands. In Germany, YKK runs three large logistics centres, where the company manufactures, stores and picks zips and many other fastening products. Around 13,000 customers – from small craft shops to large fashion labels – are supplied daily throughout Europe from Germany. In Wenkbach, EPG’s Warehouse Management System manages production, storage and the supply of spare parts for the company’s own machines. The LFS guarantees maximum inventory accuracy within the zip manufacturer’s varied range of articles and variants.
YKK opts for a complete solution from EPG
YKK decided to introduce an automatic small parts warehouse last year to meet growing market demand. The AutoStore solution replaced the classic storage rack system with modular containers. The modular containers are stacked on top of each other within an aluminium structure and are moved by robots. “We hit the limits of our old, manual system, because the ordering behaviour of our customers has changed. We are receiving more and more late orders with request for fast delivery”, says Alexander Sann, Deputy Factory Manager at YKK. The AutoStore now also makes a same day delivery service possible. For the processes in the warehouse to continue to interact smoothly, the zip manufacturer needed a connection to the LFS. “Creating another interface between the ERP system, the LFS and a third-party provider was just out of the question. As we have had a great experience with the LFS Warehouse Management System so far, our preference was definitely for the EPG solution this time as well”, explains Sann.
LFS AutoStore module communicates with the LFS in real time
The supply chain software specialists at EPG developed the new AutoStore module as a custom-fit solution for YKK. Previously, the workstations for order pickers in the automated small parts warehouse could only be operated using the AutoStore software. If YKK wanted to transfer stock data, such as available articles, from AutoStore to the LFS, EPG would have had to program an interface to make sure data could be shared without problems. “To avoid programming the interfaces and the time-consuming process of getting them to work together in the future, we integrated the new AutoStore module into the LFS. That means the AutoStore workstations can be run using the LFS, so YKK does not have to work with two different systems”, explains Moritz Schmitt, Head of Customer Projects at EPG. Running the new module, YKK can control incoming and outgoing goods, organise inventory and process orders more quickly. “The LFS knows the stock levels and handles the customer orders. This involves communicating directly with the AutoStore and activating the applicable container with the requested goods”, says Schmitt. Order updates, such as changes in processing priority and any stock corrections, can be done up to the very last step via the LFS, ensuring at all times that the right goods are ready for picking in the right quantity and at the right moment. YKK can significantly reduce its process costs as a result.
AutoStore module provides control over specific task groups
As the two systems communicate in real time, YKK does not lose any time. On the contrary, the AutoStore means the fastening specialist can use it storage capacities highly effectively and increase the productivity of its employees. “Long walks are no longer necessary. The goods are automatically transported to our employees. And it’s not just that. The AutoStore workstations are much more ergonomic and require a lot less energy than a pallet truck, for example”, explains Sann. In the new AutoStore, the containers are further subdivided because of the very small size of the YKK articles – in some cases into up to 16 compartments. Products that see lower demand than others are located further down in the automatic small parts warehouse. “Running the LFS AutoStore solution, YKK also has control over the task groups that are processed by the AutoStore. This allows YKK to manage order processing very effectively”, says Schmitt.
Intuitive touch interface makes picking easier
For the company’s employees, getting the AutoStore up and running was not a big change. Sann notes how easy the solution is to use with its intuitive touch interface. The AutoStore has four multi-stations with carousel ports, which are a special type of conveyor that holds the next container ready immediately and increases the shipping speed even further. When goods leave the AutoStore for picking, LFS prints a polybag label with the exact length of the zips, minimising errors. Alexander Sann points out the low error rate since the LFS AutoStore solution went live: “The key thing for us was to continue delivering to our customers the quality they are used to during the implementation phase. Quality was guaranteed throughout”.
GWC, Qatar’s leading logistics provider, is collaborating with CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) on a new multiplatform campaign across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to highlight their global logistics services and role as the official host nation logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
The campaign, titled ‘Life, Delivered’, showcases GWC’s unique role in providing intricate planning and robust infrastructure for logistics spanning various sectors including cold chain, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, fine art and mega events such as the FIFA World Cup. The creative concept developed and produced by Create, CNNIC’s in-house studio, focuses on the people and places within a trusted and efficient global supply chain and a variety of communities and industries. This will be brought to life in a branded content campaign covering a two-minute hero film, 30 second TVC and a collection of native articles featured on a dedicated sponsored microsite and across CNN International TV, digital and CNN Arabic.
Powered by CNN’s sophisticated Audience Insight Measurement (AIM) targeting, the campaign will reach GWC’s core audiences including key business decision makers, investors and high net worth individuals.
Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, said: “Partnering with CNN provides an ideal platform to tell the story of GWC to audiences around the world. Like the State of Qatar, GWC has come a long way in a short span of time, emerging as one of the fastest growing companies in the region. Since establishment in 2004, we have risen to become Qatar’s leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider, and established a global footprint and a trusted brand, thanks to our experienced team, state-of-the-art infrastructure and commitment to innovation and sustainability.”
Cathy Ibal, Senior Vice President, CNN International Commercial said, “We are pleased to be partnering with GWC to demonstrate their scale and scope to CNN’s influential audience and raise awareness of their logistics partnership with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. With anticipation building for the tournament, this campaign will reach GWC’s key demographics as a high percentage of our audience follows sporting events and has an interest in technology and business solutions.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed: dans efficiently and effectively managed the airspace of the event
Mohammed Abdulla Ahli: The exhibition embodied the pinnacle of Dubai’s superior capabilities in the field of civil aviation
Ibrahim Ahli: dans played vital role as a partner and technical service provider to ensure Expo success
Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation (dans), the global provider of air navigation and air traffic control services in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, played a crucial role in managing the Expo 2020 airspace during the six-month mega event and demonstrating to the world the super efficiency of the UAE to successfully manage world class events.
During the event, dans provided seamless, secure operations, and flexible air traffic management services, managed aircraft and helicopter movements, drone displays and cargo movements at both Dubai airports and the exhibition site.
dans acted as the exclusive provider of frequencies used in the event’s Operations Center to communicate with helicopter pilots, having completely modernized the design of the airspace to suit the demand during the six-month exhibition.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airlines and Group, and President of Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation, said: “The success of Expo 2020 Dubai demonstrated the strength of the UAE’s great resilience and ability to deal head on with challenges and organizing the greatest exhibition on the planet through determination and effective initiatives.”
His Highness added: “dans has had a crucial role in maintaining the smooth movement of helicopter and drone operations.”
For his part, Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Seconded CEO of dans, said: “Once again, Dubai has proven its competence in managing a global event in the field of aviation management with a mission to transform the sky, increasing capacity and efficiency, and acting as a vital supporter of economic growth.”
He added: “We are convinced that we have lived up to our reputation as a world-class provider of air navigation services with a forward thinking culture and a diverse workforce of air traffic experts. In fact, we are distinguished by outstanding research and development and the integration of innovative technologies in the field of air traffic management, which could be demonstrated more clearly during Expo 2020.”
Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO of dans said: “We are proud that we have played an important role in Expo 2020 Dubai in ensuring the smooth management of air traffic, with good planning, excellent efficiency and strong infrastructure.”
He added. “We place on record our deep appreciation for the effective work of our staff and technical team. dans has provided comprehensive technical training to the exhibition’s strategic partners such as Dubai Police, air traffic control staff, and drone demonstrations, and continued to provide this technical support during the six-month exhibition period.”
The integration of the helipad in the center of the exhibition area and directly within the area of drone activity, made the air traffic control services provided by dans during the exhibition period unique, as nowhere in the world has such complex operations been carried out and monitored in adjacent sites.
dans’ services and support were appreciated by the Expo 2020 Dubai organizers, as it received two awards and a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the role it played in managing the Expo Avionic Dome and air traffic for all activities and helipads throughout the event area, in collaboration with various bodies and institutions and other technical service providers.
The two awards were received by Mr. Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO of dans.
The design of the airspace was carried out in coordination with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, as the Expo and the Dubai Air Show were held simultaneously, and accordingly dans modified the design of the airspace in order to ensure smooth and safe operations of helicopters and aircraft displays in addition to the air displays during the Dubai Air Show in November 2021.
The Operations Center staff consisted of airspace designers, air traffic controllers and technical experts from dans, who were carried out the complex operations.
Helicopter service was also an essential service to ensure the easy, smooth and safe movement of people, especially VIPs and government officials from all over the GCC countries and the world, and therefore the air traffic control services provided by dans were very important to ensure the smooth and safe operations of these helicopters.
dans has deployed many technical staff, as well as many round-the-clock staff, at the event center with the aim of ensuring that air traffic control services are provided unstinted during the six months of the mega event.
Etihad Cargo appoints Accelerated and Jet Airways to enhance road feeder services in the USA
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has appointed Accelerated, Inc. and Jet Airways of the US, Inc. as its road feeder service (RFS) providers for customers in US territories. Etihad Cargo will utilise the combined expertise of the third-party trucking logistics providers to offer its partners seamless road connectivity, further enhancing the UAE national carrier’s operations in the United States and beyond.
Etihad Cargo’s partnership with Accelerated and Jet Airways will expand the carrier’s capabilities in the USA and will enable Etihad Cargo’s customers to benefit from various logistics solutions, including dedicated capacity and 24-hour personalised customer service, ensuring Etihad Cargo can continue to meet its service delivery promises in the US territories. Additionally, Etihad Cargo will employ state-of-the-art technology developed to give customers complete transparency in relation to shipments, including GPS tracking and real-time shipment information.
Through these strategic partnerships, Etihad Cargo will utilise an expanded road transportation fleet, including standard trailers, roller beds, day cabs, step decks, flatbeds, straight trucks with lift-gate capabilities, cargo vans, refrigerated vehicles and other specialised equipment to offer its customers the broadest range of products and transportation options. Etihad Cargo will deliver added value for its customers through the consistency in the service offered and competitive lead times for transit of both import and export freight.
“Accelerated is proud to be appointed as Regional Ground Handling Trucker for Etihad Cargo. Our teams have worked behind the scenes together for many years and are now finally calibrating to begin this partnership,” said Brook Miles Pearse, President of Accelerated. “The regional coverage offered by Accelerated will be an asset to the continued expansion of Etihad Cargo in the US. We look forward to working together as one team with Etihad Cargo and collaborating to develop new and exciting solutions for the benefit of our customers in 2022 and beyond.”
Tammy Zwicki, COO of Jet Airways, said, “Jet Airways is pleased to have been chosen as Etihad Cargo’s trucking logistics partner in the US. We look forward to working with Etihad Cargo’s US team and general sales agents to help strengthen and build the UAE-based carrier’s business in this market. I am confident that by working together as one team, we will be able to build the best path for our shared business aspirations. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to Etihad Cargo for trusting us with their business.”
Etihad Cargo’s Head of Cargo Operations and Delivery, Thomas Schürmann, said, “Ensuring Etihad Cargo remains the air cargo partner of choice for its customers all over the world through the delivery of world-class services remains a priority. Therefore, partnering with leading RFS providers in the US was another step in Etihad Cargo’s evolving value proposition to expand operations in this key territory. These partnerships strengthen Etihad Cargo’s RFS network in the US by connecting offline points with the carrier’s main gateways, including international airports in Chicago, New York and Washington, and commitment to providing the fastest and most efficient way for Etihad Cargo’s customers to deliver their cargo to its final destination.
“Etihad Cargo carefully selects RFS providers, only engaging with partners that offer the right expertise and equipment, to ensure cargo is delivered on time and customers continue to receive the exceptional service quality to which they have become accustomed. Etihad Cargo is delighted to partner with Accelerated and Jet Airways and looks forward to working together toward the shared goal of exceeding customer expectations and growing Etihad Cargo’s capabilities in the US,” Schurmann concluded.
Turkish Cargo, the rising star of global air cargo transportation, has released a promotional film with comprehensive content related to the industry. Thanks to this movie, which was edited in a simple and functional way by using digital editing techniques, all users in the logistics industry will be able to easily access a wide range of information about the privileged world of Turkish Cargo.
The movie features three main parts, depicting Turkish Cargo’s services including its wide flight network, expertise in special cargo shipments and the Mega Cargo Facility, SMARTIST, the carrier’s brand-new hub at Istanbul Airport. Each section being meticulously prepared, the film also focuses on the logistics sector and air cargo transportation processes, and in this respect, stands out as an important guide for the industry. Inspired by the cargo boxes, the film displays information on the air cargo activities and infrastructure of Turkish Cargo around the world.
Featuring two language options, Turkish and English, the movie aims to enhance user experience as a logistics guide and can be accessed through Turkish Cargo’s social media accounts and YouTube. The film will also be distributed digitally by the carrier’s sales teams to all Turkish Cargo business partners.
For more information about Turkish Cargo and schedules, please visit the website www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or its LinkedIn account. For the Call Center, please dial +90 850 333 0 777
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 77.5 million units in the first quarter of 2022, a 7.3% decrease from the first quarter of 2021, according to preliminary results by Gartner, Inc. A sharp drop in Chromebook sales significantly contributed to the overall market decline.
“After an unprecedented Chromebook surge in 2020 and early 2021, driven by demand from the U.S. educational market, Chromebook growth has tempered,” said Mikako Kitagawa, research director at Gartner. “It was a challenging quarter for the PC and Chromebook market to achieve growth, as this time last year the PC market registered its highest growth in decades.”
Excluding Chromebooks, the worldwide PC market grew by a modest 3.3% year over year. In addition to weakened Chromebook sales, slowed consumer demand contributed to the market’s downward trend, as discretionary spending shifted away from devices. Business PCs, however, saw growth in the first quarter of 2022 as hybrid work and the return to offices created demand for desktop devices.
The top three vendors in the worldwide PC market remained unchanged in the Q1 of 2022, with Lenovo maintaining the No. 1 spot in shipments at 23.6% market share (see Table 1).
Table 1. Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q22 (Thousands of Units)
Company
1Q22 Shipments
1Q22 Market Share (%)
1Q21 Shipments
1Q21 Market Share (%)
1Q22-1Q21 Growth (%)
Lenovo
18,258
23.6
20,882
25.0
-12.6
HP Inc.
15,863
20.5
19,295
23.1
-17.8
Dell
13,739
17.7
13,084
15.7
5.0
Apple
7,005
9.0
6,449
7.7
8.6
ASUS
5,594
7.2
4,640
5.6
20.6
Acer
5,531
7.1
5,850
7.0
-5.5
Others
11,503
14.8
13,393
16.0
-14.1
Total
77,494
100.0
83,592
100.0
-7.3
Notes: Data includes desk-based PCs, notebook PCs, ultramobile premiums (such as Microsoft Surface) and Chromebooks, but not iPads. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (April 2022)
Lenovo and HP both experienced significant impacts from declining Chromebook sales in the first quarter. Lenovo was affected by slowed U.S. Chromebook sales, but that decline was moderated by its growth in Latin America and Asia Pacific. HP prioritized Chromebooks in recent years but decreased its Chromebook focus in the second half of 2021, leading to a significant decline in overall shipments for the first quarter of 2022.
Dell achieved year-over-year shipment growth in the first quarter, despite ongoing supply constraints in the business market. This quarter marked Dell’s sixth consecutive period of growth, achieved in part due to the company’s relatively minor presence in the declining Chromebook and consumer PC segments.
Apple continued its momentum to start this year, led by the popularity of the M1-based Mac devices. In the first quarter Apple introduced Mac Studio, a M1-based premium desktop model, driving sales among PC users who require high processing power.
Regional Overview
The U.S. saw the most significant impact from weakened Chromebook sales, with overall PC shipments declining 16.5% year-over-year in the region. While the consumer PC market softened compared to a year ago, the U.S. business PC market saw growth due to a strong economy and increasing numbers of new businesses entering the market.
Dell secured the top spot in the U.S. PC market based on shipments with 27.1% market share, while HP followed with 22.7% share (see Table 2).
Table 2. Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 1Q22 (Thousands of Units)
Company
1Q22 Shipments
1Q22 Market Share (%)
1Q21 Shipments
1Q21 Market Share (%)
1Q22-1Q21 Growth (%)
Dell
5,144
27.1
4,878
21.4
5.4
HP Inc.
4,317
22.7
7,186
31.6
-39.9
Lenovo
3,263
17.2
4,320
19.0
-24.5
Apple
2,754
14.5
2,322
10.2
18.6
Acer Group
1,104
5.8
1,536
6.8
-28.1
Others
2,412
12.7
2,514
11.0
-4.0
Total
18,995
100.0
22,756
100.0
-16.5
Notes: Data includes desk-based PCs, notebook PCs, ultramobile premiums (such as Microsoft Surface) and Chromebooks, but not iPads. All data is estimated based on a preliminary study. Final estimates will be subject to change. The statistics are based on shipments selling into channels. Numbers may not add up to totals shown due to rounding.
Source: Gartner (April 2022)
The EMEA PC market decreased 6.3% year-over-year, reaching 22.5 million units. In addition to weak Chromebook demand, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had a significant impact on the region’s PC sales.
“Many PC vendors stopped shipping devices into Russia and demand in Ukraine collapsed,” said Kitagawa. “Additionally, the growing impact of upward inflationary pressure on discretionary spending has no doubt caused consumers to hold back on buying PCs, especially in Eastern Europe, which accounts for around 18% of the EMEA PC market.”
Excluding Japan, the Asia Pacific market grew by 4.1% year-over-year, mainly driven by demand for mobile PCs. Desktop PC sales declined in the region, due to weak demand from both consumers and businesses. Even with ongoing lockdowns in China, most buyers had already purchased devices in 2020 and 2021, so PC demand in Asia Pacific was largely driven by replacements as it was pre-pandemic.
These results are preliminary. Final statistics will be available soon to clients of Gartner’s PC Quarterly Statistics Worldwide by Region program. This program offers a comprehensive and timely picture of the worldwide PC market, allowing product planning, distribution, marketing and sales organizations to keep abreast of key issues and their future implications around the globe.
IDEA Academy, Malta’s largest private entity for higher education, has launched its first overseas campus in Dubai in collaboration with Vision Concept Aviation Training Institute (VCATI). The first course from IDEA on Hospitality will start in May 2022 with a batch of 15 students registered for the program.
Dr. Silvio De Bono, Managing Director, IDEA Group and Ing. Vince Maione, Principal, IDEA Academy are in Dubai to formalize an agreement with VCATI Chairman & Founder Mohammed Al-Suwaidi and Managing Director & Accountable Manager- Mahesh Kumar Choudhary.
“Over the past two years, the world has experienced several challenges – unprecedented in modern times – with increased job mobility demanding greater adaptability and more versatile skills. The need for diversification and multidisciplinary education has changed the nature of education and further highlighted the importance of a more holistic and comprehensive supportive genre of academic management. At IDEA, the entire experience is structurally designed to offer impactful learning and development opportunities. We ensure that our teaching process incorporates a high degree of applicability. Our unique curriculum is testimony to our approach.” Said Dr. Silvio De Bono, Managing Director, IDEA Group.
IDEA Academy is a higher educational institution, fully accredited by the Malta Further Higher Education Authority which falls under the Ministry of Education. Malta has a renowned education system, being one of the first countries in Europe to develop a qualification framework that perfectly reflects the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). IDEA Academy’s higher education system also conforms to the Bologna Process.
“Idea’s courses are based on industry intelligence and have been developed so that they attract students who are looking for vocational entries to jobs and professionals from industry who want to move up in their careers. The curriculum planned for our first overseas campus here in Dubai has courses on Finance which includes Anti Money Laundering and on Digital Technology that includes Cryptocurrency. Other courses on Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail and Built Environment address economic demands and cover new trends in these industries. The students will start the courses on the Dubai campus at VCATI and may complete them in Malta so they can take advantage of placement opportunities in Europe.” Said Ing. Vince Maione, Principal, IDEA Academy
“VCATI share our philosophy of training for vocational skill building and are thereby ideal partners for our first venture outside Malta.” He added
“We are excited about this new venture and our collaboration with IDEA Group. VCATI has been delivering vocational courses in Dubai for almost a decade, has attracted more than 40 different nationalities offering students from the UAE, GCC as well as Asia and Africa unique opportunities in aviation. This venture enables us to move further afield into industry. We are inspired by the way the programs are tailored to suit the new world. We will welcome several batches studying different curriculums as we did before emphasizing both academic excellence and industry knowledge.”
“The courses are aligned to meet the requirements of industry professionals as well. We look forward to welcoming professionals from Corporates and government to upscale their skills and learning, stay relevant in today and tomorrow’s fast-paced commercial environment.” said Managing Director & Accountable Manager- Mahesh Kumar Choudhary.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed: We continue providing unparalleled services to airlines and other stakeholders. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli: We enhanced our capabilities to match the amazing developments in the air transport sector. Ibrahim Ahli: We handle 1,500 aircraft movements daily. Phil Malem: Our partnership is long-standing and the renewal of the agreement is a testament to our deep-rooted knowledge and expertise within the air navigation services sector
Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), the leading organization responsible for Air Traffic Management at airports in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, has renewed a cooperation agreement with international public services company, Serco for another two years, ending in January 2024.
The deal has been inked by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive and Emirates Airline and Group, Chairman of Dubai Air Navigation Services and Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East.
Upgrading for enhanced performance
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed said: “To ensure superiority of the quality of services it provides to the airports across Dubai and the UAE, dans is continuing its efforts to provide unparalleled services to the clients in line with its strategic plans to enhance its technological capabilities and continually upgrade the performance of its human resources up to the highest safety and security standards.”
“The creative initiatives of Dubai have contributed to accelerating the recovery phase of the global civil aviation sector which necessitated dans, in its capacity as the key air traffic operator at the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, continue its professional role to stay in the lead and ensure its readiness to keep pace with the massive passenger growth expected in the coming period.”
He commended the renewal of the cooperation agreement with Serco and indicated it will enhance the level of services provided by dans at both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. It will ensure superior operational efficiency by utilizing the latest technologies and international standards and help explore the future of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) sector across the world.
dans is one of the key contributors to supporting the growth of Dubai’s economy, especially the aviation sector that handles the businesses brought by over 92 international carriers that connects more than 290 key cities on the planet.
Joint Achievements
Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and CEO (seconded) of Dubai Air Navigation Services said: “We have a deep-rooted relationship with Serco and the renewal of the agreement is built on our great confidence in the company’s capabilities and the numerous achievements we have jointly made over the past years.”
He added: “Flight management operations are characterized by complexity and requires the best technologies and air navigation systems and enhancing capabilities of our human capital to match the amazing development witnessed by the air transport sector in general and the aircraft industry in particular.”
dans has played a key role in maintaining the supply chain of essential and non-essential goods between Dubai and the rest of the world during the coronavirus pandemic by working 24/7 to provide its services to national and international carriers operating their flights to serve millions of people around the world.
Ensuring the Quality of Services and Enhancement of Capabilities
Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO of dans, said: “Renewing the agreement with Serco will allow us to continue the journey of excellence we started together over the past years in managing flights whose numbers now stands at about 1,500 movements a day across the different airports of Dubai. Our human resources work efficiently round the clock to provide the best, safest and most secure services to our clients.”
Bringing global expertise and regionalized experience to air navigation services
Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East, said: “In partnership with our customers in the aviation sector, we have provided a range of Air Navigation Services to countries within this region since 1947 to support the growth in air traffic. Serco has been a partner to dans since 2009, and the renewal of this joint cooperation agreement is a testament to our strong relationship with our customers and their appreciation for our services.”
Samantha Rowles, Transport Operations Director at Serco Middle East, said: “Using our global and regional resources and experience we are helping dans develop a world-class team of air traffic controllers to keep pace with the latest technologies and international standards.”
Turkish Cargo crowns its processes for transportation of pharmaceuticals; it has been carrying out as based on its perfectionist service concept, with an award. At the 2022 Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards Ceremony, held digitally in Singapore for the 9th time, the air cargo carrier is now announced as the winner of the “Remarkable Air Cargo Brand” award in the Pharma-Logistics category.
In respect of such award, Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines, said; “Being recognized as a leading logistics solution partner for transportation of pharmaceuticals, we have been carrying out as based on a perfectionist concept, is highly pleasing for us. We, as Turkish Cargo, will continue to provide the pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific, with the best services. I hereby express thanks also to our colleagues who have contributed to such achievement.”
Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards recognizes exceptional bioprocessing experts, organizations and technologies that facilitate biomanufacturing excellence at enhanced speed, reduced cost, and superior quality. Embracing the best bioprocessing and biomanufacturing leaders in the industry as well as the latest developments in technologies and the best practices in manufacturing, Asia-Pacific Bioprocessing Excellence Awards provides support to today’s prominent leaders and trend-setters and inspires the innovators of tomorrow.
Providing the best connections for transport to the production and trade centers in the world, Turkish Cargo continues to improve the rewarding opportunities, it offers as based on high quality service concept, for the purpose of meeting the requirements of its customers in the best manner. It also promotes regional trade by generating tailored and practical solutions aimed at the increasing demand for logistics.
Active Brake Assist 5, ABA5, New Actros, Red, smart, Brakes, Illustration
Avoiding accidents or, at the very least, reducing the severity of their consequences is a top priority for Mercedes-Benz Trucks – and this is why the company is always researching and developing new and effective, safety, assistance systems, while regularly optimising the existing systems to ensure safety of its customers and other road users.
Since 1972, Commercial Vehicle Accident Research at Daimler Trucks has been investigating accidents involving Mercedes-Benz trucks, in order to derive optimisation measures for active and passive safety.
In the development of safety and driver assistance systems Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been playing a pioneering role for some time. Numerous systems have been installed in the individual model series long before such systems became legally required. For example, as early as 1981 Mercedes-Benz became the first manufacturer to introduce the anti-lock braking system (ABS) for trucks. In 2006 Active Brake Assist (ABA) heralded a new era for safety systems: for the first time a truck could automatically brake for slowly moving obstacles in front.
In addition to the latest innovation in assistance systems such as Active Brake Assist 5, Active Drive Assist 2, etc, there are many more functions and initiatives which contribute to vehicle and road safety.
Olaf Petersen, the General Manager at Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA believes that: “The transport industry keeps the world moving and it is our responsibility to support it by making our vehicles even safer still; so that customers of Mercedes-Benz Trucks will still be moving the world in another 125 years. Zero accidents are the declared goal of the concept of “integral safety” pursued by Mercedes-Benz Trucks”
“This year we are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with RoadSafetyUAE, a CSR and Engagement platform aiming to raise awareness for traffic safety. With a similar vision as Daimler Truck’s, RoadSafetyUAE’s aim is to contribute to reducing road traffic fatalities, injuries, and accidents in the UAE. Together, we continue to work on improving road safety and awareness through various campaigns and efforts,” concluded Olaf.
With this in mind, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has created an essential A-Z guide to its approach to safety:
Attention Assist
Increases driving safety and helps to avoid accidents by warning the driver if fatigue or lack of attention are detected.
Active Brake Assist 5
The fifth generation of the system assists the driver in under ideal conditions. And within the system’s capabilities, it can apply maximum full-stop braking when approaching stationary and moving objects by applying a partial or maximum full-stop braking for moving pedestrians*, thus mitigating and even preventing accidents entirely.
*Pedestrian detection remains active in a speed range of up to 50 km/h at most.
Comfort Telephony
Enables the driver to talk via the phone without taking the hands off the steering wheel.
Active Drive Assist
First semi-autonomous driving system in a series produced truck. Supports the driver in lateral and longitudinal direction.’
Electronic Parking Brake
Engages automatically in case of emergency and is released if the driver forgets to release it.
Fleetboard
Mercedes-Benz in-house telematics system. Able to read from all ECU’s all codes constantly. Support preventive maintenance and increases uptime.
Genuine Parts
Provides best possible quality for the Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
Hold Function and Hill Holder
Prevents the truck from rolling back when accelerating at an incline.
Lane Keeping Assist
Warns the driver on time before drifting out of the lane.
MirrorCam
Provides best possible view to the driver by adjusting the angle of the camera lens so that the end of the trailer is always visible. By removing the outside mirror, the view next to the A-pillar is much better when approaching conjunctions and roundabouts, thus improving safety. Reduction of fuel consumption is also achieved due to aerodynamic design.
Predictive Powertrain Control
Supports the driver by using 3D maps to optimise the fuel consumption. The driver can fully concentrate on the driving tasks and can be sure that the truck optimises fuel consumption itself.
Quality
Every vehicle is developed, built and tested with daily use in mind. Endurance testing of more than 6 million kilometres in the Middle East under extreme conditions was done on the Actros prior to the launch here.
Sideguard Assist
Assistance system that controls the environment next to the truck. Warns the driver if there is a pedestrian or bicycle next to the truck when turning. Prevents dangerous accidents.
Touch Control Buttons
Offers the driver the possibility to control all functions without taking the hands off the steering wheel.
Underride Guard (Rear)
Enhanced passive safety to protect other road users since it is more difficult to drive under the vehicle rear end.
Vehicle Pre-delivery inspection
During the PDI, the workshop ensures all systems of the vehicles are in perfect condition thereby guaranteeting the overall safety of the vehicle.
Wireless Charging
Ensures that the battery of the mobile phone is always charged without a connecting cable which can prevent the driver or co-driver from tripping over.
125 Years
Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrates 125 years of anniversary this year. The products and safety assistance systems are the result of 125 years of innovation and passion.
Zero accident vision
Mercedes-Benz Truck’s vision is to reduce accidents to a minimum – this is called the so called Zero Accident vision.
Ensuring the continuation of international pharma supply chains while countries closed their doors to one another during the pandemic, Turkish Cargo had a significant success when it comes to vaccine transportation. Being the fastest growing air cargo carrier in the world during 2021 when negative effects of pandemic were ongoing, successful brand contributed to the return of good old days by carrying 335 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to 61 countries.
Able to carry vaccines, medicine and medical products in all of their specific temperature requirements, Turkish Cargo is one of the most preferred air cargo brands when it comes to transporting medical products with its fast and secure services. Carrying pharmaceutical products such as vaccines to 132 countries around the world with its TK Pharma service, flag carrier reached 8 percent market share in medical products category during 2021.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat; “We played an important role for Africa to get the vaccines.”
On the vaccine transportation operations, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “If we are flying free once again and hug our loved ones without a worry, vaccines produced by heroic scientists and carriers who transported those vaccines to all corners of the world have a sizeable contribution in that outcome. By establishing a corridor between over 400 international destinations, we ensured that vaccines remained accessible for all. Especially considering the low number of carriers flying to Africa, Turkish Cargo had an important mission to make sure people of this continent could have access to vaccines. We carried our over 30 years of experience in carrying medical products to our SMARTIST center recently, one of the world’s most modern facilities. We are ready to shoulder even bigger responsibilities for our country and world in air cargo sector.”
After Turkiye, Most Vaccines Were Carried to Brazil
Carrying Covid-19 vaccines from the country they were produced to Turkiye and from Turkiye to all over the world, Turkish Cargo carried most number of vaccines to Turkiye followed by Brazil with 100 million doses in 2021. Amongst the countries with over 1 million doses delivered, there were African countries such as Mauritania, Madagascar, Rwanda and Congo.
As for the manufacturer of the vaccines, first place was Coronovac with 200 million doses followed by Biontech with 120 million doses, Astra Zeneca with 12 million doses and Moderna with 4 million doses.
Global air cargo brand carries important medical packages with delicate temperature and time constraints such as medicine, vaccines, biotechnological products, diagnosis samples, sensitive medical devices, organs and tissues with IATA-CEIV Pharma Certificate quality standards.
Turkiye Can Become a Medicine and Medical Product Base with SMARTIST Facility
Turkiye is on its way to become a global center for medical product transportation with Turkish Cargo’s new air cargo facility SMARTIST at Istanbul Airport. As one of the world’s foremost air cargo facilities that spans 340 thousand square meters, it offers significant advantages for quickly and securely transporting medicine and medical products with its heat and temperature-controlled area of 9 thousand square meters.
Globalization and increased demand for pharmaceutical industry due to Covid-19 pandemic also increases the demand for air cargo logistics. Turkish Cargo aims to carry Turkiye to become a medical center for the world with its new investments and expert teams. With parking areas for cargo freighters around the facility, it is expected that the successful carrier will increase its service quality and market share with SMARTIST facility.
The Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al Futtaim Auto Centers LLC to enhance services by establishing a warehouse at the DGW headquarters to store various spare parts, tires, and batteries. The strategic move has been aimed at ensuring swift and superior services and enhancements for vehicles and vehicle spare parts.
H.E. Fahad Ahmed Al-Raeesi, CEO of DGW highlighted the importance of facilitating agreements with the private sector, especially with established companies like Al Futtaim Auto Centers LLC, whose collaboration can ensure more effective creative and technical vehicle maintenance. He further emphasized how the MoU was an extension of a successful relationship between the two companies.
Al Raeesi further added: “The establishment of a warehouse for Al-Futtaim Auto Centers LLC within the Dubai Government Workshop Headquarters will allow fast and easy delivery of high-quality services, spare parts, and many other technical elements. This strategic relationship entails both technical and logistic cooperation in vehicle maintenance and repair. We are confident about the success of this agreement and will continue to seek new ways to advance our relationship with Al Futtaim Auto and strengthen our service quality to suit client needs.”
For his part, Jawahar Ganesh at Al-Futtaim Auto Centers – L.L.C said: “Our cooperation with the Dubai Government Workshop is the result of a strong and longstanding relationship. We are constantly working towards expanding this relationship and wish to further enhance the services we provide to our clients. We are very delighted by the signing of this MoU and the benefits it is set to bring to all key stakeholders.”
The joint initiative between DGW and Al Futtaim Auto Centers LLC is intended to facilitate collaborations between the private and public in the vehicle maintenance and technical repairs sector. It is in line with the Workshop’s strategic vision to offer services of the highest quality to its clients.
Nokian Heavy Tyres, Nokia, Finland, April 1, 2022 – Even in these days of global road transports, the choice of tires still varies from country to country. Different road conditions, legislation and vehicles make sure that one tire never fits all. To serve as many professional drivers as possible, Nokian Tyres has extended its truck tire selection with three new tire sizes, each answering a specific need.
While the wide Super Single trailer wheels are popular in many countries, the heaviest truck trailers need dual wheels. For example, in the Nordic countries the heaviest allowed truck trailers tip the scales at 76 tons. For these heavyweights, Nokian Tyres offers the new Nokian Tyres Hakka Truck Trailer tire in size 275/70R22.5. “We introduced the Nokian Tyres Hakka Truck Trailer range in the summer of 2021”, says Teppo Siltanen, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “The reception has been very positive among people who transport dangerous goods, liquids or bulk in the most challenging road and weather conditions. The new tire size is meant for dual configuration in the heaviest truck trailers. Its impressive service life, smooth rolling and excellent grip continues the tradition of safe, sustainable and economical mileage offered by the Nokian Tyres Hakka Truck range of premium tires. “The new Nokian Tyres Hakka Truck Trailer tire replaces the previous Nokian Tyres Hakka 844+ tires”, Teppo Siltanen adds.
Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta E2
Another new tire size 275/70R22.5 is aimed mainly for Nordic and Alpine regions – wherever the road conditions may suddenly get extreme.
“The new Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta E2 is a drive axle tire for extreme winter conditions, such as in Norway and Alpine region” says Teppo Siltanen. “Anyone who has been watching the TV shows about rescue teams on icy roads knows what I mean – the cargo must get there even when the winter hits hard.” Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta E2 is the flagship winter truck tire for drive axle by Nokian Tyres. It reduces the need for chains as it offers the next-generation grip, longevity, durability and a low rolling resistance.
Nokian Tyres E-Truck Trailer XL
The Nokian Tyres E-Truck product line is designed with a safe, economical mileage on Central European roads in mind – although it is popular also in the less severe Nordic conditions. Now there is a new XL model that offers excellent load-bearing capacity for Super Single truck trailers. “The new Nokian Tyres E-Truck Trailer XL tire size 385/65R22.5 enables an axle load of up to 10 tons”, Teppo Siltanen says. “This means more efficient transports with bigger loads.”
In a first that will have long-lasting ripple effects across the commercial vehicles industry, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA (DCV MENA) are thrilled to announce that Mandy Chan and Meliza Gilroy are their first two female employees to obtain a Heavy Truck (HT) license after completing a rigorous training course at Belhasa Driving School.
DCV MENA’s dedication to pushing boundaries and pioneering change in the commercial vehicles sector is reflected in both their cutting-edge design and innovative use of technology as well as their approach to workplace diversity and accountability. As part of an ongoing commitment to nurturing individual development and generating opportunities for internal growth within the company, all employees at DCV MENA benefit from being part of a comprehensive training and development plan which includes the chance to obtain a Heavy Truck license.
With a well-deserved reputation for excellence and professionalism, state-of-the-art facilities in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) and forward-thinking ethos it will come as no surprise that Belhasa Driving Centre is Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA’s preferred driving school partner. Belhasa are the first – and thus far only – driving centre in JAFZA to certify women in the Heavy Truck category.
Both companies are driven by a number of shared core values. These includes prioritising road safety and doing all they can to ensure safe and accident-free driving, whether that be through education, intensive training, regular assessments or technological innovation.
The two are also entirely committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, with a particular focus on empowering women and fostering the professional growth of females in what has traditionally been a male dominated industry (women already make up 20% of DCV MENA’s workforce and concrete plans are in place for Belhasa to recruit and train female heavy duty truck driving instructors in 2022).
A recent event held at Belhasa Driving School’s new Al Quoz location and attended by management representatives from Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA, Belhasa Driving School, RoadSafetyUAE and the RTA was a true celebration of both this mission and Mandy Chan and Meliza Gilroy‘s achievements.
Speaking after taking their Belhasa truck driving instructor for a test drive in a Mercedes- Benz Truck and showing off their hard earned for skills, Mandy Chan said “We were both thrilled to receive our Heavy Truck License and feel honoured today to be presented with these commemorative certificates”. Meliza Gilroy added that: “We are very appreciative of the opportunity that was given to us and we applaud the efforts of all the organisations within the UAE taking important steps to promote gender equality across industries.”
Olaf Petersen, the General Manager of Daimler Truck Sales at DCV MENA, commented, “At Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA we are on a constant mission to drive positive change in all areas. While today we mark the achievements of Mandy and Meliza in obtaining their Heavy Truck licenses, this is only the start. We will ensure that they are far from the exception to the rule and are fully committed to making the commercial vehicle industry a viable and attractive career option for women in the UAE and beyond.”
Hani Kamal, the General Manager for Belhasa added: “For many years now we have worked hard to ensure that our workforce is a diverse one that not only offers equal opportunities for all but specifically encourages women to enter into and become an integral part of what has been traditionally considered a male industry.
Thomas Edelmann, the Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE states: “Daimler Commercial Vehicles is a great example of an organization committed to road safety by way of designing safe trucks and also by putting safety as a strategic corporate pillar, as well as embracing gender diversity. A tangible result of these facts is the encouragement of 2 female employees to obtain their heavy vehicle driving license. Studies show women are more risk averse than men, which makes them ideal for truck driving. Trucking statistics show that females are less likely to be involved in a fatal crash and female drivers log more miles each year than their male counterparts. Hence, from a safety perspective, we would love to see more female truck drivers on the roads. However, the number of female truck drivers is still low (USA 7.8%, Spain 4%, Germany below 2%) and in the UAE pretty much non-existent. This initiative by DCV will hopefully excite more females to obtain a heavy vehicle driving license.”
Our partnership with DCV MENA allows us to take this one step further and is an important part of our strategy to foster the professional growth of female employees, both existing and future.”
The Board of Directors of SOHAR Port and Freezone announced the appointment of Emile Hoogsteden as the new Chief Executive Officer of SOHAR Port, a joint venture of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and ASYAD Group. Emile succeeds Mark Geilenkirchen effective 1 July 2022, bringing a solid track record of building and managing robust business strategies in the global logistics’ industry. His stellar background will continue to pave the way for more growth opportunities for the port and tenants at SOHAR.
Under this new leadership, SOHAR will continue to be one of the fastest-growing Port and Freezone complexes in the world. To date, the company has attracted close to US$ 30 billion in investments by serving diverse industries including metals, raw materials, and plastics to name a few. As a future-ready port capable of welcoming the world’s largest container vessels, SOHAR will take a leading role in achieving the national economic priorities within the Oman 2040 Vision.
Almajdouie Logistics Company is delighted to win Bespoke Logistics Project of the Year at the Transport & Logistics Middle East Innovation Awards 2022, which are a celebration of excellence in our industry. The awards recognize industry players that contribute to the continued growth and success of the Middle East logistics sector.
This incredible accomplishment, which reflects the efficacy of our cost-effective solutions that span the entire supply chain, would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our team and the valued support of our stakeholders and clients. The win inspires us to work even harder to improve our high standards of quality, innovation, and business excellence.
Almajdouie Logistics was recognized for its work on the Dumat Al Jandal windfarm project, which is the largest in the Middle East. Our team provided heavy transportation, storage, and heavy lift solutions for the project, which is an essential part of the Kingdom’s National Renewable Energy Program. During this milestone project, we carried out more than 850 journeys and traveled more than 600,000 km.
Projects such as this reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to diversification, especially in terms of energy production. The growing renewable energy sector has huge potential and provides an ideal opportunity for Almajdouie Logistics to utilize our skills and expand our know-how.
Volvo Trucks in North America has won an order for 110 Volvo VNR Electric trucks from the global logistics company Maersk. The deal adds to a previous order of 16 vehicles of the same model and marks the single largest commercial order to date for Volvo’s electric trucks.
The order was placed by Performance Team, part of the Maersk Group, and adds up to mean a total of 126 such electric trucks will be in service for Performance Team. The first electric trucks will be in operation in the second quarter of 2022, all 126 trucks are scheduled for deployment by the first quarter of 2023.
“Volvo Trucks is excited to continue collaborating with Maersk on its fleet sustainability goals and to play a key role in the organization’s continued scaled investments in electromobility solutions,” says Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. The Class 8 electric trucks will be used in California for a variety of transport assignments, serving port drayage and warehouse distribution routes.
The Volvo VNR Electric has an operating range of up to 440 km and energy storage of up to 565kWh. The truck can be 80% charged in 90 minutes with the six-battery package and 60 minutes with the four-battery version. The Volvo VNR Electric is produced in Volvo Trucks’ New River Valley plant in Virginia, which is the exclusive producer of all Volvo trucks in North America.
50% electric sales by 2030
Globally, Volvo Trucks has set the ambitious target that by 2030 50% of all trucks it sells will be electric.
“We are determined to lead the electric transformation of the transport industry. Volumes are still low, but we see rapidly growing interest in Europe, North America and also other parts of the world. In 2021 we took orders, including letters of intent to buy, for more than 1,100 trucks in over 20 countries. It´s clearly becoming a key competitive advantage to be able to offer electric, zero emission transports,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks was the market leader in heavy electric trucks in 2021 in Europe with a market share of 42% and also has a leading position in North America. With a total of six electric truck models in production as of this year, Volvo Trucks has the most complete electric line up in the global truck industry, covering everything from city distribution and refuse handling, to construction transports and regional haulage.
Dubai Autodrome, the UAE’s first premier motorsport and entertainment venue in the Middle East, announced that the 2021-2022 motorsport season recorded a contribution of AED 17.9 million to the UAE’s tourism and economy sectors. Dubai Autodrome hosted several regional and global championships during the season, spanning six months from October 1, 2021 to March 13, 2022.
Dubai Autodrome hosted several major international sporting events, starting with the Historic Dubai Grand Prix Revival, the Hankook 24H Dubai, the Asian Le Mans series, Formula 4 UAE, Formula Regional Asian Championship (formerly known as F3 Asia), the Ferrari Challenge APAC, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East, the Gulf Radical Cup, the Sportsbike Racing Series and the NGK UAE Procar Championship. In addition to offering an exciting experience for fans, the sporting season also made a positive impact on the country’s tourism sector, resulting in more than 20,426 sold-out hotel rooms from November 2021 to March 2022. The figures also reveal that bookings worth AED 6 million have been made for over 3,000 inbound flights, as a direct result of international drivers and teams in-bound to the UAE.
When it comes to the logistical requirements of the championships, over 258 containers were shipped to Dubai for the motorsport events further enhancing the economic impact of the season.
Faisal Sahlawi, General Manager, Dubai Autodrome, said: “We are proud of how the motorsport season has contributed to the UAE’s tourism industry and economy, through several major sporting events in Dubai. Hosting some of the biggest motorsport championships and drivers in the world is extremely rewarding and showcases why the city of Dubai is widely regarded as one of the greatest sporting destinations in the world. The events were attended by motorsport professionals from all over the world, and it was fascinating seeing so many enthusiasts and internationally acclaimed drivers on our circuit. Dubai Autodrome will continue to host professional motorsport events, a move in line with Dubai’s growing tourism and economic sectors.
The motorsport season’s success reflects Dubai’s prestigious position as a hub for motorsports championships and is a testament to the government’s efforts in addressing (COVID-19), which aligns with the wise leadership’s directives to ensure community protection, fast-track economic recovery, and enable the resumption of events and activities across all sectors.
Drawing several thousand spectators, the season was a huge success and created a lot of excitement among fans and enthusiasts. The premier motorsport and entertainment venue is set to host more international events in the coming years, boosting tourism and the economy of the UAE.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyre receives the prestigious award for delivering best-in-class performance
Bridgestone, a global leader in tires and rubber providing solutions for safe and sustainable mobility, has received the prestigious ‘2022 Product of the Year’ award in recognition of its impressive global R&D investments and achievements in sustainable manufacturing.
Potenza Sport, an ultra-high performing tyre, received the award – highlighting Bridgestone’s commitment to producing breakthrough innovations and technologies that help make cities safer. Bridgestone is the first tire manufacturer and the only automotive company to win this prestigious award.
The announcement was made during a gala ceremony of Product of the Year, the world’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation, at the One and Only Royal Mirage in Dubai Marina. Stefano Sanchini, Regional Managing Director of Bridgestone Middle East and Africa received the award which grants one-year license to the manufacturer to use the Product of the Year logo as a stamp of recognition for its high-quality product.
Sanchini said: “We are delighted to have won this award in recognition of our breakthrough innovations and technological advancement in achieving sustainable manufacturing. Bridgestone Potenza is the culmination of our efforts to integrate new technologies in the tread pattern, compound, and construction.”
“Our tyre development technology reflects how we push the boundaries to create cutting-edge, high-performance products with the least impact on the environment. It validates how hard we work every day at the company to meet our ‘Serving Society with Superior Quality’ mission statement,” he added.
The Bridgestone Potenza Sport, which offer unsurpassed traction and control, has been custom developed by Bridgestone to enhance driver experience, while also empowering cars to achieve their full potential. This high-performance tyre’s tread design has incorporated new, sustainable technology to improve braking and abrasion resistance.
With Original Equipment focus, Bridgestone has developed a superior range of innovative, high-performing tires that can meet the ever-evolving advanced requirements of mobility.
Wyld Networks has announced the availability of its new range of low-power, sensor-to-satellite terminals and modules that make it possible to provide uninterrupted connectivity along entire supply chains, where there is no alterative network coverage. The Wyld Connect devices transfer data directly to terrestrial networks or through Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites as a result of partnership with Eutelsat. With 100 percent global coverage across air, sea, road and rail, producers, manufacturers, logistics providers and other parties in the supply chain can receive valuable insight to deliver an improved customer experience, operational efficiency and significant cost savings. The full sensor-to-satellite service will be available in the second half of 2022.
The Wyld Connect terminal can connect directly to existing sensors and asset tracking devices, while the small modules can be fully integrated into new IoT sensors as an embedded solution. By using the LoRaWAN®, low power wide area network technology, smart supply chain IoT applications can be deployed globally using terrestrial or satellite connectivity at very low cost. Sensors can be powered by batteries with a lifetime of up to ten years and data is delivered through Wyld’s cloud-based Fusion platform, which also allows IoT sensors to be registered, configured, authenticated and managed remotely.
“The process of bringing products from raw materials to shelves and showrooms with as little waste and as much efficiency as possible is a massive challenge and supply chains are under pressure to work more productively and intelligently,” said Alastair Williamson, CEO at Cambridge-based Wyld Networks. “But smart supply chains are being held back by the lack of ubiquitous global connectivity. With an estimated 15% of the earth’s surface covered by existing mobile networks, low earth orbiting satellites provide the low-cost solution needed to catapult supply chain IoT growth around the world.”
Wyld is already attracting the attention of the supply chain industry and is partnering with TrakAssure to integrate Wyld Connect into TrakAssure’s asset tracking IoT sensors for supply chain ecosystems. Research from Gartner2) forecasts that $33 billion will be spent on asset tracking in logistics and supply chain in 2025 globally; up from $10 billion in 2020.
In addition to partnering with Eutelsat to provide LoRaWAN coverage via its low earth orbiting satellites, Wyld is also partnering with leading terrestrial LoRaWAN network providers including American Tower and Senet.
“Existing low power wide area networks such as LoRaWAN are ideal to connect low power supply chain assets and sensors that don’t need to send much data, but they currently rely on a limited terrestrial infrastructure,” said Luc Perard, Senior Vice President, IoT Business at Eutelsat. “Wyld’s new sensor-to-satellite LoRaWAN terminals and modules now make it possible to harness our network of LEO satellites to deliver low-cost, hybrid terrestrial and satellite connectivity over 100% of the earth’s surface, which is a game changer for the future of global smart supply chains.”
Cargo iQ recertification reflects Etihad Cargo’s commitment to continuously improving the air cargo customer experience
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, has successfully renewed its Cargo iQ certification in accordance with Cargo iQ Standards for quality management.
Following a rigorous audit on the UAE national carrier’s compliance with the Cargo iQ airline member requirements conducted by independent auditor SGS, Etihad Cargo achieved Cargo iQ recertification for its global network.
Etihad Cargo was awarded two supplementary stars to recognise the carrier’s performance in the “Corporate Social Responsibility” and “Innovative Spirit” categories.
“Etihad Cargo plays a vital and crucial role in today’s global supply chain,” said Thomas Schürmann, Head of Cargo Operations and Delivery at Etihad Cargo. “Therefore, it is imperative that all Etihad Cargo’s efforts toward meeting, providing and exceeding customer needs and requirements must be fully compliant and aligned with global industry standards that promote harmony, transparency, and industry-wide best practices. Etihad Cargo is proud to have been re-certified by Cargo iQ and that Etihad Cargo’s products, services, operations, as well as the delivery of its promise and commitment to customers and the market, are in line with the Cargo iQ airline member requirements.”
Cargo iQ is an IATA interest group with the mission of creating and implementing quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry. The Cargo iQ certification and its stringent airline member requirements are at the core of Etihad Cargo’s Service Delivery and Performance Management. The certification also serves as a benchmark for the cargo carrier in keeping its processes aligned with industry best practices for the benefit of its customers from all over the world.
As a collaborative, multi-stakeholder community that works towards continuously improving the air cargo customer experience, Cargo iQ provides the industry Quality Management System for service delivery; real-time end-to-end transparency in planning, execution and evaluation of shipments; and standards and practices that facilitate the ever-evolving business models and needs.
Dubatt promotes the UAE Circular Economy Policy and advances the national sustainability agenda
One of MENA’s largest recycling facility is being developed at an investment of AED 110 million
The 70,000-square foot facility can recycle up to 25,000 metric tons of used lead acid battery ensuring safety for workers and the environment
Plans to launch `Made in UAE’ batteries in future as part of vertical integration
Dubatt Battery Recycling, a joint venture between the Regency Group for Corporate Management L.L.C and Seashore Group, today broke ground on a 70,000-square foot, first-of-its-kind, fully integrated lead acid battery (LAB) recycling plant at Dubai Industrial City.
Spread over a land area of 154,000 sqft and being developed at an investment of AED110 million, the state-of-the-art facility will contribute to the UAE Circular Economy Policy and Sustainability Goals by transforming used batteries into lead ingots and plastic chips for reuse by battery manufacturers.
Unveiling the details of Dubatt at a press conference, promoters said the plant is scheduled to be fully operational by January 2023. Earlier in the day, the groundbreaking ceremony attended by Mr. Saud Abu Al Shawareb, Managing Director, Dubai Industrial City, was held in the presence of delegates from various government officials and VIPs.
The guests of honor at the ceremony included Eng. Abdul Majeed Abdul Azeez Saifaie, Director, Waste Management Department, Dubai Municipality, and Mr. Abdullah Al Mahri, Director, Investments and Stakeholder Management, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
”The UAE’s sustainability agenda is catalyzing the rise and expansion of innovative businesses working to reduce our ecological footprint through sustainable solutions. As the region’s leading industrial hub, it is part of our purview to complement these efforts and support our leadership’s vision for a clean future by providing enabling infrastructure and framework that supports the reclamation of hazardous materials like lead and plastic into reusable products,” said Mr. Saud Abu Al Shawareb.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dubatt Battery Recycling to our growing roster of cutting-edge recycling plants that will serve as a beacon of green technology and pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future in the region,” he added.
“Dubatt is an inspirational investment from the UAE Circular Economy Policy and Sustainability Goals. The project has been launched under the patronage and approvals from various government entities such as Dubai Municipality, Dubai Environment, Ministry of Industries and Advanced technology and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Upon completion, we will act as an organized recycler and waste management facility for ULA batteries thereby promoting reduction of carbon footprint and climate change,” said Mr. Shamsudheen Binmohideen, Chairman of the entity at the press conference.
The press conference was also addressed by Mr. Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Dubai Economy, Eng. Saeed Alawadi, CEO, Dubai Industries and Exports and Mr. Giacomo Civettilo, Founder and Director for SERI Group, Italy.
The Dubatt plant will start with a 10 ton/hour battery breaker, 4 cubic meter smelter and 4 refinery kettles. Initial capacity is to recycle up to 25,000 metric tonnes of ULABS (Used lead acid batteries) annually and produce 14,000 tonnes of lead ingots and 1,750 tonnes of plastic chips which will be sold to battery manufacturers, medical, fishing, and other industrial sectors. This accounts for recycling around 35% of the lead acid battery scrap generated in the UAE.
The plant machinery and technology are provided by FIB SPA, part of SERI Group Italy who are the pioneers in battery recycling technology with expertise in setting up numerous plants across the world.
Environmental concern
“A study we undertook found that the UAE produces approximately 6,000 metric tons of batteries per month and globally battery scraps are not processed in an environment friendly manner. In many parts of the world scrap batteries are exported after dumping the acid into the soil which is extremely hazardous, polluting the air, water and soil, ´ said Mr. Hasique Pandikadavath, Director of Dubatt.
He said that globally unorganized battery processors break open ULABS, take the lead plates and grids manually, smelt them in rudimentary ovens and make lead ingots.
“We aim to enhance the efficient repurposing of batteries by sourcing it from the market, collaborating with major battery traders, scrap traders, car dealerships, garages, and government authorities. We also solicit the support of all relevant stakeholders, the media and the public in contributing to this Green Clean Initiative,” added Mr. Pandikadavath.
Future Plan – `Made in UAE’ batteries
“We are planning to double our recycling capacity within a year from our commercial production and our plant is constructed with this provision to expand. Our future plan is to set up a lead acid battery production plant in the next two years as part of our vertical integration and expansion. We intend to produce a `Made in UAE’ brand of batteries soon,” said Mr. Binmohideen.
The Group is also looking at a technology partnership with FAAM Italy, a division of SERI Group Italy, for manufacturing new advanced lithium-ion batteries to power electric vehicles and other applications. Dubatt’s technology partner is SERI SRL who are the pioneers in battery recycling and lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
Etihad Cargo partnered with Panthera Africa, Born Free Foundation and Natuurhulpcentrum to safely transport rescued servals from Belgium to South Africa
Four rescued servals started their journey to their forever home at Panthera Africa in South Africa. This relocation was made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of Etihad Airways who provided the flights for the servals, and three organisations, Born Free Foundation, Natuurhulpcentrum and Panthera Africa.
The four servals were kept illegally as pets in Belgium before they were rescued. As they did not have names, the four animals were temporarily named after the city they were rescued in – Kinrooi, Mechelen, Roeselare, and Diepenbeek. The Belgian authorities granted custody of the servals to Natuurhulpcentrum, a wildlife rescue in Belgium, where a dedicated team have been taking care of them until their relocation to their new home. As the centre is only a temporary centre for animals, it searched for a lifetime sanctuary home, until Born Free Foundation offered to relocate them into the Born Free Rescue Section at Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary.
Born Free funded four new purpose-built enclosures and the Panthera Africa Team set to work to build them. Lizaene Cornwall-Nyquist, co-founder of Panthera Africa, said, “We have been waiting for the servals’ arrival for nearly two years and the global pandemic has kept us from relocating these beautiful cats to our sanctuary. We are very excited to welcome them — both for them to be back in Africa and have a peaceful natural home to live in, and also for us, as these are the first servals that will be joining our pride. We are very excited to learn their behaviour and get to know them as individuals. And once again, we feel very honoured and privileged to work with Born Free and NCH, as well as Etihad Airways who sponsored the flights for this relocation.”
Andrea Donaldson of Born Free said, “It is extraordinary to think that, in 2022, we are needing to rescue and relocate servals, an African wild cat, from the European pet trade back to their ancestral home. However, after a long and complex process, and one that was made more difficult by the outbreak of COVID-19, it is amazing to know that these four servals will now be waking up in their forever home, bathing in the warm African sunshine and surrounded by the sights and the sounds of the bushland. Everyone at Born Free is extremely grateful to Etihad Cargo who looked after our servals in flight on their journey to South Africa and we know they will live their best possible life, given their unhappy story so far, in the care of Panthera Africa.”
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of flights by Etihad Airways, the servals were transported safely to South Africa. Mariam Al Qubaisi, Head of Sustainability and Business Excellence, Etihad Airways, said: “Biodiversity protection and conservation is one of our core focus areas alongside decarbonisation and waste management. Etihad takes pride in its efforts to combat the illegal transportation of endangered species and, whenever possible, facilitate the repatriation of species to their native ecosystems.”
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group said: “Etihad Cargo is pleased that the movement of the servals will be the first booking to be made using the Forever Home policy. The safety and wellbeing of animals transported on Etihad Cargo is vital and is guaranteed using the IATA CEIV accredited LiveAnimals product.”
The servals made their journey from Brussels, Belgium to Cape Town, South Africa in their crates in climate-controlled conditions on board an Etihad Cargo flight. A huge thank you also to Zoo Air and their partner FG Customs for providing their services as the Belgium-based animal agents free of charge.
The serval rescue marks the beginning of a historic collaboration between Etihad Cargo and Panthera Africa, aiming to spread awareness about the exploitation captive big cats face and to support and promote animal welfare by ending exploitative practices, such as keeping wild animals as pets, cub petting, taking selfies with big cats, canned hunting, and big cat-based products, while encouraging responsible tourism, where people and animals can coexist harmoniously in a healthy ecosystem.
After veterinarian Peter Caldwell from Old Chapel Veterinary Clinic checked the servals at Johannesburg Airport, they were cleared and made the final leg of their journey to Panthera Africa on Monday afternoon. Early Tuesday morning, they arrived safely at the sanctuary and were all calmly released into their new forever homes.
Lizaene said: “We have waited so long with great anticipation and a lot of excitement, and finally the day is here! We are so proud of the servals and how they, after a long journey, gently walked out of their crates into their night-houses, immediately took their first meal and a drink of water, and soon after confidently and curiously started to explore their large enclosures. This is the biggest space they have ever been in, so we are amazed by their confidence and trust already on the first day. We are very much looking forward to getting to know their individual personalities, and for them to fully settle in and form part of the Panthera Africa pride. We are so grateful to be able to give them a new chance at life, which is made possible through the wonderful cooperation with Born Free Foundation, Etihad Cargo and Natuurhulpcentrum. Today is a day of great celebration and achievement for all – both two and four-legged ones!”
This year’s International Women’s Day was themed “BreakTheBias” which focuses on gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow, and Saudi Arabia is a shining example of a country that has put this theme into practice.
The Kingdom has made great strides in empowering women and increasing their economic participation, through a series of legislative reforms and efforts in recent years. Indeed, Saudi women have become effective partners in the nation’s development in all fields including economic, social, scientific, cultural and others.
As empowering women is one of the main pillars of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its associated programs, this has contributed to boosting women’s participation in all sectors of the labor market and at all functional levels, by providing them opportunities and expanding their work options.
The Kingdom’s HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) sector is one of those sectors that has welcomed Saudi women over the past few years. These women have proven their mettle and gone on to achieve important leadership positions, thereby opening the door wide for the significant presence of women in this field in years to come.
CEO of Al Salem Johnson Controls in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen, Dr. Mohanad AlShaikh said the company has been a pioneer in hiring and promoting women in the HVAC-R sector, expanding the scope of women’s employment in recent years by 107% to include managerial positions as well. At present, the number of female employees in Al Salem Johnson Controls is 118 and leadership positions for women have seen a rise of 10 percent.
AlShaikh said that the company started its endeavour of empowering women more than 15 years ago by being keen on attracting women in several departments within the company, including IT, financial affairs, supply chain, data analysis and others. For example, in recent years, a number of Saudi female engineers have joined the company’s Young Leaders Program in areas where mostly dominated by their male counterparts in the past.
With the opening of the YORK Manufacturing Complex in King Abdullah Economic City in 2021, the company is training Saudi women in various production lines, enabling them to be directly involved in the manufacturing and assembling of Saudi-made YORK units, and thus play a role in achieving the twin goals of Vision 2030, which include developing the local manufacturing industry as well as empowering women.
“The Saudi women working in the HVAC-R sector feel happy and proud because they are among the first to be working in this field in the Kingdom,” the CEO added.
As part of its continuing endeavours to go the extra mile for smart logistics with the most dependable solutions for a demanding, challenging and rapidly evolving industry, UD Trucks is committed to producing the finest trucks that meet the most stringent and tough performance, reliability and durability standards.
The November 2021 launch of the new series Euro 5 UD trucks at the Dubai Autodrome, ahead of the introduction of new commercial vehicles regulations in fast-growing regional countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which currently has a Euro 4 emission standard, and Qatar, is a milestone development and marks the opening of new road in the company’s quest to revolutionise the trucking industry regionally and globally.
The UAE and Qatar among other GCC and regionally countries which will be adopting Euro 5 emission standards by mid-2022. This move by UD Trucks allows businesses to better prepare for the switch to more environmentally-friendly fleets, as the Euro 5 range reduces emissions by about 43 percent compared to Euro 4 and significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the vehicles through cleaner emissions, the company asserted.
Founded in 1935, UD Trucks is a leading Japanese commercial vehicle solutions provider, active in more than 60 countries across all continents. Since its inception in 1935, the company has been an innovation leader with a clear vision to provide the trucks and services for today’s fast-paced world. UD Trucks is an associate company of the Isuzu Group.
Following the epic launch, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Mourad Hedna, President, UD Trucks, MEENA (Middle East-Europe-North Africa), who spoke expansively on a range of subjects that included the growth course of the company, its accomplishments, innovations its concerns and endeavours on the environmental front and vision for the future.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): How significant is the Middle East / GCC for your commercial vehicles and how is the brand faring in terms of sales in the region?
Mourad Hedna (MH): The Middle East is a key market for UD Trucks. The region is known for its tough terrain and harsh environment. But for many years our products have proved their ability to deliver excellent results and provide our customers with the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing they are operating products that are more than up to the tasks in hand.
As importantly, we enjoy partnerships with some of the leading local importers, who are committed to delivering the highest standards of customer service for their customers, consequently playing a significant role in our brand’s success. This has helped UD Trucks to register approximate 33% increase in sales across the MEENA region, over the past 12 months.
GSC: What is your range of commercial vehicles; what are some of your recent introductions and which are among your top selling models in the region?
MH: Our current portfolio comprises a wide range of trucks for multiple uses. We cater for different segments and customers with various needs, reflecting our strong innovative nature as we are the only Japanese manufacturer to offer fully automatic models across our medium-duty range.
In addition, we aim to cover all active segments in the various markets, helped by the fact that we have the widest range of heavy-duty trucks amongst Japanese manufacturers.
Our range currently comprises the Quester and Croner models, which have established strong reputations for themselves across the region since their introduction in 2017 and 2019 respectively. They have subsequently benefited from several upgrades to ensure they even better suit the market’s needs and demands. Both are well-known for their durability and quality.
Most recently, we launched the new Euro 5 versions of the Croner and Quester, along with enhanced Euro 3 versions. The launch focused on three key elements our objective to minimise environmental impact; improve the efficiency and uptime of the trucks; and increase profitability by lowering Total Cost of Ownership for our clients. The launch also came ahead of the introduction of new environmental regulations in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
GSC: Tell us briefly about the Euro 5 highlights and USPs?
MH: At UD Trucks, our primary objective is the customer’s satisfaction and peace of mind. For a fast-growing region with plans to introduce stronger regulations in regard to emissions, we launched the Euro 5 models as ahead of the region adopting updated Euro emission standards, which is crucial for UD Trucks as the brand shares the same vision of sustainability
Our strategic vision of a ‘Better Life’ is mirrored by the region’s goal to become more environmentally friendly. To continue the path of becoming a sustainability leader in the industry, we introduced the Euro 5 range in the United Arab Emirates, where Euro 4 emission standards are currently in place, and Qatar, which will adopt Euro 5 emission standards by mid-2022. In addition to minimising polluting emissions, these models also bring greater efficiency in terms of driving experience and ownership costs.
In terms of the models specifically, the Euro 5 Quester offers advanced features to benefit the customers, drivers and environment. The model delivers improved fuel economy by about 10 percent and is equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which has proven to be more reliable when compared to other emission control technologies for reducing emissions.
The model comes with advanced technology, such as the ESCOT automated manual, which automatically selects the right gear at any given time for the driver. It also features a lighter tare weight and optimised driveline.
The driver-focused Euro 5 Croner is available in three models: MKE, LKE and PKE. The truck delivers high levels of versatility as its wheelbase offers up to 21 different configurations to suit the specific demands of various industries. Fuel efficiency has also been improved by the model’s new aerodynamic cab design that reduces drag by 5 percent compared to previous models.
GSC: Briefly explain the upgrades to the existing Quester and Croner Euro 3 trucks and the implications?
MH: Our new Euro 3 Trucks benefit from numerous upgrades. They offer increased environmental-friendliness through the fuel coaching system, which enables and ensures optimum profitability for our customers in the region. Like the Euro 5 models, they are more driver-focused and receive the same upgrades, such as a new instrument cluster, ESCOT manual transmission feature, body builder module and the UD Trucks Telematics Services.
GSC: What opportunities and challenges for the present and future do you foresee going forward?
MH: The region offers extremely exciting opportunities for the truck market, but it does have its challenges, most notably caused by the impact of the pandemic. This has made planning difficult, but with a pragmatic approach and the ability to respond quickly to changes if required, it’s not impossible. Another concern relates to logistical disruptions that lead to elongated delivery timings, which the region isn’t quite used to.
A further challenge is one faced by our customers who we maintain very close relationships with. Delayed financial approvals lead to challenges in arranging finances for new requirements. This creates pressure on companies’ cash flows, which may end up impacting their purchase decisions.
However, we also see opportunities in the market. We know through the pace of the region’s development that addressing environmental concerns is key for the future. Our introduction of the Euro 5 range of trucks bears testimony to UD Trucks’ commitment to addressing this, as we prepare accordingly by ensuring complete peace-of-mind and allowing our forward-thinking customers to act.
In addition, we expect the construction and waste management sectors to expand in Saudi Arabia, and we foresee increased demand, in part due to the kingdom’s 2030 vision, which is set to increase the number of projects. In Qatar, we can see the country’s 2022 FIFA World Cup preparations are causing a final push, which we expect to result in growth in both segments of waste management and construction.
GSC: What are your brand strengths and how are you leveraging these to gain a larger market share?
MH: We have been a challenger brand and continue to push boundaries with regard to product development and innovation. One of our key innovations, the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, which we were the first brand to introduce back in 2004, is proof of our brand’s strength in pioneering and innovation.
It is within our nature as a brand to be constantly evolving, and recently, we have taken additional steps to ensure we are ahead of the industry, as evidenced by our introduction of the new Euro 5 range. UD Trucks continues to utilise the best of Japanese automotive manufacturing, blended with the support and expertise of Isuzu Motors and our partners throughout the region.
We are also pleased to share that we have increased our retail and wholesale by 25% in 2021 compared to 2020. A major reason for this milestone is the solid foundation we have built over the years for our growth. That, coupled with the range of products we offer and the strong relationships we have with our importers and partners in the region.
GSC: Tell us about your CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities particularly in the light of the growing public concern about sustainability / vehicle pollution and its impact on the environment?
MH: With regards to increasing environmental awareness, we have been at the forefront through our ‘Better Life’ commitment. Our introduction of the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) back in 2004, shows our pioneering of a technology to significantly boost environmental protection and fuel economy.
This is the core of the ‘Better Life’ commitment that drives the integration of sustainability across all our company’s operations and processes to realise lower environmental impact, higher customer satisfaction, higher profitability, and a better place for people to work and live.
Abu Dhabi’s leading export credit agency discusses role of local ECAs in expanding economic activities in both region.
The Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) took part in a two-day TXF Middle East and Africa conference, which sought to enhance export and finance collaboration between the two regions. The participation is part of ADEX’s effort to strengthen the Emirati export sector and support the drive to diversify the national economy.
The TXF Middle East & Africa: Export Project Finance 2022 conference, held in a hybrid mode at the Grand Habtoor Resort on March 15-16, discussed developments in trade collaboration in Africa and the Middle East that have been paving the way for a new regional trade corridor. This event featured key players from exports credit agencies (ECAs), corporates, export promotion councils (EPCs), as well as lenders, investors, exporters, and project financers, who highlighted the emergence of new ECAs in the Middle East and their role in boosting the exports growth in both regions.
Mr. Khalil Al Mansoori, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Exports Office, said that the event was beneficial for the export sector as it came at a time when businesses are facing considerable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Through our partnership in the event, we wanted to advance our vision to support the national economy and boost its competitiveness by strengthening the export sector in line with the UAE’s strategies to diversify economy as a pillar of sustainable development,” he added.
Reiterating ADEX’s commitment to partner with relevant entities to explore innovative ways to support local exporters. Al Mansoori noted: “We are working on introducing innovative and unique financial solutions and facilities. The intention of ADEX is to pave the way for UAE companies to broaden their reach overseas as we try to advance their interest and play an integral part in the UAE’s bid to establish itself as the one of the top business destinations in the world.”
At a panel discussion titled “Celebrating Collaboration: Local ECAs Facilitating Growth in the Middle East and Africa”, Natasha Saleh, Project Manager, ADEX, highlighted the objective of the Abu Dhabi Exports Office and elaborated on its commitment to creating trust among governments around the world so they can choose the UAE as a strategic import partner.
Ms. Saleh said that the ADEX is perfectly aligned with all the initiatives launched by the government last year under ‘Projects of the 50’, aimed at strengthening UAE’s ability to keep pace with the even-evolving global economy.
Talking about ‘Operation 300 billion’ that was also launched last year by the government to raise the industrial sector’s contribution to UAE’s GDP from AED 133 billion to AED 300 billion by 2031, Ms. Saleh explained that such measures will help build the reputation of UAE’s industrial products through the promotion of exports to global markets.
ADEX was established in 2019 by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and provides an array of financial solutions to enhance the UAE exports. ADEX offers ‘Buyers Credit Facilities’ to overseas buyers of Emirati products and services, paving the way for UAE companies to find new markets for their products while reducing potential payment risk.
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
Awesome News WordPress Theme 2017
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
When The Sun Goes Down
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Here’s what people wearing on The Stage
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
The past two years have been the most challenging in the entire history of aviation and yet, for one air cargo conglomeration, challenges are what it thrives and, literally, delivers on: Welcome to Challenge Group – Experts in international cargo solutions.
When you bring together experience, an extensive skill set capable of tackling any air cargo and aviation situation, and when defining individual, customer-centric solutions is in your company’s DNA, then adopting Challenge as your name and “Challenge Accepted” as your corporate slogan, is a very logical move.
It is also part of a major rebranding that has been underway ever since the Group embarked on its harmonised restructuring in 2020. So, who is Challenge Group?Headed by CEO, Yossi Shoukroun, the Group incorporates three airlines: CAL Cargo Airlines based in Israel, Challenge Airlines BE based in Belgium, Challenge Airlines MT and Challenge Air Cargo (the Commercial Arm of the Group) both based in Malta, its own ground handling company in Liege, Belgium: Challenge Handling, a strong European road feeder network out of Liege: Challenge Logistics, an aircraft and parts leasing division: Challenge Aviation, and a comprehensive line maintenance provider: Challenge Technic. The Group’s cargo airline experience dates back to its CAL Cargo Airlines’ beginnings in 1976, and its handling division (previously known as LACHS) was established in 1997. The other companies were founded over the course of the past six years. Malta-based Challenge Air Cargo is the latest addition and is due to commence operations this year.
Challenge Group’s core expertise in airfreight, handling, and logistics, has established it as a leading provider of reliable, integrated, and tailor-made, air-cargo door-to-door solutions. In fact, 65% of its business is non-standard cargo that requires innovative, industry-specific handling solutions: many of these have been for outsize freight shipments. One reason why, alongside a host of state-of-the-art and highly automated air cargo handling equipment and facilities, the Group is in possession of Europe’s largest 52-tonne high-loader, located in Liege. From temperature-sensitive shipments (IATA CEIV Pharma-certified in the air and on the ground), to dangerous goods, all the way through to live animals (Challenge Handling also manages the ultra-modern Horse Inn hotel, one of the finest in Europe, at Liege Airport: more than 250 horses passed through it to on their way to the Tokyo Olympics last year, for example); Challenge Group is trained, certified, and experienced in handling and flying all kinds of commodities.
Over the last four years, the company has trebled its capacity and now handles 300,000 tonnes of cargo per year, with an ambition to reach half a million tonnes annually by 2023. Today, it counts 850 employees and a fleet of four B747-400F. These will soon be complemented by four 767-300BDSF and four 777-300ERSF conversions over the next two years, Challenge Group follows a solid, 5-year expansion strategy in terms of further fleet growth, exploring new business areas, and continuing to develop its rapidly expanding first and last mile services across Europe and the US, to provide quality end-to-end solutions to its customers.
“Air cargo is a people-driven industry, full of down-to-earth, hands-on characters. We identify strongly with this direct, solution-focused approach, and have incorporated company values that precisely reflect this attitude: Passion, Authenticity, Agility. The perfect ingredients for the success of our ‘Challenge Accepted’ promise. We enjoy getting things done!” says Yossi Shoukroun, CEO of Challenge Group.
A modern, unified digital presence is also part of the new branding scheme, aimed at bringing the Group’s different divisions together. Yet, one feature of the Group that is already inherent and identical across all of its companies, is the attitude of its people: it is their can-do approach, creativity, and total customer focus, that ensure the highest levels of quality, safety, and efficiency in solving all challenges entrusted to Challenge Group. Challenge accepted – Challenge solved!
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
Awesome News WordPress Theme 2017
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
When The Sun Goes Down
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Here’s what people wearing on The Stage
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
Introducing the standards not only of the present but also of the future in the air cargo industry thanks to its robust infrastructure, innovative mission and the broad vision it has drawn up, Turkish Cargo now has the global operationally service quality, it has been offering elaborately, certified by the Cargo iQ certificate. The triumphant brand became qualified to obtain a certificate from Cargo iQ, an IATA (International Air Transport Association) interest group with the mission of creating and implementing quality standards for the worldwide air cargo industry.
As part of the Cargo iQ requirements, all processes, including conformity of its operational processes, the services it offers to its customers and the quality management in general terms, of Turkish Cargo, have undergone an inspection by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance (General Society of Surveillance) the independent inspection company based in Geneva and contracted by the IATA. In consequence of the comprehensive inspection that has been conducted accordingly, the processes and services, carried out meticulously by Turkish Cargo, have been determined to be compliant with the quality standards of Cargo iQ.
Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines, remarked as follows;“The Cargo iQ certificate, an independent benchmark for our performance against the quality standards of the logistics industry, is a key milestone that denotes our service quality, operational excellence, our standards that are innovative and aimed at meeting the customers’ expectations, and also our sustainable achievements. Thanks to the cutting-edge technologies it uses and develops, and the innovative approaches it adopts and its service quality that is beyond the expectations, Turkish Cargo will continue to rank among the most reliable solution partners in the air cargo industry.”
Lothar Moehle, Executive Director of Cargo iQ, said; “It is with great pleasure that the Cargo iQ organization can issue the Quality Audit Certificate to the team of Turkish Cargo. The external auditor has verified and confirmed that Turkish Cargo is complying with the process standards created by Cargo iQ for all our members and for the air cargo industry at large. Well done and thank you for the hard work of the entire Turkish Cargo team. As the quality work never stops, we are looking forward to be cooperating with the TK Cargo team on even further quality improvements in the future.”
Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. Within this framework, Turkish Cargo has been innovating by developing pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to meet the needs of its customers and industry partners to deliver sustainable high-end services in a constantly changing world.
Intro text we refine our methods of responsive web design, we’ve increasingly focused on measure and its relationship to how people read.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
On the topic of alignment, it should be noted that users can choose from the options of None, Left, Right, and Center. In addition, they also get the options of Thumbnail, Medium, Large & Fullsize.
And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
What to do in Uluwatu Bali
Walk down the Uluwatu beach
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections. The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked. “What’s happened to me? ” he thought. It wasn’t a dream.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
Hidden beach paradise that Balinese would never tell you
Before you get started, please be sure to always search this Documentation, and also watch our Video Tutorials. If you have further questions beyond the scope of this Documentation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll do our very best to reply as promptly as possible.
Lonely girl waiting for a loved one on the beach
It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections. The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
We always get so many questions about what Isydora means and where did it come from. That is why we decided to dedicate a very special blog post to this topic to stop all the guesses out there once and for all.
The Isydora brand is built around an inseparable duo, two founders who are bonded in a very special way; they are mother and daughter.
Iris, the mother, who is a fashion designer and a strong enthusiast of “patchwork” sewing techniques, was the first initiator towards the establishment of the brand. Back in the day she creatively utilized her approach to create one-of-a-kind patchwork clothing designs. After finishing her architectural studies, Lucija came up with the idea for them to start handmaking exclusive bedspreads, which wouldn’t be just that, but also a tale with a very significant message. Their desire was not to be seen as just another product on the market but rather to establish a profound and sophisticated meaning entitled to each quilt told through story. When the first bedspread was made, they vowed to dedicate a story with a special message to each successive product they create and proudly present it to the world. The stories they write serve as an intangible thread that, like a thin bridge, links the actual with the fictional realm.
Iris Zorko-Founder & Designer mentions “I’ve been designing independently and in collaboration with others for many years. I always drew my inspiration and strenght from those closest to me. My goal is always to create an exclusive designs that will make each individual feel special and unique.”
Lucija Zorko-Co-Founder & CEO said “I am passionate and I love using my skills and knowledge to produce something extraordinary. As graduated architect I know how the smallest of details can make a real impact and as a very detail oriented individual I strive to bring these details together to create the best products and customer experience out there.”
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
Awesome News WordPress Theme 2017
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
When The Sun Goes Down
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Here’s what people wearing on The Stage
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
xChange Survey Indicates Three-Fold Rise in Awareness and Acceptance of Shipper Owned Containers (SOCs) among top 50 Freight Forwarders
The study by Container xChange indicates a year-on-year rise in awareness of SOC containers amidst increasing demurrage and detention charges, container shortages and supply chain uncertainties
Undercover Survey results show a three-fold rise in acceptance of SOC requests by freight forwarders on xChange
Part of this report, a Q&A with Florian Braun, Head of Ocean Freight, EMEA, Flexport opines, “SOC can offer an advantage depending on the situation. But you need to have the right process in place to manage the flows. “
According to an undercover survey by Container xChange, for the third year in a row, the percentage of top 50 freight forwarders accepting SOC requests grew from 6% in 2019, 10% in 2020 to 18% in 2021, a three-fold growth in awareness and acceptance of Shipper owned containers (shipping containers owned by the shippers). Though there is considerable improvement in demand for SOCs, the major forwarders are yet to fulfil the demand for the boxes on the route from China to Germany.
Florian Braun, Head of Ocean Freight, EMEA,Flexport says, “SOC increases reliability for empty container availability. The downside is that you need a dedicated team/person to manage these shipments.” He adds, “COVID caused a strong equipment imbalance, and therefore the need for empty equipment has increased. SOCs are a solution for this.”
“Forwarders are increasingly positive about SOCs but are also skeptical of the success of processes around them. The rise in awareness for SOCs shows that industry participants are responding to the supply-chain pressures by diversifying their sourcing strategy. We’ve observed a growing year-on-year acceptance for SOCs as well as demand to improve the management costs and efforts. We believe the solution lies in digitizing the process to enable forwarders with a seamless, hassle-free opportunity of using SOCs,” said Christian Roeloffs, Founder and CEO, Container xChange
During the month of December 2021, Container xChange put to a test the world’s 50 largest freight forwarders to investigate how they respond to SOC requests. We reached out once again to ship industrial machinery parts from Shanghai to Hamburg using SOC containers. Here is what the report findings show –
18% of the companies that were tested wereable to organize the SOC move and source the containers without any restrictions. This figure of 18% compares to 10% of the companies in 2020, and 6% in 2019. Meaning that since last year, this number has grown by 80% and that over the last 2 years, it’s grown three-fold.
SOC acceptance and awareness has grown over the last three years. 90% of our respondents were clued up on the SOC market compared to 68% of respondents last year and 35% in 2019.
Hitachi Transport System was one of the most helpful freight forwarders, even offering us ‘reasonable’ pickup charges, bearing in mind the current climate. While last year the winners were Kuehne+Nagel, CEVA Logistics, Hitachi Transport Systems, Nippon Express and Kerry Logistics – in 2021 it was GEFCO, Hitachi (again), Yusen Logistics, Landstar, Mainfreight, Kintetsu World Express, FedEX, BDP International and Millenium Cargo.
This year, the lower cohorts outperform the top 10. The top 10 were already saturated with business, especially leading up to the festive season. Evidently, SOC is becoming more and more possible for a range of freight forwarders.
(Cohort 1 = Rank 1 – 10, Cohort 2 = Rank 11 – 20 etc.)
“COVID-19 has shown how necessary it is for logistics operators to be flexible, to be able to adapt to the waves of a volatile market. Due to the flexibility and availability of SOC equipment, the operator can work on new routes, and receive and release equipment for loading in regions convenient for them,” said Alexander Gnedov, CEO, Conway. “While we also load COC (Carrier Owned Container) containers, we have noticed a recent increase for SOC-related requests.” He added.
One of the recent surveys by xChange in January 2022 which canvasses 500 freight industry respondents also pointed towards one-fourth of the respondents considering making use of SOCs as one of their container sourcing strategies into the year 2022.
New statistics show that Volvo Trucks was the market leader for heavy all-electric trucks in Europe 2021 with a market share of 42%. In 2021 the company took orders, including letters of intent to buy, for more than 1,100 electric trucks worldwide.
The international trucking industry is undergoing a transformation towards more sustainable transport as sales of heavy battery electric trucks are starting to pick up, with Europe in the lead. An increasing number of heavy all-electric trucks are now running in commercial traffic.
Statistics from the market analysis group IHS Markit show that during 2021 a total of 346 electric trucks (≥16 tonnes) were registered in Europe – an increase of 193% from 2020. Volvo Trucks has the largest market share at 42%. The countries in Europe with the most electric trucks registered (≥16 tonnes) are Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and The Netherlands.*
“We are determined to drive the electric truck revolution and our market leading position in Europe is proof that we are doing just that. Even if volumes are still low, we see rapidly growing interest, both in Europe, North America and in other parts of the world. In 2021 we have taken orders, including letters of intent to buy, for more than 1,100 trucks in over 20 countries. I’m convinced it’s becoming a key competitive advantage to offer electric, zero emission transports,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks started serial production of electric trucks in 2019, as one of the very first truck brands in the world to do so. When production of the heavy duty all-electric models Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX begins this fall, Volvo will have the most complete electric line up in the global truck industry. Volvo has delivered electric vehicles to a wide range of customers in Europe, North America and Australia. The company’s target is that half of its total truck sales will be electric by 2030.
“Clearly, these numbers show that we’re off to a very good start in sales. With the broader electric truck line up, it will be possible to electrify nearly half of heavy road transports. This proportion will grow even larger as the distance that electric trucks can drive increases and the charging infrastructure for heavy trucks becomes further developed,” states Roger Alm.
Sharjah Airport Authority wins Sharjah Excellence Award for Sharjah Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for its leadership in community engagement
The Sharjah Airport Authority has shown once again its commitment to excellence and leadership in Sharjah’s sustainable development after it earned the Sharjah Excellence Award for Sharjah Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in recognition for its responsible practices involving the employees, the community, and the environment.
The Authority received the award during a gala awards ceremony organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority received the award from His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI during the event that was held on Wednesday (February 23, 2022) at SCCI headquarters.
H.E Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said: “We are proud of the Authority’s latest achievement which is testament to our commitment to adopt responsible practices and engage in social and environmental initiatives and programs. These efforts are aimed at further enhancing the sustainability and quality of life in Sharjah and the UAE, in line with our time-honored values with respect to the society, the environment as well as in consideration to the needs of investors, partners, clients, and suppliers.”
“Our programs are consistent with our mission to provide excellent services while ensuring a safe travel experience for everyone. Through innovation, Sharjah Airport has been significantly contributing to the growth and development of the emirate, driving various social responsibility campaigns that empower the wider community.” H.E added.
He noted the Authority’s latest achievement is a result of conscious efforts to maintain the excellence and quality of its services while ensuring that these efforts make positive impact on the community. The Authority has integrated social responsibility and sustainability in its various operations and innovative services, providing passengers with greater comfort and ease while ensuring it meets the highest international standards.
Al Midfa further cited that the Authority is known and recognized for its green initiatives and has been awarded the Sharjah Green Award in 2018 and the Sharjah corporate Social Responsibility Award in 2019, and that today’s successes only strengthens its position as among the five leading airports in the region and one of the most preferred stops for global travel and tourism.
The Sharjah Airport Authority engages in a diverse range of sustainable projects and social initiatives within the workplace, the environment, and the community. It also promotes institutional partnerships and work with other organizations to implement series of initiatives, projects, and activities related to sports, health, education, and the environment. It also engages in voluntary and charity work, humanitarian assistance, and promotes the celebrations of national and international occasions. The Authority works to ensure that it maintains the highest standards of safety and professional health for its staff and customers, achieving the highest levels of satisfaction from its stakeholders.
P&O Maritime Logisticsentering container carrying market after industry-leading modification of MCV vessels
As global supply chains face continued pressure on container vessel availability, the newly modified MCVs will support customer Unifeeder to alleviate supply chain constraints
P&O Maritime Logistics continues its MCV transformation programme with five additional MCVs to be container modified to service shortsea trade routes from the Americas to Southeast Asia
P&O Maritime Logistics is primed to enter the container carrying market, helping to relieve stretched supply chains after recently completed the first-ever container fitting modification to the deck of a Multi-Carrying Vessel (MCV).
The containerised market entry marks a first for P&O Maritime Logistics and comes off the back of the maritime solutions provider working with customer Unifeeder on providing services on container routes with low number of containers but a need for a fast turnaround due to logistics limitations, low volume high frequency routes.
P&O Maritime Logistics’ MCV fleet is now more flexible as it will be able to carry 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot containers when container capacity is most in need in addition to the original design to transport general and oversized project cargo. By entering this new part of the maritime sector, P&O Maritime Logistics demonstrate the versatility of its MCV fleet.
The new model of container carrying MCVs provide a solution to the high demand of container carriers in Europe – alleviating pressure on supply chains being felt across the continent and worldwide. Container fitted MCVs are ideal for lower volume, high frequency shortsea routes as well as trade routes through rivers and to shallow water ports like the transit between Turkey and the Caspian via the Russian rivers, where multiple vessels are expected to be employed next year.
As part of DP World, P&O Maritime Logistics is looking forward to adding value to the global portfolio of DP World ports assisting in decongestion, ability to serve minor adjacent terminals and therefore drive main line volumes to DP World facilities. The same model will also be applied to other global container terminals which are facing congestion in the current container market.
P&O Maritime Logistics has been continually broadening the horizon of its fleet, with an additional five vessels expected to undergo container fitting in the future.
Martin Helweg, CEO of P&O Maritime Logistics said: “As global supply chains have been stretched in recent years, we are entering the container carrying market to help provide additional capacity in the lower-volume, higher-frequency routes. With five more vessels slated to enter the containerised market, we’ll soon be servicing niche trade lanes stretching from the Americas to Southeast Asia. We’ll be working closely with our parent company DP World in rolling out of containerised service, beginning with fellow DP World-owned company shortsea feeder service provider, Unifeeder.”
Currently, several MCVs are delivering wind turbine blades, large process modules, reactors, and pressure vessels on shortsea routes and in the open season of the Volga Don Canal, with further deliveries are expected in 2022.
P&O Maritime Logistics’ MCV fleet is one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly in the sector. Trading areas include the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea and the Russian Inland Waterway System.
Technology provider is to deliver assistance in addressing key delivery challenges in the region
RouteQ, a subsidiary of Yandex and a provider of cloud-based delivery management software solutions, recently announced an expansion of its operation to the Middle East, to plug the critical gaps in the region’s delivery fleet operations, by providing comprehensive route planning and delivery tracking capabilities for today’s competitive retail, e-commerce, delivery providers, and fast-moving consumer goods businesses.
Couriers are facing increased demand in the wake of the pandemic and e-commerce volume is expected to remain high for some time. Some project that the e-commerce market in the UAE will reach US$ 8bn by 2025. RouteQ believes that digital transformation will play a significant role in determining the shape of the region’s logistics market in the coming years.
“The number-one challenge facing B2C or B2B organizations in the region, when it comes to moving goods and services from point A to point B, is the vague or incomplete destination address,” remarked Vladimir Nesterov, General Manager, RouteQ Middle East.
Long experience
Yandex’s experience in mapping exceeds 15 years, and the company has built on past innovations (particularly in the field of complex algorithms) to leverage modern maps and traffic data to enable the most precise delivery in the industry, a press communique said.
More than 200 parameters let enterprises optimize their routing to meet modern logistics challenges — like delivery time windows and customer self-tracking — and dramatically reduce workloads for call centers at the same time. An advanced module, built specifically for the Middle East, lets customers and delivery managers collaborate to fine-tune target locations where a more precise address is not available.
These factors play a vital role in significantly reducing delivery truck mileage. Organizations can use RouteQ technology to reduce the number of vehicles used for delivery routes by 30%, which further reduces the carbon footprint and makes operations more sustainable.
RouteQ recently opened operations in Dubai to expand its presence in the Middle East and help regional businesses address their delivery challenges.
In the coming year, Nesterov plans to expand the company’s regional sales and marketing team, as well as its implementation and support units.
LogisEye Solutions introduces a Smart Business Model, enabled by smart technology
Around the world, most companies still continue to follow manual and archaic business processes and documentation for their freight procurement and face enormous challenges. That, however, is set to change as the industry embraces and embarks on technology as a tool for change. The trillion-dollar freight industry now demands smart and evolving technologies with an increased focus on procurement and overall logistics and supply chain transformation to meet the unpredictable market developments and changing customer requirements.
Globally, the logistics procurement sector is not only getting increasingly digital, but also progressively pervasive as more and more customers gravitate to an emerging Digital Freight Marketplace. Enter LogisEye Solutions (LogisEye), the provider of breakthrough solutions for the industry through an eagleeyed, UAE-indigenously developed, sophisticated and user-friendly digital platform, by freight and IT professionals for freight professionals.
Initiated by C. M. Mathew, Founder and CEO, LogisEye provides access to competitive and benchmarked freight forwarding rates and ranks of potentially trusted and meticulously vetted Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) to accelerate freight procurement, empower the partnership, and maximize cost-savings.
Mathew, a logistics industry veteran with extensive experience, spanning over three decades, is committed to growing the network for all stakeholders involved in the value chain, while leveraging current connections for contract and spot freight rates.
According to Mathew, for a nominal subscription and transaction fee, customers can choose from hundreds of appropriately vetted LSP’s to source the ‘best-fit partner’ for their freight forwarding and clearance requirements.
Brand agnostic LogisEye is a brand agnostic cloud based digital logistics procurement platform, connecting shippers and consignees with Logistics Service Providers (LSP) and Cargo Insurance companies, powered by advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). LogisEye is the online international freight marketplace that uses a SaaSenabled marketplace model.
Seeking to drive digital transformation in Logistics Procurement, the portal was conceived in August 2019, and after painstaking efforts and meticulous research and planning, the portal went functional in the third quarter of 2021. Mathew affirms that LogisEye offers a state-of-the-art cloud-based digital freight procurement ecosystem, integrating with all parties on the value chain. With its multiple innovative solutions, the upstart aims to solve the key challenges in the procurement and payment of freight services.
Accelerating digital transformation He further asserts that LogisEye not only accelerates digital transformation in the logistics industry, but also adds value to each stakeholder across the value chain. “The platform aims to simplify and standardize the freight procurement processes and efficiently manage air freight, sea freight, road freight shipments, and provide even cargo insurance, resulting in substantial cost savings, real-time shipment tracking, and transparency,” he explained.
Mathew is the founder of LogisEye and holds a majority stake in the company. The remainder minority stake is held by co-founders and private investors. A strong professional logistics and finance background, and extensive expertise about the inside track on the functional aspects of freight and freightfinance issues prepared me into becoming an entrepreneur and set up LogisEye.
Exclusively with CM Mathew, the LogisEye supremo at his office in Scality, the fast-growing technology start-up housed in the Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA).
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Provide us your brief professional profile. C. M. Mathew (CMM): I essentially come from a finance professional background with a prolonged 26-year stint with DHL, and more specifically its associate company Danzas, where I worked in multiple departments and was exposed to all major functional areas of the company.
Thereby, I gained extensive expertise and the inside track on the functional aspects of the freight and freight-finance issues, enormous challenges faced by customers and LSP’s and this prepared me into becoming an entrepreneur and set up LogisEye.
GSC: Why did you set up LogisEye?
CMM: Some of the major global challenges that confounded in freight procurement include poor response time to rate requests, non-comparable rates from LSP’s, errors in freight billing, and limited transparency and visibility. Pandemic shutdowns and slowdowns, capacity constraints and remote working caused more disruptions. As everyone knows, LSP’s and customers need to wade through a maze of perplexing parameters and manual tabulations for rate submission, analysis and decision making.
What customers (exporters and importers), and freight forwarders are looking for is transparency and efficiency throughout the freight procurement and payment process. The dilemma was both for customers and LSPs. There was clearly a need to automate and accelerate the freight procurement, routing, and payment processes to make it brand agnostic, fair, technologically savvy, transparent, and streamlined.
In early 2019, given my expertise in logistics and finance and experience gained from working with the largest integrated logistics services provider in the world, I sought to develop a digital ecosystem that would address most of the myriad issues at stake and address the challenges thereon.
GSC: How did your long professional career equip you to found LogisEye?
CMM : While attending a coaching session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is where I conceived the idea of developing a digital freight procurement ecosystem. I was consulting with my peers, colleagues, customers and other LSP’s on the viability of the solution model and other challenges faced by them during freight procurement and rate submission. Hands-on experience within logistics industry for over three decades, feedback from customers and LSP’s on the enormous problems globally faced in freight procurement and payment, and my passion for digital transformation equipped me to start LogisEye.
Shortly thereafter, I chose to turn entrepreneur and take off on my own at the initial stage. Considering the huge staff turnover in IT sector, I decided to partner with a software development company, and that in nutshell constitutes the genesis and conception of LogisEye.
The start of the pandemic clearly was a spoke in the wheel and proved to me a big challenge as we could not effectively meet many of the stakeholders in the business due to the shut down, slow down and severe social distancing measures enforced.
However, with the use of superior and proprietary technology, together with hand-picked executive team, who collectively have over 120 years of relevant experience, LogisEye was raring and ready to go in the second quarter of 2021 and there has been no turning back since.
GSC: Briefly, how is LogisEye enabling and empowering digital transformation in the area of the procurement of freight services?
CMM: In essence, what customers and LSP’s are looking for is transparency and efficiencies in the system. Professionalism and proficiency is a key watchword here. Generally speaking, there are three areas of concern for all stakeholders here. Firstly, how to reduce the delays and accelerate the pace of providing quotes and services quickly, reliably and dependably.
Secondly, how to reduce freight and associated costs and obtain competitive comparable pricing from multiple service providers and reducing all related administrative and handling costs. And finally, how to enhance transparency and visibility throughout the process.
At LogisEye, we are mindful of these benchmarks and user expectations and these have all been factored into our working mechanisms and systems. We can integrate with the different operating systems of LSP’s and customers using API’s (application programming interface). Our system provides realtime visibility for all their shipments that are routed through LogisEye irrespective of them using different LSP’s. Our AI enabled LogiBot, in-built 3-way chat feature, electronic document management (EDM) and interactive dashboard will provide a unique and
compelling customer experience.
GSC: How is technology impacting the regional (and global) logistics and transportation industry, particularly in the procurement niche?
CMM: Digital transformation is still at its nascent stage within logistics procurement. Many of the LSP’s and customers continue to use legacy archaic operating systems with very limited integration capabilities. They continue to follow decades old manual processes, procedures and practices and many operators are hesitant to embrace the change.
Technology is changing the future of logistics. The digital revolution has significantly shifted society, impacting companies across all regions and industries. We experience major increase in overall digital adoption with the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers prefer everything online and right at their fingertips for immediate access. There are innovative digital solutions launched to support customers and LSP’s for international and local freight procurement. Such solutions include Freight Marketplaces connecting LSP’s and Carriers to provide instant rates and available capacity, eBidding or Reverse Auction platforms to provide most competitive market rates, Shipment Tracking Systems etc. Technology is vital and key for the industry and its indispensability cannot be overstated. Business must adapt this digital revolution quickly to stay ahead of market and compete.
GSC: What is LogisEye’s revenue model?
CMM: Currently we have over 1,400 registered and listed customers and over 80 LSP’s in our portal. Our users pay a nominal subscription fee to avail and access our services and product offerings. First time customers get a complimentary usage period of three-months. A transaction fee is also levied for the user and provider of logistics services for all emanating transactions that are awarded through the system.
GSC: Tell us the specifics of your freight procurement solutions — LogieBid and LogiQuote?
CMM: Our freight procurement solutions are aimed for importers and exporters who wants to accelerate their procurement time with substantial cost saving and enhanced transparency and visibility. LogieBid – Customers worldwide can launch reverse auction to procure most competitive market rates online for their international transportation by air, ocean (FCL/LCL) and Road(FTL/LTL).
They can invite LogisEye vetted LSP’s, and or additional LSP’s of their choice. Customers can compare and analyze bids digitally and award bids. Reverse auction for Air and Ocean (FCL/LCL) can be used for shipments across all continents while FTL/LTL is currently launched for middle east region. LSP’s can participate in the reverse auction, get visibility of their ranking, and modify their rates before bid closing time based on their pricing guidelines and increase their business growth. LogiQuote is our marketplace for instant freight rates. Currently LogiQuote provides rates for airfreight and we will be developing other modes of transport in the near future. Importers and exporters can search, compare, LogieBid and LogiQuote are two of our core select rates from multiple suppliers in less than 30 seconds. Rates are available on different carriers and service levels. Users have the option to arrange marine insurance cover for their shipments online. LogiQuote is currently connecting major airports in UAE with top 50 countries and +1400 trade lanes.
While customers can avail comparable and competitive rates from multiple suppliers online, route, track and pay for their shipments using these solutions, LogisEye acts as an additional sales channel for LSP’s. LogisEye offers freight and marine insurance rates for air, ocean, and road shipments under one platform and provide trade finance for freight invoices for customers approved by credit insurance provider. These USP’s make LogisEye standout against other similar solutions.
GSC: What are the opportunities available and challenges confronting LogisEye in the short and long-term futures?
CMM: Looking through my crystal ball, I see opportunities ahead simply because the logistics and freight forwarding business is growing even during the pandemic. Digital adoption and ecommerce is growing at a phenomenal pace. Systems are going digital and more and more companies are moving in the digital realm. This augurs well for our business and implies we will grow going forward. There are a few challenges to contend with. Firstly, the world is grappling with capacity and transporters don’t have the capacity to cope with increasing volumes.
Secondly, in the nature of our business, digitalization is key. In some quarters digitalization is not occurring at the same pace as others. Antiquated manual legacy systems still exist.
Thirdly, we have a transparent system giving visibility to all stakeholders. There is no room for compromise or unscrupulousness in our processes. Finally, the current ongoing pandemic has also hampered the economies of many countries in its wake. Ability to trade and buy goods and services had been adversely affected and freight costs have risen manifold, which is clearly a cause for concern for everyone.
GSC: What are your expansion plans going forward?
CMM: Now with strong moorings in the UAE, we are looking to expand imminently in the foreseeable future in India, China, USA and Germany, four prominent industrial and trading nations, who between them constitute an overwhelming percentage of international trade. Over the next four years, we have set our sights to establish our direct presence in 30 identified countries, constituting +80% of international freight spend.
For the long term, LogisEye will also explore a franchise model for its operations in some of the reminder countries. We have a fully functioning Customer Support Centre in India. In summary, we are in expansion mode and optimistic about the future.
LogisEye is currently self-funded and we are raising Pre-Series ‘A’ equity round of US$ 5m primarily for launching in new markets, marketing and developing new products. I am very upbeat about growth and eyeing a bright, radiant future for LogisEye.
GWC AGM approved cash dividend of QAR 0.10 per share or 10% of the nominal value of the share.
GWC, the leading logistics provider in Qatar, held its Ordinary and Extraordinary Assembly General Meeting on 16 February 2022 and approved the Group’s financial results for the year ending 31 December 2021.
The meeting, which was held at the Company’s Centre was chaired by GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani and was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GWC’s external auditors Ernst & Young, the company’s shareholders, and media representatives.
The General Assembly ratified all items on its agenda including the proposal by the Board of Directors to distribute a cash dividend of 10% the nominal share value (QAR 0.10 per share).
Furthermore, the AGM presented a comprehensive review of the Group’s compliance with the Corporate Governance Code. Additionally, it also cleared the company’s board members of any possible liability, setting the proper remuneration for the board.
The General Assembly also discussed the budget of the Group and approved it, as well as assigning the external auditor and setting their remuneration.
For the company’s Extraordinary Assembly General Meeting, the company presented some amendments to the AOA’s articles in order for them to comply with the Commercial Companies Law No. 8 of 2021.
GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, stated, “It gives us pride that GWC continues to show resilience and foresight in spite of challenges that 2021 brought us. It is also commendable that the work being done by GWC, the partnerships being cemented are all contributing towards achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.”
GWC achieved many milestones in 2021 and worked toward supporting the local community and ensuring seamless delivery of goods. Some of these initiatives included ensuring supply and delivery of Covid-19 vaccines for Qatar, providing logistics services of global standards for the FIFA Arab Cup, signing a partnership with Gaussin and Gam Qatar to test Gaussin’s zero-emission electric tractors and yard automation solutions in several GWC logistics hubs, including GWC Al Wukair Logistic Park.
GWC also put together the “Getting you in the Game” Forum which provided a platform for experts from various verticals to discuss complex logistical issues behind mega-events, in addition to discussing regional trends and developments.
Keeping with their commitment to support R&D in the field of logistics, GWC signed a MoU with The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) with a special emphasis on logistics and supply chain management.
The Election Committee of AB Volvo proposes that Jan Carlson be elected as new Board member at the Annual General Meeting on April 6, 2022. The Election Committee also proposes the re-election of the Chairman of the Board Carl-Henric Svanberg, as well as Board members Matti Alahuhta, Eric Elzvik, Martha Finn Brooks, Kurt Jofs, Martin Lundstedt, Kathryn V. Marinello, Martina Merz, Hanne de Mora and Helena Stjernholm. Eckhard Cordes will not stand for re-election.
Jan Carlson, 61, is an experienced business leader in both corporate line management and public company board governance. He has 30 years of automotive industry experience from various management positions and Board work in global leading companies. Previous positions include a variety of leadership roles, including the role as President and CEO, within the Autoliv Group, the worldwide leader in automotive safety with operations in 27 countries. He has also been the President of Saab Combitech and of Swedish Gate Array. Currently, Jan Carlson is President and CEO as well as Board Chairman of Veoneer Inc., a worldwide leader in automotive technology, and the Board Chairman of Autoliv Inc. He also serves on the board of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
The Election Committee of AB Volvo comprises representatives of four of the company’s largest shareholders, who together represent approximately 17.6 percent of the shares and approximately 39.0 percent of the votes, and the Chairman of the Board. The members who represent the largest shareholders are Bengt Kjell (AB Industrivärden), Anders Oscarsson (AMF and AMF Funds), Ramsay Brufer (Alecta) and Carine Smith Ihenacho (Norges Bank Investment Management).
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
When The Sun Goes Down
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Here’s what people wearing on The Stage
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
Time is running out for women looking to take part in Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Rally Jameel, which is being held from March 16th to 19th. Spaces are already limited as this historic, women-only navigational rally draws ever closer, with the entries set to close on March 1st.
Rally Jameel, which is initiated by Abdul Latif Jameel Motors and Bakhashab Motorsports, is the latest world-class motorsport event to be hosted in Saudi Arabia as it is sanctioned by the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and supported by the FIA, through their Women in Motorsport (WIMC) program.
The rally is a perfect opportunity for adventurous women looking to take part in their first ever off-road rally. The event is not designed as a speed test, rather it is about using navigational skills to traverse a route, which will cover between 300 and 500km per day. Each day’s route will only be issued the night before, with everyone taking part seeing it at the same time.
“We have been really delighted with the response from women around the region and beyond, with over half of the places already filled,” commented Abdullah Bakhashab, rally director. “But I also know there will be potential racers out there who want to take part, but haven’t signed up yet. We urge them to submit their application as soon as possible, as there are only a limited number of spaces left.”
The rally, which has already attracted widespread interest, is open to national and international entrants aged over 18 and holding a driving license accepted in Saudi Arabia. Each team will consist of two female racers. No special equipment is needed, as the cars are required to be totally unmodified. The only pre-requisite is that the car must be a 4×4 or AWD.
Teams wanting to participate can simply go to the rally website – www.rallyjameel.com – and fill in the application form. Successful applicants will receive a weekend training course and three days of competition, as well as accommodation in 5-star hotels, a comfortable, secure camp, food and beverages, a finishing ceremony, and tickets to the gala dinner.
The uniquely designed route will pass through some of the Kingdom’s most spectacular scenery. It will start in the north-central city of Hail, passing through Al-Qassim city and then heading to the capital, Riyadh, via hidden checkpoints and challenges. Further details of the rally schedule will be announced on International Women’s Day on March 8th.
Naturally, safety is paramount at the rally. A state-of-the-art Tracking System will be mounted on each competing vehicle with SOS buttons for any emergency, while a helicopter medic and maintenance teams will be on standby at all times. All competing cars will be pre-checked to ensure they adhere to the highest standards.
Munir Khoja, Managing Director Marketing Communication at Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, commented: “Abdul Latif Jameel Motors is extremely proud to be backing this great initiative, designed to further empower women in the Kingdom. We are committed to ensuring this becomes a firm fixture on the global motorsport calendar, offering women from a range of different nationalities, backgrounds and experiences the chance to take part in a uniquely exciting event.”
With Saudi Arabia now hosting an FIA Formula One race, as well as the famous Dakar Rally, which featured Saudi female racers, Dania Akeel and Mashael Al-Obaidan, there is a growing interest in motor-related sports, especially off-road racing and rallying.
Edouard Mendy receives Best Goalkeeper Award for Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 from Official Sponsor Continental
Best Goalkeeper Award reflects Continental’s safety values as a pioneer in road safety spanning 150 years, and the VisionZero initiative which aims for zero fatalities, zero injuries and zero crashes
Premium tyre manufacturer Continental handed over the Best Goalkeeper Award for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 (AFCON) at the conclusion of the tournament in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Sunday night. The final match saw Senegal beating Egypt 4:2 to claim the AFCON 2021 title, with the tournament having been carried over to this year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Best Goalkeeper Award went to Edouard Mendy from Senegal, and was based on his performance throughout the tournament. The trophy and prize of US$ 10.000 were handed over by Jon Ander Garcia, Regional Manager M.E.A.R.T (Middle East, Africa, Russia & Turkey) for Continental Tires.
“As an official sponsor of TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021, we are proud to have been the exclusive sponsors of the Best Goalkeeper Award,” Garcia says at the AFCON 2021 awards ceremony. “As the team’s last line of defence, the keeper’s role in safeguarding the goalmouth reflects Continental’s own safety values, having pioneered road safety for the past 150 years.
“Our unwavering focus on safety is also embodied in Continental’s VisionZero initiative, which aims to make roads safer with zero fatalities, zero injuries and zero crashes,” Garcia adds.
Continental is an international partner of the Global NCAP ‘Stop the Crash’ safety campaign to support the United Nations Global Goals and the Decade of Action for Road Safety. This initiative raises awareness regarding the life-saving benefits of advanced driver assistance systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS).
Raising its bar for the triumph more and more by interconnecting its wide wide flight network that sweeps the continents with the unrivaled geographical advantage of Turkey, Turkish Cargo now incorporates all of its air cargo transportation operations in SMARTIST, the Mega Cargo Facility.
Having moved the cargo operations, it carries out by means of the passenger flights, to the Istanbul Airport following its opening in April 2019, Turkish Cargo remained to continue its freighter operations at the Ataturk Airport. Since its infrastructure has been made available entirely, the air cargo brand moved also its freighter operations to its Mega Cargo Facility at the Istanbul Airport by means of a relocation operation that took 72 hours. Having said goodbye to the Ataturk Airport by such a massive relocation, Turkish Cargo will from now on carry out all of its operational processes as based in SMARTIST, the new hub for the air cargo logistics.
Turhan Ozen: “With SMARTIST, our new home, we are ready for the future more than we have been ever before.”
Regarding the start of the full-capacity operation of SMARTIST, Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines, remarked as follows; “During the last 3 years, we carried out a highly substantial operation in both of our hubs. While we made use of our freighters at the Ataturk Airport, we benefited from our passenger aircraft and the paxfre* capacity at the Istanbul Airport. We performed approximately 30 thousand flights, 23 thousand of which were performed by making use of our freighters and 6 thousand of which were by paxfre, and we transported more than 4 million air cargo shipments, 2.5 million tons of which were transported from/to the Ataturk Airport and 1.8 million tons of which were transported from/to the Istanbul Airport.
Now, we are gathering the air cargo operations which we have been carrying out triumphantly on “dual hub” basis without compromising our service quality, under a single roof at the Istanbul Airport. Thanks to SMARTIST, our new home with all of its processes equipped with autonomous and robotic systems, we as Turkish Cargo, the air cargo bridge of Turkey, are now ready for the future more than we have been ever before.”
It will be the new hub for the global logistics
SMARTIST, which is designed to serve as the biggest industrial building under a single roof at the Istanbul Airport, will achieve an annual capacity of 4 million tons at an area of 340.000 square meters upon the completion of all of its phases. The facility, equipped with the smart technologies such as Augmented Reality, Automatic Storage Systems, Robotic Process Automation and Unmanned Ground Vehicles, will take the unique service quality of Turkish Cargo much further in respect of operational speed and quality. The mega facility will also highlight the intercontinental location of Istanbul and serve as a gate that is excellent for the trade between the East and the West. Thus, it will be ensured that Istanbul becomes the logistics center in the world by directing a major portion of the air cargo traffic in the world to the new Hub at the Istanbul Airport.
Relocation of 4125 equipment of 80 various types
As part of the ultimate relocation operation, monitored simultaneously by the senior executives of Turkish Cargo, TGS and the moving company at the Relocation Control Center established at the Ataturk Airport, 160 services were performed by 50 trucks. During the operation whereby the trucks covered a distance of approximately 16 thousand kilometers, corresponding to the distance between Turkey and New Zealand, 4125 equipment of various types, owned by TGS and Turkish Cargo, were relocated from the Ataturk Airport to the Istanbul Airport.
A goodbye flight to the Ataturk Airport
Turkish Cargo aircraft, which have departed for the last time from the Ataturk Airport, which has hosted Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier of Turkey for 89 years, landed at the Istanbul Airport upon the completion of their international routes. Following the massive relocation, Turkish Cargo said goodbye to the Ataturk Airport by means of its ISL-KRT (Ataturk Airport – Khartoum, Sudan) flight, numbered TK6455, which was operated by Airbus 330F aircraft.
The 8th thematic set – Health and Wellbeing – has started today at the Slovenian pavilion, within which a business delegation of companies from the health sector visited the Slovenian pavilion. Organized by SPIRIT Slovenia and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, a business forum on personalized medicine was held at the Slovenian Business Center.
Launched at Expo 2020 Dubai and snycronizing with how we’re ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ through sustainability, mobility and opportunity.
Oto Pungartnik, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Abu Dhabi, began by welcoming the participants, saying, “The UAE is a market that requires perseverance and effort, the competition is great, but we do not have to be afraid of it. We have extremely strong medical companies that will present their innovations and the challenges they face today. I think a lot of people can learn something from them.”
Dr. Alenka Rožaj Brvar, MBA, director of the Slovenian Innovation Hub, which stands for uniting and integrating institutions, faculties and companies to create new opportunities, defined the importance of personalized medicine: “It is extremely important to connect the different segments of science so we get excatlz what each person needs. We call this personalized medicine. “
“By the year 2030, the number of cancer patients will double. Software is the key to the future of cancer care. We at Cosylab are constantly expanding our chain of partners to provide the best and most affordable cancer treatment “, continued Dr. Uroš Mitrovič, Marketing Director at Cosylab, who also spoke about cancer treatment, the current situation and the future of this insidious disease.
Predrag Krstić, director of Ascalab, is convinced that the new technology will enable the development of medicine. “In our company, we invest in bees, digital bees that collect data, and in this way, every patient gets what is best for them.”
The keynote presentations were followed by a panel discussion on Slovenia as an example of how personalized medicine can impact quality of life. “Technology is not only important when it comes to the absence of disease, but also for quality of life. When introducing innovations in healthcare, safety must first be ensured,” said Gregor Cuzak of HealthyDay.si.
UD Trucks registered sales increase of around 30% in the MEENA region
Qatar ranked first in growth followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia remains UD Trucks’ biggest market in the region
Introduction of Euro 5 products, upgrades to Euro 3 models, strong retailer network and ‘Better Life’ strategy played key roles in the growth
UD Trucks has announced sales growth in the MEENA (Middle East, East and North Africa) region of approximately 30 percent in 2021, continuing an upwards trend for the brand, which had experienced 6 percent growth in the previous year. The Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer recorded an increase in sales in most markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan and a number of countries in East Africa.
UD Trucks’ flagship market, Bahrain, saw an increase of around 40 percent, reinforcing the brand’s number one status in the country. The trucks brand also saw an increase in sales by about 30 percent in Qatar. Sales also grew in Saudi Arabia, which is UD Trucks’ biggest market by volume, by 24 percent. The United Arab Emirates, which hosted the regional launch of the brand’s Euro 5 models, registered an increase of 22 percent compared to 2020.
Outside the Middle East, UD Trucks earned positive traction in Pakistan where it enjoyed an impressive year. Similarly, the brand registered significant growth in East Africa in 2021, where a number of strategic deals for both heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks were signed off, despite the challenging business climate.
The growth came as a result of a fantastic collaboration and coordinated effort by UD Trucks and its partners throughout the region and their joint focus on supporting UD customers. The brand’s well-built and robust products, the introduction of the Euro 5 range and upgrades to the Euro 3 line-up, a strong retail network and partnerships, and the impact of its ‘Better Life’ strategy, have all played significant roles in the company’s success.
UD Trucks’ widest-ever range, which covers almost all segments in the heavy-duty and medium-duty truck sector, and the nature of the brand’s product portfolio have also been crucial factors in this growth. The range has been developed to meet the market’s needs by covering all key segments in the industry. UD Trucks’ focus of launching new trucks that will enhance profitability for customers by lowering the total cost of ownership has also been crucial.
An important factor in the Japanese brand’s expansion has been the introduction of upgraded Euro 3 models as well as the brand’s new Euro 5 range of its popular Quester and Croner trucks. The launch of the Euro 5 models is a result of UD Trucks’ strategic vision and objective to ensure peace-of-mind for its customers by allowing them to better prepare for running more environmentally-friendly fleets as new regulations are introduced across the fast-developing region. The new range reduces NOx emissions by about 43 percent compared to Euro 4 models, while providing an enhanced driving experience and safety. The upgrades to the Euro 3 trucks are centred around creating a more driver-centric experience. They receive similar upgrades to the Euro 5 range, including a new instrument cluster, the ESCOT automated manual transmission, body builder module and the UD Trucks Telematics Services.
Another factor in the brand’s growth is its exceptional regional retail network. Their commitment to providing and delivering the highest quality customer service and aftersales support is supported by comprehensive warranty offers and readily available spare parts, which prioritise the smooth operation of customers’ businesses. UD Trucks’ Telematics services allow its customers and retail partners to follow the trucks’ performances over time, creating a closer relationship with the brand’s customers.
2021 was also the year that saw UD Trucks implement its ‘Better Life’ strategy. The strategy has allowed the truck brand to demonstrate its commitment to providing sustainable logistics solutions and to delivering a better life for both people and the planet. This strategy reflects UD Trucks’ objective to becoming a Japanese leader of sustainability in the industry.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, commented: “The resilience our brand showed in 2020, built around a consistent and comprehensive strategy and supported by our strong regional partners, provided a solid platform for us to build on in 2021. Registering about a 30 percent sales increase in one year is a remarkable feat. I am grateful to the UD Trucks MEENA team, our customers, partners, and stakeholders throughout the region for their hard work and dedication. Together, we look forward to another positive year as we continue on our path to become a sustainability leader.”
Considering the proven safety performance and increasing global use, you might think that Roxtec material specialists remain happy by just maintaining the excellent features of the rubber in the seals. They lead the technical development by mixing new powerful particles.
“We have for example recently succeeded in making rubber blends including nanomaterials such as nanotubes and graphene. This means we are able to make our rubber anti-static. We actually have a new patent protecting modular-based cable and pipe transits made of a dissipative rubber or plastic material,” says Daniel Sträng, Lead Innovation Engineer within product development at Roxtec.
A dissipative material is only conductive to a certain degree and often used to control electrical charges.
Increasing safety demands
There are always new requirements and new demands when you work with safety products for different industries and challenging projects across all climates and continents. When it comes to the demand for anti-static sealing components that significantly slow down the flow of electrical charges, the innovative engineers found a fully acceptable solution years ago. The Roxtec attitude, however, is recognized by a never-ending strive towards better, smarter and in most cases also simpler solutions. Therefore, the material specialists took on the challenge to further develop the rubber compound.
State-of-the-art laboratory
The Roxtec material development laboratory has very advanced equipment for both mixing and testing. “In our lab, we have the capacity we need to not only mix the different ingredients in the rubber, but also to perfectly distribute and atomize the particles we add. In addition to this, we have everything we need to thoroughly test our prototypes. We have, in fact, been able to create anti-static rubber while even increasing the fire resistance capacity,” says Panch Svensson, Material Specialist at Roxtec.
Graphene in focus for Nobel Prize laureates
Among the many interesting nanomaterials that the sealing material experts have been trying to use to achieve the desired features are carbon nanotubes and green graphene. Graphene, for example, is a graphite-based material that is strong, hard, fire-resistant, and light, and that can be added to enhance material properties. It is finding its way into many markets, partly since researchers at the University of Manchester received the Nobel Prize in physics in 2010 for ground-breaking experiments with graphene. It seems like it has further advantageous properties for sealing products, besides the anti-static properties.
How close to a final rubber compound would the experts say they are? “We have a patent, the prototypes and test results showing that we have succeeded. So – rather soon.”
GWC (Q.P.S.C.) has announced its financial results for the financial year ending 31 December 2021 achieving net profits of QAR 225 million, with gross revenues reaching QAR 1.3 billion at the end of 2021, and EPS at QAR 0.38 by the end of the same period. The Company’s Board has recommended QAR 0.10 cash dividend to shareholders which is subject for discussion and approval during the company’s Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on 16 February 2022.
“2021 brought with it, its own set of challenges but it gives me immense pride to witness how Qatar navigated through them and emerged stronger. For us, every challenge presents an opportunity to rise above and fulfil our duty towards Qatar’s vision. I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all our stakeholders and partners, who continue to trust and encourage us to exceed their expectations. We have a lot to look forward to this year and we will endeavour to build on our achievements,” GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani stated.
He also acknowledged the hard work and dedication put forth by the staff of GWC without whom these milestones would not have been achieved. “The persistent efforts of our team at GWC are the reason we have been able to provide seamless service and perform our duties to ensure that the nation’s progress does not get adversely affected,” he added.
Sustainable Growth
GWC established Qatar’s first logistics hub in Ras Bufontas Free Zone. This Regional Logistics Hub offers freight, customs clearance, acclimatized storage, transportation, and the company’s advanced IT infrastructure, among other services. The hub features two warehouses, which offer unmatched logistical and last mile delivery options to the aviation, pharmaceutical and events industries including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
The Hub is also home to UPS Customer Center. Over the last 18 months, GWC has underlined its critical role in the nation’s medical cold supply chain, ensuring the safe delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine from airport to vaccination centers, as the Authorized Service Contractor for UPS in the State of Qatar.
At the forefront of innovation
Continuing its commitment to find innovative solutions while maintaining the highest environmental standards, GWC signed an agreement with Gaussin, a pioneer of clean and smart freight transport, and Gam Qatar to test Gaussin’s zero-emission electric tractors and yard automation solutions in several GWC logistics hubs, including GWC Al Wukair Logistic Park.
GWC was recognised for its focus on excellence and growth in digitalisation of services at the inaugural Forbes Digital Qatar Symposium & Awards 2021, which came at a time when Qatar is witnessing a fast-paced progression to being a smart city, in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Building a business ecosystem
GWC is cognizant of its responsibility as a leading logistics provider in Qatar and the Middle East region and the role this sector plays in the growth of a nation. For this very reason, GWC put together the “Getting you in the Game” Forum which provided a platform for experts from various verticals to discuss complex logistical issues behind mega-events, such as global sporting competitions, in addition to discussing regional trends and developments.
This first-of-its-kind hybrid forum threw light on the behind-the-scenes work that goes into organising mega events while keeping sustainability and the long-term impact in mind.
2021 also saw GWC signing a MoU with The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) to encourage research in the fields of engineering, technology, and sciences with a special emphasis on logistics and supply chain management, with the aim to boost industry performance and identify mutually beneficial new opportunities and ideas.
Another area of focus for GWC has been to support MSMEs as it firmly believes that they are the backbone of any economy and are essential for the growth of Qatar.
“The GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park is one of the flagship developments of GWC, it is a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs, with a very strong focus on providing micro, small and medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs) with access to logistics and light industry infrastructure needed for their growth and success. In addition, GWC will be taking care of all the regulatory as well as infrastructure and supply chain needs,” Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, stated.
Due to its central location, close proximity to the airport and the port, coupled with seamless offering of logistics services, it will be the main distribution hub for handling the logistics mandate for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
The Road Ahead
Adding to this, he said, “2022 is a landmark year for us as we inch towards the final months leading to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM. As the Regional Supporter and Official Logistics Provider, we are aware of the immense responsibility placed upon us and the mammoth task we have ahead. We have been working diligently to ensure the seamless delivery of this mega sporting event.”
GWC will be offering a broad spectrum of services ranging from venue logistics, broadcasting and cold chain logistics, to shipping, customs clearance, transport and warehousing, down to logistics operations of merchandise, souvenirs, and food and beverages.
“While the World Cup will be an exhilarating experience – however after 18 December 2022, we will turn our focus towards the legacy of this tournament,” said GWC’s Group CEO, Ranjeev Menon. “We have a highly trained workforce and have developed pioneering systems across our business. Working on previous major events, such as the World Athletics Championships and FIFA Club World Cup, we stand prepared for Qatar 2022 – which is the cherry on the cake in terms of sporting events. However, the main goal for us – and the country in general– is Qatar National Vision 2030. One of the main legacies of the World Cup will be economic growth – and this is where GWC comes in. We have already provided a logistics framework to support the country’s development and look forward to playing a key role in delivering a bright business future for Qatar for decades to come.”
In addition to this, GWC will continue to support MSMEs through its various initiatives and projects. It will also continue to work towards developing its human capital which will be critical in expanding regionally and internationally, while furthering its quest for innovation, sustainable solutions, and digital transformation.
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
When The Sun Goes Down
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
Here’s what people wearing on The Stage
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
Emirates 2022 World Stamp Exhibition spotlighting the rich history of postage stamps and promotes the culture of philately kicks off at Expo 2020
Emirates 2022 World Stamp Exhibition, the first international philatelic exhibition in the region, hosted by Emirates Post Group and the Emirates Philatelic Association, kicked off today (Wednesday, January 19, 2022) at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in the Expo 2020 site in the presence of H.E Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, Group CEO of Emirates Post Group and Abdulla Mohammed Khoory, President, Emirates Philatelic Association. .
Recognizing the significance of the first of its kind exhibition, Emirates Post Group has also issued a stamp to commemorate Emirates 2022 World Stamp Exhibition at the opening ceremony.
Aimed at fostering positive collaborations among collectors, dealers, and philatelists, the first of eight global philatelic events in 2022, the Emirates 2022 World Stamp Exhibition, is attracting the attention of philately enthusiasts in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, America and Oceania and postal administrations from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab region.
Abdulla Mohammed Alashram, Group CEO of Emirates Post Group, stated: “We are proud of organizing this distinctive global exhibition in collaboration with the Emirates Philatelic Association to feature unique postage stamps and highlight the extensive history of the postal sector. This exhibition is a milestone in the history of philately in the UAE, which also coincides with the year of the 50th celebrations. It is vital that we promote the culture of philately, and we are pleased to receive an astounding response from visitors across the world.
Alashram, added: “As an organization committed to initiatives that emphasize the nation’s cultural traditions and values, we see this as an opulent occasion of cultural exchange. It is highly rewarding to witness the vibrant participation of philatelic enthusiasts who are keen on growing their knowledge about postage stamps, as well as exhibitors showcasing their rare collections of postage stamps.”
Abdulla Mohammed Khoory, President, Emirates Philatelic Association, said: “The response towards the first of its kind international philatelic exhibition in the region is tremendous, and visitors were also eager to explore the rare exhibits. We are also proud of associating with Emirates Post Group to organize this outstanding exhibition which will in turn, create extensive impacts in philately. The idea to organize a global event to enhance the awareness about philatelic culture is notable, as study and collection of stamps reflect the history of a nation, its culture and people.”
The exhibition organized in conjunction with Expo 2020 supports efforts aimed at enhancing the UAE’s position as an innovative hub and ensures future readiness. By hosting this remarkable philatelic event, EPG is highlighting the rich heritage of the nation, honouring archaeological discoveries, and documenting the historical events for future generations.
Tangible technology. The pandemic has spotlighted the importance of digitalization across all air cargo processes. With the launch of CargoTech, ECS Group’s inhouse solution developer, Cargo Digital Factory, and the French software and data-science company, Wiremind Cargo will focus their efforts on intelligently digitalising the air cargo industry. CargoTech also supports one of the four pillars of ECS Group’s new Augmented GSA concept, comprising Commercial, Technology, Sustainability, and New Abilities.
Based in Paris, France, Cargo Digital Factory and Wiremind’s newly established dedicated cargo business unit will collaborate to digitalise as many air cargo processes as possible. Existing Cargo Digital Factory products such as its APOLLO BI & Reporting System, PATHFINDER Track & Trace solution, and QUANTUM pricing support system, and Wiremind Cargo’s shipment volume evaluation & flight planning system SKYPALLET, form the basis of CargoTech’s product portfolio. The two divisions will jointly innovate and design additional digital solutions to expand the standard product portfolio, as well as tailor individual products for all actors of the cargo supply chain: airlines, GHAs, GSAs, and freight forwarders.
“ECS Group and Wiremind have been business partners since June 2018. ECS became a customer of Sky pallet in its early days and we helped enhance the product as a key user. We both share a common vision and ambition to digitalise the industry in a way that removes complexity and manual work and focuses completely on the user experience. We believe that whatever can be digitized should not remain manual but are also aware that not everything can be automated. ECS Group offers solutions for both scenarios. Whatever requires human expertise is covered by our New Abilities portfolio, whereas CargoTech takes care of automating and digitalising routine processes to reduce costs and optimize revenues while fostering innovation” Cedric Millet, ECS Group Chief Strategy & Digital Officer, explains. “Under the CargoTech umbrella, we will enhance and develop digital products both for the benefit of our existing ECS Group customers, as well as for all other airlines in the world. Our solutions are modular, and customers can subscribe to one or several products as required.”
“Our intensified collaboration with Cargo Digital Factory will enable us to deliver more quickly on our vision of becoming a leading provider of end-to-end software solutions to the air cargo market,” Nathanaël de Tarade, board member at Wiremind and CEO of Wiremind Cargo, says. “Not only will we be taking SkyPallet to the next level, but we will also be introducing new products to the market that we are developing together.”
As one of the world’s leading logistics experts, Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) is always looking to the future. And this outlook sees the Boppard-based family business treading new paths. With its newly established EPG Rocket Club, the international software provider has created a new innovation platform for start-ups to present their solutions. Seven companies from Hamburg, Munich, Vienna and elsewhere have now presented their innovative and creative IT solutions to EPG.
The start-ups impressed the judges with their fresh ideas and innovative spirit. The range of solutions presented was extremely diverse and provided further proof that the logistics sector is highly innovative and has a promising future. The solutions showcased included a cloud-based application for purchasing replacement parts, software for the digitalisation of container transport and a digital pallet note.
Award goes to Vienna-based company
The companies presenting their solutions were competing for the stylish, shiny green EPG Rocket Club Award. The panel of judges ultimately opted to hand the rocket-shaped award to SpotVessels GmbH in recognition of the solution it has developed for the inland navigation sector. The Vienna-based company offers an online platform that fundamentally improves the booking of freight transport as well as the fleet management of inland vessels and barges. The solution helps to utilize loading capacity more effectively, reduce the number of empty runs and thus increase freighter efficiency.
“The presentations given by the start-ups were very impressive,” says a delighted Dennis Kunz. “We had the chance to listen to fascinating visionaries from the logistics sector who presented their ideas with great passion and verve. In the era of the digital transformation, it’s important that we learn from each other and create new synergies. As a community, the EPG Rocket Club will continue to play an important role in future.”
The EPG has produced a video of the EPG Rocket Club event, which can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/nhVXfMojqDY
Volvo Trucks continues to lead the deployment of zero-tailpipe emission trucks across the world. In North America, the company now launches an enhanced version of its Volvo VNR Electric with up to 85% increased range and faster charging.
The Volvo VNR Electric is one of Volvo Trucks six all-electric heavy truck models and is specially designed for the North American market. Sales start was in December 2020.
The first generation of Volvo VNR Electric had an operating range of up to 240 km (150 miles). Now an enhanced version of the class 8* electric truck is launched, with an operational range of up to 440 km (275 miles) and increased energy storage of up to 565kWh. The improved performance is due to, among other things, improved battery design and a new six battery package option.
The new Volvo VNR Electric also reduces the required charging time, as the 250kW charging capability provides an 80% charge in 90 minutes for the six-battery package, and 60 minutes for the four-battery version.
“It is a testament to Volvo Trucks’ leadership in a continuously evolving industry that we are bringing the enhanced version of our VNR Electric to the market only a year after sales of the VNR Electric first started,” said Peter Voorhoeve, President, Volvo Trucks North America.
Production of the enhanced Volvo VNR Electric will start in Q2 2022 in the company’s New River Valley plant in Virginia, which is the exclusive producer of all Volvo trucks in North America.
50% electric by 2030
Globally, Volvo Trucks has set the target that half of all trucks sold are electric by 2030.
“We are determined to lead the transformation of the transport industry. In only eight years’ time, our goal is that half of our global truck sales are electric. The interest among customers is high, and it’s quickly becoming a competitive advantage for transporters to be able to offer electric, sustainable transports. That is very encouraging,” commented Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks started serial production of electric trucks in 2019, as one of the very first truck brands in the world. The product range now includes six electric truck models – the Volvo FH, Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FE, Volvo FL and the Volvo VNR.
Participation in Wire & Tube 2022 in Dusseldorf to help boost export thrust, says UAE’s Ducab Metals Business
148 ME companies confirm participation taking up a cumulative space of 9,567 sq. m, nea
In the wake of the exponential post-pandemic growth opportunity in global wire, cable and tubes market, Middle Eastern companies looking to increase exports have confirmed robust participation at the world’s leading twin trade fair, Wire and Tube 2022, a senior official of Messe Dusseldorf, the event organizer, said.
The fair at Dusseldorf, Germany from May 9-13, is being organized at a time when various reports indicate that the global market for wires and cables at over US$ 330 billion in 2021 is estimated to grow to over US$420 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5 per cent.
“We are seeing a new robustness in the participation of companies at the show this year, indicating anticipation of a growth surge in this sector. We are honoured that our regional exhibitors include the Ducab Metals Business (DMB), part of the UAE’s homegrown global leader, Ducab,” said Mr. Daniel Ryfisch, Project Director, Messe Dusseldorf.
Addressing a press conference along with Mr. Mohamed Al Ahmedi, CEO, Ducab Metals Business, Mr. Ryfisch said, 148 companies from the Middle East region are taking part at the world’s leading exhibitions for wire, cables and pipes – mainly from the UAE, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Jordan.
“Our participation will reinforce our market reputation as a leading global player in the energy raw materials industry. This will also support expansion and diversification of our metals business. Currently, we export to 45 countries and our aim is to increase our overseas market footprints further,” said Mr. Al Ahmedi.
DMB exports 7o per cent of its output, and in 2020 it clocked revenue of AED 1 billion and it is expected to be at AED 1.5 billion in the financial year 2021, despite the challenges of the pandemic. New export markets targeted by DMB includes Europe, Africa and the US while the group continues to service the GCC markets including, the UAE, the UK and Australia,
Elaborating on the company’s business growth, Mr. Al Ahmedi said DMB turned the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 into an opportunity benefiting from the strong infrastructure in the UAE.
“We also had the advantage since the UAE managed the pandemic with prudence and perfection. The ports in UAE were operating, so were our factories, making us capable to cater to our export markets. We also strengthened our relations with our supply chain partners making production and exports run seamlessly,” he added.
Mr. Ryfisch said Middle Eastern companies have taken up a cumulative exhibition space of 9,567 sq. m this year, nearly 15 per cent more than that of the last pre-pandemic Wire & Tube 2018. “The Middle East region is also very important for us in terms of visitors – in 2018, we had 2,484 trade visitors from the region, which was 6 per cent of the total visitors. From a global industry perspective, the Middle East is a dynamic, modern and powerful region,” said Mr. Ryfisch.
“As a partner to Messe Dusseldorf in creating awareness on the Wire & Tube 2022 in the Middle East, we are confident that many more companies from the region will join the twin expos considering the growth opportunity in this key industrial sector. We will be joining hands with Messe Dusseldorf for more shows in the future as well,” said Rajesh Nair, Project Director, Verifair.
The shows will also have a sustainability focus, termed green transformation, and that will fit in line with the shift towards climate neutrality, electric mobility and green hydrogen.
Iraqi Airways, the national carrier of Iraq, has taken delivery of its first out of five A220-300 aircraft from Mirabel, Canada. Upon entry into service, Iraqi Airways will become one of the first airlines to operate the A220 in the Middle East region.
With the A220, Iraqi Airways will benefit from the aircraft’s exceptional technical, economic and environmental performance. Iraqi Airways’ A220-300 features a modern and highly comfortable dual-class cabin that seats 132 passengers; 12 in business class and 120 in economy class. The state of the art aircraft will play an integral part of Iraqi Airways fleet renewal and modernization plan.
The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. Featuring a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards, the A220 is a great aircraft for regional as well as long distance routes operations.
As of the end of November 2021, over 180 A220s had been delivered to 13 operators, from Asia, North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East – proving the great versatility of Airbus’ new generation single-aisle family member.
Sijimix, a well-established supplier of quality concrete throughout the eastern United Arab Emirates, has invested in ten new Renault Trucks K 380 units.
Renault Trucks the first choice for Sijimix due to exceptional reliability and high quality. Trucks trusted to lower operations costs with no compromise on quality and reliability.
Renault Trucks has announced the brand’s first deal with Sijimix, one of the United Arab Emirates’ leading ready-mix concrete suppliers, to supply a total of ten new K 380 trucks, which will be used to transport concrete across the eastern UAE.
Sijimix’s ten new Renault Trucks, supplied by the brand’s partner in Dubai, United Diesel, will expand the company’s existing fleet of over 140 units, and are set to start operations in December. The K 380 P6x4 Rigid Chassis models, which meet Euro 5 emission standards and are equipped with a wide range of technological features as well as 9 CBM transit Concrete Mixers, are set to optimise Sijimix’s local operations thanks to the K range’s functionality and fuel efficiency.
The K 380 P6x4 Rigid Chassis models have a reputation for robustness, exceptional reliability and optimal fuel efficiency. They are equipped and designed to ensure maximum productivity and safety for their drivers, as the new models meet concrete suppliers’ operational needs. The K 380 models, in addition to their robust build, also reduce operational costs by minimising fuel consumption by combining a Euro 5 380hp engine, the Optidriver AT 2612F gearbox with automatic clutch, and a 445-litre tank.
Sijimix’s new K 380 P6x4 trucks, which will mainly be operating from Fujairah, are also driver-centric as they feature numerous advanced technological and safety features. To minimise risk and increase safety, the trucks are equipped with EBS (Electronic Braking System), Hill Start Aid (HSA), Anti-Spin Regulation (ASR), Wheel Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Emergency Braking Assist, all of which assist drivers in tricky situations and provide comfort.
Mr. Mahmoud Attourah, C.E.O. of Sijimix, commented: “We’re proud to have established a partnership with Renault Trucks and United Diesel in the United Arab Emirates. Our deal came through numerous studies we’ve conducted, where Sijimix concluded that Renault Trucks are the best choice in terms of financial cost of operation and quality and reliability of the product, which are ideally suited for our operations across Fujairah.”
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, Mr. Guillaume Zimmermann, said: “Completing this first deal with Sijimix is another great step forward for the Renault Trucks team as we embark on another new partnership with a top local supplier. The quality of our trucks along with their features, technological advancements and efficiency, in addition to United Diesel’s services and strong network, are key factors that contribute to the high demand for Renault Trucks in the UAE.”
Mike Mokhles Makary, General Manager of United Diesel, commented: “Renault Trucks offers an excellent range of trucks that is perfectly suited to the varied requirements of our customers across the United Arab Emirates. In turn we are focused on ensuring the optimum standards of customer service and financial support. Combined, this forms an unbeatable package, and this new deal with Sijimix demonstrates its appeal to the country’s leading businesses.”
The deal between Renault Trucks and Sijimix is not only down to the quality of the trucks and the reputation of the Renault Trucks brand, but is also greatly due to United Diesel’s excellent customer support and aftersales services. Sijimix have been offered Site Drivers Training, Technical Training for staff and technicians beside other services, reflecting Renault Trucks’ and United Diesel’s objective to ensure optimum peace of mind for its customers.
Now the first independent energy efficiency test with a fully loaded heavy-duty electric Volvo truck has been done in Germany. The electric truck exceeded its official range and used 50% less energy than its diesel counterpart.
The tested truck was a Volvo FH Electric, a zero-exhaust emission vehicle with 490 kW of continuous power and a gross combination weight of 40 tonnes. The German trucking journalist Jan Burgdorf tested the truck on the Green Truck Route, a 343 km long route that includes a variety of motorways, hilly terrains, and tighter roads that is used for testing different manufacturer’s trucks in a wide range of conditions.
“I have to say, when driving this truck it is as agile, or even more agile, than a diesel truck. Drivers will be very surprised about how easy it is to drive, how quiet it is and how well it responds. There are no vibrations whatsoever,” says Jan Burgdorf.
The Volvo FH Electric kept an average speed of 80 km/h over the whole route, which was on par with the Volvo FH with a diesel engine equipped with a diesel engine and the fuel efficiency package I-Save. Based on the energy consumption of only 1.1 kWh/km, the electric truck had a total range of 345 km on one charge.
“These test results show that it is possible to drive up to 500 km during a regular work-day, with a short stop for charging, for example during lunch time,” explains Tobias Bergman, Press Test Director at Volvo Trucks.
In the Green Truck Route tests, the Volvo FH Electric used 50% less energy than a Volvo FH with a comparable diesel engine.
“The electric driveline is very efficient, making the all-electric truck a very powerful tool for reducing CO2 emissions,” comments Tobias Bergman.
Volvo Trucks goal is that electric vehicles will account for half of its truck sales in 2030 and in 2040, 100% well-to-wheel based CO2-reduction for new trucks sold.
“We are committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Science-based targets have been set and we are taking action to fast-forward the development to dramatically lower CO2 emissions related to on-road freight transports. I believe that the broad electric range we already have on the market is very clear proof of that,” concludes Tobias Bergman.
Facts about the test and the truck:
Gross combination weight: 40 tonnes
Average speed: 80 km/h
Energy consumption: 1,1 kWh/km
Battery capacity: 540 kWh
Output power: 490 kW continuous power
Total test track distance: 343 km
Total range based on one charge: 345 km
The tested Volvo FH Electric can cover up to 500 km during a normal workday if a top-up charge is added, for example during the lunch break.
Facts about Volvo’s range of electric trucks:
Volvo Trucks have a range of six all electric trucks designed to cover many different transport assignments.
The Volvo FH, FM and FMX Electric models have a GCW of up to 44 tonnes. Sales are ongoing in Europe and production will start in the second half of 2022.
Serial production in Europe of the Volvo FL and FE Electric, for city distribution and refuse handling, started in 2019.
Production of the Volvo VNR Electric for North America began in 2020.
The UAE’s ultra-low-fare national airline contributed to the fast recovery of the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launched more than 34 destinations during 2021
The airline operated more than 1,080 flights since its launch in January 2021 with 506 flights taking place in the fourth quarter of the year
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s ultra-low-fare national airline, the joint venture established between ADQ and Wizz Air Holdings plc, today announced its outstanding operational results for 2021.
During its first operational year, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launched more than 34 destinations including Alexandria (Egypt), Athens (Greece), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bahrain, Belgrade (Serbia), Kutaisi (Georgia), Kyiv (Ukraine), Muscat (Oman), Odesa (Ukraine), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Sohag (Egypt), Tel-Aviv (Israel), Tirana (Albania) and Yerevan (Armenia) among others. The airline has successfully operated more than 1,080 flights since its launch in January 2021, with 506 flights taking place in the fourth quarter of the year.
Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi commented: “We are proud of what has been achieved since launching our operations in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Through collaboration with key stakeholders, we have been able to grow and expand our network to more than 34 destinations despite all the challenges we have faced. This has helped us play our role in attracting tourists into the emirate and build on our ambitions to expand our network to even many more destinations. Our aim is to serve a large segment of travellers and provide them with affordable packages with great memories and experiences to remember. We look forward to continuing our contribution to enhancing the development of the aviation and tourism sectors in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and achieving many more successful milestones in the coming years,”
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has introduced a new segment of travel in the UAE in line with its socio-economic vision. The launch of the airline highlighted the importance of bringing in a bold new frontier for ultra-low fare travel in the region. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has contributed to supporting the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s efforts towards the post-pandemic tourism recovery and driving the UAE capital’s ongoing economic diversification strategy.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi provides ultra-low fare, hassle-free and efficient travel options for people looking to explore a wide range of attractive destinations in the UAE and abroad. The airline has a young fleet composed of four brand new state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, offering the lowest fuel burn, emissions and noise footprint. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has the lowest environmental footprint among its competitors in the region, supporting long-term sustainability.
For ultimate peace of mind during this uncertain time, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi also provides passengers the option to book their tickets with confidence, thanks to WIZZ Flex. With WIZZ Flex, passengers can cancel their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.
The airline has also introduced a new era of sanitised travel across its network, with enhanced hygiene measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and crew. Click here to view Wizz Air’s new health and safety video.
Providing the conditions in the sky that are as similar to the conditions in their natural living environments by exercising maximum care for the live animal shipments, Turkish Cargo once again performed another successfully equine transport operation with the unique service it offers. The air cargo brand transported 63 horses, 59 of which were shipped at the same time, from Chicago to Istanbul safely.
The horses were brought in comfort from Chicago to Istanbul by making use of specially designed 21 stalls (dedicated horse barns) with non-skid surface and oval edges. Since they are not allowed to be transported unattended as per the international regulations, the horses were accompanied by their keepers and the IATA Live Animals Regulation (LAR) certificated Turkish Cargo personnel during the flight. Having been lodged for a short time in the live animal rooms at the Ataturk Airport in conformity with their natural living conditions, the horses were delivered healthy and hale to their owners in Turkey through the dedicated loading doors enabling ready movement.
In respect of the live animal shipment service, it offers to its customers in 127 countries worldwide; Turkish Cargo takes the IATA LAR (International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations) as reference for its acceptance, storage and shipment processes, and continues to implement the documentation, packaging, labeling and marking rules, as specified in the said regulations, strictly during the course of shipment of live animals.
Detailed information about TK LIVE, the product which has been developed specifically for live animal shipments by Turkish Cargo, can be found through the “products and services – special cargo” tab on its website, namely www.turkishcargo.com.tr .
SAL Saudi Logistics Services – a member of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation – launched the extension of its new Jeddah Station under the honorable patronage of His Excellency Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport & Logistics on Sunday 19 December 2021 covering 61,000 sqm with 800,000 tons of annual capacity.
Chairman of the SAL Board, Mr. Fawaz AlFawaz, pointed out that the launch of the new extension comes in parallel with the National Industrial Development Program (NIDLP) – one of Vision 2030’s most prominent programs – aiming at transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub, contributing to a robust and diversified economy, sustaining the growth of the sector, and creating highly competitive investment opportunities.
AlFawaz also highlighted that this launch realizes the true ground handling potential of SAL where the company utilizes its logistics expertise to provide more developed services and solutions in and out of airports and expertly serve the international markets to strengthen the connectivity of KSA ports with those of the entire globe.
SAL’s CEO, Hesham Alhussayen, mentioned the new extension spans over 61,000 square meters adding more high-quality services to its existing wide range of ground handling services and including different state-of-the-art cargo facilities according to the industry’s highest international standards. He also added the new extension perfectly provides comprehensive import and export services, medical and food cold chain services, dangerous cargo services, and valuable cargo services under world-class security measures and ultramodern automated ground handling systems.
The new extension also features effective cold chain facilities and new spacious storage facilities with an impeccable infrastructure for the special and highly sensitive cargo. The Jeddah station extension is expected to increase SAL’s annual cargo capacity to over 800K tons in 2030 while providing retailers and companies new premium cargo services at KAIA in Jeddah.
Global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo became the logistics solutions partner of Togg (Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group), which was founded with the mission of becoming Turkey’s most valuable global mobility brand. National brand carries Turkey’s first electric automobile to CES in Las Vegas, one of the world’s leading tech expos. With this special flight, indigenous automobile crossed national borders to be presented at the world stage.
On the subject, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. Ilker Aycı stated; “With the responsibility that comes with being the national flag carrier and strength of being the airline that flies to more countries than any other, we are excited to carry our country’s tech export, Turkey’s automobile, to all over the world. As the Turkish Airlines family, we are proud of our contributions towards Togg’s world launch, the most ambitious project of our country.”
Togg CEO M. Gurcan Karakas said; “Of course we were going to carry our smart product with the global Turkish Airlines brand to CES 2022 where we will present our vision for the future. We thank Turkish Cargo for being our partner in this journey towards #NewLeauge to become a global brand in CES 2022 where the technology world comes together. We will present our smart product with enriched design and futuristic touches as it tells the story of transformation of mobility that launches automobiles into third life cycle.”
Sent off with a digital convoy of 40 thousand aircraft
New brand launch and concept automobile by Togg will be present at the international stage for the first time in the CES expo of Las Vegas, which is organized between 5-8 January. Togg’s journey towards international stage and becoming a global brand with Turkish Cargo started with a digital convoy which draw participation from all around the world. Thousands followed this 11-hour journey which started at the same time with the departure of Turkish Cargo aircraft via personalized aircraft models at www.yolunuzacikolsun.com with a convoy 40 thousand aircraft.
Turkish Cargo makes use of special equipment for the product shipments that require maximum attention and sensitivity, and it keeps each and every movement of the valuable cargo stored in the sensitive cargo storehouses, under continuous supervision via the cameras installed at and around its storage facilities. Thanks to the unprecedented solutions it offers, Turkish Cargo, which has an experience over 30 years in special cargo shipments, ranks among the first choices of the global-scale companies seeking for a reliable business partner.
Volvo Trucks has received an order for an additional 25 heavy electric trucks from DFDS, Northern Europe’slargest shipping and logistics company. The new vehicles are on top of the record order of 100 Volvo FM electric trucks that was made in October, adding up to a total of 125 electric trucks for DFDS.
“Once again, DFDS has confirmed its great trust in our partnership and technology with this order for an additional 25 Volvo FM Electric trucks. We are very proud and happy that it is so clearly becoming a competitive advantage for transporters to be able to offer electric, sustainable transports. This is very encouraging for Volvo Trucks, for our customers and for the climate,” comments Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. Delivery of the vehicles is planned to commence in Q4 2022. The new trucks will be used for transports in the DFDS logistics system in Europe.
“Green investments in the heavy transport industry are a prerequisite to reach the emissions reductions needed for DFDS, our customers, and society in general. Our partnership with Volvo Trucks allows DFDS to offer further low-emission transport solutions, already in high demand among customers. We hope such investments will increase the demand for green infrastructure solutions across Europe,” says Niklas Andersson, Executive Vice President and Head of Logistics Division at DFDS.
With a Volvo FM Electric truck, it´s possible to drive up to 500 km during a workday, with a fast top-up charge, for example during the lunch break. The Volvo FM Electric has a gross combination weight of up to 44 tons and can be charged both overnight at the home-depot and via high power fast charging on route.
Volvo Trucks started serial production of electric trucks in 2019, as one of the very first truck brands to do so. The product range now includes six electric truck models – the Volvo FH, Volvo FM, Volvo FMX, Volvo FE, Volvo FL and the Volvo VNR, sold in North America.
Of the electric trucks (16 tonnes and heavier) registered in Europe so far this year, Volvo Trucks has a market share of just over 40%.
SOHAR Port and Freezone in coordination with the Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) conducted its annual emergency response field exercise. Held in collaboration with Safety Region Rotterdam, the Port’s strategic partner for safety management, and SOHAR’s Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), the teams simulated a life-like emergency scenario at the Hutchison Ports terminal. Emergency response teams from companies in the Port including OQ, Vale, SIUCI, OMC and Jindal Shadeed participated to ensure that they know how to respond quickly and effectively to any crisis or incident and are able to work together using the mutual aid system. The various scenarios comprised of a fire combined with a release of hazardous materials. Both were successfully handled by the specialized teams and in fact demonstrated a high level of readiness.
Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port, said, “Several of the tenants within SOHAR Port and Freezone provide their own emergency response fire and ambulance team to manage crisis and incidents. By engaging them with all along with PACDA in regular training exercises, we know that the same comprehensive protocols are followed throughout the site.”
He added, “ We are confident knowing that the teams have been trained, understand the science behind our actions, have the skills to prevent injury and damage to assets in addition to protect the environment. The guidance received and lessons learned during these exercises allows us to update our safety protocols in accordance with best international HSSE practices and prepare teams to respond when called upon.”
Continuing to prioritize and promote a culture of safe and socially responsible business practices, SOHAR Port and Freezone’s Emergency Response strategy outlines procedures that are designed to provide the immediate prepared response for multiple scenarios. Having made giant strides in ensuring a safe working climate, the port continues to employ innovative, world-class solutions to resolve complex challenges and manage incidents in a time critical manner, factoring in the port’s potential risk profile, foreseeing its occurrence and responding effectively to mitigate all risks to persons and property.
MYCRANE, the world’s first digital platform for the search and selection of cranes – has announced the appointment of an exclusive pan-India franchisee
The free-to-use MYCRANE service will be operated in India by Mumbai-based Sahil Freight Express Pvt Ltd. Established in 1986, the company has extensive experience in the freight and logistics sector
As an exclusive distributor for Scheuerle in the past, Sahil was responsible for introducing the manufacturer’s globally-renowned SPMTs, modular platform trailers and semi-trailers to the Indian market. In addition, Sahil has handled a number of heavy lift projects, and was the pioneer in establishing the concept of NVOCC/ LCL (less-than-container-load) consolidation as a service provided by freight forwarders in India.
The franchise partnership agreement was signed at Expo 2020 Dubai, currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates, by MYCRANE founder and director Andrei Geikalo and Suhail Shaikh, the chairman and managing director of Sahil Freight Express Pvt Ltd.
Andrei Geikalo said: “India has one of the fastest digitising economies in the world, as well as a very positive outlook for the Indian cranes and construction sector, so we are delighted to be opening the MYCRANE service in the country. “In Sahil Freight, we have the right partners who have a proven track record of introducing new products and services to the market. I have no doubt MYCRANE will be a big success in India.”
The crane market in India is expected to grow strongly in the coming years. The ongoing expansion of roads and metro railways and the routine maintenance and upgrading of oil refineries, cement and power plants are all driving demand for cranes.
Suhail Shaikh, the chairman and managing director of Sahil Freight Express Pvt Ltd, comments: “While the crane market is expected to be very strong in the coming years, it remains a fact that the majority of the rental equipment market in India is dominated by smaller, informal players.
“MYCRANE therefore has a huge opportunity to make life easier for those seeking crane rental services, by connecting them with a wide range of reliable equipment providers who have been thoroughly vetted by our team.
“We are excited about the journey ahead and look forward to getting to work in the Indian market.” MYCRANE operates on a franchise basis and enquiries are welcomed from entrepreneurs who are interested in operating the service in their home markets.
Women industry leaders led a panel at Automechanika Dubai 2021 to discuss gender issues and milestones in a traditionally male-dominated sector
Bridgestone, global sustainable mobility, and advanced solutions provider, joined this year’s edition of Automechanika Dubai, the largest international show for the automotive aftermarket and service industry for the Middle East and Africa region. The 18th edition of Automechanika Dubai, held recently at the Dubai World Trade Centre, convened international visitors, exhibitors, suppliers, customers, and business partners from the automotive industry to discuss the latest market trends and innovations, and potential partnerships.
As an industry pioneer, Bridgestone actively participated in the event to bring forward its milestones, particularly women’s roles in the automotive industry. Berna Akıncı, Head of Marketing at Bridgestone Middle East and Africa, was one of the panelists in their Women in Automotive session. The session titled ‘An Interview with Women in Automotive, Enabling Women as Industry leaders and Serving Female Consumers’ discussed various roles of women in the industry, whether through inventions, technical innovations, leadership, courage, or inspiring successes behind the wheel.
The discussion shed light on significant industry concerns and topics, including underrepresentation of women at the executive level, cultural and traditional bias due to underrepresentation, and the importance of mentorship and guidance. The session also brought forward the need to encourage women early, making the automotive industry appealing to women and the importance of flexibility in working hours.
It is imperative to create systematic support to advance women’s representation and inclusion across automotive operations. It was also pointed out that the way forward is to increase awareness and develop programs that provide support to women in childcare, career support, and other opportunities that can facilitate career growth.
Representing the women leaders of Bridgestone, Berna Akıncı said: “We are proud of how Bridgestone continuedly encourage and advance diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Our company has been proactive in creating a conducive work environment for all individuals who have diverse values and backgrounds, irrespective of their gender. We want our employees to work comfortably and demonstrate their abilities while supporting career growth and development. It is essential to design and implement programs that empower our employees, such as career development training, help employees develop networks, and offer career-support training for managers with a special focus on gender diversity awareness. Embracing employee empowerment contributes to the enhancement of work culture and values at our company.”
Seatrade Maritime Awards cites 20% equity share sales to Saudi Arabia’s PIF and COSCO Shipping Ports as “the most significant deal in the maritime industry over the past 12 months” in the Maritime Industry, in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa.
Dubai, UAE- Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) was honored for the 2021 “Regional Deal of the Year”, at the annual Seatrade Maritime Awards ceremony, in Dubai, for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa. In July of 2021, RSGT announced the formal approvals and completions of 20% equity share sales to both the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Hong Kong-based COSCO Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL). With the deal’s successful conclusion, RSGT’s founding shareholders reduced their combined majority and controlling shareholding to 60%. The deal implied an enterprise value of USD $880 million for RSGT.
” This past year RSGT welcomed as new investors one of the world’s largest container shipping and terminal operating companies, as well as one of the world’s largest sovereign investment funds” stated CEO Jens Floe, adding “At the same time we were continuing our focus on operational excellence and geographic growth both in Saudi and internationally”.
“We thank SeaTrade Maritime for this award and look forward to announcing new deals to be celebrated in the year ahead”, said Mr. Floe.
Conquering the skies means securing the launchpad below: Saudia Cargo appreciates and shares values of resilience and overcoming obstacles with inspiring rally driver Mashael Alobaidan.
Saudia Cargo has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first female, accredited rally driver at Rally Dakar, Mashael AlObaidan, as part of the company’s continuous contributions to the Kingdom’s various entertainment and sporting events. The 33-year-old ambitious driver is ready to take part in Rally Dakar in 2022, as the first Saudi and Arab female participant, in the prominent worldwide race event. The event will kick off next year in Saudi Arabia for the third time in a row with drivers of 70 nationalities participating in Rally Dakar’s five different categories.
The rally track will start from the City of Hail ending in Jeddah and is famous for being the world’s longest and hardest rally track where drivers cross multiple cities facing different weather conditions and challenging complex topographies.
In line with Vision 2030 that recognizes a successful, modern nation must empower all members of society, including women, Mashael aspires to lead a new generation of female rally racers in the Middle East, and represent women empowerment across motorsports in Saudi Arabia. She is the first Saudi and Arab female to obtain a rally license in Saudi Arabia. Soon after becoming the first female licensed rally driver in KSA, Mashael placed 1st in the T3 category at Sharqiyah Rally and 5th overall out of 19 racers.
To sponsor Mashael AlObaidan was greatly welcomed by Saudia Cargo CEO Teddy Zebitz, who believes this step will support Saudis and enhance their performance in worldwide sporting tournaments while presenting the image of the empowered Saudi woman who proudly achieves successful national milestones with remarkable outcomes.
“We realize the importance of all events hosted by the Kingdom and the active role we play by utilizing our capacities and logistics services to ensure the success of such premium and challenging races,” Teddy Zebitz stated. “It is important to recognize the shared values and attributes between rally drivers and Saudia Cargo, where both face challenging routes, undergo long-haul races, and recognize the necessity of overcoming obstacles with great elegance under pressure. This requires agility, flexibility and unwavering resilience and commitment. These are the qualities and standards that drives us daily, as we deliver our services around the world. Clearly, the common values between Saudia Cargo – that exists to serve our global community – and rally driver Mashael AlObaidan are distinctly recognizable.”
With pride, Mashael stated, “It is an honor to participate in one of the toughest rallies in the world, with Saudia Cargo as a partner. Thanks to Saudia Cargo’s sponsorship, I have reached a major milestone in my career. This is an exciting time for me on several levels, primarily as having the opportunity to represent my country, and to honor the tenets of Vision 2030 in progressing the Kingdom forward.”
Mashael AlObaidan became the first Arab female driver from GCC to take part in the international Rally Dakar following her participation in the Spanish Baja Aragon Rally – the fifth stage of the World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas organized by FIA. Mashael also managed to finish second in the T3 category of the Hail International Rally in Saudi Arabia – the final round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – making her way through as the first Arab female rally driver to win a title in this race.
AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation
Sign Multiple Agreements for Development of Tourism, Transport, Logistics and Digital Infrastructure
Strategic Partnerships Designed to Boost Tourism and Provide Multimodal Transport, Logistics and Digital Solutions for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of trade and logistics, has strengthened its regional footprint by signing a number of four strategic agreements and a Head of Terms Agreement (HoT) with the Aqaba Development Corporation that will see AD Ports Group support the development of tourism, logistics, transport, and digital infrastructure within Aqaba.
The signing ceremony took place in Aqaba in Jordan in the presence of H.E. Nasser Shraideh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, representing H.E. Dr. Bisher Al Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; H.E. Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Baloushi, UAE Ambassador to the kingdom; H.E. Dr. Mohamad Al-Ississ, Minister of Finance; H.E. Eng. Khairy Amr, Minister of Investment; and H.E. Dr. Nawaf Tall, Minister of State for Follow-up and Government Coordination; and H.E Eng. Nayef Ahmad Bakheet, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation, along with a number of officials from both sides. The four strategic agreements and a Head of Terms Agreement were signed by Hussein Ali Alsafadi, CEO, Aqaba Development Corporation and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group.
The strategic partnerships concern the development of Marsa Zayed, a cruise terminal, and the development of an advanced digital Port Community System, in addition to Head of Terms agreements to explore the development and modernisation of a multipurpose port and King Hussein International Airport.
Marsa Zayed Land Agreement
The agreement is in relation to the development of a land area of 1.2 million sqm in phase 1 of the development of the 3.2 million Marsa Zayed area by AD Ports Group, which will include a cruise terminal, tourism, leisure, residential and other projects. The development is planned to position Aqaba as a major Red Sea destination of choice.
Cruise Terminal Agreement
Under this Agreement, which builds upon a Head of Terms Agreement announced earlier in the year, AD Ports Group will develop, manage and operate a new cruise terminal in Aqaba, which will serve as a gateway for passengers visiting the Red Sea.
Maqta Ayla, New Joint Venture
Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, has signed a joint venture Agreement with Aqaba Development Corporation establishing “Maqta Ayla” to develop and operate an advanced Ports Community System (PCS). The system will oversee the communication between the Port of Aqaba and terminal operators, as well as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Aqaba Development Corporation, Jordan Maritime Commission and other stakeholders within the Port’s ecosystem. The system is expected to complete around two million digital transactions per year, generate considerable cost and time savings for stakeholders and customers, reduce CO2 emissions and streamline services.
HoT on the Development and Modernisation of a Multi-Purpose Port
The HoT sees the Aqaba Development Corporation and AD Ports Group cooperating on exploring the development and modernisation of a multi-purpose port with world-class facilities including Ro-Ro, general cargo, grain and livestock handling.
Development of King Hussein International Airport Agereeent
The Agreement will see AD Ports Group collaborate with Aqaba Development Corporation on the development of King Hussein International Airport – Aqaba, to enable increasing volumes of international and domestic tourism, ensuring a seamless journey for passengers moving between the airport and the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, while enhancing air logistics and expanding Aqaba’s air network connectivity.
H.E Eng. Nayef Ahmad Bakheet, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation said: “We have found a key partner in AD Ports Group, which has the vision, expertise and track record necessary to develop world-class port and cruise and digital infrastructure.
“The agreements and HoT on the development of Marsa Zayed and a cruise terminal, exploring the modernisation of a multipurpose port, the development of King Hussein International Airport, and the establishment of “Maqta Ayla” for digital systems, represent a significant addition to our efforts that aim to develop Aqaba region, and enable rising volumes of visitors to come and experience the Golden Triangle of Jordan, with our unique tourism offerings of Wadi Rum, Aqaba and the ancient city of Petra.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “This strategic alliance will boost the wider efforts of the leadership of Abu Dhabi to drive trade and tourism with our neighbours in the region, and to develop world-class infrastructure to expand global reach.
“Collectively, these mega-projects represent one of the most significant integrated transport, logistics and tourism development programmes announced in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in recent years.
“Working with our partners in the Aqaba Development Corporation, these ambitious projects will significantly expand the facilities available to travellers and businesses via sea, land and air. This in turn will help grow the trade and tourism sectors, while strengthening Aqaba’s status as a major regional hub and support the kingdom’s economic development plans.”
Hussein Alsafadi, CEO, Aqaba Development Corporation stressed the importance of this collaboration and strategic partnership which will help in creating investment and job opportunities, as well as foster the role of Aqaba as a key regional hub in trade, logistics, and maritime and air transportation.
Abdulla Al Hameli, Head of Industrial Cities & Free Zone Cluster, AD Ports Group said, “We are excited to partner with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority for the development of a land area of 1.2 million sqm comprising real estate development projects, tourist residential complexes, hotels, chalets, commercial centres and theme parks. This significant project contributes towards positioning Aqaba as a major tourism and business destination in the region.”
Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “We are delighted to be able to play our part in the development of the Port of Aqaba and the new cruise terminal, drawing on our expertise in the cruise sector and our experience in providing advanced services across the supply chain.
“We are confident that this cooperation will prove beneficial for both sides, as it combines Aqaba’s significant growth potential as a cruise destination and a regional hub on the Red Sea with AD Ports Group’s leadership in providing advanced services and infrastructure for cruise passengers and cargo ships.”
Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Maqta Gateway, Head of the Digital Cluster- AD Ports Group, said: “As a result of these partnership agreements, Aqaba’s cruise, logistics and shipping sectors will have to access a broad range of innovative technologies that support optimised services across land, sea and air. Digitalisation will introduce important efficiencies and eliminate risks from the supply chain, with a fully integrated platform that delivers the best possible customer experience.”
Eng. Mohammad Al-Sakran, Executive Director, Transport & Logistics, Aqaba Development Corporation, noted: “This strategic partnership will promote Aqaba as a major player in the region’s supply chain. The digital transformation resulting from this partnership will also create a new ecosystem that will enhance the resilience of the maritime sector in Aqaba”.
In line with the country’s celebrations of the National Day, Gulf Warehousing Company (Q.P.S.C.), the leading logistics provider in Qatar, organised a blood donation drive on December 10, 2021, which saw 67 donors achieving the the highest ever record through its annual blood donation campaigns.
The drive, which was organised in Logistics Village Qatar (LVQ) in partnership with Hamad Medical Corporation, was part of GWC’s efforts to give back to the community. 102 employees registered for the blood donation drive exemplifying the spirit of selflessness.
GWC Group CEO Ranjeev Menon expressed his appreciation for GWC employees and HMC for ensuring that the campaign was a success. “As we celebrate Qatar National Day this year, we look at the accomplishments made by Qatar in all fields with pride, and what makes us proud is the participation of GWC in initiatives that contribute to achieving our greater goal of being part of the well-being of society and contributing to its prosperity. Volunteering to donate blood is a cornerstone of our corporate social responsibility goals, and an effective way to encourage employees to engage with the society and make a positive contribution,” he further added.
GWC and HMC have repeatedly cooperated to organize blood donation drives and have witnessed a constant increase in employees volunteering to be a part of this noble cause.
The air cargo brand transported Sich-2-30, the Earth Observation Satellite of Ukraine, to Miami for its launch.
Introducing the standards not only of the present but also of the future in the air cargo industry with its robust infrastructure, innovative mission and the broad vision it has drawn up, Turkish Cargo raised the bar to the space for sensitive and complex cargo transportation. The air cargo brand transported Sich-2-30, the earth observation satellite developed by Ukraine, to Miami for its launch with a connection flight at Istanbul.
The satellite, which has been developed as part of the National Targeted Scientific and Technical Space Program of Ukraine, will blast off at the launch area at the Kennedy Space Center (USA) in January 2022. After settling on a stable orbit, the Earth Observation satellite will capture the digital and infrared images of the surface of the Earth and collect generic data by probing the ionosphere parameters.
Extensive arrangements for safe and secure transport
For the purpose of facilitating the loading and unloading operations, Sich-2-30 Earth Observation Satellite has been dismantled into multiple components, and the components of the satellite have been placed carefully on 2 separate pallets together with the supplies in order to avoid any damage during the shipment. Shipment of the spacecraft, loaded on board the Turkish Cargo aircraft by means of the LIFO (last in first out) method by the expert teams, has been accomplished with a perfectly executed operation.
Turkish Cargo makes use of special equipment for the product shipments that require maximum attention and sensitivity, and it keeps each and every movement of the valuable cargo stored in the sensitive cargo storehouses, under continuous supervision via the cameras installed at and around its storage facilities. Thanks to the unprecedented solutions it offers, Turkish Cargo, which has an experience over 30 years in special cargo shipments, ranks among the first choices of the global-scale companies seeking for a reliable business partner.
SAVOYE, a leading global warehouse automation integrator and supply chain software publisher, expands its international reach by signing an agreement with the recognized software solution provider, INCUBE company. INCUBE, one of the Middle East and North Africa’s premier supply chain mobility solutions provider now becomes the first distributor and integrator for Savoye software solutions in the region.
According to the agreement, INCUBE is now distributing and integrating ODATiO, cloud native software for the supply chain, combining Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Transport Management System (TMS), developed by Savoye.
Besides establishing itself in various countries in Europe, USA, Asian region and more recently in Dubai to enter the Middle East and Saudi Arabia markets, this recently formed partnership is also part of the international development program of SAVOYE to boost the sales of its ODATiO software and ensure that it will be available to a broader customer base across the MENA region.
ODATIO is one of Savoye’s significant software solutions in the logistics and supply chain sectors which is based on comprehensive functional coverage and flexible configuration options. The software solution is designed to increase productivity, enhance service quality, and optimize warehouse and transport resources.
Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director Savoye Middle East said: “This strategic partnership with INCUBE will definitely advance and strengthen our position as a provider of supply chain and logistics solutions. Savoye has just recently entered the Middle East market, and we are looking forward for regional customers to grow their business with our innovative, scalable and tailor-made solutions such as ODATiO. With INCUBE as a partner, we are confident that our solution will create more impact on the supply chain and logistics sectors as they play vital roles in the region’s economic development.”
On his part, Sari Kaylani CEO of INCUBE supply chain solutions said: “As INCUBE continues to expand its products portfolio, we see that the addition of the Savoye products allows INCUBE to complete its offering of Top-Notch Supply Chain Solutions. Savoye comes with a vast experience and product offering in the domain of Supply Chain Solutions, this sits very well with InCube’s objectives of providing Best-Practiced solutions to our customers.
The market in our region is developing very rapidly, and this new partnership allows us to stay on track with the evolving market needs, which is always seeking the optimization of their business processes”.
Bruno Lacoste, Software partnerships director at Savoye, said: “We made a tough evaluation process in selecting the right partner for us to drive the sales of ODATiO. INCUBE, with its expertise and strong presence, is the perfect choice in bringing ODATIO to a broader customer base in the region. A successful digital transformation in supply chain and logistics requires more investments in redesign, new technologies and software. This is where partnerships like the one between Savoye and INCUBE come into play; to fully support the region’s digital transformation with innovative, flexible and cost-effective solutions.”
The region’s supply chain sector is witnessing growth driven by consistent demand for goods and commodities. Increasing volumes, diversifying preparation methods, and improving response times, coupled with strict quality requirements, require a comprehensive solution that is both flexible and efficient. Hence, many digital solutions have been put in place to tackle the issues and promote productivity. Solution providers in the supply chain and logistics sector such as Savoye are stepping into the game as a technology provider and helping businesses meet the needs through world-class solutions.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a trial run of two electric buses, branded Volvo 7900. The two buses will shuttle on a specific path in both directions between La Mer South, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Street and Al Sufouh Tram Station.
The launch is coordinated with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Volvo Bus Company, Meraas Real Estate, and ABB Group – leader in the electric bus charging industry. The step reflects RTA’s efforts to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly mass transit means.
The two buses are fitted with Opportunity Charging technology, which is experimented for the first time in Dubai. Buses are charged by a standing electric charger supplied by ABB Group at La Mer South. A night electric charger is provided at Al Quoz Bus Depot to run the night charging when the two buses are out of service. Therefore, buses can be electrically charged either through Pantograph using a standing arm under which the bus is parked at La Mer, or cables connecting direct and alternate currents (DC and AC).
Each bus is equipped with modern batteries that enable it to travel 200 km when fully charged. The length of the distance travelled is a function of several factors such as the terrain of the road, temperature, and the operation of the air conditioners. Each bus has 38 seats in addition to 3 foldable seats, a place for People of Determination, and an interactive display screen.
Operational Efficiency
During the trial period, which will continue until March 2022, RTA will measure the operational efficiency of the two electric buses and experiment the charging of electric buses using the charger at La Mer as well as the overnight charger at the Al Quoz Bus Depot. It will train drivers on driving the electric bus and familiarize them with the bus system. It will also train controllers on monitoring the electric bus and the charging unit. RTA will work with project partners to ensure the readiness of buses, electric charging units, and the charging station.
“This unique and comprehensive electric bus charging system that uses the Opportunity Charging technique for operating electric buses on a specific path responds to the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai themed: ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development.’ It is part of RTA’s initiatives to support the use of eco-friendly vehicles and sustainable transit means. It concurs with the Dubai Government’s energy and carbon strategy aimed to make Dubai a model in the efficient use of energy and reduced carbon emissions,” said His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority.
“The project is a unique example of integrated efforts of government departments as well as Public Private Partnership (PPP). It illustrates the integrated efforts of RTA, DEWA, Volvo Bus Co, Meraas Real Estate and ABB Group aimed to promote sustainable transport in Dubai and reduce carbon emissions of the transport sector,” he noted.
“The success of deploying and operating electric buses and vehicles as part of RTA’s mass transit fleet hinges largely on the availability and reliability of the charging technology, and whether it supports the continuous operation of buses without stopping or having to return to the charging stations.
“RTA attaches top priority to environmental conservation and power-saving policies and sets safety and environmental sustainability as one of its strategic goals. It, therefore, seeks to keep pace with the latest technologies of manufacturing buses, electric batteries, and various charging systems. It underscores the intention to add electric buses to RTA fleet in future to ensure the operation of safe, smooth, and sustainable mass transit means. It is recalled that RTA had launched a series of projects and initiatives to leverage sustainable transport including the trial run of electric buses and the operation of hydrogen or water-powered taxis,” concluded Al Tayer.
Encouraging Green Mobility
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) praised RTA’s efforts of promoting the use of environmentally friendly mobility means. He also commended RTA’s project to operate two electric buses using innovative fast-changing technologies.
“Government departments are keen to make concerted efforts towards realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world besides cementing the profile of the emirate as a global destination of green economy and sustainable development. Dubai’s Green Mobility Initiative 2030 aims to stimulate the use of sustainable transit means and align them with the strategic goals of the emirate in terms of sustainability, air quality and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” he noted.
“The incentives package launched by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy of which DEWA is part has encouraged green mobility and increased the number of electric cars in Dubai. We hope that this new initiative from RTA would increase the number of environmentally friendly electric buses and encourage community members to use public transport and electric vehicles. This particularly fits with the spread of green charging stations of DEWA, which now exceed 300 stations offering 530 charging points across Dubai,”
Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director of Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) stated: “We are excited to be part of this highly strategic initiative and we have worked closely with our partners at (RTA) to provide them with the optimal solution for their strategic vision and we have partnered with the Volvo Bus Corporation to ensure our teams deliver the highest service, maintenance, response and support levels to our valued customer, the RTA.”
Volvo Electric buses will enhance travelling experience not only for passengers but also drivers and other road users, making cities more attractive for their inhabitants. This trial is a strong step forward towards achieving Dubai’s goal of being the world’s happiest city. We are excited to be RTA’s partner in providing sustainable and environmentally friendly public transportation.”
SOHAR Port and Freezone continued to make solid progress in the first nine months of 2021 despite a global downturn in trade and supply chain disruption. The Port’s handling of goods in and out of the Sultanate (throughput) performance saw an overall increase of 6.1%, while Ship to Ship Cargo saw an impressive growth of 59%, as Container Handling decreased by 3.9%. At the same time, Liquid Bulk increased by 7%, Dry Bulk increased by 4.3% and Break Bulk remained the same. The Freezone’s performance has been stellar with a 16% increase in the land occupancy and a 14% increase in throughput compared with the same period last year. The complex also saw an 8% increase in exports. SOHAR Port and Freezone remains on course for a strong end to the year.
Mark Geilenkirchen, Chief Executive Officer of SOHAR Port and Freezone said, “Given the prevailing global circumstances outside of our influence, the results of the last nine months have been extremely gratifying and further reaffirm the progress we are making to position ourselves as a major global logistics hub. The Port and Freezone has remained open at full capacity throughout the pandemic, operating safely and efficiently to serve the industrial and economic sectors. We are confident that by the end of 2021, we will have achieved one of our most successful years yet.”
Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi, Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port and CEO of SOHAR Freezone, added, “SOHAR is integral to the supply and exchange of goods to serve clients within the Freezone, across the country and further afield, as well as a gateway to the region for a growing roster of overseas companies and local SMEs. Over 70% of all goods entering the Sultanate pass through SOHAR, as well as more than 40% of exported goods. We are grateful to the entire SOHAR team, both at the Port and Freezone and offshore, for their hard work and commitment throughout the year to date and we anticipate a strong end to the year as the manufacture of consumer goods, food and industrial supplies ramps up for a busy 2022.”
SOHAR Port and Freezone has attracted close to US$ 30 billion in total investment as part of a long-term commitment to developing the national economy in line with the objectives of Vision 2040. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, SOHAR is one of the world’s fastest-growing complexes of its kind and significant developments within its industrial and food clusters are currently underway. The company is also exploring investment in green and renewable energy in order to make the complex more efficient and environmentally conscious for the benefit of tenants, clients, the community and the environment.
The IVECO T-WAY is the off-road vehicle designed and engineered for the toughest missions in the most extreme conditions, which takes over from the legendary TRAKKER. It introduces a new HI-TRONIX automated transmission with functions specifically developed for off-road mobility. The new rear disc brakes, heavy-duty rear suspension system for Tandem axles, lower kerb weight and a host of features such as the Off-Rode mode, together with ESP, Hill Holder and high-comfort cab add up to outstanding efficiency and safety.
IVECO completes the IVECO WAY heavy range with the IVECO S-WAY the on-road truck developed to deliver a complete package of features focused on the driver, on efficiency and business oriented. The IVECO S-WAY delivers a fuel efficiency increase of up to 4% with a new engine line-up, a redesigned cabin and advanced features, further reducing its Total Cost of Ownership and raising the stakes on business productivity.
IVECO now offers a complete, renewed line-up for both off and on-road missions.
After the European live virtual launch at the beginning of June, the brand presents the new off-road truck IVECO T-WAY and the on-road truck IVECO S-WAY to the Africa & Middle East market in a series of dedicated days organized between 5th and 7th December 2021 at the Dubai Autodrome.
IVECO, with the claim DRIVE THE NEW WAY, unveiled the new IVECO WAY range to its customers, dealer network and representatives of the automotive press in a launch event. A program designed specifically to bring guests closer to the new IVECO world starting with a product presentation and following with a dedicated test drive on an on-road and off-road track which allowed to concretely appreciate the significant innovations in the IVECO vehicles.
More than 150 guests appreciated the new functionalities of the range, completely built around the driver, with particular attention to productivity, safety and a completely renewed and redesigned cabin, to improve the on-board comfort and vehicle performance.
IVECO took a direct approach to the launch specially designed to touch and test the new IVECO range. It offered participants a unique experience, telling an immersive story made up of a mix of video content and live interactions. It took the guests on a discovery journey through IVECO’s world and unveiled the latest-born in its long lineage of legendary trucks.
Carmelo Impelluso, IVECO Head of Commercial Operations EMEA, commented: “With the launch of the new IVECO T-WAY and IVECO S-WAY, we now offer our customers the most complete, entirely renewed, business-oriented product range for off-road and on-road missions. The new IVECO WAY family enables us to cover the whole set of market demands with a coordinated offer of very differentiated products. Today, our customers see their trucks as a business tool. They look for a complete solution that will deliver the profitability they need. This is what makes our IVECO WAY range unique: it delivers everything our customers expect – and more.”
Fabio De Serafini, Africa & Middle East Business Director, said: “Every detail of the new IVECO WAY Range has been developed in order to optimize all the Total Cost of Ownership elements: fuel consumption, price, residual value, maintenance and uptime costs, driver satisfaction and productivity. With the new “WAY” family, we cover the whole set of market demands with coordinated, but very differentiated products. The world is moving fast, and the world of transport must not only keep up, but anticipate and drive the change.”
IVECO T-WAY the toughest vehicle engineered for the most extreme off-road missions
The IVECO T-WAY builds on the heritage of robustness and reliability of the brand’s long lineage of champion off-roaders. It introduces state-of-the art technological solutions to exceed all expectations in productivity, payload capacity, safety and driver comfort. These characteristics of extreme toughness, high performance and reliability are clearly expressed by the theme of the advertising launch campaign: “TREAT IT BAD”.
“T” FOR TOUGH: designed and engineered for robustness and reliability
The IVECO T-WAY has been designed to offer best-in-class performance in every off-road mission, robustness and torsional rigidity. It carries over from its predecessors the legendary robustness of the high-resistance steel chassis with a 10mm thick frame, with a Rail Bending Moment at the top of the segment at 177 kNm. The front axle has a maximum capacity of up to 9 tonnes. Hub reduction on the rear axle is standard to maximize strength and performance.
The new heavy-duty rear suspension system for Tandem axles optimises vehicle weight and improves off-road performance with greater ground clearance and a better departure angle.
The IVECO T-WAY delivers all the power needed for traction and PTO with IVECO’s reliable and efficient Cursor 13 engine (13 litres) that develops up to 470/480 hp.
The engines are coupled with the proven 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, which now also features new functions specifically intended for off-road mobility including a Hill Holder function to help departure on steep slopes, Rocking Mode to help recover traction in slippery conditions and Creep Mode for ultra-low speed when idling; for the on-road sections of the mission, the Ecoroll, function that uses the vehicle’s inertia when travelling downhill enhances the transmission’s efficiency.
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment (CV&E) has landed two major awards at the Annual UD Trucks Partner’s Conference 2021 which was held at the site of Expo 2020 Dubai.
The division won the ‘Service Sales Team of the Year’ and ‘Marketing & Communications Team of the Year’ awards for surpassing its key targets amidst the unprecedented impact of the global health crisis. It also made it to the top three of two other award categories, ‘Parts Salesman of the Year’ and the ‘Marketing & Communications Initiative of the Year.’
Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E, said: “The recognitions demonstrate once again our organisation’s ability and commitment to hurdle all challenges to deliver outstanding service to our clients and overcome barriers. It has pushed us to be more innovative and creative in our approach. Through the dedication and determination of our team, we experienced growth and will continue to reach new milestones.”
“We congratulate the entire Al Masaood CV&E team on these well-deserved awards and thank them for their perseverance and collaboration. We would also like to express our gratitude to UD Trucks Middle East, East, and North Africa (MEENA) region for putting its continued confidence in Al Masaood. We look forward to further strengthening our long-standing cooperation that began in 1981,” added El Zeftawi.
The Annual UD Trucks Partner’s Conference 2021 was a hybrid event attended by UD Trucks’ MEENA partners. Each partner presented their respective collaborations and success stories with the brand. For Al Masaood CV&E’s part, it showcased its latest mega-deal with Gulf Ready Mix LLC, which saw the delivery of eight units of UD Trucks’ Quester CGE 420 – 8X4 equipped with a 12-cbm concrete mixer. It also tackled its new policies to help it flourish under the current global situation.
Furthermore, the 2021 conference served as an ideal venue for Al Masaood to share the progress of its business strategy for this year and its plans for 2022, with emphasis on its business approach under the new reality.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, the division implemented key measures to protect its employees, customers, and partners, as well as help, contain the spread of COVID-19. As part of its contributions to the government’s National Sterilization Program, it sent a team of front-line workers to provide basic maintenance and periodic checks for Lavajet’s fleet of vehicles used by Tadweer. Al Masaood CV&E also launched its ‘Serving our Heroes’ CSR campaign in collaboration with UD Trucks and Bridgestone to educate truck drivers about good health and hygiene practices.
Apart from the pandemic-related initiatives, the division also hosted the UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge in Abu Dhabi in January 2020. The expertise and agility of competing UD truck drivers were challenged to strengthen their creativity and innovative competencies to improve their respective transport operations.
New marine fuel terminal strategically located to serve major East-West shipping routes, as well as domestic and regional vessels
Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO), the leading marketer and distributor of multi-sector fuel and lubricant products, recently launched a new bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm. Strategically located on Oman’s south-east coast, the new marine fuel terminal will serve the international shipping market given its close proximity to significant shipping traffic accessing the Suez Canal, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean.
“OOMCO’s development of the Duqm Bunker terminal is part of Oman’s Vision 2040 development plan to diversify the Sultanate’s economy, including the marine and logistics sectors, while leveraging the country’s strategic location,” said Hilal Ali Al Kharusi, Chairman of OOMCO. “The future of the logistics sector in Oman gets stronger with such initiatives that link us with the rest of the world. We are positive that this project will enable more economic diversification and position the Sultanate of Oman as a world-class international logistics hub”.
The new Port of Duqm terminal will offer the highest specification HSFO, VLSFO and LSMGO marine fuel in compliance with ISO 8217, and has been designed to meet the increasing demands for quality marine fuel, including all low sulphur fuel-compliant marine fuels in line with IMO2020. Bunkers will also be delivered by barge, with the addition of the 10,000 metric tonne (MT) the MT Alpha – capable of delivering HSFO 3.5% Sulphur, VLSFO 0.5% Sulphur, LSMGO, at a pumping rate up to 1,000 m3 / hour. The services available at OOMCO Bunker terminal will ensure that all bunker deliveries will meet the highest international specification standards.
The terminal will operate in full compliance with the health and safety protocols of the Port of Duqm and in line with Omani COVID-19 regulations. Vessels calling at Duqm can also take advantage of a range of high-quality and diverse services at the port, including pilotage, freshwater supply, waste collection, tug services, crew change, de-slopping services, and ship handling, plus ship spares and dry dock services.
“The bunker fuel market in the Middle-East and Africa region is expected to grow at more than 12% during the period of 2022-2025. The commissioning of the bunker terminal means OOMCO can now offer the growing number of Duqm fleet customers access to high quality marine fuels that meet their requirements coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, support infrastructure and above all effective supply chain,” said Hussain Jama Bait Ishaq, Acting Chief Executive Officer of OOMCO. “Through this milestone, we are taking a step forward to achieving our goal to be among the top fuel bunker suppliers in the GCC by 2027.”
“We are extremely proud to see our new bunker terminal open for business at the port of Duqm. This world-class facility is located close to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and will operate to the highest standards of safety, quality and service. For domestic, regional and international shipping, Duqm offers a smart, efficient alternative to diverting to other ports in the region, saving time and money, and avoiding the risk of further delay,” said Ali Ahmed Muqaibal, General Manager – International Retail at OOMCO.
“We are confident that our ambitious growth plans, supported by our location within the Duqm Special Economic Zone, will allow us to sustainably grow the terminal, delivering further economies of scale and facilitating the purchase of larger volumes to benefit our customers. We look forward to establishing the Port of Duqm as a strategic bunkering hub for international shipping and Oman as a major shipping and logistics centre for the region and the world,” he added.
OOMCO’s bunkering services are underpinned by the nearby Duqm refinery, which, when completed, will have the capacity for 230,000 barrels per day. In addition, the nearby Ras Markaz storage terminal is also currently under construction, geared to offer six million barrels of storage capacity once completed in 2022. An additional capacity of 19 million barrels is earmarked for the site as part of its future development.
GAUSSIN, a pioneer of clean and smart freight transport, Gam Qatar and GWC (GWCS.QA), Qatar’s leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider, have established a partnership to test Gaussin’s zero-emission electric tractors and yard automation solutions in several GWC warehouses, including GWC Al Wukair Logistic Park in Qatar. The agreement was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Qatar.
Gaussin, Gam Qatar and GWC will conduct a test in Q1 2022 of two Gaussin zero emission tractors, the ATM38T manned and the ATM38T Autonomous equipped with the robotic arm, Gaussin’s unique technology to couple and decouple the truck from the trailer, enabling a complete yard automation process. The test will be performed at various GWC locations in Qatar including GWC Al Wukair Logistic Park.
“By combining our deep knowledge of complex yard and terminal operations with revolutionary robotics algorithms we provide effective solutions to reduce errors, improve safety and productivity. Our resources, knowledge of logistics processes, world-class partners, and technological approaches have made us an industry leader in Yard and Terminal automation, and we are glad to test our solution with GWC, one of the leading logistics companies in the Middle East and a pioneer regarding sustainable and smart logistic solutions to measure the efficiency of our system in the context of their operations,” said Christophe Gaussin, CEO of Gaussin Group.
“We were one of the first companies in the region to establish a process improvement department consisting of streamlined process engineers, our Six-Sigma professionals worked tirelessly to improve every process in order to make it more sustainable and competitive. This is the result of our expertise built over the years as a preferred logistics partner for the public and private sectors.” said Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO of GWC. “Our alliance with Gussain – Gam Qatar reflects our commitment to innovate and pioneer in the field of logistics. This partnership aligns with our sustainability goals too. By deploying electric and autonomous yard trucks in our logistics hubs, Gaussin is giving us to offer our clientele more efficient, seamless and sustainable services. We recognise Gaussin’s expertise in providing world-class and technologically-advanced services and we are confident that they will add immense value to our operations and the industry standards,” he added.
Introduction in the Middle East of the “shunting process” using 100% Electric and autonomous yard trucks
The shunting process uses a specific vehicle (yard truck) to move a designated trailer to and from a predetermined location within the yard. The road truck decouples the tractor in the staging area from the trailer and leaves the logistics center to start another mission. The trailer is then collected by the yard truck and transferred at the quay at the right time providing asset optimization and efficiency. Within easy reach of Hamad Port and Hamad International Airport, the GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park fosters a 1.5 million square meter park dedicated to logistics and light industry infrastructure needed for the success of micro, small, medium, and large enterprises alike. With every type of warehousing, workshops, and showrooms available, as well as access to GWC’s full range of supply chain solutions.
ATM38T
ATM38T is the only native electric tractor of the market deployed at more than 45 different sites in Europe. Build from a blank page with the largest logistic and industrial companies, the ATM provides better TCO than diesel and diesel-converted-to-electric tractors thanks to its specific design allowing simplified and reduced maintenance compared to traditional diesel trucks. The ATM integrates industry exclusive ergonomics and safety features. The proven battery swapping system allows continuous operations without immobilization of the vehicle for charging operations.
Yard Automation
Since 2013, Gaussin has been developing its own Autonomous Driving systems for its electric, self-driving vehicles, and has integrated world class partner systems and software to provide the most efficient turnkey solution for yard and terminal automation. Gaussin’s Autonomous driving stack includes world-class components that enable fully autonomous operations in mixed traffic within gated areas. The Yard automation solution that will be deployed will include the latest version of Gaussin Virtual Driver®, Gaussin Fleet Management System and the embedded robotic arm.
Issued under the provisions of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code) by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the port has long served as a leading maritime facility that provides a host of offshore, project/oil and gas, general cargo, logistics support, bulk and break-bulk handling services.
With the new certification, Mugharraq Port can now receive international and local vessels including container feeders, bulk and break-bulk carriers, mobile offshore drilling units, tugboats, chemical tankers, offshore support vessels, passenger ships and high-speed cargo crafts.
Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “It is our great pleasure to announce that Mugharraq Port, one of the high-performing ports located within the Al Dhafra Region, has been officially recognised as an international port facility.
“This achievement will greatly accelerate the port’s potential in securing interest from the world leaders of industry, particularly those involved in the global energy market, while simultaneously opening up new opportunities in other industries and segments for us to target. “We look forward to reinforcing Mugharraq Port’s logistical capabilities even further, as well as cultivating the port’s reputation not only as a vital maritime facility in the Middle East but also its footprint within global trade.”
Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Port Director, Al Dhafra Region, “By receiving the distinction of an international port facility under the provisions of the ISPS Code, Mugharraq Port has further cemented its position as a strategic commercial port. “This accomplishment is a reflection of AD Ports Group’s efforts in recent years to devise and advance a master plan for the modernisation of Al Dhafra region’s ports, which has witnessed several infrastructure enhancements catering to both commercial and recreational maritime activities.
“We would also like to share our appreciation for the leadership’s support in driving the development of industry-leading infrastructure in Al Dhafra, as well as their efforts aiming to diversify the UAE’s economy.” AD Ports Group is close to completing an extensive expansion project aimed at enhancing Mugharraq Port’s infrastructure and service capabilities to ensure it is better positioned to support offshore and mega projects related to the oil and gas field.
The infrastructure improvements introduced include the extension of the quay wall up to 480 metres with additional berths, deepening of the facility’s depth to 8 metres, as well as the development of additional Ro-Ro ramps to a total of six and extra berths designed to support heavy lift operations. Additionally, the port’s load-bearing factor capability has also been increased up to 15 tonnes per square metre, which in addition to supporting heavy lift activities also accelerates the movement of cargo bound for oil and gas facilities. On the landside operations of the port, new elements include the development of liquid and dry bulk pipelines, which are expected to substantially benefit oil and gas customers using Mugharraq Port.
Mugharraq Port’s enhancements, coupled with its strategic proximity to Ruwais, Hail, Ghasha, and other key upstream oil and gas projects in the region, solidify its position as an ISPS port well-equipped to meet the evolving need of international operations.
Among the top international and national logistics companies
Simplified logistics procedures – contributing to the development of the transport and logistics industry in the Kingdom
Kuehne+Nagel Saudi Arabia has received the new ‘Unified Logistics License’ by the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, H.E Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser. Lee I’Ons, President of Kuehne+Nagel Middle East and Africa and Mr. Scavuzzo, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia attended the inauguration ceremony in Riyadh.
Kuehne+Nagel, which operates in Saudi Arabia since 1977, considers as pivotal the implementation of efficient and highly innovative supply chain solutions, coping with the increasing logistics demand from its customers’ in key industries, such as e-commerce, healthcare, energy and hospitality. The acquisition of the logistics license, which consolidates activities by sea, air, road, customs clearance and contract logistics, is of strategic importance to Kuehne+Nagel’s continuous development in the Kingdom, driving at a fast speed the execution of its key initiatives. The Group is committed to actively support the Kingdom’s global role in logistics, by delivering value-chain solutions and promoting a sustainable and competitive economic development, in accordance to the Saudi Vision 2030.
Lee I’Ons, President of Kuehne+Nagel Middle East and Africa, says: “Saudi Arabia aims to become one of the world’s top countries for logistics by 2030. With the new license by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, Kuehne+Nagel will be able to fully support this ambitious vision.”
Bridgestone CEO Mr. Michael Codron was in Qatar last week to meet the GWC leadership and visit their Ras Bufontas Free Zone Regional Logistics Hub.
This visit comes at a time when Qatar’s dynamic USD 7.5 billion logistics sector is expanding with the country’s determination to become a global trading hub and also to attract the type of foreign direct investment that will take its logistical capabilities to the next level.
Preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM has further raised Qatar’s logistics profile with massive investments in infrastructure, development of free zones and simplification of customs procedures and regulations.
GWC, the leading logistics provider and the Regional Supporter and Official Host Nation Logistics Provider for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is playing a significant role in building the logistics landscape in Qatar, which was discussed during Mr. Michael Codron’s visit.
Mr. Michael Codron was welcomed by Mr. Ranjeev Menon, GWC’s Group CEO who updated him on performance and Bridgestone operations.
He was then given a tour of GWC’s logistics hub in Qatar’s Ras Bufontas Free Zone, which offers world class facilities, including temperature-controlled warehouses and frozen storage chambers, unmatched logistical and last mile delivery options to the aviation, pharmaceutical and events industries including FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM.
Speaking about Qatar’s logistics sector and the ambitious plans to develop the country into a new logistical and regional centre, Mr. Michael Codron remarked, “The country’s strategic location coupled with its logistical prowess has been responsible for making Qatar a favoured destination for foreign investors. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, the logistics sector is determined to expand and grow making Qatar a global trading hub, a journey that GWC well positioned to lead, paving the way for international companies to take Qatar as a distribution hub in the region.”
“GWC has invested heavily into building its capabilities and has come a long way from a single warehouse and a few vehicles in 2004, to become Qatar’s largest logistics provider in terms of infrastructure, employees and range of services, and one of the fastest growing companies in the region. Partnerships like the one we have with Bridgestone provide us with the opportunity to further build on our suite of specialised logistics services.” Commented Mr. Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC. “GWC has been working diligently towards providing agile, innovative and holistic solutions to Bridgestone, and the relationship has been key in achieving that.” He added.
GWC signed an agreement with Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Europe, SA, last year, entrusting GWC with the mandate to handle the supply chain management requirements for Bridgestone Aircraft Tires in the State of Qatar for a period of five years.
The agreement is expected to handle the movement of over 10,000 aircraft tires a year as they work their way through the entire supply chain, starting with freight, customs clearance, transport, warehousing, and last mile delivery, offering door-to-door services.
Marina Home Interiors is an exclusive interior designer based in Dubai that has been using the Ehrhardt Partner Group’s (EPG) warehouse management system LFS since 2016. As the retailer’s key figures indicate, the system has proven its worth over the last five years and has delivered huge, lasting improvements. According to the company, picking speed has increased by 50 percent while inventory accuracy is now 99.9 percent. The error rate has also fallen by 90 percent and storage bin distribution has improved by more than 70 percent.
In 2016, Marina Home Interiors was faced with the challenge of finding an efficient and cost-effective solution that could handle its rapidly growing volume of stock. The company needed a solution that could quickly locate all of the products at its central warehouse in Dubai and that could also handle the issues they were facing with more than 20,000 pallet spaces. The warehouse employs 30 logistics staff and features a consignment tracking system, areas for incoming and outgoing goods and a workshop.
EPG’s LFS warehouse management system has been able to meet all of Marina Home Interior’s requirements, generating crucial added value for the company – just as it does for EPG’s more than 1,500 customers around the world. Marina Home Interiors chose EPG’s LFS warehouse management system mainly due to the fact that it is an efficient system with a proven track record in retail but also because it is easy to use with its user-friendly interface and multi-language capability,” explains James Xavier, Internal Auditor at Marina Home Interiors.
The retailer’s logistics teams received training at EPG’s Logistics Solutions Centre in Dubai before the LFS warehouse management system went live at Marina Home Interiors. “There is not much need for technical support because the LFS warehouse management system is so stable, which is the best thing about the EPG product. But if we do need help, we can rely on getting fast and competent support from EPG,” explains Xavier.
Marina Home Interiors is a family business founded in 1997 that specialises in contemporary industrial and vintage furniture and accessories in strictly limited quantities. The interior designer sources products from more than 20 countries on four continents. Each year, more than 600 containers arrive at the company’s approximately 100,000m² central warehouse in Dubai, supplying retail customers in the United Arab Emirates and providing a one-stop fulfilment centre for the company’s showrooms throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. Marina Home Interiors showrooms can be found in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah (UAE), Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan. The company also works with franchisees and provides home and office design services.
For Middle East retailers this holiday season, everything is relative when you consider last year’s widespread lockdown of physical spaces and accelerated shift to digital commerce in response to the global pandemic.
According to Salesforce’s latest quarterly Shopping Index, global digital revenue grew by 11% year-on-year (YoY) in Q3, a much higher increase than was seen in Q2 (3%). With more people getting vaccinated and returning to stores, the future of retail will continue to be centered around the competition for consumer loyalty in an all-digital world.
To help retailers and brands benchmark holiday performance, Salesforce analysed aggregated data to produce holiday insights from the activity of over a billion global shoppers across more than 40 countries. Not only does this data tell us what is shaping the holiday season and how this will impact how consumers shop in 2022. It also demonstrates how, in retailers’ efforts to avoid disruptions to consumers and build resilience into their business they’re pivoting to a digital-first future.
Enabling Customers to Manage Payments, Responsibly
This holiday season we’re predicting digital growth to hit record rates of 7% ($1.2T) globally. What is also rising, however, are costs – a burden which will be felt right across the supply chain. For retailers and suppliers, reasons include, but are not limited to, manufacturing capacity, logistics costs, and labor shortages. For consumers, inventory issues and higher costs fueling inflation mean they can expect to see higher retail item prices.
As consumers contend with higher prices, we can expect global demand and usage of “buy now, pay later’’ methods to increase. With a sound omnichannel system enabling shopping online and in-store, retailers can empower consumers with simple, transparent, and financially responsible payment tools.
Making Stores a Critical Part of Digital Strategy
Whereas shipping delays was consumers’ primary spoiler last year, we can expect consumers to place larger and fewer orders. As bottlenecks at ports and skyrocketing container costs form two key pressures shaping the holidays, however, consumer concerns are rising around product availability. As a result, we can expect consumers to come out early again this holiday season to avoid out-of-stocks, with pre-Cyber Week shopping growing 3% globally (to $129 billion).
The combination of store associates fulfilling online orders and offering an endless aisle of products, and empowerment of consumers to make purchases in-store mean physical stores will serve as a critical component of digital strategies this holiday.
More than six in ten global online orders are predicted to be influenced by brick-and-mortar locations — either by helping to place an online order or by fulfilling it via curbside pickup options. At the same time that labor shortages are wreaking havoc in the lead up to the holidays, it’s becoming more critical than ever for store associates to meet rising demand.
Prioritising First-Party Data in a Cookieless World
With global legislation and changing consumer preferences giving way to increased internet privacy, marketing departments are facing one of the greatest disruptions they’ve seen in the last five years. Tracking user activity through third-party data across the web and mobile applications is expected to become more expensive, if not impossible, and first-party data — data that organizations collect and manage on their consumers — will be king.
In the battle for first-party data, loyalty programs will become more commonplace. Salesforce are projecting 30% growth in ecommerce traffic from social referrals, and personalised email marketing will increase more sharply compared to previous holiday seasons.
Going digital-first, Middle East retailers are building resilience into their business models, adapting to changing consumer behaviours, helping overcome disruption whilst creating more personalised customer experiences.
Leaving an indelible mark with the latest technologies in Materials Handling, Cargo and Car Park Systems.
With its remarkable track record and stellar performance, ALS Logistic Solutions is now well on course to expand its operations with planned new subsidiaries
across the GCC and localizing some of its products to meet regional demands and requirements.
There is now increasingly an accepted consensus and principle that processes
and functions that involve handling materials, logistics and supply chain should and
must be automated when possible. Over the past several years, there has been virtually an exponential growth in technology and sophistication in robotics,
automation and materials handling. These innovations will improve operational efficiency, increase responses, deliver consistency and predictability and importantly result in substantially lower operating cost.
With more than three decades of trail-blazing experience, pioneering services provider ALS Logistic Solutions has reinforced its expertise in ergonomic space saving solutions for warehouses and parking areas among many other professional products and services. To get the lowdown on the range and extent of its operations
and performance, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Walid Khoury, Group Managing Partner, ALS Logistic Solutions.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): To begin with, briefly what are the core activities, offerings, and specializations of ALS Logistic Solutions?
Walid Khoury (WK): ALS Logistic Solutions, founded in Germany over 30 years ago with branches in UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, and Germany is one of the leading suppliers of logistics automation with a worldwide footprint. Our material handling and automation portfolio covers a full range of solutions from manual operations to fully automated solutions, consisting of, but not limited to systems for Air Cargo
Handling, Modular Warehouse Equipment, Industrial Facility Automation, Express Handling, and Car Parks.
Our dedicated cross disciplinary consulting team designs and implements solutions that adapt to the customer needs and market requirements providing optimal
material flow that increases efficiency and productivity across various industries.
GSC: How is ALS evolving in the shadow of Covid-19? How have your priorities changed during the pandemic?
WK: During the Pandemic, we continued to support all the businesses and clients across our network and managed to keep every member safe and healthy.
Being a global solution provider with regional and local presence differentiated our offering as we were quickly able to respond to the customers’s needs especially
with the difficult travel and workplace restrictions that continue to date. ALS is very well positioned to help customers in their logistics journey helping them reduce costs and improve service levels.
GSC: In these times do you have a sense of greater gravitation by companies and LSPs (Logistics services providers) towards automation/digitalization?
WK: Automation will play a vital role in enabling organizations to meet evolving intralogistics complexity. As customers’ demands for choice and speed continue to grow, along with environmental concerns, trends such as anticipatory demand will be facilitated by the current shift away from manual processes towards the smart
connected warehouse and facilities.
GSC: Do you see a greater focus and orientation towards Automation going forward?
WK: Workforce shortages required companies to look for opportunities to automate
processes and reduce human involvement. Furthermore, the pandemic accelerated
investments that many organizations had already made in automation. Companies are looking to automate a larger share of their processes and automation, once limited to larger facilities is now being implemented in warehouses and
facilities of all sizes.
Automation is the best way to improve reliability and efficiency and to match the ever-growing expectations of end customers. The cost of automation solutions
has also decreased over recent years, and effectiveness has improved, leading to large, fully automated systems being deployed in a variety of industries beyond the historical courier express companies and airport baggage handling.
GSC: How is technology and automation meeting working/operational protocols in these pandemic times?
WK: Companies are now exploring the growing importance of technologies, such
as augmented reality and artificial intelligence, and the role these platforms may play in evolving operational challenges. Well-structured organizations will improve their technology level, but new implementations might not work without the strict implementation of certain operational basics. Partial improvement will surely increase the efficiency but will not change the processes drastically if the changes are not implemented across the board.
GSC: Air Logistics is an important component of your operations and ALS has a
strong footprint in this sector.Please elaborate.
WK: We are an engineering specialist in the automation of operations and processes in Air Cargo Terminals since ALS’s inception. Our large network within the industry and our collaboration with international airlines and airports enable us to design and implement efficient solutions based on the latest trends and developments in
cargo handling in the aviation industry.
With ISO 9001 standards, ALS qualified engineering and project are experts in Project Design Planning, Air Cargo Terminals design, Planning Design Simulation, full or partial IT for automation, Installation / Training, and After Sales Support.
GSC: What are some new technologies that have emerged in recent times that are essentially a game-changer for LSPs in Covid-19 times?
WK: Since the pandemic started, many LSPs decided to implement full or partial
automation process handling in response to the labor shortages and to handle the increase in customer demands which most companies were not ready for. The improvements in handling do not only apply to the automated storage and
retrieval processes but are also related to labor efficiency and the implementation of IT packages that deliver value stream and process improvements that target
these challenges.
GSC: What are your short and/or long-term expansion plans for the region?
WK: The Middle East is an interesting place to invest. The region is diversifying beyond oil, and economies are much stronger than before. From Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 to more specific and targeted initiatives in Egypt and the GCC, ambitious and cutting-edge projects are becoming a reality.
The commitment of the countries remains strong and the increased infrastructure upgrade in the GCC countries will help the regional economy in the long run. We
are planning to open new subsidiaries in the region, starting in Saudi Arabia,
which is a very dynamic and exciting market for us.
We are exploring localization of some of our products which will help improve service levels and reduce lead times. ALS is also interested in expanding our business in Asia further, with India being our next focus area since we see many
opportunities in Material Handling and Storage Systems’ Automation. This follows our successful Asian expansion in Malaysia and Singapore.
GSC: What opportunities in store and challenges do you foresee going forward?
WK: For many years, the fully automated intralogistics facilities were the large sortation hubs of courier express due to the volume handled and the relative
uniformity of goods’ sizes that involve handling materials, logistics and supply chain should and must be automated when possible.
Nowadays, with convenience and customer experience at the forefront of retail logistics trends, warehouses and distribution centers have had to adapt to the evolving consumer landscape. The recent sharp rise of e-commerce has played
a huge role in shaping the way warehouses operate, as have consumer expectations for speed of delivery, customization, and product availability.
To meet the demands of fast-paced, e-commerce-driven retail operations, warehouses will continue to automate their processes.
GSC: An E-commerce surge as we are witnessing now is clearly a boom for your
business. Is that the case with ALS? Please elaborate.
WK: Trends that were emerging before the Pandemic–ordering more online, smaller order quantities and faster fulfillment needs–have accelerated enormously because of customer behavior that was forced from going to the store to ordering
online. The surge in demand for e-commerce services creates a good opportunity for our company.
ALS and our partners have been working with many pharmaceutical and food
retailers to help them match the right automation system to their distribution model. With the Micro Fulfillment Center (MFC), we can offer an e-commerce solution connected to pharmacies and supermarkets.
New Euro 5 range offers enhanced durability and boosts profitability
New Euro 5 upgrades minimise environmental impact and optimise customer satisfaction
New model upgrades also available on the Euro 3 range
Launch bolsters UD Trucks’ Better Life purpose
UD Trucks has launched Euro 5 versions of its popular Quester and Croner trucks in the region for the first time. The new trucks feature significant upgrades to minimise their environmental impact, improve efficiency and uptime, increase profitability, and optimise the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), all without compromising the benefits offered by the previous models.
The launch of the new Euro 5 trucks comes ahead of the introduction of new regulations in fast-growing regional countries such as the United Arab Emirates, which currently has a Euro 4 emission standard, and Qatar, which will be adopting Euro 5 emission standards by mid-2022. This move by UD Trucks allows businesses to better prepare for the switch to more environmentally-friendly fleets, as the Euro 5 range reduces NOx emissions by about 43 percent compared to Euro 4 and significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the vehicles through cleaner emissions.
The official launch event was UD Trucks’ first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and took place at the Dubai Autodrome. The event, which adhered to all necessary health and safety guidelines, was attended by the Japanese Consul-General in the UAE, Mr. Noboru Sekiguchi, as well as some 160 customers from across the region, who were able to experience driving the new trucks first-hand, and were also given a chance to visit EXPO 2020.
The number of advanced features offered on the Quester, one of UD Trucks’ most established, durable and efficient trucks, has been added along with the latest Euro 5 upgrade. The Quester Euro 5 range, with 460 hp and 2250 Nm torque, also delivers improved fuel economy by about 10 percent, assisted by the ESCOT automated manual transmission feature, a lighter tare weight and optimised driveline. Improvements made to the new Quester also extend to safety, where ESCOT takes away the drivers’ need to shift an average of 1,000-1,500 times a day by automatically selecting the right gear at any given time. This leads to increased focus and safety for the driver.
The latest Euro 5 upgrades also add to the Croner’s impressive specification list. The Croner is available in three models – MKE, LKE and PKE – with wheelbase variants that offer up to 21 different configurations to suit the specific demands of various industries. The truck’s fuel efficiency has been improved, in part due to a more aerodynamic cab design that reduces drag by 5 percent compared to previous models. The Croner is very much driver-focused as its cabin is designed to put driver comfort first with numerous active and passive safety features to protect the driver, cargo, and surrounding traffic.
Taking into account that emissions from transportation alone have the potential to increase global emission levels by over 1.5 per cent, these heavy-duty and medium duty trucks, which combine optimal fuel efficiency with enhanced durability, have evolved further to meet modern transport and environmental challenges. Being the first truck manufacturer to introduce Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology in 2004, UD Trucks’ new range features SCR technology to significantly boost environmental protection and fuel economy. With such benefits, SCR technology is proven to be more reliable when compared to other emission control technologies for reducing emissions.
The new range focuses on three themes: improved efficiency and optimised TCO; better uptime; and better for the environment. The truck manufacturer also delivers better uptime for both models via less maintenance time and an expanded AdBlue supply network, which is a safe-to-use diesel exhaust fluid used in vehicles with SCR technology to reduce harmful gases from being released into the atmosphere. Most importantly, a cleaner and more robust engine configuration with lower sensitivity to sulfur content in fuel leads to a longer engine life and contributes to a better environment. The truck is fitted with innovative UD Telematics – a high-tech wireless communications system, which allows transportation companies to maximise efficiency with real-time vehicle tracking and geo-fencing.
The Quester provides the ultimate comfort and experience for the driver with a new steering wheel and improved seat. The new range of Quester and Croner trucks, both Euro 5 and Euro 3, features a new instrument cluster with real-time fuel coaching. This enhancement provides the driver with immediate and specific feedback on driving techniques that are more fuel efficient.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa, said: “In the rapidly-changing trucks industry, launching the Euro 5 trucks is a core focus for UD Trucks. The Quester and Croner Euro 5 models reflect UD Trucks’ ‘Better Life’ commitment. The launch is another example of offering optimum support for our customers as we make sure they are ready for any new regulations in such a fast-growing region.”
At launch, the new Euro 5 models will be available in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. At the same time, regional markets such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, Iraq, and others will benefit from new, improved versions of the Euro 3 Quester and Croner models.
These new Euro 3 models will also enjoy a number of upgrades and improvements to offer a more driver-focused and environmentally-friendly alternative, while ensuring optimum profitability for customers around the region. Other than the engines, the Euro 3 trucks receive the same upgrades as the Euro 5 models, such as the new instrument cluster, ESCOT automated manual transmission feature, fuel coaching system, body builder module, and the UD Trucks Telematics Services.
FIFA World Cup’s Official Host Nation Logistics Provider held a hybrid forum paneled by Industry Experts and attended virtually by hundreds world-wide, discussing logistics and regional transformation.
GWC, the Official Host Nation Logistics Provider of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, hosted a virtual forum on Tuesday 16 November 2021, with Industry experts who shared their insights on the scale of logistics operation that takes place behind-the-scenes during mega sporting events, and showcasing highlights on the preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM which will create new benchmarks not only for region, but for the entire world.
Jose Dhooma, Head of Events Logistics at FIFA delivered the keynote speech on ‘Logistics is everywhere’. He said, “There has never been a more apt time to talk about logistics as it is in the forefront. In one year’s time it will be the start of FIFA World CupTM in Qatar, the eyes of the world will be here watching us which is the biggest single sporting event in the world, with viewing audience of 3.6 billion persons and 1.2 million spectators, as the tournament will be held for the first-time history in the Muslim and Arab world.”
Jose continued to detail aspects rarely thought of by viewers, like the thousands of players’ bags that are transported, the footballs required onsite and even the country differences when it comes to storing Olympic Medals and how every minor movement requires planning and logistics.
He finished by discussing the positive local transformation that takes place as a result of hosting mega events, like the improved infrastructure that he saw in his hometown as a result of the Olympics. Additionally, noting that mega events demonstrate to the world, the capability and competency of a country, which in turn brings investment.
After the keynote address, Dhooma took part alongside Kirsten de Bruijn, Senior Vice President Cargo Sales and Network Planning at Qatar Airways; Mark Novack, HC Event Logistics Assistant-Director at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; and Matthew Phelps, General Manager at GWC, to discuss as a panel the challenges and successes that they faced as industry leaders, producing mega events.
Mark Novack spoke to the legislation behind events, “We have been working with the local authorities on how we can simplify procedures, partnering closely with FIFA, and a number of other stakeholders to identify what they need, and identify what the current law allows, and where those gaps are.”
The result of this hard work is a bespoke system in place that is a legacy system, intended to be used for years to come, beyond the World Cup, which allows for a simplified and integrated customs declaration.
Speaking to the challenges, Matthew Phelps, explained, “A main challenge is congestion. We have spoken about the 1.2 million people coming to Qatar. We talked about all of the physical pieces of technology coming in. But GWC is prepared, we’ve been working on events since 2010 so we’ve had this gradual build up to the upcoming crescendo. The immense challenge here is not just getting spectators in place for a short period of time, but a very busy period of time where people will experience Qatar and enjoy their time and so working with the authorities to do that is very important to us. It’s an interesting logistics challenge.”
Successes were shared by Kirsten de Bruijn who explained, “after shut down we adapted our processes rapidly in order to continue to fly, and I think that’s what we’ve shown throughout the last two years is that we never stopped. We always say that Qatar Airways didn’t know any borders because we continued to fly and even now we are traveling to 140 destinations. So the connectivity of our network remained the strength throughout all the challenges that we had.”
The panel further went on to discuss misconceptions of the region and detailed the benefits of this region hailing it as a great place to live and work and how Qatar in particular is a great place to host, with hospitality in their DNA.
The conversation additionally shed a spotlight on digitalization, block chain, improved vendor delivery portals and the ever-increasing role in the movement of goods.
The second panel included Laila Al Jefairi, Vice President of Business Development at Qatar Financial Centre; Bader Al-Madhadi, Investment Promotion Lead at Qatar Free Zone Authority; Lauri Becquart, Head of Retail & Private Holdings at Google Cloud; and Hamdan Merchant, Senior Director – Innovation, IT & BPI at GWC who focused their conversation around transformation and what is making the region ever attractive for investments.
Bader Al-Madhadi said, “To host such big events, it shows the world the potential and the infrastructure that we have. For such big events to succeed we have the right institutions in place to support. From our side, we try to be part of this success.”
Hamdan Merchant further elaborated on the technological infrastructure in Qatar. “We are always moving toward these advances, but because of this mega event coming in, we moved and are moving a lot faster than what was expected. Now is a great time to invest in technology, invest in real-estate, and invest in processes. This is a perfect time to get all the boxes checked, and help the country move forward.”
Looking at the role of technology in the region, Laurie Becquart explained, “What we want to do with technology is to build tools… building on AI, machine learning and to try and help with those challenges. And one of the core places where we actually try to help and solve those challenges is automation. In order to become automated, you need a data strategy. And this is where Google and Google Cloud are helping that build up in the region.”
The panel furthermore discussed the role of small businesses and how ecommerce is requiring companies to prioritize data and data-based decisions.
The forum was rounded out with two workshops; the first delved into GWC’s large-scale execution of Logistics for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, led by Syed Maaz Chief Business Development Officer at GWC, in tandem with a second workshop addressing the importance of sustainability in Qatar’s infrastructure, led by Meshal Al Shamari, Director at Qatar Green Building Council.
The event was hosted and moderated by Al Jazeera English’s Senior Presenter Emily Angwin.
The global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo participated this year in Logitrans, Turkey’s most extensive international transportation and logistics fair, for the 12th time.
Having a 154 m2 wide stand area in the fair organized in CNR EXPO Istanbul Fair Center on November 10-12, Turkish Cargo met business partners and event participants.
The Logitrans fair has hosted approximately 120 firms composed of the representatives of cargo agencies, automotive producers, air cargo firms, airport and harbor authorities, IT service providers, customs authorities, logistical associations, logistical schools, the representatives of international logistical publications, and over 10 thousand visitors.
Within the scope of Atlas Logistics Awards, organized for the 12th time this year; Turkish Cargo, was awarded the first prize in the “International Air Carrier” category.
Turkish Cargo offers the world’s largest direct cargo flight network in the world; consisting of 97 destinations worldwide, excluding express carriers. The carrier performs global business processes with the fleet of Turkish Airlines, consisting of 373 aircraft including 23 dedicated freighters.
Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet, and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. The carrier has been innovating to develop sustainable pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to enhance the quality of service offered to its customers in a changing world.
The AxlePower technology with BPW’s ePower axle, the latest innovation in Thermo King’s technologies portfolio, converts energy from the vehicle and its braking system into a continuous power source for Trailer Refrigeration Units.
Thermo King®, a leader in transport temperature control solutions and a brand of Trane Technologies, in partnership with BPW, a leader in running gears and mobility services for transport businesses, revealed new AxlePower technology at the Solutrans exhibition in Lyon, France.
The AxlePower technology with BPW’s ePower axle is a highly innovative energy recovery system for trailer refrigeration units, which delivers immediate and long-term sustainability benefits while also helping cut day-to-day operating costs.
Francesco Incalza, president of Thermo King in Europe, Middle East and Africa: “Sustainability is undoubtfully front and centre for the transport industry. For decades, Thermo King has considered it our responsibility to advance transport refrigeration, designing and manufacturing products for our customers that reflect our environmental awareness and answer ever-new challenges. Thermo King was the first to offer true hybrid and non-diesel truck and trailer refrigeration solutions. Today, combining our expertise, research and development with BPW, we’re introducing new technology that turns the energy typically lost by a trailer during transit into clean, sustainable power for trailer refrigeration units.”
Thore Bakker General Manager Trailer Solutions & Mobility Services at BPW:“We are proud to present a climate-efficient solution for refrigerated transport that implements our strategy of system and mobility partnership just perfectly: Vehicle operators can rely on operational safety, mobility and service around the clock with the European service networks of Thermo King and BPW. Additional benefit is that the customised cooling solutions fit seamlessly in vehicle manufacturers processes. Whether air suspension, spring centres, wheel ends or interfaces – nothing changes, nothing has to be redesigned. In this way, we are making a joint contribution to the breakthrough of emission-free refrigerated transport.”
Across global cold chains, trailer vehicles routinely dissipate energy due to constant braking and deaccelerating in traffic and in downhill routes. At the same time, transport companies are seeking the most sustainable energy sources, both in terms of CO2 emissions and noise, to power their refrigerated trailers. The new AxlePower technology results from a partnership of two technology leaders for freight transport solutions that combined their competences to answer these needs and deliver a solution, which will drastically reduce the environmental impact of refrigerated trailers.
The AxlePower technology is a fully integrated system that combines Thermo King hybrid or fully electric trailer refrigeration units, BPW’s ePower axle energy recovery system, and battery storage technologies developed to create an efficient, autonomously powered trailer refrigeration solution. The system stores the energy generated while the vehicle is rolling or braking in a high voltage battery and reuses it to power the refrigeration unit and keep the cargo at optimal temperature.
The AxlePower system is tractor-independent, which makes it easy to deploy across the customer’s fleet. The technology also offers immediate compatibility with all Thermo King and Frigoblock trailer refrigeration units.
The ideal option for sustainable operations
The possibility to recover and reuse energy makes the AxlePower system an ideal solution to increase the sustainability of all types of trailer journeys. With silent running and no CO2 emissions when operating from the battery-pack, this technology allows customers to easily run inner-city deliveries, including in Ultra-low Emission Zones (ULEZs).
Laurent Debias, Thermo King:“The AxlePower technology represents a significant advancement in both operational flexibility and long-term sustainability of refrigerated trailer fleets. Enabling this form of electric power supply recovering energy that would typically be lost, allows for significant emissions and cost gains during every single journey. This is especially important in a price competitive industry like commercial transport.”
Providing electric solutions for refrigerated transportation is part of Thermo King’s and Trane Technologies’ overall approach to reducing carbon emissions in the industries and markets it serves. It helps advance the 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including the Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons.
Wiremind’s SkyPallet is the answer, with more solutions to come as it launches a dedicated air cargo business unit. Space is money. Especially now, with limited capacities as a result of the pandemic, the efficient use of air cargo capacity is all the more crucial to ensuring that the world’s supply chains keep moving. Yet, capacity management is not easy given that shipments come in all shapes, sizes, and commodities, and travel in varying aircraft types. Add to this the issue of bookings not always matching what is actually delivered to the airline, and space wastage, as well as the risk of having to leave shipments behind, is pre-programmed.
However, thanks to Wiremind, it need not be. The expert software and data-science company, which was established in 2014 with a focus on optimising systems mainly for the transport and logistics industries, launched its SkyPallet solution in 2017. SkyPallet is a ULD & Flight Optimisation system that addresses three common pain points in air cargo steering: the imbalance in essential operational knowledge across air cargo teams, the lack of continuity between the Sales and Operations processes, and the fact that airline pricing strategies often overlook the volume factor despite its critical impact on margins.
The SaaS solution offers a 3D planning view and enables digital capacity management based on advanced heuristics – in other words, a custom function that selects the best solution on a given dataset, applying rule-based logic. Unique algorithms take into account the respective regulations for special products, carry out weight & density checks for heavy cargo, and ensure smart capacity optimisation to minimise space loss. More than 1200 users in 100 countries now trust and use SkyPallet in their capacity steering.
The solution has continuously been improved over the years and adopted by leading, international air cargo stakeholders such as Emirates, Atlas Air, United, Qantas, ECS Group, and Chapman Freeborn. Demand for SkyPallet has increased since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, proving the relevance of the solution’s approach. “Given the acceleration of digitalisation in Air Cargo, along with an increased connectivity between stakeholders’ processes and systems, Wiremind has decided to launch a dedicated business unit with a clear roadmap and goal for the coming years. We aim to become a leading provider of solutions for Air Cargo, covering a range of processes and needs,” Nathanaël de Tarade, Chief Commercial Officer at Wiremind, says. “There is huge potential for further digitalisation in Air Cargo, yet the industry currently lacks data science expertise at the right level.
We know that it can certainly benefit from similar technology, such as Deep Learning models, for example, that we have successfully deployed on large-scale projects in several industries. Therefore, we have already doubled the size of our Air Cargo team, and aim at tripling it within the coming months.”
ACME’s enables businesses to improve operational efficiencies of its customers, automating the handling of intralogistics functions and providing them end-to-end visibility and control of their material flow.
The stakes are high for the Logistics & Supply Chain sector and its efficacy and capabilities hinge on technology and innovation. Thus, more and more companies are looking to materials handling automation to improve processes, streamline shipping operations, and lower supply chain operating costs. That is a given and indispensable for the industry’s survivability.
In a warehouse environment, material handling is commonly defined as the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption and disposal.
The process incorporates a variety of manual, semi-automated and automated equipment and systems that allow the supply chain to work efficiently. When used properly, material handling can improve multiple systems, processes, methodologies, customer service standards and inventory management.
Acme Intralog is one of the leading material handling & warehouse automation solution providers in the Middle East, developing tailor-made approaches for complex needs. Founded in 1975, Acme provides bespoke systems and process optimisations solutions for customers across multiple industry verticals through bespoke sortation systems; case storage and retrieval solutions while providing maintenance support throughout the GCC.
Following Acme’s participation as a key exhibitor in the biannual Materials Handling Middle East 2021 Exhibition staged in Dubai in early November, Navin Narayan, CEO, spoke exclusively to Global Supply Chain on an array of subjects ranging from the company’s current product offerings, the introductions of new ‘Colour-Pick’ technology, how e-Commerce is driving his business and expansion plans for the future.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly encapsulate the profile of Acme and how do you continue to stay relevant in a highly volatile sector?
Navin Narayan (NN): Acme Intralog is one of the leading material handling & warehouse automation solution providers in the Middle East. We develop tailor-made solutions for customers across multiple industries including retail, e-commerce, FMCG, food & beverage as well as pharmaceuticals.
One of our key advantages is that we are rooted in the UAE. Over the years we have continuously adapted and extended our offering based on our regional customers’ requirements.
We have built a full-fledged design and manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone, which allows us to be highly responsive and develop new solutions right here in the UAE that are in tune with the needs of the regional market.
GSC: How has automation and digitalization evolved in a pandemic ridden era for the logistics / materials handling / automation sectors?
NN: The pandemic has definitely accelerated the adoption of automation solutions. Our region has been relying heavily on manual labour for material handling and warehouse operations which were challenged as Covid-19 hit us all.
New regulations for social distancing and drastically increased customer demand when it comes to delivery accuracy and speed made it impossible to stick to the status quo. To remain competitive and to reduce operational costs, increased efficiency is key and this cannot be achieved by merely adding more human resources.
Our customers across various industries needed to implement new systems that can optimise their throughput or handling speed fast in line with their customer demand.
This is where digitalisation comes at play as well, particularly for retail, e-commerce and groceries. The last mile has increasingly been digitalised for these sectors since last year in line with the end consumers looking for an easy process for ordering from home.
Automation of the intralogistics process helps to significantly improve order and inventory accuracy, reduce order processing times at the same time substantially reduces the costs of order fulfillment.
NN: Limited storage space and increasing, yet fluctuating demand are common challenges particularly for the e-commerce industry. Since the pandemic, this sector started struggling even more to meet their customer’s expectation on delivery times.
Kardex Remstar’s Colour-Picking is a scalable, pick-to-light solution that guides multiple operators through the picking process using coloured pick-and put-lights allowing businesses to add or reduce labour resources to meet current order demand.
By doing so, customers can scale their demand and avoid the need to build extensions, new facilities, or to outsource. Overall, Colour Picking ensures higher throughput and maximum labour efficiency in the warehouse with up to 70% space, and a ROI of less than 18 months. It is a team picking philosophy with high throughput and dynamic workflows. Using multiple workers in one zone, multiple batches of orders can be filled at one time to achieve higher throughput.
A further advantage is that a ‘Colour Pick’ solution can be easily implemented quickly without needing years of planning and commissioning.
GSC: Do you see a greater focus and orientation towards technology going forward?
NN: Businesses in the Middle East have been a bit slow in adopting technology in form of automation solutions in comparison to the rest of the world. However, with the pandemic increasing manpower costs as well squeezing overall operational margins most businesses have begun to realize the value of implementing automation technologies in their production and distribution lines.
We have seen a considerable uptick in customers implementing Industry 4.0 solutions and are confident of this momentum continuing over the coming years.
Besides, government initiatives such as operation 300bn and Dubai Smart City will further push for technology adoption across all industries as businesses focus on improving their bottom line by reducing operational costs.
GSC: How is the surge in e-commerce changing the fortunes / bottom-line for Acme?
NN: We have seen the E-commerce industry in the GCC grow at about 36% over the last year, which meant two changes: increased order volume and shorter delivery windows. Recent studies show that over 96% shoppers expect to receive an ordered product within the same day, if not the next 30 minutes, while in 2019 consumers were fine with 4-5 days delivery windows.
Most e-commerce companies and logistics operators have initially focused on improving their last mile service to accommodate the rising demand. Now that this has improved substantially, businesses are now focusing on enhancing their intralogistics operations.
For us at Acme this means a rising demand for scalable, high speed order fulfilment solutions, where technology helps improve accuracy and cost efficiency. And businesses are increasingly looking for local partners who can tailor a solution that caters to regional nuances.
Currently over 30% of our projects are catering to e-commerce fulfilment solutions for regional and international players who are expanding their regional fulfilment capacities.
GSC: Expand on the importance of factory floor safety solutions from an Acme perspective?
NN: Studies show that every financial resource a company invests in health and safety in the workplace generates a return of 2.2 times more. We have always tried to emphasise the importance of safer factory floors.
Every kind of automation we provide helps increase safety to some extent. Our solutions are inherently designed to provide added operator safety as well as product safety in terms of minimized product damage too.
We provide robots and vacuum handling systems that help with ergonomic lifting of heavy objects, reducing potential musculoskeletal injuries as well as accidents that manual handling may cause. By using automated or semi-automated solutions businesses can reduce injuries caused by repetitive tasks on the shopfloor and use valuable manpower resource on other value adding activities.
In this region, we have also seen an increase in demand for factory workplace safety products like fences and lock systems. Through our partnerships with Axelent and Pizzato we are able to cater to such needs and provide state-of the art modular industrial fencing and safety devices such as safety switches, hinge switches and anti-tampering devices with RFID technology to further assist in making environments where man and machine are working together safer.
GSC: What are your short and / or long-term expansion plans for the region?
NN: Our core focus at the moment is to be closer to our customers. We are moving ahead with setting up operations in Saudi Arabia to be able to provide maintenance support for our existing customers as well as new projects that we are currently executing in Saudi Arabia.
We have recently started operations in India and look forward positively to participating in the fast growing Indian market by providing automated intralogistics solutions that are designed and manufactured here in Dubai for the Indian market.
In addition to this, through our sales office in Germany we look forward to delivering EU specification automation components to European System Integrators that are looking for reliable high quality equipment.
All the while, we will continue to invest in our R&D facility here in Jebel Ali to develop new and innovative solutions that are designed keeping the region in mind.
GSC: What opportunities in store and challenges do you foresee going forward?
NN: One of the key challenges we see in the near term comes from the global supply chain bottleneck that has exacerbated due to the pandemic. In addition to this, the global shortage of chipsets is putting substantial pressure on manufacturers when it comes to delivery of solutions to the market. We hope these concerns subside soon and that the global supply chain can go back to smooth operations.
The greater push to providing omnichannel offerings by retailers will definitely increase demand for automation in warehouses and an increased focus on Industry 4.0 solutions.
Furthermore, with an increased focus on industrialization in the region from the government such as Operation 300bn, the UAE’s Industrial Strategy, as well as Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia, we expect added demand from manufacturing industries for Automated Material Handling Solutions.
GSC: What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
NN: Over the last few years, larger businesses have begun to invest in intra-logistics automation to improve operational efficiencies. Automation was primarily a matter of scale. However, with modular and scalable solutions now available and manufactured regionally, we see a greater demand for warehouse automation coming from small and medium sized distribution centers.
In addition to this, with the improvement in last mile solutions there will be a greater demand for micro-fulfillment centers that cater to pharmaceutical as well as grocery retail.
There will also be added focus on goods to person picking solutions that can reduce order fulfillment time as well as costs.
GSC: In June 2020 Acme Intralog became an exclusive distributor of Leuze sensor products in the region. How is the brand faring?
NN: Leuze has an excellent range of industry leading sensor products that cater to a wide range of manufacturing as well as intralogistics applications. By partnering with Leuze, we are not only able to support regional businesses with spare part requirements for their operational machinery, but also able to provide complex solutions with special focus on intralogistics and packaging industries.
With excellent support from the team at Leuze, we have been able to work with factories in the region and provide them specialized automation solutions that require precise and robust sensing technology.
GSC: Is Acme planning to take on new partnerships and representations?
NN: We are always looking for strategic partnerships that allow us to enable regional businesses to thrive and improve their processes.
We have recently started a partnership with the collaborative robot manufacturer Hanwha and OnRobot, who are market leaders when it comes to grippers for collaborative robots.
That being said, we are also more heavily investing in our own R&D and introducing more products manufactured in the UAE as this allows us to react faster to our customer’s needs and create customized solutions that take into consideration regional requirements.
GSC: What is the Acme message at Materials Handling ME (2021)?
NN: Following the great UAE government initiative, I guess our main message this year is ‘Make it in the Emirates’. We are focusing heavier on showcasing products that have been developed and manufactured by our capable team of engineers, software developers and technicians. Besides, we will also continue showcasing the latest technology from some of our global partners. It’ll be worth your while visiting our stands, that I can assure you.
GSC: How is Acme currently faring and how does that compare with 2020 and what is your outlook for the remainder of 2021?
NN: With the set up of our R&D and manufacturing facility in 2019 in Jebel Ali, we have seen a steady growth in order book for warehouse automation solutions. Both 2020 as well as 2021 was exceptional in terms of revenue growth.
We see the remainder of 2021 as well as 2022 having the same upward tick when it comes to new exciting projects. We are confident that the current momentum with regard to adoption of smart technologies by regional businesses will continue in the long term.
GSC: What is your vision for Acme going forward?
NN: Our vision for the past years has been to enable regional businesses to radically optimise their manufacturing, supply chain & intralogistics through cost-efficient automation solutions that are fit for purpose and drive better revenue generation.
I do feel even stronger about this vision for the future with new Industry 4.0 technologies evolving and our capabilities to cater to custom requests better every year. Being rooted in this region as long as we have, we have built strong connections with regional customers and want to continue helping them and our region to thrive.
Our mission is to help support businesses as they incorporate smart technologies and to drive the fourth industrial revolution in the region.
Possessing the world’s strongest cargo flight network, Turkish Cargo has received the ‘Air Cargo Excellence’ award in 9 different categories in Slovakia, Bratislava.
The first logistics exhibition in Central and Eastern Europe run by WOF EXPO at Awards Gala brings shippers, retailers, wholesalers, importers, and exporters. This year marks the 1st event, voting was carried out directly on the WOF Expo official website, starting in April and continued until the end of July.
With a flight network of 97 direct cargo destinations, plus express carriers; Turkish Cargo operates the world’s largest direct cargo flight network in the world. The carrier carries out global business processes with a fleet of 373 aircraft, including 23 dedicated freighters. Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. Within this framework, Turkish Cargo has been innovating by developing pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to meet the needs of its customers and industry partners to deliver sustainable high-end services in a constantly changing world.
High-Yeld Investment opportunities highlighted in Marseille
Real estate opportunities in France’s second largest city, Marseille, was recently highlighted at Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE by Euromediterranee, a public urban and economic development agency (also known as EPAEM).
The EPAEM, which is currently handling development works in the sustainable Mediterranean ‘City of Tomorrow’, hosted an event dedicated to opportunities for Middle Eastern Investors on the France Pavilion at Expo during the Sustainable City Week.
Built over an area of 480 hectares, right in the center of Marseille, the development project brings together public services, retail, offices, housing, transport and parking infrastructures, public parks and much more to create a new way of living.
Marseille, the 5th largest digital hub in the world, connects 4.5bn internet users across continents, according to a press communiqué.
Home to the first French port and the third largest oil port worldwide, the city of Marseille hosts a 4mn sqm of diverse developments under way, conducted by Euromediterranee.
The national level entity supported by the French government, also looked forward to sharing its urban development expertise with private and public players in the United Arab Emirates on how to build the sustainable cities of the future.
Located at the heart of a strategic & historic city, influent for its trade exchange platform that connects the European, African and Middle East markets, Euromediterranee has been designing, developing and building a comprehensive model for the Mediterranean sustainable city for a duration of 25 years, the press statement concluded.
“Our experts team attended Expo 2020 to introduce the renewal project, one of the first to be awarded ‘EcoCite’ in France. Home to over 5,300 businesses and 45,200 jobs, Euromediterranee is now the third largest business district in France, with ongoing real estate investment and development opportunities,” affirmed Hugues Parant, CEO, EPAEM.
The deeply modernized Ka-226T light helicopter, which is being developed by the “Russian Helicopters” Holding Company (a part of Rostec State Corporation), began flight tests and completed its maiden flight at the flight-testing complex of the National Helicopter Center “Mil and Kamov”. This is the first Russian helicopter, the design documentation of which was fully digitalized.
Andrey Boginsky, Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company, reported on the progress of the Ka-226T light helicopter modernization project during a working meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. For the first time, upgraded helicopter was presented at the international aerospace show MAKS-2021, and the international premiere of the modernized Ka-226T will take place at the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2021, which will be held from November 14 to 18 in Dubai (UAE).
“The modernized Ka-226T is the first helicopter in Russia to be manufactured according to digital design documentation. This initiative made it possible to significantly reduce time for building the machine and to start flight tests in a short time. At the end of this week, the updated Ka-226T will debut at international exhibitions as part of Dubai Airshow 2021, and we are confident that it will arouse genuine interest among foreign customers due to its excellent flight performance, allowing it to operate at altitudes up to 6.5 kilometers, versatility, convenience and safety,” commented a representative of Rostec aviation cluster.
Thanks to its key feature – adaptability to high altitude flights – the Ka-226T modernization project received operating name “Climber”. Aircraft airframe features new design with significantly improved aerodynamics which distinguishes it from previous models of the Ka-226 family. The fuselage of improved aerodynamic shape is made using modern lightweight materials. Ka-226T has received a new rotor head, blades, and main gearbox, as well as a shockproof emergency-resistant fuel system, which meets increased safety requirements.
His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, recently inaugurated the 6th International Procurement and Supply Chain Conference 2021, in Dubai, which is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East.
Emphasizing that the need for a closely connected global supply chain network now is even greater, His Excellency praised Blue Ocean Conferences, for organizing this mega union of business leaders successfully.
Applauding this bold initiative of Blue Ocean, His Excellency remarked “I congratulate you on the selection of the theme of this conference – One World, One Supply Chain – Evolution of a Connected Global Supply Chain Community is both important and timely.”
Addressing a global audience, His Excellency stated how UAE has historically played a leading role in being a facilitator and mediator to a great many international events and created an environment enriched with stability and financial integrity. He also encouraged everyone to visit the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai, a magnificent event hosted by UAE.
Speaking of how supply chain issues continue to reflect the reality of the global business environment, His Excellency further added, “Our businesses are increasingly characterized by complex partnerships with other business, organizations, and government agencies – and they depend on their partners to follow the same principles and to fulfill their roles and obligations with efficiency, integrity, and transparency. UAE will soon be the nerve centre of a Global , Connected Supply Chain due to its access to the world markets and business friendly policies of the visionary leadership.”
Adding to it, top Supply Chain expert and CEO of Blue Ocean Academy, Dr. Sathya Menon said, “Even in the future economy, supply chain disruptions will continue, which is why the entire supply chain needs to act as one and facilitate seamless flow of information. Supply Chain eco system needs to sense and react quickly to any variability in the data. the The pandemic situation has taught us the value of collective strength. To control disruptions and apply quick corrective measures for a seamless operation of goods, we must treat supply chain as one, a measure which falls within the endeavors of One World One Supply Chain.”
Dr. Menon also thanked His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan for his blessings and appreciation for Blue Ocean’s flagship event, the 6th IPSC Conference.
The star-studded event which took place in Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm saw the presence of top leaders like His Excellency Sheikh Awad Bin Mohammed bin Sheikh Mujrin, HFZA Director His Excellency Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, and Indian billionaire entrepreneur Mr.Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, among several others.
The 6th IPSC Conference also featured the prestigious IPSC 2021 Awards, which celebrate inspirational leadership from the industry. All the awards witnessed tough competition and saw winners from the mainland and overseas.
While Mr. Maraee Al Qahtani, Deputy Minister at Ministry of Health, KSA and Ms. Stacie Tackett, Senior Director at Pfizer, ME/Africa won the Procurement and Supply Chain Leader, and Woman Leader in Procurement and Supply Chain awards respectively, top companies like United Parcel Service (UPS) and Solutions by STC, KSA bagged awards for Outstanding Support – Supply Chain Management During Crisis Times, and Innovation in Procurement and Supply Chain Practice categories respectively. Several others were honoured in other categories.
“All the categories were hotly contested, and the Jury members had a tough time selecting the best. Congratulations to all the winners and everyone else who took part, for their outstanding achievements and demonstrating high spirits in the quest for excellence,” added Mr. Abdul Azeez, Chairman of Blue Ocean Academy.
Post pandemic, this was the region’s first biggest event in the procurement and supply chain industry to take place in person, where attendees took the opportunity to share their opinions and knowledge on the different aspects of supply chain optimization and its overall management.
Mr. Mohammed Al Ali, Vice Chairman said, “The 6th IPSC Conference facilitated a mega union of almost 800 professionals from 500 organizations and was appropriately aligned to the idea of a global community providing more power for business. Thanks to everyone who took their time out to make it a grand success.”
Because of the recent tough times, IPSC had to take a brief hiatus. With the situation improving, Blue Ocean made a quick call and brilliantly pulled off its signature Conference with exceptional elan.
MICCO’s Expanded Fleet to Offer Integrated Logistics Support to UAE’s Construction and Metals Manufacturing Sectors
MICCO Logistics, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, has acquired 31 tipper trucks as part of their effort to offer broader integrated logistics support to the UAE’s construction and metals manufacturing sectors.
The trucks will join MICCO’s existing ground fleet of 400 plus vehicles that currently service a number of different industry sectors, including the Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Fresh and General Cargo. The new tipper fleet has a combined transport capacity of over 2,300 metric tonnes and is capable of moving material and supplies between ports, factories, and different development sites across Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE.
The latest acquisition aims to further diversify the range of services offered by AD Ports Group and enables MICCO to support increased customer demand. The fleet will be fully equipped with pre-installed Fleet Management Systems (FMSi) incorporating and integrating the latest real-time vehicle geo-fencing and telematics technology.
Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group, said: “The addition of the new tipper trucks to MICCO’s already impressive vehicle fleet broadens AD Ports Group’s logistics offering and helps boost our status as one of the regional and global leaders in the logistics supply chain space.
We are already serving multiple sectors including healthcare, retail, e-commerce, consumer, oil & gas, heavy lift, and polymers, and our entry into the construction sector only underlines our ambition and commitment to diversify our competitive portfolio to serve what is one of the core sectors of the UAE’s economy. Our customers can rest assured that they will be able to easily plug into AD Ports Group’s wide spectrum of integrated services and benefit from our economies of scale.”
Clifford D’Souza, EVP and Chief Operations Officer, MICCO Logistics, said: “As a member of the broader AD Ports Group family, our team at MICCO is working hard to bring our proven service excellence, along with our expanding capabilities, to a new and relatively underserved market segment.
“Our investment into our technologically-advanced tipper fleet will help facilitate a steady and reliable supply of construction materials and products from ports and factories directly to construction sites, saving our customers costs and time. Expanding our capacity and integrating logistics services are cornerstones of MICCO’s strategy to ensure customers have a competitive edge on both the regional and global stage.”
MICCO Logistics commenced operations in 1978 as a freight forwarder, initially serving the oil and gas industries. To date, the company has handled more than 80 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s total oil, gas, and petrochemical projects, and has been steadily expanding into new industry sectors, overcoming challenges with proven success.
The Mobile Middle East and Africa (MEA) Innovation Center will spearhead the development of logistics innovation in the MEA region, with a focus on trends in IoT and Data Analytics.
The 450 sq m center is the 4th Innovation Center for DHL globally, and serves as a collaborative space for DHL’s customers, partners, and thought leaders to develop solutions for tomorrow’s supply chains.
In the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai Airports, DHL, the leading international logistics service provider, has launched its Mobile Middle East and Africa (MEA) Innovation Center in Dubai. The first-of-its-kind 450-sq m facility located in the Logistics District at Dubai South is easily assembled and disassembled, ready to move on to the next location. The state-of-the-art MEA Innovation Center will present a collaborative platform for customers, partners and other thought leaders to solve complex logistics challenges, learn about the latest trends in logistics, and network with industry innovators across the MEA region. Top executives from DHL and Dubai South also officiated the opening of the new facility.
Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Customer Solutions and Innovation at DHL, commented: “Middle East and Africa is one of our most vibrant regions. We are proud to bring the DHL Innovation approach into Dubai South, which is an ideal first stop in the region. Our future success is built on how we support customers in a rapidly evolving business and logistics landscape. We look forward to bringing customer-centric innovation, inspiring ideas and applying our proven innovation methodologies to solve our customer problems so that colleagues in the region can support them in confidently navigating changes.”
Mohsen Ahmad Alawadhi, CEO of Logistics District, Dubai South said: “Dubai epitomizes disruptive thinking and celebrates innovation. Therefore, it is a pleasure for Dubai South to be home to the DHL Mobile MEA Innovation Center in the Logistics District, testifying its pre-eminent position as the local and regional hub for the sector. The Center’s conception and innovative execution are aligned with Dubai South’s ambition to be a next-generation, innovations-led logistics hub for the region.”
The Mobile MEA Innovation Center will host a selection of exhibits built around key technologies that will shape the logistics industry in the future, alongside proof of concepts successfully implemented in DHL’s operations. Exhibits have been curated to reflect the unique requirements of DHL’s customers in the region, with a focus on the topics of IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Bionic Enhancement and Data Analytics across the domains of supply chain analytics, warehouse digital twins and last mile delivery optimization.
“The Innovation Centers are the showpiece of DHL’s Innovation program, which features its own trend research division, proven innovation workshop methodologies, and a calendar of thought leadership events that deep dive into technologies set to impact the logistics industry. The MEA IC will package this approach and offer our customers a highly-relevant agenda that reflects the possibilities of operating in the region”, explains Matthias Heutger, SVP Global Head of Innovation & Commercial Development for DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation.
The Mobile MEA Innovation Center is DHL’s fourth innovation center globally – after Chicago, USA; Cologne, Germany; and Singapore; and the first completely mobile one. The Mobile MEA Innovation Center is a modular building that was shipped to Dubai in containers from Germany, before being assembled on site in Dubai South. The facility is expected to stay in Dubai until 2022, then move to Qatar, the next location on its journey across the MEA region, and is expected to continue its journey through 2027.
Fero, a cloud-based RPA and ERP-products company that has created TiA, the World’s 1st Intelligent Virtual Assistant for Supply Chain, is announcing the successful closure of the fundraising of $1.1 million from a boutique institutional investor and various prominent angel investors.
Fero provides an ecosystem of Transport ERPs and TiA – Transport Interactive Assistant, a software to free logistics employees from mundane tasks. TiA listens, understands, talks, & messages over various messaging platforms, just like Alexa built for Logistics enterprises.
“The raise is a great validation of the current success and future potential of Fero products and the team” Carolin-Carmen Neubauer, Co-Founder and COO of Fero says.
Fero, part of the Microsoft Growth X programme and its novel B2B innovation, is already being adopted and in use by marquee clients such as DSV, Gulftainer and Emirates Logistics with customers in GCC, India and the UK, helping operations employees to automate everyday tasks such booking loads, collecting shipment documents and checking on the status of drivers and be left with only having to manage exceptions. “Imagine the scale of orders and new customers you can suddenly handle with a skeleton of a team with zero errors!” Carolin-Carmen remarks adding “the Fero customer acquisition growth figures of above 20% month-on-month speak for themselves.“
The Fero’s ecosystem includes SaaS for First, Last and Mid-Mile Transport Management, Delivery Management and the unique SaaS product of a “Plug-and-Play Uberization” for Road-Freight, called FAST (Freight Aggregation Software for Trucking), all of them come with TiA as well as TiA works on with any other Freight ERP in the market.
By applying TiA, to the existing Freight ERPs of our clients, we have helped clients, from sectors including distribution, retail and logistics, automate over 2,000,000 interactions – including emails and calls, related to 100,000 automated truck trips end to end from rate exploration until invoicing resulting in combined savings of an estimated $18 MM for Fero clients.
“Visibility and communication between internal and external parties are critical albeit very difficult as shippers, transporters and freight forwarders use various transport management and delivery management systems. Everyone is tired of new apps so we rely on existing communication tools such as WhatsApp, plus we know that in a fragmented market such as the road freight market where e.g. the top six carriers hold less than 5% market share of a 105 bn EUR market, there will never be unity in the systems in use” Carolin-Carmen comments.
The power of the Fero software is the improved optimization through enhancement of asset allocation with the help of applying machine learning based on a complex set of variables such as driver constraints, vehicle constraints, route constraints, all combined with customer behaviour when allocating and receiving the shipment.
With its new infusion of capital, the company looks to add tech engineers to its team to continue growing its product capabilities, increase its presence in Europe and further work on additional integrations with Freight ERPs. Fero’s Series A is targeted for starting to raise in Q4 2021 / Q1 2022.
The new hub will help FedEx Express unlock more value for its customers across the globe
In the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airlines and Group and chairman of Dubai Airports; FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, signed an agreement with Dubai South to build its new regional hub for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) region at the Logistics District.
Located in proximity to Dubai World Central Airport (DWC), the new FedEx Express regional hub at Dubai South will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies to support the company’s regional and global networks and increase operational efficiencies to meet growing trade demands within the MEISA region.
The agreement was inked by HE Khalifa Alzaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South and Jack Muhs, regional president of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa region. The signing ceremony was held at ‘Hypermotion Dubai’ at the World Expo’s Dubai Exhibition Center, an event focused on next generation mobility and logistics.
According to International Air Transport Association, the Middle East experienced a 15.4% rise in international cargo volumes in August 2021 as compared to August 2019[1].
“With increasing trade needs within the region and globally, the ideal location of the hub and our advanced technology solutions will allow us to grow and strengthen our presence in the MEISA region and beyond,” Muhs said.
“Dubai continues to be the heart of our regional operations. The new cutting-edge hub at Dubai South is in line with our commitment to build a network for what’s next and stay one step ahead of our customers’ requirements. The hub will be developed with sustainable operations and energy use in mind and will enhance the overall customer experience with an automated and advanced sorting system, hi-speed security screening equipment, cold-chain services, and capabilities to manage dangerous goods,” Muhs continued.
In his comments, Khalifa Al Zaffin, said: “We are delighted to be helping FedEx expand its regional operations with our optimal operational solutions, bespoke services and state-of-the art infrastructure. The mega logistic player’s presence will further consolidate our global position as the preferred choice for industry players seeking to operate in an integrated, economic environment, where they would connect with international markets through a multi-modal platform.”
The new FedEx Express regional hub at DWC will provide the opportunity for future flight growth through Dubai, enabling FedEx to expand its commercial footprint to provide businesses and customers faster access to more countries around the world.
Hypermotion’s first show outside Europe solidifies Dubai’s status as next-generation transport and mobility accelerator
Hypermotion Dubai, the Middle East edition of the German-initiated industry convex that reimagines the transportation and logistics industries, debuted today (2 November 2021) at Expo 2020, held under the presence and patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai Airports, hailing it as a significant boost to the emirate’s smart mobility credentials.
In his comments on this remarkable event, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said: “I would like to express my appreciation to the event organisers for their exceptional efforts.
“The fact that Hypermotion will be held in Dubai at Expo 2020 is a clear indication of our determination to maintain the emirate at the forefront of smart mobility as well as to leverage and support transformative and disruptive technology towards improving industries, accelerating the development of localised, high-tech economies. During this event, we will have the opportunity to discover and learn new things through an exciting outlook into the future.”
Running until the 4th November at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Hypermotion Dubai, along with the co-located Materials Handling Middle East trade fair, represents a thriving hub of technology game-changers revolutionising four of the Middle East’s key economic sectors — transport, logistics, mobility, and materials handling.
The three-day event takes place with the collaboration of global ports operator DP World as Global Partner.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director of DP World UAE and Jafza, said: “DP World is proud to be the Global Partner of Hypermotion and support its inaugural event in Dubai. We are leading several meaningful discussions this week on topics including Dubai’s emergence as an international trading hub and the importance of big data in revolutionising logistics.
He continues: “Innovation is in our DNA, and Hypermotion – like DP World – seeks to unlock a smarter future for mobility and logistics. In a changing world, we must collaborate to streamline and strengthen operations across the industry. This will benefit business, customers, our planet, and will ultimately keep trade flowing.”
Other key partners include Abu Dhabi Ports as Strategic Partner; and Dubai South, being a smart and sustainable city, as Future City Partner.
HE Khalifa Al Zaffin – Executive Chairman Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: “We are pleased to host a reputable global event such as Hypermotion in Dubai, especially during a special time for the emirate as it hosts Expo 2020 Dubai.
“We look forward to connecting with a consortium of logistics veterans and discussing critical issues related to the future of logistics. As a major player in the region, Dubai South is proud to be aligned with the government’s strategy of diversifying the emirate’s economy and further solidifying its place on the global stage.
“Hypermotion Dubai will provide us with an ideal platform on which to demonstrate our most recent developments and explore a variety of prospects that will open up new perspectives and highlight the relevance of digitalisation in the mobility and transportation industries.”
Simon Mellor, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Hypermotion Dubai and Materials Handling Middle East, said: “Hypermotion Dubai will be presenting digitally enhanced technologies that will be driving future automation and sustainability initiatives and efforts. The event’s three conferences and expert line-up of over 150 change-makers will lift the lid off progressive innovations for the benefit of all those working in these vital sectors.”
Hypermotion Lab focuses on driverless vehicles, urban air mobility and next-generation connectivity in the mobility and logistics arena. The Smart Mobility Conference is unveiling the reshaping of the region’s mass transit industry, while Scalex, a leading manufacturer of digital distance measurement tools, will take a deep dive into supply-chain and logistics excellence, including last-mile delivery.
Pitching the future
Hypermotion Dubai has attracted a heady mix of public- and private-sector leaders and policy makers, business owners and strategists, start-ups and innovators looking to networking and pitching new technology breakthroughs through the Asyad Logistics Start-up Challenge. The challenge will comprise three days of workshops, clinics, pitch competitions, and networking with investors and government buyers to provide real opportunities to launch and grow businesses
The event is also hosting market forecasts for both the GCC logistics and electric vehicles sectors in addition to leading data scientists, who will be presenting at the Asyad Global Hackathon Challenge – a knowledge hub of bespoke content, engaging competitions, workshops, and brainstorming sessions.
Rousing start for 11th Materials Handling Middle East
Together with Hypermotion Dubai, the biennial 11th edition of Materials Handling Middle East features more than 70 exhibitors from 24 countries, headed by Platinum Sponsor Acme, alongside other industry stalwarts such as RFUFCO, Wings, Savoye, Jaspa, Ancra Systems, Lean Tech, Log Square, Swisslog, and Honeywell.
The region’s dedicated trade fair for intralogistics, warehousing, supply chain management, freight and cargo is shining the spotlight on the latest automation technologies addressing the needs of a range of industries from e-commerce, banking and retail, to F&B, automotive and pharmaceuticals.
Acme’s next-gen show line-up includes a number of different solutions for specific applications including a new robotics system in cooperation with their partner, Hanwha, and handling and storage solutions for pallets and cases manufactured in their UAE facility.
Pandemic effect
Navin Narayan, CEO of Acme, said the Middle East has been slower than other markets when adopting physical automation solutions, however, the pandemic has increased manpower costs and squeezed overall operational margins meaning businesses have had to quickly realise the value of implementing automation technologies in their production and distribution lines.
“The pandemic has definitely accelerated the adoption of semi-automation and automation solutions,” said Narayan. “Our region has been relying heavily on manual labour for material handling and warehouse operations which were challenged as Covid-19 hit us all.
“New regulations for social distancing and drastically increased customer demand when it comes to delivery accuracy and speed made it impossible to stick to the status quo. To remain competitive, increased efficiency is key that could not be achieved by adding more human resources.”
Narayan continued: “Different industries are facing various challenges and some of them have recently intensified due to the pandemic. If we look at the retail and e-commerce sector as probably the most drastic example, we have seen an increase in online order volume as well as the rising expectation of end customers for faster delivery timeframes.
“Until about 2019, if a customer placed an order and they received an expected delivery date of 4-5 days, they would have been happy with the service level. Recent surveys show that over 96% shoppers expect to receive a product within the same day.”
Turkish Airlines’ rising air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo, keeps growing steadily by strengthening its flight network. After Hong Kong, Turkish Cargo has now added Macau, one of the economic centers of China, among its destinations served with direct cargo flights. The dynamic brand increased its number of direct cargo flights to 97 with Macau, to be started on November 1, 2021.
Located in the Guangdong province of China; Macau is an important center in terms of tourism and finance and hosts market leaders of sectors such as high technology, e-commerce, electronics and textiles. Turkish Cargo aims to strengthen the air cargo bridge it has established between Europe and the Far East with the reliable, fast and direct air transportation it offers to logistics service providers with Airbus A330F type wide body cargo aircraft on ISL-ALA-MFM-ALA-ISL route.
Connecting continents, Turkish Cargo offers the world’s largest direct cargo flight network in the world; consisting of 97 destinations worldwide, excluding express carriers. The carrier performs global business processes with the fleet of Turkish Airlines, consisting of 371 aircraft including 24 dedicated freighters.
Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. The carrier has been innovating to develop sustainable pioneering projects in the field of digitalization to enhance the quality of service offered to its customers in a changing world.
The recent regional transformation into a world hub for Mega-events has driven vast growth in the logistics sector as key logistics providers work around the clock to make these gigantic events possible.
GWC is hosting a first industry hybrid event, ‘Getting you in the Game’, to launch the discussion on mega-events logistics on 16 November 2021, where it will showcase the behind-the-scenes activities that make enormous and exceptional mega-events a success, with legacies that echo across the globe.
Industry experts will examine trends and transformation in logistics through a keynote speech, two panels, and two workshop sessions.
The first panel will discussion and explore the logistics behind mega sporting events, with speakers from industries ranging from sports and events logistics, aviation and beyond. While the second panel will focus on the region’s transformation into a world-class events hub, how it continues to grow, and the role of logistics providers as it accelerates; speakers in this panel will represent a range of industries covering Education, technology, courier, and FMCG.
“Logistics play a significant role during sporting events to ensure smooth and efficient delivery of complex and large-scale events, which involves executing a broad spectrum of logistics services in the lead up, during and after the final whistle.” GWC Group CEO, Ranjeev Menon commented.
“Moreover, the forum will bring attention to the hard work that is going into the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, turning it into a showcase for Qatar and the region,” he added.
GWC will be involved extensively in the tournament operations, from venue logistics, broadcasting and cold-chain logistics to shipping, customs clearance, transport and warehousing. It will offer end-to-end tracking and execution, from point of entry to point of use, and highly coordinated reverse logistics.
Oman`s flagship global integrated logistics solutions provider, Asyad, invites innovative startups to compete for US$50,000 to help launch their business
The global integrated logistics solutions provider, Asyad Group, in partnership with Hypermotion Dubai, the German-originated exhibition addressing the transformation and future of the transport, logistics and mobility sectors, is giving innovation-driven entrepreneurs a platform to shine and compete for a life-changing prize of US$50,000.
To help foster sector growth, Asyad Group, along with its official technology partner, Omantel, and Hypermotion Dubai, have created the ‘Logistics Startup Challenge’, to be held in a special zone designed to harness the potential of burgeoning new companies, entrepreneurs, and ideas at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) from 2 – 4 November.
The Logistics Startup Challenge will seek entrants across six key growth pillars for mobility and transport logistics, namely artificial intelligence, cyber security, robotics, logistics, smart mobility and drones, and will include a pitch contest, where entrepreneurs will present their solutions to an audience of regional and international investors.
The programme also features networking events with industry leaders, and a dedicated mentorship clinic to address challenges and opportunities for start-ups.
Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, Asyad Group CEO, said: “Innovation is paramount for the advancement and competitiveness of the logistics industry. Our collaboration with Hypermotion Dubai will not only bring to the forefront existing challenges but also present viable solutions and allow us to engage with forward-thinking talents who will shape our future. Together with Omantel’s digital leadership, we are promoting best practices in the digital sphere, providing an unprecedented opportunity for entrepreneurs to tap into valuable expertise and ultimately, funnel it into the sector. Our challenge is just the start.”
Al Hatmi went on to add that Asyad Group will also be running a two-day Hackathon challenge and is inviting leading data scientists to solve critical problems in the mobility, logistics and transport sectors. The event will be supplemented by full-day workshops and a nine-hour session where teams will be divided to solve the challenge.
“Home to some of the region’s largest logistics companies, the GCC is a global leader in creating a meaningful startup ecosystem and has fostered growth in this segment for a number of years,” commented Simon Mellor, CEO at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Hypermotion Dubai.
“This is supplemented by a range of initiatives such as the creation of free zones, government programs, visa incentives and world-class training and development, all specifically designed to foster an entrepreneurial community and drive innovation.
“Hypermotion Dubai is perfectly aligned with the UAE and wider GCC’s startup and SME sector goals, and we are honoured to partner with Asyad Group to give more entrepreneurs the chance to show how they can contribute to a thriving sector.”
Hypermotion Dubai is expected to attract high-level C-suite participation from international, regional and local government entities and private organisations to chart the future of logistics, mobility, infrastructure and transport ecosystems.
Through the event’s three content streams – Hypermotion Lab, Smart Mobility Conference and Scalex (co-hosted with Materials Handling Middle East) – disruptive thinkers from around the world will gather to share pioneering ideas and concepts set to shape the future of mobility and transport.
Thought leaders confirmed to take the Hypermotion Dubai stage include Anthony Foxx, the former United States Secretary of Transportation; Abdullah Al Shamsi, Senior Director of Future of Things, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects; Prof. Carlo Ratti, Director, Senseable City Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Josh Giegel, CEO and Co-Founder, Virgin Hyperloop.
A new whitepaper by consultants and research firm Frost & Sullivan says the GCC logistics market is rebounding following a Covid-induced downturn and predicts the region’s surging e-commerce trade will support warehousing courier, express and parcel growth in the coming year.
The 17-page whitepaper – ‘GCC Supply Chain & Logistics: What should your Digitization Priorities be?’ – reports a recent upsurge in Gulf container volumes, which rose more than 15% in the first half of this year with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for 83% of the region’s 2021 logistics market.
Prepared exclusively for Materials Handling Middle East 2021, the region’s leading trade show for warehousing, intralogistics and supply chain solutions, the whitepaper identifies low technology adoption hurdles hampering the GCC sector performance against a backdrop of surging cross-border e-commerce demand and shifting national vision priorities towards logistics performance.
The whitepaper reveals a GCC logistics sector fragmented by a large number of small and medium service providers with inefficient processes, weak supply chain management practices, and legacy IT infrastructure and systems.
“As a result, transportation and warehouse management practices are inefficient due to poor fleet management and the underutilization of logistics assets,” the whitepaper notes.
“Historically high investment costs associated with digitalization have led to slower adoption of digital technologies. Freight transportation and last-mile delivery are major sources of inefficiencies in the GCC logistics market.
“With increasing competition from global service providers, logistics service providers need to focus on improving operational efficiency and optimize the performance of assets to stay ahead of competition.
“Constant evaluation and redesign of service offerings will become an essential part of strategy formulation to remain competitive and gain market share in the region. Digitalization opens up medium-term growth prospects. Warehousing automation, digital freight platforms, and innovations in last-mile delivery are expected to remain focus areas. Customs clearance, port infrastructure upgradation, and e-commerce hubs are some of the segments that will benefit from digitalization,” the whitepaper advises.
More than 50 exhibitors will be out in force at Materials Handling Middle East 2021 to unveil their latest technologies and innovations that are solving key challenges faced by warehouse and supply chain managers today.
These range from eco-friendly pallets, automated storage and picking solutions, and warehouse mapping using 3D virtual reality, to more traditional equipment such as warehouse trucks, telehandlers, tow tractors, cranes, and packaging.
The biennial three-day event, via its dedicated Scalex conference, will also unveil the latest essential technologies and investment which the sector needs to remain globally competitive and unlock the potential and ambitions of GCC national visions from AI to blockchain, drones and autonomous vehicles, to supply chain visibility solutions and warehouse capacity expansion.
“The industry will discover the intelligent solutions that will optimise the management of time, enhance productivity and facilitate the efficient use of space needed to meet the logistics requirements of the region’s industrialisation and manufacturing visions,” explained Josue Paulos, Show Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organiser of Materials Handling Middle East.
“No sector is immune from the need for logistics enhancements. From FMCG to manufacturing and from oil & gas to retail, smart solutions for materials handling are closely interwoven with warehousing solutions to ensure time-sensitive delivery eco-systems which open up a whole new arena of business growth possibilities.”
Materials Handling Middle East will be co-located with Hypermotion Dubai from 2 – 4 November 2021 at the Expo 2020 Dubai Exhibition Centre.
AFAL Manufacturing Limited (AML) of the Tristar Group has officially launched the local blending of Caltex lubricants in East Africa. The launch follows the signing of a long-term license agreement with Chevron Brands International LLC (Chevron) encompassing production, distribution, and marketing of Caltex™ lubricants in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This move is timely as Caltex has had a long-term presence in Africa and the region is one of the fastest developing markets in the world with demand for premium lubricants growing at a healthy pace.
Kenyan government official Eric Simiyu Wafukho, Chief Administrative Secretary, National Treasury and Planning, attended the launch event with Rochna Kaul, Chevron Vice President, Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia Sales & Global Marine and Abhijit Sarmah, Tristar Kenya General Manager.
“The move to local manufacturing in Nairobi is a step in the right direction for our relationship with Chevron, which started in 2013 with a distribution agreement covering the imported Caltex Delo and Havoline brands in Kenya and several East African countries through our subsidiary Africa Fuels & Lubricants Limited (AFAL). We are confident that through local manufacturing we will add value to enable us to take the Caltex lubricants brand to a strong market position by supplying high quality lubricants backed by competitive prices and service. With more than 8 years of local market knowledge, we are confident that there is a growing need for high quality lubricants in the region and we are extremely pleased with this move to be able to sell and distribute locally manufactured, cutting edge Caltex lubricants,” said Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne.
According to available statistics, the market for lubricants in the region is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 3% in the next 4-5 years, though the effect of COVID-19 may impact expected growth.
“The flagship Caltex lubricants that will be blended locally are Havoline® and Delo® engine oils. For more than a century, people have relied on Caltex Havoline advanced motor oil technology to continuously protect their engines against premature wear. Havoline motor oils with Deposit Shield technology feature an advanced formulation that protects your engine from harmful deposits, protects engine performance and maximizes fuel economy to protect the environment. Not to be outdone, Caltex Delo has been delivering advanced engine protection for over 80 years – going further since 1935, with a history of technological firsts and innovation. Caltex Delo advanced products are designed to deliver high-level engine and transmission protection with optimized fuel economy, for improved running costs, less downtime, and helps to save money.” said Douglas Rankine, GM Middle East & Africa – Fuels & Lubricants. “As part of this new relationship with AML, Chevron is excited to grow the Caltex brand across Eastern Africa and will continue to explore future growth opportunities in new and existing markets.”
“Chevron has a long history in East Africa spanning seven decades. In 2013, Chevron signed a lubricants distribution agreement with Africa Fuels & Lubricants Limited, an affiliate of AML. The success of this new brand licensing model is anchored by the strong equity we have in our brands and a focus on implementing a compelling customer experience through our integrated fuels and lubricants business and strategic partnerships. We look forward to a long, and successful relationship with AML.” said Rochna Kaul, Vice President, Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia Sales & Global Marine.
Global logistics automation partner, Swisslog has announced a series of new appointments within its senior management team to support continued growth and stability. Antonio Trioschi has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer, who joined Swisslog nine years ago and has since held several leadership positions across the business.
Most recently, Antonio was responsible for the unity of two regions, Central and Greater Europe, into one strong EMEA region. He succeeds Dr. Christian Baur, who left Swisslog in June and who has played a key role in setting Swisslog on a path to growth over the past six years. Swisslog CEO Antonio Trioschi explains:
“With this leadership change, our customers remain our top priority. As we strive to expand our business in a fast-paced industry, our focus is to provide the best possible service to both new and existing customers.”
Jens Schmale joined Swisslog in 2020 to strengthen its AutoStore offering and has been instrumental in the achievements of the business unit over the last year. Prior to joining Swisslog, he was, among other duties, managing director of a German AutoStore distributor.
Key market set to expand:
The EMEA region is a key market within Swisslog’s global reach, and Jens Schmale will endeavor to ensure the company’s continued success in the region. Commenting on his appointment, Schmale said: “I am delighted to take over the role as Head of EMEA, and I am looking forward to expanding our roadmap within this highly dynamic market while developing new and existing customer relationships. I am fully committed to driving supply chain innovation through robotic and data-driven solutions.”
Based in the company’s Dortmund office, Schmale is set to further strengthen Swisslog’s market position within countries across the EMEA region. Trioschi continues: “We are pleased to have Jens Schmale on board as the new Head of EMEA. With his wealth of expertise in leadership and customer engagement skills, I am certain he will play a leading role in supporting the future growth of Swisslog.”
Markus Kirchhoff succeeds Schmale as Head of Swisslog AutoStore Europe, bringing many years of industry management experience to the role. CEO Antonio Trioschi adds: “We’re pleased to welcome Markus Kirchhoff on board to lead the European AutoStore business unit, and I am confident in his ability to cultivate our experience in this popular good-to-person technology.”
Dubai accounts for 80% of public charging stations underlying more awareness of EV infrastructure needed for fleet traratio among the world’s highest, according to a newly released whitepaper. Produced by the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) MENnsitions. The UAE is leading the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the adoption of electric vehicles with its charging station to vehicle A, the whitepaper says the UAE now boasts 240 grid-linked slow charging public stations – 80% of which are in Dubai.
The 24-page whitepaper – Electric Vehicles in the UAE: Challenges and Opportunities – and its five-point recommendations will be presented at Hypermotion Dubai 2021, the region’s first and only event to address major mobility transformation, which will run at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 from November 2 – 4.
“This white paper provides recommendations for policymakers in the UAE and around the region and a comprehensive overview of the EV market in the UAE, covering the current policy landscape, infrastructure, challenges hindering the growth of the market and the opportunities for businesses,” explained Stephan Gobert, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at ENGIE and Board Member at CEBC. “While the paper mainly analyses the UAE market, many of the learnings could be extended to the rest of the MENA countries.”
The paper shows that while the UAE has made great advances in EV infrastructure development, the models available and consumer and corporate appetites to shift from conventional vehicles implementation of the transition is slow. “The existing EV infrastructure is not perceived as sufficient. Many companies may install their own charging stations to tackle this issue. Furthermore, most companies plan to make their charging stations available for public use, in addition to being used for internal needs.
“This effort by the private sector could support the UAE in strengthening its EV infrastructure,” says the report. “While new models are coming to the market and prices are going down with time, compared to previous years, we can still see that one of the barriers to entry is the purchase price of EVs, which are set to change in the near future with economies of scale and advances in battery technologies.”
The Clean Energy Business Council MENA is on the advisory board of Hypermotion Dubai which is hybrid event of three strategic conferences, high-end networking, competitions, and pitches covering all aspects of future of intelligent transport systems, and the region’s only event for the disruption, decarbonization, and digital transformation of transport, logistics and mobility.
“This whitepaper provides essential insights into the infrastructure and perception challenges and solutions impacting the pace of electric vehicle uptake throughout the MENA region,” explained Simon Mellor, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organizer of Hypermotion Dubai.
“Transport and sustainability are inextricably linked and as countries throughout MENA look to expand their environmental credentials, the role, scale, and scope of electric vehicles needs to be fully understood. This whitepaper and its recommendations will go a long way to enabling that vital comprehension.” Hypermotion Dubai is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman & CEO Emirates Group and Chairman Dubai Airports.
Possessing the world’s strongest cargo flight network, Turkish Cargo contributes its strength to Turkey’s medical exports. Flag carrier air cargo brand has been carrying Turkey’s medicine and medical products to over 50 countries in five continents for over 25 years.
In the nuclear medicine sector, Turkish Cargo plays an important role for cancer patients to reliably reach high quality diagnosis and treatment products in Turkey and abroad. Flag carrier air cargo brand carries radioactive cancer diagnosis medicine used in the treatment of cancer and tumors to Germany, Colombia, India, Algeria, Taiwan and all around the world. With 8 percent market share in medical transportation, national brand gives hope to cancer patients by providing fast and safe transportation for radioactive medicine with half-life, which are produced at night by Eczacıbaşı-Monrol.
Eczacıbaşı-Monrol Nuclear Products General Manager Aydın Küçük stated; “Our mission as Eczacıbaşı-Monrol is to benefit human lives with innovative and pioneering approaches when it comes to diagnosis and treatment of life threatening illnesses.
As Turkey’s first radiopharmaceutical manufacturer, we are one of the significant producers of nuclear medicine for cancer treatment in the world and we export our products to over 50 countries. We can deliver these successes to patients all around the world from Europe, Africa, America and Far East thanks to our strong logistical operation. With this in mind, Turkish Cargo is one of our strongest supporters since 1995 with its speed, operational quality and wide transportation network.”
Turkish Cargo greatly contributes to delivery of medical products to patients even sooner than planned with the opportunities provided to manufacturers and helps exporters to reach new countries. Easily meeting demands of exporters with its wide flight network, Turkish Cargo also contributes to country’s economy with special campaigns and discounts for exporters.
Touching people’s lives with 30 years of experience in special cargo operations
Turkish Cargo continues to deliver health to over 300 destinations around the world via its medicine and medical product transportation operations conducted with its operational quality, special transportation methods and expert teams. Stored in rooms featuring special temperature control with necessary infrastructure, medicine shipments are protected with specialist teams. Also possessing the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) Pharma certificate, Turkish Cargo maintains the cold chain at ideal conditions with its TK Pharma product designed with global standards for medicine and vaccine transportations. Maintaining its dialog with medical manufacturers, transportation companies, airports, ground operations and official authorities, successful brand can meet the requirements of medicine and vaccine producers when it comes to transportations at ultra-frozen range (70° C) by using its specially frozen containers such as dry ice and vehicles.
Turkish Cargo draws attention to the opportunities of Air Cargo with promotional videos
Able to meet the export and import demands from any country in the world, Turkish Cargo tells the story of its cooperation with Turkey’s exporters via the promotional videos prepared within the “#WeProudlyCarry the Labor of Our Country” project. The goal of the project is to effectively convey the opportunities of air cargo to our country’s exporters such as unparalleled market reach options along with effective, on point and reasonable prices. After the first part of the project which told the story of Turkish rose products with the Gülbirlik promotional video, this part focuses on Turkey’s health exports with the Eczacıbaşı-Monrol video. Turkish Cargo aims to outline its export collaborations in cultural, technological and industrial fields of Turkey with more promotional videos in the future.
SAMENA (South Asia Middle East North Africa) Telecommunications Council has announced that its SAMENA Accelerator policy-level roundtable will be organized as a part of the Huawei UBB Forum (Ultrabroadband Forum) 2021, in Dubai from October 19-20 at Skyview, The Address, Downtown Dubai. The forum will address Rural Fiber Broadband Development & IPv6/IPv6+ Transition Issues. It takes place during Gitex 2021 so that it includes the Digital Communication Industry’s leading decision-makers from all around the SA-ME-NA region and beyond. The primary objectives of the UBBF-collaborated and Huawei-hosted SAMENA Accelerator is to address policy, regulatory, and business enablement issues relating to fiber deployment and industrial digitalization.
Bocar BA, CEO & Board Member of SAMENA Council, said, “The October UBBF-collaborated SAMENA Accelerator will address the need to achieve universal broadband access and create new business growth opportunities for Telecom Operators by accelerating fiber broadband deployment in the SA-ME-NA region to foster digital transformation while also taking the 5G and IoT era telecom networks to the next level by deploying IPv6 enhanced innovations (IPv6+). As the demand for the Internet of Things increases and the amount of HD content including videos and a large amount of data generated and transmitted rises, it has become increasingly evident that governments and standard bodies requiring transitioning to IPv6 and to IPv6 enhanced innovations (namely, IPv6+).”
”The Huawei-hosted SAMENA Accelerator during the UBBF 2021 will cover key policy and planning areas, including Policy Visions for Inclusive Gigabit Connectivity, Innovative Policy Steps in the Provision of Ultra-fast Broadband Connections, OSP/ISP Fiber Deployment Experiences & Best Practices for the Private Sector. The role of IPv6 & IPV6 Enhanced Innovation in Regional Digital Economic Transformation, and the Role of Industry Value-chains and the Pace of IPv6 Adoption to Foster Industrial Digitalization, will be discussed among other areas of industry interest.” He added.
Advanced ICT infrastructure and other Digital Technologies are now vital as key elements of Sustainable Development, and next-generation networks and cloud communications are the new enablers. We are now seeing “inclusion” and “economic well-being” in the new “digital light” and are learning to readjust our priorities to drive socio-economic growth and fill key gaps — whether such gaps are at the policy or regulatory level, investment level, on the cooperation level, or at the level of incubating new ideas. Building the Digital Economy is the new major global imperative, which can be fully supported and propelled to fulfillment through Fiber and IPv6 based networks. New approaches in building infrastructure would greatly benefit by being aligned with changed characteristics of broadband, which is no longer a luxury.
This strategic industry event, to be held as a collaboration between Huawei and SAMENA Council, is in continuation of the SAMENA Accelerators held last year, with special focus placed this year to correlate fiber deployment with socio-economic growth, especially in the rural areas of the region. The Council expects to build the case for accelerated fiber deployment as an essential ICT pillar, which can dramatically add to and support sustainable national GDP growth by engaging rural communities. However, as a costly effort for investors, key incentives must be given, and key issue areas and challenges need to mitigate at an unprecedented pace to achieve universal access.
Furthermore, accelerating Industrial Digitalization in the era of Industry 4.0 and IoT, with the aim of accommodating complex and distributed network applications, and allowing for Telecom Operators’ search for new streams of business growth, including through intelligent cloud network capabilities, demands creating the rationale for speeding up the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 and also to the enhanced evolutions version of IPv6 (IPv6+).
SA ME NA Council’s lead in addressing this economic issue is appreciated by the ICT community. Voicing the opinion of members, Eng. Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Badran, CEO, Mobily, said, “SAMENA is an excellent platform for the Telecom leaders in the region to share their experiences in order to increase their competitive edge and achieve further growth and success. I believe that SAMENA’s energetic events and gatherings prepare concerned key persons in facing different challenges in the industry.”
New Regional Distribution Center in DAFZA to cater to more than 30 countries across the Middle East and Africa
DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international provider of air, ocean, and road freight services, has announced that it will operate the smart devices distribution hub in Dubai for Honor – a leading global technology company. The hub will be capable to distribute Honor’s products to more than 30 countries across the Middle East and Africa region.
Ralf Schreiber at DHL Global Forwarding, said: “The new DHL logistics center in DAFZA for Honor is a multi-functional integrated warehouse facility. The hub will support multi-scene delivery of finished products, spare parts, e-commerce, retail, and value-added services, and provide customers in Middle East and Africa with the ultimate delivery experience. It will support Honor, one of the fastest growing mobile brands in emerging markets, to leverage our logistics expertise.”
The New Reginal Distribution Center for Honor at Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA), will act as a hub for Honor smart devices as well as its accessories and after-sales parts. The proximity to Dubai’s cargo terminal and operations in DAFZA makes it a strategic location for fast-moving mobile phones. Apart from warehousing facilities, this first-of-its-kind DHL logistics hub will also offer customs clearance and airfreight distribution services for Honor’s cutting-edge products across the region. Honor has strong growth plans in Middle East and Africa and the distribution hub will cater to around 60% of its finished product deliveries across the region.
Mr. LiKun Zhao, Reginal President of Middle East and Africa at Honor, said: “The DHL hub for Honor reflects our unwavering commitment to build an efficient, agile, and sustainable supply chain with our partners – particularly in the Middle East and Africa region, one of our key focus markets. This is part of our long-term commitment to providing personalized, world-class products to our regional customer base, in line with our ambition to be one of the top smart device brands, globally.”
After being an independent company, HONOR continue their business in more than 50 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and America. This logistics center in Dubai is well placed to deliver on its ambitions in the region and beyond.
Saudi Arabia’s leading ground handling and logistics company – has signed an agreement with Classic Automotive Relocation Services (CARS) to provide comprehensive logistics support for all its car shipments passing through the Kingdom’s main airports, land ports & seaports, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina. The agreement was signed on 13 October 2021 at SAL HQ with SAL CEO Hesham Alhussayen and CARS Managing Partner James McSweeney, representing SAL and CARS, respectively.
The companies agreed to collaborate on all logistics services on a comprehensive scale, including first-mile, last mile, custom clearances, warehousing, and end-to-end services, as well as other bespoke solutions for different shipments. Their agreement covers shipments both within and outside of KSA.
For more than three decades, CARS (Classic Automotive Relocation Services) has handled some of the most irreplaceable motorcars in the world. It has been a trusted name in handling the world’s finest automobiles to car shows, concours d’elegance, exhibitions, trade shows and other global events.
Facilitated by its own offices in the UK, Amsterdam, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Dubai, and Tokyo and via a network of specialist global agents, CARS offer a specialised worldwide car transportation service by Air, Sea and Land.
Hesham Alhussayen, CEO of SAL, commented: “We are extremely delighted to forge this agreement with CARS, known worldwide for safely transporting rare and high-value vehicles. This not only reflects our growing network of partnerships across a broad spectrum of international businesses, but as well the trust in our brand. SAL has highly-skilled people to handle this delicate task, the experience and the infrastructure in providing the best logistics and ground-handling services to the highest international standards.”
CARS Managing Partner James McSweeney commented: “We are extremely honored to form this partnership with SAL. SAL is a forward-thinking company with plans to deliver a first-class product in the high-end automotive sector and with CARS expertise and SAL’s vision we are very confident to deliver a successful and long-term partnership between our companies for the mutual benefit of our regional and global customers.”
SAL provides premium cargo chain support for multiple airlines operating into and out of Saudi Arabia’s airports. It is also broadening its services within airports and will extend its logistics network to increase connectivity between sea, air, and land, in line with the Vision 2030 objective of transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub.
Momentum Logistics, a subsidiary of global port operator, Gulftainer continues its sustainability drive in the Emirates by replacing its transportation fleet with innovative, sustainable, and fuel-efficient Scania trucks, distributed, and serviced in the UAE by Al Shirawi Enterprises LLC.
With operations spanning the Middle East and the USA, Momentum Logistics has an impressive fleet of over 100 commercial vehicles and 240 multipurpose trailers deployed at multiple depots across the region.
Alex Lewis, MD of Momentum Logistics said, “For a company that was launched just a decade ago, we have come a long way, expanding our scale of operations from the UAE to Iraq, KSA and the USA. Our operations are heavily customer-centric, and we wanted to choose the best for our customers. In the last ten years, we have experimented enough to know what works the best and what doesn’t. Scania was the obvious choice to initiate our fleet replacement program.”
As the world-leading provider of transport solutions, Scania offers an extensive range of purpose-built trucks and buses for heavy transport applications. Along with services such as Repair and Maintenance, Financing, Insurance, and more. This helps take fleet management out of customer’s hands, enabling them to focus on their core business activities. The key aim is to increase uptime, productivity, and hence revenue while reducing costs for businesses by minimising waste and inefficiencies throughout their transport flow.
Since December 2017, the fleet replacement drive at Momentum Logistics has witnessed the delivery of 96 new Scania vehicles, including the recent purchase of 10 new P380 trucks with another ten due for delivery soon. Momentum’s fleet is expected to get an additional boost with further investments planned until the year-end.
Swedish brand Scania has been present in the UAE through its partner Al Shirawi Enterprises for 40 years. Al Shirawi Enterprises, part of the Emirati conglomerate Al Shirawi Group, specialises in commercial vehicles, transport solutions, construction equipment and various other heavy equipment brands from around the world. Together, over the years they have supported millions of miles of eco-friendly Customer Journeys.
Martin Roberts, Director of Transportation, Momentum Logistics added:
“We conducted a thorough analysis of all our operations before replacing our fleet. Scania proved to have the best value offering on a weighted scale, considering the total cost of ownership, driver training, customer support, and maintenance. With all of this, we get the satisfaction of providing unrivalled customer services to our business partners with no breakdowns and maximised vehicle availability and efficiency.”
By creating value through tailored solutions and building partnerships with leading companies such as Momentum Logistics, Al Shirawi & Scania continue to drive the shift towards sustainable transport. Speaking on the partnership with Momentum Logistics, Mr Hans Wising, Sales Director of Scania Middle East said:
“We are very happy to be selected as the preferred brand by Momentum Logistics. Our offering of an outstanding Total Operating Economy for Momentum, including tailor-made fuel-efficient and reliable trucks, driver training, service contracts and finance solutions has made Momentum choose Scania and Al Shirawi Enterprises as their preferred supplier.”
Strong economic growth and a strategic location are among the key advantages that reinforce Qatar as a trade and investment hub in the Middle East. The country’s logistics market has been growing steadily over the past five years – it is estimated to be valued at more than USD 7.5 billion and is estimated to register a CAGR of more than 7% during 2021-2026. The growth of the market can be attributed to the new expansion plans as the country is hosting the 2022 FIFA World CupTM.[1]
With massive investment in infrastructure, numerous new projects, and an e-commerce boom, Qatar’s logistics sector has been expanding rapidly, a development that GWC is committed to support as a leading logistics provider and the Authorized Service Contractor of UPS in Qatar.
Following the recent launched of its logistics hub in Qatar’s Ras Bufontas Free Zone, GWC welcomed Scott Price, President, UPS International, reaffirming a long-lasting business relationship. UPS’s leadership visit comes at a time when the nation is gearing up for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM for which GWC plays the role of Regional Supporter and Official Logistics Provider.
Price began his visit by taking a tour of the GWC Logistics Hub and UPS Customer Centre at the Ras Bufontas Free Zone. This facility with its world class infrastructure, including temperature-controlled warehouses and frozen storage chambers, offers unmatched logistical and last mile delivery options to the aviation, pharmaceutical and events industries including FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM. Price met up with GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad Al Thani and Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO to discuss the dynamic logistics sector in Qatar, the work being done by GWC and ways to collaborate in the future.
Speaking about the importance of the logistics sector for Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Fahad Al Thani, Chairman, GWC, remarked, “Qatar is becoming one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide for logistics and has become a favoured destination for international investors. Qatar is not only resolute about becoming a global trading hub, but it is also focused on attracting FDI that will take its logistical capabilities to the next level and GWC is primed to be a part of this journey. With our focus on digital transformation, innovation and sustainability we have been able to adapt to circumstances with agility and will continue to do so.”
Expanding on this thought, Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC, added that the improving logistics environment has played a critical role in making it increasingly easier to import and export goods to and from the state. “As the transport and logistics sector continues to enjoy infrastructure investments and new projects, there could be more opportunities for the logistics sector. GWC is committed to making processes time-sensitive, quality-centred, customer-driven and efficiency-bound. This is where a partner like UPS gives us the opportunity to build trust, expand, and offer seamless services to our clients, especially the MSMEs”. He further commended the commitment shown by UPS in delivering Covid-19 vaccines. “At GWC, we recognize UPS’s smart global logistics network, its synchronised teamwork and expertise in healthcare logistics to deliver Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines in Qatar, which requires ultra-cold chain storage. In fact, their delivery of these vaccines by drones in the US or in Ghana is another feather in their near-perfect delivery service.”
Price also took a tour of the GWC’s flagship Logistics Village Qatar, which has set a new benchmark in logistics infrastructure. Speaking about his visit and the partnership with GWC, Price said, “Through our relationship with GWC, UPS’s Authorized Service Contractor in Qatar, we are delivering what matters for businesses looking to export and grow, with sustainable solutions and our smart global logistics network. We have witnessed first-hand GWC’s logistic prowess and Qatar’s growing clout as an international trading hub. Working with GWC, we will help Qatar continue to develop and meet its changing needs as it grows within the global economy.” UPS is one of the world’s largest package delivery companies providing a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 220 countries and territories. Commitment to a sustainable world and a focus on ESG milestones is an important aspect of UPS’s mandate.
SAL Saudi Logistics Services (“SAL” or “the Company”), a market leading air cargo handler, has signed a cargo ground handling agreement with Qatar Airways Cargo, to provide comprehensive ground logistics support at Saudi Arabia’s main airports, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina.
This agreement is in line with one of the Company’s strategic growth initiatives of increasing the number of partnerships with leading regional and global airlines that have high cargo shipping capacities.
Hesham Alhussayen, CEO of SAL, commented: “This agreement will enhance logistical operations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Moreover, given Qatar Airways’ global reach and substantial shipping capacity, we look forward to providing it with cargo ground handling services to the highest international standards. This new partnership reflects our growing network of international and domestic relationships across airlines, regulators, government agencies, and global industry organizations.”
He added: “Over the year and a half, SAL has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by boosting our operational efficiencies to meet the unprecedented demands of handling a wide variety of emergency, medical, and other life essential goods to those who need them most. This journey reinforced our belief in the power of partnerships and, as such, we have signed several cooperation agreements to expand our ground handling and logistics services even further.”
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways commented: “Through our agreement with SAL Saudi Logistics Services, we will be offering fast and efficient handling for all types of cargo including cool chain cargo at Saudi Arabia’s main airports. SAL and Qatar Airways Cargo share a common vision of customer centricity and service excellence.”
SAL provides premium cargo chain support for multiple airlines operating into and out of Saudi Arabia’s airports. The Company is also broadening its services within airports and will extend its logistics network to increase connectivity between land, sea and air transportation hubs, economic zones, and major population centres, in line with the Vision 2030 objective of transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub.
Volvo Group is proud to reveal the world-first vehicle made of fossil-free steel from SSAB. During today’s green steel collaboration event, it was announced that more vehicles will follow in 2022 in what will be a series of concept vehicles and components using fossil-free steel from SSAB.
The machine, a load carrier for use in mining and quarrying, was unveiled at a green steel collaboration event today, October 13, 2021, in Gothenburg hosted by Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO Volvo Group.
During the premiere, which was broadcasted online and is available to watch here, attendees got to see the world’s first machine made of fossil-free steel. In addition, insights about yet another ground-breaking sustainable steel collaboration were shared. EU commissioner for internal market, Thierry Breton, and the Swedish minister of enterprise and innovation, Ibrahim Baylan, joined the event together with Martin Lindqvist, CEO SSAB and other speakers.
“This initiative with SSAB sets the benchmark for a fossil-free future. Just as the nations of the world come together at COP26 to address climate change, so too must organizations and industries work in collaboration to develop innovative new solutions for a greenhouse gas emission free future. Volvo Group is committed to pioneering partnerships such as this with SSAB to develop attractive, safe and efficient new vehicles and machines that pave the way for a more sustainable transport and infrastructure system adopted for the future,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO Volvo Group.
With a commitment to be climate-neutral and achieve net zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, Volvo Group is on the path towards developing sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions of the future. Along with the electrification of its vehicles and machines, Volvo is determined to reduce the carbon footprint of its entire supply chain and this latest innovation is one step forward on this path.
“Having the world´s first actual vehicle made using SSAB´s fossil-free steel is a true milestone. Our collaboration with Volvo Group shows that green transition is possible and brings results,” says Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO at SSAB. “Together, we will continue reducing climate impact all the way to the end customer while ensuring that our customers get high-quality steel. We look forward to continuing to work with Volvo Group in research and development to produce more fossil-free steel products.”
A move toward green steel is an important step for Volvo Group, as well as for the transport and infrastructure industries as a whole, particularly considering that around 70% of a truck’s weight comes from steel and cast iron, with the figure for Volvo machines even higher. This first concept machine, produced at Volvo CE’s facility in Braås, is just the start, with smaller-scale series production planned by 2022, and mass production set to follow.
Bentley Systems and SMRT Trains Collaborate to Improve Safety and Reliability of Metro Rail Services in Singapore
Market a Rail Predictive Maintenance Solution in the Asia Pacific Region
Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, and SMRT Trains, the pioneer Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) operator in Singapore, have successfully completed the implementation of a Predictive Decision Support System (PDSS) for Singapore’s North-South and East-West lines, the oldest MRT lines in the country. SMRT Trains’ PDSS, which is based on Bentley’s AssetWise Linear Analytics, contributes to improving the reliability of the two lines across 282 kilometers of track and has helped SMRT Trains achieve more than 1 million kilometers between failure (MKBF). MKBF is a measure of reliability used by train operators around the world, where a failure is defined as a service delay of more than five minutes.
Based on the success of the PDSS implementation on the North-South and East-West lines, SMRT Trains has started the implementation of the PDSS solution on the Circle Line (CCL) in Singapore.
With many owner-operators of large metro networks in Asia Pacific cities focusing on improving reliability to provide uninterrupted services to riders, Bentley Systems and Strides Engineering, previously SMRT Services, a business arm of SMRT Corporation that provides a range of station-based engineering services, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly market a rail predictive maintenance solution in the Asia Pacific region. The MOU establishes a partnership between the two companies that combines strong technology expertise and rail operational capabilities to help urban rail and metro operators. Under the terms of the MOU, both organizations will market a rail predictive maintenance solution that visualizes all rail asset information and manages, monitors, and analyzes rail conditions. Bentley Systems will continue to sell, implement, and support its AssetWise solution while Strides Engineering will market and deliver its domain experience and add-on applications for track maintenance.
SMRT Trains will be featured in an Infrastructure Spotlight Series webinar in November as a part of Bentley Systems’ Year in Infrastructure 2021 presentations highlighting advancements in going digital. Registration details will be available soon for this session on yii.bentley.com to learn more about how SMRT Trains is an innovator to watch.
Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains, said, “Leveraging technology and taking pre-emptive actions are two very important components in the plan to help us improve and maintain rail reliability for the train lines SMRT Trains operates. PDSS represents both components, and its successful implementation for the North-South and East-West lines has given us much confidence to scale it for the rest of our lines.”
Commenting on the new partnership, Gan Boon Jin, president of Strides Engineering, said, “Strides Engineering’s collaboration with Bentley Systems on the PDSS demonstrates a firm partnership in combining strong domain and rail operational capabilities with proven technological expertise. The PDSS will enhance and optimize decision-making in rail maintenance. We look forward to bringing the best practices and results of PDSS to other train operators in the region.”
Kaushik Chakraborty, vice president, Bentley Asia South, said, “We are extremely happy and honored to partner with Strides Engineering to forward our common objective of advancing infrastructure. With our combined strengths and industry experience, we will empower rail and metro operators in the region to improve reliability of the infrastructure that serves citizens and residents.”
Evocargo Enters European and Middle Eastern Markets With Market Proven Logistics Service Delivered by Its Autonomous Trucks
(BUSINESS WIRE/AETOSWire)– Global autonomous cargo transportation company Evocargo demonstrated its unmanned logistics platform EVO.1 at EXPO 2020 Dubai.
The Founder and Chief Business Development Officer of Evocargo International Holdings Limited – Andrey Bolshakov presented a smart logistics service based on self-produced unmanned electric logistic platforms EVO.1 (3.5 tons full weight) and EVO.3 (44 tons full weight) and announced a Dubai office opening.
The launch at EXPO 2020 Dubai of the “Global Smart Logistics Strategy” by Evocargo as a comprehensive program backed up by ambitious targets of spreading smart logistic service provided by full-size unmanned vehicles EVO.3 (N3) and EVO.1 (N1) significantly impacts the logistics industry.
The “City of the Future” and a leading R&D center – Dubai is a best place to develop new business connections and potential clients for Evocargo International Holdings Limited. Appearance in the United Arab Emirates was welcomed by the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai.
“We appreciate such a warm welcome of our partners in Dubai and believe that all of our clients will be delightfully surprised to implement some of our latest Autonomous innovations in Smart logistics service. Evocargo’s End-to-end robotization logistics service based on EVO.1 and EVO.3 platforms can decrease transportation cost by up to 60%.” – CBDO of Evocargo International Holdings Limited – Andrey Bolshakov.
EPG organized the processes in the new 22.000m² distribution center and planned the transfer of goods to this new warehouse facility without any disruption to day-to-day operations.
“LFS has helped us to manage our inventory and overall logistics operations for our FMCG distribution division in the most effective way,” says Korwani. “This has given us strict control over the operation. It has also provided us with complete visibility of our stock and helped us with BBD maintenance.”
“As a result of the implementation of LFS, we now have an effective supply chain operation and Al Maya is consistently able to deliver goods to our customers on time,” Korwani adds: “We were always able to count on EPG during the entire changeover process and the move. We are therefore confident that we will rely on the logistics experts at EPG for future projects.” Within a short space of time, Al Maya decided to introduce EPG’s LFS in two additional divisions.
Modern Freight Company (MFC) has further strengthened its dedicated team of professionals with the appointment of Samir Solanki as the new Head of Contract Logistics.
With a proven track record of implementing innovative logistics and supply chain strategies, Samir brings over 20 years of experience to his new role.
Laurance Langdon, General Manager for MFC Group, says: “We are pleased to welcome Samir to MFC. His in-depth experience and knowledge of the contract logistics business in the UAE fit perfectly with our plans for expansion and growth.”
“It is an honour to join a company that I admired. I am excited to bring my ideas and expertise to the position, help the team grow and enhance MFC’s stellar reputation in the industry,” says Samir who has worked alongside MFC for many years.
Having established since 1977, MFC is one of the UAE’s early pioneers in providing end-to-end logistics solutions. With a 50,000 sqm warehouse facility located in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Dubai, MFC delivers an array of warehousing and distribution solutions, together with a complete range of Value-Added Services (VAS) such as promotional packaging services and a dedicated 2,000 m2 facility for non-hazardous chemical storage. Over the years, the company has built strong working relationships with JAFZA and the UAE customs.
Since its first flight on 17SEP20, the leading international cargo airline, together with ECS Group, the world’s largest integrated GSSA, has flown more than 5 million kilos out of Lyon, France
From zero to 211 flights in just 12 months: Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading cargo airline, and ECS Group, the world’s largest integrated GSSA, celebrate their first year of air cargo services out of Lyon (LYS), France. Initially planned as a new Qatar Airways passenger service destination for the summer of 2020, prior to the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lyon was instead subsequently set up from scratch and in record time as a highly successful cargo gateway.
Four times a week, a flexible mix of passenger-to-cargo conversions (B777-300, A350-900, B787-9, and A330) and full-freighters links Lyon, France, eastbound via Doha to more than 50 destinations across Asia, Far East and Oceania. Westbound, Qatar Airways Cargo offers numerous routes out of Lyon via its regional hubs in Liège (LGG) and Luxembourg (LUX) to North and South America.
“Qatar Airways Cargo is proud to be celebrating its first anniversary of serving Lyon, also on behalf of our passenger division who would have been carrying this flag under normal circumstances. Qatar Airways Cargo has consistently demonstrated its flexibility and dedication by providing Lyon customers with a stable, regular service as well as tailored solutions when required, despite the many challenges and restrictions resulting from the pandemic,” Kirsten de Bruijn, Senior Vice President Cargo Sales and Network Planning at Qatar Airways Cargo, said. “Against a backdrop of sky-rocketing operational and fuel costs, Qatar Airways Cargo’s commitment to unparalleled customer-centricity, and its mission to remain the number one international cargo airline, has required agility, adaptability, and determination. These core qualities are shared by our long-standing GSA partner, ECS, which has greatly contributed to successfully establishing and growing the Qatar Airways Cargo brand, services, and network within and beyond Lyon.”
The product mix out of Lyon and its extended catchment area encompassing Marseille (MRS) and Nice (NCE), includes COVID-19-related pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, local high-tech products, and general cargo: commodities that have often required fast, last-minute air lift solutions due to pandemic-related supply chain delays.
“Despite the competition increasingly returning to Lyon, our loyal customers enabled us to celebrate our first anniversary milestone by doing what no other airline has achieved so far: namely operate both a full-freighter and passenger-freighter together that same day, and generate positive bottom line results as well as full customer satisfaction,” Mathias Lepeut, Senior Regional Manager Cargo South Europe at Qatar Airways Cargo, commented. “I am extremely proud of our excellent Sales Team in France, and the committed, professional support of the ECS Group as our exclusive local GSA, for making this happen.”
“The pandemic has taught us that we need to be pragmatic, reactive, adaptable, and, of course, creative at all times. Having a Plan B is crucial to business growth, and is part of the DNA of both Qatar Airways Cargo and our dedicated GSA partner, ECS Group. Our success in Lyon, which we will continue to build on, showcases our joint business acumen and resilience in a logistics world that brings daily challenges. We thank our colleagues, our partner, and our customers for this past year in Lyon, and look forward to many more,” Kirsten de Bruijn concluded.
All the services you have provided at a glance: Contract and Billing (CnB) from EPG is a complete solution for logistics service providers. Are you billing all the services you have provided quickly and without missing anything? It is a real challenge in the vast sea of information, agreements and billing conditions. The certified Contract and Billing (CnB) system from the Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) can significantly increase efficiency and revenue thanks to smart contract management and supply-chain-wide recording of services – all conveniently delivered in a mobile app.
CnB from EPG is a complete solution for digital contract and billing management for all logistics services. From creating a contract to a continuous record of all services, contract assignment and automatic invoicing, CnB provides powerful modules for all your work and process steps in one system.
The main advantages: CnB from EPG ensures that all services under the agreed contracts are billed quickly and in full at the correct price. CnB also documents and reliably bills for any services that you provide beyond the original contract. Customers can then check their invoices conveniently on the customer web portal. Time-consuming changes to invoices and cancellations are therefore a thing of the past. As this shortens the checking process significantly, invoices are paid faster too.
Another advantage is flexibility. In addition to the option of integrating further systems for recording services, custom configurations can be created for billing models and you can check supplier invoices, as well as creating invoices for customers. It is also easy to connect third-party systems, such as warehouse management, transport management and workforce management, providing the necessary flexibility for integration into existing logistics processes. The result is that our customers can reduce the complexity within their ERP systems, as time-consuming and expensive changes to processes are no longer necessary.
Further information about contract and billing management using our Contract and Billing solution is provided in our new whitepaper “The Game-Changer for the Logistics Industry”. You can download the PDF version free of charge from the EPG knowledge platform for logistics at www.epg.com/logistik-know-how.
Swisslog Middle East to showcase data-driven, modular, and scalable automation solutions for the warehousing industry at Seamless Middle East 2021
Swisslog, the global leader in robotic, data-driven and flexible automated solutions has announced its participation at Seamless Middle East, a dynamic summit and large-scale exhibition bringing together the converging worlds of ecommerce, retail, payments, fintech and identity. As a leading logistics and warehouse automation provider, Swisslog will showcase a wide range of reliable technologies to help companies boost their automated material handling performance while reducing costs.
The outbreak of Covid-19 accelerated the pressure on companies to achieve greater operational efficiency, reduce costs and to innovate and grow. 80 percent of global warehouses did not have any automation in 2016, however, the automation market across the region is set for a paradigm shift due to digitalization initiatives by end-user industries. According to recent estimates, global warehouse automation market is set to grow more than 2x from 2019 to 2025, on the back of strong macro and industry growth drivers of eCommerce fulfillment and increasing warehousing labour costs.
Additionally, a recent survey by PwC indicated CFOs across sectors are increasingly focused on the benefits of automation within supply chain functions as they exit the initial shock period of the coronavirus pandemic. The trend is particularly noticeable in the e-grocery, e-commerce and retail sector.
David Dronfield, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East, commented, “The Middle East is an emerging player in the worldwide map, and across the key industry sectors having a competitive advantage will be the key to the ongoing success and development of the organization as well as the region. At Swisslog, we understand the nuances faced by organizations. The team is working round the clock to burst myths when it comes to warehouse automation and demonstrate innovation aimed at embedding efficiency, intelligence, and competitive advantages into warehouse logistics operations, especially for businesses that operate in retail, e-commerce, e-grocery, pharmaceutical, F&B and governmental industries.”
At the exhibition, Swisslog Middle East will introduce its full suite of solutions for smart warehousing including AutoStore, CycloneCarrier and CarryPick for small parts storage and pallet operations. AutoStore, which is showcased with a robot demo, is a highly efficient robotized storage and order processing solution that integrates easily into existing buildings. CycloneCarrier is a dynamic, reliable, efficient and best-in-class shuttle system designed for industries where high throughput and excellent availability are essential. It is particularly well-suited for the requirements of the e-commerce, pharmaceutical and fresh food industry.
“One of our major USP’s is the ease with which our solutions can be implemented without affecting the existing infrastructure. Our solutions are customized to the individual customer’s business needs and challenges to empower them to make this transition in the smoothest way possible and begin to realize the benefits of automation”, added David.
These innovative logistics automation solutions deliver benchmarks of an effective smart warehouse, and an area of innovation that can help businesses across the Middle East improve and streamline operations – increase the speed of order fulfillment, improve order accuracy and effectively manage an ever-increasing number of SKUs. Order fulfillment rates can be up to five times faster than manual systems.
Seamless Middle East is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 29th to 30th September 2021.
Procter & Gamble (P&G), home of leading brands such as Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel® and Herbal Essences®, and Carrefour – which is owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE – have partnered to accelerate their commitment to sustainability by planting 26 forests within one year. Launching on 26th September, customers will be encouraged to take the future of the earth into their own hands by purchasing P&G products from selected Carrefour stores across the UAE.
Coinciding with Climate Week, the collaboration between Carrefour and P&G aims to inspire a movement to guide, educate and call for sustained action when it comes to environmental consciousness. When spending AED 50 or more, customers will receive a raffle voucher/coupon with a QR code to plant a tree, giving them the opportunity to contribute to global conservation efforts as part of P&G’s #ForestsforGood program in conjunction with Carrefour’s 26th Anniversary as a leading retailer in the region. The forestation campaign is available at 30 stores across the UAE, including branches in Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall and Dubai Festival City.
Mohamed Hamouda, VP P&G Gulf, said: “P&G is committed to actively protecting nature through our #ForestsForGood program. UAE businesses are in a unique position to lead efforts to improve our environment and engage consumers in the process. Our longstanding collaboration with Carrefour on its 26th anniversary here in the UAE offers both organisations an opportunity to demonstrate the power of brands to enact positive environmental change. We look forward to building on this coalition through future initiatives with trusted and mindful partners.”
Bernardo Perloiro, Chief Operations Officer of Carrefour UAE at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said: “on our 26th Anniversary year, we hope to inspire future generations by calling for sustained action to truly build an environmental movement. This initiative is just the beginning, and we look forward to partnering with P&G to deliver long-lasting value through every experience with sustainable initiatives that have a measurable, positive impact on our surrounding communities and the world around us.”
This year, P&G has declared accelerated commitment to strengthen progress towards its global Ambition 2030 goals. So far, P&G #ForestsforGood has planted 5 forestation programs in the UAE and 11 more planted across Africa and Asia, with an additional 26 planned within the next year. P&G has also set a new ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its operations and supply chain, from raw material to retailer, by 2040 as well as interim 2030 goals to make meaningful progress this decade.
The joint initiative naturally aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and green spaces program announced by the government earlier in 2021, which sets out to bring people together to create forests on the desert coastline of the UAE. It marks a major step for the region as two world-renowned brands play a key role in helping future generations understand the true value of partnership and join forces to create a sustainable future for all.
In a candid and wide ranging conversation, Waleed AlKhayyat, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, LogiPoint, the long-established Jeddah-headquartered Saudi Arabian logistics services provider, reflects on his professional role, the challenges wrought by the pandemic and how the company has the not only successfully navigated but grown through the turbulence and the vision for the future.
LogiPoint, located in Saudi Arabia’s busiest commercial port on its Western Red Sea coast, is in the forefront of innovation and corporate ambition, harnessing its logistics services, resources and proficiencies in line with the grand Saudi Vision 2030 to catapult the company into the forefront of the industry in the Kingdom and indeed the region.
LogiPoint is the outcome of a joint venture by Saudi Tadawul-listed Saudi Industrial Services Company (SISCO) and the Xenel Group, a large family owned trading conglomerate in the Kingdom.
Q: Briefly describe your professional role at LogiPoint?
Waleed AlKhayyat (WAK): LogiPoint is effectively a Logistics Real Estate Company working as an enabling logistics hub and value creation platform for our clients across a wide range of segments.
We evolve with the markets we serve, we anticipate the needs of our customers and create innovative new solutions which make their supply chains resilient and elastic, and we do it all while adapting and adhering to the requirements of the regulatory bodies and other stakeholders.
In a phrase, we go the extra mile and then a step further to ensure that our clients have the best solutions at their disposal. My role is two-fold. The first is to translate our company’s vision, plans and solutions into a clear and concise message which is readily understood by all our stakeholders.
This starts with our internal stakeholders, our employees and our teams, because first and foremost we need to get a buy-in on our vision and action plans from the very people who will help deliver that vision. It then extends to the external stakeholders–our clients, partners, vendors and even competition.
Once that message is clearly chalked out, the second part of my portfolio is to define and set up communications channels and processes, whether digital or print, conventional or cutting edge, alive with that message.
Q: How are you positioning LogiPoint to be a market leader in the Middle East?
WAK: In essence, a market leading organization gets two aspects right: It builds market leading solutions to succeed in the markets it serves, and it makes sure to announce that success to its current and future clients.
To position LogiPoint as the market leader in the Middle East is to ensure that we communicate to our markets how the LogiPoint value resonates with the world’s leading organizations every day and how committed we are to our customers by being an enabler of their supply chain.
On the one hand, it requires us to keep our clients informed on what new products and solutions we are rolling out or how our existing solutions are evolving with the market needs; and on the other, it means that we need to be seen and heard in the spaces where our prospective new clients are looking for solutions for their Middle East logistics.
In a rapidly digitalizing world, this has meant a quick transition from traditional marketing activities to a hybrid model which leverages digital marketing and social media for direct to customer marketing as much as traditional tools. We apply the latest technologies in marketing data analysis to ensure that we optimize our channels and communicate our message to the right customer at the right time.
Q: As a marketer, what are some of the key lessons you have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and how have you been able to adapt yourself in 2021?
WAK: I think the key lesson for all of us has been that market conditions can change overnight for number of reasons; and while we can have all kinds of contingency plans in place, there can always be a situation when we need to come up with a new plan on the go and execute it immediately. We have all learnt the value of adaptability, resilience and elasticity.
For us marketers, events, conferences, meetings and road-shows suddenly became redundant overnight. We needed to devise, learn and practice new ways of engaging with our markets. We adapted by investing in up-skilling digital marketing knowledge and skills in our team.
The digital space operates at warp speed when compared with traditional marketing space – an event can be planned, lined-up, and executed successfully in a much shorter period than a traditional event or a road-show. So, we needed to adapt and adapt lightning fast.
In a world when we were all confined to lockdowns, the importance of effective networking in the real as well as the virtual world was also brought home to us. We learnt that the relationships we had been nurturing for months and years stood us in good stead when we needed our partners to go the extra mile for us, just as we went the extra mile for our partners.
The decision to adapt quickly helped us connect with our clients. With lockdowns and working from home becoming the norm, our customers increased their browsing time during the pandemic which created an opportunity for us to plug into this audience and deepen our engagement with our market.
The fact that despite the lockdown and the slowing business activity, we have increased our revenue by 25%, expanded our teams across the board, and announced new projects like Warehouse Cluster 5 that bear testimony to how well we have adapted to the new norm.
Q: Share some marketing tips that helped you become a leading marketing professional in your industry?
WAK: My advice is—be authentic. Dare to be creative. Live outside the comfort zone. Learn something new every day. Listen intently. Adapt constantly. and most of all and importantly, care! Care for the company you market, care for the client and their business, care for your team, and always care for the message you deliver and how you deliver it. It really is that simple.
Q: What are some of the challenges you face as a marketer in the logistics industry?
WAK: It’s a fascinating industry – one which literally makes the world go round by keeping the wheels of global economy turning. But it isn’t as glamorous as some of the other industries and so perhaps that can prove to be a challenge for marketers sometimes. We don’t work with nearly as interesting budgets as many of our clients do and that means we have to go ‘one step further’ in getting the most bang for our marketing buck.
Another challenge can be the time it takes between rolling out a marketing campaign and seeing its impact reflected in real numbers. In both cases, it means that marketers, who live for the spotlight pretty much literally, have to create their own new excitement every day. That can be pretty exciting itself when done right.
Q: What opportunities do you foresee in KSA and outside of KSA for LogiPoint?
WAK: Saudi Vision 2030 envisages KSA as a leading global logistics hub enabling trade and value creation. As a pioneering logistics hub in the Kingdom, we like to look at ourselves as the pilot project transforming that vision to reality.
Having proven our value to our clients through our Bonded and Re-Export Zone and our Logistics Parks in Jeddah, we are gearing to expand our footprint across the Kingdom with some exciting new projects in the pipeline.
We know that we can leverage our experience as an internationally recognized logistics real estate company and a multi-award-winning logistics and supply chain hub in Jeddah to build the logistics infrastructure of tomorrow across the Kingdom. We see great opportunity to attract foreign investment to the Kingdom’s logistics landscape through our initiatives.
LogiPoint’s success at home creates opportunities abroad for collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures also – especially so as we grow into the Kingdom’s flagship logistics real estate company. Indeed, we are sailing into some exciting times ahead.
Q: What are the key trends you see happening in 2021 in the logistics industry?
WAK: The key trends in the logistics industry during this pandemic have been adaptability, resilience and elasticity in supply chains, and LogiPoint as an enabling logistics platform creating value for its clients will have a great role to play in catering to these trends.
The pandemic has brought the role of the shipping and logistics industry into sharp focus. The container shipping industry is experiencing an unprecedented windfall, equipment shortages at export origins is creating all kinds of challenges for multiple industries from foodstuff to automotive to construction, changing consumption patterns have already forced many industries to adapt quickly and it looks like everyone will need to continue to adapt until we can put the Covid-19 genie back in the bottle.
Meanwhile, resilient supply chains will come out tops and such resilience will only come if there is elasticity built into those supply chains. It’s hard to see how this will all pan out in the short term or the long term, but what we do know is there isn’t going to be a dull moment in this industry for a long time. What else can a marketer ask for?
Q: How is your corporate vision aligned with LogiPoint goals and objectives?
WAK: The goal is always perfect alignment. You cannot create an effective communication strategy or a marketing campaign without first aligning perfectly with the goals and objectives of an organization. LogiPoint’s goal is to prove itself as an enabling logistics platform which creates value for its clients through eliminating waste and delivering efficient solutions consistently. That is our visions as marketing as well–lock, stock and barrel.
Q: How important is teamwork at LogiPoint?
WAK: It’s a cliché but it rings true every day. Teamwork is everything. Especially so, when we have had to adapt so quickly to so much and as we have made the transition from a largely conventional marketing team to one that thrives on the cutting edge of digital marketing. I am thrilled and grateful at the same time that we proved to be a team that could make this transition smoothly and seamlessly – and have loads of fun too while we were at it.
Acquisition values Blue Yonder at USD8.5 billion, accelerates the Autonomous Supply Chain™ to deliver smarter, more connected supply chains and optimized multi-channel commerce
Panasonic Corporation recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Blue Yonder, the leading end-to-end digital fulfillment platform provider. Panasonic has now purchased the remaining 80% of shares of Blue Yonder, adding to the 20% which Panasonic acquired in July 2020. The investment values Blue Yonder at USD8.5 billion. Since Panasonic’s announcement to acquire all shares on April 23, 2021, the acquisition has completed antitrust clearance procedures and received approval of regulatory authorities in the U.S. and other countries.
The acquisition accelerates Panasonic’s and Blue Yonder’s shared vision for an Autonomous Supply Chain™. By unifying Panasonic’s sensing technologies and edge devices with Blue Yonder’s AI/ML-powered planning, execution and commerce solutions, companies can create smarter and more connected e-commerce strategies, retail stores, warehouses, transportation, and workplaces. This unique end-to-end offering provides customers with unlimited visibility, control, and orchestration, allowing them to pivot operations in real-time, provide superior customer experiences, and deliver more profitable business outcomes.
“With the increasing frequency and impact of supply chain disruptions, companies need data and visibility to make real-time operations decisions. Panasonic’s Edge technology with Blue Yonder’s AI/ML capabilities combines IoT devices and an AI-powered platform to gather and analyze data more quickly and with greater insight,” explained industry analyst Simon Ellis, Program Vice President, IDC. “Panasonic’s resources and Blue Yonder’s innovation will accelerate the development of the tools customers need to anticipate and prevent disruptions and breathe autonomy into their supply chains. Panasonic’s acquisition of Blue Yonder is indicative of what’s to come.”
This acquisition enhances Panasonic’s own digital transformation and customer-centric focus. The Panasonic Group will shift to a holding company system on April 1, 2022, focusing on strategic businesses in key areas such as providing supply chain innovation and automation. Through this transformation, Panasonic aims to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through more efficient use of limited global resources.
The Blue Yonder brand will be retained and the business will function within the Panasonic Connected Solutions Company. Blue Yonder CEO Girish Rishi and the entire leadership team will remain with the company.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is giving all of its guests travelling into or via Abu Dhabi a complimentary ticket to Expo 2020 Dubai, the biggest cultural gathering in the world. The spectacular event, taking place between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, will welcome the world to the UAE. Visitors can enjoy a visit to Expo and also explore the incredible tourist attractions Abu Dhabi and the rest of the country has to offer. The special promotion under the “Exponential Abu Dhabi” campaign starts today and will run until 31 March 2022.
Expo 2020 is just a 45-minute drive from Abu Dhabi, making the capital the perfect place to stay when visiting the event. The city now welcomes fully vaccinated travellers without the need to quarantine, making it exceptionally convenient and accessible.
“Expo 2020 brings many exciting opportunities for Etihad Airways, and we are proud to invite the world to enjoy this event and all that Abu Dhabi and the UAE has to offer,” said Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand & Marketing, Etihad.
“Etihad is currently operating to 65 passenger destinations and we look forward to welcoming guests from all corners of the world to showcase our home. Abu Dhabi is a world-class destination, with a world-class public health programme, and both Etihad and the city have taken a robust approach to ensure health and wellness for residents and visitors alike,” Daly continued.
The first World Expo to be hosted in the Middle East, Expo 2020 Dubai will be the largest event ever staged in the Arab world. From innovation and sustainability, to architecture and new opportunities; 192 countries and millions of visitors will come together in the UAE to share their ideas and leave a meaningful legacy for generations to come.
The Expo 2020 theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ is a pledge of what the event hopes to achieve: to forge a better future through building partnerships and inspiring innovation. Inspired by three subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability – Expo 2020 will also feature up to 60 spectacular live shows every day, as well as more than 200 distinctive dining destinations.
As well as visiting Expo, visitors can enjoy the unique and diverse emirate of Abu Dhabi with its stunning desert landscapes, fabulous sandy beaches and warm, clear waters. The emirate offers adventurers the opportunity to go kayaking in the natural mangroves, sand boarding in the desert, jet-skiing, kite-surfing, go-karting and more. Travellers in need of rest and rejuvenation will find peace in the many tranquil spaces across the city, from serene beaches to luxury spas.
Users of CargoAi.cocan now view and manage all cargo rates directly on the platform (street, contract, spot, interlines…), enabling considerable efficiency gains for freight forwarder and carriers.
Thanks to the “Booking Request” integrated in this new Rate Management functionality, freight forwarders can also make an e-booking request directly via the platform to all airlines.
This new product feature is unique to an air cargo digital solutions platform and provides freight forwarders worldwide with access to market and contract rates, easing capacity procurement decisions and process.
The digitalisation of the distribution and procurement processes accelerates with the inclusion of Rate Management feature integrating the Booking Request on the platform www.CargoAi.co. Not only was it expected by current users but also highly desired by airline and GSA partners.
On the freight forwarding side, detailed cargo capacity booking requests with flight, dimensions and rates are sent to any airline or GSA via a standardised e-mail (or FFR in booking systems). For airlines and GSAs who don’t have eBooking API available, this new functionality allows them to still achieve e-Bookings and thereby benefit from the advantages of a digital distribution process: simplicity, time saving and cost reduction.
This is made possible thanks to CargoAi’s unique and complete live schedule solutions that provides the most accurate schedule data in Air Cargo and has been the backbone for the eQuote (Spot) requests functionality.
“Like all the features we are launching, Rate Management with the integrated Booking Request option is a further step towards the digitalisation of the entire air cargo distribution and procurement process. We developed it following feedback from users of www.CargoAi.co, who are seeking services which have a direct impact on their bottom line, while having a much better visibility and ability to manage their booking requests. Airlines and GSAs can still modify, confirm or reject a booking,” explains Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
CargoAi continues to be at the forefront of the digitalisation of airfreight, making waves by continuously bringing innovative solutions to the market.
MYCRANE has appointed four new franchisees, expanding the footprint of the world’s first digital platform for the search and selection of cranes.
The appointments, confirmed during The Big 5 construction trade show held in Dubai last week, mark the launch of MYCRANE operations in the key markets of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and the opening of MYCRANE offices in Dubai, Muscat, Nur-Sultan and Tashkent. The global business-to-business (B2B) platform – accessed at www.my-crane.com – simplifies the process of crane rental procurement, allowing users to submit details of their lifting requirements in order to receive personalised quotes from a range of registered crane providers.
Already operational in Russia, MYCRANE has been developed by seasoned industry executive Andrei Geikalo, a former commercial director at heavy lift specialist Mammoet. For the first time, customers of the platform can simply and quickly request a crawler, mobile or tower crane without having to rely on manual processes, such as calling suppliers or making multiple offline requests.
The service, operated in countries around the world by a network of local franchisees supported by MYCRANE’s head office team in Dubai, offers cranes with a capacity of between 6 and 750 tonnes. Drawing on the management team’s experience in the industry, the innovative MYCRANE platform has been carefully designed to ensure ease of use, and that the quotes generated are directly comparable. Registration is free for both users and equipment rental companies.
Welcoming his new partners, Mr Geikalo said: “The confirmation of four franchisees so soon after our launch is a testament to the strength of the MYCRANE concept. “Our new partners share our passion for changing the way the crane rental business works, and we would now be happy to hear from other entrepreneurs who may be interested in operating MYCRANE in their home country.”
Besides the lifting services search, MYCRANE offers a number of other tools for the crane industry, including a Marketplace to advertise used equipment, rigging equipment, spare parts and auxiliaries, plus career vacancies. A news portal allows users to stay up to date with the latest industry developments, while in-house support services such as engineering and legal consultancy are also available. Support services, such as engineering for heavy lift projects, are offered on a truly independent basis, meaning clients are presented with a full range of solutions, service providers from the whole of the market, and the most cost-effective solution.
Oryx Mix, one of the key player in the ready mix sector has decided to invest in ten new Renault Trucks K 440 models for better driver safety, comfort, durability, and fuel efficiency. United Diesel has provided after-sales service for three years.
UAE Renault Trucks has announced another fleet deal for the delivery of ten heavy-duty construction trucks to one of the UAE’s leading concrete suppliers, Oryx Mix, to handle concrete industry requirements across the Northern Emirates.
The ten Renault Trucks are additional to the company’s existing fleet of 240 units. The K 440 P8x4 Rigid Chassis models, equipped with 12 CBM transit concrete mixers and supplied by Renault Trucks’ partner United Diesel, will help to optimise local operations as a result of their functionality and fuel efficiency. Oryx Mix will use the trucks to transport ready mix concrete across the emirates of Dubai, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Oryx Mix’s new models will ease operations and increase efficiency, and at the same time deliver the highest levels of safety for its drivers. Every detail of the K 440 model is designed to meet the needs of Oryx Mix’s operations, by optimising business activities and productivity and maximising profitability. The combination of an Optidriver AT 2612F gearbox, with an automatic clutch, a 445-litre tank and a 440hp engine reduces operations costs through the minimisation of fuel consumption.
The driver-centric features of the truck are complemented by the high quality and robust nature of its construction, as well as the range of advanced safety features available. Features such as EBS (Electronic Braking System), Hill Start Aid (HSA), Anti-Spin Regulation (ASR), Wheel Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Emergency Braking Assist, ensure that the drivers are safe and comfortable behind the wheel during operations.
Peace of mind is not only achieved by the wide set of safety features offered but also the high level of aftersales services. A three-year comprehensive service contract is offered, reassuring customers of the continuity of outstanding quality that comes as a standard from Renault Trucks.
Mr. Mohamed Abdullah Al Faihan, deputy C.E.O. of Oryx Mix, commented: “These new Renault Trucks will add immense value to our operations, as proven during the testing phase. The trucks, which feature a comfortable cabin for the driver and holistic safety features, will be used for concrete mixing and further operations by Oryx Mix. In particular, the aftersales offers and the support of the aftersales personnel paved the way for us to choose Renault Trucks.”
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, Mr. Guillaume Zimmermann, said: “This partnership with Oryx Mix represents another major milestone in the growth of the brand in the region. Once again, we are proud to see a major national operator recognising the reliability, efficiency and safety of the Renault Trucks, and our consistently high-quality service, by trusting us. I want to thank again the Oryx Mix team for their confidence and look forward to a long term relationship”
Mike Mokhles Makary, General Manager of United Diesel, commented: “United Diesel is delighted to be a strategic business partner for Oryx Mix, a leader in the concrete mixing industry. Our success in securing this latest deal with a well-renowned, well-established local company, which is one of the market leaders in the concrete mixer industry, serves as testament to United Diesel’s continued commitment to ensuring the highest quality of aftersales services for our clients. In particular, our tailored aftersales support for Oryx Mix consists of a range of services that include 24/7 support, driver training, servicing and repair at the customer’s site, as well as an advanced telematics system.”
SSI Schaefer’s core focus is to build long lasting and supportable solutions for its customers and partners
With the global growth outlook remaining uncertain, there is a stronger need than ever for companies to look for new ways to grow and add value. Creating new and evolving old business models to drive innovation is one way companies can respond to new risks and opportunities.
SSI Schaefer has been in the lead for increased agility and intelligence for robotics and automation in warehouse and other diverse operations. From greater flexibility and scalability to productivity gains, a faster ROI compared to other automation solutions and better resource management, the company has spearheaded the use of production and control systems, computers and the latest in Information Technology in handling processes and machinery in industry.
To explain and elucidate the latest forays in SSI Schaefer’s quest for excelling in its key robotics and automation operations, Global Supply Chain empanelled a core group comprising Matthias Hoewer, Regional General Manager; Carsten Spiegelberg, General Manager, Logistics Solutions, (Automation); Alexander van den Oever, CSS HUB Manager MEA & Africa (Customer Service and Support) and Cosmin Sebastian Ilie, Country Manager—GM, UAE-Middle East and Africa.
Global Supply Chain (GSC):SSI Schaefer has made Innovation and Sustainability the centerpiece of its current strategy. Talk to us about the why and briefly how SSI Schaefer plans to use Robotics and new sophisticated solutions to foster innovation and sustainability objectives?
Matthias Hoewer (MH): Innovation and Sustainability are decisively forming part of an end-to-end concept for our comprehensive solutions. Starting with the product design and manufacturing processes to harnessing the highest efficiency classes for motors, bearings, other eco-friendly recycled materials and ending with long lasting customer support to maintain this high level of efficiency throughout decades of operations, every aspect of our operations is geared to meet our exacting standards.
Smart solutions and Robotics are used to support the optimization of resources within warehousing operations. They allow us to achieve better utilizations rates by smarter resource management and shorter turnaround times of orders within a distribution centre.
The equation is quite simple: Smarter warehousing allows better utilization and therefore less equipment, materials and energy have to be used to achieve the same output.
GSC: As a logistics and materials handling specialist what role do you see for SSI Schaefer “to meet the growing expectations and demands of your customers more efficiently and sustainably” in the words of your CEO, Steffen Bersch?
MH: The demand to design and act more efficiently and sustainably is visible across many industries nowadays. As outlined above it is our role to support our clients along the design process of their warehousing facilities.
Adding another feather to our long list of accomplishments, SSI Schaefer has joined the ‘50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders’ initiative a few years back and as a family owned business looking back at more than 80 years of company history, it is certainly in the nature of our DNA to build long lasting and sustainable solutions for our customers and partners.
GSC: Do you sense the same fervor for modernization, digitalization and sustainability in automation and materials handling sectors in the region?
Carsten Spiegelberg (CS): We do indeed see a strong trend for modernization and digitalization towards automation of intralogistics processes and sustainability plays a significant role in all areas, not only in terms of using sustainable equipment to provide sustainable solutions, but also use automated solutions to provide sustainable processes and structures.
This includes the implementation of semi- and automatic solutions in warehousing and order fulfillment in general, the use of sustainable solutions with energy efficient mechanisms and components, the provision of solutions to facilitate sustainable warehousing and order processing and finally the provision of solutions to support sustainable processes such as vertical farming and others.
GSC: How then specifically is SSI Schaefer replicating this strategy for the Middle East and how is the region responding to these new initiatives?
CS: With its international presence, its comprehensive portfolio and strong innovation capabilities, SSI Schaefer is well prepared to adapt to respond effectively to the specific needs of individual customers. Our customers in the Middle East have always been at the forefront of energy efficient solutions, in particular with semi-automated solutions for temperature-controlled operations in the food and beverage industry.
At the same time SSI has put the sustainable increase in energy efficiency, low energy consumption and minimal wear of the individual components in focus when developing its latest ranges of automated storage and transportation systems.
Our growing local workforce, in close co-operations with the competence centers in our European and Asian headquarters assures that our customers in the region have full access to these innovations, whilst maintaining individual consultation in the local context.
GSC: How has this new focus influenced and affected your performance in the region?
CS: Our continuous focus to provide sustainable solutions and systems has been well received all over. Our energy efficient automated warehouses ensuring sustainable supply chain operations can be found across Asia, not only in places like Korea and Singapore, but also Taiwan, Vietnam, and others, and have most recently been complemented by two cold store ASRS system in the Philippines, dubbed to provide ‘Resilience against climate change and unpredictable events such as the Covid-19 pandemic’.
Whilst warehouse operators in the Middle East are still taking a more cautious approach towards major investments, we can also here see an increase of our business towards sustainable semi- and fully automated warehouse and other supply chain related solution.
GSC: How is the extraordinary growth of E-commerce impacting your business?
CS: Even before the coronavirus pandemic, the retail landscape was changing quickly. E-commerce has been on a stable growth trajectory for some time, with retailers and manufacturers planning their operations and fulfillment strategies to meet future online market demands.
This did force us at an early stage to come up with streamlined, yet flexible fulfillment solutions, modular, efficient and fast and easy to implement.
GSC: What are your expansion plans for the region? What are the top three countries in the Middle East in business prospects and potential?
MH: We are in the unique and enviable situation to say that we can support our clients throughout the entire MEA region already! We do this either through our own in-house teams located in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, or through one of our partners within SSI Schaefer’s wide distributor network across the Middle East Africa region.
The highest potential for larger automated solutions is definitely within the three core markets where we are already directly represented and I believe this will remain the same at least for the next 3-5 years.
Automation is either driven by volumes or by high operational costs, so it wouldn’t surprise me if countries like Egypt, Nigeria or Pakistan will show a growing demand for automated solutions in the near future as well.
GSC:What are the current opportunities in store, competition and challenges for SSI Schaefer in the region going forward?
MH: Globally the outlook for the logistics industry is excellent. The demand clearly outweighs the available resources, which also brings us directly to the challenges for our region. Central Europe, North America and other countries seem to move faster out of the current pandemic than the broad MEA region.
Investment plans are approved quicker and with a longer ROI’s in mind. In times where steel prices or shipping rates rise in double digits on monthly basis, where semi-conductors and electrical components are facing a global shortage, quick and controlled decisions are the key to secure the scarce available resources.
I have to admit, I wish our markets would move quicker in this regard. To counter these shortages, we are pushing towards optimization of existing resources as well. We accomplish this either by retro-fitting or upgrading existing customer sites or by maintaining them in the best possible way through our Customer Service teams.
GSC: Talking about Customer Service, how does SSI Schaefer approach this topic with its automation customers in particular?
Alexander van den Oever (AvdO): Customer Service has become one of the main business drivers for the last couple of years. The Schaefer Maintenance Philosophy (SMP) to our clients is 100% flexible and available to all our customers and it is not limited to automated systems.
From simple Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for annual rack maintenance programmes, to the fully customized ‘all inclusive’, resident maintenance solutions, it is an individual task to pick the right service solutions from our catalog of services for each customer site.
It is important to point out thou, that SSI Schaefer’s strength lies in the local availability of service engineers. By now close to 40% of our job roles in the MEA region are somehow related to Customer Service and Support.
GSC: You mentioned a topic called Resident Maintenance, which we hear more and more in regards to larger automated solutions. Can you explain the concept in more detail for us?
AvdO: The concept of RM or Resident Maintenance has been very common in other parts of the world for many years. Now with the development of larger and more complex automation sites in the MEA region the demand for such services is increasing year by year.
In this concept, SSI Schaefer, as the supplier and manufacturer of the provided automated systems and equipment, takes over the technical service and maintenance with its own technicians and site engineers and becomes a permanent part of our clients’ operational team on site.
Starting with the hiring and on boarding process, team setup and training, up to spare parts management and IT services, the RM team can provide all required technical services which allows our customers to put their own focus on the daily operations.
This constitutes a clear win-win situation, especially for customers that have not been exposed complex automated solutions in the past.
GC: What trends and advent of technologies do you foresee in intra-logistics for the region?
MH: Returning back to the topic of sustainability another global trend, with a huge potential for the logistics industry, is the topic of food security or especially urban farming.
On one hand we see regions like the Middle East with a major shortage of water or agricultural soil, On the other hand we see traditional agricultural countries being exposed to climate change driven droughts or flooding. Both are facing the same issues, with common farming technologies, the risks of highly fluctuating harvests are increasing year on year.
The technological improvements in the sector of vertical farming in recent years are amazing and in combination with automated or semi-automated logistics solutions it will become a game changer for sure.
GSC: Agricultural sustainability and vertical farming are clearly the new ‘mantra’ in the present scenario…..what is your contribution to this sector in the region and what prospects do you foresee?
Cosmin Sebastian Ilie (CSI): SSI Schaefer has been active in the AgriTech sector for a number of years now. We position ourselves as a technology partner and have globally been very successful with our partnership with the German urban farming pioneer Infarm.
Combining Schaefer automation technology with Infarm’s concepts and expertise for urban farming have shown great results and if you ever visit some of the major German food retailers, the delicious Infarm greens and herbs are displayed there!
You may not have to travel all the way to Germany to witness the. The great news is that SSI Schaefer and Infarm will showcase a small exhibit at this year’s Expo 2020 Dubai within the German Pavilion!
GSC: How are you preparing for the upcoming Expo 2020 and what is your level of participation and exposure in the same? What are you planning to highlight?
CSI: We are very excited to be a partner for this prestigious and important event. Located within the German Pavilion, SSI Schaefer together with Infarm and other German companies will showcase a small snippet of sustainable urbanization.
Unlike usual exhibitions where the focus is on products and solutions, the Expo 2020 experience is aiming at education and entertainment for the entire family. We hope to meet our potential customers there and demonstrate our vision of a sustainable future.
GSC: What potential do you foresee in the agriculture and food security segments going forward?
CSI: I believe especially the start of the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the weaknesses of the current and traditional food supply chain structures. Carrying around fresh fruits and vegetables halfway around the globe, might not be the best idea after all.
Especially long-term urban farming will allow us to reduce water consumption, grow healthier food and reduce the carbon footprint by reducing transportation distances between the source of the produce and the consumer.
The technology is still in a startup phase for many products. Focus today is on leafy greens, fish or protein-based animal feed. The outputs are constantly growing, the product range is constantly growing and the overall energy consumption versus the output is constantly decreasing from generation to generation. I believe there is still a lot more to expect in the coming years.
GSC: What are the other intended areas / verticals of growth for SSI Schaefer in the region?
MH: I strongly believe the region is still in a bit of a ‘catch-up mode’ in regards to automation technology in general. Traditional market sectors like Food & Beverage, Fashion, Pharma or Retail has not yet reached 100% saturation and it will become more common to upgrade from conventional warehousing solutions to AS/RS, shuttles or conveying solutions.
Being in the region for almost 14 years now, I have witnessed a constant growth in interest and demand for such solutions. Automation is not the solution for everything, but for a growing number of our clients, it does become a viable option worth pursuing.
GSC: What have been some of your recent major introductions and accomplishments in the region? Please elaborate?
MH: Outside of contracts, customers and orders, I personally feel that our biggest accomplishment throughout the pandemic is that we did manage to keep the team together and that every single employee did her or his utmost to adapt to the new situation and perform under sometime very difficult conditions and challenges.
A huge thank you to my team at this point! Our stamina as a company in these unforeseeable times is now helping us to be ready and grow the business in post-pandemic conditions.
New agreement strengthens Caltex lubricants’ growth and presence in the region
Chevron Brands International LLC (Chevron) and AFAL Manufacturing Limited (AML) of the Tristar Group have signed a long-term license agreement encompassing production, distribution, and marketing of CaltexTM lubricants in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With the signing of this agreement, Chevron has strengthened its already growing presence in East Africa and entrusted its operations to AML as a licensee.
Caltex branded lubricants have been available in East African countries since 2013 through a distributor agreement with Africa Fuels & Lubricants Ltd (AFAL), also of the Tristar Group. The mutual trust and satisfaction from this successful collaboration was a major factor in the realization of the long-term license agreement. Under the new scope, Chevron will provide its world leading technology, and AML will blend, market, and distribute Caltex branded lubricants through its extensive network. The relationship seeks to leverage the synergy of Caltex’s strong brand strength and AML’s extensive market reach to successfully carve out a share in the competitive East Africa lubricants market.
“Chevron has a history in East Africa spanning seven decades and we have collaborated with AFAL since 2013. Over the last eight years, our relationship with AFAL has grown from strength to strength and we are excited to begin a new chapter with AML, which will take the Caltex brand across Eastern Africa. This new agreement also includes lubricants blending options for future expansion,” said Douglas Rankine, GM Middle East & Africa – Fuels & Lubricants. “Both parties worked through the pandemic to deliver the agreement, reflecting an enhanced relationship based on trust, integrity and performance.”
The success of this license agreement and the growing demand for lubricants in the region were major factors in building further the relationship between the Tristar Group and Chevron, and will realize entry into Tanzania as a new market for AML.
This long-term strategic relationship is an indication of Chevron’s commitment and assurance to customers in the East Africa markets to make available quality products and to contribute towards the economic development of the region through the partnership of both Chevron and AML in the East Africa lubricants market.
AML is confident that this move will enable the Caltex brand to gain larger market share in East Africa by capitalizing on cost benefits and synergies of local blending.
“Being selected by Chevron for this significant responsibility is a major show of confidence in the long term relationship between Chevron and the Tristar Group since AFAL was first awarded a lubricants distributor agreement by Chevron in 2013, and will serve as a launch pad for Caltex branded lubricants to expand sales in the East African region. We are confident that local blending is a move in the right direction for this business to remain competitive, and we will spare no effort to strengthen the position of the Caltex brand in East Africa,” said Mr. Eugene Mayne, Tristar Group CEO.
Tristar is a global business, headquartered in Dubai, which offers end-to-end fuel logistics solutions to blue-chip clients including international and national oil companies and intergovernmental organizations. Its integrated energy logistics platform spans road and maritime transportation, specialized warehousing, fuel farms, commercial aviation refueling and fuel supply operations.
AML is committed to manufacture high quality lubricants as per Chevron’s standards and is committed to service customer requirements and the ever-expanding East African market expectations.
With this strategic relationship, Chevron and the Tristar Group are investing more towards meeting an ever-growing demand for Caltex branded lubricants, which cover the consumer, commercial and industrial sectors across the East African region.
MYCRANE has appointed four new franchisees, expanding the footprint of the world’s first digital platform for the search and selection of cranes. The appointments, confirmed during The Big 5 construction trade show held in Dubai this week, mark the launch of MYCRANE operations in the key markets of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and the opening of MYCRANE offices in Dubai, Muscat, Nur-Sultan and Tashkent.
The global business-to-business (B2B) platform – accessed at www.my-crane.com – simplifies the process of crane rental procurement, allowing users to submit details of their lifting requirements in order to receive personalised quotes from a range of registered crane providers. Already operational in Russia, MYCRANE has been developed by seasoned industry executive Andrei Geikalo, a former commercial director at heavy lift specialist Mammoet.
For the first time, customers of the platform can simply and quickly request a crawler, mobile or tower crane without having to rely on manual processes, such as calling suppliers or making multiple offline requests. The service, operated in countries around the world by a network of local franchisees supported by MYCRANE’s head office team in Dubai, offers cranes with a capacity of between 6 and 750 tonnes.
Drawing on the management team’s experience in the industry, the innovative MYCRANE platform has been carefully designed to ensure ease of use, and that the quotes generated are directly comparable. Registration is free for both users and equipment rental companies. Welcoming his new partners, Mr. Geikalo said: “The confirmation of four franchisees so soon after our launch is a testament to the strength of the MYCRANE concept.
“Our new partners share our passion for changing the way the crane rental business works, and we would now be happy to hear from other entrepreneurs who may be interested in operating MYCRANE in their home country.” Besides the lifting services search, MYCRANE offers a number of other tools for the crane industry, including a Marketplace to advertise used equipment, rigging equipment, spare parts and auxiliaries, plus career vacancies.
A news portal allows users to stay up to date with the latest industry developments, while in-house support services such as engineering and legal consultancy are also available. Support services, such as engineering for heavy lift projects, are offered on a truly independent basis, meaning clients are presented with a full range of solutions, service providers from the whole of the market, and the most cost-effective solution.
Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG has turned to the Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) to optimise the logistics processes between warehouse and production. The agricultural machinery manufacturer uses both the LFS Warehouse Management System and the new SUBURBAN control software. This planning and control platform coordinates the wide range of different transport vehicles based on the given order volume and plant infrastructure. Grimme expects annual cost savings of more than ten percent of transport costs. The pilot phase started at the beginning of February. SUBURBAN is scheduled to go live in autumn this year.
Producing a range of more than 150 high-quality machines for potato, beet and vegetable technology, Grimme is the world’s market leader in potato technology. At its main site in Damme, Lower Saxony, the family-owned company produces 4,000 machines a year for harvesting and storing potatoes and for tending and planting the crop. The company’s 5,000 square-metre logistics centre in Damme is adjacent to the production halls with three assembly lines. The centre has a high-bay warehouse with double-deep storage and 14,434 spaces and an automated small parts warehouse with 15,500 spaces. The “supermarket” for interim storage of single parts and welded assemblies before automatic colour-coding and the material supply zones for just-in-time supply to the assembly line complement the logistics centre and ensure there is a permanent flow of goods in the production halls. Unlike in the automotive industry, for example, the in-house logistics has a high manufacturing depth. Combined with high variance of 90 different product ranges and more than 200,000 material numbers, Grimme is therefore dependent on highly standardised logistics processes.
SUBURBAN avoids expensive waiting times and downtimes
Different types of forklift trucks and electric lift trucks that bring larger components such as welding assemblies to their points of use have to be coordinated, in addition to a tugger train that supplies small parts such as chain wheels, O-rings and sheet metal parts. All of which used to be done via different systems and with fixed routes. “We have very complex logistics, so we approached EPG with the goal of establishing a new control system that manages all the movements of material between our production processes on one platform”, says Stefan Daniel, Head of Supply Chain Management at Grimme. SUBURBAN brings together all these requirements by coordinating all sections to avoid expensive waiting times and downtimes. The software solution complements the LFS Warehouse Management System with a solution that fully networks all logistics processes. “We think of the plant with all its movements and warehouses in SUBURBAN as a small city where all the transport movements from all the systems converge. That eliminates the individual islands that exist at the moment”, explains EPG Product Manager, Steffen Thron.
At Grimme, transport orders come from different systems
The particular challenge when introducing SUBURBAN at the agricultural machinery manufacturer is that the transport vehicles are supplied with transport jobs from different systems. Commands come from the logistics warehouses via LFS, but also from the production hall via the ERP system. “SUBURBAN now gives us a solution that coordinates our different systems and bridges the critical interfaces”, says Daniel. From 2022 onwards, it is also possible that transport movements between the individual locations will be interconnected via the public road network.
Exports Office aims to expand market reach of Emirati non-oil exporters in Africa and Asia
Collaboration with different stakeholders to raise awareness of UAE exporters on ADEX’s financing solutions
Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), the UAE-wide export financing entity founded by Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, has reached key milestones in its efforts to boost the UAE’s non-crude export sector and support global market expansion of Emirati exporters.
In its first full year of operation in 2020, ADEX committed AED500 million (USD 136 million) to overseas buyers to finance their procurement of UAE goods and services. In 2021, ADEX allocated AED 735 million (USD 200 million), a 33.3 per cent increase compared to 2020.
His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and Chairman of the Export Executive Committee of ADEX, pointed out that the office had made great progress over the past two years at the local and international levels as evidenced by the growing support for local exporters and the steady expansion of their exports of goods and services.
HE said: “ADEX continues to transform challenges into opportunities according to the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership. We will continue with our initiatives to strengthen the global market positioning of UAE goods and services in line with the government’s ‘make it in the Emirates’ initiative and the strategic objectives of ‘Operation 300bn.’ Both aim to develop the UAE’s industrial sector and enhance its role in strengthening the national economy. By doing so, we can further achieve the country’s diversification goals and build a more sustainable environment for the industrial and export sectors. We are confident that ADEX’s financing solutions to foreign importers will open up new opportunities for UAE exporters to expand to new markets.”
Two Years of Success
ADEX has been building robust collaborations with several government, semi-government, and private entities over the past two years. To support the export sector, ADEX signed several agreements and Memorandum of Understanding with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development; the Department of Economic Development in Ajman; the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sharjah Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Abu Dhabi Global Market; Etihad Credit Insurance; Dubai Industries and Exports; and the Emirates Development Bank. Also, ADEX has conducted webinars to raise the awareness of their members involved in exports about ADEX’s financing services and ways to leverage its solutions.
ADEX has strengthened its international relations as well to increase UAE exporters’ access to global markets across continents. It took, for instance, key steps to promote the UAE’s trade ties with Eastern and Southern African countries. Specifically, ADEX sealed an agreement with the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), one of the most prominent multilateral development financial organizations in Africa, to open line of credit worth AED 110.2 million. Their agreement aims to enable UAE exporters to expand in Africa by giving African importers access to funds in order to purchase UAE made goods and services.
In addition, ADEX has signed a cooperation agreement with TDB to establish robust business and trade ties between the UAE and Africa by exploring the possibilities of co-financing and establishing additional lines of credit.
Furthermore, ADEX provided AED 22 million to Jenaan Pipes & Irrigation Systems to finance its infrastructure project in Egypt. The fund will enable the company to import raw materials from Borouge, a leading UAE petrochemicals company, to manufacture and supply irrigation systems to one of the world’s largest refineries situated in Egypt.
Strategic Move Towards Sustainable Export Sector
Saeed Hamad Al Dhaheri, Acting Director General of ADEX, said: “We are proud of our accomplishments over the past two years. We will move forward to reach new heights of success and enable our non-oil exporters to achieve their goals and increase their profits. Through our support, we are furthering their contributions to the national economy. Our financing solutions are designed to accelerate the diversification of the UAE economy and the growth of the local non-oil sectors, in line with the country’s strategic visions. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure the expansion of national exporters.”
“We look forward to enhancing our contributions in the coming years and leveraging promising opportunities to bolster the export sector and explore new global markets for our exporters. This is in line with the 10X10 Program, a recently launched government initiative under the ‘Projects of the 50.’ We are committed to promoting the local exports, as well as supporting Emirati export companies’ expansion in 10 markets identified by the 10X10 Program,” Al Dhaheri added.
Al Dhaheri praised the Emirati companies for their continued efforts to achieve sustainable growth, pointing out their unique position to expand globally in light of the unwavering support of the UAE leadership to all local companies across vital sectors.
He stated: “As we celebrate ADEX’s second anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to utilizing our capabilities to support and ensure the sustainable growth of national exports by providing financial support that enables Emirati exporters and their expansion across potential global markets. We will collaborate with all entities and stakeholders in UAE to boost the country’s export industry as an important pillar of a diversified economy and sustainable development strategies.”
Established to provide loans and guarantees to overseas buyers and importers of Emirati goods and services, ADEX has been instrumental in increasing the volume of national exports, opening new markets for national companies, promoting the export and industrial sectors’ contributions to the non-oil GDP, and supporting the diversification efforts in line with the UAE’s sustainable development.
SAL, Saudi Logistics Services company, signed an agreement with Gulf Air – the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier – to provide ground handling solutions to their fleet at all KSA main airports. The Saudi company said that this 7-year agreement is another step towards enhancing the expansion plans and strategic relations with diverse airlines with high cargo operational capacity.
SAL’s CEO Hesham Alhussayen noted that the agreement represents years of mutual cooperation in both passenger and cargo flights with Gulf Air, and that the Bahraini leading airline will benefit from SAL’s wide range of logistics services and offerings. He highlighted the pivotal role SAL plays in facilitating cargo movement at all main airports where the company utilizes its full logistic capacity to effectively serve airlines through its full-fledged modern facilities according to high international standards.
Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi welcomed the partnership and noted that such agreements will strengthen its presence and expansion into important markets such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
SAL is a specialized ground handling company and in 2020 only it handled a total of 900,000 kg for Gulf Air in all main airports in KSA. SAL provides premium ground handling services for multiple airlines at Saudi Arabia’s local airports and logistic support with cargo chain solutions. The company also connects all means of transportation with regional airports to make a significant contribution to Vision 2030 and transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub.
After a phase of conclusive tests in France, the worldwide cargo capacities of IAG Cargo are now available on the air cargo digital solutions platform www.CargoAi.co
This global roll-out allows freight forwarders to avail of e-Quotation solutions and e-Booking with just a few clicks for more than 60 countries that IAG Cargo offers
IAG Cargo is the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), utilising the freight capacity of its sister airlines’ – British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL aircraft
14th September 2021 – today it is announced that IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) joins the CargoAi platform. CargoAi is an artificial intelligence-enabled airfreight platform that connects freight forwarders and airlines. With thousands of flights per week across the globe, IAG Cargo’s addition to CargoAi means a significantly broadened offer for forwarders using the platform.
IAG Cargo’s listing on www.CargoAi.co also means forwarders will be able to easily book cargo capacity to hundreds of destinations across the world in the IAG Cargo network accessing the freight capacity on IAG Cargo’s sister airlines in the IAG group: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and LEVEL.
“IAG Cargo’s ‘always moving’ spirit promises to get the goods of customers to where they need to be. I like this ambitious philosophy that is focused on action and customer satisfaction. Likewise, at CargoAi, we are committed to ensuring that our users find the air transport solutions that suit their needs and can very easily book the required capacities at the best price. The integration of the cargo capacities of IAG’s five airlines is undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity for our users!” says Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with CargoAi, offering our customers yet another solution to book their freight online with IAG Cargo. In today’s digital world, there’s no such thing as business hours with customers increasingly wanting the option of booking online, any time, from anywhere, to any destination on our network. We’re always looking for fresh and innovative products to support customers such as CargoAi, a powerful yet simple e-booking tool.” explains John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer of IAG Cargo.
Thanks to the cutting-edge digital solutions and functionalities, which are complemented by a rapidly developing portfolio, finding and comparing air cargo transport solutions have now become child’s play on www.CargoAi.co.
CEO Adrien Thominet was recently appointed Executive Chairman of ECS Group, succeeding Bertrand Schmoll. He took over the Executive Chairman role on 01 August 2021.
Adrien Thominet has been with ECS Group for more than 25 years, becoming its COO in 2011 and then CEO in 2017. Over the past four years, ECS Group has seen enormous development, both in network and client base growth, as well as in innovation and technology. The world’s largest integrated GSSA which is driven by its credo to be “more than a GSSA”, has worked to disrupt and reinvent the traditional GSA concept, and to future-proof the ECS Group service portfolio. In this regard, it offers airline customers a Total Cargo Management (TCM) concept, alongside a wide range of “à la carte” services and abilities.
By investing heavily in digitalisation, successfully introducing and adapting a range of inhouse business intelligence and training platform tools, ECS Group ensures complete alignment with the evolving needs of its airline customers. It has proven to be a valuable air cargo logistics partner not simply in its operational expertise, but also as a forward-thinking industry consultant. Today, it represents over 150 quality airlines of all sizes across the globe, and provides capacity support to around 10,000 freight forwarders. The Group has seen exponential development on all continents, and now numbers more than 1,200 employees across 167 subsidiaries in 50 countries within APAC, Europe, North America, and Latin America. In 2020, it transported a record 1,1 million tons of cargo.
“I am honoured to have been appointed Executive Chairman,” Adrien Thominet, ECS Group Executive Chairman, states. Given the disruption and challenges the aviation industry has recently faced with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an acute need for flexible, resource-efficient, expert business management solutions. This is precisely the kind of support that ECS Group strives to provide, Adrien Thominet underlines in his new function as Executive Chairman: “Today, more than ever, the air cargo industry is at a crossroads, and our ambition as the leading worldwide GSSA, is to provide the optimum support to our customers in this changing environment.
We are therefore committed to continuously improving and developing innovative, sustainable, high value-added solutions and services to best serve them.” ECS Group’s intense digital, commercial, administrative, and organisational transformations over the past few years have culminated in a revised and enhanced product offering, along with an increased focus on sustainability going forward. “We will soon be publishing the results of our revised commercial direction with the launch of our Augmented GSA concept in the coming weeks,” he discloses.
IKEA has launched a new store concept with an automated small parts system by Swisslog. As part of the furniture giant’s ‘Store of the Future’ program, the pilot solution was completed at the IKEA store in Zagreb, Croatia. Representing the first in a series of future projects, IKEA stores around the world are set to harness the power of a micro fulfillment approach to customer experience.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 07th September 2021 – Swisslog, a global leader in robotic and data driven solutions for intralogistics, implemented the new automated system, which is in the store between the Market Mall and the Cash & Carry warehouse area. The company is now set to support IKEA in rolling out the micro fulfillment concept in further locations around the world.
Productivity increase from 20 to 170 order lines per hour
“The micro fulfillment solution at IKEA gives customers a choice between Click & Collect and home delivery,” says Jens Schmale, Head of Region EMEA at Swisslog, emphasizing, “The micro fulfillment approach has countless advantages, including improved speed and efficiency of fulfillment, reduced transportation costs, and shorter delivery times.”
IKEA selected the highly efficient robotized storage and order processing solution AutoStore, complete with 6,000 bins, 14 robots and 4 picking stations. Currently hosting 2,900 articles, the system takes care of the storage and picking of small items weighing no more than 30kg.
Before adopting AutoStore, IKEA estimated an average of about 1km traveled by each operator to prepare an order, with a productivity rate of 20 order lines per hour. Today, with the new automated and data-driven solution, it is expected to increase productivity up to 170 order lines, allowing an important rationalization of the store’s resources with a significant return on investment.
Development of customer experience program
“Swisslog is very proud to be partnered with IKEA,” Schmale continues. “The whole team is excited to be supporting in the development of their customer experience program, especially with this pilot project.”
In the Croatia store, the Swisslog AutoStore system with Black Line robots is situated on a mezzanine. A Swisslog QuickMove light conveyor line transports the shipping units set up at the AutoStore picking doors, to an automatic machine for packing and closing the cartons ready to be taken to the outbound area. The small items handled by AutoStore are integrated with the online orders of oversized items, before being manually picked from other warehouse areas. The entire solution is managed and optimized by Swisslog SynQ Software.
Commissioned to Swisslog in July 2020, the system was implemented only nine months after IKEA placed the order and was operational by April 2021.
Micro Fulfillment expertise
Swisslog has already proven itself as an ideal partner for micro-fulfilment centers at grocery and e-commerce chains around the globe. One example is Peapod Digital Labs, Ahold Delhaize USA’s digital and e-commerce engine, also recently announced it is working with Swisslog to pilot micro-fulfillment technology. Part of an e-commerce fulfillment center, the pilot launches as Ahold Delhaize USA companies continue to pursue their ambitions of becoming the leading omnichannel grocery retailer in their markets. The EFC is planned to help meet customer demand in the Philadelphia market, and is expected to fulfill approximately 15,000 online orders per week for delivery to customers’ homes.
SOHAR Port and Freezone recently held the second webinar in its series with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) designed to increase visibility in the Indian market and highlight trade opportunities between SOHAR and Indian businesses. Conducted online, the webinar explored opportunities in SOHAR’s rapidly growing food cluster, an industry that has already yielded mutual benefits for Indian exporters and Omani distributors. It also featured three local success stories from Sohar Flour Mills, Oman Oilseeds Crushing Company SAOC and Al-Hosn Logistics and Warehousing Services.
Omar Al Mahrizi, CEO of SOHAR Freezone, said, “India is one of the Sultanate’s strongest trade partners in this cluster. The variety of high-quality produce and close proximity of producers in India to Oman makes this a sector where we can generate significant increases in traffic. There are already a large number of Indian companies in SOHAR Freezone, 35% of which are Indian, and while there is a strong will to become self-sufficient, the need for produce outstrips growth in Omani produce which stands at 6% per annum. We still have a huge trade deficit, importing 10 times the amount exported, which creates the potential for service providers to enter the market and for more employment opportunities to be created within the sector.”
India is the third largest partner country for food imports by value, behind Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, however the volume of the imports suggest India is likely to become the largest exporter. Supplies of fruit, vegetables, cereals, rice, tea, coffee, spices, dairy, eggs and meat can be found throughout the country. In 2020, India exported almost 16,000 TEU of food products to Oman – 53% of which were fruits and vegetables. Rice, Basmati and non-Basmati varieties, accounted for a further 19% of imports. India also exports a large volume of – mostly frozen – meat to Oman, mainly poultry, buffalo, sheep and goat meat.
Food imports to the GCC region are projected to grow to over USD 53 Billion with a surrounding market of 2.2 Billion people as Oman relies on imports for up to 70% of all food produce. SOHAR Food Cluster, at Oman’s gateway to international trade, is ideally positioned at the crossroads of East-West. It also has its own dedicated agro-berth in the Port, as well as on-site processing facilities for key commodities including flour, sugar and edible oil.
SOHAR Port and Freezone’s location offers functional connectivity and global market access. The container terminal, managed by Hutchinson Ports Sohar, now has a 24/7 customs clearing service, specifically for agricultural products. The Port operates a customs clearing service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a bonded transport corridor between Port and Freezone which allows goods to reach their destination in under 14 minutes.
The Freezone is equipped with warehousing and cold storage, logistic service providers and is a vital logistics hub to move goods within the Gulf region. SOHAR offers access to raw materials as well as attractive incentives for downstream food processing and packaging. This potentially includes processing of cereals, bakery products, beverages, edible oils, confectionary, etc. The food packaging industry could benefit from the existing aluminium and plastic producers operating in SOHAR.
David Lara, renowned air freight expert, joins CargoAi’s Board of Advisors from 1st September 2021. Former SVP Global Airfreight Procurement & Capacity Management at CEVA Logistics for 20 years, his expertise provides a major value addition to CargoAi for product development in connection with customer needs.
David Lara will be a part of CargoAi’s next Quarterly Business Review, in early September, along with the other members of the Board of Advisors*. There will be a work programme based on product development and its roadmap, business development and the strategy of CargoAi.
“Beyond his role and contribution, David is a great mentor for the team. David perfectly understands our industry, the needs of each player and especially those of freight forwarders and airlines in terms of procurement and commercial management. It is a priceless opportunity for CargoAi to be able to benefit from his expertise and an absolute honour to have him with us on the Board of Advisors” says Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
Ensuring newly offered products are in line with customer expectations and are brought to the market as fast as possible, is one of the factors driving the strategy of the Air Cargo Digital Solutions platform CargoAi.co. The Board of Advisors brings a wealth of experience to the table.
“I deeply share CargoAi’s values and its ambition to digitise air freight. I am therefore delighted to share my experience and contribute to attaining this objective by being a member of the Board of Advisors. Our industry has specific needs and constraints in terms of digitisation and CargoAi has the intelligence to surround itself with people who have customer vision and the field experience to offer simple products to users, and above all those that meet the actual needs,” said David Lara.
Favourable impact due to renewed growth in sector conscious of energy costs
The favourable outlook of the hospitality industry has resulted in an uptake of Ariston Middle East renewable solutions -heat pumps and solar panels for water heating. As hotels, restaurants and other entities in the hospitality industry experience an upswing, water heating solutions harnessing natural resources of sun, heat and air are given priority. Reducing energy cost is a top consideration, solar panels and heat pump technology is favoured thereby contributing to the company’s sustainability program.
“The hospitality industry has a high demand for hot water. Guest rooms, swimming pools and restaurants require large quantities depending on capacity so cost of water heating is a major consideration. This is true for the industry all over the world. As the UAE benefits from the imminent Expo 2020 traffic and a return to normal, our design engineers see an inclination to environment friendly solutions that also benefit customers by minimizing energy consumption. The building of NEOM in Saudi Arabia is yet another opportunity for Ariston Thermo’s sustainable solutions. Heat Pump technology is gaining ground due to its simplicity and effectiveness. The abundance of sunshine in the region make solar energy a natural choice.” Says Alberto Torner, Head of Ariston Thermo Group in the Middle East, Turkey and Caucasus.
Heat Pumps to Witness Fastest Revenue Growth in U.A.E. & Saudi Arabia’s Heating Equipment Market till 2030
Post Covid, the Heat Pump market, led by Ariston Thermo products, is expected to grow.
With Dubai Expo 2020 almost here and the increase in visitors, market revenue of heat pumps which was $89.5 million in 2019, is predicted to surge to $121.4 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 2.9% between 2020 and 2030 (forecast period).*
The hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia has been holding its ground despite the pandemic. Vision 2030 and the numerous projects it has spawned like NEOM, Qiddiya and The Red Sea Development account for an unprecedented upswing. More than 20 new hotels, a few with international brand names and a few through strategic partnerships with the leading domestic hospitality groups have been opened resulting in addition of more than 8,200 rooms to the existing supply covering all sections of the market. This increase definitely comes as a boon to the revenue growth in the heat pump market.**
Ariston Thermo Technology intergrates Heat Pumps and Solar Panels
Electric heat pumps reduce energy consumption up to -55% as compared to traditional boilers. By absorbing the free and ecologic heat directly from the air, heat pumps are the best example of technology in complete harmony with the environment. Buying and installation costs are also lower, and it is a ‘future-proof’ product. Ariston Thermo products offer the option of integrating with other sources of power such as solar panels.
To meet the demand for hot water, Ariston Thermo places efficient hybrid systems which comprise of heat pumps and solar collectors. These systems utilise solar energy generated by the collectors to pre-heat the water needed by the users of the building. Built in heat pumps assure that the water reaches the required temperature. Such a hybrid system results in the optimum savings in energy since heat pump as a backup source utilize the ambient air temperature to heat up water while keeping electric consumption low.
Several hotel projects around the UAE leverage a combination of solar power and heat pump technology. One of the larger Ariston Thermo solar and heat pump installations supplies 58,000 litres a day at the Hilton Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. The hotel’s 272 rooms, one VIP chalet, ten chalets, main restaurant, and staff accommodation are in five different buildings. The entire system has been designed by Ariston design engineers taking into consideration the specific withdrawal estimated profile for each building of the complex. The renewable water heating system of each building is independent of others. Both the natural and forced circulation systems are integrated with a split air-to-water heat pump water heater. The solar fraction performance of the system is variable from system to system but always above 80% to ensure maximum comfort and energy savings. Additional savings is provided by the Heat Pumps. Considering both the solar and air source, the saving is over 550,00kWh, the equivalent to a reduction of 330,000 kg of CO2 emissions.
In Saudi Arabia, hotel projects have been completed across the country. They include Acqua Rafal in Jeddah, hotels in Madinah and Vocco Towers Holiday Inn project in Dammam in addition to others in NEOM.
“Sustainable and efficient products, solutions and processes can make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption and make an environmental impact without sacrificing comfort” adds Alberto Torner. “These concerns were not as prevalent when we started operations of Ariston Thermo in the region 40 years back but are acknowledged today and we are proud to be as relevant to our customers here today as we were then.”
In striving for greater awareness and usage of the CTU Code in order to improve safety in the intermodal supply chain, the Cargo Integrity Group (CIG) has published its Quick Guide to the Code, and its accompanying Container Packing Checklist, in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
The five organisations[1] that are collaborating in CIG are dedicated to achieving greater levels of safety, security and environmental performance within containerised global trade. The production of a Quick Guide to the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code), along with a Checklist of actions required of those packing cargo in freight containers, is pivotal to achieving safe and secure transport. Now the Quick Guide and Checklist have been translated from the original English into each of the other United Nations official languages and are available for download HERE
In announcing the news, Peregrine Storrs-Fox, Risk Management Director of insurer TT Club commented, “We must have higher standards of cargo integrity, if we are to arrest safety deficiencies in the supply chain – most vividly demonstrated by the too frequent occurrence of container ship fires. This means those in warehouses and manufacturing facilities who pack and secure cargo in containers, as well as shippers and forwarders preparing documentation and declarations that describe the goods in detail, must take responsibility to ensure adherence to safety guidelines. The CTU Code covers such roles and practices and one of the primary aims of CIG is to promote its universal use. The Quick Guide has distilled the Code, our multi-lingual versions will help disseminate it.”
The Group is planning further translations. This is to create a better understanding of the complex dangers that may result from poorly packed or mis-declared cargo. The flexibility of containerised trade, and its efficiency in the movement of goods means individuals, many kilometres from the ocean, and with little knowledge of maritime operations, or indeed other modes of transport, are tasked with packing containers with a hugely varied range of goods. Enabling access to safety guidelines, in their own language is crucial.
“If a product is packed in an incorrect way, it is usually because the packers have not been properly trained or informed about the potential risks,” commented Richard Steele, CEO of the association representing cargo handling organisations, ICHCA International. “The goods involved in initiating fires, stack collapses and vehicles roll-overs may not always be the more obvious hazardous chemicals. Badly secured steel coils, poorly stowed barrels of any liquid or inappropriately packaged charcoal could all result in incidents of serious injury, or even fatalities as well as significant cargo and property damage. Such understanding must surely be improved by a wider implementation of the CTU Code.”
In addition to these efforts, the CIG partners are seeking changes to the relevant regulatory requirements in order to improve their effectiveness. It hopes to encourage monitoring of packing performance through cargo screening and more effective container inspection regimes. CIG’s overall aim is to work with other industry and governmental stakeholders to instil a better understanding of safe cargo packing and handling practices throughout international supply chains.
The award emphasises the crucial role played by the cargo carrier in supporting trade from Nepal
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading air cargo carrier was awarded by Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA) for achieving the highest export tonnage (2850 tonnes) out of the country for 2020. The award was handed over in Kathmandu during the annual Nepal Cargo Day celebration organised by NEFFA on 29 July 2021.
The awards are held every year by the association to honour the top three carriers for their roles in supporting the country’s exports. Qatar Airways Cargo has been securing the first position for the highest uplift from Nepal for more than a decade.
Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “I am proud and humbled to receive the award for highest exports from Nepal. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our teams who go above and beyond to support our customers. Their dedication and team work especially during the challenging times of the pandemic last year has been vital. We also appreciate the trust and support of our customers, local authorities and business partners.”
Nepal is a key market for the airline and it has been operating flights to its capital city, Kathmandu since 1997. The airline’s export market share in 2020 was 45% of the total exports from Nepal while imports constituted 44%. Qatar Airways Cargo currently operates double daily flights to and from Kathmandu for the month of August, offering more than 150 tonnes of cargo capacity each week, each way. Through its hub in Doha, the airline connects Nepal with important export destinations in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia.
During the pandemic, it played a crucial role to facilitate trade in Nepal and support the country and businesses with import and export requirements and even introduced passenger freighters on ad hoc basis, along with its scheduled flights to and from Kathmandu, to ensure continuity of trade.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are well-recognised as the drivers of economic growth and diversity, and are at the centre of promoting equitable development. According to the World Bank, they constitute more than 90% of companies worldwide and contribute more than 50% of the global GDP.
In Qatar, they play a vital role in the overall growth of the industrial economy while helping the nation diversify and move away from reliance on fossil-fuel-centred industries and sectors. This sector is pivotal for facilitating innovation and economic growth as they lay the foundation for future companies and are responsible for employment and revenue generation. They are also more agile and responsive to change, which is essential – in a post Covid-19 period.
In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, the logistics sector plays a very important role in Qatar’s goal of diversifying its economy and reducing the country’s reliance on hydrocarbons. Qatar is already in the midst of a huge infrastructure boom, with Doha Metro now up and running, a network of new roads, expressways and free zones, in addition to Hamad Port and the massive investment in Hamad International Airport and its expansion.
All of these capital projects are yielding positive results and drawing investors from all over the world. Developing industrial and logistics parks and operating a seamless business set-up process are the next logical steps in this strategy.
Benefits for MSMEs
Apart from finding seed capital, one of the key challenges for new businesses is managing the supply chain and accompanying logistics. Without a fully-fledged logistics or industrial park, businesses are often faced with inefficient infrastructure to operate effectively and profitably. This inevitably raises the cost of running a business as the owner needs to pay numerous middlemen in order to get their product to market. In addition, start-ups may be unable to deliver their product to the consumer or face other operational challenges which make it hard to operate or conduct business. It’s a quick way to kill a promising start-up.
Reginal Growth Powerhouse
The Al Wukair Logistics Park is set up as part of GWC’s efforts to support MSMEs and enable them to thrive. This strategically positioned 1.5km² facility caters for a whole range of industries that require light industrial workshops, storage units and open yards; offering ideal platform for established companies and new market entrants. Al Wukair is one of several facilities attracting businesses to the country, along with Qatar’s commitment to offering a simple company formation process – in which GWC is able to support.
Al Wukair logistics park offers a one-stop-shop for leasing a warehouse or workshop, company formation formalities, including applications for necessary permits, and logistics operations. Start-ups who work with GWC will benefit from years of local, regional and international experience, along with a global, integrated network. GWC’s deep, hard-earned knowledge of the local market makes Al Wukair Logistics Park the ideal destination for businesses to avail of and enjoy the best logistics infrastructure that will allow them to focus on their core businesses and reap the benefits of a flourishing economy.
There is no doubt that businesses prefer locations – such as Al Wukair Logistics Park – that provide quick, efficient, high-quality and hassle-free access to different industries. One major benefit of Al Wukair is its strategic location.
“Al Wukair Logistics Park will exhibit our expertise and capabilities to offer value solutions to our clients that will positively affect their bottom line while enabling them to focus on their core business,” stated GWC Group CEO Mr. Ranjeev Menon. “The strategic location of the park between the airport and seaport, allows businesses of all sizes to operate as efficiently as possible. Al Wukair plays a critical role in supporting start-ups, helping to develop adjacent industries and in the process boosting entrepreneurship – all key, strategic goals of the State of Qatar.”
Efficient Ecosystem
Support industries often establish their bases at industrial parks to benefit from proximity to their clients and low operating costs. For example, the furniture industry depends on the supply of various types of wood in order to manufacture goods according to the needs of their customers. This simple example highlights the importance of industries that provide ancillary support to enterprises located at light industrial parks in creating an efficient ecosystem that benefits all tenants.
Creation of industrial clusters
While the internet makes it seem as if physical locations are unnecessary, creating and maintaining a competitive advantage is dependent on clusters – either upstream or downstream – in many industries around the world. As localised clusters grow, they will attract similar or adjacent industries. This will eventually create more opportunities and consequently grow the economy.
Growth of entrepreneurship
The government of Qatar has taken many steps to promote entrepreneurship. Just one example of its commitment is the establishment of incubation centres. The mandate for incubation centres remains narrow, while the role of light industrial parks is potentially much larger. Facilities such as Al Wukair provide a strong environment for entrepreneurs who can easily access necessary resources.
Importance of a well-formed infrastructure
A well-formed infrastructure is characterised by accessibility, affordability and reliability. These powers businesses of all sizes, especially MSMEs, by enabling them to make sustainable profits, thus leading to economic development.
“Robust infrastructure makes market access easy and boosts manufacturing and trade, which subsequently leads to economic growth. With these goals in mind, GWC is proud to support the country as it gears up to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM and achieve the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and beyond. As the first regional supporter and official logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, GWC will be there to help SMEs which are part of this milestone event to deliver their goods and services.” Added Mr. Menon.
To this end, the Al Wukair Logistics Park will play a very pivotal role, as the main distribution hub during the World Cup, in assisting MSMEs with their deliverables.
The Logistics Park will be part of GWC’s mandate to offer a broad spectrum of services ranging from end-to-end logistics services, from point of entry to point of use and highly coordinated reverse logistics, thus giving MSMEs the chance to boost their bottom line and take advantage of new business opportunities arising due to the world’s largest event, which is as much an economic event as it is a sporting event. GWC will be working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises launch their businesses in Qatar.
This World Cup will provide astute entrepreneurs the opportunity to tap in new avenues in hospitality, tourism, transportation and construction, among other sectors and a platform to innovate, strategise and grow domestically as well as in global markets.
After 8 years in providing supply chain and distribution consultancy to the healthcare industry I have decided to join the Healthcare team within CEVA Logistics in a global sales leadership position. I am excited to join a dynamic global team of healthcare industry professionals within CEVA Logistics to further develop the healthcare logistics portfolio globally.
Covid-19 has been a game changer for most companies. Companies now place more emphasis on their global supply chains and understand the critical importance of healthcare logistics and how this adds value to their business.
I have always tried to bring real value to the industry as well as write regular white papers on topics of interest to the industry. There is still much to do to support healthcare clients with industry compliant logistics solutions to help transport healthcare and pharmaceutical products around the world between factories into distribution warehouses and from there to pharmacies, hospitals and care institutions to patients.
It’s an exciting journey to help build on existing transportation and warehousing solutions within CEVA Logistics Healthcare to help provide end to end supply chain solutions. At CEVA Logistics Healthcare we are building supply chains for patients. Looking forward to being part of this journey.
A new digital platform has been launched to disrupt and simplify the process of crane rental procurement. MYCRANE – a global business-to-business (B2B) platform accessed at https://my-crane.com/ – allows users to submit details of their lifting requirements in order to receive personalised quotes from a range of registered crane providers.
Besides the lifting services search, MYCRANE offers a number of other tools for the crane industry, including a Marketplace and support services such as engineering and legal consultancy. The site has been developed by entrepreneur and industry professional Andrei Geikalo, a former commercial director in the heavy lift and project cargo sector.
“MYCRANE was born out of the desire to change the existing outdated and inconvenient methods of procuring crane services, and to make life easier for those who require lifting services,” says Geikalo. “At present, crane rental is a manual, old-fashioned process that takes far too much time. In launching the service, we have combined the latest digital technology with our long industry experience. I have personally been involved in countless heavy cargo and lifting projects, so I know only too well how our service will prove to be useful.
“With MYCRANE, there are no more phone calls or unclear quotations to decipher – just easy-to-understand quotes delivered direct to your inbox. And when you need to change your quote, simply amend your online request at the MYCRANE website and our equipment providers will be back in touch”. MYCRANE, which took over two years to develop, removes the need for users to contact multiple equipment providers. Instead, users are requested to complete an online request form which has been carefully designed to ensure they receive directly comparable quotations.
The platform is suitable for cranes between 6 and 750 tonnes capacity. Crawler, mobile and tower cranes can all be requested on the site. In addition, the team is intensively working on adding new crane types, such as fast assemble tower cranes, gantry cranes, mini cranes and others.
The MYCRANE service, which is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (company name MYCRANE DMCC), operates on a franchise model, and enquiries are welcomed from industry professionals who may be interested in operating the MYCRANE service in their home country.
MYCRANE is already operational in Russia and will soon be launched in key international markets including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. As well as a lifting services search, there are plans to introduce an online Marketplace to advertise used equipment, rigging equipment, spare parts and auxiliaries and career vacancies, while a news portal will allow users to stay up to date with the latest industry developments.
In time, additional features will be offered, including engineering and design services and legal support. Geikalo concludes: “We believe MYCRANE will set a new standard for the lifting business – making crane rental easier, quicker and more transparent.”
Volvo Trucks has agreed to acquire JMC Heavy Duty Vehicle Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd., which includes a manufacturing site in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, China, for an amount of RMB 0.8 billion (approximately SEK 1.1 billion). The objective is to start production of the new heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks in Taiyuan for customers in China from the end of 2022.
Volvo Trucks has been active in the Chinese market since 1934. During the last couple of years, the strong growth of logistics services, including e-commerce, has led to a surge in the sales of Volvo trucks in the country. In 2020, more than 4,500 heavy-duty Volvo trucks were imported and delivered to customers in China. In line with the long-term Volvo Group strategy, Volvo Trucks is therefore expanding its business operation in China.
“We are committed to shaping the future of sustainable transport solutions. With our long-standing presence in China, we are growing our sales, and we are expanding our strong network of sales and service points together with our private dealer partners. Over the last couple of years, we have seen a fast development of the logistics markets and an increasing demand for our premium trucks and services. To meet the demand from Chinese transport operators, the time is right for us to establish a regional value chain with our own heavy-duty truck manufacturing in China,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
The operations in Taiyuan will include stamping, welding, manufacturing of cabs, painting and the final assembly of Volvo trucks. After investment, within a few years, the plant will have the capacity to produce 15,000 Volvo trucks per year with the potential to increase the capacity further.
New Blue Yonder and Reuters Events report surveys retailers, manufacturers, and logistics service providers to identify top supply chain priorities and strategies in 2021
Following a year of intense changes in the logistics industry, new research from Reuters Events Supply Chain in partnership with Blue Yonder reveals the priority strategies and investments for supply chain execution and risk management. The State of Supply Chain Execution Report 2021 analyzed responses of supply chain professionals and found that the COVID-19 pandemic, customer centricity, rising e-commerce complexity and costs, need for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C), and the risk of financial peril are propelling retailers, manufacturers, and logistics service providers (LSPs) to digitally transform.
Companies looking to capitalize on the omni-channel opportunities created by increased online-order volume over the last 18 months are now prioritizing more agile delivery and fulfillment models, like D2C. Retailers’ and manufacturers’ online sales increased more than 120% over the past year. LSPs have also seen e-commerce volumes explode, reporting a 200% increase compared to 2019-2020.
“As the economy transitions to a post-pandemic environment, retailers, manufacturers and LSPs are transforming their transportation and broader supply chain operations to address their most pressing supply chain challenges,” said Raj Patel, senior director, 3PL Industry Strategy, Blue Yonder. “In the long term, investment in execution systems like Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), as well as end-to-end visibility, automation, and cloud strategies will help them – and their customers – build more sustainable, resilient and agile organizations for the future.”
Pandemic Prompts Reevaluation of Supply Chain Risk Management
From constraints on raw materials to labor shortages to growing cybersecurity threats on distributed networks, pandemic-related challenges have shifted supply chain risk management priorities:
Respondents are hesitant to pursue near/onshoring plans, with only 29% of retailers/manufacturers making an investment.
63% of retailers/manufacturers stated that dual-sourcing was a favored strategy for risk management moving forward. Constraints on the availability of raw materials caused supply side disruptions, even for those with distributed manufacturing facilities.
Environmental concerns are also being considered when planning for supply chain risks. Over half (53%) of retailers/manufacturers and half (50%) of LSPs plan to invest in sustainability as a strategy for risk management.
Companies Prioritize Digital-First Practices and Technology Investments
With the growth of e-commerce, investment in modern supply chain technologies and new approaches have become essential for businesses to keep pace with shifting trends and customer expectations. The report found that there are various factors driving investment in supply chain technologies and digital-first practices. LSPs cited the pressure to reduce supply chain costs (58%) while also improving service levels for their retailer customers (48%) and dealing with labor shortages (30%).
In the current supply chain environment, companies are moving away from legacy systems and prioritizing technologies that enable visibility for customers and their operations, automate processes and support enterprise agility. 63% of retailers/manufacturers and 60% of LSPs agreed that end-to-end visibility is currently yielding the highest ROI in their supply chain execution process. Roughly half (48%) of retailers/manufacturers and more than half (57%) of LSPs have a robust cloud strategy in place, helping to create high levels of infrastructure agility that on-premise, legacy technology systems can’t achieve.
The global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and Hella Polska, a global leader in the field of lighting systems and vehicle electronics, are extending their cooperation for another four years. As part of the contract extension, the cooperation will be expanded to also include cross-border logistics services.
Hellmann has been the full service contract logistics partner of Hella Polska already since 2017 providing services such as the storage of around 10,000 indices (SKUs), the completion of lamp sets for bus and trailer manufacturers as well as the domestic distribution and export handling from Czeladź, Poland. The scope of services rendered will now be expanded to include international road transport, covering groupage distribution, full truckloads and direct deliveries in the Baltic States, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and all non-EU Balkan countries.
“Thanks to Hellmann´s efforts and professional, solution-oriented approach, we are very pleased to extend our cooperation. Based on mutual experience, we share the common goal of optimizing processes while achieving synergy effects in our warehousing and transport operations,” says Marcin Wieteska, Managing Director, Hella Polska.
“The contract extension with Hella Polska underlines our commitment and understanding of our customer´s needs. Longstanding customer partnerships are a key pillar of Hellmann’s strategy, and as such, continuing to grow together is always our motivation for the future,” says Jacek Przybyłowski, Managing Director Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Poland.
Qatar Airways Cargo announces the further rollout of third-party eBooking platform, WebCargo by Freightos across the rest of the world*, effective 23 August 2021. Forwarders in the carrier’s worldwide network will be able to place eBookings from both, its online and offline origins with access to live rates and capacity on the WebCargo platform. This will enhance their booking experience with the airline, resulting in higher efficiencies and real-time responses for availability.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux said: “Within a short span of six months, we will complete our global rollout of WebCargo by Freightos on 23 August and I am proud of all our teams who have worked dedicatedly all these months to ensure a successful implementation. At Qatar Airways Cargo, the customer is at the core of all our activities and we will continue actively with our digitalisation initiatives for the benefit of our customers.”
Freightos Group CEO Mr. Zvi Schreiber commented: “Qatar Airways Cargo has been working closely with us to bring digitalisation and transparency to as many freight forwarders as possible since their launch of WebCargo by Freightos earlier this year. We are proud to now be expanding our partnership to include an additional 39 countries, allowing key markets such as India, Japan, and Latin America direct access to real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings on the world’s largest cargo airline.”
Since launching WebCargo in February 2021 across France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain and the Netherlands, the airline has been quick to implement WebCargo across several countries in Europe and most recently, the USA** in July 2021. The global implementation across the carrier’s network will cover 72 countries where customers will have instant access to capacity and pricing. Digitalisation is a key pillar of the carrier’s strategy as it moves towards more systems that allow for dynamic pricing, automatic quotations, seamless integration and enhanced reporting. The rollout of WebCargo’s eBooking platform across its network in a short span is an important digitalisation milestone for the airline.
Launches in-country support services by combining vaccine delivery with deployment of medical & logistics personnel and equipment to eliminate vaccine wastage, bridge the global immunisation divide
Abu Dhabi’s HOPE Consortium, which offers one of the most capable and effective vaccine supply chains in the world, has extended its value proposition to include in-country vaccination services with the aim of accelerating global immunisation and eliminating vaccine wastage.
The new solution is unique in the COVID-19 immunisation space as it combines end-to-end vaccine delivery with rapid on-ground deployment of medical and logistics experts, staff and equipment. The combined service will enable countries and communities with limited medical and logistical capacities to absorb the delivered vaccine supplies and inoculate their populations safely and efficiently, with minimal disruption to operations of the local health delivery services.
The HOPE Consortium has partnered with Via Medica International Healthcare, a leading global health care provider with a strong track record in international medical support work to deliver the services. Working together, the partners are combining the HOPE Consortium’s unique end-to-end supply chain solution with Via Medica’s proven capability to deploy on-ground medical experts, immunisation management teams, and equipment.
In Africa, the partners have already begun implementing stage one of the programme, which includes assesing existing on-ground logistics and medical capabilities and infrastructure, and initial deployment of a mobile team of 15 members. The team includes doctors and nurses that work to establish local immunisation hubs needed to coordinate the administration of the vaccines, maintain patient records and track the progress of national vaccination efforts, in strict adherence to local patient privacy regulations and requirements.
In the second stage, the programme will be scaled up to include a team of up to 40 members tasked with setting-up regional vaccination centres equipped with medical equipment and supplies, storage freezers for vaccines and power generation units. Two fully equipped mobile vaccination vehicles, airlifted from Abu Dhabi, will augment the team’s reach beyond the established regional vaccination centres.
The partners are also deploying logistics experts to ensure that the sensitive vaccine supplies are stored and handled in the required storage environments, thus minimising the risk of vaccine wastage. Two additional refrigerated vehicles will support the logistical component of the effort by transporting vaccines from the hub to the immunisation spokes to provide ample vaccine supplies and maintain the momentum of the effort.
In order to “future proof” the effort, the HOPE Consortium’s team will be training the local medical and logistical staff to ensure that local immunisation drives can continue on an efficient course.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the Executive Committee, HOPE Consortium, and Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “The combination of Abu Dhabi’s proximity to two-thirds of the globe and our strategic logistics capabilities, allow us to not only deliver millions of vaccines to those in need, but also make sure that every vaccine brings us closer to our collective victory against the pandemic. Through our new in-country support initiative, we recognise the needs of individual countries and, in turn, tailor our services to the capabilities of their healthcare infrastructure through a complete end-to-end solution.
“By doing so, we can manage the global supply and demand imbalances and help provide for equitable access to the vaccines for millions of people around the world. We are very pleased to be in a position to offer this additional pathway that helps bridge the emerging gap in global vaccination rates and chart a path towards a global recovery.”
Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “The launch of our in-country support service is a recognition that delivering vaccines alone is simply not enough, and that we need to go one step further. While the global community stands united in our common need for the vaccines, many parts of the world may not have the capacity nor expertise to absorb these sensitive supplies safely and efficiently. This leads to potential vaccine wastage which is a major problem at a time when the global demand greatly outstrips the global supply. This is why together with our partners at Via Medica, the HOPE Consortium is working closely with countries and communities on-ground to deliver a sustainable immunisation solution that ensures that every vaccine delivered is a vaccine administered.
“The introduction of the service is a clear demonstration of our commitment and capability to deploy our resources rapidly and develop a coordinated, collaborative and scalable model that will help inoculate those in need regardless of where in the world they may find themselves. We look forward to working with other partners, countries and communities in delivering on our common goal of mass and equitable global immunisation.”
Frank Ludick, CEO-International of Via Medica, said: “Since the emergence of COVID-19, Via Medica has been at the forefront of the global battle against the pandemic, deploying multiple mobile vaccination teams across Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Via Medica has been instrumental in supporting various governments and private sector companies with the provision of turnkey solutions, from serological testing to onsite mass RT-PCR swabbing and testing, combined with onsite COVID-19 vaccinations.
“We are pleased of our partnership with the HOPE Consortium and to bring our expertise and innovations to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to counter the risks associated with a pandemic like COVID-19 through our rapid medical deployment teams, in-country temperature control procedures, and robust and integrated IT systems. Combining the Hope Consortium’s unique logistical capabilities and geographical proximity to 3.6 billion people, with Via Medica’s capabilities as a last mile provider, we are mitigating potential vaccine spoilage and ensuring that vital vaccine supplies can reach the global community in the time of need.”
The HOPE Consortium is a public-private partnership that has evolved into a leading international effort, broadening its global transport and delivery of all kinds of vaccines capabilities by attracting new partners including Agility, Aramex, Bolloré Logistics, CEVA Logistics, DB Schenker, DHL, FedEx Express, Expeditors, Hellmann, Kuehne + Nagel, MICCORSA Global, UPS, and Via Medica.
Electric drives are not only becoming increasingly attractive in the area of individual mobility, but are also experiencing a dynamic development in demand in local public transport and freight transportation. Together with leading vehicle manufacturers and technology companies, Continental is working on tyre solutions for these special requirements.
In particular, the premium tyre manufacturer is currently performing test drives in Germany with an electric truck produced by specialist for electric commercial vehicles, Futuricum. The 19-ton truck is equipped with the largest truck battery in Europe on board, which allows a range of up to 760 kilometres without freight.
The current test series are about increasing efficiency even further. In particular, the focus is on extending the range by reducing rolling resistance. In addition to the original tyres, the Conti EfficientPro and brand-new prototypes are used in direct comparison. The Conti EfficientPro is a proven product that was developed in particular for long-distance transportation and emphasizes fuel efficiency.
Balancing the conflicting goals, especially mileage, braking and handling performance, at an ever-higher level is technically demanding. At the same time, in view of the rapid development of the e-mobility segment, the engineers are in a race against time.
“As with all electric drives, the tyres for the Futuricum truck are exposed to higher torque during start off and acceleration,” explains Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Tyre Development Bus and Truck Tyres at Continental. “At the same time, the weight and weight distribution of the tractor are increased by the particularly powerful battery. Therefore, the tyres must not only have a low rolling resistance, but also withstand heavier loads than tyres for comparable vehicles with internal combustion engines. At the same time, they should last just as long and meet the same safety requirements as truck tyres for conventional drives.”
Building on its positive momentum, SOHAR Port and Freezone has announced encouraging results for the second quarter of 2021. Among them, it reported that the Port’s handling of goods in and out of the Sultanate (throughput) increased by 14% over the same period in 2020 and Ship-to-Ship (STS) cargo increased by an impressive 168%.
Meanwhile, the number of handled containers came in at 190,000 TEU in addition to 804 vessel calls, up by 18% from the same period in 2020. The land occupancy at the freezone has also shown a rise of 10% since the same time last year. With a number of planned projects underway and coming up, SOHAR’s strategy to position itself as a central logistics hub in the region is well on track.
“Although the global economy is beginning to show signs of recovery, there is still a fair amount of uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic. Given these dynamics, our efforts to refine our business scenarios in order to emerge more resilient and adaptive have shown themselves to be well-placed and projections indicate that we are on course to exceed the amount of cargo that passed through in 2020. The port’s continual growth is a testament to the long-term value that we provide to our clients as we operate safely and efficiently to serve the industrial and economic sectors,” said Mark Geilenkirchen, Chief Executive Officer of SOHAR Port.
Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi, CEO of SOHAR Freezone, Deputy CEO of SOHAR Port, added, “SOHAR’s rise to prominence has been extremely gratifying, but for us it’s still only the beginning. In alignment with the port’s impressive growth, we continue to make major investments in the freezone, while promoting it, and Oman in general, as a favourable business destination. The strategic location and an amenable trade environment presented huge potential for our stakeholders and partners. The vision to become a prosperous global trading hub is coming to fruition.”
SOHAR’s abundance of energy, raw materials and world-class logistics, coupled with generous incentives for local and international partners and the One-Stop-Shop system for all government clearances, provides a significant advantage for business that is sure to attract major players in the industry.
UAE carrier reclaims 90 per cent of cargo operations to 72 destinations, supported by 200 charter flights year-to-date
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group, has reclaimed 90 per cent of its pre-COVID destinations and recorded a 20% increase in tonnage compared to the same period in 2019.
The award-winning UAE carrier, which is looking to facilitate a global trade recovery and restore distribution confidence in international markets, currently services 72 network destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Its active fleet of 65 aircraft operate 430 weekly rotations, in addition to charter flights which service demand across non-network destinations.
“Etihad Cargo has maintained network operations throughout the pandemic and provided appropriate capacity to cater for demand on key routes, which has resulted in a significant increase in tonnage being carried across the global network,” explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group. “The commitment to expanding operations and provision of additional support to customers where there have been capacity shortages has seen Etihad Cargo carrying more on fewer routes than pre-pandemic. During the coming months, capacity growth is expected to continue, supported by the reintroduction of Etihad Airways passenger flights.”
In the past month, Etihad Airways introduced flights to Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini, Phuket and Vienna, providing additional belly-hold capacity between Europe and Asia. Charter operations and a cabin loading initiative – which saw the carrier modify five of its Boeing 777 aircraft by removing seats to provide additional capacity on key routes such as Dhaka and Ho Chi Minh City – have enabled the Abu Dhabi-based carrier to service increased Asian demand. “Record loads have recently been achieved on a number of Asian flights, including more than 58,000 kg from Dhaka and 52,000 kg from Ho Chi Minh,” added Drew. “These loads, with increased capacity enabled by cabin loading, were bound for Middle Eastern and European destinations via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub – a clear demonstration of the carrier’s determination to continue facilitating a global trade recovery.”
Year-to-date, Etihad Cargo has operated over 200 charter flights to 30 destinations not serviced through its network, 20 per cent of which were on behalf of the UAE Government. Since January 2021, Etihad Cargo has operated charter services to countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Senegal, and others across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The direct data connection is another of Qatar Airways Cargo’s digitalisation projects and extends CargoWise’s direct airline integrations
The direct data connection reduces risk, complexity and costs for forwarders as well as airlines
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading air cargo carrier, and WiseTech Global, a leading provider of software solutions to the logistics industry, have commenced implementation of an extensive direct data connection between their global operating systems.The direct data connection between WiseTech’s leading CargoWise platform and Qatar Airways Cargo management system, CROAMIS, streamlines the exchange of critical operational data that reduces risk, complexity and costs for forwarders as well as airlines.
Mr. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “Our agreement with WiseTech will help eliminate multiple intermediary data exchange points between freight forwarders and airline operating systems, it will also support future air cargo industry growth by removing technical risk and reducing costs. This initial step delivers a strong foundation for on-going product and technical connectivity between Qatar Airways Cargo and its substantial pool of customers.”
Scott McCorquodale, Chief Automation Officer, Air Cargo at WiseTech Global, said: “A direct connection and collaboration of this scale, between two such major players, improves many aspects of the air cargo process for our customers, as well as other participants in the end-to-end transportation chain. As the air cargo industry continues to adapt to the rapid and immense changes from 2020, it is important we work together to continuously streamline processes and improve efficiencies where there are obvious far-reaching benefits.”
These direct data feeds also add real value by removing extensive data duplication that has proliferated over many years, removing the burden on forwarders and reducing the resulting complexities and costs. Following IATA Recommended Practice, through the CargoWise connection, Qatar Airways Cargo offers an assurance that the single source of air waybill data from the forwarder will be immediately available to the global Qatar Airways ground handling network, reducing the technical and financial burden for forwarders that can otherwise occur and has traditionally often been the case. Digitalisation is a key pillar of Qatar Airways Cargo strategy as it moves towards integrating systems that allow for dynamic pricing, automatic quotations, robotic integration and improved reporting while enhancing customer experience.
Saudi Arabia-based Hala Supply Chain Services’ first logistics center to implement the LFS warehouse management system from Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) is up and running in Jeddah.
Two further locations are set to follow in the coming months, helping the company to meet the demands of its customers for greater transparency and speed. As a logistics service provider for currently over 100 customers throughout Saudi Arabia, Hala SCS must always meet the highest quality standards.
The majority of its products are from the sensitive pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors as well as the chemical sector and oil & gas industries. With LFS, the company has found a future-proof solution that has enabled it to double its picking performance in just a few months.
At its Jeddah facility, Hala SCS mainly manages pharmaceutical products that can be found in duty-free shops at airports or in pharmacies, or that can be delivered directly to customers as part of an e-commerce solution. Sensitive handling of the stored goods is therefore absolutely essential. There are up to 30,000 different products in 50,000 bin locations at the 40,000 m² warehouse. LFS ensures the safe loading and unloading of the trucks that arrive, subsequently directing all products to the correct storage location.
Packing and unpacking as well as palletizing is also controlled by the warehouse management system. In addition, Hala SCS has to fulfill various value-added services for the majority of its customers. LFS is able to recognize when this is required of a delivery. The additional services include, for example, the application of individual price tags.
Providing service to 127 countries around the world, Turkish Cargo maintains its status as the fastest growing air cargo brand. With its successful performance in June, Turkish Cargo managed to reach its goal of becoming one of the top three air cargo brands in the world. According to data released by IATA (International Air Transport Association), flag carrier air cargo brand, after passing biggest brands from Americas, Europe and Far East, managed to rise to third place in June 2021, from being the sixth place in the same period of previous year.
According to FTK (Freight Tonne Kilometers) data which is obtained from multiplying cargo tonnage carried by air with the kilometers it was carried, the national brand achieved the biggest growth ratio amongst the top 25 air cargo carriers with 5.7 percent market share in June 2021.
On the success of Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated: “We are proud of the Turkish Cargo and its rapid flight to its goals. Managing this performance in a period of crisis is a strong indicator of our ability to overcome all obstacles in the road to success. I believe that Turkish Cargo will continue its rise and will carry our flag to the top. I extend my gratitude to all our colleagues for their contributions towards our brand’s standing today.
Rapid growth continues in Europe, Far East and Canada markets
According to IATA statistics for April, Turkish Cargo rose first place in Hungary cargo exports with 25 percent market share, carrying 1 out of every 4 air cargo shipments. Flag carrier brand also rose to second place in Switzerland on May by carrying 1668 tonne air cargo, leaving many strong competitors behind. According to cumulative data of June released by World Air Cargo Data (WACD), successful brand rose to third place in cargo exports in Canada and Malaysia.
Connecting continents with each other, Turkish Cargo possesses the largest cargo aircraft network with 96 destinations except the networks of express carriers. With its fleet of 372 aircraft, 25 of which are freighters, flag carrier brand continues its operations all around the world. Achieving a sustainable growth and becoming one of the top three air cargo brands of the world in June 2021 with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams, Turkish Cargo continues to raise its service quality in a sustainable manner in a world that is ever-changing.
In response to the growing interest in robotic automation throughout the region, David will be responsible to secure new business, manage technology and service support for Swisslog’s customer base
Leading automation expert, Swisslog announced the appointment of David Dronfield as the new General Manager for its Middle Eastern operations. David brings more than 35 years of professional experience in the warehouse automation sector with expertise across sales, marketing, business development, project management and in managing senior leadership roles.
With the increased interest in warehouse automation, David will be responsible for growing Swisslog’s regional customer base and creating awareness about the need for professionally integrated warehouse automation systems. As the new General Manager, David will support businesses with the provision of custom solutions that gives them a competitive advantage.
Having worked in the industry for more than three decades, David brings with him a wealth of experience and industry expertise. Prior to joining Swisslog Middle East, David has served as Founder & Managing Director of Intralogistic Solution, a company providing intralogistic design, supply chain consulting & turnkey equipment solutions. Additionally, he has worked as the Regional General Manager for Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company LLC, implementing initiatives for a strategic expansion of UAE based Industrial Storage & Handling Solutions business operations across the GCC region, namely Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and KSA
David also managed business operations in various locations, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia and Thailand prior to relocating to UAE.
Commenting on his appointment, David Dronfield, new General Manager for Swisslog Middle East, said “I am really excited about this new challenge and am committed to strengthening Swisslog’s footprint in this market. According to a number of research reports, the warehouse automation market in the Middle East is forecasted to increase from $600 million in 2019 to over $1 billion by 2022. A recent survey also indicated that 96 per cent of its respondents said that they expect the warehouse automation value proposition (in comparison to the manual alternative) to increase over the next three years. The future of warehouse is automation, and there is a huge opportunity for increased growth. Swisslog’s proven innovative solutions can help businesses to overcome challenges, capitalize on digital transformation and scale their business.” David holds a B.Sc degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Surrey.
Dronfield replaces Alain Kaddoum after over four years of senior leadership at Swisslog Middle East LLC, who decided to follow new career challenges outside Swisslog. Swisslog thanks Alain Kaddoum for his commitment and leadership during his time at Swisslog.
Embarkation and departure of MSC Bellissima begins new era at Jeddah Islamic Port
Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) in partnership with Cruise Saudi entered the cruise industry with the departure of the cruise ship MSC Bellissima from the terminal’s new dedicated cruise line berthing facilities. The 4,500-passenger vessel is operated by MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line.
The berthing and cruise passenger facilities are part of the ongoing expansion and upgrade of RSGT and Jeddah Islamic Port.
“This is another proud and important moment for RSGT and Jeddah Islamic Port as we witness the launch of the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia ahead of the departure of the very first cruise ship from our newly expanded terminal,” stated RSGT CEO Jens Floe.
The vessel berthing and passenger embarkation will be conducted at RSGT’s expanded facility, part of the new 30-year concession agreement signed last year. RSGT and Jeddah Islamic Port will serve as the home port for MSC Bellissima for the 2021-2022 cruise season.
MSC Bellissima is one of the most innovative ships in MSC Cruises fleet and is fitted with a wide range of cutting-edge environmental features and innovative technology to reduce her environmental footprint. She also spearheaded the ultra-modern Meraviglia-Plus class of ships in the MSC Cruises fleet when she launched in 2019.
The ship will sail 21 Red Sea voyages from Jeddah between the end of July and late October with 3- and 4-night cruises to Safaga for Luxor, Egypt or Aqaba for Petra, Jordan before returning to her Saudi homeport.
The summer sailings will add to MSC Cruises’ previously announced winter 2021/22 Red Sea voyages from Jeddah starting in November.
Mark Robinson, Chief Operations & Commercial Officer, Cruise Saudi, added, “This event marks a great milestone for Cruise Saudi, and indeed for the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, in line with Vision 2030. The creation of Cruise Saudi, tasked with launching the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia, happened just six months ago at FII in Riyadh. Yet in these few months we have been able to work with numerous partners such as the Red Sea Gateway Terminal to mobilize the infrastructure, manpower and systems required to host global cruise lines for Saudi Arabia’s first full summer and winter cruise seasons. The remit of Cruise Saudi; to create 50,000 jobs by 2025, to facilitate the building of an additional five ports, with Jeddah as a homeport, and to welcome 1.5 million annual passenger visits by 2028; is an ambitious one, which will play a major part in strengthening the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia.”
“Jeddah Islamic Port is one of the most modern ports in the region, and it is only natural that it now enters a new prominent position in the cruise industry,” noted Mr. Floe, adding: “We are proud as well of our role in supporting the ongoing economic diversification of Saudi Arabia, and our expanding presence in the international port community”.
The Cathay Pacific Group recently released its 2020 Sustainable Development Report that highlights the initiatives brought about by the pandemic to lead the charge towards sustainable aviation and ensure future generations can experience the joy of travel.
The latest Cathay Pacific Sustainability Report has identified the progress made in reducing carbon footprint and measures taken to tackle operational sustainability matters. The airline announced its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
To get the lowdown on how Cathay Pacific is engaged on ecology matters and a wide range of other subjects, Global Supply Chain interviewed Vishnu Rajenderan, Area Manager, Middle East. He spoke expansively about all things cargo, performance, expansion plans and the carrier’s spirited response to the pandemic challenges.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): How significant is the cargo sector & cargo operations / component from a revenue standpoint for Cathay Pacific?
Vishnu Rajendran (VR): We have always had a strong foothold in both verticals of our business, passenger and cargo. However, given the current scenario that we are in, cargo has definitely emerged as the stronger sector between the two business units. While it has always been one of the fundamental drivers of our business, our reliance towards cargo has increased.
Our global cargo revenue in 2020 was HK$ 24,573mn (US$ 3.166bn), an increase of 16.2% compared to 2019 and we continue to see a firm demand for cargo going forward.
GSC: How significant is the UAE and the region for Cathay Pacific? How is demand holding up in the region? Do you operate freight only flights into the region?
VR: For over 40 years, Middle East as a region has always been of prime importance to Cathay Pacific especially from a cargo perspective. For the month of June, not only are we operating five freighters to Europe and one weekly freighter to Hong Kong, ex-Dubai, but have also deployed a weekly freighter into Riyadh, thereby expanding our footprint in the GCC region.
Precovid-19, we had a robust passenger schedule which was fourteen flights per week that supported our cargo services. However, after a temporary pause in our services due to the pandemic, we have resumed our passenger operation, albeit with a reduced schedule.
Our resumption of passenger flights on 21 May, 2021 was positively received by both passengers and trade partners, particularly from the cargo side of the business. Owing to the demand for both passenger and cargo flights, we will be ramping up our frequency to two flights per week from July onwards.
We have always seen a mix of demand for various products, specifically for the renowned Expert LIFT product, wherein we tailor make solutions for customers to transport odd-size shipments on our freighters. Moreover, our partners prefer using the Expert LIFT solution since we pick up odd size shipments such as engines from the shippers warehouse and load them directly on to our flight.
Going forward we continue to see a similar demand for general cargo, secure cargo as well as courier shipments especially to 4th and 6th freedom.
GSC: How did Cathay Pacific (Cargo) perform in the UAE / Middle East region in 2020 and how does that compare with your 2019 performance?
VR: 2020 was indeed a challenging time for the aviation industry as a whole. However, our cargo operations proved to be a ray of hope across our global network, including the UAE. We operated a total of 143 freighters, 158 passenger flights and 24 cargo-only-passenger flights in 2020.
We saw strong demand for medical supplies over 6000kg of passive pharma shipments. In a world with new ways of working such as Work-From-Home and online schooling, we saw an increase in demand for electronics, specifically laptops being uplifted to USA, mainly Miami.
GSC: What is your outlook for 2021? What new products / initiatives (if any) do you plan to launch for CX this year?
VR: Cathay Pacific was one of the first few airlines to be hit by the pandemic and we have taken numerous measures to stabilise our business. Understanding the importance of servicing our customers and trade partners across our business verticals has been immensely important for us. Not only are we regularly reviewing the developing situation but are also communicating with our customers actively, helping us service them better.
Our focus has been on enhancing our expertise and being technologically progressive. We are in the process of fast-tracking our digitalisation projects such Blockchain management, taking the lead in IATA’s ONE Record initiative, adding the Envirotainer Releye RLP for carriage on our aircraft fleet–being the first Asian airline to do so, as well as adopting the CommonPass. We continue to take strong safety measures for our customers travelling with us as well as provide them with the flexibility they require.
We understand the impact that vaccination will have on global travel and have encouraged our teams to get vaccinated. We believe that increased vaccination will help in normalizing international travel globally.
Furthermore, we stand ready to support people from different countries and communities around the world. Through our efforts to bring Hong Kong residents home from the United Kingdom or supply essential medical aid to India, we will do whatever we can, whenever required.
GSC: How many destinations regionally and globally does CX cover? What are your top 3 destinations for out-bound cargo from UAE?
VR: Cathay Pacific has a robust network of over 200 destinations across the world. In addition to our hub, Hong Kong, Europe continues to be a key focus as we operate direct flights to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris from Dubai. We also see strong demand to the South West Pacific.
GSC: Where does CX stand with regard to passenger flights out of your Hong Kong hub into the Middle East? When do you propose to resume flights into this region?
VR: Owing to the pandemic last year, we had temporarily suspended operations in 2020. However, we recently resumed weekly passenger operations on 21 May 2021 and have deployed the Airbus A330 on the Hong Kong–Dubai–Hong Kong route. We intend to increase this to two flights per week from July and continue to remain optimistic towards a further increase in frequency, in the near future.
GSC: Cathay Pacific recently published its 2020 Sustainability Report. How vital is Sustainability for the carrier and why?
VR: With the pandemic looming over us, we recognise the importance of a sustainable and safe future, more than ever. We believe the four aspects of sustainability, i.e. environment, social, economic and governance is of paramount significance to us. Through our sustainable development strategy policy we aim to go beyond the jurisdictions of not only doing business, but have an multi-layered impact as a humble employer, a value-adding community member, and a service provider that exceeds our customers’ expectations.
Over the years, including the time when during the pandemic our sustainability journey never stopped. We continue to focus on the key initiatives across our business, be it in on board by reducing paper, serving sustainably sourced food or even on-ground by reducing ground emissions from non-aircraft operations by investing in multiple methods including energy-saving measures such as low-impact lighting devices, chilled water system optimisation and ground fleet vehicle electrification.
We have also taken delivery of 10 new fuel-efficient aircrafts, reduced a significant amount of single-use plastic from our baseline, and introduced our ‘4R’ Single-use Plastic Strategy: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Furthermore, we eliminated 43 million pieces of single-use plastic items from our annual usage baseline and have also committed to achieving net zero carbon emission by 2050.
GSC: What are the key takeaways and highlights from the report in relation to safety, biodiversity, food sustainability and climate?
VR: Safety: Safety has always been our number one priority. In the face of a global health threat, we are committed to safe travel more than ever. We launched Cathay Care, a new protocol that incorporates exceptional hygiene and disinfection practices at airports and onboard our aircraft to ensure the wellbeing of our customers and our people during their journeys. In 2020, we also introduced the new Port Restart Process to enable the safe return of passengers and employees to closed airports when conditions allow.
Biodiversity: We implement policies that protect against illegal animal trade, serve sustainable seafood on our flights and work with suppliers to promote practices to reduce their environmental impact. In 2020, we served over 58 tonnes of certified sustainable seafood and carried out 1,672 air cargo screenings on 151 freight forwarding agents in line with our Sustainable Development Cargo Carriage Policy. Our priority in 2021 is to continue working with civil society organisations to prevent illegal wildlife trades.
Food sustainability: We recognise the need to conserve certain species that are endangered due to the problem of overfishing, and have established our internal Sustainable Food Policy to provide guidance for our purchasing decisions. We consciously opt out of purchasing specific unsustainable food items. Additionally, as a step to provide customers with plant-based dishes and meat alternatives, we have been serving customers Beyond Meat.
Climate: The Cathay Pacific Group has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We recognise that our industry must decarbonise in order to mitigate the impact of climate change and as one of the leaders in the industry we aspire to be one of the chief contributors to the global efforts.
We have set up a dedicated cross-functional Climate Action Steering Group and have also developed an approach to tackle climate change. This approach extends from managing our own operations, to working with industry bodies and helping our customers to reduce their carbon footprint from flying.
We have further identified five core areas of our climate change strategy – Carbon Offsetting and Reduction, Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), Sustainable aviation fuel, Carbon offset programme, Aircraft emissions and Ground emissions, and have actively been understanding and enhancing our existing efforts in all these areas.
GSC: What is CX’s composition (kinds and range of products) for both inbound and outbound from the UAE?
VR: We see an array of different shipments across our operations from the UAE. One of the products that continues to have an increase in demand are odd-size shipments. Additionally, we also see a demand for shipments ranging from general cargo, dangerous goods and valuable goods. We also provide expertise loading through nose door operations where required.
As we continuously study the demand for different product segments from the Middle East, we believe that product innovation is key. We recently launched two additional products in the UAE and across the network–Vaccine Solution and Skid FCB, which is only seen in inbound shipments.
GSC: What are your short and long term expansion plans & vision for CX? Do you plan to open up new destinations in the region? Going forward, what opportunities and challenges do you foresee for CX in the UAE and the region?
VR: One of the major challenges we face is the ambiguity that lies ahead. However, the past year and a half has forced us to study different strategic approaches. Our focus going forward would be to carefully, yet effectively implement solutions that accommodate the market demand, utilise the current cargo capacity to the maximum as well as to provide innovative offerings through strategic partnerships. A key opportunity definitely lies in the transport of vaccines.
We have launched the Vaccine Solution which caters to the extreme temperature range required for vaccine transportation. Additionally, the delivery of our A350s as well as our technological expansion, will undoubtedly help us better serve our customers on both passenger and cargo fronts.
While we gradually resuming our flights to various destinations, we are positive that once border restrictions start easing, we will see an uptick in passenger demand and further increases in capacity.
We have been operating in the UAE for over 40 years. This continues to be a strategic and very important market for us. While the pandemic decimated passenger demand, we believe the future does hold many opportunities. One of which is being the ability to cater to pent up demand by connecting passengers safely, efficiently and comfortably to their preferred destinations.
On the cargo side, limited schedules across the network have undoubtedly had an impact on our cargo carrying capacity. In this regard, we continue to study the market and evaluate different opportunities. We are confident that we will overcome this challenge as travel restrictions ease.
The pandemic has thrown much of the Supply Chain mechanism and ecosystem into disruption and disarray. That is a given. In a changing landscape resilience and flexibility are important attributes for supply chain professionals writes Tom Craig President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, a leading authority and professional consultant on logistics and supply chain management and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain—Editor.
Here are some thoughts for manufacturers, retailers, and MNCs on supply chain resilience. This is a work in progress.
Becoming supply chain resilient is not confined to the four walls and technology. Building supply chain resilience is not optional.
Over the past almost 18 months, think of all the stories about supply chains. The E2E (Exchange-to-Exchange) supply chain is a case in point. Its innate resilience is being tested daily. When material, manufacturing, logistics and transport demand exceed their design capabilities and the impact of the pandemic continues, then increased supply chain resilience implies reduced supply chain risk.
Supply chain management is the largest part of every company–external and internal. And it touches about every department inside.
There are two parts to your supply chain resilience—inside the confines of your facilities and outside. Inside the company gets much attention. Outside, despite its size and complexity, does not and that can be a shortcoming in your effort.
Start with your supply chain structure–the organization, process and technology. Much of the stories on SCM resilience talk about technology. That can be a singularity of focus and miss much as to supply chains. Let’s go beyond things like robotics, drones, and 3D printing.
Data analytics: Think of all the data across your end-to-end supply chain and what it can mean to operations and performance.
Digitization: This also provides more data for analytics and all participants in your E2E supply chain.
Visibility: This is more than the track and trace transportation providers give you. Go deeper and granular. The real needs are with your inventory, purchase orders, and customer orders. Take a purchase order and track all that happens, including parties that you may not normally see.
Blockchain: Getting all the transaction participants involved including those you may not see. Build the blocks for your chain. This gives visibility and data.
Assess your process: Removing gaps improves your speed and responsiveness. Gaps are potential points where there is no resilience. Follow your inventory / products / finished goods / raw materials, and more. Take your purchase orders and customer orders. See each step of the process. Look for gaps and redundancies, made to compensate for gaps.
Look at the two segments of your supply chain—upstream / inbound and downstream / outbound. Upstream is large and complex. It is where the supply of supply chains begins. There are supply chains within supply chains.
Map your end-to-end supply chain. That is important so you can see everything. That includes parties you may not see or come in direct contact with; ones that your suppliers or logistics providers may use. Work with your suppliers on resilience. That includes having them work with their suppliers’ resilience. Now you see the size and complexity.
Possessing the world’s strongest cargo flight network and building the trade bridges between continents, Turkish Cargo also contributes greatly to Turkey’s exports. For over the last 60 years, Flag carrier air cargo brand has been carrying the rose products produced in Anatolia’s Lake District and Isparta to various destinations such as the prominent countries in perfume and essence industry like Germany, France, China and United States.
Roses collected during May and June in Isparta and Lake District, considered as the rose garden of the world, are turned into rose oil, *rose oil solid and rose water via special processes. Meeting the 65 percent of the world’s demand for rose oil, Turkey is ideal for growing first class roses when it comes to quality with its favorable climate conditions. Considered as an indispensable raw material of perfume and essence industry, industrial rose products have an export capacity of 10 million euros in Turkey. Meeting one third of this demand, Gülbirlik (Rose, Rose Oil and Oil Seeds Cooperative) conducts 75 percent of its rose oil exports via air cargo.
Gülbirlik General Manager Hasan ÇELİK stated; “Our mission is to further develop rose production, establish logistic and industrial infrastructure in our region and offer it to the international market as part of a national development progress. Currently we are fulfilling that by producing rose oil, rose oil solid, rose water and cosmetic products. Distinguishing themselves with their quality, long shelf life and their wide array of applications in perfume and essence industry, these products are grown on our own soil. We transport our rose products, which are an indispensable part of the world’s perfume and cosmetic sectors, to outside of our borders via Turkish Cargo.
One of the foremost factors of our success story since 1954 is the service quality of Turkish Cargo. The speed and wide capacity of Turkish Cargo provide a great boon for exporters like us.”
Turkish Cargo contributes significantly to the shelf life of Turkish rose products and their entry to new countries with its capabilities offered to manufacturers. Comfortably meeting the demand of the exporters with its wide flight network, Turkish Cargo increasingly continues its contributions to country’s economy with special promotions and offers to exporters.
Turkish Cargo Underlines the Opportunities of Air Cargo with Promotional Videos
Comfortably able to meet any export or import demand from any country in the world, Turkish Cargo tells the story of its cooperation with Turkey’s exporters with promotional videos released for the “#WeProudlyCarry our country’s work over the world” project. Flag carrier brand aims to urge country’s exporters to take advantage of its unparalleled market reach opportunities while detailing how air cargo can be used effectively and timely at reasonable prices with the promotional video project that started last year.
*Rose oil solid is a deep purple, creamy substance obtained from unfermented fresh pink roses using the extraction method.
Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC), Qatar’s leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider, reported net profits of QR108 million, during the six-month period ending on June 30, 2021.
The company also achieved total revenues of QR624 million and earnings per share stood at 0.18 Qatari riyals.
“H1 2021 results and the performance of all our divisions reflect the company’s resilience and commitment to offer world-class logistics services to our customers in spite of challenging times,” stated Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman, GWC.
“We remain fully committed to our customers and shareholders and with the backing of our infrastructure, expertise and diligence, I am confident will continue to develop and evolve toward reaching our long-term goals,” remarked Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
He further added that the Company will also continue to stay focused on profitability through innovation, sustainability and digitalisation while actively managing their portfolio.
Additionally, the development of the 1.5 million square meter Al Wukair Logistics Park, which offers a whole suite of supply chain solutions to micro, small and medium enterprises has been progressing well. This Logistics Park due to its central location, close proximity to the airport and the port, coupled with seamless offering of logistics services will be the main distribution hub for handling the World Cup logistics.
The airline along with Cool Chain Association members will deliver concrete solutions to improve the cool chain
The membership aligns with the airline’s sustainability programme, WeQare as Cool Chain Association aims to reduce food wastage through cool chain integrity and stakeholder involvement
Qatar Airways Cargo has extended its cool chain industry partnerships by joining Cool Chain Association (CCA), a non-profit organisation, effective 28 July 2021. Founded in 2003, the association aims to reduce food wastage and improve the quality, efficiency and value of the temperature sensitive supply chain by facilitating and enabling vertical and horizontal collaboration, education and innovation amongst its members and stakeholders.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “Through our membership with Cool Chain Association, we look forward to collaborating with its members, and contributing to CCA’s vision of improving quality of temperature-sensitive products, increasing sustainability and reducing waste, thereby also contributing to the health of the planet, which aligns with our sustainability programme WeQare.”
“CCA members are focused on developing tangible programmes and backing projects which help reduce food waste and ensure that life saving pharma consignments safely reach their destination and this has never been more relevant than now,” said Stavros Engelakakis, Chairman, CCA.
“We are pleased that the cargo carrier’s Senior Manager of Climate Control Products, Miguel Rodriguez Moreno is joining the board, Qatar Airways Cargo’s shared commitment to our goals and its vision for WeQare combined with Miguel’s wealth of experience in the cool chain supply chain makes him the perfect addition to our association.”
Qatar Airways Cargo will join CCA and its members to deliver contributions in improving the cool chain and sustainable transport of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical and perishable cargo. Such concrete contributions like the CCA Technical Committee, that oversees and assists in projects addressing critical points affecting product quality along the cool chain, as well as developing standards and initiating projects will indirectly reduce global hunger and contribute to overall health of people and the planet. Through the membership, the airline will also participate in Cool Chain Association’s board meetings and focus groups to contribute its expertise.
The carrier has established innovative solutions for the air freight of pharmaceuticals and perishables. It has also invested considerably in quality handling, infrastructure, digitalisation, facilities, people and procedures at each of its destinations, including the Doha hub, adhering to high operating standards for transporting all temperature-controlled products.
Tristar Group, the global integrated energy logistics company, announced its management results for the half year ended 30th June 2021.
The Group’s performance in the six months ended 30th June 2021 continues to be positive and demonstrates the resilient business model of Tristar. The Group’s consolidated revenue grew by 9.1% in comparison with the same period in 2020 and EBITDA and net profit both reported a significant increase year-on-year by 26.0% and 66.5%, respectively. These figures were also higher than the management budget for the same period.
Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar said: “Our performance in the first half of 2021 reflects improving market conditions and our ability to be a resilient and diversified business model. We continue to have strong pipeline of growth opportunities across all our business segments, which we are confident of leveraging upon to deliver attractive returns to our shareholders. We pride ourselves on our long-standing relationships with our blue-chip clients who have been key enablers to our continued success.”
Duckhams, the Iconic British Lubricant Brand since 1899, launches in the UAE
The Duckhams brand was launched in the celebrated city of Dubai today. Emirates for Universal Tyres LLC, part of Abdulla Al Masaood & Sons Group, appointed as Exclusive Distributor of Duckhams in UAE.
Founded in 1899 by British chemist Alexander Duckham, the history of Duckhams oils includes pioneering engineering developments in aviation, breaking land speed records and a prestigious motorsport heritage — over the years. Some of the greatest names in motorsports have relied on Duckhams: Graham Hill, David Coulthard, Eddie Irvine, Nigel Mansell, Martin Brundle, James Hunt and Ayrton Senna, to name just a few on four wheels. On two wheels, Paul Smart, John Cooper, Roy Pickerell and Dave Crockford trusted Duckhams to support their success.
Jabir Sheth, Duckhams Chairperson commented on the occasion, “The Duckhams team is extremely excited to launch our iconic British brand in the UAE market. We intend to create a future as glorious as our past and the launch in the UAE will be an important milestone in that journey. Our Regional Office in Dubai is looking forward to propelling the brand in the Middle East region with this exciting launch.”
Duckhams has been a leading lubricants technology brand for most of the 20th and 21st centuries. The pioneering brand has a legacy of technological advancement which is embodied in the products launched.
The Duckhams brand, original and unapologetically British in spirit, is entrepreneurial in the way it serves its customers and is committed to the quality standard it follows.
K.R. Venkataraman, Global CEO, Duckhams said, “Despite being absent from the market for a while, our data shows time and again that Duckhams is still one of the most recognised lubricant brands amongst automotive consumers and trade professionals in many markets. We keep advancing our technology as it is our legacy. Our products are a testament to our respect for sustainability and our mission to keep the world moving. Emirates for Universal Tyres, part of Abdulla Al Masaood & Sons Group will be our exclusive distributor for UAE. We are impressed by their commitment to Duckhams; together, we hope to achieve a strong position in the Middle East in automotive lubricants.”
Shaun Smith, General Manager, Emirates for Universal Tyres LLC added “We are both honoured and excited to have the responsibility for Duckhams. The iconic brand is well respected and loved by the automotive industry. Duckhams is here to drive innovation and that fits perfectly with our strategic plans — we are inspired by their values and aspirations and look forward to the journey ahead.”
Mr Sheth added, “For Duckhams, Emirates for Universal Tyres LLC is the perfect partner with an outstanding customer portfolio, well established market coverage and marketing expertise. We hope to help them grow their business by delivering exceptional quality products and services to our customers.”
The passion of the brand will be revived through partnerships with OEMs, Motorsport promotion, Rally & Motorbike Racing and Sponsorship.
For more information about the latest Duckhams brand and range development, visit the new Duckhams.com site.
The world’s largest cargo airline will provide forwarders in the USA with real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings via WebCargo
Qatar Airways Cargo announces the further roll out of third-party eBooking platform WebCargo by Freightos across the United States of America*, effective 19 July 2021.
Forwarders in the USA will be able to conduct eBookings with access to live rates and available capacity on the WebCargo platform. This will further improve their booking experience with the airline, resulting in higher efficiencies and instant responses for confirmation.
The cargo carrier has an extensive network in the United States spanning 12 cities with 145 weekly flights, thus offering customers more than 4,700 tonnes of cargo capacity every week.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux said: “Following our successful launch across Europe, we are glad to introduce WebCargo throughout the United States of America, steadily extending digitalisation across our organisation. We are actively pushing for digitalisation in air freight as it brings in efficiencies and provides multiple benefits for our customers such as 24/7 visibility of price and capacity as well as real time confirmation to name a few.”
Freightos Group CEO Mr. Zvi Schreiber said: “In the past year, the industry has passionately adopted Digital Air Cargo (DAC), with WebCargo by Freightos as the chosen platform, driving 2,000%+ growth in bookings. Today, it’s an honour to expand WebCargo’s partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo to the United States of America, bringing direct access to the world’s number one cargo airline to the world’s largest economy.”
Since the introduction of WebCargo in February 2021, Qatar Airways Cargo has been receiving high volumes of eBookings via the platform. With this launch in the USA, the total count of countries in the airline’s network on the WebCargo platform will increase to 33, with 12 online stations going live in the United States of America.
Digitalisation is a key pillar of the carrier’s strategy as it moves towards more systems that allow for dynamic pricing, automatic quotations, robotic integration and improved reporting. WebCargo is one of them, and its gradual rollout across the network is one of the many important digitalisation initiatives implemented by Qatar Airways Cargo in recent months.
Upon completing all necessary conditions and obtaining all regulatory approvals, the founding shareholders of Red Sea Gateway Terminal Limited (RSGT) have officially completed their 40% RSGT equity sale to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (CSPL) (20% each). The transactions imply an enterprise value for RSGT of USD 880 million and a total gross inflow of equity value for the founding shareholders USD 280 million. The founding shareholders will reduce their combined shareholding to 60%.
PIF is the economic engine of Vision 2030, driving the diversification of Saudi Arabia’s economy. The investment in RSGT is in line with PIF’s 2021-2025 strategy that focuses on 13 key priority sectors, including Transport and Logistics. The location is on the main East-West trade routes, with close proximity to the main cargo end destinations on the West Coast of Saudi Arabia and captures significant intra-Red Sea trans-shipment cargo volumes. The investment will help to transform RSGT into both a regional and global logistics hub in line with PIF’s mission of unlocking new economic opportunities locally and globally.
RSGT will benefit and enhance its value proposition with the support of a leading global ports operator like CSPL, which will bring new momentum to the growth of RSGT’s business volume. Both new shareholders will help drive future growth on seaside and landside logistics.
Jens O. Floe, CEO of RSGT, said, “This is a significant milestone for RSGT, demonstrating both our strength and the confidence which the industry and investment community have in our strategic planning and implementation. Working closely with PIF and CSPL, we will accelerate our shared vision, further strengthen our customer offering, and elevate our mandate to meet the increasing demand for terminal and logistics services. RSGT will continue to focus on developing a niche emerging market operator with a keen focus on ports in the Red Sea and East Africa.”
Having commenced operation in 2009, RSGT is located at the world-class Jeddah Islamic Port, a crucial logistics hub serving as a global trade nexus linking Asia, Europe, and Africa, as well as an increasingly important regional business center.
Moreover, RSGT continues to bring excellence to the trade with the 30-year concession (“BOT agreement”) with Saudi Arabian Ports Authority (“Mawani”) – announced in late 2019 and commenced in April 2020. RSGT assumed the operations of the North Container Terminal in Jeddah Islamic Port and has significantly expanded its handling capacity from 2.5 million TEU to 5.2 million TEU, becoming the largest container terminal in KSA. Throughout the concession period, RSGT’s annual throughput capacity is envisaged to grow to about 9 million TEU following an investment plan of USD 1.7 billion in infrastructure, equipment, and technology.
RSGT will remain an independent terminal operator, servicing its customers across the global logistics chain. It will also continue to focus on the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of port terminals and on logistics services.
“Moving forward, a key element of RSGT’s ongoing development plan, beyond domestic and targeted international expansion, is to further develop our modern port and supply chain facilities enabling us to better meet the needs of our global and local customers”, added Jens O. Floe.
On Emirates SkyCargo’s modern and efficient Boeing 777 freighter aircraft capable of transporting around 100 tonnes of cargo per flight, it takes only eight flights to move 247 horses in 131 specially designed horse stalls, 59 grooms to look after the horses, 100 tonnes of special equipment and most importantly 20 tonnes of food and drink for the equine champions. Eight more flights will fly the horses back to Liege from Tokyo.
As the eyes of sporting enthusiasts around the world turn to Tokyo, a group of very special champions are making their way to the Japanese capital on special flights operated by Emirates.
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates is operating eight charter flights to fly 247 horses from Liege to Tokyo. The first flight with 36 dressage horses has already landed at Haneda airport, Tokyo. Emirates will be operating an additional eight flights for the return journey from Tokyo to Liege. The carrier is working with Peden Bloodstock, a leading international horse transportation specialist for this charter.
During the flights, the horses will be comfortably settled inside specially designed horse stalls. Emirates SkyCargo will be flying 131 horse stalls to transport the 247 horses. In addition, 59 grooms will also be flying with the horses on the eight flights to ensure that the horses are well cared for, fed and watered during the journey from Liege to Haneda via a brief stopover in Dubai. Emirates will be transporting 20 tonnes of inflight food and drink for the horses along with 100 tonnes of special equipment for the onward journey from Liege.
Emirates has decades of experience in transporting horses across six continents for international sporting events. Emirates is also the title sponsor of a number of prestigious global horse racing tournaments and is a sponsor of Godolphin, the world’s leading horse racing team.
Emirates has a fleet of modern Boeing 777 freighter aircraft and a well-trained team to ensure that horses have a comfortable and stress free flight experience. Emirates SkyCargo complies with regulations set out by national and international authorities on live animal transport including IATA Live Animals regulations (LAR).
For further details on the transportation of the horses, please visit FEI’s media centre.
Key challenges and stresses experienced by UAE’s truck drivers revealed in a first-of-its-kind study by Continental
57 per cent of truck drivers questioned always or sometimes experience stress
The majority found these stresses impacted negatively on their personal life
Drivers shared feedback on how other road users could behave more considerately
Study carried out by Continental as latest part of its Vision Zero safety initiative
Project involved RoadSafetyUAE and three major UAE fleet operators
UAE truck drivers have revealed the personal impact of the challenges they face carrying out their work, with 57 per cent of drivers claiming to always or sometimes experience stress during their work according to a new study, and the majority finding that the stress of the job carries over into their personal lives.
The first-of-its kind study, which was carried out by Continental, the premium German tyre company, sheds light on the often-overlooked personal experiences of some of the thousands of drivers who ply their trade on the Emirates’ roads every day.
The stresses of the job affected the majority of those surveyed, with 29 per cent finding it impacted negatively on their personal life. 24 per cent claimed to find it difficult to switch off after completing their work, with 13 per cent suffering sleep deprivation and 10 per cent finding it made them more impatient.
The study also highlighted truck drivers’ concerns in relation to other drivers. When asked how other road users could adapt their driving style to facilitate truck drivers’ own driving experiences, 50 per cent of drivers raised the issue of others maintaining a safe distance from trucks; 37 per cent said they could better observe traffic regulations; and 33 per cent suggested that they could be more considerate of truck drivers.
Emphasising the stressful nature of the job, and importance of supporting truck drivers, the study revealed that half of those questioned had been involved in accidents. When asked what one thing would most improve their ability to perform their job, 39 per cent of respondents mentioned additional training, with 26 per cent proposing more breaks and 17 per cent decreasing the distances travelled. Reassuringly, 74 per cent of drivers said that tyres are the most important aspect of truck safety.
The project was run in collaboration with three leading UAE fleet operators – Al Ahli General Transport, Masafi Land Transport and Ocean City Transport – who provided important input. Continental also partnered with RoadSafetyUAE, the Emirates’ leading road safety portal, which shares truck safety advice, including for other road users and fleet operators, on its website.
“In previous workshops with the Abu Dhabi police traffic department, police officers stated that their main concerns with regards to truck accidents are truck driver fatigue and the poor conditions of the truck tyres,” said Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE. “Driver fatigue as well as the causes of stress for truck drivers are often overlooked and hence, I am exhilarated that Continental initiated this campaign to shed light on the importance of truck safety and introduce the human element to this subject. I encourage all truck operating companies to follow Continental’s lead and focus on the importance of this topic”.
The study, which involved speaking to 54 truck drivers from around the UAE, was conducted by Continental as part of its global Vison Zero safety initiative. It follows on from other similar studies conducted by the brand in the Emirates regarding the attitude of parents of children of school age towards their car tyres, and the awareness of tyre safety among new drivers.
As a global leader in automotive technological advancements and road safety, for both passenger and commercial vehicles, Continental’s global Vision Zero initiative aims to totally eradicate road accidents and deliver Zero fatalities, Zero injuries and Zero accidents. The study was commissioned by Continental as part of its approach to delivering Vision Zero through enhancing drivers’ knowledge, attitude and awareness.
Karl Kucera, General Manager of Continental Middle East, commented: “The safety of all road users is a major concern for Continental. We were therefore pleased to discover that there was a strong understanding among the drivers of the critical role tyres play in truck safety. However, our primary objective for this study was to initiate a conversation among fleet operators and the wider public on the challenges truck drivers face.”
He added: “We wanted to help educate people about the personal experiences and stresses experienced by the UAE’s truck drivers, people who fulfil a vital role for the country’s economy. Based on the findings, it is clear that drivers would benefit from a greater focus on training and support with content on how to deal with the stresses they face. At the same time, there answers send a clear message to other road users about the effect their own driving styles can have on truck drivers’ abilities to conduct their work safely.”
According to April 2021 International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics, Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand serving 127 countries around the world, rose to the 1st rank by carrying 1 out of every 4 shipments in Hungary cargo exports, with a market share of nearly 25%.
Delivering all kinds of products from spare parts to pharmaceuticals with the highest level of care and personalized service with four A330 cargo planes per week, Turkish Cargo surpassed many of its strong competitors and ranked 2nd in Switzerland cargo exports with 1668 tons in May 2021 according to IATA statistics.
Turkish Cargo’s Chief Cargo Officer Turhan Özen stated; “As the world’s fastest growing air cargo brand, we continue to add value to the European market with our contributions to the worldwide supply chain. We aim to reach every part of the world by increasing our success day by day. We are committed to maintain our critical role when it comes to increasing the competitive power of global trade not only with the transportation we carry out, but also by opening areas, contributing to the development of sectors, and creating a large logistics ecosystem. With these achievements, we are progressing rapidly in our goal of becoming one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world by 2023.”
Connecting the continents, Turkish Cargo, with its cargo flight network that consists of 96 direct cargo destinations, has the world’s largest direct cargo flight network excluding express carriers. It continues to carry out global business processes with the fleet of 371 aircraft including 25 dedicated freighters. Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to be one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. With its innovation mission, global cargo company continues to develop pioneering projects in the field of digitalization and innovation to increase its service quality in a sustainable way in a changing world.
·The neutral online platform for container leasing and trading adds tank containers to its service offering through the acquisition, strengthening its position as the market leader.
·TankContainerFinders.com founders Léon de Bruin and Arthur van de Hoeven will leave the company.
Container xChange announced today it has acquired TankContainerFinder.com, the leading marketplace for tank container leasing and trading.
The acquisition, agreed for an undisclosed amount, adds substantial new members to Container xChange’s client roster, further cementing the company’s position as the leading neutral provider for shipping equipment.
Container xChange members can now buy, sell and lease every type of tank container and dry container in one location.
“TankContainerFinder.com generated more than USD$40 million since it was founded in 2017 and is at the forefront of digitalization in the growing tank container market,” said Dr. Johannes Schlingmeier, Founder of Container xChange. “Our customers have been asking for tank containers for a while and after a few conversations it was clear that joining forces with TankContainerFinder.com made a lot of sense.
“We’re thrilled to start capturing the huge synergy potential between our platforms. TankContainerFinder.com members can now access the Container xChange platform and collaborate with 800+ vetted shipping companies without transaction fees”.
The acquisition of TankContainerFinder.com by Container xChange Digitalization will bring more transparency to a highly fragmented tank container market, enabling small- and medium sized companies to remain competitive by simplifying operational transactions when buying, selling or leasing tank containers.
Getting the first tank container suppliers on the platform when we had no customers was a big challenge initially but having attracted hundreds of members over the course of the last five years makes us most proud,” said Léon de Bruin. “After seeing the network grow and making our members wildly successful it is now time for us to move on. After a few conversations it was clear that Container xChange is the perfect partner and a great place for our members to keep growing their businesses in an expanding market”.
The tank container market is booming worldwide, expanding by 5.26% in 2020. It totalled 686,650 tank containers at 1 January 2021, according to the ITCO Global Tank Container Survey. More companies, especially in South-East Asia are turning to tank containers and operators are successfully converting certain cargoes to tanks.
“Container xChange is now in the perfect situation to bring transparency, trust and efficiency to the tank container market”, said Dr. Johannes Schlingmeier. “Our customers have been asking for tank containers for a while now and we’re looking forward to bringing transparency, trust and high transaction speed to the tank container market”.
The global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics appoints Marc Wijnen as Global Head of eCommerce. In this newly created position, Mr. Wijnen takes responsibility for the further development of the eCommerce product globally, which falls under the Contract Logistics segment. Mr. Wijnen will also remain responsible for the European Contract Logistics product as Chief Operating Officer.
As an end-to-end provider of logistics services, Hellmann is already a business partner for customers all over the world. The company already offers one-stop shop customized solutions for supply chain planning and execution of customers’ entire eCommerce business. eCommerce continues to boom, further boosted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of this, Hellmann is taking a key step in positioning its eCommerce product in the market. By offering solutions that cover the entire fulfillment process – from the creation of an online store and setting up warehousing to the development and connection of individual order management systems and payment services, Hellmann aims to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, particularly in the fashion and lifestyle sectors. As an integrated e-fulfillment partner, both Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B) are focus areas for the expansion efforts.
“The eCommerce market is extremely dynamic. To meet our customers’ increasing demands for innovative solutions, we are currently setting up a ‘Center of Excellence’ with Marc Wijnen as global Head of eCommerce, in which we are pooling our know-how and applying it worldwide. At the same time, we are testing new approaches to solution design and constantly expand our talent and product offering. This is how we ensure that we can offer customers individually tailored services that have their finger on the pulse,” says Volker Sauerborn, Chief Operating Officer Contract Logistics Hellmann.
State-of-the-art multipurpose facility to strengthen LogiPoint as a regional distribution hub in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia’s LogiPoint have announced that the contract for construction of Warehouse Village V, LogiPoint’s state-of-the-art, multi-purpose warehousing complex, has been awarded to Sahara Building Contractors. Warehousing Village V will be built in one of LogiPoint’s flagship Logistics Park – the Bonded and Re-Export Zone at Jeddah Islamic Port; construction begins in August 2021 and the project will be ready for hand-over in July 2022.
LogiPoint is an internationally recognized and award-winning logistics real estate company which has grown to become the Kingdom’s premier developer and operator of transformative Logistics Parks and Zones.
The Bonded and Re-Export Zone is a 1,000,000 sqm fully integrated logistics platform dedicated to facilitating trade and development in the Kingdom by enabling the supply chain and logistics industry and by creating value through investments in innovative, next generation solutions and state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure. Currently, LogiPoint warehousing facilities are operating at over 100% utilization and hence Village V is a welcome addition.
The new facility will be built over a 24,500 sqm area with dedicated zones for handling frozen, chilled, ambient and dry cargoes. Warehousing Village V also introduces a LogiPoint first with a dedicated zone designed and equipped to handle Pharmaceutical goods inside Jeddah Islamic Port. Additionally, the Value Addition Zone will enable LogiPoint to extend their time tested and much in demand value added services to their clients allowing them to act as a truly transformative logistics hub for the region.
Farooq Shaikh, the CEO of LogiPoint, believes that the company’s mission of enabling logistics and facilitating trade and economic growth by acting as a stakeholder in the Kingdom’s growth has become more pertinent than ever before. He believes that LogiPoint’s investments into infrastructure projects carry a multiplier effect for the Kingdom’s economy because of the multiple new investments these projects attract to the Kingdom. He says:
“Village 5 is going to be our most sophisticated addition yet to LogiPoint’s warehousing infrastructure inside Jeddah Islamic Port. The importance and relevance of a facility that is designed to receive, handle, store and distribute pharmaceutical goods can scarcely be overstated today. At the same time, the addition of a multi-purpose state-of-the-art warehousing facility at LogiPoint BRZ reinforces Jeddah as an integrated logistics hub internationally and demonstrates just how well we are aligned with the Vision 2030’s goal to make the Kingdom a regional logistics hub of choice. Village 5 is start of the expansion plans that is expected to increase LogiPoint BRZ’s warehousing capacity by about 150% during next 2-3 years’.
Warehousing Village V has been designed by Jamjoom Consulting in line with international logistics infrastructure specifications and incorporates the latest green building technologies to ensure compliance with environmental standards. The facility will rely on renewable resources for power generation and has been designed to conserve energy through eliminating waste and using low consumption LED lighting system.
LogiPoint clients at Warehousing Village 5 will experience enhanced speed and agility in their logistics operations because of innovative and intuitive design to allow seamless processes as well as the use of latest docking equipment including dock-levellers with integrated dock shelters. LogiPoint promises constant care to clients through adherence to stringent LogiPoint QHSSE policies as well as through providing cutting edge technological support ensured via an Integrated IT System, 24/7 CCTV, and modern Fire and Safety Systems.
This facility promises to be an excellent addition to the Jeddah Islamic Port Logistics infrastructure and will further strengthen Jeddah’s credentials as an international logistics hub equipped to serve the full spectrum of Logistics and Supply Chain clients.
CargoAi will facilitate worldwide quoting and booking process
Freight forwarders will be able to access the Etihad Cargo freight facility within the next few weeks
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group, and CargoAi, the SaaS application which provides air cargo digital solutions, have partnered to elevate the carrier’s API accessibility for freight forwarders as part of its digitalisation strategy.
During the past few years, Etihad Cargo has accelerated its development of technology advancements which have provided simplified customer experiences through a number of partnerships. This has culminated in the launch of its brand new digital platform, etihadcargo.com. Their latest collaboration with CargoAi will further enhance this through the provision of brand-new API accessibility for freight forwarders the world over.
“Digitalisation has been at the core of Etihad Cargo’s strategy over the last three to five years, and continues to be a focus in driving digitalisation and streamlining processes across the air freight world. Our partnership with CargoAi supports this vision, and provides an additional tool which delivers a rapid and fluid digital booking services platform,” explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.
Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi, noted “Etihad Cargo is a cutting-edge, highly innovative carrier in the field of digital air freight. We are fortunate to have the chance to be the first provider to use their latest modern APIs. As cargo capacities worldwide are still restricted, e-marketing the Etihad Cargo offer on CargoAi.co is clearly a major opportunity for our freight forwarder clients”.
With CargoAi’s expertise in the areas of air freight and tech, integration is taking place at a record pace. By beginning of August, all aspects of the company’s offer of capacity – including rates, schedules, quotations and bookings – will be available via the platform. The unique Business Intelligence solution will for its part provide access to live data with staggering simplicity.
The Covid-19 cargo congestion brought on by extreme demand in combination with operational disruptions is very real and felt across supply chains globally. In the U.S. in particular, all parts of the supply chain are facing unprecedented pressures – there is a lack of rail and truck capacity, warehouses are full, and ports are bursting at the seams. It is in part in this context that the President is issuing an Executive Order that addresses shipping along with other industries.
The driver of these problems is demand for imports by U.S. consumers and U.S. businesses. Of the past 12 months, 11 months have had a year-on-year growth in spending on consumer goods of over 10%. To put this into perspective, in the 18 years before the pandemic, the average growth rate was 4.7%.[1] The impact of this sustained increase in spending on consumer goods is manifested in the volume of U.S. container imports stressing the supply chain. In its most recent assessment of market conditions, Drewry Shipping Consultants concludes: “The surge in Asian exports being shipped to North America continues unabated. In the first three months of 2021, eastbound volumes grew by 34% – the highest quarterly gain by far since Drewry’s current records began in 1995.”[2]
Ocean carriers literally have all hands-on deck – both on and off the ships
Ocean carriers are employing all available capacity and pulling out all stops to manage the operational disruptions brought on by Covid-19. But when marine terminals cannot clear the cargo already on the docks, ships cannot berth to discharge and load cargo. And marine terminals cannot clear cargo if the importers of that cargo have no warehouse or distribution space to put those containers. And containers are stuck in many places in the U.S. waiting for adequate rail and truck capacity to move them.
“This is not the fault of any given supply chain actor. Supply chains simply cannot efficiently handle this extreme demand surge, thus resulting in the delays, disruptions and capacity shortages felt across the chain. All supply chain players are working to clear the system, but the fact is that as long as the massive import demand from U.S. businesses and consumers continues, the challenges will remain,” says John Butler, President & CEO of World Shipping Council.
Liner shipping remains highly competitive, and lack of competition is not the cause of the cargo congestion
The industry remains competitive by any measure, and the current situation is not caused by any lack of competition. There are over 50 ocean carriers operating more than 1,000 ships that provide some 180 liner services to U.S. importers and exporters.[3] The U.S. Department of Justice and others look at the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) as a measure of an industry’s market concentration.[4] The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is calculated by squaring the market share of each company competing in the market, and then summing the resulting numbers, ranging from close to zero to 10,000. The higher the number, the more concentrated the market. A market in which the HHI is below 1,500 is considered a competitive marketplace; between 1,500 and 2,500 is moderately concentrated; and markets in which the HHI is in excess of 2,500 points are considered to be highly concentrated.
The HHI calculation for the US international liner shipper market, using container operators’ current vessel capacity serving U.S. trades, is less than 1,000, thus making it a competitive industry.
The competitive nature of the industry is also readily visible when looking at the prices that shippers have paid over time to move their cargo. Rates vary by origin and destination combination and are negotiated and agreed to by individual carriers and their customers. The largest U.S. trade is that between the U.S. and Asia. The two figures below show the development of all-in rates as reported by Drewry between 2006 and May 2021 between major ports in Asia and LA.
Figure 1 shows that rates from Asia to the U.S. are volatile but have over time moved predominantly within the USD 2,000 to USD 3,000 per FEU band. The unprecedented surge in rates from Q2 2020 onwards is the clear result of the supply-demand imbalances as well as supply chain bottlenecks caused by Covid-19.
Figure 2 shows rates in the other direction, from Los Angeles to the same destination ports in Asia. These rates are much lower and well below USD 1,500 in recent years. The large difference between rates on imports from ports in Asia to the U.S. versus rates on exports from the U.S. to Asia is caused by the trade imbalance between the two regions. The volume of imports from Asia has historically been about twice as much as that of exports from the U.S. to Asia, and during certain periods over the last year has risen to 3 times as much. It also shows the asymmetric impact of the surge in demand: the import rates from Asia to the U.S. have increased faster and much more than the rates on exports from the US to Asia.
The graphs clearly show that price movements in this market are driven by supply and demand and are the result of a competitive market. Even though deployed vessel capacity on the transpacific is at an all-time high, with all available ships carrying cargo, the huge and sustained increase in U.S. imports has physically overwhelmed the available capacity and has resulted in a surge in pricing.
The rate development before the Covid-19 pandemic is also indicative of a competitive market, with nominal rates staying flat, which corresponds to decreasing rates in real terms corrected for inflation. The structure and level of concentration in the container shipping market has not changed during the pandemic. If anything, carrier actions show a well-functioning market with low barriers to entry: new services have been launched, new carriers have entered the market[5], and the amount of vessel orders in the first half of the year surpasses 2019 and 2020 combined, reaching the highest level in 20 years according to VesselsValue[6].
EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) is establishing itself among the elite in the global logistics software sector with the news that it has beenrecognized in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant. The Germany-based global provider has been included in the Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) with its versatile and fully comprehensive EPG ONE™ Supply Chain Execution Suite – one of only a very small number of European providers listed in this segment.
From EPG’s perspective, this recognition from Gartner also highlights the increasing global relevance of WMS in promoting faster and more cost-efficient logistics. The Gartner report states: “Despite being a very mature market, WMS offerings continue to differ in areas like usability, adaptability, decision support, scalability both up and down market, and lifecycle costs. Furthermore, customers increasingly favor supply chain suites that can support end-to-end supply chain and logistics process orchestration.”
At an international level, over 1,500 companies from many different industries have benefited from the EPG suite of solutions. “We are very proud to have been acknowledged in the Magic Quadrant as a privately owned group with headquarters in Germany,” says Marco Ehrhardt, President of EPG. “We feel that this recognition underlines our position on the global market while also confirming our status as one of the leading solution providers worldwide with our holistic supply chain approach.”
Experienced in innovation
As an internationally prestigious research and consulting company, Gartner carefully examines WMS providers on the global market every year and evaluates them independently on the basis of various criteria, including scope of functions, geographic turnover and company size. The quadrant then visualizes how certain providers position themselves within the market. “With regard to the acceptance criteria, we were able to make an impression with our products and product strategy as well as our dedicated customer support on a global level,” explains Dennis Kunz, EPG Marketing Director. “As logistics experts, we have been working successfully with many global customers – including ABInBev, DHL, DPD, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, NGK, Volkswagen and YKK – for several decades. We also operate our own logistics centre, which we use as a proving ground for innovations and technological developments,” adds Kunz.
Global growth
The MQ endorsement from Gartner will help EPG to continue its strong global expansion. In the USA in particular, EPG is growing faster than in any other region in the world.
The company is developing rapidly across all territories. Projects in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa are being managed from the company’s Dubai location, while EPG recently opened two new sites in Australia and Japan. EPG’s firm commitment to post-Brexit UK is being overseen from its new British headquarters in Derby, while it also has sites in Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic and Russia) and western and southern Europe (France, Italy and Spain).
For those who are interested, you can find out more information on the Gartner MQ 2021 for WMS, which includes the option to download the latest report at Download – Ehrhardt + Partner (epg.com)
Hahn Air announced the appointment of Christoph Althoff as Vice President Airline Business. The industry professional joined the Hahn Air team on 1st July and will be in charge of an international team of experts managing the partnerships with Hahn Air’s more than 350 partner airlines worldwide as well as acquiring and implementing new partner carriers. Christoph Althoff is taking over from Steve Knackstedt who has been in this role for more than 13 years and who will retire at the end of 2021.
Christoph Althoff studied in Germany, Argentina and the US, and holds a degree in International Relations & Economics. He started his career as a strategic consultant for telecom companies across Europe. In the past 17 years, he has been working for major travel industry players such as PROS Holding and Amadeus where he successfully developed data-driven and customer-centric sales strategies for airlines and other travel-related clients. An expert in digital retailing channels, he acquired a proven track record of building and leading sales and account management teams in charge of optimising airline revenues. He has been living in Madrid, Spain, for more than 20 years and speaks German, English and Spanish.
Christoph Althoff comments: “When I was with Amadeus and PROS, I already worked closely with Hahn Air. It was impressive to witness the speed, professionality and enthusiasm of the Hahn Air colleagues and I am very much looking forward to be part of the team and to enable the partner airlines to optimise their revenue with Hahn Air’s distribution solutions.”
Steve Knackstedt joined Hahn Air in 2007 after 28 years in various senior operations and sales positions with Continental Airlines and as a consultant for Cologne-Bonn Airport. Together with his team, he has enabled the Hahn Air partner airlines to optimise their indirect distribution strategy with products such as HR-169, H1-Air, X1-Air, HR-EMD and HR-Corporate.
“We are very pleased to welcome Christoph in our team”, said Alexander Proschka, Executive Vice President Commercial at Hahn Air. “We are convinced that our teams and partners will benefit of his industry knowledge and leadership skills as well as his expertise in forward-looking technologies and sales strategy. At the same time, we would like to thank Steve for his loyalty and commitment during the past 13 years. He has been instrumental in building one of the largest interline networks in the world and has facilitated the growth of the Hahn Air distribution solutions.”
Membership of the pharma association is part of the carrier’s innovation projects to provide reliable end-to-end cool chain for pharmaceuticals and medical products
Collaboration between members of Pharma.Aero, a leading global cross industry association, will strengthen the pharma supply chain
Qatar Airways Cargo becomes a member of Pharma.Aero, a worldwide platform catered to excellence in pharma transportation, effective 5 July 2021. Both organisations share a common goal of achieving excellence in reliable end-to-end air transportation for pharma shippers. Through the membership, the airline will also participate in Pharma.Aero’s board meetings and focus groups to contribute its expertise.
The non-profit organisation with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, brings added value for the shipper by placing them as strategic priorities of Pharma.Aero, providing insights into the capabilities of the air cargo industry, as well as facilitating direct collaboration with the different air cargo stakeholders in the supply chain.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “Collaboration is vital to strengthen the pharma supply chain integrity. The full membership with Pharma.Aero will allow us to share and receive market knowledge and also collaborate with different air cargo stakeholders in the supply chain which will ultimately lead to continuous improvement of life science, medtech and the pharma air cargo supply chain. We look forward to collaborating with Pharma.Aero members and excel in offering a reliable end-to-end air transport and seamless cool chain.”
Nathan De Valck, Chairman of Pharma.Aero, said, “In the past months, though they were volatile for the entire industry, we expanded our global network and raised awareness of the need for global collaboration within the industry. The onboarding of Qatar Airways Cargo – one of the world’s leading cargo carriers – underlines our worldwide impact as a neutral collaboration platform for the global air cargo industry and pharma and life science sector.”
Qatar Airways Cargo has invested considerably in quality handling, infrastructure, digitalisation, facilities, people and procedures at each of its 85+ pharma stations including the Doha hub, adhering to high operating standards for transporting temperature-controlled products.
It was awarded IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification in pharmaceutical logistics in December last year.
SSI Schaefer becomes majority shareholder of SWAN: Partnership to strengthen SAP competencies while maintaining an independent presence in the market.
Focus on customer benefits: SSI Schaefer and SWAN combine SAP expertise
With a focus on customer benefits, SWAN, the SAP logistics specialist, and SSI Schaefer, the world’s leading provider of modular warehousing and logistics solutions, are combining their competencies in the digitalization of logistics and the close technical integration of automated warehouse technology. SWAN GmbH will completely take over all employees of the SSI Schaefer Group’s SAP business and integrate them into the company with all existing offices. The intralogistics specialist SSI Schaefer will become majority shareholder of SWAN GmbH, which will continue to operate independently in the market. Within the partnership, SWAN will take over the project handling of SSI Schaefer’s SAP business.
This strategic merger will create a leading provider in the field of SAP logistics with over 120 SAP experts and outstanding automation know-how, not just for SSI Schaefer technology. Through the merger, SWAN positions itself within the top 5 providers for SAP logistics and opens itself up for further internationalization of its business areas. The company gains 55 experienced logistics consultants and combines competencies in the areas of SAP consulting & development, material flow control, and project management. The Customer Lifecycle Service team will also double its personnel in the future. “Our business partners and customers will benefit from the newly strengthened SWAN GmbH. In the future, we will offer an even broader solution portfolio and outstanding expertise in SAP logistics through their usual contact persons,” promises Alexander Bernhard, Managing Director of SWAN GmbH.
The SSI Schaefer Group underlines the central role that high-performance software plays in modern material handling solutions. The investment in SWAN GmbH will open up future growth areas in the competitive SAP logistics market and lay the foundation for close technology integration in the direction of integrated and intelligent supply chain solutions. With more than 1,100 employees in the field of software solutions, the SSI Schaefer Group, with a total of 10,500 employees, is a market partner that knows the requirements of modern material handling from hardware to software, and transforms them into sustainable solutions for its customers across all industries.
In addition to the self-developed, standardized logistics software WAMAS®, SSI Schaefer strengthens its project expertise in implementing logistics solutions with SAP EWM, working within the framework of the partnership in order to serve its customers holistically. Of course, logistics systems will continue to be offered entirely as a general contractor.
“In the partnership with SWAN, we strengthen the SAP solution portfolio for our customers and raise our consulting and implementation strength to a new level internationally. We are thus consistently implementing our strategy and, as a technology leader, enabling our customers to meet the increasing expectations and needs of their customers better, more efficiently and more sustainably with solution-oriented material handling,” says Steffen Bersch, CEO of the SSI Schaefer Group, explaining the strategic commitment.
The software specialist SWAN, founded in 2011, has already successfully implemented over 100 projects as an SAP project house with well-known companies from various industries in 26 countries. In particular, SWAN and SSI Schaefer’s global customers in Healthcare & Cosmetics, Fashion, Food & Beverage, Industry and Retail will benefit in the future from strengthened SAP services in the area of consulting and realization
Hellmann acquires overnight express parcel provider “Innight Express” with presence in Hungary and Romania
The global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is acquiring the overnight express provider “Innight Express” based in Hungary and Romania. With this acquisition, Hellmann is completing an important milestone in its expansion strategy in the Central and East European markets and tapping into the key overnight express services segment. The two shareholders Tamás Aradi and Zoltán Csombok will continue to manage the company as Co-Managing Directors. Customers can expect a seamless integration and unchanged business relationships.
Since its foundation in 2004 in Törökbálint, Hungary – 15 kilometers west of Budapest – Innight Express has developed into an overnight express specialist, primarily serving customers in the automotive and agricultural industries. For the past eight years, the company has also been successfully represented on the Romanian market by its subsidiary Innight Romania Express in Ciorogârla.
“By expanding our overnight-express services into Eastern Europe, we are taking another important step in our expansion strategy, which we have been executing upon since the beginning of the year, with initiatives such as the acquisition of Hellmann East Europe and the joint venture of Rhenus & Hellmann,” says Jörg Herwig, Chief Operating Officer Road & Rail Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“The acquisition of Innight Express gives us access and a presence in two attractive emerging countries in the Eastern European overnight-express market. We are pleased to be able to take on all 74 employees as part of the Innight Express acquisition,” added Wilfried Hesselmann, Chief Operating Officer CEP, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. “As part of the global Hellmann FAMILY, we want to make our contribution to the overall success of the company in the future. Our goal is to further expand while sustainably strengthening our presence and share in East Europe,” say Tamás Aradi and Zoltán Csombok, Managing Directors CEP RO/HU.
ABB has won a contract to design, supply, test and commission a new high-power charging infrastructure for one of the world’s largest fleet of electric buses.
The project will see ABB provide high power charging infrastructure for the fleet, which is expected to have 1,000 electric buses operating across the country and with a capacity to transport 50,000 passengers a day.
Qatar aims to have 25 percent of its public bus network operating on electric by 2022, rising to 100 percent by 2030. As part of this plan, the state will create one of the largest e-bus networks in the world, in a single installation.
Partnering with Mannai Trading Company, Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ and fleet operator, Mowasalat, ABB will design and deploy Heavy Vehicle Charging equipment across multiple locations in Qatar, including four bus depots, eight bus stations and 12 metro stations. The project scope also includes a three-year service level agreement.
Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility division said: “As part of ABB’s 2030 sustainability strategy, we are focused on helping fleets to unlock the potential of e-mobility with state of the art and intelligent charging solutions. As the world moves towards green bus fleets, our solutions are at the leading edge to help cities and regions around the world discover the value of electrification and how it can help us all transition to cleaner and greener transport solutions.”
For the project, ABB will supply over 125 MW of charging capacity, 1,300 connectors for destination charging and 89 opportunity chargers, four of which will be mobile. With this charging solution, the complete Mowasalat electric bus fleet can be charged overnight at the depots and while in use without impacting regular operations, ensuring a fast and convenient charging experience for operators and passengers.
ABB will also provide the data connection and interfaces to connect and integrate the charging infrastructure operation into the Mowasalat Fleet Management System for 24/7 fleet optimization. Besides integration with the Fleet Management System, chargers will also be connected to the ABB Ability™ cloud to remotely monitor and diagnose the infrastructure by using more than 400 parameters. This complete solution maximizes uptime and efficiency and ensures reliable infrastructure for the public.
HE Dr. Eng. Saad Ahmed Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, the President of the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’, said: “Qatar has taken impactful steps to combat climate change and promote sustainability. This includes a variety of local programs and initiatives, including the introduction of green public transport solutions. In Qatar, we have set ambitious goals to reduce CO2 emissions and make a valuable global contribution to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The installation of e-mobility infrastructure in Qatar supports these global efforts. ABB was selected as a partner because it shares our vision for a greener future and has the expertise to support Qatar’s environmental and public transport targets. We look forward to the collaboration.”
ABB is a world leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, offering the full range of charging and electrification solutions for electric cars, electric and hybrid buses, and ships and railways. ABB entered the e-mobility market back in 2010, and today has sold more than 400,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 85 markets; over 20,000 DC fast chargers and 380,000 AC chargers, including those sold through Chargedot.
ABB high-power chargers have already been deployed in e-bus depots and cities around the world. They have been used to power Germany’s first electric bus fleet from Hamburger Hochbahn AG and more recently for a pilot at the San Donato depot of the Milan public Transport service company, ATM.
As the cargo company that flies to more countries than any other, Turkish Cargo continues to fly uninterrupted and contributes to the fight against the pandemic for the return to better days. Managing to grow under the leadership of Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı despite the shrinking sector during the pandemic, global air cargo brand also carries an important mission for the vaccine transportation. With its strong fleet, wide flight network and great service quality, Turkish Cargo delivered 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to more than 35 countries around the world.
İlker Aycı; “Turkish Cargo Is an Advantage for Our World”
On the topic, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated; “As the pandemic is an unprecedented threat to the human health, our Turkish Cargo brand is a significant advantage when it comes to combatting this threat. Our brand is able to carry vaccine doses to more than 100 countries with its international air bridge, becoming a lifeline for countries that are located too far from the ones with vaccine production facilities. Proving itself with hundreds of vaccine transportation operations to countries all around the world ranging from China to Brazil, India to Democratic Republic of the Congo along with operations to our own country, Turkish Cargo showed its reliability by transporting 100 million doses. With these successful operations, we increased our global market share to 7.5 percent in pharmaceutical transportation and became one of the most active carriers in vaccine transportation. Concurrent with the application of the vaccines which increases every day, we will continue to shoulder this responsibility until we win this battle against the pandemic.”
With the start of the vaccine distribution, Turkish Cargo carried 100 million vaccine doses, which is approximately 450 tonnes, from the vaccine production centres to destinations in its wide flight network with over 250 flights. Air cargo carrier transported the Covid-19 vaccines to key and certificated destinations such as Turkey, Baku, Rome, Belgrade, Copenhagen, Miami, Sao Paulo and Mexico City, creating a global corridor between more than 400 destinations. With 30 years of experience when it comes to special cargo transportation, successful brand proved its capability with vaccines that have different transportation requirements by carrying 7 different Covid-19 vaccines in containers with special cooling systems.
Increasing its market share in pharmaceutical transportation to 7.5 percent, Turkish Cargo enhanced its capacity when it comes to cold air depots while increasing its active and passive container capacity in order to prioritize medical transportation during the pandemic. Successful brand continues its operations uninterrupted in order to deliver emergencies such as food, aid materials, medical products and equipment while maintaining the continuity in global medical supply chain.
Calm haven for seafarers at Hamad International Airport passes 50,000 visitors in under seven months
Mariner Lounge in Doha has ceremonial opening to mark International Maritime Organization’s Day of the Seafarer 2021, with hundreds given free flight upgrades as part of commemoration
Qatar Airways has transported more than 380,000 seafarers and offshore workers since April 2020 for repatriation and crew change
The world’s first airport lounge for the exclusive use of seafarers and offshore workers has surpassed more than 50,000 visitors since it opened its doors in late 2020 and to mark the International Maritime Organization’s “Day of the Seafarer”, Qatar Airways held a ceremonial opening event.
Located at Qatar Airways’ hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, the Mariner Lounge was officially opened by the Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Day of the Seafarer on 25 June.
The provision of dedicated lounge facilities provides ship’s crews and those working in offshore industries travelling with Qatar Airways an exclusive and luxurious haven during their journeys. In addition to an international selection of food and beverages, facilities include unlimited high-speed wi-fi, shower facilities, a television area, reading materials and a Business Centre.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways is pleased to have played a leading role in the repatriation of seafarers stranded due to the pandemic, working closely with governments and the maritime industry. The international shipping industry is the lifeblood of the world economy, and as a leading global airline, Qatar Airways is truly proud to support the crews who, along with us, keep the world moving.
“We offer something no other airport or airline in the world currently provides – a peaceful space for these key workers to relax during their flight transfer as they make their way home or to their next posting. I hope many more maritime workers will sample our hospitality at the Mariner Lounge.”
Eligible seafarers & offshore workers can relax in style and experience exclusive benefits of the new lounge in addition to our world-class service and hospitality.
During the pandemic, Qatar Airways has carried more than 380,000 seafarers and offshore workers since April 2020, including repatriations and crew changes, and there have been around 100 charters carrying around 28,000 mariners.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the aviation industry and, despite this, Qatar Airways never ceased operations and worked diligently to take people home safely and reliably throughout the crisis. The airline has also added eight new destinations in the past 12 months including San Francisco and Seattle in the US, Abidjan, Abuja, Accra and Luanda in Africa, and Brisbane and Cebu in Asia Pacific.
As travellers return to the skies with Qatar Airways, they can take comfort knowing that they are travelling with the only airline in the world that has, together with its state-of-the-art global hub Hamad International Airport, achieved four 5-Star Skytrax ratings – including the prestigious 5-Star Airline Rating, 5-Star Airport Rating, 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating and 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These achievements highlight Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing our passengers with an industry-leading experience at every point of their journey, including the highest possible level of health and safety standards that safeguard the wellbeing of our passengers both on the ground and in the air. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented onboard and in HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.
DRONAMICS, the leading middle-mile cargo drone developer and operator and the global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics announced a partnership today to develop and offer a pioneering new transport service for the cross-border transportation of time-critical goods. As part of the cooperation, Hellmann plans to offer the first routes with unmanned cargo drones from DRONAMICS as early as next year.
The partnership will provide customers seeking an on-demand solution for shipping goods with an integrated service, with DRONAMICS’ next-generation middle-mile service offering a speedy delivery at a competitive cost. The two companies will work together to develop the initial routes that they will be piloting for customers early next year. The first geography of interest will be Europe, where the regulatory environment permits operations across the European Union. Hellmann considers DRONAMICS a forerunner among long-range drone developers, with DRONAMICS aiming to be the first company to obtain operational authorization for international unmanned flights across Europe.
“Partnering with DRONAMICS allows us to provide our customers with innovative and tailored solutions especially in the growing market segments of spare parts, e-commerce, and cool chain. DRONAMICS enables a same-day middle-mile drone delivery service with an unmatched range of up to 2,500km and an impressive cargo capacity of 350kg. We believe this will be a game changer in logistics,” says Jan Kleine-Lasthues, Chief Operating Officer Airfreight of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to work with a leading logistics provider such as Hellmann, a company with a global network and a strategy to shape the supply chain of the future. Collaborating with freight forwarders is an essential part of our vision to make same-day deliveries a reality” – says Svilen Rangelov, CEO and Co-Founder of DRONAMICS.
As part of the agreement, DRONAMICS will provide equipment and expertise to operate the unmanned drone flights, employing local staff in different technical roles. The first commercial flights of the same-day drone cargo services are expected to begin in 2022.
Hellmann’s Middle East South Asia operation is the first in the region to join the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme.
The Middle East South Asia (MESA) operation of Hellmann Worldwide, one of the largest global logistics service providers has become the first in the region to join the Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) programme. Hellmann is a global logistics services provider with a strong commitment to sustainability focusing on the three pillars of economy, ecology, and social issues. The AFKLMP Cargo SAF contract was signed at the regional Air France-KLM office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by senior representatives of both companies. Air France-KLM launched its innovative corporate SAF programme in January 2021 to enable companies to play an active role in the future of sustainable travel.
Air France and KLM have been involved in research and development programmes in the field of alternative fuels for many years. In 2011, the two airlines were among the first to operate commercial flights, demonstrating a possible alternative to fossil fuels. Sustainable aviation fuels can today be made from waste oils, waste products and forest residues. They can be incorporated into jet fuel without any engine modifications. Their use can reduce CO2 emissions by more than 85% compared to conventional fuel.
The Cargo SAF Programme makes it possible for shippers and forwarders to power a share of their flights using SAF. Customers may choose their level of engagement and AFKLMP Cargo ensures that the total amount of investment is used for the sourcing of SAF. Cargo SAF Programme partners receive a third-party audited report justifying the purchased amount of SAF linked to the traffic volume, and indicating the achieved reduction in CO2, helping make air transport more sustainable. By participating in the Cargo SAF Programme, customers not only reduce their carbon footprint but also demonstrate leadership and a commitment to a more sustainable future.
Mr. Baby George, Vice President – Airfreight, Hellmann MESA stated “In our 150-year long company history, we have always been organisation that lives sustainability; always keeping in mind our great responsibility for people, the environment and also society. These values are firmly embedded in our global F.A.M.I.L.Y culture. Joining hands with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has given us an opportunity to contribute towards reducing our carbon footprint, in freight transportation. We are proud to associate ourselves with the SAF program in the region, which strengthens our collaboration with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo and our customers who are committed to sustainable freight transportation initiatives”
Mr. Philippe van Meir, Director Middle East & Southern Asia, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo: “We are proud to sign this first SAF agreement in the Middle East, where interest and commitment to sustainable aviation is growing rapidly, and to welcome Hellmann Middle East – South Asia in joining our programme. With this agreement we are frontrunners in the industry by delivering green logistics solutions. Our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future for aviation means that together, we are now taking ambitious steps to achieving this by pioneering the development and adoption of these revolutionary fuels in the region.”
SAL Saudi Logistics Services (“SAL”, the “Company”), a market leading air cargo handler, announced today the appointment of Eng. Hesham bin Abdulla Alhussayen as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) replacing Omar Hariri, who will move on to Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) in the role of CEO effective July 1.
Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Fawaz, Chairman of SAL, said: “Eng. Hesham Alhussayen has gained the trust of the Board throughout his time as SAL’s Chief Operations Officer (COO) and has over 25 years of experience holding leadership positions at multiple prominent Saudi companies. We see huge possibilities to expand the business and deliver on our strategy. This transitional period SAL will not affect our operations at all and will serve as a new opportunity to enhance SAL’s logistics services at all of the Kingdom’s main airports. We are confident Eng. Hesham and his team will continue to deliver exceptional results and reach new milestones.”
He added: “I would also like to express our gratitude to Omar Hariri for his achievements during his tenure as CEO of SAL. Under his leadership, SAL became an independent joint stock cargo ground handling company carved out from Saudi Airlines Cargo Company which resulted in higher quality and more efficient services. Moreover, Omar led SAL through the major challenges that arose during the early stages of the pandemic by positioning SAL as the logistics services arm of the Kingdom.”
Omar Hariri, departingChief Executive Officer of SAL, said: “It has been a privilege leading SAL and strengthening its position as a major player in the Kingdom’s air cargo handling sector. I leave the Company in a great place and in the capable hands of a truly high caliber management team that I had the pleasure of working closely with over the past two years. I am very pleased with our unprecedented financial and operational achievements and meeting the Board’s expectations. I am fully confident in the ability of Eng. Hesham and his team to deliver on the Company’s growth strategy and wish SAL all the best.”
Eng.Heshambin Abdulla Alhussayen, acting Chief Executive Officer of SAL, said: “I am grateful to the Board for entrusting me with this great leadership responsibility. SAL is moving ahead with our vision to be the logistics partner of choice in a dynamic and globally connected Saudi Arabia as per Vision 2030.”
The world’s largest cargo airline will provide forwarders in Europe with real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings via WebCargo
Since the launch in February 2021, Qatar Airways Cargo has received a large number of eBookings via the platform
Qatar Airways Cargo announces that WebCargo by Freightos will be introduced across the European region* effective 30 June 2021. Forwarders will be able to conduct eBookings with access to live rates and available capacity on the WebCargo platform.
With the implementation of WebCargo across Europe, the total count of countries in the airline’s network on the platform will increase to 32. This will allow customers to further digitalise their experience with the airline in the region, resulting in more process efficiencies and faster market responses.
Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo, Mr. Guillaume Halleux, said: “We are glad to further roll out the third-party eBooking platform, WebCargo throughout Europe, as we aim to provide digital connectivity for our customers and extend digitalisation across our operations. This will bring in more efficiencies in the supply chain and provide multiple benefits for our customers. Our aim is to gradually roll out WebCargo throughout our global network during the year, providing convenience and transparency to our customers.”
Zvi Schreiber, CEO Freightos Group said: “We are so proud to have partnered with Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s number one cargo airline, on driving global Digital Air Cargo (DAC) adoption. The hypergrowth of our eBookings in the last few months (up 1,000% year on year) has proven that forwarders are very keen to adopt real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings, particularly in today’s volatile market. Ultimately, this allows them to deliver better air cargo to importers/exporters. With today’s significant expansion of our partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo, we are excited to drive a further acceleration of digital air cargo bookings in Europe.”
Since the introduction of WebCargo on 7 February 2021 in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Africa and Spain, Qatar Airways Cargo has been receiving high volumes of eBookings via the platform. Digitalisation or digital future is a key pillar of the carrier’s strategy as it moves towards more systems that allow for dynamic pricing, automatic quotations, robotic integration and improved reporting. Qatar Airways Cargo introduced a number of digitalisation initiatives like Robotic Process Automation for shipment tracking, Salesforce (Service Cloud), IATA’s One Record Pilot project with Agility and Champ and the roll out of WebCargo even during the challenging times of the pandemic.
*excluding Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Following its foray into Saudi Arabia in 2013, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has since made deep inroads into the Kingdom, with a good track record and an expanded workforce.
Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Lars Nielsen, Managing Director, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Saudi Arabia, who spoke expansively about the company’s origins, growth over the span of eight years since its inception and outlook for the future.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give the sense of the scale and size of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics’ operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for how long has the company been functioning there?
Lars Nielsen (LN): We opened our first office back in 2013 on a very small scale and I recall personally getting involved in operations, which back then only consisted of only one person.
We have grown exponentially since then and currently employ more than 150 people covering 12 locations kingdom-wide with concrete plans to more than double the number of employees by 2022.
GSC:How significant is Saudi Arabia for Hellmann?
LN: Saudi Arabia is still at early stages for Hellmann when compared to its potential, but we see Saudi Arabia as one of our key drivers for growth within the Middle East and North Africa region.
GSC:What is the scope of service offerings to your Saudi clients and what industry verticals do these represent?
LN: We cover the full range of freight forwarding services from global logistics to local handling and in our CLC (Contract Logistics & Consulting) business unit we complete our clients’ supply chain with warehousing, value-added services and last-mile distribution. We do business with all industries but with a strong focus on healthcare, automotive, FMCG and latest within e-commerce too.
GSC: How did you fare in 2020, Q1-2021 and what is your assessment for 2021?
LN: Growth was in line with budget, and I expect 2021 to exceed expectations and previous years’ results.
GSC: Tell us more about your recent JVs in the Kingdom?
LN: At this stage we have signed a MoU to explore a potential formation of a JV specialized in Healthcare Logistics within KSA and we are working on the details to make this a reality in near future.
A dedicated entity for Healthcare Logistics in KSA will be unique and the first of its kind where combining local and international capabilities will make us market leaders overnight in a market demanding international quality standards and kingdom-wide coverage.
GSC: What are the opportunities and challenges for Hellmann in KSA going forward?
LN: We have a clear path laid out wherein we expect to capitalize on the known opportunities in our industry, but the biggest opportunity is the fact that we operate in a country going through massive changes at a continuously increasing pace.
The ability to foresee the impact of these changes will become the biggest opportunity for Hellmann in Saudi Arabia and we are constantly aligning with senior stakeholders to ensure we will be first movers and stay ahead of competition.
Most challenges can be converted to opportunities and this is especially true when it comes to change in Government regulations where our relatively flat organization remains agile and adaptable.
GSC: What are your expansion plans for the short- and long-term futures?
LN: We expect a significant organic growth as we have invested heavily into Customer Service and Account Management bringing us to, and above, the level our customers expect from us. However, we are always on the lookout for new ventures, so time will tell.
GSC: Saudi Vision 2030 has made the logistics and supply chain and transportation infrastructure the centerpiece of the Kingdom’s economy…. how will it boost the logistics sector in the country.
LN: The effect of Government initiatives is already having a significant impact in for example Customs and various industry regulatory bodies. Processes are automated, inspections routines change, product registration process is simplified and many more – all this creates a more agile logistics eco system where the end result is cost savings and increased service levels for our customers.
Years ago, Saudi Arabia stated its intentions to improve its ranking on the Logistics index and there is action behind those words – we can see the change all around us and there is no doubt in my mind that Saudi Arabia is becoming increasingly important in the regional and perhaps global logistics landscape.
GSC: There has been substantial investment in the Kingdom’s new seaports / airports / transportation sector. What are the repercussions for the logistics sector of these moves?
LN: Improved service levels, higher safety standards and a large range of new solutions, just to name a few. However, I believe the most significant of them all is the investment into Free Zones all over the Kingdom and they are rapidly becoming a reality in Saudi Arabia.
This comes with a wide range of benefits for the customers here and most likely also for the region and in particular North Africa / Red Sea.
GSC:What is your vision for Hellmann in Saudi Arabia going forward?
LN: First People First!! People will be a priority always. We will continue to put our customers, vendors and our own employees first as this has proven a successful recipe to build the relationship on which our business is based today.
Hellmann will cement its position as a household name for 3PL services and continue to expand our service offerings in specialized industry verticals. Our current growth trajectory is incredibly steep, and we are still only at the beginning of the curve so I definitely envision that we expand our position as market leaders.
Conference taking place from 21 – 24 June featuring speakers, global business leaders and senior policy makers from more than 140 countries
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman of World Free Zones Organization, inaugurated the seventh edition of the Annual International Conference & Exhibition (AICE) 2021, which is happening virtually in Dubai from 21 – 24 June 2021. More than 100 high-profile speakers and over 4,000 senior policy makers, academics, multilateral organizations, and global business leaders from more than 140 countries and territories have come together, along with representatives from international free zones to share best practices and promote public awareness regarding the role of free zones and their contribution to economic growth.
Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Chairman, World FZO, said: “The World Free Zones Organization remains committed to strengthening, enabling and enhancing the free zones readiness for a more prosperous phase. This will be done by achieving economic, commercial and investment integration between governments and international organizations, which ensure the sustainable growth of free zones. We are looking forward to continuing our role in finding ways to enhance the performance of free zones to meet the needs of future challenges and developing a more compliant and valuable model for free zones along the global value chain.
“The conference is an ideal platform to discuss cooperation, investment and commercial opportunities that participants can explore through the panel discussions. They include the participation of representatives of governments, international organizations and free zones. We are keen to support the organization’s members and partners in the post-pandemic recovery phase and to play a key role in creating joint collaboration that achieves the required integration and interaction,” Dr. Al Zarooni added.
Participants engaged in an exclusive session titled ‘Future of Global Value Chains’, where they tackled how business entities should respond to present challenges. They also discussed topics such as the role of free zones in building resilient value chains increasing protectionism as a threat to global economic legitimacy of free zones. Other subjects that were analyzed include safer free zones as enablers of compliance and providers of predictability of more integrated value chains, deterring illegal trade across sectors and reporting illicit activities. The group addressed vulnerabilities in supply chain systems, promoting sustainable resource management, and protection against forced labor and other human rights abuses.
The second day of AICE 2021 started with a keynote address by Greg Hands, Minister of State for Trade Policy of UK’s Department of International Trade (DIT). There was also a special guest interview of David Luna, CEO and President of Luna Global Networks & Convergence Strategies.
World FZO also held special discussions on ‘Free Zones and Customs – Towards Renewed Partnership’, where the delegates explored opportunities to promote better partnerships between customs and free zones to benefit all stakeholders. They also participated in the topic ‘Technology Infusion to Ensure Safety and Compliance’, where they discussed how free zones should apply technology and promote transparency, while remaining perfectly compliant with their respective government.
Dr Samir Hamrouni, CEO, World FZO, noted: “Since the establishment of WFZO seven years ago, our founding members have been united with a vision of bridging the gap between free zones worldwide and helping one another address their challenges. We remain committed to delivering our services throughout the pandemic to help free zones overcome the challenges and become future ready.”
The four-day virtual event includes five panel discussions, four regional mini-events and eight webinars. The discussions focus on the way forward, post pandemic with the central idea that safety and compliance in Free Zones is paramount to cleaner, more compliant and more valuable free zone models. Prominent topics of discussion include the future of global value chains, opportunities to foster stronger relationships between free zones and customs, technology infusion to ensure safety and compliance as well as the importance of measurement and standards and free zones compliance with the UN Social Development Goals.
The regional webinars are an extension of the panel discussion from a regional perspective and dove deep into discussion on challenges faced in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas during the crisis and the unique roles that Free Zones can play as we move to a post-pandemic world.
In addition, the webinars presented several key initiatives from the World FZO, including a newly launched program to support businesses to adapt to the new market realities after the pandemic, called Empowering SMEs in Free Zones. As well as the World FZO Safe Zone Certificate program which has already gone through its pilot phase and aims to enhance transparency with Free Zones to increase performance and protect companies in these zones. Other webinars discussed the e-commerce challenges and opportunities that the crises has created, particularly from a safety and compliance perspective.
Aside from the above-mentioned sessions, World FZO also conducted the regional webinars during the first two days regarding the following topics Empowering SMEs, the Safe Zone Program, Safety and Compliance in E-Commerce, European Free Zones: The Way Forward, Towards Safer European Free Zones, and The future of Free Zones in Western Balkans on the Way to EU Accession. Samir Hamrouni was part of the dignitaries who facilitated these webinars.
Qatar Airways Cargo Offers its Customers Envirotainer’s Innovative Releye® RLP container for Pharma Transport
Equipped with intelligent cargo protection and unsurpassed autonomy, these containers provide cost efficiency and outstanding environmental performance, in line with the carrier’s sustainability goals.
Qatar Airways Cargo announces the approval of Envirotainer’s latest innovation – The Releye® RLP container. With the newest addition to its range of temperature-controlled containers, the airline now offers 16 temperature-controlled container leasing options for life science and health care products to maintain a secure and seamless cool chain.
Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways said, “We are committed to provide our customers the best solutions. A seamless cool chain is paramount to maintain the efficacy of pharmaceuticals and we are pleased to offer our customers a technologically advanced container – Releye® RLP with live monitoring and intelligent cargo protection to transport their critical life science and health care shipments at the required temperature across our global network. Such an innovation is the need of the hour, especially in these uncertain times of the pandemic.”
Fredrik Linnér, Chief Business Development Officer at Envirotainer said, “We are happy to welcome Qatar Airways Cargo as a carrier of our latest innovation, the Envirotainer Releye® RLP container. The Releye® RLP sets a new standard for secure cold chain solutions – maintaining the customers’ pharma cargo longer, without the need of recharging and is enough to cover transit times and delays, if any. With live monitoring, the airline’s customers will be able to track and monitor the product condition, location, temperature, humidity, battery levels, door openings, if their cargo is loaded or not and the progress of their shipments. Customised alert notifications can also be set up, offering full visibility to customers for proactive and reactive measures.
Its unique air flow technology provides maximum temperature stability in the cargo bay. These containers also deliver up to a 90 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, in perfect alignment with the airline’s sustainability goals. With considerable investments in quality handling, infrastructure, reefer trucks and facilities like the airside Climate Control Centre at the Doha hub, people and procedures at each of its 85+ pharma stations, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products globally. The airline is committed to ensuring the enhancement of service quality and constant innovation of the QR Pharma service for the benefit of its customers.
SAL & SELA TEAM UP in providing LOGISTIC SOLUTIONS for upcoming major events
SAL Saudi Logistics Services and “Sela” signed an agreement to provide ground handling services at main airports to support the organization of Sela’s seasonal entertainment events and activities, especially the company’s upcoming events by the end of the year. The signing took place at SAL’s headquarter in Jeddah between SAL’s CEO Omar Hariri and Eng. Loai Kamakhi – General Manager business solutions at Sela.
Omar Hariri stressed the importance of this strategic partnership, enhancing the ground handling services in and out of the Kingdom. “Sela is one of the leading companies in the region, and we are excited to utilize all logistic support Sela needs to deliver unique sports and entertainment events in the Kingdom successfully. We are sure this cooperation will result in higher quality service to all the upcoming events in the Kingdom.” Hariri said.
Eng. Loai Kamakhi commented: “Working side by side with SAL is a huge step forward for both companies and contributes to Sela’s goal to unlock the outstanding potential of logistics, especially in the field of events and entertainment. It is also a promising opportunity to exchange expertise and empower the Saudi national-calibre as per the Kingdom’s vision 2030.”
SAL provides premium ground handling services for multiple airlines at Saudi Arabia’s local airports and logistic support with cargo chain solutions. The company also connects all means of transportation with regional airports to make a more significant contribution to Vision 2030 and transform the Kingdom into a global logistic hub.
Increasing the Value of Warehouse Automation Through Modernizations and Expansions
Developing a strategy for keeping automation systems and software current and in good working order is essential to minimizing risk and maximizing equipment performance.
Leading automation expert Swisslog that has continued to support businesses realize their automation journey throughout the pandemic, reveals that many warehouse operators that do not know the controls and component on which their automated systems depend on can experience a vulnerable situation due to unplanned downtime.
Control system suppliers, for example, routinely introduce new components and end-of-life older ones. If you don’t know you have components that are already, or are approaching, obsolescence you may find yourself struggling to find replacements for failed parts. Instead of replacing a component, you’re faced with the challenge of modernizing the panel without the benefit of being able to schedule work around planned downtime.
Developing a strategy for keeping automation systems and software current and in good working order is essential to minimizing risk and maximizing equipment performance. At Swisslog, we’ve developed a number of programs to help our customers extend the life of their warehouse and get more from their investment in automation. These include:
Hardware modernization: Our hardware modernization programs begin with a comprehensive audit to identify all relevant components, their manufacturer and their risk of obsolescence. We then develop a plan to address any vulnerabilities. In some cases, the automation systems themselves may be so old they can no longer deliver reliable service and may be recommended for replacement. Once the initial work is complete, we use the list of system components and our knowledge of product lifecycles to continually and proactively identify components that are at risk of obsolescence. This transforms modernization from an event into a continuous process that can be managed with minimal investment and disruption.
Safety assessments: Safety standards, like technology, are continually evolving. Our safety assessments review existing equipment in light of newer safety regulations and recommend changes that bring systems in compliance, such as adding doors to cranes or using light curtains in place of mechanical gates.
Software updates and upgrades: Keeping software current is as important as maintaining hardware. Whether it is performing technology updates necessitated by changes to the underlying software systems, upgrading from previous generations of Swisslog software to SynQ or installing SynQ to prepare for automation, Swisslog can manage all aspects of a software update or upgrade. We even offer IT Managed Services in which our experts assume responsibility for managing all of the IT systems and software required to keep your equipment operating at peak performance.
System expansions: One of the benefits of the current generation of automation systems delivered by Swisslog is the ability to size systems to meet current needs while maintaining the flexibility to expand the system when needs change. We have the experience and expertise to plan system expansions to maximize your investment in automation and minimize the impact on operations. Whether you are operating cranes, AutoStore, CarryPick or one of our shuttle systems, Swisslog can help you design and implement the upgrades and expansions that give you the storage and throughput you need to enable continued growth.
From modernizing hardware to upgrading software and expanding modular automation systems, Swisslog has the experience and expertise to develop a strategy and plan that minimizes the impact on existing operations and delivers the reliability and performance your business needs. For more information on our warehouse modernization programs, read our new white paper, Modernizing, Upgrading and Expanding Warehouse Automation.
The global full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is opening its first Direct Load branch in France, located in Rennes. The company is thus continuing its growth path in the French market and is expanding its product portfolio to better serve the group’s local and transnational customers.
Hellmann opened the first fully owned French branch near Paris in September 2019 following a thirty-year partnership to serve the local market. Since opening the branch, Hellmann has experienced strong growth which allowed the company to further expand its French network to Strasbourg, Marseille, Nantes and Lyon. To date, the focus has been primarily on developing the air and sea freight products as well as customs clearance, mainly serving customers in the automotive, fashion and healthcare sectors. With the new location in Rennes and the subsequent market launch of the Direct Load product, Hellmann gains additional flexibility and the ability to serve customers with an integrated cross-border service. In addition to opening further branches in France, Hellmann is also planning to expand its Direct Load network across Europe.
“The expansion in France is of great importance for Hellmann’s strategic development. By expanding our product portfolio and opening additional branches, we are strengthening our presence in one of Europe’s largest markets, while at the same time laying the foundation for further transnational growth as a local player with a global presence,” says Reiner Heiken, Chief Executive Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
“With our strong team and diversified product portfolio, we want to continue our growth path in France and gain new customers with our quality and reliability,” adds Jens Tarnowski, Regional CEO Europe, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. “The current development shows that France is increasingly becoming the backbone of our European activities. In expanding our French network and product portfolio, we are serving our multinational clients while giving local French customers access to Hellmann’s global network,” Tarnowski adds.
“The expansion of the European Direct Load business is a central pillar of our growth strategy in the Road segment. Thus, the opening of the branch in Rennes is a very important milestone, because from here we will successively expand the segment in France and neighboring countries to make the best possible use of the market potential,” says Jörg Herwig, Chief Operating Officer Road & Rail, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Far East Land Bridge (FELB) teams up with European technology provider PEOPLE to demonstrate new standards in green logistics by using smart Container2.0 and future oriented technologies. The Eurasian railway operator recently finished a transportation service with this new container type over a route of 10,000 km from Suzhou to Duisburg with less emissions and a higher sustainability score due to light weighted and eco-friendly Container2.0. A modality that could help companies worldwide to reduce their ecological footprint.
Regulatory authorities throughout the globe have introduced stringent environmental regulations to restrain greenhouse gas emission. Therefore, sustainability plays a vital role in the supply chain of industries. A challenge for international logistics but a benefit for rail freight.
“By making small changes, we can have ground-breaking large-scale benefits. In 2020 more than 168mn TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent) containers were moved around the world. By making them lighter by 250kg/TEU, we will be able to move 42mn tons of cargo annually without any additional cost and CO2 emissions*,” indicates Sotiris Ptochos, Co-Founder of PEOPLE.
75% less carbon footprint on rail
The Land Bridge rail route saves 75% of the ocean route’s carbon footprint, while only covering 11,000 km instead of 22,000 km on the sea route. In addition, electrified railways are used, which are mainly powered by water power. It also reduces the serious congestion in and around the seaports involved in the east-west container trade by moving containers from trucks to rail.
The aim of constant green service improvements
“Since 2007 FELB is operating on ecological friendly transportation mode as railroad from Europe to Asia and vice-versa constantly aiming to improve its service towards more sustainable, well connected and integrated way of transportation. A big step forward in our aim of green logistics is a trial with light-weighted smart Container2.0 with a variety of ecological and digital advantages it was successfully used on Westbound route from Suzhou to Duisburg.”, outlines Dimitri Savytskyy, Head of Asset Management at FELB Austria satisfied.
Ecological benefits of Container2.0
With the implementation of Container2.0, FELB is one of the first railway transportation company adopting eco-friendly containers in its service. Invented by PEOPLE, Containers2.0 are sustainable, energy-efficient and fully recyclable containers. The reasons: the ISO-certified containers can be manufactured, shipped and packaged like traditional containers. Light weight shipping leads to less fuel and Containers2.0 allow to load more cargo in the same type of container, which also increases payload per FCL.
Safety fist
PEOPLE also developed smart devices that can be installed on any logistics unit (e.g. Wagon or Container) turning it into smart. A real-time monitoring platform, which allows continuous monitoring of transported goods. The intelligent software connects users with assets and cargoes. PEOPLE has developed a full ecosystem that also monitors all shipments and modes of transport in real time from any corner of the globe.
It can be easily customized an integrated in client´s existing CRM, ERP or SRM solutions.
Major aim of this visibility is that it allows businesses to eliminate illegal activities like smuggling or human trafficking.
Rethinking transportation modalities
“On the way to Duisburg, we could monitor the door status and many other parameters in real time via the platform. This option leads to full visibility about CO2 emissions and the conditions of containers and status of current shipments. With the innovation of smart Container2.0 we are a big step further providing our clients sustainable service and an eco-friendly supply chain worldwide”, points out Savytskyy on the new way of green logistics.
FELBs ambition is to work constantly on greener asset management solutions and service options.
The implementation of Container2.0 will be one of many steps to fulfil the overall goal of greener logistics by reducing carbon emissions, improving the ecological footprint as well as to focus on efficiency and security.
The two pioneers of digitalization in the air cargo industry, Finnair Cargo and CargoAi, have announced their partnership. The largest air cargo carrier in the Nordic and Baltic region, Finnair Cargo’s worldwide cargo offering is now live on CargoAi. State-of-art digital booking services – e-quotes and e-booking – are available to forwarders directly via the leading SaaS platform.
“We’re very proud to partner with Finnair Cargo, which is a pioneering cargo carrier in the field of digitalization and was one of the first to put APIs in place. The airline’s network and its product expertise fully meet the needs of our forwarder clients – so this is excellent news for them,” said Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
Finnair Cargo has invested heavily in digital and technological innovations to offer a best-in-class air cargo shipping process. Specializing in flying high-value items via the short northern route between Europe and Asia, Finnair Cargo offers a dense worldwide route network. From the most modern and digitalized air cargo terminal in Europe, its Helsinki Hub, the carrier covers 19 major cities in Asia, eight in North and Central America, and over 100 in Europe.
“Making our capacity offering available on CargoAi guarantees visibility and is fully in line with our digitalization strategy for our sales process. With CargoAi, we have been moving fast with the integration and we are very happy to be able to provide this service to our customers. We speak the same language and the cargo challenges we face are fully understood and integrated into the tool,” said Karri Kauppi, Head of Revenue and Pricing, Finnair Cargo.
To be by-lined to Rob Wright, executive director at SCALA, a leading provider of management services for the supply chain and logistics sector.
“Between Brexit crippling recruitment from the EU, IR35 tax changes leading many drivers to leave the industry, and a growing backlog of driving tests caused by the pandemic, this continued disruption could spell catastrophe for businesses after one of the most difficult years on record.
“If this continues, it is not just businesses that will feel the brunt, with consumers also potentially being affected. If products cannot get to stores, on-shelf availability naturally decreases and, with this limited supply, the price of goods could be drastically inflated. Supermarkets and wholesalers also face having less flexibility to meet spikes in demand, and may need to cap volumes of their products.
“To combat these driver shortages, the government must provide the much-needed support that the industry has been demanding for so long. The government must provide monetary grants to support the industry, amend immigration policy to place drivers on the shortage occupations list and significantly increase the availability of HGV driver tests after the blockage created by the coronavirus lockdowns.
“Simply enough, the industry’s demands for support must be heard and actioned upon, or this crisis could get much worse.”
dnata chooses Kale Logistics Solutions to develop the next generation Airport Cargo Community e-Commerce platform in Dubai
Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), a UN award winner and a trusted global IT solution partner for several Fortune 500 companies worldwide for the Logistics Industry, has been chosen by dnata, to develop the next generation Airport Cargo Community e-Commerce platform in Dubai.
Dubai has been one of the major global logistics hubs and has been a benchmark for the air freight industry for many years now. With the two airports Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Center (DWC), handling over 3.5 Million tons of air freight in 2019, there has been several physical and digital infrastructure upgrades taking place in Dubai.
dnata has been a pioneer in running one of the most comprehensive airport cargo community eCommerce platform under the brand name of CALOGI, way ahead of its times in the first decade of this millennium. The Calogi business has served the community for over a decade now. dnata has currently envisioned creating the next-generation community platform that would cater to the cargo community’s current and future needs and have the capability to support innovative services like Sea-Air Corridor, 3rd Party services and many more to accommodate end-to-end supply chain needs. The new Airport Cargo Community eCommerce Platform at DXB and DWC by dnata and Kale is the testimony that the region is slated to change gears for Air Cargo to the fast lane.
Mr. Bernd Leo Struck, SVP UAE Cargo, and DWC Airline Services, dnata, said, “As part of our digital transformation journey, we constantly invest in cutting-edge solutions that are tailored for delivering the best customer experience. This e-commerce community platform will help our supply chain partners and customers in Dubai optimise their operations and reduce costs through improved processes and enhanced visibility into the business. It also paves the way for a sustainable business model, promoting paperless and cashless trade through collaboration and automation. We selected Kale because of their innovative approach and global footprint.”
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amar More, CEO, Kale Logistics Solutions says; “We are very proud to collaborate with dnata in creating the next generation community eCommerce platform in Dubai. dnata and Dubai set a very high benchmark for the logistics industry, and we are happy to contribute to the growth of Cargo in the region. We are confident that with our proven platform and with dnata’s partnership and experience, the Dubai cargo community will benefit immensely through the platform.”
He further adds, “As dnata looks to set new standards in the Aircargo industry, Kale’s new platform will create the right digital environment for purpose-led transformation. At Kale, we leverage industry knowledge and technology expertise to craft best-in-class community and enterprise solutions for the Logistics Industry.”
Hellmann Contract Logistics announces major investment in New Zealand for Techtronic Industries
The full-service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has announced a EUR 28 Mio. lease and development investment with Auckland Airport to establish a new 19,200-square-metre ambient warehousing complex dedicated to multinational manufacturer Techtronic Industries (TTI). The complex is located directly at Auckland Airport and is expected to deliver a new benchmark in efficiency, flexibility and functionality when commissioned in July this year. From the new warehouse, Hellmann will handle full-service contract logistics services for its long-standing customer TTI.
With the new contract logistics facility, Hellmann is building a warehouse which meets the latest standards in every respect. The ultra-high, 16,000-square-metre ambient warehousing complex and 3200-square-metre cantilevered canopy will enable storage for up to 29,000 pallets at up to ten pallet levels high. In addition, the new logistics complex which was built to the specifications of the New Zealand Green Building Council, meets the latest requirements for sustainable construction.
“The fact that we built an individually tailored warehouse for TTI further cements Hellmann´s business relationship with the client, which is a world leader in global brands such as MILWAUKEE, AEG and RYOBI power tools. The new warehouse is designed to build in flexibility and scale to adapt and grow as TTI’s requirements of tomorrow develop. For example, the complex will have no columns and enhanced floor specifications which allows for future investments in innovative robotic-based material handling and automation solutions. At the same time Hellmann has developed an environmentally-sustainable and highly-efficient facility both for their staff and clients,” says Chris McCagney, Managing Director Hellmann New Zealand.
TTI Australia and New Zealand Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Grant Edhouse says the development would be vital to accommodating his business’ continuing, rapid expansion in New Zealand. “We needed a new facility with a longer-term contract logistics arrangement to support our future growth,” he says. “The extended height, capacity, operational efficiency and flexibility of the complex has been specifically developed to cater for TTI’s needs for a considerable period of time. By consolidating our operations into this new complex, we will be able to optimize and future proof our supply chain to the benefit of our retail partners and end users of our products,” Mr. Edhouse continues. “This new complex is also a great example how you can create a really exciting form of architecture within a functional industry build, and it supports the desire of both Hellmann and TTI to lead the way in quality of facilities and workplace,” Mr. Edhouse concludes.
“One of the key objectives of Hellmann’s global growth strategy is to further expand the contract logistics product segment. This additional large scale investment in New Zealand underscores the strategic importance of contract logistics for the Group as a whole and is an important milestone on the way to strengthening our market position in the segment globally,” says Volker Sauerborn, Chief Operating Officer Contract Logistics, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Saudi Cargo will increase cargo flights to and from the Belgian Airport which, in turn, will be connected to Saudia Cargo’s vast global network.
Saudia Cargo is the air freight company of Saudi Arabian Airlines based in Jeddah with numerous operations in Europe. The company enjoys a solid reputation and is part of the world’s largest air cargo alliance, Skyteam cargo. Saudia Cargo is famous for its premium air cargo shipping services of all types of cargo such as pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, live animals and many more.
To boost Cargo activities and operational flexibility, Saudia Cargo has chosen Liege Airport as an additional airport in Europe for its regular cargo operations as well as for Charter flights.
Commenting on the signing, CEO of Liege Airport, Frédéric Jacquet said: “This contract cements the role Liege Airport plays in the center of global logistics. Saudia Cargo has been operating with us since last year with intensified connections to/from the US, Africa and the Middle East. This leading air cargo company has signed a partnership with Alibaba Group’s logistic arm, Cainiao, and our airport will remain a crossroad for world trade operations. We look forward to establishing a strong relationship with such a reputable airline.”
Hassan Zaki Al-Dessi, Saudia Cargo’s Executive Director Operations Performance said: “This partnership aligns perfectly with the airline’s business goals, and we are thrilled to extend our commercial partnership to further strengthen our position in the European arena and highlight Liege Airport’s strong presence in the global logistic network”.
The world is evolving at such an unprecedented pace that if unaided by modern technologies, there would be utter chaos caused by massive information available anywhere and global convergence in various business processes. Fortunately, there is the logistics industry, which is what holds our modern world together by managing a huge amount of various processes like transportation, warehousing, routing, and more.
However, to remain relevant, logistics has to upkeep and upgrade to meet the changing needs of the market. In fact, we are already seeing it happen in warehouse logistics, which is now using the efficiency and convenience of robotics.
Interestingly, this innovation was first introduced in the logistics industry in 1954 by George Charles Devol, the father of all robotics. Fast forward 66 years, there are now at least 12 million robotic units worldwide. Given this figure, there are a number of reasons why robotics is becoming more indispensable in logistics, thereby making the supply chain industry more effective in addressing today’s market concerns.
Integrating robots into the supply chain enhances overall revenue to the company by increasing the delivery speed and customer satisfaction. Specifically, supply chains benefit in terms of faster processes of distribution facilities, as well as increasing the efficiency of the overall system. They can slash costs while offering more stability. According to a study by Roland Berger, logistics costs can reduce by between 20 to 40 per cent, while productivity can increase between 25 to 70 per cent.
Robots also help execute some of the supply chain’s least attractive tasks, thereby enabling employees to handle more productive and complex tasks. In certain processes, bots and humans tend to collaborate, which leads to a huge productivity boost.
With the advent of the Internet, mounting pressure has been placed on supply chains. The number of customers who buy products and services online have surged, which brings growth to e-commerce. This also means that companies experience a heavier demand for high quality items and fast delivery of orders. Moreover, since orders come from all countries in the world, different packaging requirements have to be met. In this regard, companies that make use of robots in the supply chain are of significant advantage over those that do not.
The shortage of skilled workers in logistics has dramatically affected supply chains. Also, human workers are prone to on-site accidents, including those that pick loaded boxes from high rooftops or storage spaces. These not only put lives at risk but also cost the company unnecessary expenses for medical treatment. On top of these, their delivery speed is compromised, affecting the entire supply chain at large.
With the use of robotics, companies can prevent accidents, reduce human errors, bring in a significant amount of profit, and reduce warehouse costs. Also, companies can adapt better to new challenges and apply innovations with the use of robots, specifically because human employees do not necessarily have to compromise their health and safety.
The logistics industry will see many tangible and clear benefits of adopting robots for their processes. Not only do firms become more efficient, they also do not have to worry much regarding task execution, thanks to automation that comes with robotic systems. This will enable human staff to focus on other important tasks.
In conclusion, robotics offers massive value to the supply chain industry by revolutionizing logistics. Given the above reasons and examples, the use of more machinery means there will be less chances of failure in the process, boosting the overall reliability of the sector. As we can observe in prominent supply chain systems, it is only fitting for companies to use more automata to aid human processes. After all, innovators have made these huge technological advances to help logistics companies brace for what is ahead; we just have to embrace them.
Written by Frédéric Zielinski, Managing Director of Savoye EMEA
Tristar Group, the global integrated energy logistics company, provided a fully equipped bus as a donation to the Rashid Center for People of Determination, to enhance the center’s fleet of buses and provide safe transport to students studying there and to enhance cooperation between the center and Tristar Group, with the aim of upgrading the capabilities of the center and its treatment and training services, which benefit about 300 students of various nationalities residing in the country.
The management of the center received the new bus during a recent visit by Eugene Mayne, CEO of Tristar Group, who was accompanied by Balaji Nagabhushan, Group Chief Administrative Officer, Arthur Los Banos, Manager for Corporate Communications, and Ashwatha Mahesh, Assistant Manager for CSR and Sustainability. They were received by Maryam Othman, Director General of the Rashid Center for People of Determination, who accompanied the delegation on a tour of all the facilities and departments, where they were briefed about the set of rehabilitation and training services provided by the center to its students, as well as the quality of the approved treatment programs. The center contributes to stimulating the capabilities of people of determination and helps them overcome the challenges they face.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Othman expressed her happiness, which she said reflects the integration of the public and private sectors, and contributes to strengthening and deepening of the humanitarian message carried by the UAE.
She said: “We have always been used to the UAE being a land of goodness, tolerance and love, and there is no doubt that what the Tristar Group has done reflects this message, which affirms the extent of commitment to the message of tolerance and goodness in the Emirates, and shows the extent to which cooperation has penetrated Emirati society groups, in order to help the segment of people of determination, so that they can get all the services they need to overcome the challenges they face.”
Mr. Mayne said that introducing this bus comes within the framework of the group’s social responsibility. He said: “We have been working for years in the UAE, and it is a great pleasure to continue to extend our support to community needs, and in this instance to people of determination, to enable them to develop their individual personalities and continued wellbeing.”
He added: “We have established a good relationship with the Rashid Center for People of Determination and look forward to further enhancing our co-operation going forward.” Mr. Mayne indicated that Tristar Group has been supporting several community programs in Dubai, such as the Al Jalila Foundation, as well as the different initiatives undertaken by the Emirates Environmental Group and the Responsible Business Center of Dubai Chamber.
“This gift from Tristar Group strengthens the fleet of the Rashid Center for People of Determination, and the humanitarian services it provides to the children of this segment, without distinguishing between color, gender, race and religion, as the new bus helps enable our students to help the center obtain what they need in terms of various rehabilitative and treatment services,” Mrs. Othman added.
Cathay Pacific releases Annual Sustainable Development Report 2020 encapsulating its key developments and priorities
Safety, Carbon Offsetting, Sustainability in operations and Biodiversity are some focus areas in which the airline has achieved significant progress
The Cathay Pacific Group recently released its 2020 Sustainable Development Report that summarises the initiatives that were brought about by the pandemic including new safety measures and policies introduced to support its customers and employees through the global health crisis. The report also points at the progress made in reducing carbon footprint, along with measures taken to tackle operational sustainability matters.
One of the key focal points for Cathay Pacific, as a leading airline, is to embrace its responsibility to lead the charge towards sustainable aviation and ensure future generations can experience the joy of travel. The Hong Kong based airline announced its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, becoming one of the first Asian airline’s to establish a timeline for making carbon neutrality a reality.
Cathay Pacific’s Regional General Manager – South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Mark Sutch said, “While we wade through the detrimental impact of the pandemic, mitigating climate charge and finding solutions for sustainable aviation has also been an imminent focus for the business. We endeavour to operate in a sustainable manner and incorporate multiple social and environment friendly practices into all aspects of our business.”
Below are the key focus areas and progress made so far:
Safety: The airline continues to put safety at the forefront for its employees, customers and other stakeholders. In 2020, the Cathay Pacific introduced Port Restart Process enabling the safe return of passengers and employees along with implementing a slew of COVID-related safety precautions for its passengers and people. Going forward the airline continues to focus on maintaining and updating COVID-related safety measures to protect customers and people along with implementing stringent port restart process ensuring the safety and compliance as ports reopen.
Climate Change: The airline made a commitment in 2020 to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, thus aligning the initiatives with both, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Paris Agreement. While the airline strategise its fleet planning by taking delivery of ten new fuel-efficient aircrafts last year, it also continues to devise plans to meet its goals and strengthen its carbon off-set solutions through its Fly Greener programme along with investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Sustainability in Operations: Cathay Pacific aims to embed an environmentally responsible mind-set in its culture and sustainable practices across operations. It has taken a holistic approach to reduce waste and the consumption of natural resources by exploring alternative materials. In 2020, the airline removed over 43 million pieces or 11% single –use plastic items and continues to work towards its target of reducing single-use plastics usage by 50% from baseline by the end of 2022.
Biodiversity: The airline has implemented policies that protect against legal animal trade and serve sustainable seafood on-board. In 2020, the airline’s catering arm served over 58 tonnes of certified sustainable seafood, representing around 55% of the total volume of seafood purchased. Through the airline’s Sustainable Development Cargo Carriage Policy, embargoes have been placed on an increasing number of animals and wildlife products to restrict opportunities for their shipment and thus supporting movements aimed at stopping animal cruelty and biodiversity loss. Going forward, Cathay Pacific will continue to review its Sustainable Food Policy and work with the civil society to prevent illegal wildlife trades.
Conscious food distribution practices, managing infrastructure, inflight waste management, minimal on-ground and aircraft emissions, digitalising systems to go paperless, reducing on-ground engine operations and sustainable procurement are various other measures taken by the airline to fuel its vision of a greener and better tomorrow.
Full details of the airline’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions and the progress in sustainable development are available in the 2020 Sustainable Development Report.
The virtual conference was held on 26-27 May, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic of the last 15 months has demonstrated the acute importance of collaboration to build more agile, resilient, and responsive supply chains, said industry leaders at the 12th Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Supply Chain Conference held virtually on 26-27 May.
Senior executives from across the chemical and petrochemical value chain, logistics service providers and shipping operators urged industry leaders to capitalize on the lessons learned during the pandemic and act upon them in the future – from collaborating more closely with the regulators, their customers, and strategic partners, to driving better supply chain visibility, investing in digitalization, building their workforce capabilities, and focusing on supply chain sustainability.
In his keynote address, Hamad Alterkait, Chairman of the Kuwait based company, PIC, encouraged chemical leaders to engage in supply chain collaboration even with their competitors and keep their inventory in close customer proximity to improve their reliability and better serve their end markets. He told attendees at the virtual event: “Regional chemical producers must diversify their supply base even if it means incurring higher costs in order to cushion the impact from any future crisis. Companies must also explore out of the box supply chain solutions, using different scenarios, which may aid in addressing important challenges at a critical time.”
Echoing Alterkait’s remarks on the importance of collaboration were Hosam Al-Zamil, VP, Global Supply Chain, SABIC; Ahmed Abdulla Al-Salahi, CCO, Q-Chem; and Ahmed Al-Katheeri, SVP – Supply Chain Management, Borouge, in the conference’s inaugural panel on the future of chemical supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic was a test to chemical supply chains’ resilience, as it demonstrated that the world is one global community, panelists said.
“The future will not be the moving of our products; it will be the moving of data which will help enable responsiveness and agility and drive customer centricity to stay competitive. However, we cannot achieve this by working in silos. The chemical industry is just one part of the supply chain and we must work together to build a more resilient future,” Al-Katheeri added.
A recent GPCA survey confirms the insights shared by speakers. It found that chemical supply chain and operations have been the single most impacted business function within downstream organizations in the GCC in the past 15 months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the path to recovery, chemical companies must focus on supply chain digitalization, sustainability, trade facilitation and regulatory engagement. Within these trends, carbon neutrality, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will be the key segments to focus on and drive the highest impact on businesses’ supply chains today, the survey found.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “I was pleased to welcome the regional and global chemical industry to the virtual edition of the 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference last week and gain first-hand insight into the challenges associated with the pandemic on their chemical supply chain and operations. The audience was left with a message of positivity on what’s to come next and provided with a range of practical tips on how to address the uncertainty and any new crisis in the future. I hope delegates enjoyed attending the event and thank all our sponsors and partners for making this edition possible.”
The 12th GPCA Supply Chain Conference was held under the theme ‘Powering a resilient, responsive and agile supply chain’, attracting over 1300 attendees from 450 companies in 62 countries.
Industry UAE Apex Body demonstrates buoyancy and resilience in the face of the pandemic
The 33rd AGM of the National Association of Freight & Logistics (NAFL) was recently commemorated amid much fanfare in the opulent ambience of the Al Jaddaf Waterfront Ballroom of the Versace Pallazzo Dubai. The well-attended, in person meeting, conducted amid strict enforcement Covid-19 protocols and regulations, signaled renewed hope and optimism ahead for the industry despite challenges.
Assurance
In her keynote address, Nadia Abdul Aziz, President, NAFL& Vice President, FIATA, lauded the Association’s 2020 performance and its resolve to stem the tide and buck trends. She assured that NAFL would stand shoulder to shoulder with members to empower and equip members in these challenging times. Ms. Nadia assured the assembly that the NAFL stood rock solid behind its members and would endeavour to represent and work in their interest and to protect the interests of the industry. She expressed confidence that the current situation notwithstanding, the logistics and freight industry in the UAE would continue to grow from strength to strength.
Ms. Nadia also reiterated that NAFL aims to support its members in these difficult times, by offering them sponsored trainings after the Eid Al Fitr holidays. She advocated a culture of openness and sincerity at NAFL so that all relevant and pressing industry issues are appropriately discussed internally and then communicated and conveyed to all concerned government offices through detailed reports on the challenges and solutions. “NAFL will stand in solidarity and in unity and pledge to work closely with our members to overcome current difficulties and sustain their businesses,” she affirmed.
Pioneer
To this end, NAFL as a long-established, responsible representative body and the first of its kind in the GCC, is also working closely with the Government, other Governmental bodies and regulators to ensure that the growth, stability and viability of the freight and logistics sector in the UAE. Nadia further reiterated that the Government was mindful of both the importance and indispensability of the industry. Simultaneously, both representation and engagement with associates, constituents and Government are pivotal to guarantee an ecosystem for progress and productivity.
Due to Dubai’s bold initiatives and the UAE’s global connectivity and excellent infrastructure, we are the global hub for the distribution and storage of vaccines and take the top place for humanitarian aid distribution. Thanks also to the logistics industry in the UAE which has risen to the occasion to make certain that movement and distribution of goods continues unimpeded, seamless and in a streamlined manner,” she observed.
Highlights: Some of the highlights of her speech were:
NAFL will be working closely with Expo 2020 and organizers and will ensure all members are advised and trained on all rules and regulations in line with Expo procedures and contracts.
NAFL will be participating and supporting big global exhibitions during the Expo period such as Hypermotion show and the Air Show Cargo Connect Conference.
Expo 2020 would be a great platform to network and engage with multiple national, regional and international stakeholders from over 190 participating countries.
For European exporters looking to source shipping containers, existing shortages could deteriorate significantly in the coming weeks, according to the latest data from Container xChange, the world’s leading online platform for the leasing and trading of shipping containers.
Most pricing and availability indicators now suggest carriers are continuing to favour shipping empties back to Asia as fast as possible to maximise yields on front-haul services rather than wait for less lucrative backhaul loads.
The upshot for shippers is rapidly rising prices in Europe for containers even though CAx availability readings point to higher availability of boxes in European hubs – Container xChange figures do not track empty moves.
“The confluence of theoretical high availability and soaring prices for boxes strongly indicates that container lines are prioritizing empty containers over export cargo from Europe,” said Dr Johannes Schlingmeier.
“There were signs of this even before the Suez Canal closure in late March. The latest figures suggest the additional disruption this caused has exacerbated the situation and made it even harder for exporters to find empties.”
The latest container trading data reveals that between January and April average prices for used 20 ft. containers across Europe rose 57% from $1348 to $2119.
In April, price increases for 20 ft. containers were especially severe. In Antwerp prices jumped by 30% compared to March. In Hamburg they rose by 16% over the same period while in Rotterdam they increased 12%.
Since the beginning of May, average prices for 20 ft. dry containers in Europe softened slightly to $2249 from $2110 in April. However, prices for 40 ft. dry containers have again increased this month, up 13% to $3112 from $2750 in April.
In Container xChange’s Container Availability Index (CAx) an index reading of below 0.5 means more containers leave a port compared to the number which enter. Above 0.5 means more containers are entering the port.
At the port of Genoa, the average CAx reading for a 20 ft. box in 2021 is 0.71, up from 0.26 through the first half of 2020. At Hamburg, in 2021 the average CAx reading has so far this year is 0.75, compared to 0.39 in 1H 2020, while at Rotterdam the reading is 0.71 so far this year, versus 0.46 a year earlier.
After a short dip in incoming containers to Europe due to the Suez Canal closure as measured by Container xChange’s Container Availability Index (CAx), inbound volumes are expected to increase again.
CAx readings for week 19 decreased by on average 4.5% to values of 0.85 across dry-container sizes in Hamburg, 0.79 in Rotterdam, and 83.5 in Antwerp, indicating an ongoing surplus of incoming boxes.
“According to Container xChange forecasts, an increase in incoming shipping containers by 4-5% over the next weeks is likely to not only increase CAx readings but also contribute to slowly decreasing container prices again,” said Dr Schlingmeier.
“These are good times for equipment owners across Europe as indications are that even if container prices dip slightly, scarcity will remain until carriers change tack and start looking for more backloads. As a result, container prices are likely to remain at elevated levels for some time, although we do think availability for exporters will improve in the coming months.”
Offering services to 127 countries and being the fastest-growing air cargo brand around the world, Turkish Cargo has been carrying out the air cargo transportation operations under the favor of talented colleagues. In these operations, there are really important occupational groups from pilots to loadmasters. Turkish Cargo tells about a working day for each occupational group in the cargo with these short films. Let’s get to know them all together!
Our Explosive Detection Dog Aska and Handler Sezer are a great team!
Sezer says that it is a very serious responsibility to ensure security in a system where tons of cargo are transported all over the world every day. He also feels lucky to be partners with Aska. Watch their video to see why!
She is working at Cargo Customer Services Department. Her job is to coordinate for solutions with our domestic and international stations in line with the demands of our customers and to inform them 7/24 without interruption. As she mentions that If we are smiling, those who communicate with us also smile. Watch her how she is working positively!
Safe transportation of cargo from one point to another in the air cargo industry requires high mathematical knowledge, hard work, rapid analysis and evaluation skills. Loadmasters are responsible for all these processes in a cargo plane. Let Koray tell you about the details of all these complex works and the beautiful aspects of being a loadmaster!
How do we follow the flight process of a freighter?
Our Operation Control Officer Oğuzhan and his team monitor the process of a freighter from pre-flight to the completion of the flight, from start to finish. Watch his video to learn about the enjoyable aspects of his role!
Punctuality and a smooth operation is of utmost importance at Turkish Cargo. Click to learn more about the profession of Mehmet Tuncer, who works as a Check-in Officer.
The leading safety shoe manufacturer in Europe, Sievi, invests in automation solution from SSI Schaefer to benefit from industry growth
Sievi has commissioned SSI Schaefer to extend its existing warehouse located in Sievi, Finland in 2021. The footwear manufacturer supplies its products to the local market, but also exports to more than 40 countries worldwide.
Always looking for future-proof solutions, innovation and spurred by industry growth, Sievifelt the need to invest in warehouse automation. Sievi’s main goal is to enable fast and seamless delivery of its 200 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) to the customers, as well as to accommodate future development plans for the expansion of production and storage capacities. To serve these needs, SSI Schaefer will provide a sustainable extension of the existing system that will double the overall performance per hour and increase storage locations by more than 60%.
The initial Sievisystem was completed by SSI Schaefer in 2009. This previous cooperation, the scalability of the existing solution and the flexible WAMAS® software by SSI Schaefer formed a great basis for this ongoing partnership.
“Since Sievi is a market leader in their field and one of the most well-known brands in Finland, it feels great to continue the cooperation with a company with strong values and dedication as a family-owned business, as we are. We are looking forward to being part of this future expansion of Sievi”, says Michael Hillström, General Manager SSI Schaefer in Finland and Sweden.
Sustainable extension for maximum performance and storage capacity
To meet the performance requirements, SSI Schaefer will implement a solution for more efficient sequencing processes between the automated mini-load system and packing stations. The six existing packing lines will be deinstalled and six new packing lines will be implemented in a different location. In addition, a total of six sequence towers will be installed in front of the packing stations, offering various buffer storage locations that are connected by lifts. Bins and cartons that are retrieved from the automated mini-load system can be therefore efficiently buffered and conveyed to the packing stations in the required sequence.
To avoid stock shortage, a new high-bay warehouse with four SSI Exyz storage-retrieval machines will be implemented. The SSI Exyz machines will handle pallets with raw materials as well as semi-finished products. Furthermore, the automated mini-load system for the storage of shoe cartons will be extended by three aisles. The scalable and sustainable solution enables Sievi to store raw materials and finished products in one single warehouse and production site.
After goods-in, raw materials and semi-finished products will be stored in the new high-bay warehouse and conveyed to the production area as required. Afterwards, finished products are stored in the automated mini-load system. Shoe boxes are conveyed to the sequence towers, where they are buffered and conveyed to the packing stations in the right sequence using lifts and the conveying system. At the packing stations, the shoe cartons are packed according to customer orders. After labeling they are conveyed to the goods-out area and delivered to retailers with order sizes varying from one to 2,000 cartons.
The solution is rounded off by SSI Schaefer’s flexible and powerful WAMAS® logistics software and conveying system. SSI Schaefer offers modular and scalable solutions and services for the specific requirements of the fashion industry, all from a single source.
Facility includes eight service bays and parts warehouse to serve more customers
Al Masaood Automobiles, an icon of the UAE’s automotive market and the authorised distributor of Renault in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region, has announced the opening of its new Renault Service Centre in Mussafah to deliver integrated services to more customers in the city and the neighbouring Khalifa City and Mohamed Bin Zayed areas.
Consolidating all Renault service centres under one roof, the new specialty auto service shop houses eight dedicated service bays, a parts warehouse, a service reception, and a parking area – all designed to bring optimum convenience and high-quality after sales service.
The centre also provides diverse value-added car and commercial van services, which include window tinting and 24/7 roadside assistance, amidst rising customer demand for such offerings in Abu Dhabi. Periodical and comprehensive maintenance service contracts are available at the new facility as well, giving customers an option to decide on the duration – between 1 year and 5 years – and the annual mileage according to their needs.
Mirsad Nezirevic, General Manager – Service, Al Masaood Automobiles, said: “The Renault Service Centre is the newest addition to our Al Ain and Beda Zayed branches offering the same top-notch solutions to our customers. This latest development reflects our long-term commitment to Abu Dhabi and the UAE as pivotal markets for Renault’s operations in the region. By inaugurating our latest service centre facility, we are further raising the bar higher in the industry, especially in the areas of client satisfaction and experience, both of which are at the core of our mission as an organisation.”
“Our professional technicians manning these modern service facilities and workshops will deliver expert vehicle services using technologically advanced automotive diagnostic tools and equipment. Their skills and abilities are continuously being enhanced to make them highly capable of operating the latest automotive technologies and systems,” Nezirevic added.
Tony Boutet, After Sales Director Renault Middle East, said: “Congratulations to Al Masaood Automobiles on yet another impressive milestone. Renault Middle East has been working closely with Al Masaood Automobiles to strengthen its presence in Abu Dhabi and bring to the local market its signature customer experience. This new consolidated sales and aftersales hub will support the robust footprint that Renault is establishing in the capital. We commend the company’s unwavering commitment to customer happiness and satisfaction and we’re truly proud of the strong alliance we’ve had with Al Masaood Automobiles for almost two decades.”
Customers may utilise the ‘My Renault’ mobile application to book a service and, if they prefer, select the pick-up-and-drop-off solution. ‘My Renault’ was launched to enable users to manage all their vehicle needs under one platform.
Over the years, Al Masaood Automobiles has built a highly trusted reputation for its excellence in services and high rate of customer satisfaction. Backed by decades of global automotive experience and using a solid re-formulated strategy, the company has successful established a strong Renault brand image across the Abu Dhabi market.
Al Masaood Automobiles was declared the winner of the 2019 edition of the ‘Renault Global Partners Award, P.A.R.I.S. Challenge,’ the highest accolade for car dealerships, for its exceptional sales and aftersales performance. Witnessing continuous increase in sales volume, it has been tapping into new market segments to provide its signature touch of excellence in customer satisfaction.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, SAUDIA, announced a new reciprocal loyalty agreement, expanding on the existing codeshare deal between the two airlines.
Members of the Etihad Guest and ALFURSAN programmes can now earn and redeem miles on flights across both carriers’ networks. Loyalty programme members from both airlines will also be able to earn Tier Miles and Tier Segments, helping them progress to the next tier level faster. In addition, members will be able to earn miles on Etihad and SAUDIA codeshare flights.
Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand & Marketing, Etihad Airways, said: “As the aviation industry begins to restart and guests return to the skies, this partnership strengthens the airlines’ commitment to growing inbound business and tourism in their respective markets. It complements Etihad’s existing codeshare agreement with SAUDIA and opens more destinations for Etihad Guest members to earn and spend their miles through travel.”
Khalid Al-Bassam, Chief Commercial Officer, SAUDIA, commented: “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Etihad through this latest agreement, which further builds on our shared history of successful collaboration. By offering our guests more opportunities to earn miles we are bringing greater value, flexibility and convenience to their travel experience, which will help fuel growth in demand and contribute to our goal of enhancing the Kingdom’s aviation and tourism sectors.”
The partners are also re-launching their codeshare cooperation beyond each other’s hubs. Under this extensive commercial partnership, which has seen more than 110,000 passenger journeys facilitated over the past two years, SAUDIA has added its ‘SV’ code to 15 destinations on the Etihad network in Saudi Arabia, Asia, the US and Europe. In addition, Etihad has added its ‘EY’ code to SAUDIA destinations in the Kingdom and Pakistan. This facilitates growth and recovery for both airlines, provides greater choice, convenience and flexibility for guests and freight customers, and further strengthens the ties between the two nations.
In other areas of cooperation, Etihad Airways Engineering has been collaborating with SAUDIA since 2016 at its MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) facility in Abu Dhabi. Etihad has been operating to Saudi Arabia since 2004, and prior to Covid pandemic, were operating up to 77 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Medina.
The airline is presently operating direct flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah and guests transiting through Abu Dhabi from the Kingdom have access to Etihad’s USA pre-clearance, the only United States Customs and Border Protection facility in the Middle East. This allows passengers bound for the United States to process all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they board they board their flight to Chicago, New York or Washington D.C.
Etihad remains committed to the Saudi Arabian market and looks forward to increasing service levels as and when current border and travel restrictions are eased.
More information on the partnership expansion can be found on Etihad Guest.
It’s no secret that the pandemic has accelerated the recognition, adoption and embrace of automation and digitalization across multiple sectors particularly manufacturing, retail and e-commerce.
ACME INTRALOG FZCO, a leading regional provider of material handling & warehouse automation solutions, is reporting new breakthroughs and heightened business, bucking trends even in the face of the pandemic.
More and more companies around the globe enhance their manufacturing process and supply chain to improve their ability to react to disruptions and new safety and distancing regulations while remaining competitive. Based on the 2021 MHI Annual Industry Report, 53% of global companies are increasing their investment in Robotics & Automation, which represents the category with the highest substantial investments planned.
Acme, a leading regional developer of material handling solutions, is observing a similar trend in the Middle East, yet at a slower pace. Manual labor still has a stronger foothold in logistics and material handling here than in some regions of the world. We therefore see bigger companies embracing the trend for automation a lot faster than smaller ones. Bigger companies, particularly manufacturers and retailers, often already have some automated solutions along their supply chain yet tend to face a bottleneck when it comes to their end of line.
Robotic palletisation
This is where robotic palletisation can fill the gap and handle a significantly higher throughput faster, more accurately and safer at a lower cost than conventional palletisers or teams of employees working in multiple shifts. A lot of smaller companies are not yet on board with automating their end of line as their throughputs are more manageable and probably also due to the perception that a substantial investment is required to automate manual processes, particularly when it comes to robotic solutions.
Yet robotic palletisation can provide even smaller companies with significant competitive advantages. The investment for a basic yet efficient robotic solution typically pays off within 3.8 years on average, for larger installations this period shortens. As a rule of thumb, if a robot replaces just 3 headcounts, the return on investment is already higher when implementing automation.
Robotic palletisation is not just about the robot itself, which a number of companies offer as is. It is the system around the robot, using the right gripper and connecting conveyors, that create real competitive advantages.
Customization
Being a system integrator, for Acmecustomization is key. None of their solutions are off-the shelf but each is tailored to the specific requirements and needs for each client, taking into account throughput, capacity, type of products and the expected return on investment.
The ultimate goal is to help regional businesses to truly optimize their supply chain by developing a solution through robotics, not just a robot alone. Thanks to the vast opportunities for customization, robotic solutions can well integrate into already existing systems. And even after initial installation, there is flexibility.
When a company changes their product line at any point in time, Acme’s systems can be adapted to product ranges with different weight / size or special features a lot easier than other solutions and at a minimal cost. Acme’s team has recently installed 2 palletising robots for one of their clients, Lubrex, increasing their end of line productivity by 210%.
Being a leading manufacturer of high quality automotive, industrial and other lubricant solutions in the GCC and globally, Lubrex’ facility produces close to 200 types of products that come in 200 different shaped and sized packaging due to their individual specific handling requirements.
Until recently, these products had been palletised manually, allowing the handling of 30-35 pallets an hour best case at full capacity.
Lubrexdecided to automate their end of line for two main reasons: to align the throughput of the palletisation with the much higher production capacity as well as to increase safety. Acme’s solution which combines high speed roller conveyors and the use of robots with high quality grippers have increased the palletisation capacity to 80-90 pallets per hour.
They are also significantly increasing safety as the conveyors used are built with accumulation zones, which prevent boxes from touching each other and therewith avoid damage and leaks.
In-house tests
This solution, like all of Acme’s systems, was first designed, manufactured and tested in-house before being built-up in Lubrex’ facility. This way, the customer could review their new technology and verify it suiting all their needs without any disruption of the ongoing production – by providing just one pallet of their products for testing real scenarios.
With only two robots, Lubrex is now able to better fulfill their demand and justify their production capacity, while drastically reducing manual labor in heavy duty jobs. And Acme is close by for any support if needed, offering different types of maintenance contracts depending on any customer’s preference.
The most common choices are warm-up support, where Acme is on site for the first months after installing a system, regular preventive maintenance or having a permanent person on ground who is operating the system.
Innovative solutions
For other customers, Acme is currently designing and installing dedicated solutions as well. While requirements differ depending n industry and type of products being handled, robotic solutions can cater to all and solve challenges for any client. Just to name a few examples:
High capacity: FMCG companies typically produce a vast quantity of products every day, operating 24/7. This requires approximately 2-3 shifts and a lot of people per day when palletising manually. A robotic solution can match the production capacity better, at higher speed, while also enhancing safety standards.
Hygiene factors: While companies within the food & beverage industry often have similar needs as FMCG, safety and hygiene play a big role as well, maybe even more so since Covid. Particularly when palletising liquids or fragile goods, robots are a lot more accurate, preventing damage and therewith avoid interrupting the process for cleaning after a leakage.
Size & weight challenges: Some products across different industries are hard to palletize manually, for example 5 gallons water cans or heavy products that come in sacks like cement / rice. Robotic solutions improve the process tremendously; they only differ from other solutions in terms of the model of the robot, gripper and conveyors.
Special care products: When handling chemicals, lubricants as in Lubrex case or toxic products, the safety for employees & maintaining packaging fully sealed is key. The precision in picking and moving that robots offer allow for highest safety standards.
No matter the industry or products, palletisation can be a bottle-neck in our region. Robotic systems tailored to individual needs are the way forward that allow both big and smaller companies to optimise their end of line significantly in order to be more competitive and thrive.
About Acme Acme Intralog Fzco is one of the leading material handling & warehouse automation solution providers in the Middle East, developing tailor-made approaches for complex needs. Founded in 1975 with its headquarter in Dubai, Acme optimizes intralogistics for customers across multiple industries, including retail, e-commerce, FMCG, food & beverage, pharma. Their offering ranges from solutions for factory automation, sortation systems, pallet and tote storage and retrieval solutions as well as industrial automation components. Besides having a full-fledged manufacturing facility located in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Acme has a dedicated service team that provides 24/7 life cycle service and maintenance support throughout the GCC. As part of the industrial automation components vertical, Acme has established strong partnerships with leading global suppliers for years, bringing their technology to our region.
Logitech has introduced Rugged Combo 3 Touch, a slim, protective keyboard case with integrated Multi-Touch trackpad for iPad (7th and 8th generation) perfect for faculty and students of all levels.
Rugged Combo 3 Touch features 5 helpful use modes to support the many ways teachers teach and students learn and sealed, pry-resistant keys that hold up in even the most active learning environments. Designed in collaboration with educators, faculty, administrators and IT specialists, Rugged Combo 3 Touch helps students and educators alike stay productive and mobile while working in any setting. It is available in select countries for purchase through designated Logitech and Apple Education channels.
The new high-precision trackpad delivers a super responsive and reliable navigation experience with no pairing required. With a keyboard and trackpad, students and educators can be even more productive on iPad and use Multi-Touch™ trackpad gestures to swipe, pinch, and double tap their way through any assignment or task. This powerful trackpad makes navigating, editing, and creating on iPad easier, faster, and more precise compared to using your finger.
Rugged Combo 3 Touch’s sturdy design and construction can withstand drops of up to 4.5 ft (1.4 m) and is built to take on daily wear and tear students can dish out in classrooms, backpacks, and dorm rooms. The snug, form-fit case keeps the front, back, and corners of iPad protected.
A durable high-performance membrane seals in the keyboard, protecting it from prying fingers and other classroom mishaps. The keys truly cannot be plucked off due to this non-removable, sealed membrane covering over the keys. If an accident does occur, crumbs and dirt can be safely wiped clean. All of this helps to preserve the keyboard and extend its lifespan to minimize repair work for IT managers. A full row of iPadOS® shortcut keys gives students convenient one-tap access to common controls like volume, media controls, and more.
The Rugged Combo 3 Touch keyboard uses Smart Connector technology to connect to iPad instantly—no pairing required. Power comes directly from the iPad so you never have to charge the keyboard. Plus the physical connection is the only data transfer point, making it a secure solution for testing and exams.
With five versatile use modes and an adjustable kickstand, Rugged Combo 3 Touch easily allows students and educators to go from the living room to the classroom and even the great outdoors with one handy tool that does it all. Rugged Combo 3 is flexible enough for any task or assignment:
Type Mode: Pull out the adjustable kickstand and type away.
View Mode: Fold the keyboard and pull out the kickstand to watch educational videos and more.
Sketch Mode: Collapse the screen to sketch or take handwritten notes with Logitech Crayon.
Read Mode: Fold the keyboard back to read books, articles, and more
Camera Mode: Once the keyboard is folded back, slide it down to expose the camera so you can take photos and videos or use augmented reality learning apps.
Rugged Combo 3 Touch even has a convenient spot to stow Apple Pencil (1st generation) or Logitech Crayon in the handy magnetic latch, so it’s always in reach and ready to use. And the large asset tagging window on the back of the Rugged Combo 3 Touch makes it easy to label and manage devices.
Rugged Combo 3 Touch, for use with iPad (7th and 8th generation), is available in June for $119.99 USD in select countries via Logitech Education Channels and Apple Education Channels. Contact your educational reseller to purchase.
Almajdouie Logistics recently enhanced its fleet with 30 new Hyundai Xcient trucks, which are equipped with advanced technology to improve efficiency and sustainability. The heavy-duty vehicles will support the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its business and implement large-scale regional projects. Almajdouie Motors Company, the authorized distributor of Hyundai Commercial Vehicles in the eastern & northern regions of Saudi Arabia, delivered the trucks in line with an existing contract.
Eng. Sherif El Gohary, Managing Director of Almajdouie Motors – Hyundai, said: “We are pleased to deliver this large fleet of heavy trucks to one of our sister companies after they tested 50 trucks in operation for more than 4 years. The new order comes under the company’s strategy to renew its fleet and help in carrying out its construction and logistical work. We have worked closely over several months to determine the company’s needs for these vehicles and design the specifications that suit them. We are confident the new trucks will elevate the company’s business to new dimensions and wish Almajdouie Logistics further success and growth in the region”.
Mohammad bin Ali Almajdouie, CEO of Almajdouie Logistics
Mr. Mohammad bin Ali Almajdouie, CEO of Almajdouie Logistics said: “As an asset-based company offering a range of services spanning diverse sectors, effective asset management plays a key role at Almajdouie Logistics. The new trucks are a valuable addition to our expansive fleet and will help us to increase efficiency and further improve our high levels of service. We look forward to continuing working alongside our partners, and are very pleased with the existing cooperation between us. This mutual success is the culmination of our strong and constructive relationship, which we always work to strengthen.”
Hyundai Xcient trucks are available in a variety of configurations, including dual, triple, or four-axle chassis versions. All models feature automatic transmissions and advanced suspension systems that provide stability under all operational conditions. The high roof cabin and air suspension make the journey more comfortable for the driver. The trucks are equipped with aluminum air tanks which help to reduce condensation and create cleaner air inside the tanks. The engine produces 440 horsepower, making the Hyundai Xcient one of the most powerful heavy-duty trucks globally.
Hyundai Xcient models feature advanced technologies that improve performance and lower operating costs. The innovative design and low centre of gravity make the Xcient ideal for transporting huge volumes, further enhancing the fleet’s efficiency.
Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association and Oxford Business Group to team up for new Covid-19 Response Report
A new Covid-19 Response Report (CRR), produced by Oxford Business Group (OBG) in partnership with the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), will explore the key role that innovation is set to play in adding value to the downstream energy industry and driving new growth as the region’s markets move forward with their economic diversification strategies.
Provisionally titled ‘Innovation Landscape in the GCC Petrochemical Industry’, the report will provide in-depth analysis of the sector in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format, focusing on key data and infographics relating to the region’s socio-economic landscape.
The report will chart domestic and export sales of Gulf petrochemical products in the years leading up to the outbreak of Covid-19 and assess the initial impact of the pandemic on the industry. It will then examine the policies implemented across the region aimed at helping downstream firms to tackle the challenges they faced during the crisis.
The report will also consider what the near term holds for the industry by shining a spotlight on Gulf export markets and analysing their prospects for recovery.
Other topical issues explored include the increased focus on issues relating to sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Here the CRR will examine the move towards projects centred on clean technologies and fuels, as investors increasingly seek out initiatives that reflect global shifts in priorities and demands.
The report will feature several case studies in which a range of topical issues are analysed, such as how companies operating in the industry adapted to the disruption caused by Covid-19 and the changes made to their long-term strategies in the wake of the pandemic.
Subscribers will also find interviews with key stakeholders from the sector, including Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary-General, GPCA. A digital version of the interview (Economic View) is available here: https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/views/abdulwahab-al-sadoun-secretary-general-gulf-petrochemicals-and-chemicals-association-gpca
Commenting ahead of the signing of the MoU, Dr. Al-Sadoun said that with the international focus now on post-pandemic economic recovery, the chemical industry had a game-changing opportunity to expand its capabilities by leveraging innovation.
“The pandemic led to the acceleration of developments already under way across several sectors of the economy, which has heightened the need for the chemical industry to recognise innovation as a primary strategic business function,” he said. “We see opportunities for product and process development in several key areas, including sustainability, circular economy, recycling, decarbonisation, feedstock evolution and digitalisation.”
Jana Treeck, OBG’s Managing Director for the Middle East, said that while the region was still feeling the weight of lower oil prices and subdued demand, several of the GCC member states stood to benefit from ongoing efforts to diversify their economies.
“Attracting innovation-led investment for the petrochemicals segment will be instrumental in not only driving product development, but also strengthening ESG-related dynamics and boosting the region’s competitiveness as it positions itself for recovery and looks to bring through sectors of the economy that are ripe for growth,” Treeck said.
This new CRR will form part of a series of tailored reports which OBG is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including a range of national and regional Growth and Recovery Outlook articles and interviews.
Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and advisory company with a presence in over 30 countries, spanning the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. It is recognised internationally as a distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on world’s fastest-growing markets, termed The Yellow Slice, in reference to OBG’s corporate colour.
Through its range of products – Economic News and Views; OBG CEO Surveys; OBG Events and Conferences; Global Platform, which hosts exclusive video interviews; and The Report publications – as well as its Advisory division, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sector-level developments for sound investment opportunities and business decisions.
OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms, including its direct subscribers, Dow Jones Factiva subscribers, the Bloomberg Professional Services subscribers, Refinitiv’s (previously Thomson Reuters) Eikon subscribers and more.
About Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA)
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) was established in 2006 to represent the downstream hydrocarbon industry in the Arabian Gulf. Today, the association voices the common interests of more than 250 member companies from the chemical and allied industries, accounting for over 95 percent of chemical output in the GCC. The industry makes up the second largest manufacturing sector in the region, producing over USD 108 billion worth of products every year.
GPCA supports the petrochemical and chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf through advocacy, networking and thought leadership initiatives aimed at helping member companies to connect, share and advance knowledge, contribute to international dialogue, and become prime influencers in shaping the future of the global petrochemicals industry.
Committed to providing a regional platform for stakeholders from around the world, GPCA manages six working committees – Plastics, Supply Chain, Fertilizers, International Trade, Research and Innovation, and Responsible Care – and organizes six world-class events each year. The association also publishes an annual report, regular newsletters and various other industry reports.
New model specifically designed for Middle Eastern and African markets
Renault Trucks’ range expanded with a new model converted at the Used Trucks Factory in Bourg-en-Bresse, France
T X-64 comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 18 months or 180,000 km and features over 50% of new original parts
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment (CV&E) announced the availability of Renault Trucks’ T X-64 in Abu Dhabi. The new model is set to appeal to customers looking for cost-efficient trucks that feature European quality and deliver an optimised total cost of ownership and standard warranty.
The Renault Trucks T X-64 is produced in a specialized conversion workshop at the Bourg-en-Bresse manufacturing site in France. The vehicle is converted using rigorous industrial processes and is specifically intended for customers operating in Africa and the Middle East. Its high ground clearance makes it ideal for light construction, logistic or petroleum transportation, while its T cab maximises the driver’s comfort.
Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager, Al Masaood CV&E, said: “The launch of Renault Trucks’ T X-64 in Abu Dhabi, along with our customized solutions, forms part of our efforts to contribute to maintaining the UAE’s trucks market updated with the advancements and innovations at the global level. Apart from offering products that are specifically designed, manufactured, and maintained to ensure users’ operational, safety, we also strive to keep pace with environmental requirements. Sharing Renault Trucks’ vision, we believe that creativity and innovation come in many forms, as reflected by the latest T X-64’s exciting features.”
Renault Trucks’ Export models have been in high demand in the GCC – the T X-64 has explicitly been prepared for the region’s markets, with its reinforced chassis and other specifications. The option of hub reduction allows drivers to operate either on-road on rough conditions, making the T X-64 ideal for tackling the region’s most challenging terrain.
With a change of stringers, suspensions, axles and conversion of the power train, the Renault Trucks T X-64 includes over 50% of new original parts.
It is fitted with a new ultra-robust reinforced 6×4 300 mm chassis with a three-axle profile, allowing a load of 8 tons on the front axle and 26 tons on the rear. For optimum driving comfort and perfect control of the vehicle in any situation, the Renault Trucks T X-64 is fitted with an Optidriver robotised gearbox with off-road mode and manual acceleration.
Based on a Renault Trucks T Euro VI converted into Euro III, the Renault Trucks T X-64 guarantees the highest pollution control level as applied in Africa and the Middle East. The Used Trucks Factory operators begin the conversion by dismantling and recycling the Euro VI components (silencers and AdBlue components) before installing the Euro III parts. As with new engines, this conversion is certified by an external body and guarantees the original power and torque.
The air and diesel filters are also reinforced, enabling the vehicle to adapt to its new environment (topography and the characteristics of locally-available fuel). Finally, ground clearance is increased to ensure the protection of the underbody on rough terrain.
The manufacturer’s software and documentation are updated to ensure the vehicle, with its new specifications, is recognised and maintained throughout the network.
Finally, the Renault Trucks T X-64 comes with a manufacturer’s warranty of 18 months or 180,000 km, which covers all components of the powertrain and is valid throughout all Renault Trucks sales and service outlets.
Apart from Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment Division’s comprehensive after-sales services, Renault Trucks T X-64 also commended the Division for its integrated solutions with tangible and practical technical and commercial strengths and features.
Emirates SkyCargo is marking the first anniversary of loading urgently required PPE, related supplies and other vital cargo on the seats and inside the overhead bins of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft.
Responding to the pressing demand for transporting PPE during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in late April 2020, the freight division of Emirates adjusted its operating model to load select goods inside the aircraft cabin on passenger seats and in overhead bins to make additional room for urgent cargo on its flights.
Over the course of one year, the air cargo carrier has now operated more than 3,100 flights with cargo on seats and in the overhead bins transporting more than 11,000 tonnes of vital cargo, equivalent to cargo transported on 800,000 aircraft seats. Emirates SkyCargo continues to witness a significant demand for the transportation of PPE and other cargo inside the aircraft cabin.
In order to safely load cargo on the seats and inside overhead bins in a passenger aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo had to rapidly conduct a safety risk assessment and develop a set of processes and procedures to instruct both the team in Dubai as well as ground handling partners across Emirates SkyCargo’s network outstations on the most efficient and safe way to load and secure cargo inside the passenger cabins. The team also developed a smart calculator application that allowed global teams to calculate optimal loading capacity inside the cabin of the aircraft.
The procedures developed also specified the maximum weight and dimensions of individual packages as well as the types of cargo that could be permitted inside the cabin and additional safety instructions. For example, all perishable cargo packaging for loading on seats and in bins have to include an adequate internal absorbent layer.
Emirates SkyCargo also introduced a special covering for the passenger seats in its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in order to prevent any accidental damage to the interiors of the aircraft, such as personal entertainment screens.
PPE and other medical supplies tend to be the most common cargo transported on aircraft seats and inside the bins. The nature of these items allow for smaller individual boxes facilitating easier handling and loading inside the aircraft. Other general cargo including garments and clothing, dry food, dental supplies and sporting goods have also been transported on seats.
Emirates SkyCargo has continued to serve as an important global connector of urgently required goods and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic through its rapid and flexible approach and by working closely with its customers. Currently the cargo carrier connects more than 135 cities across six continents with its weekly scheduled cargo flights.
Turkish Airlines’ ascendant air cargo brand Turkish Cargo keeps growing steadily by strengthening its flight network. After Frankfurt, Turkish Cargo has now added Munich, the developed economical city of Germany, among its destinations served with direct cargo flights. The dynamic brand of the sector, maintaining increase its number of direct cargo flights with Munich cargo flights to be started on May 7, 2021.
Commenting on the launch of Munich as a direct cargo destination, Turkish Cargo’s Chief Cargo Officer Turhan Ozen said; “Besides making a remarkable contribution to the need for global air cargo transportation, we are glad to add Munich, a substantial business center, to our flight network, and continue to offer a stable and reliable cooperation to the leading exporters of the market.
As one of the prepotent air cargo brands in the world, we are aware, and resolutely fulfill our critical role in the development of our country and in increasing the competitiveness of global trade. We perform this mission not only with the transportation we carry out, but also with producing, opening areas, contributing the development of sectors, and creating a large logistics ecosystem.”
Munich is considered as the technological metropolis of Germany, and it hosts the market leaders in automotive, electronics, medical and biotechnological products. Turkish Cargo aims to strengthen the air cargo bridge it has established between Europe and the Middle East with the reliable, fast and direct air transportation it offers to logistics service providers with Airbus A330F type wide body cargo aircraft on IST-MUC-IST cargo flights.
Connecting the continents, Turkish Cargo has the world’s largest direct cargo flight network consisting of 96 destinations among air cargo brands, 25 direct cargos, excluding express carriers. It continues to carry out global business processes with the fleet of Turkish Airlines consist from 363 aircraft including 25 dedicated freighters. Achieving sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and expert teams in the field, Turkish Cargo aims to be one of the top 3 air cargo brands in the world. With its innovation mission, it continues to develop pioneering projects in the field of digitalization and innovation in a sustainable way to increase its service quality in changing world.
Cargo
Q1 revenues increased 51.6% y-o-y, excluding accounting construction revenue
Strong performance by ports and logistics segments drive top-line growth
Net income grew 21.4% y-o-y, with earnings per share improving to SAR 0.40
Saudi Industrial Services Company (“SISCO”, the “Company” or the “Group”), Saudi Arabia’s leading strategic investor in ports and terminals, logistics parks and services, and water solutions, has announced its financial results for the 3-month period ended 31 March 2021. The following analysis and commentary on revenue growth and margins excludes accounting construction revenue, which has no impact on gross profit or net income.
First quarter revenue (excluding accounting construction revenue) increased by 51.6% year-on-year to SAR 253.6 million, and 5.8% on the previous quarter driven by strong top-line growth across the ports and logistics segments. Gross profit of SAR 134.9 million increased by 153.7% from Q1 2020 and by 10.1% from the previous quarter, predominantly driven by stronger volumes in the ports segment, efficiencies and other new concession terms that came into effect from 1 January 2021.
First quarter net income grew 21.4% year-on-year and increased by 14.9% on the previous quarter, to reach SAR 32.3 million. Year-on-year bottom line growth was driven by improving revenues, the start of a new port concession agreement in 2020, and new client agreements in the logistics segment. EBITDA of SAR 144.7 million increased by 127.7% year-on-year, at an EBITDA margin of 57.1%. Earnings per share (“EPS”) stood at SAR 0.40 as compared to SAR 0.33 in Q1 2020, with total shareholders’ equity increasing to SAR 1.2 billion in Q1 2021 compared to SAR 1.1 billion in the previous year.
Revenue from the ports and terminals segment exceeded SAR 211.5 million, increasing by 70.8% year-on-year. Revenues from the logistics segment reached SAR 24 million, a 24.4% increase compared to Q1 2020. The water solutions segment saw a marginal revenue decrease of 2%, resulting from a decrease in volumes.
Mohammed Al-Mudarres, CEO at SISCO said:
“SISCO continues to achieve very strong results despite operating in a challenging macro-economic environment. In the first quarter the Group achieved significant top-line growth in the ports and logistics business, driven by improved gateway and transshipment volumes and growth in our warehouse and logistics services offer. With new customers for the logistics business now onboarded we are seeing strong growth in demand for services. Our water solutions business has experienced some challenges, with revenue declining slightly during the first quarter of the year. While water production and distribution volumes decreased compared with the previous quarter, we are confident in the opportunities that exist in the sector with demand from industry and consumers expected to increase in years to come.
We have managed our balance sheet prudently and maintained a total debt to equity ratio of 45.5% during the quarter, which allows us to continue to strategically invest in opportunities that offer long-term value. The major strategic announcement for the quarter was the divestment of a 21.2% stake in our subsidiary Red Sea Gateway Terminal Limited (“RSGT”) to COSCO and PIF. The transaction value of SAR 556.5 million implies an enterprise value for RSGT of SAR 3.3 billion, and we are very pleased to be welcoming both COSCO and PIF as strategic partners to our group of companies. We have no doubt that they will add meaningful value in the years to come, with the transaction in direct support of our long-term investment philosophy.”
Financial performance highlights
Total operating revenue (which excludes construction revenue) of SAR 253.6 million for Q1 2021, representing like-for-like growth of 51.6% from Q1 2020, was driven primarily by port segment volume growth of 65.7% and the new concession agreement. This was supported by steady top line growth in the logistics segment driven by an increase in warehouse and services revenue.
Gross profit increased by 153.7% driven primarily by revenue growth and the capitalization of fixed and variable fees payable to the Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani.
Investment income improved to SAR 5.8 million compared to SAR 3.7 million in Q1 2020.
Operating expenses of SAR 40.1 million remained relatively stable compared to SAR 39.8 million in 2020.
SISCO generated net income growth of 21.4% and reported a net income margin of 12.7% as a result of a 607.4% improvement in operating profit and operating expenses remaining relatively flat. This positive growth was offset by an increase in financial charges by SAR 39.7 million (342.2%) due to the capitalization of fixed and variable fees.
On an adjusted basis (excluding the impact of one-off items), net income increased by 284.7% compared to Q1 2020.
Total assets reached SAR 4.4 billion.
Income statement highlights, SAR million (excludes accounting construction revenue)
Operational highlights
Ports & Terminals
The Ports & Terminals business benefitted from higher efficiencies and the new concession, in addition to a significant increase of 65.7% in container volumes compared to Q1 2020, a major driver for improving revenues. The ports segment also continued to make positive progress in consolidating and upgrading the adjacent North Container Terminal in the Jeddah Islamic Port.
Logistics Parks & Services
The Logistics Parks & Services segment saw healthy warehousing occupancy at 99% for the quarter (98% in Q1 2020) and commenced the development of additional warehousing capacity for existing customers. The positive impact of major contracts signed in 2020 was also realised, in particular with Aramco.
Strategy and outlook
SISCO will continue to invest in assets and companies in the ports, logistics and water segments, where significant potential earnings opportunities exist, and where the Company’s management can provide oversight on operational and growth strategies. Meanwhile, the Group will build on its current portfolio of subsidiaries, to take advantage of emerging market opportunities. The Company is currently undergoing a strategic review exercise, for which it has appointed an external consultant, and expects to announce further developments to its strategy in due course.
Today, two leaders of the commercial vehicle industry –Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group –officially outlined their pioneering roadmap for the new fuel-cell joint venture cellcentric, as part of an industry-first commitment to accelerate the use of hydrogen-based fuel cells for long-haul trucks and beyond. With the ambition of becoming a leading global manufacturer of fuel-cell systems, cellcentric will build one of Europe’s largest planned series production of fuel-cell systems, with operation planned to commence in 2025. To accelerate the rollout of hydrogen-based fuel-cells, the two cellcentric shareholders call for a harmonized EU hydrogen policy framework to support the technology in becoming a viable commercial solution.
These ambitions were revealed as part of an exclusive digital launch today, led by Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck AG, and Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo Group. Designed to help meet the 2050 targets of sustainable transport and a carbon-neutral Europe as part of the European Green Deal, cellcentric will develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for both long-haul trucking and other applications. The joint venture can draw on decades of expertise and development work from both Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group.
According to Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group, purely battery-electric and hydrogen-based fuel-cell trucks will complement each other depending on the individual customer use case. Battery power will be rather used for lower cargo weights and for shorter distances, while fuel-cell power will tend to be the preferred option for heavier loads and longer distances.
Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG and Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, says: “Hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric trucks will be key for enabling CO2-neutral transportation in the future. In combination with pure battery-electric drives, it enables us to offer our customers the best genuinely locally CO2-neutral vehicle options, depending on the application. Battery-electric trucks alone will not make this possible. Together with our partner Volvo Group, we are therefore fully committed to our fuel-cell joint venture cellcentric and we are both pushing forward the development of the technology as well as the series production preparations. Regarding the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, it is clear that green hydrogen is the only sensible way forward in the long term.”
Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo Group, says: “Our united ambition is to meet the targets in the Paris agreement of becoming CO2-neutral by 2050 at the latest. We are convinced that hydrogen fuel-cell technology plays an essential role in helping us reach that milestone. But we know there is so much more to achieve than just the electrification of machines and vehicles. There needs to be greater cooperation between public and private stakeholders to develop the necessary technology and infrastructure, which is why we are calling for united action from policymakers and governments around the world in helping us make hydrogen fuel-cell technology a success. Partnerships like cellcentric are vital to our commitment to decarbonizing road transport.”
The major truck manufacturers in Europe, also backed by Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group, are therefore calling for the setup of around 300 high-performance hydrogen refuelling stations suitable for heavy-duty vehicles by 2025 and of around 1,000 hydrogen refuelling stations no later than 2030 in Europe. This joint initiative, using hydrogen as a carrier of green electricity to power electric trucks in long-haul operations, is one important part of decarbonizing road transport.
As CO2-neutral trucks are currently significantly more expensive than conventional vehicles, a policy framework is needed to ensure demand and affordability. According to Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group, this should include incentives for CO2-neutral technologies and a taxation system based on carbon and energy content. An emissions trading system could be an additional option.
Clear roadmap towards series production of fuel-cell systems and fuel-cell trucks
Currently, cellcentric is conceptualizing the plans for its large-scale series production. More details and a decision on the location will be revealed over the course of 2022. As a significant step towards series production, preparations for pre-series production are taking place at a new site in Esslingen near Stuttgart. In parallel, cellcentric is scaling up on-going prototype output.
Daimler Truck AG’s and Volvo Group’s goal is to start with customer tests of fuel-cell trucks in about three years and to be in series production of fuel-cell trucks during the second half of this decade. All vehicle-related activities are carried out independently from each other, as both companies remain competitors in all vehicle and product ranges, and particularly in fuel-cell integration solutions for all products.
P&G announces 2022 Sustainability Actions including the launch of 12 Pilot Programs over the Next 12 Months across Middle East, Asia Pacific & Africa to help improve local ecosystems
All P&G manufacturing plants in region have achieved Zero Manufacturing Waste to Landfill
#ForestsForGood 12 pilot programs set to take place over the next 12 months leveraging blockchain to increase traceability
First Program was the kick-off of the P&G Dubai Mangrove Forest in UAE
Actions demonstrate commitment towards achieving P&G Ambition 2030 Goals
Today, Procter & Gamble (P&G) announced its 2022 sustainability actions, and its commitment to help protect and preserve nature across its Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMA) Operations. This progress and additional programs were announced during P&G’s AMA Sustainability Summit and are built on the theme #ItsOurHome. Hosted virtually, the event’s focus was to provide actionable insights and further drive P&G into action towards greater sustainability.
The Summit saw participation from business leaders and sustainability advocates and was made available for the 17,000 P&G employees from across the region. During the event, P&G declared a new action plan focused on strengthening progress towards its global Ambition 2030 goals, by the end of year 2022:
IMPROVING ECOSYSTEMS – PROTECTION, CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOODS
P&G is committed to actively protecting nature, beginning with 12 pilot programs in 12 months across the AMA region to start its Forests for Good initiative, by planting trees that help improve local ecosystems. Piloting blockchain technology that increases traceability, the aim of the program is to better connect consumers with the impact they are having, by allowing viewability of the trees that have been planted.
P&G will continue its investments into programs to conserve landscapes, protect species and improve sustainable farming practices.
ACTIVE WATER CONSERVATION:
Water scarcity is a challenge facing many parts of the world including several regions within AMA.
By end 2022,100% of P&G’s manufacturing siteslocated in high water stress areas including our Jeddah and Dammam plant will develop a water stewardship action plan in accordance with the externally recognized Alliance for Water Stewardship standard. Across its AMA sites, the company has sourced/recycled a total of 4 billion liters of water per year from circular sources and will continue to improve moving forward.
PLANT AND CONSUMER WASTE MANAGEMENT:
P&G AMA announces that it has qualified 100% of its plants toZero Manufacturing Waste to Landfill. This includes the Middle Eastern P&G manufacturing plant in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Dammam , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where NO waste goes to landfill
P&G is committed to comprehensively work to reduce consumer waste by investing in packaging innovation across brands as well as collaborating with external stakeholders on piloting waste infrastructure interventions across several of its markets.
P&G also shared that as part of the Global Ambition 2030 Goals, P&G in Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa is already demonstrating progress on using ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. Today P&G AMA has a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects and plans to continue developing new approaches based off locally available resources.
P&G President for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Magesvaran Suranjan, said “At P&G we are deeply committed to actively protecting our planet, our home. Today we are proud to announce our 2022 actions for the region, which align with P&G’s Global Ambition 2030 Goals. Through our Sustainability Summit for the region, we are enrolling all 17,000 of our employees to embed Environmental Sustainability as a core part of their business priorities.”
For P&G Forests for Good in the AMA region, the company has partnered with EcoMatcher to pilot their blockchain technology to increase transparency, together with local conservation organizations in each country where they are starting this journey.
Omar Channawi, CEO P&G Middle East, Global Development Markets and Sub Sahara Africa, said “We are making comprehensive interventions across Climate, Water & Waste in the Middle East and Africa. I am proud to have already launched our first initiative to kick start our regional P&G Forests for Good Programme. The Dubai Mangrove Forest was planted on April 19th by the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG), the first of more to come. We can today also reveal that an additional initiative will also take place Kenya’s Embu Region among others. We are also proud that our manufacturing sites in Saudi Arabia and Sub Sahara Africa are Zero Waste to Landfill and are proud to be collaborating with external partners across the region to pilot waste infrastructure interventions.”
Mr Suranjan added, “Our purpose is to leave the world in a better place than we found it, and the time to act is now. Our commitment to environmental sustainability is a critical component of P&G’s growth strategy. And we believe these actions will help us accelerate our results towards P&G’s broader Ambition 2030 goals.”
These regional declarations are the latest by P&G, who is putting its weight behind being a Force For Good and a Force for Growth. By 2030, P&G is committed to making a difference, including ensuring our global operations are becoming carbon neutral for the decade.
One out of every 20 COVID-19 vaccines administered around the world has transited through Dubai on an Emirates aircraft
Emirates SkyCargo has transported around 59 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights
Dubai at the centre of global COVID-19 response through the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance
Governments and health authorities around the world are ramping up their efforts to protect communities from COVID-19 through large scale vaccine roll-out and it has been estimated that more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines* have been administered globally. One out of every 20 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered around the world has transited through Dubai and has flown on an Emirates aircraft.
Emirates SkyCargo, the air freight division of Emirates has been leading the international air cargo industry in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines and other essential pharmaceutical, PPE and food supplies during the pandemic. The air cargo carrier has moved around 59 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 50 destinations around the world. Emirates SkyCargo has also transported six different types of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights.
Emirates SkyCargo has a dedicated GDP certified facility at its hub in Dubai used for storing and transporting COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturing locations to a destination network spanning six continents. With its modern widebody aircraft, innovative equipment such as Cool Dollies and specialised containers, Emirates SkyCargo has been able to safely and rapidly deliver around 5% of the total COVID-19 vaccines administered around the world since October 2020.
In January 2021, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with DP World, Dubai Airports and International Humanitarian City to form the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance. The Alliance partners work together to facilitate the rapid transport of COVID-19 vaccines and related medical supplies through Dubai to developing countries. In February 2021, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with UNICEF to expedite transportation of COVID-19 vaccines under the framework of the COVAX facility, aimed at equitable distribution of vaccines to global communities.
Dubai and the UAE have maintained their leading position at the centre of global logistics and supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE has also made rapid progress in vaccinating its citizens and residents against COVID-19, with more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered to date. Emirates recently operated a special flight EK2021, to celebrate the UAE’s progress in its vaccination drive.
Dota 2 giant Team Nigma and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announce a long-term partnership
Team Nigma will be the first esports team to be sponsored by a major airline
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, today announced a landmark partnership with World Champion Esports team, Team Nigma, the organisation founded by The International 7 champions.
Nigma will be the first esports team ever to be sponsored by a major airline and the Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways will make sure the team and its support staff will arrive, relaxed, refreshed and on time for their packed global schedule. This unique partnership further cements the team’s position as one of the leading esports organisations in the world and provides them the chance to grow within the billion-dollar esports industry.
The announcement follows the news that the team will be relocating to Abu Dhabi, under their partnership with AD Gaming. The collaborative initiative pioneered by twofour54 Abu Dhabi, aggregates the emirate’s drive to build a thriving gaming and esports ecosystem in the region.
Mohamed Morad, Co-Founder of Team Nigma, said: “As a kid I dreamt of becoming a pilot so partnering up with my favourite airline is special on both a personal and a professional level. “When competing on the highest level, our team and staff constantly need to travel around the world to face the top Dota 2 teams and the immense resources and expertise Etihad Airways will provide us, are going to help our players and staff reach new levels.”
Christoph Timm, Co-Founder of Team Nigma, said: “We are grateful that Etihad Airways committed to a long-term partnership especially during these testing times. Like us, Etihad believes in supporting and developing new upcoming talents from the region and see esports as a major industry for the region.“The amount of support they have already shown us is admirable. This is just the beginning of our journey together, and we look forward to more unique activations in the future.”
Amina Taher, Vice President Brand, Marketing and Sponsorships at Etihad Airways, said: “The gaming industry is rapidly gaining prominence, and in line with Abu Dhabi’s investment in the industry, Etihad is proud to lead the way and be the first major global airline to partner with an esports team. This is another proof point of our industry leading approach to sports sponsorships.“Etihad is renowned for partnering with world-class sports teams and events, from Manchester City Football Club to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. We see the value in sports-based sponsorships which unite and engage with communities, and we look forward to what the future holds with Team Nigma.”
Etihad has been recognised for its industry-leading response to Covid over the past year. Through the Etihad Wellness programme, the airline has committed to ensuring the highest wellbeing standards for its guests. Wellness Ambassadors are available throughout all stages of the customer journey to provide wellness guidance and greater peace of mind for both Team Nigma and all guests travelling with Etihad Airways.
Savoye, a global logistics solution engineering company, announced that it has established its own office in the UAE as part of its ongoing expansion in the Middle East. The leading supply chain technology provider seeks to leverage the country’s geographical location and advanced logistics network to grow its markets and contribute to national efforts aimed at boosting industrial activities in line with the UAE Industrial Strategy 2030.
Savoye has a huge portfolio of solutions across 40 countries that combine hardware and software according to customer needs such as manual, semi-mechanised, mechanised, highly automated or robotic installations. The company, which has made €155-million turnover in the past year, provides cutting-edge equipment and warehouse management system (WMS) solutions which employ the latest digital technologies.
Commenting on the new office, Frédéric Zielinski, Managing Director, Savoye EMEA, said: “The UAE has been taking strides in the growth of its supply chain and logistics sectors and we are confident that Savoye will find its place in the regional market. We are keen to actively take part in providing the best solutions for the industry which is poised to significantly serve the upcoming Expo 2020-21. Our automated solutions will help offer scalability and speed while at the same time improving work safety.”
Zielinski added: “We are very optimistic for the industry’s growth potential which will primarily depend on e-commerce activity. Logistics companies will invest and enhance in last-mile deliveries through technology to create more agile supply chains. We believe there is a vast potential in the UAE market to expand our specialized logistics services as demand for data-driven intra-logistics services continues to grow and the UAE pushes ahead to achieve the UAE Industrial Strategy 2030.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated e-commerce platforms to thrive during the lockdown. The UAE has been resolute to enhance its logistics capabilities by embracing digital technologies to drive value for the supply chain. To that end, Savoye is keen to bring to the market its more than 35 years of experience in retail logistics and the control of automated systems amid rising e-commerce demand and growing customer expectations on speed and accuracy of delivery across the globe.
Honeywell announced today that Anchorage Investments Ltd. will use Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex™ technology to produce 750,000 metric tons per year of polymer-grade propylene for its new Anchor Benitoite petrochemicals complex in Suez, Egypt, near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal. Propylene is the primary component in a variety of plastic products that are rapidly growing in demand.
As part of the contract, Honeywell will provide technology licensing and basic engineering design, in addition to services, equipment, catalysts and adsorbents for the plant. This represents UOP’s third award for a C3 Oleflex unit in North Africa, following earlier wins in Egypt and Algeria.
“Anchor Benitoite’s PDH unit is an important production unit in the project; being the upstream propylene-producing unit for the whole complex.” said Ahmed M. A. Moharram, Founder and Managing Director of Anchorage Investments. “This underscores the significant importance of implementing Honeywell UOP’s well-proven and globally acknowledged propane dehydrogenation technology.”
“The increasing consumption of plastics in the region has created a growing gap between supply and demand for propylene, which has historically been a byproduct of refining fuels,” said Laura Leonard, vice president and general manager, Honeywell UOP Process Technologies. “Our Oleflex technology can bridge this gap by producing ‘on-purpose’ propylene from propane that is derived from natural gas or refining processes.”
Honeywell UOP’s C3 Oleflex technology converts propane to propylene through catalytic dehydrogenation. The technology is designed to have a lower cash cost of production and higher return on investment when compared to competing dehydrogenation technologies. Its low energy consumption, low emissions and fully recyclable, platinum-alumina-based catalyst system helps minimize its impact on the environment. The independent reactor and regeneration design of the Oleflex technology helps maximize operating flexibility and onstream reliability.
Oleflex technology has been selected for 71 dehydrogenation projects globally since 2011, including applications for propane, isobutane (iC4) and mixed propane and isobutane feeds.
Turkish Cargo stays agile in a volatile air cargo environment by providing forwarders with real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings via WebCargo.
Turkish Cargo will soon provide global forwarders the ability to conduct real-time eBookings, access live rates, and see available air cargo capacity through WebCargo, a Freightos Group company. This provides critical agility as air cargo contends with unexpected shifts due to the global pandemic.
As Christian Tesch, Director Airfreigt Carrier Relations & Procurement at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics said, “Live access to capacity and price supports our ongoing commitment to provide Hellman customers with outstanding service. We’re delighted to see Turkish Cargo on Webcargo.”
Turkish Cargo will first roll out on WebCargo in Spain and India, and will be quickly followed by roll outs in several more countries. With the airline’s shift to global eBookings, more than 20% of global air cargo capacity will now be digitized, providing more than 2,000 WebCargo forwarders customers across over 10,000 global branches with instant access to capacity and pricing.
Turhan OZEN, Chief Cargo Officer, Turkish Airlines remarked as follows; “Effective leadership is required to handle the customers constantly diversifying demands accurately across the air cargo industry. As the air cargo brand with one of the widest networks in the world, we focus on digital solutions. We are pleased to partner with WebCargo to provide digital connectivity for our customers as part of our commitment to constant innovation in offering the best service possible.”
“In the past year, eBookings have increased tenfold on WebCargo, making it clear that the future of air cargo is digital” said Manel Galindo, CEO of WebCargo “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Turkish Cargo, one of the most impactful and influential global cargo airlines, to launch eBookings for forwarders around the world.”
Intralogistics expert Swisslog is set to host an around-the-world automation tour of some of its most prominent customer sites this year. Several big names are already billed as part of the World Automation Tour 2021 line-up, with further tour dates to be announced throughout the year.
Each show will kick off with a meet and greet with a Swisslog logistics consultant and on-site engineer, who will be equipped to walk attendees around a live automated solution. Throughout each demo, participants will experience automation in action from a customer’s perspective, and get questions answered in real time.
Experience live automation from any workspace
Whether the tour is hosted from Berlin, London, Barcelona, Sydney, New York or Shanghai, forward-thinking businesses can register for any or all of the available tour dates. Customer showcases will include ASDA in the UK, Rewe in Germany, Trinchero in the US, Coca-Cola in Syndey as well as a sneak behind the scenes tour of one of Swisslog’s factories manufacturing the renowned Vectura crane, in Sweden.
The ASDA IDC in Lutterworth, home to the largest AutoStore installation in the UK will be the opening show of the World Automation Tour 2021, allowing the leading retailer to pick at twice the rate with 99.8% accuracy. Stacked on top of one another, the bins inside ASDA’s AutoStore system measure 17.8 times higher than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Opening new offices in Egypt and Oman makes the company’s performance a standout in a challenging landscape
Global logistics service provider Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is expanding and has entered new markets in the Middle East. After launching operations in Oman last summer, the company has now also inaugurated its first branch in Egypt. The inauguration was recently conducted via a virtual ceremony.
With market entry in these two strategically important Middle East and South Asia (MESA) countries, Hellmann is expanding its regional network with the aim to acquire new customer groups and business fields in
the Middle East.
Hellmann has been present in the MESA region since 1999 and has since grown steadily to become the leading logistics service provider across multiple industry verticals including automotive, healthcare, chemical, FMCG and
fashion. With a total of 80 locations and cumulative warehouse space of over 2.2million sqft, Hellmann currently
employs over 1,800 staff in the region.
Comprehensive portfolio Hellmann covers the entire product portfolio via the Egyptian head office in Cairo, with the national operation primarily handling imports from Europe, North America and Asia. At the same time, the new location serves as a gateway to COMESA—Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (the largest regional economic organization in Africa, with 19 member states and a population of about 400 million) and Middle East countries, especially for automotive, healthcare, FMCG, and fashion customers.
Furthermore, in order to sustainably develop the strategically important and economically strong Egyptian market, Hellmann plans to open two additional operational locations in the country’s growing and strategically important
ports of Port Sokhna and Alexandria in October of this year (2021).
Oman foray
Already in July 2020, Hellmann pursued its expansion in the Middle East with the opening of several operational and administrative branches in the Sultanate of Oman. The aim is to establish a seamless supply chain in the Middle East and to have an increasing presence in the strong economy of Oman, which is also an important trading partner for the neighboring Gulf States.
Strategic importance
“The investments in Egypt and Oman clearly show the strategic importance of the region for Hellmann as a global company and the potential we see here,” commented Reiner Heiken, Chief Executive Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. “In recent years, Hellmann has already established itself as a market leader in the MESA region, especially in the automotive and healthcare logistics sectors, but increasingly also in e-commerce business. The expansion into Egypt and Oman marks another decisive step for our growth path in the Middle East and North Africa,” affirmed Madhav Kurup, Regional CEO—MESA, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
Osnabrück
Germany-headquartered Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has had a Middle East South Asia regional presence
since 1999. Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Madhav Kurup, the long-serving CEO, MESA Region, on the occasion of the announcement of the company’s inroads into Egypt and Oman.
Kurup is the quintessential senior Hellman official with over a decade of service with the company. He spoke expansively on a wide range of subjects, the current industry scenario, the company’s resilience, the present
challenges and opportunities and his vision for the future Global Supply Chain (GSC): The year 2020 has been unprecedented and like no other with the onset and continuity of the pandemic. What is your brief assessment of the impact of the pandemic on your business to date and your performance in 2020?
Madhav Kurup (MK): As a global logistics provider, the impact that occurred over 2020 and even in Q1-2021 has been staggering with various challenges from enabling a safe work environment for our people operating in our offices and warehouses, border challenges, to space capacity on air and sea.
With a drop in fashion and automotive, other industries such as healthcare and FMCG certainly correspondingly
increased in volumes. With skilled personnel across our organization we were pleased that we did not release any
staff members due to an impact of the pandemic, and I am proud to confirm that we actually hired personnel across
the region for our business growth that we supported and in 2020 we are pleased that we were also above budget.
GSC: How significant is the role of Hellmann Calipar Healthcare Logistics in the present context?
MK: Our specific Healthcare JV in the UAE had changed working operations to support the additional volumes as well as keeping in within local regulations.
The teams also created new solutions to support our customers where many direct options had ceased due to
passenger flight aircraft capacity reducing from alternative air to air options or Air Charter support not just for PPE, but also other important Healthcare lines. We have been fortunate in the UAE that strict protocols at the start, which enabled a shorter lock down compared to other countries around the world, with continued proper control by the UAE Government had allowed functions to operate in safety for logistical activities via the UAE.
This implies that Hellmann Calipar Healthcare UAE was also able to support not just our UAE customers,
but in addition to our other Hellmann International customers in providing solutions to ensure products arrived
safely and swiftly to the country required.
GSC: How important is now the Pharma-Cold Chain logistics sector within the wider Hellmann Logistics
portfolio?
MK: Healthcare is one of Hellmann largest industry sector specialized industry focus globally; whereby we provide solutions across the world, led by skilled healthcare logistics professionals from solution to product experts. We have in addition created a global Covid-19 specialized taskforce that is supporting countries and organizations
on the deployment of our resources. We are pleased that in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region we
have supported movements despite pandemic disruptions by virtue of being a member of the UAE Hope Consortium.
GSC: How significant is the region for Hellmann Worldwide Logistics?
MK: Hellmann Middle East, North Africa and South Asia having a professional and experienced team of more than 1,900 personnel covering all solutions with Sea/Air via Dubai, a strong warehousing footprint in majority of countries, with specialized teams from healthcare, automotive, fashion, FMCG, chemical and Oil & Gas projects.
Our track record is good with strong employer staff retention and we have been growing proudly year after year and
supporting all global strategies, and in many cases have been at the forefront on developments and continuous
improvement concepts.
GSC: Hellmann Worldwide Logistics as recently announced expansion in Egypt and in the Sultanate of Oman
with the inauguration of new offices. Give us the lowdown on how these two countries have fared to date?
MK: We are pleased that towards end of 2020 opening in Oman and within March 2021 opening in Egypt greatly
strengthens our regional solutions for our customers with our own office/warehouse solutions.
Within Oman we have opened offices in Muscat and Sohar, and for Egypt our first stage opening in Cairo is complete along with full customs brokerage solutions. Frankly we were careful in our first year planning on these new countries; however the positive leadership in the country and supporting functions from the regional office in Dubai has allowed us to perform beyond our expectations. We are pleased with the accomplishments of our people following which our performance inQ1-2021 has been very positive.
GSC: What does this imply in real terms and how does it strengthen your regional network?
MK: Whilst Hellmann has had agency representation in these countries for many years, it was a very tough decision
to replace our agents with our own operations, however the time had meant that in order to create a full business end-to-end solution for key customers that we had to open our own operations in these very important countries within the Middle East.
Turkish Cargo stays agile in a volatile air cargo environment by providing forwarders with real-time pricing, capacity, and eBookings via WebCargo.
Turkish Cargo will soon provide global forwarders the ability to conduct real-time eBookings, access live rates, and see available air cargo capacity through WebCargo, a Freightos Group company. This provides critical agility as air cargo contends with unexpected shifts due to the global pandemic.
As Christian Tesch, Director Airfreigt Carrier Relations & Procurement at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics said, “Live access to capacity and price supports our ongoing commitment to provide Hellman customers with outstanding service. We’re delighted to see Turkish Cargo on Webcargo.”
Turkish Cargo will first roll out on WebCargo in Spain and India, and will be quickly followed by roll outs in several more countries. With the airline’s shift to global eBookings, more than 20% of global air cargo capacity will now be digitized, providing more than 2,000 WebCargo forwarders customers across over 10,000 global branches with instant access to capacity and pricing.
Turhan OZEN, Chief Cargo Officer, Turkish Airlines remarked as follows; “Effective leadership is required to handle the customers constantly diversifying demands accurately across the air cargo industry. As the air cargo brand with one of the widest networks in the world, we focus on digital solutions. We are pleased to partner with WebCargo to provide digital connectivity for our customers as part of our commitment to constant innovation in offering the best service possible.”
“In the past year, eBookings have increased tenfold on WebCargo, making it clear that the future of air cargo is digital” said Manel Galindo, CEO of WebCargo “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Turkish Cargo, one of the most impactful and influential global cargo airlines, to launch eBookings for forwarders around the world.”
WebCargo® is the most advanced digitization platform for logistics service providers.
WebCargo Air is the leading platform for live air cargo rate distribution and bookings between hundreds of airlines and 1,900+ forwarders. Partners using fully digital eBooking and rate distribution on WebCargo include leading airlines, like Lufthansa, Turkish, Etihad Cargo, Air France KLM, IAG Cargo, SAS, Qatar Airways, and AirBridge Cargo. Logistics providers who are IATA members can access dynamic capacity, pricing, and eBooking by signing up at webcargo.co.
UWC get 15,000sqm multipurpose built to suit facility in Logistics Park Modon 1
LogiPoint and United Warehouse Company Ltd. (UWC) have signed a strategic partnership contract under which LogiPoint will build a dedicated multipurpose built to suit facility for UWC in Jeddah. The ‘Built-to-Suit’ facility will be developed in LogiPoint’s Logistics Hub located in the heart of Modon, Jeddah Industrial City 1 and will be a state-of-the-art addition to the industrial city.
LogiPoint are an internationally recognized and award-winning logistics and supply chain hub based in Jeddah, who have grown to become the Kingdom’s premier developers and operators of Logistics Parks and Zones, while United Warehouse Company are one of the leading 3PL companies in the Kingdom offering specialized logistics solutions to the market.
The new facility will be built over a 15,000 sqm area and will include a 12,000 covered warehousing space. This will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to include frozen, chilled, ambient and dry sections and will, therefore, enable United Warehousing Company to cater to the full spectrum of warehousing clientele ranging from meat and poultry to dairy to foodstuff to raw materials for manufacturing.
Jeddah Logistics Hub (JLH) is a 120,000 sqm fully integrated logistics platform enabling Industrial area users to optimize and streamline their logistics operations.
There are options to build specialized distribution centers and warehouses to serve factories and businesses located in industrial cities and help them leverage supply chain efficiencies. Parking spaces for over 350 trucks and distribution vehicles ensure seamless and efficient operations during even peak hours. Understandably, Jeddah Logistics Hub will also be home to support services businesses like facilities management, heavy machinery and truck maintenance workshops, and other ancillary businesses catering to the logistics hub tenants and users.
Farooq Shaikh, CEO LogiPoint, said the logistics landscape in the Kingdom was transforming rapidly and that there was a growing need for developing logistics eco-systems which enabled agility and efficiency through reducing supply chain waste and related costs. “The Logistics Hub is a self-contained Logistics eco-system, a value creation platform which enables our clients to set and achieve ambitious targets in speed, efficiency and operational excellence in supply chain. Our agreement with United Warehousing Company underscores the importance of strategic partnerships in designing and delivering next-generation advanced logistics solutions in the Kingdom. This aligns perfectly with our commitment to the Saudi Vision 2030 goal of transforming the Kingdom into a futuristic supply chain and logistics hub in the region”.
Eng. Fathi Baisa, Managing Director of United Warehouse Company, added that the logistics sector and the industrial sector are twins in terms of integration in services, as the development in the logistics system has a great impact on the development of the industrial sector by raising efficiency and speed in supply chains. This agreement is an important step in achieving the requirements of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision for logistics services in terms of transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics center.
Transformation strategy: Saudia Cargo delivers on digital transformation and selects cargo.one as the strategic online partner for its fast-paced cargo expansion
Lead player: one signs agreement with Saudia Cargo, expanding its Gulf footprint in line with its global 2021 expansion strategy
Saudia Cargo and leading e-booking platform cargo.one have entered into a distribution agreement to provide customers across the board with first class digital booking experience. Freight forwarders will be able to book Saudia Cargo’s real-time quotes on cargo.one within a matter of seconds and with instant confirmation.
“Saudia Cargo’s objective is to always deliver a premium customer experience. We are convinced that cargo.one is the ideal partner to perfect our digital service offer.” Omar Hariri, Chief Executive Officer of Saudia Cargo, stated. The airline strongly supports Saudi Arabia’s innovative Vision 2030. It is rapidly growing its fleet and digital transformation is key to its mission to become the region’s leading freight and logistics hub. “We will be offering customers a proven and efficient online booking platform where they have access to real-time rates and immediate booking confirmations.” Teddy Zebitz, Chief Cargo Officer, Saudia Cargo added “With cargo.one, we expect to further improve our operational efficiency. The pandemic has reinforced the importance of flexibility and speed in air cargo, with simplicity and process optimization being keys to success. Through cargo.one, we will offer our customers a fast, simple, and first-class booking experience. It will also enable us to quickly share and promote our ever-evolving freighter and passenger freighter network – such as our recently launched 5-weekly Liège-Riyadh service.”
Moritz Claussen, Founder and Managing Director of cargo.one, is delighted that the company will play a fundamental role in Saudia Cargo’s digital transformation. “We are honored and proud of the fact that Saudia Cargo has chosen us as their partner to build a core component of their digital transformation. Saudia Cargo is a prime example of an airline that leverages and augments its existing systems to take a leap into the future of capacity distribution and pricing. We look forward to working in close collaboration with Saudia Cargo and its general sales agents around the world to jointly ensure that customers will always enjoy a first-class booking experience.”
With Saudia Cargo on board, cargo.one is expanding its footprint in the Gulf region, and strengthening its market position as the leading distribution channel for cargo airlines.
The airlines’ capacity will become available on the cargo.one platform in the second quarter of 2021, giving freight forwarders additional access to routes across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the USA.
GPCA’s recommendations were published in a position paper released today in both English and Arabic language
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) issued a list of recommendations for the modernization of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in line with supporting free and fair trade and enabling the regional chemical industry’s growth.
In a position paper released today GPCA praised the WTO’s vital role in supporting trade in commodities and goods across the world. However, it highlighted that the organization needs to do more to achieve multilateral commitments from its members on further trade liberalization and emerging trade rules.
GPCA went on to recommend that the WTO, of which all GCC states are members, should take proactive steps towards its modernization in several key areas, including: process (reform) and substance (negotiations); regulatory cooperation on chemical substances to prevent barriers to trade; trade agendas to support sustainability; improved transparency, and effective enforcement of commitments.
GPCA estimates that regional chemical export volume declined by 15% – 20% to 66-70 million tons in 2020, due to significant demand disruptions in chemical supply markets as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Off the back of increased demand and gradual economic recovery, regional chemical trade is expected to increase by up to 10% in terms of volume in 2021.
The chemical industry in the region still faces key barriers to trade including costly tariffs, unclear rules of origin, discrepancies between national legislations, multiple and differing standards, limited protection of trade secrets as well as trade defence measures. To realize its potential and ensure its sustainable growth, the industry requires an enabling legal framework, and free access to global markets, which means the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers. No organization is better placed than the WTO to act as conduit of free and fair trade and enable consistent and compliant trade practices between countries.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “Ensuring the uninterrupted supply of chemicals to the world is a key imperative for global and regional leaders, as chemicals serve as key building blocks to scores of products and materials we use every day, and cater to many end-user industries. From healthcare to food packaging, to construction, transportation, and many more, chemical trade is an important enabler for socio-economic development.
“I am pleased to announce that GPCA has joined peer associations to develop a position paper which highlights the importance of a modernized and fully functioning World Trade Organization. The paper comes at just the right time – as global free trade comes under a growing threat in countries across the world and trade protectionism is on the rise – and we call on the WTO to fulfill its mandate in supporting and prioritizing a multilateral approach to trade. I would like to thank the GPCA’s International Trade Committee (ITC) for working closely with the Secretariat to develop this position paper.”
Saudia Cargo is one of the first Airfreight companies to join the Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative launched by UNICEF to support the prioritization of COVID-19 vaccines delivery alongside essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to fight the pandemic.
The members of the initiative are 10 leading airlines which together cover routes to over 100 countries with one goal in mind, to support the COVAX Facility – the global effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines regardless of any country’s income level. COVAX Facility’s first round distribution plan provides doses to 145 countries starting the first half of 2021. These countries will immunize 3% of their population, on average and subject to all requirements and final allocation plans.
The initiative commits airlines to prioritize the shipment of all live-saving supplies, add freight capacity to routes whenever necessary, and take the important measures of temperature control and security.
“Saudia Cargo is ready and on full power to operate for UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative and take part in this global vaccines delivery effort through Saudia Cargo’s wide range of destinations and connection points. We fully understand our role and will work hand in hand with UNICEF and ensure the maximum global reach for the vaccines. Safe, timely and efficient transportation of these supplies is paramount and we are sure our air freighters will expertly get the job done.” Said Saudia Cargo, Omar Hariri.“Delivery of these life-saving vaccines is a monumental and complex undertaking, considering the sheer volumes that need to be transported, the cold chain requirements, the number of expected deliveries and the diversity of routes” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “We are grateful to these airlines for joining forces with the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative to support the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines.”
The 10 strong fleets of the world’s finest airfreight companies operating upon COVAX Facility’s effective delivery strategy will form a global logistics preparedness mechanism for any potential humanitarian health crises on short and long terms. For now, the COVAX deliveries and subsequent vaccinations to frontline health workers remains with utmost importance to empower their critical role in this unprecedented global scenario.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org. For more information about COVID-19, visit www.unicef.org/coronavirus
The Saudi Arabian Logistics company SAL has announced the signing of Cargo Ground Handling agreement with the pioneer air cargo company, Emirates. This signing comes under the company’s strategy to logistically partner with the most reputed airlines with strong presence in the international arena.
SAL’s CEO, Omar Hariri commented: “This cooperation with the leading Emirates SkyCargo as a logistic partner will have a positive effect on the flow of cargo operations at all our main stations in the Kingdom. We take pride in this partnership which will boost the traffic of goods into the Kingdom and also cargo from our domestic airports loaded into Emirates’ aircrafts where we have placed all logistic capabilities and resources including equipment and manpower to serve our mutual strategic objectives.”
Hariri also highlighted the long track record of cooperation between Emirates SkyCargo and ground handling division at Saudia Cargo prior to the privatization of the sector when SAL has taken over all ground handling duties at all main airports in the Kingdom.
“Saudi Arabia is considered a market with high interest to Emirates SkyCargo and we have strong business relation with SAL. We look forward, through the extension of this ground handling agreement, to continue our partnership and offer a rich and value-adding logistic services to our clientele in this market. We are confident that our operations will run smoothly and seamlessly due to SAL’s unique handling capabilities, which will consequently, bolster trade and cargo operations between the two countries.” Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates said.
SAL provides premium ground handling services for multiple airlines at Saudi Arabia’s local airports and logistic support with cargo chain solutions. The company also connects all means of transportation with local airports to make a larger contribution to vision 2030 and transform the Kingdom into a global logistic hub.
Dahl, one of the leading wholesaler and trading companies in plumbing, pipes, ground work, cooling, property and tools has selected SSI Schaefer as a supplier for its new central warehouse to cover the Swedish market.
The new distribution center will connect approx. 2,000 suppliers and 36,000 craftsmen with HVAC equipment both through direct delivery to construction sites as well as through Dahls 70 stores from Kiruna in the north to Ystad in the south of Sweden.
“The technology at our new site is really pushing the boundaries, we will build an advanced warehouse and we look forward to a highly automated operation that will be located not too far from our current warehouse. This gives us the possibility to retain internal competence,” says Jonathan Mankowitz, Logistics Director at Dahl.
The solution from SSI Schaefer consists of a pallet handling area with a pallet conveying system to transport goods to and from workstations and a High-bay warehouse for storing pallets. Small goods are handled in a 24 meter high SSI Flexi shuttle system that will store both totes to supply the piece picking area as well as cartons for palletizing. Picking will take place at goods to person stations combined with palletizing robots to complete orders prior to shipping. The new distribution center will be located in Bålsta and will replace the current warehouse in Kalhäll as well as some satellite warehouses.
“The greatest challenge was to find the right solution for Dahl due to the wide and special product range and the high demands on ergonomics when handling these products. We have worked together with Dahl as one team from day one and the result is a one-of-a-kind warehouse with a high level of automation and some new and innovative solutions,” says Hans Ekström, Solution Design Manager at SSI Schaefer who is responsible for the project.
The SSI Schaefer system is planned to go live during 2023.
Digital transformation company’s SmartTrack system to secure supply chain
EVOTEQ announced that it will showcase its ‘Track and Trace’ technology SmartTrack at DUPHAT 2021 from April 5 to 7 at Dubai World Trade Centre at stand number 4C10. The company will demonstrate how SmartTrack can be applied in healthcare given that healthcare serialization is a major challenge. During its participation in the global event for the pharmaceutical industry, the company will highlight how the solution uses serialization and advanced cloud platforms to track and trace supply chain elements to enhance efficiency, reliability, and authenticity of the healthcare industry.
The current times have once again highlighted the need for a seamlessly functioning healthcare system that addresses the needs of hospitals, pharmacies, and consumers to ultimately enhance the quality of life. Against this backdrop, SmartTrack has been designed to ensure that all pharmaceutical drugs, blood products, and medical devices, entering the country’s borders are well verified, authenticated, and safe for consumption. By increasing visibility and trust across different industries including healthcare and pharma, it enables tracking of the entire product journeys, in addition to offering end to end monitoring and analysis.
Jihad Tayara, CEO of EVOTEQ, said: “The importance of global supply chain came to the forefront once again during COVID – especially the lack of visibility across the healthcare industry’s supply chain. On top of that, the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain is a growing problem around the world. EVOTEQ’s SmartTrack – a track-and-trace cloud-based platform addresses this challenge by following the flow of drugs and other healthcare items’ information right from the point-of-manufacture to the point-of-sale and the end-users. This streamlines the supply chain process to enhance operational efficiency and gives customers real-time information of the source of their products or services, thereby ensuring the safe production and distribution of products and services in a timely manner.”
Powered by blockchain, SmartTrack can serve as a crucial link in product safety, validation and counterfeit prevention by uniting all stakeholders against counterfeits, contamination, shortages and other vulnerabilities. Therefore, empowering consumers with the ability to validate and verify products across all critical points of the global supply chain. SmartTrack’s applications span a wide range of industries, however at DUPHAT, EVOTEQ will be focusing on its application in the pharmaceutical industry alone.
The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors today completed the transaction whereby Isuzu Motors acquired UD Trucks from the Volvo Group for an enterprise value of JPY 243 billion (approximately SEK 19 billion) on a cash and debt free basis. The strategic alliance within commercial vehicles between the two groups, aiming to capture opportunities in the ongoing industry transformation, will now also become operational. The transaction is estimated to have a positive impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income in the second quarter 2021 of close to SEK 2 billion and increase the Volvo Group’s net cash position by approximately SEK 19 billion.
The Alliance between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors is set to a build long-term and robust relationship. Alliance work is now entering the next phase to derive potential synergies in areas that will encompass but are not be limited to:
Forming a technology partnership, intended to leverage the parties’ complementary areas of expertise within both well-known and new technologies and creating a larger volume base to support investments for world-class technology.
Creating the best long-term conditions for a stronger heavy-duty truck business for UD Trucks and Isuzu Motors in Japan and across international markets by transferring ownership of the complete UD Trucks business from the Volvo Group to Isuzu Motors.
Exploring further opportunities for even broader and deeper collaboration within the commercial vehicle businesses across geographical areas and product lines for future urban logistics solutions.
Exploring cooperation in the areas of purchasing and logistics, leveraging common technology, as well as the geographical footprint complementarity and volume expansion.
The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors will establish a Joint Alliance Office, with facilities both in Japan and Sweden, which will be overseen by an Alliance Board comprising the Isuzu Motors President, the Volvo Group CEO and other key executives from the two groups.
The Alliance is agreed to have a minimum duration of 20 years and is intended to address possibilities and challenges of the logistics industry of the future, maximizing value and benefits for customers as well as for society.
UD Trucks’ revenues for 2020 amounted to JPY 261 billion (approx. SEK 23 billion). The business had a marginally positive impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income in the same period.
In respect of Isuzu Motors’ acquisition of UD Trucks, an additional amount up to JPY 15 billion (approx. SEK 1.2 billion) is to be paid to Volvo Group as an earnout subject to the performance of UD Trucks during the years 2021-2023.
Emirates SkyCargo becomes first air cargo carrier to deliver 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 50 destinations
In the run up to World Health Day (7 April), Emirates SkyCargo has become the first airline cargo carrier in the world to have transported more than 50 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines on its flights. The carrier has also transported more than 100 tonnes of syringes across the world to support the delivery of vaccines.
Since the start of international distribution late last year, Emirates SkyCargo has transported over 220 tonnes of COVID-19 vaccines, equivalent to more than 50 million doses, on more than 150 flights from manufacturing locations to 50 destinations on its network through Dubai. Overall, the carrier has transported six different kinds of COVD-19 vaccines.
Watch a video about Emirates SkyCargo’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution milestone.
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, said: “Emirates SkyCargo is proud to have reached the 50 million COVID-19 vaccine delivery milestone just ahead of World Health Day. As a socially responsible global air cargo carrier, our actions over the last year have always been directed at helping communities across the world, and especially those in developing nations, recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic. We have been leading the global air cargo industry’s efforts and working with our partner organisations in Dubai to rapidly distribute COVID-19 vaccines through Dubai to the rest of the world.”
Emirates SkyCargo has remained agile and dynamic throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, responding quickly to maintain international connectivity for essential goods across the world. The carrier was one of the first in the world to deploy passenger aircraft for cargo only flights in order to transport PPE, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and food. Over one year, Emirates SkyCargo had operated more than 27,800 flights and transported over 100,000 tonnes of essential commodities.
As early as October 2020, Emirates SkyCargo set up an EU GDP certified dedicated airside hub for distribution of COVID-19 vaccines at its hub in Dubai. With its sophisticated infrastructure and extensive storage capacity, Emirates SkyCargo positioned itself to fly in large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturing locations, store the vaccines in Dubai and then regularly replenish vaccine supplies to developing nations with limited cold chain infrastructure through its cargo flights.
In January 2021, Emirates SkyCargo joined hands with leading Dubai-based entities, DP World, International Humanitarian City and Dubai Airports to form the Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance to harness the strategic strengths of Dubai as a major global distribution hub for COVID-19 vaccines. In February 2021, Emirates SkyCargo signed an MoU with UNICEF to prioritise transportation of COVID-19 vaccines in support of the COVAX facility which is aimed at equitable global distribution of vaccines.
With its fleet of modern and efficient all wide-body aircraft and a network that currently spans more than 130 destinations across six continents, combined with the strategic geographic location of its state of the art GDP certified Dubai hub, Emirates SkyCargo is a key global player in the secure and rapid global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment, part of Abu Dhabi’s leading conglomerate – Al Masaood Group, has sealed a mega contract with Gulf Ready Mix LLC (GRM) to provide the UAE-based ready-mix company with eight units of UD Trucks’ Quester CGE 420 – 8X4 equipped with concrete mixer with a capacity of 12 cbm.
Quester is the first in a new generation of UD Trucks specifically developed for the world of heavy-duty transportation. It is designed based on the Japanese quality heritage with insights from the local markets.
The agreement is a significant milestone for Al Masaood and UD Trucks, as it formally marks their strong entry into the booming local construction segment. It is also the first deal by UD Trucks through its Abu Dhabi Dealer – Al Masaood – that involves one of the toughest superstructures in construction field.
As a part of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s holistic solution, the division’s sales team conducted detailed studies into GRM’s technical & commercial aspects in order to provide them with the Quester units that will fully support their needs and requirements. Additionally, the division’s after-sales team has extended support to the company through training and scheduling of consistent maintenance checks for the delivered Quester units. The training covered the proper care of the units to maintain their optimal condition and performance and the use of telematics system, which allows users to keep an eye on the fleet through easy monitoring and tracking of the vehicles.
Furthermore, Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment’s spare parts department was on hand to guarantee and secure the availability of parts, whenever and wherever they are required. Al Masaood’ s after-sales and services are renowned in the industry and are delivered in line with its commitment to enhanced customer experience and satisfaction.
Mohamed El Zeftawi, General Manager of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment Division said: “The deal reflects the local market’s robust trust in Al Masaood’s ability to deliver high-performing products and holistic solutions according to global standards. It confirms our commitment at Al Masaood, together with our partners at UD Trucks, to support customers in ‘Going the Extra Mile’ as we always promise. We thank GRM for its confidence in us and for the opportunity to provide the company with eight Quester units to support its strategic growth plans in the UAE and the region.”
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks Middle East, East and North Africa said: “Since the introduction of the New Quester reaching to 46 Ton GVW on 8X4 chassis back in 2016, we have been able to penetrate new segments that were previously only dominated by European manufacturers. The Middle East conditions are tough and very demanding with various rugged terrains and high temperatures and payloads. Consequently, before the launch of these models, we tested them in real conditions for over a year in Qatar to ensure the new trucks meet the needs of our customers. Today we are honored to have our partner in Abu Dhabi, Al Masaood deliver 8 units of the Quester – CGE420 – 8×4 equipped with 12 CBM concrete mixers to GRM”.
Eng. Ahmed El Hadidy, GRM General Manager, said: “Closing the deal with Al Masaood CV&E and UD Trucks has been a positive experience for us. We have total confidence in the capabilities of the new trucks and Al Masaood’ s continuing support. Since its establishment in 1998, GRM has been deploying the latest production technology in line with the highest quality standards. This collaboration is vital to our goal to expand our presence in the region as one of the fastest-growing providers of ready-mix concrete.”
Apart from Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles and Equipment Division’s comprehensive after-sales services, GRM also commended the Division for its integrated solutions with tangible and practical technical and commercial strengths and features.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed opens HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit with global leaders in healthcare and philanthropy
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed calls for the world to come together in order to accelerate the pace of vaccination globally and achieve full recovery
Together, with partners, the HOPE Consortium is developing the capacity to safely deliver 18 billion vaccine doses anywhere in the world by the end of 2021
The HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit, was opened today by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with a call to enhance collaboration in the world’s approach to tackle COVID-19 and ensure a healthier future for all.
The two-day virtual Summit, hosted in by Abu Dhabi, kicked off today under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the participation of acclaimed global healthcare and philanthropic leaders, decision makers, experts and senior government officials, to explore a unified global approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his inaugural address, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said, “Our destiny as nations is linked, as global health security depends on the well-being of all societies.”
Describing the Hope Consortium as a historic announcement that has added to the UAE’s efforts to combat the pandemic globally, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE, being a leading global logistics hub, has played a major role in supplying many countries with the resources they need to overcome the pandemic.
“We are moving quickly, utilising our infrastructure and logistics capabilities and the geographic proximity with Africa, Asia and Europe, to offer medical and food aid to many countries. Our HOPE Consortium has gathered its expertise to secure more vaccines for the world. The faster we can vaccinate populations, while ensuring equitable and fair access to vaccines in a cost effective manner, the faster we can overcome the virus and begin to recover globally. The UAE will continue to work with partners and play a leading role to accelerate the pace of recovery from this crisis.”
The opening ceremony also featured a welcome address from H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. Highlighting the importance of building partnerships to mobilise global resources in the fight against COVID-19, he said: “The Summit represents a critical moment for the global community to come together and develop new scalable solutions in our collective battle against the pandemic. Now is the time to build a broad network of world-class partners to safely deliver vaccines for the region and beyond. As the HOPE Consortium continues to expand its network of partners, we will also continue to advocate for the sharing of knowledge and capabilities.”
The opening session also featured keynote addresses by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), on ‘Coordinating a global response to mitigate the public health and economic impact of the pandemic’; by Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF on ‘Ensuring equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines’; and an address by Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation titled ‘No one is safe until everyone is safe: Uniting to vaccinate the world.’
Speaking about the importance of the Summit, Dr. Tedros said: “Vaccines are giving us hope of bringing the pandemic under control. But we can only do that if we use vaccines strategically to suppress transmission everywhere at the same time. The gap between the number of vaccines administered in rich countries, and the number of vaccines administered through Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) is growing every single day. WHO applauds the efforts of the Hope Consortium initiative led by the Government of the UAE. We look forward to working with you to frame a partnership in support of the Covax facility.”
The first panel discussion titled ‘Cooperation and Collaboration: The collective human effort to save lives and support global economic recovery’ brought together a cross-section of industry thought-leaders, that included: H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Prof. José Manuel Barroso, Board Chair at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). They each shared their perspectives on how the world has come together to respond to the key challenges of the pandemic through global partnerships, and shed light on their corresponding actions and learnings.
H.E. Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi said: “In the midst of a pandemic and as countries mobilise to cope with new waves, Abu Dhabi Ports and HOPE Consortium are ready to shoulder the support for the region, and the entire world. Together with our partners, we are developing the capacity to safely deliver 18 billion vaccine doses anywhere in the world. Along the way, we welcome new partners to join our efforts and our global goal, to turn the tide and stop the spread.”
‘COVID-19 Vaccines Pharma and Manufacturers’ panel focused on the global pharmaceutical research community’s historic achievement in developing vaccines in record time to save and protect lives. The audience heard from notable speakers including Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO Chief Scientist, and Stanley C. Erck, President and CEO of Novavax.
In the panel discussion on Abu Dhabi’s collaborative role in the fight against Covid-19, H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Health, underlined Abu Dhabi’s commitment to the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: “The world is facing a global health crisis unlike anything our generation has ever seen before. Abu Dhabi is now at the forefront in distributing the world’s vaccines through its partnerships and logistic solutions.”
Additional panelists in this session included Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the HOPE Consortium Executive Committee and Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports; Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare; Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, and Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of New Initiatives, UAE Clusters Unit, UAE Investments, at Mubadala Investment Company.
Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said: “The infrastructure, technology, and capabilities of Abu Dhabi Ports and our partners are key to making our collective mission a success. Since the start of the pandemic, Abu Dhabi Ports has risen quickly to the challenge and has built its logistics capabilities in a short time to the world class level it is at today – from our cold and ultra-cold storage centres to our specialised fleet of logistics vehicles enabling us to distribute large volumes of vaccines safely, transparently and effectively.”
A session themed ‘On the Road: From Production to those in need began with a panel discussion on ‘Ensuring Supply Chain Integrity’, that looked at the fundamental role of technology in maintaining vaccine integrity through all stages of the supply chain.
The session also highlighted the next phase of the global pandemic response, which includes delivering vaccines globally and how this challenge can be addressed through effective transportation and technology, including data-enabled supply chains and blockchain solutions.
Panelists leading the discussion included Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Maqta Gateway; Richard Ettl, co-founder and CEO of SkyCell; Jack Muhs, Regional President, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa at FedEx Express; and Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster at Abu Dhabi Ports.
The first day of the summit concluded with a panel session on ‘Mobilising global supply chains through integrated logistics solutions’. This session brought together a range of global experts including Robert Coyle, SVP, Pharma and Healthcare Vertical at Kuehne + Nagel; Martin Drew, SVP Sales and Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group; Thomas Kipp, COO of Aramex; Jean-Cedric Meeus, Chief of Transport at UNICEF; Tarek Sultan, CEO and Vice Chair of Agility; and Wesley P. Wheeler, President of UPS Healthcare, to discuss pressing challenges such as overcoming cold chain challenges, ensuring vaccine integrity during transport and overcoming network shortages.
Embracing automation and digitalization is increasingly perceived as the way forward in the present context to ensure viability and feasibility of logistics operations.
Simply stated, logistics automation is the process of harnessing computer software or automated machines to improve the efficiency of logistics management.
With a growing trend in pandemic times for (human) contactless operations and with social distancing the new norm, more and more companies are increasingly gravitating towards automation and mechanization of their logistics and warehouse functions
This refers to the wider tasks undertaken by supply chain management systems operated within a warehouse or distribution center. Identifying products through barcode or RFID technologies, automatic notification and real-time updates of freight are some features provided by logistics automation. Logistics automation process can help make a company more efficient and achieving better profit margins.
Like the use of Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS) to move products into and out of storage without human supervision or intervention.
There are other important benefits of bringing logistics automation within warehouse or distribution channels. Global Supply Chain engaged with Navin Narayan, Founder-CEO, ACME Intralog, a leader with an impressive track record in this sector, for the lowdown on the latest in the logistics and supply chain automation arena.
Global Supply Chain (GSC):To begin with, what are the core activities and specializations of the ACME Group?
Navin Narayan (NN): ACME has three major verticals–Industrial automation components, Factory Automation and Warehouse Automation. We are the largest warehouse and factory automation solution provider based in the GCC that provides comprehensive end-to-end automation solutions starting from design to manufacturing and the installation of material handling solutions as well as a dedicated 24/7 after-sales support team.
GSC: How is ACME evolving in the shadow of Covid-19? How have your priorities and directions changed during the pandemic?
NN: With the advent of the pandemic, we have seen an increased focus on automation. Previously, businesses would attempt to increase production or delivery capabilities by using additional manpower.
This would usually be inefficient and uneconomical and under the current circumstances, not viable and non-implementable. Businesses have now begun to turn to automation to improve profitability and increase efficiency. We have increased our solution portfolio to cater to these needs for both SMEs as well as large businesses in the region.
GSC: In these times do you sense of greater gravitation by companies and LSPs (Logistics services providers) towards automation / digitalization?
NN: We see manufacturing companies, e-commerce as well as retail businesses investing in automation to cater to the dramatic change in order profiles as companies turn their focus to B2C as well as omni-channel business models.
GSC: Do you see a greater focus and orientation towards technology going forward?
NN: Businesses have understood the need to invest in technology to stay ahead of competition. Customers expect quick and accurate deliveries. This is pushing companies to focus on improving their operations behind the scene.
Most leading operators are now offering an omni-channel experience and this cannot be achieved with merely investing in the front end. A lot of change has to be configured at the back end to ensure that customer expectations are met. Automation technology in intralogistics is the need of the hour.
GSC: How is technology and automation meeting working / operational protocols in these pandemic times?
NN: One of the primary advantages of investing in hard automation technologies is that they reduce the need of having a large manpower pool. With the current restrictions brought about by the pandemic, businesses that invest in automation technologies are able to scale up and provide timely accurate order fulfillment at a fraction of the cost, without the uncertainty associated with manpower availability.
Mandatory social distancing on the shop-floor is a lot easier when a large part of the process is automated.
GSC: What are some new technologies that have emerged in recent times that are essentially a game changer for LSPs in Covid-19 times?
NN: LSPs are looking at order fulfillment solutions that help in reducing costs per pick, improving picking accuracy as well as reducing fulfillment time. Though traditionally, LSPs relied on WMS driven soft automation, there is a greater emphasis lately on solutions such as automated sortation systems, good-to-person solutions as well as ASRS systems.
These have helped them reduce the manpower needs and reduce disruptions due to Covid-19 safety regulations.
GSC: What are your short and / or long-term expansion plans for the region?
NN: Our current plans of expansion include setting up our life cycle service and maintenance office in Saudi Arabia as well as opening a sales office in Germany to bring us closer to our customers in the EU.
Both these regions are active markets for ACME and we expect to be on the ground during 2021.
GSC: What opportunities in store and challenges do you foresee going forward?
NN: One of the primary challenges of the industry is the fact that new technologies are developed and adopted at a very fast pace. We will invest substantially in R&D to keep abreast of the technology curve and to ensure our solutions offering stays relevant.
GSC: An E-commerce surge as we are witnessing now is clearly a boon for your business. Is that the case with the ACME Group? Please elaborate.
NN: A large part of our current order book involves solutions that are designed to cater to E-commerce fulfillment. With the sudden surge in adoption of e-commerce in the region, businesses were left on the back-foot. As traditional distribution centers were built around the traditional model, many have had to retool existing facilities with new technologies
GSC: What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
NN: We see a larger uptake for automated solutions in intralogistics. SMEs are seeing the value of small-scale vertical carousel and shuttle technologies, especially since they provide for a very quick RoI of one to two years. There is also an increased focus on automated pallet storage solutions such as AS/RS and shuttle technologies.
With added focus on omni-channel experience, there is going to be more investment in automated micro distribution solutions. We are already seeing many businesses putting money into this as they build up their fulfillment capabilities for the future.
GSC: Are you planning to take on new partnerships and representations?
NN: We are actively working with partners to bring integrated solutions such as AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), robotics and cobots to the region. Our intention is to provide end to end solutions using new technologies in the world of material handling. We will be announcing some of these new partnerships shortly.
GSC: How big is the ACME foot print in the pharma / food / cold chain sector?
NN: A substantial part of our business focus is the pharmaceutical industry as well as food production and distribution. We provide End-of-Line manufacturing automation solutions as well as warehouse automation solutions to producers as well as distributors in the region.
GSC: How did ACME currently fare in 2020 and how does that compare with 2019?
NN: In terms of numbers, we have seen an increase of over 30% in revenue between 2019 and 2020. Last year was the most successful year for ACME. This has had a lot to do with the increased solution portfolio that we now have. Our intention is to continue adding to our portfolio in order to increase the breadth of our offerings.
GSC: What is your outlook for 2021?
NN: 2021 looks very positive and we are optimistic about the remainder of the year. At the moment our order book looks promising. We have a wide variety of projects that will go live, including a fully automated sortation facility for a leading hypermarket group, fully automated distribution centers for one of the largest retailers as well as end of line robotic palletisation systems for one of the largest dairy producers in Saudi Arabia.
We look forward to working on a few more exciting projects this year.
Coop invests in one of the largest automation solutions in the world with state-of-the-art technology from SSI Schaefer and environmental focus
Coop, one of the leading food retailers in Sweden, chose SSI Schaefer as their general contractor for intralogistics to provide a cutting-edge, energy-efficient and highly automated logistics solution for their new 77,000 m² distribution center in Eskilstuna, Sweden.
Coop’s new distribution center, strategically positioned in the heart of Sweden, will handle the distribution of goods to Coop’s 800+ stores around the country. The majority of the material flow will be processed by two highly automated robotic case picking systems for chilled and ambient products. The result will be a sustainable warehouse that will handle more than 600,000 units per day.
SSI Schaefer approached this challenge with the 3D-MATRIX Solution®, a unique system design that will enable Coop to live up to its goals of flexibility and efficiency and at the same time produce store-friendly pallets. This is possible thanks to the award-winning shuttle system by SSI Schaefer that supplies both case picking robots and piece picking workstations with goods in a programmable sequence. Together with the integration of robots, Coop will improve its whole supply chain, from the distribution center to transportation and all the way to the stores and their customers’ dinner tables.
As Sweden’s foremost food retailer and as the winner of “Sweden’s Most Sustainable Retailer”, the new distribution center of Coop will be directly integrated into the nationwide train network, as trains form a major part of Coop’s transportation. This approach leads to fewer road transports and a smaller carbon footprint for Coop. SSI Schaefer, as one of the leading global providers of material handling solutions, is an ideal partner for companies that pursue economically viable and future-oriented sustainable goals. Its sustainable approaches, which the company is presenting within the “50 Sustainability and Climate Leaders“ initiative, had been another important criteria for Coop to choose SSI Schaefer as long-term partner for this innovative project.
In order to ensure the maintenance of one of the biggest automation solutions in the world, SSI Schaefer, together with another partner and the Swedish education system is supporting the creation of a two year degree for automation and robotics technicians, so SSI Schaefer playing an active role in encouraging students and learning.
The terminal is being built in Eskilstuna logistics park and is expected to be in full operation during the second half of 2024.
Kloosterboer, one of the leading logistics service providers in Western Europe, commissioned SSI Schaefer with the supply and construction of steelwork for an impressive deep-freeze warehouse located in Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The logistics service provider offers innovative and sustainable supply chain solutions for temperature-controlled storage and distribution of food related products, such as fish, meat, fruit, fruit juice and juice concentrate, milk and potato products. SSI Schaefer has proven to be a reliable partner in past joint projects, which led to the awarded project.
The requirements of the British sustainability certificate BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) are adhered to during the construction. SSI Schaefer has designed the roof construction of the high bay warehouse for a future photovoltaic system for additional energy savings. The roof will be able to accommodate 2,700 solar modules.
With a storage capacity of 60,000 pallets in Cool Port 2, Kloosterboer will serve a variety of customers.
The construction of the steelwork has started in fall 2020, the completion is scheduled for summer 2021. The deep-freeze warehouse will be commissioned in January 2022.
CargoAi is launching new features to allow freight forwarder to assess and reduce the CO2 emissions generated by their business activities. They can now choose routes and airlines based on their carbon impact and calculate the CO2 emitted from each shipment. Monthly CO2 emissions reports are also available to allow clients to analyse their own impact and monitor improvements.
Freight forwarders who want to take a sustainable approach can now do so thanks to new features from CargoAi. As powerful decision-making and CO2 emission calculation tools, these features are highly sought after by clients at a time when sustainability is playing an increasingly significant role in air cargo.
“Cargo stakeholders have really become aware of sustainability, and carbon impact is a recurring topic in discussions with our clients. Through these new features, we wanted to highlight the efforts that airlines are making to reduce their emissions by allowing forwarders to choose their carriers on that basis. It was essential for us to take a position on this issue and to innovate, because it’s also another way of thinking about air cargo differently,” said Matthieu Petot, CEO of CargoAi.
CargoAi’s unique Flight Search module now gives forwarders access to the CO2 emissions for each airline and route, allowing them to choose their transport solutions accordingly. Also, the free universal Track and Trace system enable any freight forwarder to track their shipment instead of checking with each airline and calculate at the same time the CO2 emission of the shipment. Finally, the monthly emissions report means forwarders can analyse their carbon impact and monitor improvements.
Several months of development work went into building this complex calculation system, with impartiality the primary goal. As a result, CO2 emissions calculations for all airlines are based on the IATA RP1678 methodology, which is approved by the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC). The European standard DIN EN 16258 can also be used.
LogiPoint was established in 1999 with the objective of leveraging the economic potential of the Red Sea Port of Jeddah to create a logistics and supply chain hub in the region which would cater to the future needs of the Middle East’s largest economy. Today, LogiPoint is at the forefront of driving innovation and change for greater economic growth of the region.
Saudi Arabia is the largest of the GCC nations and contributes more than half the region’s GDP. As the world’s largest exporter of oil, and boasting the world’s third largest reserves of natural resources valued at over US$ 34tn, it is one of the richest countries in the world and the most robust and vibrant economy in the region. It is also the most populous of the GCC nations, and boasts one of the youngest populations in the world.
Geographically, the Kingdom enjoys a unique strategic importance straddling the global shipping routes through its ports on the Red Sea Gulf in the West and on the Arabian Gulf in the East.
Propelled by the revenues from its substantial oil and gas exports, the Kingdom has grown at an exponential pace over the past few decades, and is poised for accelerated growth in the coming years as the Government invests heavily in diversifying away from the oil economy. These investments are expected to usher in another round of rapid industrialization and development of the Kingdom’s mammoth manufacturing, transportation and service infrastructure.
The Government has laid out an ambitious growth plan for the Kingdom in the form of Vision 2030, which is a comprehensive blue-print for unprecedented and extensive investments in large-scale industrial plants and mega projects in energy, power, utilities, transportation, and telecommunication. At the center of this vision is the idea that trade and commerce must thrive and the Kingdom’s substantial human capital must be utilized for the nation’s growth through investor-friendly incentives and policy reforms.
Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Vision 2030 makes Logistics and Supply Chain one of the pillars of economic growth and development in the Kingdom. It has thus become imperative for the stakeholders in the industry to chalk out their own strategies and paths in such a way that they play their respective roles in attaining the Vision 2030, which envisages the Kingdom as becoming a global logistics hub in the years to come.
Jeddah
For centuries, Jeddah has served as the gateway to the hinterlands of Hijaz and Najd, the Western and the Central regions of the Kingdom. In the first half of the twentieth century, with the discovery of oil and the revenues from it, the Kingdom took an accelerated path to rapid growth and development, and quickly grew into a robust demand-driven economy powered by extensive public expenditure and mega projects. This, in turn, attracted millions of foreign workers on the one hand, and built the capacity, on the other hand, to host tens of millions of pilgrims every year. Jeddah benefitted directly from this dual windfall and evolved into the Kingdom’s commercial and cosmopolitan capital. Jeddah Islamic Port found itself thriving at the confluence of marine trading routes between the East and the West while catering to bulk of the Kingdom’s burgeoning demand.
Over the years, acting as the commercial hub and the principal gateway to Saudi Arabia, Jeddah and its deep-sea port, Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), have been instrumental in shaping and boosting the country’s development. By the turn of the century, the logistics landscape of the Kingdom was ripe for the birth of what was until then an untested concept in the Kingdom – a Bonded and Re-export Zone (BRZ) to facilitate value-creation via a more seamless flow of goods and cargo through the Kingdom’s premier port. The Kingdom’s first and the largest BRZ, LogiPoint was born formerly known as TUSDEER.
LogiPoint’s Leap
As an indigenous, home-grown corporation, LogiPoint is inextricably linked to the evolving logistics ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The company started out as an enabling platform for the logistics and supply chain industry in the Kingdom. It did this through providing the much needed bonded facilities and the value added services in the BRZ, but more than that it did so by acting as a liaison office amongst the many stakeholders in the industry, which included the regulatory bodies, the port authorities, and the customers, to help provide a collective understanding of the changing needs of the industry. In this manner, LogiPoint acted as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency and growth across the industry, and evolved to become the leading provider of next-generation logistics solutions in the Kingdom.
Internally, LogiPoint have invested constantly in gaining an ever-deeper insight into the needs of their customers as well as the requirements of the industry service providers and stakeholders. This has enabled them to anticipate the changing needs of the market and to develop strategies and build solutions which create greater value for their customers. LogiPoint have implemented automation and technology-driven innovations in business processes that make their services more customer-centric, more efficient, more scalable and thus more sustainable. These investments have also resulted in a significant increase in effectiveness, efficiency and productivity in their workflow. The company’s mission is guided by the principle that resilient supply chains are built through a flexible and dynamic relationship between the various stakeholders and that this is achieved through a constant commitment to transparency, reliability and second to none quality.
In addition to building and operating the Bonded and Re-Export Zone, a one million square meters logistics zone located within the premises of Jeddah Islamic Port, LogiPoint operates a network of integrated logistics parks and zones in the Kingdom, and thus by catering to an ever-expanding spectrum of clientele is helping transform the logistics landscape of the country.
The multi-award winning LogiPoint is a subsidiary of Saudi Industrial Services Co– SISCO, a joint stock company listed on the Tadawul, the country’s Stock Exchange.
Driving investments
With the aim of expanding its portfolio across the Kingdom, LogiPoint plans to invest considerably in developing various new state-of-the-art Logistics Parks and Economic Zones, while completing the ongoing construction projects in The Logistics Park (Modon Jeddah) in 2021.
Warehousing
The LogiPoint warehouses are fully equipped with sophisticated features such as: round-the-clock temperature monitoring with remote alert and battery back-up; redundant HVAC systems to ensure continuous operation; security systems with 24/7 video surveillance and alarms; epoxy-sealed floors to ensure dust-free environment; full GMP and GDP compliance; pest control procedures; quality control processes and many more.
Thanks to rapid industrialization in the Kingdom and an impressive track record of delivering reliable solutions of the future, the company is witnessing heavy demand for its warehousing solutions, both for the ‘Pre-built’ and for the ‘Built-to-Suit’ facilities. In addition, new buildings of about 55,000sqm are being built, which will be ready in 2022 and for which the bookings are already pouring in.
Cross-Border Gulf:
One of the landmark new services that LogiPoint introduced last year was the cross-border multimodal movement for shipments into the GCC.
Shipments originating in Europe and the Americas, and passing through the Red Sea, typically have a transit time of 8-12 days to finally reach their destination GCC ports in the Arabian Gulf.
These East-bound shipments from the Western origins can now be discharged in Jeddah and moved to their final destinations in the GCC via bonded trucking.
This helps reduce the transit time for the imports into the region by approximately 7-10 days and introduces unprecedented efficiencies for the regional logistics sector thus creating real value for the importers of fresh produce and perishables as well as other time-sensitive cargoes. On the flip side, West-bound shipments originating from the East can now be discharged at the regional ports in the Arabian Gulf on the East, and moved under bond to Jeddah for onward multimodal movement to final destinations in Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The regional exporters can now avail these value-added services to serve their export markets in the MENA region and beyond when they use LogiPoint as their regional logistics hub. LogiPoint is constantly re-evaluating its value-added services for its clients to see how it can bring greater new efficiencies, cost savings and better profits to their business and the cross-border trucking product promises to be a game-changer in the region’s logistics.
Export Distribution Hub:
Petrochemicals constitute the Kingdom’s dominant export, with hundreds of thousands of high-value containers exported annually to destinations all across the world. The highly competitive world of petrochemicals depends very heavily on speedy delivery of large volume shipments. In the past, this had proven to be a challenge, and the Petrochemicals majors had had to rely on international transit hubs to maintain proximity to their end customers.
In a major milestone accomplishment, LogiPoint recently concluded a key agreement with Aramco Chemicals Company (ACC) to become their cost-effective and scalable international logistics hub within the Kingdom. This was achieved through re-engineering the export process with extensive support from Saudi Customs, Saudi Ports Authority – MAWANI, and Jeddah Islamic Port.
The agreement helps eliminate the need to use an intermediary overseas hub for storage and onward shipping of ACC’s cargoes thus enhancing their ability to provide cost-effective solutions to the end customer. The cargo is now dispatched directly to the target market, ensuring greater efficiency through reduction of the export processing time from one week to one day, thereby increasing the demand and appeal for Saudi products.
Sea/Air and Air/Sea — Multi-Modal Transport:
The central and strategic location of the Kingdom lends itself to Sea-Air and Air-Sea logistics. Realizing Saudi Arabia’s immense potential as the multimodal hub through which a seamless Sea-Air and Air-Sea solution could be offered, LogiPoint collaborated with the regulatory bodies and the industry stakeholders to build a Bonded Multimodal Corridor between the Jeddah port and the Kingdom’s airports.
Following the initiatives taken by LogiPoint, it is now possible in KSA to import a shipment by sea in the first phase, move it under bond to the desired airport, and then dispatch by air freight to its final destination.
Similarly, air-freight imports can be moved to the LogiPoint Bonded and Re-Export Zone for consolidation before being shipped out by sea. This successful multi-modal transportation model is an important and ingenious development in putting the KSA on the world logistics map as a strategically located multi-modal logistics hub.
Bonded Express Facility:
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a seismic and irreversible shift in global business trends. Part of that shift is the unprecedented boost for the e-commerce and the express delivery segments. Both these segments rely heavily on timely delivery of orders via efficient, error-free, and high-speed logistics. LogiPoint recognized the need for a next generation logistics infrastructure built with the specific needs of these two industries in mind and set the ball rolling even before the world found itself grappling with the fall-out from the pandemic.
This is how LogiPoint introduced the Bonded Express Facility to cater to the express delivery industry and the e-commerce segment. The LogiPoint facility is the first of its kind at a Saudi Port and is dedicated to ensuring the speedy clearance and fulfillment of express parcels and e-commerce shipments. Through policies and processes designed with e-commerce needs in mind and an infrastructure built around the design, the facility handles and facilitates inbound and outbound express shipments by sea, air and land. It also enables the e-retailers and the online platforms to reliably serve their target markets in Saudi Arabia and in the rest of the Middle East.
These initiatives have already led to signing of groundbreaking contracts with global e-commerce giants Amazon and with regional and national industry leaders like Aramex and Naqel among others.
Value Added Services:
Over the years, LogiPoint have been offering a wide array of Value-Added Services (VAS). These include short-term storage, packing, co-packing, labeling, bundling, and distributing goods, duty deferment (important especially when VAT has become such an important part of costing for a supply chain), and clearance and delivery support.
There is also the Reefer Village, which boasts a Reefer Container Yard with 240 plug-in points, reefer cross-stuffing stations, and an ever-expanding fleet of trucks and gensets.
With an eye to the future, LogiPoint have invested into becoming operators of Logistics Parks and Economic Zones in the Kingdom and beyond. Jeddah Logistics Hub in Modon 1, Jeddah and the 314,000 sqm Logistics Park, South Jeddah in Khomrah are two examples of such investments, which will help create thousands of jobs directly and indirectly.
Additionally, there are exciting new projects in the pipeline, which will see LogiPoint expand their footprint across the Kingdom through strategically located new Logistics Parks and Economic Zones.
LogiPoint is committed to developing Jeddah and the Kingdom into the region’s foremost multi-modal logistics hub serving the global trade. In terms of life cycle, LogiPoint is only at the beginning of its journey, and is very well-poised today to play an ever-greater role in nation building and development.
View From the Top
Farooq Shaikh is the CEO of LogiPoint and laid out the way forward for the company clearly: “We see our role as enablers of trade and commerce by becoming a leading logistics hub in the region, one which creates real and tangible value for our clients in every step of their supply chain logistics. We will look to expand our portfolio across the Kingdom by investing in themed logistics parks catering to specialized segments of the market. LogiPoint’s focus will remain on offering second-to-none, high quality products and services to our customers by investing in the capacity and the IT infrastructure we need to meet the needs of the future”.
He underlined the role the company has played in nurturing the logistics eco-system in the Kingdom: “LogiPoint’s contribution to the Saudi market has been remarkable. Twenty years ago, when it commenced operations, the bonded zone was an unfamiliar concept to the logistics industry in the Kingdom. Today, the industry is able to plan, develop and deliver highly sophisticated logistics solutions to the market because of the initiatives the company has been pioneering and introducing over the years. In this way, we have attracted extensive new investments into the Kingdom, enabling the supply chain and logistics industry to offer cost-effective and efficient services to the market. ”
Dovetailing Saudi Vision 2030
LogiPoint continue to see their role as one of making active contribution to the ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ through enabling the logistics and supply chain industries as well as the Saudi Exports facilitation
LogiPoint is committed to enable Saudi non-oil Exports and the logistics in the region by going the extra mile in designing unique and innovative solutions for the logistics industry. “We work intimately with our clients to understand their needs, requirements and pain-points. Through this interface we identify, examine and build organic solutions that facilitate streamlined and seamless work processes,” explained Rayan Albakri Deputy CEO at Logipoint.
“Service, commitment, involvement and facilitation are part of the LogiPoint DNA and through our engagement with our clients, with industry stakeholders and with the help of our resources and experience, we excel in offering solutions that enable the smooth passage and timely delivery of consignments,” he asserted.
Air Freight Conference COVID-19 vaccine distribution with Unicef, Pfizer, Logista Pharma, GS1 and Lufthansa
Vaccine supply chains are speeding up. Still there are a number of challenges: air freight capacity, last mile distribution, production of vaccines and delivery to developing countries. During the second edition of the Air Freight Conference – COVID-19 vaccine distribution – on the 23rd of March high-level expert speakers will share and discuss their ideas and insights.
What does the distribution landscape of vaccines look like four months after the start in December 2020? What are the differences worldwide? What are the manufacturers doing to ramp up production volumes? What are the key challenges distributing to remote countries? And which solutions are developed for the last mile distribution?
Last mile
The biggest bottleneck is in the last mile in getting the vaccines to the actual points of dispensing. “This is currently a weak spot in the whole distribution model which needs to be sorted out as soon as possible”, Eelco Dijkstra, Managing Partner of Europhia said. “Vaccine manufacturers might argue that the current last mile is a responsibility for governments to organize as part of their own domestic immunization strategy. However, in the regular commercial model of pharmaceutical distribution, the dispensing of medicines and drugs to hospitals, pharmacies and other points of dispensing is typically organized by the manufacturers themselves. They also manage for their own product portfolios the forecasting, and the replenishment models. They have the tools, technologies and partners in place to manage supply planning more effectively through their own supply chain organization and with their logistics partners.”
Governments traditionally do not have the expertise nor the people in place to organize the supply chain for pharmaceuticals. “Given the enormous scale of this pandemic, most governments simply do not have the required expertise to manage the logistics. It is therefore imperative for manufacturers to step up and provide more support in the domestic distribution and take the lead when it comes to the logistics rather than leaving this to governments. In turn, the medical teams within governments can focus more on all the other areas related to the immunization programs themselves. Some of these other critical areas include organizing points of use, the planning of vaccination resources and appointments, medical administration processes, public awareness etc. Current final mile bottlenecks need to be fixed quickly and professional supply chain support can be an enabler in this process to streamline processes quickly”, Dijkstra said.
Last mile distribution is just one of the topics at the conference. During the event high-level expert speakers will share and discuss their ideas and insights. Pfizer, UNICEF, Lufthansa, UPS, Movianto and GS1 are just some of the companies attending.
For all professionals in vaccine logistics
From multiple studios there will be a professional stream with a lot of possibilities to interact with the stage, meet other participants one-on-one and gain crucial insights in this complex topic. The event is meant for supply chain specialists representing: shippers, carriers, logistic service providers, governments, NGO’s, (air)ports and other stakeholders.
LogiPoint have been declared winners of the ‘Supply Chain Hub of the Year Award’ at the prestigious announced at a gala event at the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai, UAE.
LogiPoint leverages its multi-faceted logistics infrastructure to offer an elaborate suite of high-end Value-Added Services (VAS) through its team of highly qualified logistics professionals. The company acts as a specialized import and export hub for traders, manufacturers and global MNCs operating in Saudi Arabia, while the LogiPoint facilities are also used as distribution areas and fulfilment centers by these clients. The LogiPoint teams are supported by robust policies and intuitive processes, which help the company to anticipate the needs of the supply chain industry and to offer solutions which create real and sustainable value for its clients.
The company made its claim to the ‘Supply Chain Hub of the Year Award’ by introducing pioneering solutions like Transit Hub Jeddah via Cross-Border Gulf Service and by facilitating Air-Sea and Sea Air Shipments through establishing a bonded corridor between the port and the airports. Moreover, responding to the market changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, LogiPoint set up the Bonded Express Facilities to cater to the booming e-commerce and the courier segments. It is this willingness to constantly evolve and change in step with the needs of the market which helps LogiPoint stay true to its ambition of being the supply chain hub of choice in the region.
Farooq Shaikh, the CEO of LogiPoint, believes that the company’s mission remains to enable logistics and facilitate trade and economic growth by acting as a stakeholder in the Kingdom’s growth:
“We are thrilled to win the Supply Chain Hub of the Year award. It is our stated ambition to be recognized as one of the leading logistics hubs in the region, and so winning this award is exactly the kind of recognition we seek from our peers in the industry. The LogiPoint trajectory aligns perfectly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and thus makes LogiPoint an indispensable pillar in the Logistics infrastructure of the Kingdom.
LogiPoint are a Saudi Arabia based Logistics Real Estate Company dedicated to enabling logistics and creating value for its clients through acting as a supply chain and logistics hub in the region. Starting off in 1999 as the Kingdom’s first and the largest Bonded and Re-Export Zone (BRZ) located within the Jeddah Islamic Port, the company has evolved to become an operator of Logistics Parks and Zones in the Kingdom.
10 start-up finalists from six continents to compete for latest supply chain innovations at Gulftainer’s ‘Future of Ports 2021’
Highly disruptive start-ups to showcase groundbreaking IoT, AI and Autonomous Drones, Big Data and Advanced Analytics, and Blockchain solutions that could redefine the ports and logistics sector
Top five start-ups will win cash prizes and the opportunity to explore the deployment or co-development of their technology with Gulftainer
Future of Ports Startup Challenge evaluated more than 2,000 start-ups from over 200 cities with the aim to shortlist 250 technologies set to lead the transformation of the sector
Gulftainer, one of the world’s leading privately held port operators, today announced that it has shortlisted 10 highly disruptive start-ups from six continents to compete for the latest supply chain innovations at its ‘Future of Ports 2021’ event. Marking the end of the Future of Ports Startup Challenge that aims to identify promising, cutting-edge startups with the potential to disrupt the ports and logistics sector, the event will bring together industry leaders and innovators to discuss the future of the industry before a live virtual global audience.
The selection process saw Gulftainer, in partnership with global innovation platform OneValley, evaluate over 2,000 applicants with an aim to shortlist 250 most relevant technology solutions from over 200 cities. Applications came from companies operating across various stages of maturity, while the focus of the competition was on earlier stage companies that are set to benefit from Gulftainer’s operational expertise through proof of concepts to further develop their product offerings.
The rigorous selection process successfully narrowed down the list to the top 10 start-ups that demonstrated the strongest potential while presenting their projects to Gulftainer’s senior executives and global industry thought leaders.
Charles Menkhorst, Group CEO of Gulftainer, said: “We are on a mission to identify the very best entrepreneurs and thinkers whom we can potentially partner with to redefine the future of shipping and logistics industry. The caliber of start-ups and emerging technology companies we have seen throughout the challenge has been truly outstanding. These innovations can have a lasting impact on the industry’s future, and Gulftainer is excited to lead the way. We are committed to developing long-term partnerships with top technology companies that will define the future of the industry.”
“Gulftainer’s incredible call to action for entrepreneurs with a vision to transform the port and logistics landscape helped us identify some up-and-coming innovative companies from around the world. The process has gone through thorough assessments and in-depth interviews. Therefore, it is not surprising that our list of finalists features the most exciting, and potentially disruptive, technologies emerging globally,” said Nikhil Sinha, CEO of OneValley.
The ‘Future of Ports 2021’ event provides the shortlisted companies a virtual global platform to present their groundbreaking solutions across IoT and Robo-Doctors, AI and Autonomous Drones, Big Data and Advanced Analytics, and Blockchain for a chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to explore the deployment or co-development of their technology solutions with Gulftainer.
The 10 start-up finalists are:
Artemis Robotics
Authenticiti
Creation Labs
Docktech
eYARD
IronYun
Moeco
Network
ThroughPut
Zainar
The ‘Future of Ports 2021’ will take place virtually on March 18th, 7 PM, UAE time/7 AM PT time. Apart from product showcases by the shortlisted start-ups, the event will feature talks from industry thought leaders on disruptive innovation and technology within the supply chain and logistics ecosystem, and what the future holds for the industry. Badr Jafar, Chair of the Executive Board for Gulftainer and CEO of Crescent Enterprises, the parent company of Gulftainer, will be delivering the opening remarks, followed with sessions by senior members of Gulftainer’s leadership, Nikhil Sinha, CEO of OneValley, and a panel of supply chain innovation thought leaders.
To learn more about the Future of Ports Challenge and Gulftainer, or to register to attend the Future of Ports 2021, visit FOP.GULFTAINER.COM.
Holding the widest flight network in the world, Turkish Cargo undertakes an important mission within the extent of struggling the pandemic by carrying UNICEF’s (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) Covid-19 vaccines and health equipment all around the world.
This successful brand, delivered 1.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine supplied by UNICEF from India to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in cooperation with global shipping company Kuehne + Nagel. Having 30 years of experience in private cargo transportation, Turkish Cargo successfully delivered hundreds of thousands of Covid-19 syringes belonging to UNICEF from Barcelona to Tunisia and Covid-19 vaccines from Amsterdam to Kiev, Tbilisi and Amman.
Having a unique service quality as well as the widest flight network in the world, Turkish Cargo takes an important responsibility in delivering Covid-19 vaccines to the whole world, and continues to cooperate with national and international authorities within the range of struggling the global pandemic.
In the past months Turkish Cargo has delivered China’s Sinovac vaccines to different destinations in the world, continues to carry many different types of vaccines and delivers healthiness. The successful brand, which protects the cold chain in the most ideal conditions with its ‘TK Pharma’ product designed with the utmost sensitivity in private cargo transportation and designed in global standards, transports medicines and vaccines to all over the world with its operations with IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) pharma certificate.
Creating a global pharmaceutical corridor among more than 400 destinations in the world, Turkish Cargo reaches more than 300 destinations, 96 of which are direct cargo destinations, and continues to offer 24/7 basis to its customers in its global network by making use of its fleet of 365 aircraft.
The 24-hour e-Waste drop-off station in The Sustainable City, created by EFATE, will provide a free and efficient e-waste management system for the community and the general public.
The initiative successfully collected 1.5 kilos of e-waste in the first week.
The materials collected in working conditions will be donated to charity. EFATE will also attempt to refurbish and repair the possible items and hand them out to people from socially disadvantaged groups.
Ensuring a smart solution for one of the most complex threats that the environment is facing, The Sustainable City (TSC), the Middle East’s first fully-operational sustainable community, has introduced a new electronic waste (e-waste) collection and management solutions for the community. The 24-Hour e-Waste drop-off station, created in collaboration with EFATE, will provide a free and efficient e-waste management solution to residents and the general public.
EFATE, UAE Based e-waste Management Company, has installed a container that is specialized in recycling and providing smart waste solutions inside the TSC, closer to the main entrance. Residents and the public can drop their e-waste at this station, where it will be collected and taken to a recycling facility and separated. Useful components that contain raw materials will be reused in manufacturing new products and useless parts will be crushed without causing any harmful emissions.
Recyclable e-waste including laptops, printers, tablets, mobile phones, CPUs, TVs, stereos, and other electronic items will be collected at the station. EFATE also offers free pick-up for large electronic items.
Not only recycling, but the drop-off station will also ensure the right re-use of the collected e-waste. After the sorting process in the waste processing facility, the electronics in working condition will be donated to charity. EFATE will also attempt to refurbish and repair the possible items and hand them out for free to those who come from socially disadvantaged groups.
Faris Saeed, CEO, and co-founder of Diamond Developers said: “In the past years, the level of electronic waste has seen an unprecedented increase. The world now discards approximately 50 million tonnes of e-waste per year and it’s a scary fact that only 20% of this is recycled properly! As a responsible society, we need to identify better methods and means of not just disposing of the e-waste but, most importantly, reusing and recycling it. The partnership with EFATE is one step towards this direction. We encourage everyone, not only our residents and neighbors, to come and drop off their unused and unwanted electronic items at this drop-off station so that we can divert that waste from landfill and make important strides in our mission towards a cleaner future.”
Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO of EFATE Said: “We follow the best practices in waste management and collection. And with the support of e-waste data, we spread awareness among our customers about the deeper impact that improper management of e-waste has on our environment. We are so proud to partner and share our vision of a greener future with a benchmark project like The Sustainable City.”
The new facility is a part of TSC’s continuous efforts to shape a brighter, cleaner, and greener Dubai. And by partnering with EFATE, a local company established by young Emiratis, TSC also underlines its commitment to support local small business ideas, especially the ones contributing to Sustainability.
Value chain partners in the Arabian Gulf join global efforts to address plastic waste
More companies in the region have adopted Operation Clean Sweep®, a global initiative practicedin over 60 countries across the world, in an effort to achieve zero plastic pellet loss to the environment
Major players from across the plastic value chain in the Arabian Gulf have adopted Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) in an effort to address plastic waste, the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, announced today.
Operation Clean Sweep®, a global initiative practiced in over 60 countries around the world, is aimed at eliminating plastic pellet, flake and powder loss to the environment. The initiative has gained significant momentum since its launch in the Arabian Gulf by GPCA in December last year. Today the program is available to all plastics value network partners, including petrochemical producing companies, logistics service providers, ports and port authorities, plastic processors, environmental service providers, traders and sectors involved in the handling of plastic raw materials.
GPCA members who have signed the OCS pledge, demonstrating their commitment to a clean environment, include Sadara Chemical Company, S-Chem, Qatar Chemical Company (Q-Chem), National Petrochemical Industrial Company (NATPET), Ingenia Polymers Corporation, Astra Polymer Compounding Company, RSA-TALKE, S.A. TALKE, Almajdouie & de Rijke, Aljabr – TALKE & Co., and Alfred Talke Logistic Services.
Despite the application of stringent environmental, safety and quality management controls, unintentional loss of plastic pellets can occur at all stages along the plastic value chain and represents a global challenge. While figures of the exact cost of plastic pellet loss in the Arabian Gulf region are not currently available, one estimate suggests it can have an economic and business cost in the tune of USD 1.5 billion every year excluding environmental and reputational damage among local communities.
Plastic production in the Arabian Gulf has grown tremendously over the last 10 years and by 2030, is expected to reach 38.5 million tons, growing by 14.3% from current levels.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “Over the last decade, GPCA and its members have excelled on par with peer associations in the adoption and implementation of leading global programs such as Responsible Care® and Gulf-SQAS, which have helped to improve the health, safety security and environmental performance at petrochemical producers and logistics service providers in the region. Building on this success, in just a few months we’ve seen adoption of Operation Clean Sweep® grow steadily across the region, which is a testament to plastic value chain players’ commitment to sustainable pellet containment practices, and in line with the region’s sustainability agenda towards addressing the plastic waste challenge.”
He continued: “With polymers having one of the fastest growing contributions to GCC chemical exports by volume and by revenue, investment in this segment will continue to grow in the next decade, as a number of new projects come on stream. With increased production comes the need for greater accountability, collaboration and transparency on effective and sustainable pellet containment management practices. GPCA will continue to work closely with its members to facilitate the move to zero plastic pellet loss to the environment by following global best practice, and effective environmental and safety controls.”
OCS is a product stewardship program of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division and Plastics Industry Association in the US. It is aligned with GPCA’s commitment to the Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, specifically focusing on area #6 – “to address marine litter at the source through plastic pellet containment”.
[1] Source: Reusable Packaging Forum, Chicago (2015) *Figures refer to plastic pallet and container loss within the U.S.
Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group today completed the transaction to form the previously announced fuel-cell joint venture. The Volvo Group has acquired 50 percent of the partnership interests in the existing Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co. KG for approximately SEK 6.3 billion (approximately EUR 0.6 billion) on a cash and debt-free basis.
The ambition is to make the new joint venture a leading global manufacturer of fuel-cells, and thus help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group have agreed to rename the company cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG.
The joint venture will develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems for use in heavy-duty
trucks as the primary focus, as well as other applications. A key goal of Daimler Truck AG and the
Volvo Group is to start with customer tests of trucks with fuel-cells in about three years and to
commence series production during the second half of this decade.
The Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG own equal interests in the joint venture, but continue to be
competitors in all other areas such as vehicle technology and fuel-cell integration in trucks.
In November 2020, the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG signed a binding agreement for the joint
venture. A preliminary non-binding agreement was already signed in April the same year.
Saudia Cargo has announced the signing of cargo agreement with one of the leading IT and logistics operator, Cainiao Network– the logistic arm of Alibaba Group – to support e-commerce operations between China and Europe by operating five weekly flights from Hong Kong to Liege in Belgium with Riyadh city as a connection point. These flights will form a sky bridge between Asia and Europe to cater to the high demand on e-commerce, which lately became the world’s No.1 shopping preference.
Saudia Cargo CEO, Omar Hariri, commented: “We are excited for this strategic agreement which will enhance logistic services between the two continents through the famous Alibaba’s e-commerce platform and its high traffic of online shoppers. This agreement is part of our framework to transform the Kingdom into an open gate for world trade and a bridge connecting East and West by leveraging its strategic location in the center of the world. Other promising partnerships will be coming up in the near future to reinforce logistic operations of Alibaba in both continents.”
“The global pandemic has revealed the urging need for cargo services due to the rapidly growing demand on online shopping. We are working closely with our worldwide partners to execute the most effective logistic solutions to guarantee a constant flow of cargo with punctual delivery.” He added.
Cainiao logistic services cover more than 200 countries around the world placing the company as one of the most popular logistic services providers for many retailers and consumers globally.
“We are happy to launch of collaboration with Saudia Cargo. Both our sellers and customers from China, Saudi Arabia and Europe will benefit from the new flights that will decrease delivery time for their parcels. Expanding our logistics network into new regions will also help us in building efficient global exports network. This new route will be one of the key elements to create seamless logistics and increase synergy between different regions”, – comments William Xiong, Cainiao’s Chief Strategist and General Manager of Export Logistics
Since the start of the pandemic, Saudia Cargo has announced several measures to ensure the continuity of its highly efficient logistic operations such as increasing cargo flights to many destinations in Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and USA to keep a regular flow of vital products and maintain the economic and commercial sustainability in the Kingdom.
With a fleet of 7 freighter aircrafts (4 Boeing 777 and 3 Boeing 747-400F), Saudia Cargo has adequate space and tonnage capacity to haul e-commerce goods on different routes, cared for by highly trained personnel who ensure the safest delivery.
About Cainiao Network:
Cainiao Network is one of the world’s largest IT, logistics and infrastructure operators. It is part of Alibaba Group, and one of the top three in terms of cross-border deliveries in the world. The company is developing IT platforms for marketplaces and sellers, automatic supply management systems, building internal and international logistics chains, and developing artificial intelligence for self-driving cars and deliveries.
About Saudia Cargo
Saudia Cargo contributes to the fulfilment of Kingdom vision 2030 through shaping a leading logistic hub and leveraging the strategic location of Saudi Arabia. For more than 7 decades, Saudia Cargo has been one of the world’s most dynamic cargo carriers connecting 900 destinations in 175 countries through its alliance with Sky Team Cargo, the world’s largest group of air cargo airlines. The company operates a fleet of modern Boeing freighters and with specialized state-of-the-art facilities, it is well recognized to transport all types of cargo, such as general cargo, high-value shipments, dangerous goods, perishables, and pharmaceuticals, including highly sensitive vaccines. For more info, please visit saudiacargo.com
Hope Consortium ushers in the age of blockchain to ensure safety and integrity of the global COVID-19 vaccine supply chains
Hope Consortium, an Abu Dhabi-led public-private partnership delivering large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines globally, is utilizing internally developed “mUnity” system to ensure full visibility, safety and security, and tamper-proof distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, despite the complexities of their transportation.
Developed by Maqta Gateway, Abu Dhabi Ports’ digital technologies subsidiary and a founding member of the Hope Consortium, mUnity is a proprietary custom-built digital system that employs blockchain technology that is being used to track and trace COVID-19 vaccine sourcing, storage, shipment and all related data in real-time at every step of the vaccine journey. The system features robust end-to-end visibility of every vaccine, starting from the manufacturing facility, to when they arrive at vaccination centres in the UAE and other destinations worldwide. Based on the availability of data, the system, has the capability to track individual vaccine doses up until the time of the administration of the dose.
Dr. Omar Najim, Executive Office Director at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, said:
“With the launch of mUnity, the Hope Consortium, from its hub in Abu Dhabi, continues to cement its position as a premiere platform for helping the world overcome the global pandemic safely and effectively. With the global demand already outstripping available supplies, vaccines are becoming not only a precious commodity from a healthcare value perspective, but also from financial and security point of view. mUnity will provide an added layer of protection thereby ensuring that vaccines arrive in the right place, at the right time, to the right people and in the right conditions.”
“Transporting, storing and delivering vaccines is one of the most challenging and specialized logistical processes in normal circumstances. With the pandemic, the Hope Consortium is taking on the added challenge of managing complexities of transporting the much-needed COVID-19 vaccines, due to their strict temperature requirements. Maqta Gateway’s solution allows all Consortium partners to maintain visibility and drive vital decisions on temperature integrity, demand planning and security of vaccines, wherever they are in the world.
Maqta Gateway has built mUnity to be a secure and flexible solution that can scale to hundreds of millions of transactions for up to the 18 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses that the Hope Consortium aims to distribute by the end of 2021. The system has the ability to adapt to multiple journeys, different vaccine characteristics, and specific stakeholder requirements. The Hope Consortium continues to present a prime example of how “team Abu Dhabi” with all its different public private and partners, continues to show the world the benefits of collaboration.
Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, Head of the Digital Cluster at Abu Dhabi Ports and CEO of Maqta Gateway, said: “mUnity is built upon the tried and tested digital technology that we developed originally for managing marine shipments and port communities. In order to manage the safe and secure distribution of vaccines worldwide, mUnity incorporates blockchain technology, which enables efficient management of data, transparency, and also provides sophisticated defense against the threat of criminal activity.
“With mUnity, Maqta Gateway serves as a key enabler of one of the world’s largest supply chain efforts of its kind to date, supporting the Hope Consortium in the timely and equitable global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The system has managed and tracked all COVID-19 vaccine supplies delivered to, and through, Abu Dhabi so far, and serves as an example of how Abu Dhabi’s public-private partnership is helping solve the challenges of the global pandemic.”
The journey of COVID-19 vaccines, from manufacturers to end users, involves navigating safety and security risks at every stage. Shippers, airlines and storage facilities all use data in different ways and various formats. The import and export of pharmaceuticals is strictly regulated and carefully controlled, and the rules and requirements vary according to the source and recipient country. COVID-19 vaccines are temperature-sensitive and have precise handling and storage requirements; and failure to comply can render them ineffective. Furthermore, there is a very real threat of nefarious actors seeking to profit from the disruption of vaccine supply chains, whether from hacking attempts, counterfeit vaccines or theft of data and supplies.
mUnity’s blockchain capability addresses all of these risks by providing tamper-proof real-time updates on all the storage and handling environment parameters along the Hope Consortium’s supply chain, including vaccine storage levels, temperature controls, stock levels, and quantities of ancillary supplies. Each transaction in the supply chain is documented on the blockchain, with security and privacy built into the system from within. This unalterable chain of data helps prevent the development of counterfeit shipments from hacked data and pinpoints any incidences of tampering during shipment. Thus, mUnity helps the Consortium ensure that every safety protocol has been followed from the manufacturing plant to their final destination, and that all relevant information about the vaccines’ integrity is intact and reliable. Furthermore, the data provided by mUnity is vital to addressing vaccine wastage, which is key to ensuring that large segments of the global population have access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The Hope Consortium, established to deliver billions of COVID-19 doses around the world by end of 2021, is a UAE-based public-private partnership comprised of six founding global and Abu Dhabi-based supply chain players. Immediately following its formation, the Consortium added a number of leading international freight forwarders including Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel, to enhance its logistics capabilities. Since its formation in November 2020, the Hope Consortium has already sourced, stored and distributed millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses from manufacturers to medical centres worldwide, with the entire process managed by the mUnity system.
Since its establishment in 2016, Maqta Gateway has efficiently processed more than 30 million transactions related to marine shipments, with full traceability.
Bridgestone Middle East has announced a new promotional campaign ‘Be Everywhere’ to encourage the UAE residents to discover the country’s landmarks while showcasing about the company’s range of 4×4 tyres which offer a superior on and off-roading experience. The campaign includes a radio competition that will run on both Virgin Radio and Al Arabiya FM where listeners will be asked to guess the location of Jeep Wrangler JL from a description provided on air.
Once the campaign is announced, the FMs will provide hints of the location on their social media pages. There will also be an additional clue provided on the radio stations’ websites as well as on Bridgestone’s official Instagram page ‘Bridgestone MEA’.
Commenting on the new campaign, Stefano Sanchini, Regional Managing Director, Bridgestone Middle East, said: “Bridgestone seizes the opportunity to engage residents of the UAE by prompting them to visit the landmarks in the country in a move to boost the local tourism industry. This campaign encourages people to re-discover the UAE while raising awareness about our range of 4X4 tyres that they can use for their SUVs and 4x4s during their trips.”
As part of the campaign, the radio competition will choose a total of nine winners that are being announced from Sunday, February 21, and who will then join the RJs live on Thursday, March 3 for the final round. The winner will get a brand-new Jeep Wrangler JL, while the daily winners will have a chance of winning Amazon vouchers worth AED 500.
Bridgestone offers three applications for its 4×4 tyres which cater to the individual preferences of drivers. These include Off Road, On Road and a dual range offering both applications. The Dueler A/T Off-Road range is designed for driving on more rugged and aggressive terrain. The On-Road range, which includes both Alenza and Dueler models, offer a dynamic driving experience, total control, and excellent steering precision. Bridgestone’s On/Off-Road Dueler H/T range not only aims for a comfortable ride with confident traction on wet and dry surfaces but also integrates technologies that help deliver durability on all terrains.
ECS Group, the leading GSSA, with its established presence in the region and strong partnership with the airline in over 20 countries, is supervising the management of cargo capacity via its subsidiary Globe Air Cargo.
Qatar Airways operates fourteen weekly flights from Dubai and daily flights from Abu Dhabi. In preparation for this much awaited recommencement of cargo sales and bookings in the United Arab Emirates, ECS has bolstered its local teams, with a dedicated team supervising the scheduled flights seven days a week.
Said Ehab Matta, Senior Manager Regional Cargo – Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Pakistan “We are delighted to be able to count on ECS Group, with who we share our values of service excellence and customer-centricity. Their perfect understanding of the airline’s processes and their excellent reputation in the region were key factors in our choice.”
For the world’s leading GSA, the recommencement of cargo sales and bookings is excellent news for the region. “We welcome Qatar Airways’ return to the Gulf region. At ECS Group, all the teams in place are fully committed and are ready to support our partner, Qatar Airways Cargo, as they recommence cargo sales and bookings” said Adrien Thominet, CEO of ECS Group.
The air cargo carrier is an important facilitator in the trade and transportation of food items across international markets, enabling food security while also supporting the livelihoods of food growing communities.
Over 220,000 tonnes of food items transported during the pandemic year across six continents
Specialised product ‘Emirates Fresh’ ensures that perishables retain their freshness during transport.
Emirates SkyCargo is underlining its commitment to the international food and beverage industry with its participation in Gulfood 2021, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition in Dubai between 21 and 25 February 2021. The event brings together a wide range of participants from the food and beverage sourcing ecosystem from around the world.
Emirates SkyCargo has participated in previous editions of Gulfood and has also successfully introduced some of its small business customers from around the world to major food and beverage sourcing companies at the event. This year, Emirates SkyCargo will also be inviting some of its significant logistics partners and customers to jointly present logistics capabilities at its stand.
Emirates SkyCargo powers an important segment of the global cross-border logistics in trade of food and beverages, transporting fruits and vegetables, seafood, meat, food ingredients and ready to consume food and beverage items on its flights across six continents.
During the pandemic year, Emirates SkyCargo continued the vital task of maintaining connectivity for food items, playing an important role in maintaining food security and providing a steady stream of income to communities exporting food and produce. The air cargo carrier managed this feat despite numerous challenges, including the severe restriction of air cargo capacity during the initial stages of the pandemic due to the complete suspension of passenger flights.
Overall, between January and December 2020, Emirates SkyCargo transported on an average over 600 tonnes of food and beverage items every day on its flights. The air cargo carrier helped bring in more than 125,000 tonnes of food into the GCC region helping maintain uninterrupted supply chains for food items during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the diverse food items transported globally on Emirates SkyCargo included cherries and salmon from Chile, avocadoes and berries from Mexico, strawberries and sweet potatoes from Egypt, green beans and pineapples from Kenya, salmon from Norway, wine and cheese from France and Italy, coconuts and jackfruit from Thailand, mangoes from India, blueberries from the UK, meat from Australia and New Zealand and many others.
With its global network spanning more than 130 cities and a modern fleet of all wide body aircraft, Emirates SkyCargo is well positioned to rapidly transport food and other perishables from one part of the world to another. With its specialised product ‘Emirates Fresh’, the air cargo carrier is also able to ensure that food items retain their freshness during the journey from origin to destination. Emirates’ flights facilitate an important trade lane for food exports between international markets, allowing food exporters to connect with customers in new and established markets.
Company set to launch new e-commerce services this year in line with business growth strategy
IBX Logistics, a leading global provider of transportation services with key operations in Dubai, has announced that it has recorded a 68% year-on-year rise in revenue in 2020. The strong growth has been attributed to expansion in global markets such as France and Switzerland, coupled with established partnerships and trade linkages as well as talented professionals to streamline and manage supply chains.
Equipped with an ambitious team, the company is looking to further expand its business this year with the launch of new e-commerce services and additional operations in other strategic markets, capitalizing on its strengths and experience in the freight forwarding/logistics industry as well as being ISO 9001:2015 certified by Bureau Veritas.
Despite the COVID-19 restrictions in place during 2020, IBX Logistics seamlessly handled global projects, one of which included managing 1,093 trucks for international transport in two months during the peak of the pandemic. The company’s operations in Switzerland included handling daily charter flights in a duration of four weeks, carrying over 600 tons of medical protective products being transported from China.
To meet growing demand for efficiency and exceed customer expectations, IBX Logistics has adopted a robust IT platform which integrates all its freight forwarding, logistics, and business management solutions. Alongside these services, its transportation and management solutions have been designed to meet clients’ needs in a manner which offsets its carbon footprint by planting a tree for every shipment.
In this regard, IBX has partnered with non-profit organization One Tree Planted to fund tree-plantings in countries around the world. Last year, the partnership was extended to Uganda where around 1,387 trees were planted on the company’s behalf.
Commenting on the achievements, Mustapha Kawam, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at IBX Logistics, said: “We pride ourselves on the quality service offered by our talented and well-trained professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic provided IBX the push it needed to convert new challenges into fresh opportunities by investing in futuristic technologies. The UAE logistics sector, which is valued at AED 220 billion and is expected to contribute eight per cent to the UAE economy by 2021, has been resilient during the lockdown period, ensuring uninterrupted supply chain to stave off any shortages of essential goods and medicine.”
Kawam credited the growth in logistics sector to the country’s free zones and massive infrastructure investments. “The UAE is rapidly emerging as a leader in transport and logistics innovation. The government of Dubai is working towards achieving long-term benefits from the sector with a strong pipeline of transport infrastructure projects, which is in line with the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030. These initiatives will work towards providing a boost to the logistics sector which will ensure sustained long-term success of the national economy,” he said.
IBX Logistics has established itself in the logistics industry within a short span of time, overcoming the challenges posed by restricted movement across borders during the pandemic. The company offers a range of services to ensure timely shipments for air and ocean freight, trucking, cargo insurance, warehousing as well as the supply chain management. For shipments that require multimodal transport, IBX provides global tracking to make the process as secure and flexible as possible.
Expansion of existing code share agreement to strengthen both airlines’ networks beyond Abu Dhabi and Bahrain hubs
Enhanced reciprocal frequent flyer benefits for Etihad Guest and Falconflyer members
Schedule optimisation and connectivity improvements on Abu Dhabi – Bahrain route
Developing a more seamless customer journey between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, have signed a Strategic Commercial Cooperation Agreement (SCCA) to deepen their partnership between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and beyond the respective hubs.
The wide-ranging SCCA, subject to obtaining applicable governmental and regulatory approvals, sets out specific actions for deepening and broadening commercial cooperation, building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the airlines signed in 2018.
The SCCA envisages a phased approach to closer collaboration between the partners. In the first phase, by June 2021, the scope of the partners’ codeshare agreement, first signed in 2019, will be significantly expanded. Etihad and Gulf Air will be able to offer up to an additional 30 combined destinations beyond the Abu Dhabi and Bahrain hubs, across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia.
The partners will work together to optimise joint operations on the Abu Dhabi-Bahrain route, with improvements to network connectivity over each of the partners’ hubs. The partners will also enhance their respective offerings to premium tier customers of Etihad Guest and Falconflyer, including reciprocal lounge access at the hubs and enhanced recognition through a guest’s journey, regardless of the operating airline.
Additionally, the partners will work together to improve the customer journey on Abu Dhabi –Bahrain, making it more seamless, regardless of the operating carrier, with enhanced and harmonised policies and products in areas such as baggage and ancillaries.
The 2018 MOU also provided for exploration of MRO, pilot and crew training, and cargo opportunities, which the parties will now re-visit in light of current market opportunities and company requirements.
The Strategic Commercial Cooperation Agreement was signed by Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, and Captain Waleed AlAlawi, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer.
Tony Douglas said: “This agreement reinforces the strength of the ongoing partnership between our two airlines. We look forward to exploring pragmatic ways in which the two carriers can increasingly work seamlessly between our two capitals, enhance benefits and customer experience for our most frequent travelers and further extend the reach of our joint networks beyond our hubs.”
Captain AlAlawi said: “Our relationship with Etihad Airways has always been strong and today we are reaching a higher level of collaboration with many more opportunities in the horizon between the national carriers of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. This agreement will empower both of us to offer a more elevated experience to passengers and widen their travel options.”
Girteka Logistics, one of Europe’s leading logistics companies, has decided to invest in no less than 2,000 of the latest generation Volvo FH trucks. Improved safety, increased driver comfort and reduced fuel consumption are among the expected gains with this major fleet renewal.
Girteka Logistics, based in Lithuania, have 15,000 truck drivers and 8,000 trucks, operating a vast network in Europe and Russia.
Ensuring high quality service covering long distances, fuel efficiency, safety and driver comfort are top priorities for Girteka Logistics and therefore the main reasons behind the decision to invest in 2,000 new Volvo FH trucks.
“The new Volvo FH optimizes uptime and fuel efficiency, and at the same time offers the driver a great working environment. With this investment we will contribute to increased safety on the roads and also cut emissions, due to the outstanding fuel efficiency. We are very happy to partner with Volvo Trucks on the journey towards zero accidents and reduced environmental impact,” says Edvardas Liachovičius, CEO of Girteka Logistics.
Volvo Trucks recently launched a completely new range of heavy duty trucks, including the flagship for long distance transports – the Volvo FH. Among the updates are a new driver interface, optional adaptive high beam headlights for increased safety, and improved fuel efficiency.
In addition, the I-Save version of the Volvo FH combines an extra fuel-efficient engine and advanced fuel-saving features, allowing the latest I-Save version to cut fuel costs by up to 10 percent.* Of the 2,000 new trucks ordered by Girteka a big part will be I-Save trucks.
“We have tested the Volvo FH with I-Save and discovered the big fuel saving potential, which is good for both the business and for the climate,” explains Edvardas Liachovičius
Girteka Logistics sees the mega investment as a logical continuation of an excellent 15 year long standing relation between the companies, an opinion that Volvo Trucks certainly shares.
“We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Girteka Logistics and are very proud of their decision to invest in our new state-of-the-art heavy duty trucks. This new generation of trucks cuts emissions and takes efficiency and driver experience to even higher new levels. I look forward to working together with Girteka Logistics on the way towards more sustainable transports, in all aspects,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Girteka Logistics has historically been financing most of their Volvo trucks using Volvo Financial Services and the majority of the 2,000 trucks included in the new deal will follow the same structure.
Production start of Volvo Trucks’ new heavy duty range is set for March 2021 and the trucks will be delivered to Girteka Logistics during the year.
The key challenges outlined in this assessment analysis by Eelco Dijkstra (Europhia Consulting); Franck Toussaint (Biolog Consulting) and Laurent Foetisch (Supply Chain Operations), relate to the production delays in ramping up the required production volumes and in the ‘final mile’ challenges in distribution.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the challenges and roadblocks towards streamlined distribution of available Covid-19 vaccines now needs to be met heads on. Not just with a clear road map but with an even greater sense of urgency to execute and deliver on getting vaccines produced and distributed to people around the world quickly.
Production Challenges So what are the key challenges?
First, annualized production capacity based on the production output figures announced by the vaccine manufacturers seems well short to deliver vaccines to the whole world in 2021.
Based on the above numbers, the current annualized production capacity comes to 9.3bn vaccines. This is annualized production capacity much of which still needs to be turned on in the first half of 2021.
Based on the production lag in ramping up to these volumes, experts predict less than 20% of the world’s population can be vaccinated in 2021 at the current rate of production.
Production output
Second, production output across all manufacturers is way behind what was promised earlier. In 2020, we were told that vaccine manufacturers were producing vaccines at risk whilst finalizing the clinical trial studies and awaiting approval for their vaccines from the regulatory authorities.
Vaccines are big business. The EU and some other governments this week have suggested suing companies like AstraZeneca over delays and shortages in delivery. Pfizer has reported a short-term drop in production. Others have simply not yet been able to ramp up commercial production capacity.
Many pharmaceutical companies rely on external capacity at CMO’s to beef up their throughput. Much of the fill and finish production capacity is outsourced. The vaccine manufacturing process is a delicate and complicated process involving a number of manufacturing steps often across various production partners and facilities.
In recent months, many manufacturers have had to reach out to sub-contract or partner with other pharmaceutical companies to scale up and create additional production capacity. This sends a clear signal that more production capacity is needed and that manufacturers should work harder and faster together to produce more vaccines from more facilities around the world. An example this week of collaboration suddenly coming off the ground is between Sanofi and Pfizer. Sanofi announced in a surprise move that it will make production capacity available to be able to start producing Pfizer vaccines by July 2021.This would increase annualized production by a further 100 million vaccines.
Distribution Challenges
The second set of challenges centers around the distribution of the vaccines. In December 2020, pictures of courier deliveries led us believe that the vaccines were being rolled out quickly at least
across some parts of the world. The sad reality is that the distribution process has not delivered what it
should have. President Biden called the coronavirus vaccine rollout effort on January 20 ‘a dismal failure so far’.
In most other countries, government vaccine programs have also seen a slow and rocky start. There lies the issue, the biggest bottleneck is in the last mile in getting the vaccines to the actual points of
dispensing. This is currently a weak spot in the whole distribution model which needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.
Vaccine manufacturers will probably argue that the ‘last mile’ is a responsibility for governments to organize as part of their own domestic immunization strategy. However, in the regular commercial model of pharmaceutical distribution, the dispensing of medicines and drugs to hospitals, pharmacies and other points of dispensing is typically organized by the manufacturers.
They also manage the forecasting, the replenishment models and have the tools and technologies in place to manage supply planning more effectively through their supply chain organization and
logistics partners.
Governments traditionally do not have the knowledge nor the people in place in organizing the supply
chain for pharmaceuticals. Given the enormous scale of this pandemic, most governments simply do not have the required expertise to manage any of this.
It is therefore imperative for governments and manufacturers alike to accept that the final mile bottlenecks need to be fixed and that they need professional supply chain support to do so quickly.
Recommendations
It’s now critical to learn from the mistakes made, put possible egos aside and to adjust existing distribution models quickly.
Typically, pharmaceutical companies utilize supply chain consultancy expertise to set up their initial distribution model of a new medicine. In fact, the distribution model of about 80% of all new drugs launched by pharmaceutical companies are designed with the support of specialized pharmaceutical supply chain consultants and not by logistics service providers or courier companies.
Integrating the final mile into the distribution model will require greater collaboration between manufacturers and governments. Although each country and government will face unique distribution
challenges there are a set of standard universal supply chain principles which require more thought.
One element is building more intelligence into the supply chain using data and demand planning tools to ensure there is more information to plan and manage the end-to-end inventory points and the whole replenishment model.
Another key aspect is thinking more carefully about points of dispensing to ensure more vaccines reach people more quickly. Planning the whole supply chain more holistically to ensure that not only the
vaccines arrive on time but also the other medical supplies needed such as needles, syringes, the dilution liquids, as well as the medical staff required to conduct the actual vaccinations. This too requires smarter planning solutions.
Technology and use of big data should play a far bigger role in the management of the whole distribution and replenishment model related to the Covid-19 vaccines. The pharmaceutical industry in recent years has invested heavily in bar-coding technology to improve visibility and traceability at item level. One key enabler would be in making greater use of this technology. It would also enhance
security around the supply of vaccines.
This barcode technology can easily be used to better track products at item level, including the consumption levels at place of dispensing and therefore help to better manage the whole distribution
process more dynamically. This will help manufacturers and governments with improved visibility
and insight on what is consumed per dispensing point to be able to better organize the replenishment model based on real demand and inventory data.
Having a centralized logistics control room manage such a replenishment model is imperative to the whole solution. There needs to be recognition that the Covid-19 distribution challenge will not
go away by itself and will not be resolved with well-intentioned but half-baked measures. Demand, supply, and inventory must be managed more holistically and more intelligently. It cannot be that the supply chain for this critical global vaccination program continues to be fragmented and disjointed.
This is a massive multi-level global, national, and local distribution exercise never seen before on such a scale.
The IVECO Trakker trucks are ideally suited to the mission at the Phibela agro-processing complex, which produces and distributes high-quality edible oil to the Ethiopian and East African markets. The 160 Trakker trucks are equipped with the Eurotronic automated gearbox which delivers lower operating costs
reduction and higher operational safety for the operator and superior driving comfort for the driver.
Bure town, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia, 7th February 2021 IVECO has supplied 160 Trakker, models AT380T38H 6×4 rigid trucks and AT720T42TH 6×4 tractor trucks to Phibela Industrial PLC, a leading company based in Ethiopia for edible oil (with 1.6 million liters per day), oil seeds crusher, specialty fats and oleo chemicals manufacturer. The vehicles meet the
Company’s very specific technical and operational requirements with their capacity to work on impenetrable, broken terrains, and tackle the constant stresses of the harshest conditions while delivering extraordinary performance. The Trakker trucks will be used to cover the route between Djibouti and Bure.
Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa after to Nigeria with a population of over 110 million. The country spends about 600 million USD annually to purchase edible oil from abroad, which amounts to 25 percent of the county’s foreign trade expenses. It imports 95% its demand from edible oil producing countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The cooking oil demand of the Ethiopian market is 507,191 tons annually, of which almost 95 % is imported edible oil. Most of the oil consumed is imported palm oil, followed by locally – produced Niger seed oil. Therefore, the establishment Phibela Industrial PLC in Ethiopia can significantly contribute to significant savings in the country’s foreign currency expenditure.
Phibela Industrial PLC covers 29 hectares of land leased from Amhara Regional Government in the industrial town of Bure (441km from Addis Ababa) and it is part of the Belayneh Kindie Import Export Group (BKIE) , which is also the assembler of IVECO Heavy trucks shipped in kits from Europe in completely-knock-down units.
Mr. Belayneh Kindie, CEO Belayneh Kindie Import Export, stated: “We have planned to supply quality food oil at a competitive price and offer variety, to hopefully penetrate the market soon since we have a quality and high demand in the area. The logistics of inbound raw materials and outbound finished goods will be operated with our fleet of IVECO Trakker trucks that we have chosen for their
proven robustness, reliability, performance and high service standard in the country over the past decades.”
Aerial view Crude oil tanker under cargo operations on typical shore station with clearly visible mechanical loading arms and pipeline infrastructure.
Lead contractor SEPCO selects Honeywell’s software-based control, power management, telecommunications, fire and gas safety and security technologies for the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services
Honeywell has been awarded a major contract by SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation (SEPCO) to supply connected control, telecommunications, safety and security systems for the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services shipyard being developed by Aramco in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia.
When completed, the complex will be one of the largest shipyards in the world. It will be automated using a range of Honeywell technologies designed to make the facility’s operations safer, more efficient and secure. The suite of systems will be integrated into the complex by SEPCO, the project’s main engineering procurement and construction contractor.
“Our global presence enables us to work closely with international engineering, procurement and construction companies, including our valued partners SEPCO, to deliver highly innovative infrastructure projects around the globe. We are proud to extend our relationship with both SEPCO and Aramco on this landmark development,” said Norm Gilsdorf, president for Honeywell, High Growth Regions, Middle East, Russia, Turkey, Central Asia, Customs Union and ASEAN. “Through the combined capabilities of Honeywell, Aramco and SEPCO, the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services is set to become one of the most advanced, efficient, innovative facilities of its type in the world.”
Honeywell will provide SEPCO with a suite of connected systems for the complex, including:
A portfolio of integrated, cyber-secure automation control systems that give facility operators complete visibility of processes across the site to reduce workload and improve efficiency. This includes Honeywell’s ControlEdge™ Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Data Concentrator, Safety Manager SC and Experion® Process Knowledge System (PKS) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
Integrated telecom and security systems, including local communications and network security systems, closed circuit television (CCTV) and access control technologies to help facility operators maximize on-site security.
Fire and gas detection systems, including fire and gas controllers and automatic smoke detection systems to help isolate areas in the event of an emergency and safely minimize facility-wide shutdowns.
“As one of the world’s largest contractors, we are proud to be contributing engineering excellence to the development of the world’s largest shipyard, a project that reflects our ability to deliver global-scale infrastructure and construction opportunities,” said SEPCO Project Manager Zhang Zhongxiang. “Honeywell’s broad portfolio of connected systems, which are capable of working together to maximize efficiency, safety and security, enables us to realize significant integration benefits for this complex and globally-significant mega-project.”
The King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services was inaugurated in November 2016. The maritime complex complements the growth of the Saudi energy industry and helps meet the development and diversification objectives outlined by Saudi Vision 2030. The complex will be a world-class maritime facility providing a broad portfolio of services spanning vessel and rig build, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and will establish Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s elite shipbuilding nations.
Active in Saudi Arabia for more than 60 years, Honeywell continues to play a vital role in supporting and advancing the Kingdom’s industries. In June 2020, the company announced a new gas detection equipment manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia – the latest milestone initiative in support of the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program. Honeywell also runs a series of training programs that aid the country’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy. This includes its long-standing relationship with King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and its Honeywell UOP University and TECPro career development initiatives to support Saudi graduates as they begin their engineering and technology careers.
Kazan Helicopters of Russian Helicopter holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) has received approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) to equip Ansat helicopter with the Mku30 satellite communication system. This option will provide helicopter passengers with high-speed Internet access during the flight.
This Ku band satellite communication system, created by MOST Satellite Systems, provides up to 2 Mbit/s Internet access at the coverage area of the Yamal satellites. Mku30 allows to provide uninterrupted transmission of large amounts of data during flights, organize on-board video conferences and stream high quality video in real time. Data transfer to passengers’ mobile devices is provided using a Wi-Fi access point.
“Ansat is a versatile helicopter with a design that allows it to be adapted for a wide variety of operations: from an ambulance to a VIP configuration with advanced digital services. Ansat equipped with high-speed Internet access allows its passengers to stay in touch even during the flight. The service will be useful for both discerning passengers, as well as doctors, police, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, who will be able to stay online to receive operational information,” reported in the aviation cluster of Rostec State Corporation.
The first Ansat helicopter, equipped with the new Mku30 satellite communication system, was presented at the 53rd International Paris Air Show in 2019.
“The satellite communication system will be installed in the Ansat helicopter at the request of the customer. It will be most relevant for passenger and VIP modifications of the helicopter. The ability to use the Internet during flights is another step towards improving the comfort level of Ansat helicopters,” said Managing Director of Kazan Helicopters, Alexey Belykh.
Russian Helicopters and MOST Satellite Systems signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of joint promotion of helicopter technology equipped with satellite communication systems produced by the latter during the International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia-2018. The agreement also provides for the development and implementation of after-sales service projects.
An upgraded Ansat-M helicopter with an increased flight range (up to 800 km with an additional fuel tank) took to the skies on December 29, 2020. The updated version comes with static stability, state-of-the-art avionics and modernized heating and ventilation systems. In 2021, the model will also receive 3-channel autopilot.
Ansat is a light multipurpose twin-engine helicopter. Its serial production is deployed at Kazan Helicopters. Its design enables to promptly transform it both into a cargo and a passenger configuration allowing transportation of up to 7 persons. In May 2015, a supplement to a type certificate for the modification of the helicopter with a medical module was obtained. Ansat is certified for use in the temperatures ranging between -45°С and +50°С, and in high mountains. In August 2018, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) approved a major change in increasing the capacity of several assemblies and systems of Ansat. In 2019, Rosaviatsia certified an increase in the airworthiness of Ansat’s fuselage to 16,000 flying hours. In February 2020, Russian aviation authorities certified the installation of an emergency floatation system to Ansat. Additional approval was issued for a major change to increase the airworthiness limitations for several major parts of the helicopter, making Ansat even more attractive to potential customers and increasing its competitiveness.
The Volvo Group creates business area dedicated to accelerating electrification
The new business area Volvo Energy will strengthen the Volvo Group’s business flow of batteries over the life cycle as well as the customer offer for charging infrastructure. At the same time, the environmental impact from electric and hybrid electric commercial vehicles and machines will be reduced by giving used batteries a second life in different applications.
“There is a great and growing interest for electric vehicles and machines among our customers. This is of course very positive as it accelerates the transition towards more sustainable transport solutions. Our ambition is to offer our customers the most competitive solutions when it comes to electrification, including batteries and charging infrastructure. With Volvo Energy, we are taking a holistic view of the entire life cycle, which benefits both our customers’ business and society as a whole”, says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO.
Volvo Energy will be a business area with full profit and loss responsibility. It will have both an internal role, providing batteries and charging solutions to the Volvo Group’s other business areas, and an external role, offering used, remanufactured and refurbished batteries to customers for use across different applications. Volvo Energy will also carry the Group’s responsibility for hydrogen infrastructure solutions for fuel cell electric vehicles. Collaborations with various business partners and actors across the ecosystem will be key.
Commercial vehicle batteries will be used for many years in the vehicle before they need to be replaced or remanufactured/refurbished. However, if completely new batteries are fitted to the vehicle, the used ones will generally still have considerable life left to offer, which makes them ideal for energy storage purposes in for example buildings or in green energy production. Repurposing these batteries therefore mean that natural resources are conserved.
“With Volvo Energy, we are further increasing our focus on this important area. We are also giving vehicle batteries a second life, which is both a business opportunity and a way to contribute to the creation of a circular economy and a fossil free society”, says Martin Lundstedt.
Joachim Rosenberg, member of the Volvo Group Executive Board and Chairman of UD Trucks, will head the new business area. Starting in February 2021, he will lead the effort to create Volvo Energy while also continuing to run UD Trucks and preparing the transfer of UD Trucks ownership to Isuzu Motors as part of the previously communicated strategic alliance between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors.
The key challenges outlined in this assessment relate to the production delays in ramping up the required production volumes and in the “final mile” challenges in distribution.
With President Biden’s new administration, it is expected that the US government will take a much more hands on and ambitious approach in tackling the Covid-19 vaccination distribution challenge.
This once in a lifetime event now needs to be met heads on. Not just with a clear ambition but with an even greater sense of urgency to execute and deliver on getting vaccines produced and distributed to people around the world quickly.
Production Challenges
So what are the key challenges? First, annualized production capacity based on the production output figures announced by the vaccine manufacturers seems well short to deliver vaccines to the whole world in 2021.
Based on the above numbers, the current annualized production capacity comes to 9.3 Billion vaccines. This is annualized production capacity much of which still needs to be turned on in the first half of 2021. Based on the production lag in ramping up to these volumes, experts predict less than 20% of the world’s population can be vaccinated in 2021 at the current rate of production.
Second, production output across all manufacturers is way behind what was promised earlier. In 2020, we were told that vaccine manufacturers were producing vaccines at risk whilst finalizing the clinical trial studies and awaiting approval for their vaccines from the regulatory authorities.
Vaccines is big business. The EU and some other governments this week have suggested suing companies like AstraZeneca over delays and shortages in delivery. Pfizer has reported a short-term drop in production. Others have simply not yet been able to ramp up commercial production capacity.
Many pharmaceutical companies rely on external capacity at CMO’s to beef up their throughput. Much of the fill and finish production capacity is outsourced. The vaccine manufacturing process is a delicate and complicated process involving a number of manufacturing steps often across various production partners and facilities.
In recent months, many manufacturers have had to reach out to sub-contract or partner with other pharmaceutical companies to scale up and create additional production capacity.
The new US administration has already indicated it will deploy, if needed, the US Defense production bill from 1951 to ensure that greater production capacity is made available to fight this crisis. This sends a clear signal that more production capacity is needed and that manufacturers should work harder and faster together to produce more vaccines from more facilities around the world.
An example this week of collaboration suddenly coming off the ground is between Sanofi and Pfizer. Sanofi announced in a surprise move that it will make production capacity available to be able to start producing Pfizer vaccines by July 2021. This would increase annualized production by a further 100 million vaccines.
Distribution Challenges
The second set of challenges centers around the distribution of the vaccines. In December 2020, pictures of courier deliveries led us believe that the vaccines were being rolled out quickly at least across some parts of the world.
The sad reality is that the distribution process has not delivered what it should have. President Biden called the coronavirus vaccine rollout effort on January 20 “a dismal failure so far”. In most other countries, government vaccine programs have also seen a slow and rocky start.
There lies the issue, the biggest bottleneck is in the last mile in getting the vaccines to the actual points of dispensing. This is currently a weak spot in the whole distribution model which needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.
Vaccine manufacturers will probably argue that the “last mile” is a responsibility for governments to organize as part of their own domestic immunization strategy. However, in the regular commercial model of pharmaceutical distribution, the dispensing of medicines and drugs to hospitals, pharmacies and other points of dispensing is typically organized by the manufacturers.
They also manage the forecasting, the replenishment models and have the tools and technologies in place to manage supply planning more effectively through their supply chain organization and logistics partners.
Governments traditionally do not have the knowledge nor the people in place in organizing the supply chain for pharmaceuticals. Given the enormous scale of this pandemic, most governments simply do not have the required expertise to manage any of this. It’s therefore imperative for governments and manufacturers alike to accept that the final mile bottlenecks need to be fixed and that they need professional supply chain support to do so quickly.
Recommendations
It’s now critical to learn from the mistakes made, put possible egos aside and to adjust existing distribution models quickly. Typically, pharmaceutical companies utilize supply chain consultancy expertise to set up their initial distribution model of a new medicine. In fact, the distribution model of about 80% of all new drugs launched by pharmaceutical companies are designed with the support of specialized pharmaceutical supply chain consultants and not by logistics service providers or courier companies.
Integrating the final mile into the distribution model will require greater collaboration between manufacturers and governments. Although each country and government will face unique distribution challenges there are a set of standard universal supply chain principles which require more thought. One element is building more intelligence into the supply chain using data and demand planning tools to ensure there is more information to plan and manage the end-to-end inventory points and the whole replenishment model.
Another key aspect is thinking more carefully about points of dispensing to ensure more vaccines reach people more quickly. Planning the whole supply chain more holistically to ensure that not only the vaccines arrive on time but also the other medical supplies needed such as needles, syringes, the dilution liquids, as well as the medical staff required to conduct the actual vaccinations. This too requires smarter planning solutions.
Technology and use of big data should play a far bigger role in the management of the whole distribution and replenishment model related to the COVID-19 vaccines.
The pharmaceutical industry in recent years has invested heavily in barcoding technology to improve visibility and traceability at item level. One key enabler would be in making greater use of this technology. It would also enhance security around the supply of vaccines.
This barcode technology can easily be used to better track products at item level, including the consumption levels at place of dispensing and therefore help to better manage the whole distribution process more dynamically. This will help manufacturers and governments with improved visibility and insight on what is consumed per dispensing point to be able to better organize the replenishment model based on real demand and inventory data. Having a centralized logistics control room manage such a replenishment model is imperative to the whole solution.
There needs to be recognition that the COVID-19 distribution challenge will not go away by itself and will not be resolved with well intentioned but half-baked measures.
Demand, supply, and inventory must be managed more holistically and more intelligently. It cannot be that the supply chain for this critical global vaccination program continues to be fragmented and disjointed. This is a massive multi-level global, national, and local distribution exercise never seen before on such a scale.
Europhia Consulting is an international management consulting company specialized in the logistics and supply chain industry in the life sciences sector. We operate global assignments for our clients. The opinions are based on the author’s own experience and understanding of the dynamics within the sector.
Eelco Dijkstra of Europhia Consulting has worked in supply chain and consultancy for over 25 years and in recent years has focused his expertise on the global pharmaceutical sector.
Biolog Consulting is specialized in Life Science & Healthcare Supply Chain consulting. From strategy to operations, we bring our expertise of hundreds of successful missions to our clients to make them deliver the right product at the right time to the right patient. The company operates globally and uses successful methods, with a pragmatic approach to project management, which always respond to client needs.
Franck Toussaint of Biolog Consulting has extensive experience in the life sciences industry in Belgium and internationally. Successful manager and supply chain management expert with a large experience in driving performance and change across organizations.
Supply Chain Operations SA, based in Switzerland, is a specialized healthcare supply chain consultancy firm created in 2011 to serve the bio-pharmaceutical and medtech industry. We bring more than 120 years of end-to-end supply chain expertise to our valued customers.
Laurent Foetisch of Supply Chain Operations has extensive experience as a supply chain executive responsible for managing a global bio- pharmaceutical company in Switzerland for more than 20 years. In 2007 Laurent managed the supply chain integration between Merck and Serono with the responsibility to create one central supply chain structure using common processes and tools. Since 2011, Laurent runs his own supply chain boutique consulting firm named Supply Chain Operations.
Europhia Consulting, Biolog Consulting and Supply Chain Operations are at the front end of global supply chain consultancy assignments related to COVID-19 developments since the start of the pandemic in working with governments, manufacturers, and logistics service providers. The companies have written multiple white papers on the topic of COVID-19 distribution. See also: https://europhia.com/covid-19-supply-chain
UD Trucks continued its growth in all key MEENA markets with successful reactivation in Saudi Arabia with a new local partner.
Truck brand set to launch a “Better Life” strategy in 2021.
UD Trucks continued its journey of growth across the Middle East in 2020. Despite the challenging business environment caused by the pandemic crisis, the Japanese commercial vehicle brand improved its market share in the majority of its regional markets, while also registering increased sales in many of the countries. Total sales across the year rose by six percent versus 2019, in a market that experienced an overall decrease.
The positive performance was built on the company’s continued, comprehensive and consistent strategy for growth, which is based on customer focus and satisfaction, a strong partnership with its regional partners and employees’ engagement.
UD Trucks’ full range of modern heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles, which introduced new features to the region, combined with a total solutions approach for trucks and services, were key to this growth, and will continue to play a critical role as the company pursues further growth in the future.
UD Trucks’ MEENA team demonstrated a high level of agility and resilience in facing up to the unprecedented challenges, placing health and safety first for its customers, employees and partners, as well as supporting its customers and helping partners to minimise any negative impacts of the crisis.
Against the backdrop of extremely challenging economic conditions, UD Trucks succeeded in almost doubling its sales in the key market of Saudi Arabia, whilst also growing by an impressive 14 percent in Qatar. At the same time, the brand maintained stable sales in other key regional markets, including the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Ethiopia.
With the confirmation of Zahid Tractor as UD Trucks’ new exclusive importer and distributor in Saudi Arabia shortly before the start of the year, 2020 was always going to be a transition year for the brand in the Kingdom. There was a focus on raising customer service standards and support to the highest levels, reflecting UD Trucks’ ambitions and Zahid Tractor’s long-standing reputation as a customer-centric organisation. The new partnership was marked by a series of celebratory launch events in Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh.
Simultaneously, UD Trucks continued to invest significant resources in East Africa as it rolled out ambitious new plans for its Kenya operations. CMC Motors Ltd, the local distributor, developed and expanded the brand both locally and regionally. The importer offers customers the new range of the Quester and Croner models, which deliver unique solutions for every application.
As the year developed, UD Trucks shifted its focus to take measures during the pandemic outbreak to support customers and business partners. Warranty terms were extended for customers whose contracts expired within the lockdown period to alleviate any concerns they may have had regarding vehicle maintenance and repair needs during these challenging times.
The pandemic has been a trigger for disruption in many industries and businesses. And digitalisation is a key for the adoption and acceleration of this disruption. As a smart-thinking, modern company, UD Trucks accelerated its focus on implementing a digital approach to stay connected and keep its partners informed of the latest news and announcements. Several systems were made available to partners, allowing unlimited access to E-Learnings and online module and virtual training sessions. Remote commercial and technical training sessions were delivered to over 450 participants around the region. Two virtual conference with MEENA partners took place, with strong engagement from all participants, helping to strengthen the UD Trucks family spirit.
With attention now firmly on 2021, UD Trucks is set to launch its “Better Life” long term strategy to demonstrate the brand’s commitment to provide a better life for people and the planet by delivering sustainable logistics solutions. The company will aim to have the lowest impact on the environment, be a leader in customer satisfaction, and provide customers with best-in-class trucks and services.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, commented: “2020 was a difficult year across all market segments with many challenges and uncertainties. Thanks to our customers’ trust and our partners and employees’ engagement, the solid performances we recorded have given us a lot of confidence and motivation to continue our sustainable growth journey. I would like to thank all my team at UD Trucks MEENA and all our partners in the region for their efforts, dedication and hard work in prioritising our customers’ needs and making 2020 another successful year, despite all the complications.”
Hedna continued: “In 2021, our focus will be on continuing to deliver our core business objectives by ensuring that the customer feels supported and satisfied at all times. We will continue to work with our local partners to ensure the right partnership mindset and the required flexibility to adapt to each market’s needs.
“Simultaneously, as a company with a long-term focus, it is essential that we provide visibility to our key stakeholders, including our customers, our partners, and our employees, of our long-term strategy and ambition beyond 2021 and the pandemic. That is why we will start implementing our “Better Life” strategy, which will only continue to strengthen our presence and contribution to the region”.
The Founding Shareholders of Red Sea Gateway Terminal Limited (RSGT), a privately-owned independent terminal operating company, have signed separate Share Purchase Agreements with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and with COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (CSPL) through its wholly-owned subsidiary Sound Joyce Enterprises Limited, for the sale of 40% equity interest in RSGT (with 20% each) for total consideration of SAR 1,050 million / USD 280 million. The aforementioned two transactions imply an enterprise value for RSGT of SAR 3,300 million / USD 880 million.
The completion of both transactions is subject to the approval of the Saudi Arabian Ports Authority (Mawani), as well as other customary approvals.
Having commenced operation in 2009, RSGT was founded by leading Saudi and international investors (Founding Shareholders), including Saudi Industrial Services Company (“SISCO”), Xenel Industries, and City Island Holding Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad (Malaysian conglomerate with extensive port operations).
Upon completion of both transactions, PIF and CSPL will become shareholders of RSGT (with 20% shareholding each), while the Founding Shareholders will retain the remaining 60% shareholding in RSGT.
RSGT will remain an independent terminal operator, focused on servicing its existing and future customers in the global logistics chain. The company signed a new 30-year build, operate and transfer agreement with Mawani in December 2019 (the “BOT Agreement”), which envisages the investment of USD 1.7 billion in automation, infrastructure, and equipment through 2050, in order to reach an annual throughput capacity of approximately 9 million TEU. Under the new BOT Agreement, in April 2020 RSGT significantly expanded its handling capacity having assumed the operations of the northern section of Jeddah Islamic Port (previously known as the North Container Terminal or “NCT”). As a result, RSGT’s annual throughput capacity increased from 2.5 million TEU in 2019 to 5.2 million TEU.
“Adding PIF and CSPL as shareholders will accelerate RSGT’s domestic and international growth plans. As the largest terminal operator on the Red Sea and in Saudi Arabia, we are committed to serving the growing requirements of international cargo and container services throughout the global logistics chain and to fulfilling our customers’ needs and the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program for infrastructure and port development. The transactions highlight the strong commercial proposition and service excellence of RSGT [whereas the new shareholders are expected to further strengthen our customer value proposition]. As an independent terminal operator, we thank all our customers for their trust, and we will continue tailoring our services to meet their current and future needs.” said RSGT’s CEO Jens O. Floe with respect to the transactions.
As the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, PIF is the economic engine of Vision 2030, with a clear strategy to drive the diversification of the Kingdom’s economy and become a global investment partner of choice. The development of RSGT into both regional and global logistics hub supports PIF’s mission of unlocking new economic opportunities across the Kingdom and deploying patient capital to support emerging sectors with significant long-term growth potential. RSGT will play a significant role in achieving these objectives, capitalizing on the country’s strategic location along the main Red Sea shipping routes.
Imdaad, a Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable facilities management services that enhance operational efficiencies of physical assets, has continued to support the UAE government’s battle against COVID-19 by arranging a special vaccination session for its team members. More than 1,000 staff members received the first doses of the Sinopharm vaccine during the nine-hour vaccination drive, which took place at the company’s Manzeli accommodation facilities.
A total of 17 government personnel were on hand to oversee the proceedings and administer the vaccinations, as well as provide a thorough consultation and support to team members throughout the process. The procedure included a rigorous health assessment, COVID-19 swab test, and post-vaccination observation for each individual. This event was the first of several that the company has planned as part of its ongoing campaign to promote the benefits of vaccinations among its employees.
Imdaad’s Group CEO Mr. Jamal Abdulla Lootah, who has already received the vaccine, commented: “We thank the government for making the vaccine available to citizens and residents at the earliest, as part of the UAE leadership’s vision to proactively ensure the safety and wellbeing of the country and its people. Imdaad is proud to be one of the first companies to actively participate in this vaccination program by encouraging our team members to get vaccinated and offering them convenient access to the government’s vaccination service. Since the onset of the pandemic, the health and wellbeing of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve have been our number one priority. We are confident that our continued efforts will not only safeguard the workplace but also contribute to creating a safer UAE and a brighter future for all.”
Serai, a network-based digital B2B platform by HSBC, has launched a traceability solution that allows apparel businesses to track cotton and other raw materials going into their product.
Businesses can use the new solution to trace order flow throughout the supply chain, manage supply chain risks and collect data for compliance needs. Serai helps businesses map upstream suppliers and track environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) commitments.
“It is critical for suppliers, manufacturers and brands to show and prove the origins of their products. However, it can be difficult for businesses to have full visibility over their complex supply chains as much of this data is currently fragmented and managed manually. Serai makes it easy for businesses to access and unify complex supply chain information from multiple sources,” says Vivek Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Serai.
Businesses only need to integrate information sources once. Serai then enables them to share this with multiple parties over a secure platform. The solution is customisable, able to accommodate the needs of each company.
“Serai combines multiple data sources into a single view making it easy for businesses and their supply chain partners to have an overview of information that they may not have had access to before. Not only does this allow for a seamless flow of information, it could help them identify gaps and inefficiencies in their current processes,” says Vivek.
“In today’s climate, it’s critical that apparel businesses take a proactive approach in tracing and being transparent about their product journey. Such practises will help them build a more resilient, sustainable and compliant supply chain.”
Serai’s ambition is to simplify global trade, with an initial focus on the apparel industry. For more information on the traceability solution, visit www.seraitrade.com/traceability
Making trucks matter when the rubber hits the road.
Trundling along the nation’s highways and road arteries and racing ahead of the competition, HINO trucks are gaining mileage as a popular commercial vehicle brand with a soaring market share that keeps accelerating.
HINO Motors Limited (HML), a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, was founded in the namesake Japanese city of Hino in 1910 and established as a separate company in 1942. Hino has a rich history in the automotive industry and is the largest manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses in Japan. Under the HINO brand, HML represents the Toyota Group in the global market for trucks and buses. Hino also produces Toyota-signature vehicles on commission, including the popular sport utility vehicle, the Land Cruiser Prado, and the FJ Cruiser.
Using the Toyota Production System to achieve continuing gains in productivity and in quality throughout its operations, Hino has adapted that system to its model line to offer customers the best possible products at competitive prices. Worldwide sales of HINO brand trucks and buses total about 100,000 vehicles annually.
Al Futtaim Motors is the national distributor for HINO in the UAE. Global Supply Chain recently conducted an exclusive interview with Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director, Al Futtaim-HINO, on a wide range of issues notably the surging reputation of the HINO trademark as the front runner, bucking trends and racing on as a dominant player in a very competitive marketplace.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly trace HINO Trucks’ origins in the UAE and bring us to current on how you are now positioned in the country?
Ramez Hamdan (RH): Here In the UAE, HINO is exclusively distributed by Al- Futtaim’s Commercial Vehicle Division, an AL Futtaim Automotive Group company, offering customers access to a well-established network of 3S (Service, Safety, Satisfaction) facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
HINO has become a house-hold name in the UAE market for commercial vehicles and currently enjoy the majority market share in the Japanese branded market segment.
GSC: How has Al Futtaim-HINO performed to date in the UAE in 2020 and how does it compare with 2019 and how has the pandemic impacted sales?
RH: HINO commercial vehicles have witnessed growth in market share reaching approximately the 43% mark in December 2020. This undoubtedly has a direct relation to the increased demand across the HINO product range by customers operating in essential industries and services such as Logistics and FMCG suppliers with uninterrupted operations despite the pandemic and lockdown period.
GSC: What is your projected outlook for HINO in 2021?
RH: Heading into 2021, the projected outlook for HINO remains positive and we have established solid plans and solutions to meet our customers’ growing demand through sales and after-sales activities alike, complete with dynamic financing options and effective after-sales campaigns and support.
GSC: In mid-September 2020 Al-Futtaim HINO delivered a major order of 200 trucks to National Food Product Company. How and why did this mega order materialize?
RH: Hino Trucks’ specification, low cost of maintenance, durability and excellent post-sales support ably complemented our offering and success for this order and as our light-duty trucks have become the preferred selection by FMCG operators.
GSC: Earlier this year 150 HINO trucks joined the Dubai Refreshment Company fleet. Tell us more.
RH: Our presence in the F&B industry has been increasing year-on-year, thanks to the trust of our partners put in the quality of our trucks and our ‘HINO Total Support’ after-sales concept.
The 150 HINO trucks have been customized to meet strict and rigourous quality, operational and reliability standards. There was a sustained period and process of protracted negotiations where a lot of parameters were carefully considered and evaluated. We strictly adhered to PepsiCo’s criteria and we were also mandated to provide eco-driving training sessions to efficiently harness the fleet, optimum utilization and enhanced road safety requirements.
The eco-driving trainings come as part of the ‘HINO Total Support’ in addition to helping reduce the risk of major road accidents, the trainings also help drivers optimize total cost of truck ownership, contributing to bottom line performance, improve fuel efficiency, minimize the cost of wear and tear, reduce service and maintenance costs as well as insurance premiums.
GSC: Hino is reportedly the market leader with nearly half of the light-duty truck segment in the UAE. To what do you put the growing popularity of HINO in the UAE?
RH: Al-Futtaim HINO which had increased its market share by around 300% in the past five years has been preferred mobility partner for many companies thanks to HINO’s unmatched Japanese quality and reliability and Al-Futtaim’s dedicated after-sales support.
GSC: How would you characterize the Al Futtaim Commercial Vehicles-HINO partnership?
RH: The association is a robust and strategic partnership built on values of an enhanced customer experience, trust and mutual support.
GSC: What is your range of commercial vehicles and which are among your top selling models in the region?
RH: The HINO line-up offers the widest range of trucks and the range of payload between the series ranging from 2.3 tons to 30 tons and 100 tons GCW, the line-up offers light duty 300 series trucks, medium-duty 500 series and heavy-duty 700 series trucks; and light-duty 300 series trucks are among the top selling models in the region.
GSC: What are your brand strengths and how are you leveraging these to gain a larger market share?
RH: Our strength comes from offering a transportation solution with higher performance Engine Euro4, Eco friendly with more safety features like ABS / Airbag / EGIS Cabin, with a higher service interval of 20,000 kms using Hino Engine Oil.
Also, the availability of a variety of chassis lengths with payloads for different body application are a determining factor. Add to this are other parameters such as the low cost of maintenance, durability and excellent after-sales support gives us a winning advantage versus the competition.
GSC: Do you customize vehicles for specific clientele?
RH: We complete customization requests through an approved body fabricator and at the very best quality and prices offered in the market.
GSC: Are you more optimistic about increased sales in the face of presently falling fuel prices & are you also exploring alternative fuels like hydrogen or hybrid engines (electric / diesel)?
RH: We are exploring Hino Hybrid engines. For example, the Hino300 Series hybrid truck typifies the solutions that will be needed and the truck was first to employ a Euro4 and EVV compliant 4L diesel engine matched to an auxiliary electric motor that is emission-free and significantly reduces emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.
The Hino300 Series Hybrid is projected to be our front-runner as the market turns towards eco-friendly transport solutions.
GSC: What is the vision for HINO Trucks in the UAE going forward for the short and long-term futures?
RH: Hino Trucks are known for their durability, versatility and its famed ‘Total Support’ after-sales concept in terms of service contracts and spare parts availability. The company’s growth has been based on offering comprehensive tailor-made solutions including genuine spare parts, service contracts, 24/7 service support and expert technical support, all of which promise stable and continued growth in a market that is dynamic, demanding and becoming increasingly environmental conscious.
Study shows more than 70% of consumers prefer cashless payment options for a major part of their monthly spending
Abu Dhabi-based innovative fintech enterprise PayBy has released its first study of the UAE consumer payments landscape, conducted in association with Kantar. The study included a diverse sampling of UAE consumers to evaluate their attitudes to spending, saving and modes of payment in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The PayBy study revealed that the numbers of the unbanked – those with no access to a bank account – have shrunk in the UAE. An overwhelming majority of the respondents (94%) use banking products or services in some form. This is slightly reduced to 87% among lower income groups and those earning below AED 5,000 per month.
According to the PayBy study, the majority of consumers have pivoted to cashless payments as a more hygienic, safe and secure option in the pandemic environment.
Across cohorts, the major spends of monthly income were on groceries (20%), house rent (15%), utilities (11%) and eating out (9%). The PayBy study found that cashless methods were by far the preferred option to pay for these major expenses: 72% of respondents used cashless methods to pay for groceries, 74% for utilities and 72% for eating out. Housing, however, was a notable exception, with more than half of respondents (55%) paying their rent in cash.
Awareness and familiarity with mobile wallets was high across different groups of respondents. In fact, more than half (55%) have used mobile wallets several times. Consumers cited the ease of access, convenience and quick transfer as key reasons for using mobile wallets.
The study also evaluated respondents’ feedback on the PayBy app. The response was overwhelming positive (98%). While nearly one third of the respondents (31%) appreciated that it enabled contactless payments, another key reason for liking PayBy was the free peer to peer (P2P) transfer to anyone in UAE – with nearly half of Indian respondents (47%) liking this aspect the most. Among higher income groups, P2P transfers were almost as appreciated as the microcredit facility (from AED 500 to AED 5000) offered by PayBy.
While the UAE moves towards becoming a cashless society and increased financial inclusion, two key reasons are responsible for the stubborn pockets of cash usage that still remain. Half the respondents in the PayBy study said they always carry cash on them. Paying in cash also allowed respondents to negotiate better discounts.
The PayBy study also highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has irreversibly altered the payment landscape in the Middle East. Cash payments have migrated to payments by cards and mobile wallets. To survive in the new normal, businesses of all scales will have no option but to swiftly digitalize, in response to consumer demands.
Major fleet deal sees ENOC take delivery of eight new C 380 Tractor Heads from Renault Trucks
Dubai’s ENOC Group has taken delivery of eight new C 380 Renault Trucks models, which will be used to deliver fuel to the Group’s service stations across the United Arab Emirates, the country’s leading energy player announced.
All vehicles are supplied through United Diesel, a member of the Al Rostamani Group, Renault Trucks’ exclusive authorised distributor for Dubai and Northern Emirates.
The purchase of the new trucks, which will enhance the Group’s existing fleet, is in line with ENOC’s plans to partner with leading global brands that offer customer-friendly, cost-effective solutions.
Truck characteristics
Renault Trucks and United Diesel will be delivering the highest standards of specialist after-sales support to ENOC, including 24/7 support, driver and technician training, and a comprehensive repairs and maintenance contract.
The Renault Trucks C 380 Tractor Head 6×2 with rear liftable axle offers superior driver comfort, exceptional reliability and optimal fuel efficiency, making it ideal for regional and long-haul applications. It is equipped with a range of features ensuring a high level of safety, for the driver as well as for other road users.
The cab of the C 380 is built around the driver. All controls are at the driver’s fingertips, while there is also a 7’’ HD LCD information display and seats with fitted red seat belts designed by Recaro. The design of the windshield and side mirrors guarantee clear visibility around the cab with minimum blind spots, essential for helping keep other road users safe.
Safety attributes
Other safety features include an automatic parking brake, EBS (Electronic Braking System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control) to help maintain route stability control in difficult conditions, and AEBS (Advanced Emergency Braking System), which uses a radar unit and a camera to detect an imminent risk of collision.
The LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System) alerts the driver when it detects the vehicle is unintentionally deviating beyond the lane markings, so they can react in time to avoid an accident.
Testimonials
“Working with reliable partners such as Renault Trucks and United Diesel will without a doubt allow us to enhance our operational efficiency and adhere to best HSE and industry practices,” commented Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC.
“The C380 is an ideal truck for fuel tanker applications, where a robust chassis is an essential factor in its selection, while offering equally unbeatable standards of safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness,” remarked Guillaume Zimmermann, Commercial Director, Renault Trucks Middle East.
“United Diesel is very pleased to be a strategic business partner for ENOC. We are confident that this important order will pave the way for a longer-term association with ENOC as a preferred supplier for future projects,” observed Mokhles Makary, General Manager, United Diesel.
The world’s leading cargo carrier introduced its sustainability project, WeQare, that consists of a series of positive and impactful actions in the form of chapters. These actions are based on the core pillars of sustainability – environment, society, economy and culture. They are being implemented at all levels of the cargo carrier’s business which is a real turning point for air freight and will make the cargo carrier’s operations more sustainable, going forward.
“We are deeply concerned about the legacy we leave for the future generation. As a leading cargo carrier, we want to make CSR a key strategic element of our business and want our positive actions to have a ripple effect. Keeping this in mind, we are proud to present WeQare, a project close to the heart of every Qatar Airways Cargo employee,” said Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways.
Last July, Qatar Airways Cargo launched Chapter 1 in its series of WeQare actions by providing the free transport of 1 million kilos of humanitarian aid and medical equipment to charitable organizations. Chapter 2 will be announced this month.
To commemorate this important programme, the cargo carrier also released a special logo. Its tree patterns symbolise life and growth, the environment and our society as a whole. The tree patterns are enclosed within a round shape representing the planet. All of these elements are united around a common or shared purpose – sustainability.
The cargo carrier’s employees are the driving force behind WeQare, a project that encourages cohesion and also provides a sense of fulfilment. All chapters launched throughout the programme are directly linked to everyday activities of the cargo carrier, its daily experience within the industry and its way of rethinking the business model, with sustainability as the main focus.
Maintaining its healthcare, medical equipment and vaccine shipments uninterruptedly all around the globe, Turkish Cargo carried the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccines (Sinovac), procured from China by the Ministry of Health, to Turkey. Loaded inside 17 containers equipped with dedicated cooling systems, Covid-19 vaccines are delivered to the officials of the Turkey’s Ministry of Health after having been successfully transported from Beijing to Ankara via a dedicated flight.
Turkish Cargo shoulders an important mission for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the world’s worst crises in the last century. Contributing to the continuation of the food and medicine supply chain, Turkish Cargo, on top of its considerable flight network power, increased its capacity by 30 percent. Successful brand enhanced its cold chain shipment scale to 25 thousand tons per month thanks to the capacity to satisfy additional 150 aircraft pallets, reinforcing its capability for carrying vaccines around the world.
Holding the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) pharma certificate, Turkish Cargo, maintains the cold chain at the optimal conditions with its “TK Pharma” product which was designed for carrying pharmaceuticals such as medicine and vaccines at global standards. Maintaining its continuous dialog with the pharmaceutical manufacturers, forwarders, airports, ground handling companies and the national authorities, flag carrier is capable of satisfying a wide range of requirements of the pharmaceutical manufacturers by making use of dedicatedly cooled containers and means such as dry ice for the shipments at ultra-frozen range (-70 ° C).
Turkish Cargo, which creates a global pharmaceutical corridor between more than 400 destinations by transporting pharmaceuticals to the key and certificated destinations such as Mumbai, Brussels, Istanbul, Singapore, Dubai, Basel, London and Amsterdam, reaches more than 300 destinations, 96 of which are direct cargo destinations, and continues to offer service on 24/7 basis to its customers in its global network by making use of its fleet of 365 aircraft.
In recognition of the invaluable contribution by the healthcare ecosystem, Emirates SkyCargo transports the vaccine free of charge
Vaccine doses flown, offloaded and cleared on priority basis on arrival in Dubai at dedicated Emirates SkyPharma facility
Emirates SkyCargo has notched yet another milestone by flying in COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech to the UAE for the first time for the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The vaccines were transported from Brussels on Emirates flight EK 182 on 22 December 2020, arriving at Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 22.15 local time.
Watch a video of the vaccines arriving in Dubai here.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Group said: “Emirates is proud to be transporting the first batch of Pfizer vaccines for COVID-19 into the UAE for the Dubai Health Authority. Our healthcare ecosystem has played an absolutely critical role in every step of the fight against COVID-19. I would like to thank everyone who has worked unceasingly over the last year to protect the lives of those most vulnerable against the disease. In recognition of their immense contribution for the wellbeing of everyone in the UAE, it has been our honour to transport these vaccines free of charge on our flight.”
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo said: “At Emirates SkyCargo we are doing our part to join Dubai’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the effective management of the pandemic by Dubai’s visionary leadership, the city has retained its position as a global logistical hub for connecting vital cargo including PPE, medical supplies, vaccines, food and other essential items. Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world’s largest airside hub dedicated to distributing COVID-19 vaccines and we stand ready to support not just Dubai, but countries around the world, including markets with limited cool chain infrastructure with our advanced capabilities. By transporting COVID-19 vaccines across our extensive network, we look forward to helping people around the world get back on their feet after the devastating impact of the pandemic.”
On arrival at DXB, the containers with the vaccines were unloaded on priority from the aircraft and then taken to Emirates SkyCargo’s dedicated pharma facility Emirates SkyPharma to await clearance for delivery.
ABU DHABI HOPE CONSORTIUM EXPANDS ITS OFFERING THROUGH FOUR MAJOR PARTNERSHIPS COVERING 170 COUNTRIES
Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel among early freight forwarder partners onboarded to deliver billions of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses by end of 2021
The four companies involved in the Hope Consortium cover 80% of the world’s countries and transported over four million tons of air freight cargo globally last year
The newly-launched Hope Consortium, a UAE-based public-private partnership, has bolstered its distribution reach following a strategic agreement with leading international freight forwarders. The latest consortium partners, which include Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel, will help address the different steps of the logistical challenge, including ‘last mile’, with a capacity of billions of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses by the end of 2021.
Spearheaded by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium appointed these global transport companies based on their expert abilities and reach to safely and effectively deliver vaccine doses under cold and ultra-cold conditions (temperature bands 2-8° C, -20° C and -80° C) between transportation hubs, warehouses, medical facilities and other final destinations in over 170 countries.
Representing the top global and Abu Dhabi supply chain solution players, the Hope Consortium consists of Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Ports, Rafed – the healthcare purchasing arm of Abu Dhabi-based ADQ and Switzerland’s award-winning SkyCell, which develops next-generation, temperature-controlled logistics containers for the pharmaceutical industry.
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Alkaabi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Hope Consortium’s success relies upon the collaboration of public sector entities and leading private sector companies across the global logistics supply chain. The addition of Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel provides solid support and expertise to address multiple challenges, including the ‘last mile’ vaccine distribution challenge. This partnership demonstrates the unrivalled global strength of Hope Consortium.”
“The Abu Dhabi-backed Hope Consortium has quickly and effectively garnered the attention and support of the world’s leading logistics players. Today’s announcement is testament to the sector’s ambition to overcome the complex challenges inherent in transporting sensitive cargo of such scale across varying geographies around the world.”
Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group, added: “The inclusion of leading freight forwarders will further strengthen the Hope Consortium proposition and elevate our global capabilities. Etihad Cargo’s strong existing partnerships with these entities, coupled with our experience in the shipment of temperature-sensitive cargo, will streamline our approach and add further confidence to a visionary collaboration. We are proud to be one of the first airlines to embark on a project of this scale.”
Agility is a global logistics company with operations in more than 100 countries. It is one of the world’s top freight forwarding and contract logistics providers, and a leader and investor in technology to enhance supply chain efficiency. Agility is a market-leader in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners and developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, with more than 3 million square metres of warehousing and light industrial-facilities.
H.E. Khadim Al Darei, Chairman of Agility Abu Dhabi, said: “As a strategic partner, Agility Abu Dhabi is committed to help drive Abu Dhabi’s growth vision. During the early months of COVID-19, Agility supported projects related to food security and medical equipment supply chain. Through the Hope Consortium, we look forward to utilizing our global logistics footprint and warehousing network to make a difference on a global scale.”
Tarek Sultan, Agility Vice Chairman, said: “SARS-CoV2 vaccine logistics will demand specialized handling expertise for pharma, cold-chain infrastructure and storage, an emerging markets footprint and the digital capabilities to manage advanced tracking and visibility – all areas Agility has made long-term investments in. Agility is honoured to be a global contributor to the Hope Consortium and eager to help tackle one of the great logistics challenges of our time.”
Aramex is a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions. The Company’s breadth of services, including International and Domestic Express Delivery, Freight-forwarding, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, positions it as an important player offering innovative and technology-enabled logistics solutions for the healthcare sector.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of Aramex, expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts exerted by the wise leadership in combating the pandemic and utilising Abu Dhabi’s leading position as a trade and logistics hub to best serve humanity. He said, “Aramex is proud to be a trusted partner playing a leading role in the worldwide distribution of vital SARS-CoV2 vaccines. Our global operating network across over 65 countries, expertise in providing logistics and transportation solution across the value chain – from laboratories to healthcare facility – and our state-of-the-art facilities – from warehouse to van fleets – puts us in a very strong position to be a reliable partner in the Hope Consortium. Our part of the promise is to help deliver a portion of the billions of vaccine doses to their target populations on-time and in accordance with the world’s most stringent health and safety standards.”
Bashar Obeid, CEO of Aramex, said: “We are privileged to be supporting health authorities in the global fight against COVID-19. Aramex has the operational capabilities and expertise underpinned by technology-enabled infrastructure and skilled manpower to carry out this immense and crucial endeavour in an efficient and timely manner. Additionally, we have been investing to ramp up our last mile infrastructure to include temperature-controlled warehouses and vehicles to ensure safe handling of pharmaceuticals including vaccines. We are fully committed to this partnership and we look forward to working alongside our partners and contributing collectively to achieving the UAE’s aim to responsibly supply the vaccine globally.”
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, headquartered in Germany, has a global network of around 500 branches in more than 173 countries. The full-service logistics provider has a 150-year history specializing in supply chain solutions for key industries, of which Healthcare Logistics is one of its leading vertical solutions.
Reiner Heiken, Chief Executive Officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, said: “The pharma and healthcare industry has never been more important than it is today. To ensure that vital products such as vaccines and other life-saving pharmaceutical products are handled with the highest integrity and safety, we have globally established Hellmann Healthcare Logistics. People, processes, infrastructure and digitalization are the foundation of our healthcare network and enable us to offer compliant, transparent and innovative transportation and distribution solutions. Combining a risk-based approach and integration of secured digital solutions into supply chains, Hellmann offers qualified end-to-end transport with capabilities of real-time and proactive intervention.”
He added: “In the Middle East, Hellmann Healthcare Logistics gained a leadership position by operating a proven-and-tested hub concept for more than a decade, using UAE healthcare warehouses as distribution platforms for the region. Our specialized regional and global experience will be complimentary to the strength of the Hope Consortium partners. Together we stand ready to support the UAE and Abu Dhabi Governments in leading efforts for the global distribution of the SARS-CoV2 vaccines.”
With over 78,000 employees at 1,400 locations in over 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world’s leading logistics companies. In 2019, the company moved 4.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by sea freight, 1.6 million tons by air freight, operated 32,500 truck departures a day in Europe and managed 11.4 million square metres of logistics and warehousing space.
Robert Coyle, Senior Vice President, Pharma & Healthcare Strategy, at Kuehne+Nagel, noted: “As one of the global leaders in Pharma & Healthcare logistics, Kuehne+Nagel have the capacity, the ability and responsibility to facilitate the global distribution of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and supporting materials with global stakeholders. By joining Hope Consortium, we bring in the Kuehne+Nagel CEIV accredited global network of cool facilities, long-standing experience of large vaccine shipments and dedicated Pharma and Healthcare specialists that will ensure fast, safe and secure transportation. We will leverage our unique strengths in the vaccine supply chain and facilitate vaccine availability across the world. We will make it happen.”
New additions equipped with advanced safety features
Tristar Group the global integrated energy logistics company, announced that it has successfully inducted six fuel tankers and 11 Scania trucks to its fleet in Oman, which are under contract with Shell.
The tankers have a capacity of 36.4 kiloliters, and have safety features including emergency braking, lane departure warning signals, an electronic stability programme and state of the art air bags and inflatable curtains. The Scania trucks have safety features that will improve performance and reduce Co2 emissions.
Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar said: “We are pleased to announce the addition of these technologically advanced tankers and trucks to our fleet in Oman. As a key player in the maritime and road transport industry, it is our duty to take a leading role in improving safety conditions by ensuring all our vessels and vehicles are equipped with the latest technology.
Tristar has been transporting fuels for Shell within Oman, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and working towards improving road safety for all drivers.” Tristar Oman was established in 2002. Based in Muscat, Tristar Oman is one of the leading bulk liquid road transport companies in the Sultanate and is a key transporter for major international and local oil and gas companies.
Tristar began its relationship with Shell Oman in the same year, transporting fuels across the Sultanate and bridging Jet fuel at Muscat International Airport. In 2012, the relationship expanded to include the distribution of bulk and packed lubricants within Oman and UAE. The same year, Tristar was awarded the ‘Shell Best Haulier of the Year’, recognized for its compliance with Shell global standards, operational excellence and customer service.
Based on the Airfreight Conference https://www.airfreightconference.com/ jointly organized between Europhia Consulting and ProMedia Dutch Logistics media group, some key points emerged from the speaker presentations and discussions:
Various speakers confirmed that restrictions in airfreight capacity supply due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis which have impacted the airline industry will likely drive up airfreight pricing in 2021. The vaccines come on top of already tight aircargo capacity and will lead to airfreight price increases.
Due to the enormous capacity requirement for airfreight to support global vaccine distribution there is room for a global procurement platform to better co-ordinate and align global airfreight capacity and pricing between the supply and demand of aircargo.
Importance for the industry to work closer together across the full end to end distribution chain from factory to final vaccination points. Improved involvement of supply chain expertise to support vaccine manufacturers and government bodies to design safe, agile and efficient distribution models in crucial to speed up the process of vaccine distribution the coming months. We are already experiencing delays in distribution due to lack of end to end planning.
Example: Pfizer vaccine will likely be EMA approved for emergency use within the EU on December 21st. However a number of EU governments such as the Dutch government are saying their distribution plans are not ready and they will not be ready to start their immunisation program until January 8th, 2021. That’s almost 3 weeks later than the likely approval date. Industry logistics experts are surprised that these delays are required as the governments have had months of time to prepare the timely introduction of immunisation through their national COVID-19 taskforces.
Pfizer is falling behind in its own production and distribution forecasts given several weeks ago. Pfizer mentioned earlier 100 million vaccines would be distributed before the end of 2020. This forecast has fallen back to only 30 Million vaccines. The company is siting some production and distribution delays but not explaining what is causing these delays. It is already clear that the company has designed only one packaging solution using Softboxes with dry-ice to distribute its -70 degrees Celsius vaccines around the world. The dry-ice limitation in airfreight means that any aircraft is very limited in being able to carry Pfizer’s minus 70 vaccines. IATA and the FAA are currently reviewing dry-ice guidelines together with aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus. Industry experts such as Europhia Consulting suggest that Pfizer also explore alternative packaging types available to increase its ability to distribute vaccines faster.
Disruptive next generation packaging solutions. The pharmaceutical industry and airlines are in dire need of next generation active and passive packaging concepts to better cool pharmaceuticals including vaccines and reduce the risk of temperature excursions. Current active containers use heavy batteries which can’t be recharged during flights and don’t last long. Next generation Phase Changing Material PCM containers from companies such as Skycell en Vaqtec provide much better solutions, allow far longer cooling times, are much lighter and are more cost effective.
The conference highlighted that end to end global tracking and product visibility of vaccines from factory to final points of dispensing using data remains a complex issue the industry still struggles with. One of the key reasons is that many different logistics and transport companies often play a partial role in transport and storage from first mile, through airports, on airlines and final mile distribution. Better orchestration of the entire end to end distribution supply chain remains a big challenge.
Final mile distribution. The conference also highlighted that getting the vaccines at destination country to final points of use in hospitals, clinics and other immunisation points remains a critical gap in current distribution planning. Governments play a key role here and we believe they should reach out earlier to the logistics industry for support in sorting this out asap. Countries such as the Netherlands acknowledge they are still working on how best to set up final mile models which will likely delay first vaccine distribution with some weeks. Many emerging countries have not even started this planning process which could lead not just to problems in the timely availability of vaccines at the various immunisation points but also to problems in having too many vaccines which can’t be used without the required cool chain storage facilities which could lead to vaccines having to be destroyed. Timely preparation of final mile distribution planning is therefore critical.
Pharma producer chooses Maersk’s services to reduce transportation carbon footprint
AP Moller-Maersk recently announced the signing of a logistics agreement with Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk from 2021. The three-year agreement on cold chain logistics covers transportation including ocean services and inland logistics.
“Transporting pharmaceuticals on a global level is a demanding task with various complexities that require flexible and resilient supply chains as well as digital and eco-friendly solutions. This achievement showcases the rapid transformation of AP Moller-Maersk as a modern end-to-end logistics company with fully controlled assets,” commented Vincent Clerc, Executive Vice President and CEO, Ocean and Logistics, AP Moller-Maersk.
One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Novo Nordisk has chosen Maersk´s ECO Delivery to reduce the carbon footprint in transportation. The initiative uses sustainable bio-fuel to power selected Maersk-vessels and helps Novo Nordisk to make progress towards its ambitious sustainability goals.
“Our ambition of achieving zero environmental impact is a cornerstone of our aspiration to be a truly sustainable business. We consider AP Moller–Maersk to be the right global distribution partner to secure the steady, environmentally friendly delivery of our high-value shipments and we look forward to the collaboration,” remarked Rune Sylow, Corporate Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Novo Nordisk.
The global agreement will be effective from1 April 2021.
H2Accelerate – new collaboration for zero emission hydrogen trucking at mass-market scale
Daimler Truck AG, IVECO, OMV, Shell and the Volvo Group today committed to work together to help create the conditions for the mass-market roll-out of hydrogen trucks in Europe.
As a growing number of governments and businesses align on a common vision of a net-zero emissions energy system, the H2Accelerate participants believe that hydrogen is an essential fuel for the complete decarbonisation of the truck sector.
Achieving a large-scale roll-out of hydrogen fuelled trucks is expected to create new industries: zero-carbon hydrogen production facilities, large-scale hydrogen distribution systems, a network of high-capacity refuelling stations for liquid and gaseous hydrogen, and the production of the hydrogen fuelled trucks. H2A participants believe that synchronized investments across the sector during the 2020s will create the conditions for the mass market roll-out of hydrogen fuelled heavy duty transportation which is required to meet the European ambition of net zero emissions by 2050.
The decade long scale-up is expected to begin with groups of customers willing to make an early commitment to hydrogen-based trucking. These fleets are expected to operate in regional clusters and along European high capacity corridors with good refuelling station coverage. During the decade, these clusters can then be interconnected to build a truly pan-European network.
PHASE 1
PHASE 2
ROLLOUT OF FIRST STATIONS AND TRUCKS
EUROPE-WIDE COVERAGE
100s of trucks
>20 high capacity stations
Proving high capacity station concepts
Selective locations/clusters
Second half of 2020s: Achieve volume manufacture ‘000’s per year
Rapidly reaching > 10,000 trucks
Europe wide coverage of major corridors
High capacity/reliability stations
Throughout the scale up, support from the public sector will be required. Under H2Accelerate, the participants expect to work together to seek funding for early pre-commercial projects during the first phase of the roll-out. In parallel, the participants will engage with policy makers and regulators to encourage a policy environment which will help support the subsequent scale up into volume manufacturing for hydrogen trucks and a Europe-wide refuelling network for zero carbon hydrogen fuel.
Comments from participants
“Climate change is the challenge of our generation and we are fully committed to the Paris Climate Agreement for decarbonizing road transport. In the future, the world will be powered by a combination of battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles, along with other renewable fuels to some extent. The formation of the H2Accelerate collaboration is an important step in shaping a world we want to live in.” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group.
“The prize is clear. By boosting scale in a big way, hydrogen fuelled trucks will need to become available to customers at or below the cost of owning and operating a diesel truck today. This means truck customers will need to have access to a fully zero emissions vehicle with a similar refuelling time, range and cost range compared to the vehicles in use today. To achieve this ambition a clear regulatory framework is needed, including policies addressing the supply of hydrogen, hydrogen fuelled trucks, refuelling infrastructure and consumer incentives in a coordinated way,” said Elisabeth Brinton, Executive Vice President for New Energies at Shell.
Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG and Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG: “The participant companies in H2Accelerate agree that hydrogen-powered trucks will be key for enabling CO2-neutral transportation in the future. This unprecedented collaboration is an important milestone for driving forward the right framework conditions for establishing a mass market for hydrogen-based trucking. It is also a call to action for policymakers, further players involved and society as a whole.”
Angelika Zartl-Klik, OMV SVP HSSE & New Energy Solutions: “H2 Accelerate is playing a pioneering role and OMV is making an important contribution here. In order to achieve the climate targets, we will need any low-carbon technology. Hydrogen is an option for the climate-friendly mobility of the future.”
Gerrit Marx, President Commercial & Specialty Vehicles at CNH Industrial, stated: “The widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell technology in heavy-duty transport is a function of the necessary infrastructure. We also need very concrete projects to demonstrate with hauliers and other stakeholders in the industry that this solution is financially and operationally viable. The ground-breaking H2Accelerate collaboration will create the conditions for this to happen and accelerate the transition to zero-emission transport.”
About H2Accelerate
H2Accelerate is a collaboration agreement signed between the participants under which the participants will work together to:
seek public support to fund early pre-commercial projects to activate the market on the path towards a mass market roll-out;
communicate around the technical and commercial viability of hydrogen fuelled trucking at scale; and
hold discussions with policy makers and regulators to encourage policies which can support a sustainable and speedy activation of the zero emissions long haul trucking market.
About the companies involved
Shell New Energies NL B.V.
The Royal Dutch Shell Group of Companies are working to support the development of a global hydrogen market by creating an end-to-end business stretching from solar and wind to hydrogen production and finally supplying a growing range of customers in transport, heavy industry and other hard-to-decarbonise sectors.
Daimler Truck AG
In September 2020, Daimler Truck AG celebrated the world premiere of the fuel-cell concept truck Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck. It is conceptualized with liquid hydrogen for flexible and demanding long-distance haulage operations with ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers and more on a single tank of hydrogen with its series version. Daimler Truck AG plans to begin customer trials of the GenH2 Truck in 2023; series production is to start in the second half of the decade. In November, the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG signed a binding agreement for a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems.
IVECO
IVECO designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks, and vehicles for applications such as off-road missions. IVECO is investing in electric and hydrogen technology with driveline specialist FPT Industrial, also part of CNH Industrial, and through its partnership with Nikola Corporation.
OMV Aktiengesellschaft
OMV produces and markets oil and gas, innovative energy and high-end petrochemical solutions – in a responsible way. Sustainability is an integral part of OMV’s corporate strategy. OMV supports the transition to a lower-carbon economy and has set measurable targets for reducing carbon intensity and introducing new energy and petrochemical solutions.
Volvo Group and Hydrogen
Volvo Group’s ambition is that 100% of our products are fossil fuel free enabled from 2040. There will be a gradual shift into electric, both battery and fuel cell electric. For use cases with heavier loads or longer distances, hydrogen fuel cells will be an important technology. The two technologies complement each other and both will be needed in order for us to build the sustainable transport system of tomorrow. In November, the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG signed a binding agreement for a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize fuel-cell systems.
Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), has been named winner of the 2020 Sustainability Award at the 17th Annual Seatrade Maritime Awards, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa, hosted virtually from Dubai. RSGT was selected in recognition of “the exceptional initiative that supports sustainable maritime commerce”” by the judging panel of independent industry experts.
“”We are very proud to have been selected by our peers for this award “,” stated RSGT CEO Jens Floe, who added, “”we remain dedicated to pursuing environmentally sustainable operations at Saudi ‘Arabia’s largest container terminal, through our CSR program, constant investment in new, low emission and efficient equipment, procedures, and the extensive training of our personnel”.
RSGT is currently commissioning two new latest-generation electric-powered STS cranes and 10 new technologically advanced hybrid-Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes (RTGs) delivered in November, into the i’ ‘facility’s container handling operations. The use of electric cranes eliminates emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases resulting from diesel-powered cranes; the hybrid-RTGs switch from diesel to battery power depending upon usage needs, also reducing diesel-related emissions, while improving fuel efficiency.
RSGT has also established artificial reefs just outside the port area in support of biodiversity and marine life.
Over the 30-year term of the concession agreement signed last year with the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), RSGT will be investing USD 1.7 billion in new terminal infrastructure and equipment to improve operational efficiencies and reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions, as the terminal expands annual container throughput capacity to 8.8 million TEU.
RSGT incorporates programs and training in support of sustainable terminal and port operations, and environmentally-conscious conservation planning, reflecting a core philosophy of the ‘company’s business model.
“”Our commitment to sustainability and protection of the environment and natural resources of the Red Sea Region is shared by all of our staff, and is a guiding principal in our daily operations, as well as our long-term strategic planning””, noted Mr. Floe.
“Our resilient business model is underpinned by long-term contracts with our investment grade customers”
— Eugene Mayne, CEO, Tristar Group.
Resilience, fortitude and foresight have been the hallmarks and defined Tristar Group’s operations under the stewardship of Eugene Mayne, Founder and Group CEO, at the helm.
The continuing Covid-19 pandemic, devastating and unrelenting has challenged companies and economies, both national and global, for their very survival in 2020. The Tristar Group, has demonstrated remarkable buoyancy to buck the downward trend, successfully navigate the turbulence that is impacting many companies and operations and emerge strong despite the demanding landscape.
In an exclusive, expansive interview with Global Supply Chain, Eugene Mayne, CEO, Tristar Group, spoke expansively about his company’s encouraging performance in a new post-Covid business ecosystem; how the company is coping with the new normal operational environment and staving off challenges wrought by the pandemic that has befallen the globe.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): This year 2020 has been like no other—unusual, challenging and volatile to say the least. Briefly provide us your general introductory comment/s, observations and assessment of the current landscape with regard to multi-modal liquid logistics services?
Eugene Mayne (EM): Fortunately, we have not experienced a major setback in 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and in fact, expect to end the year on a positive note as our business grew in 2019.
We did experience some segmental challenges due to the overnight crash in oil prices and the measures adopted by governments to contain the pandemic, but we did not experience a material disruption to our operations. We did see a slowdown in our cross-border logistics movements due to mandatory quarantining of drivers at border crossings; however, our fuel storage business was hardly impacted thanks to our take-or-pay contract models. Our remote fuels business supports peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, which have not been curtailed. There are of course some limitations in the movement of troops and flights which have resulted in the reduction of aviation fuel volumes. However, we expect aviation operations to normalise once the pandemic is under control. On the maritime front, our business has grown, and as we expand our operations with new long-term contracts with oil majors, we expect it to grow further.
GSC: How has the Tristar Group performed to date in 2020 and how do you propose to close this year?
EM: Our greatest achievement this year is having successfully navigated our business through the pandemic without having to implement extreme measures such as laying off staff. Our resilient business model underpinned by long-term contracts with our investment grade customers has ensured that our revenue streams remained stable without the pressure of cancelled contracts or price negotiations.
We expect to close 2020 in a stable position, building on the resilience of our business model.
GSC: How have the working and professional environments changed at the Tristar Group post-Covid 19 and the new protocols in place?
EM: This year has been a challenging year for all industries, particularly with the transition to remote work. However, our company has been able to showcase a resilient business model through effective business continuity plans and due to our people-led approach to business.
We have chosen to find solutions to mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 by staying focused on reducing service disruptions to customers rather than reducing our workforce. We have set up a Crisis Committee which meets weekly even now to review and monitor the health of our employees and potential disruptions to our services across the 21 countries we operate in.
Astute management of our business continuity plans with day to day oversight by the committee has ensured minimization of disruptions and has ensured that the arrangements for employee testing, isolation and treatments are well.
We organized Covid-19 testing for all our employees and proactively implemented several preventive measures to enable our employees to keep themselves and their families safe during these unprecedented times.
We also provided regular operational updates on emerging situation to our customers, which have been well received as it mitigates the risk of disruption to their individual supply chains. We continue to check in on our employees, to make sure they are doing well both mentally and physically during these tough times.
GSC: What are the Group’s current and future expansion plans?
EM: For the short term, we will focus on strengthening our integrated logistics model by looking for key acquisitions in our areas of interest and ensuring our organic business continues to grow annually in double digits.
Despite the pandemic, our integrated business model is resilient as it has been built on long-term contracts. We will continue to develop and grow this model – a strategy which has worked well for us over the last 20 years.
In terms of next steps and the future, the integration of technology is very important to us and we are constantly working to find the newest technology that is both efficient and cost effective for our current and future projects.
At the moment, we are looking at Robot Processing Automation and Artificial Intelligence solutions to help with predictive maintenance and forecasting analysis which will ultimately increase performance and efficiency. We are also looking at smart ship technology to better improve operating costs on our marine assets.
Overall, we are growing in our core markets and beyond. We are operating soon our India fuel retail business which is a new market for us and look forward to exploring more opportunities there.
GSC: The Tristar Group recently launched a cryogenic liquids transportation service. How is the division doing?
EM: While our organic growth strategy is to widen our client base, we also aim to deepen our service offering in parallel, and therefore branching out into the movement of cryogenic goods by road is a natural diversification for our road transport business, as handling and movement of extremely low temperature liquids and gases requires a high level of specialised training and safety in operations and is a good fit for our high HSE standards. The division is doing well, and we look forward to building a GCC wide network for movement of cryogenic gases and liquids.
GSC: Bring us to current on the construction of storage tanks for JAFZA Chemical Terminal?
EM: We began construction of 10 new storage tanks for our chemical terminal in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) in July 2019 and aim to finish the project by May 2021. We acquired this facility from one of our customers as they used to own and operate the facility.
Initially, we bought the chemical terminal from the customer in order to lease it back to them, and the next step was to expand the facility in order to leverage the storage space for other clients as well. We are currently working on increasing the capacity of the terminal from 5,000 cubic metres to 25,000 cubic metres. Next year, 75% of the facility will be completely ready to use, a great achievement for our business.
Other upgrades to the JAFZA chemical terminal that will be constructed in due course include:
A second loading gantry with 10 dedicated pipelines that can accommodate four road tankers simultaneously,
Three more new stainless-steel lines from jetty (receipt from ship) to terminal
Ten drumming lines for flammable liquids,
A nitrogen generator within the terminal
A 100-ton capacity weigh bridge and
A two-story office building with a data acquisition (PLC / SCADA) control room
Upgrading the fire-fighting and fire alarm system as per latest NFPA / UAE fire code standards
GSC: Comment on your JVs and contracts with Shell and Linde-Sigas?
EM: Earlier this year, our joint venture United Stars in Saudi Arabia signed a five-year contract with Linde-Sigas, a majority owned subsidiary of Linde in the Kingdom, a leading manufacturer of industrial and medical gases. This was a great partnership for us as we have a diverse portfolio of clients in Saudi Arabia with our depots in Dammam, Riyadh and Jubail.
As for our long-standing partnership with Shell, in 2018 we signed a long-term contract to charter six IMO2 25K Chemical Carrier vessels, and we recently inducted four of the six IMO2 25K chemical carrier vessels we ordered from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, South Korea’s premier shipbuilder.
The new vessels feature Tier III engines which will reduce emissions and operate in an eco-friendly manner. We have worked with Hyundai for many years, as the we previously received six 50K DWT MR tankers from the dockyard in 2016 for US$ 200million.
GSC: How are your Duqm (Sultanate of Oman) operations faring?
EM: We first established our presence in Muscat, Oman in 2002 and we are proud to say we are now a key transporter for the major international and local oil and gas companies in the Sultanate. In January 2020 we acquired more than 11,000 square metres of logistic land in the Port of Duqm where we had constructed our 3,048-square-metre covered warehouse with a capacity of 5,000 pallet positions and an open yard for future expansion. The warehouse project will offer 3PL and 4PL services.
GSC: The comprehensive Tristar Group Sustainability Report is published annually. Briefly summarize your findings and your initiatives in conjunction with your stakeholders in this area of the 8th 2020 Edition?
EM: The 2019 Sustainability Report was developed in accordance with the globally recognized GRI standards and covers our stakeholder engagement initiatives. The report highlights our key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) achievements in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Global Compact Ten Principles.
With the aim to protect environmental resources, Tristar achieved a 22% reduction in water use per employee and paper consumption. We also offset 25% of 2019 group carbon emissions using the UNFCCC program. Our JAFZA Warehouse in UAE received the prestigious US Green Building Council LEED Gold Green Building certification.
In partnership with RTA and Dubai Chamber, we conducted road safety campaigns for the community and expanded our educational initiatives. Additionally, as part of our commitment towards gender equality, we signed the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles. I was also elected to be one of the Board members of the UN Global Compact UAE Local Network last year.
GSC: You have been known to be a strong advocate of and deeply concerned about sound mental health among seafarers? Tell us more about this endeavor and the Group’s other CSR programmes?
EM: Tristar integrated its Corporate Governance and CSR objectives to create a broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Framework, as a holistic approach to the planning, monitoring and execution of all activities which support our Sustainability Goals.
As a responsible business operating in the logistics industry, we anchored our sustainability strategy with the adoption of the ESG framework in line with the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Ten Principles and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At Tristar, we have adopted several initiatives of our own to ensure the safety, and more importantly, the happiness and mental wellbeing of our crew and seafarers. When the pandemic first began, we organised three online Psychological First Aid workshops for Vessel Masters and Senior Officers, which had over 90 participants.
The workshops were conducted through video conferencing, to shed light on human behaviour, the signs and symptoms of a person struggling with mental health, and included situational role play to equip Senior Officers with the skills to best deal with these symptoms.
Last November 10, 2019, we hosted our first ever ‘Safety at Sea’ conference with the intention of drawing attention to the number of deaths due to suicides at sea in the maritime world. It was well received and attended by all our customers and other stakeholders from the industry including more than 500 seafarers who watched virtually in India and the Philippines. We are scheduled to host our second ‘Safety at Sea’ conference this December 9 via webinar and going forward we are committed to making this an annual event.
We have also contracted the Sailors’ Society to set up a 24/7 dedicated confidential helpline for all officers, crew and their families. The services include crisis response assistance, counseling through various channels such as email, WhatsApp and other social media chat platforms, and making appointments with counselors on behalf of the seafarer in accordance with the ports they will visit during their contract.
GSC: What are the opportunities and challenges for the Tristar Group going forward?
EM: We are excited about the future. At the moment, we operate in 21 countries and we’re looking to increase our footprint,
expanding with our existing customers while also looking for new opportunities and acquisitions.
The integration of technology is important to us and we are constantly working on finding innovations that will be efficient and cost effective for both our current and future projects; for example, Robot Processing Automation and Artificial Intelligence, in addition to smart ship technology.
Last year I participated in a panel discussion at the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai where I discussed our digital strategy and pioneering work with Blockchain in the region and how we aim to leverage technology to provide world-class services to our customers.
We were recognized for being the first logistics company in the GCC to have a fully live Blockchain platform, which provides our customers with real-time oversight of our warehousing and transportation processes, so I can confidently say that innovation and technology will be a key area of focus for us going forward. I look forward to participating in more events in the future and establishing ourselves as a key player in the integration of technology in the logistics services industry.
We also look forward to strengthening our ESG programme and implementing sustainable practices across all our sectors. Our commitment to being a strong advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) will continue unabated as we strongly believe that as a private sector company we should lead the way for the business world to pay attention to the health and well-being of people, which will be a top priority for all of us after the pandemic.
In terms of challenges, of course the global pandemic has had an impact on oil prices and the slowdown in cross-border logistics movements due to mandatory quarantining of drivers at border crossings. However, we are hopeful by 2021 that the situation will improve, and government regulations will ease. Our priority is for everyone to stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to a safe future.
GSC: The Tristar Group recently won an award by Arabia CSR Network for its Health and Safety Programme. Expand on this recognition as also the Group’s support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
EM: In October we were honoured to have been awarded by Arabia CSR Network for our Health and Safety Programme, particularly for our Safety at Sea initiatives. The health and safety of our employees is our top priority, especially now during the pandemic. Seafarers can be particularly susceptible to mental health issues, as they are often far from home, with little contact with family and friends.
Whilst we are all encouraged to talk about mental health, it seems that it is still a taboo subject amongst seafarers and as a result they are missing out on vital support and treatment at the early stages of a severe illness.
The initiatives we have put in place are small steps as part of a wider movement to address these issues and ensure adequate support is provided to our most valuable asset – our people.
I’m honoured that Tristar has been recognised for its work in this space, and I look forward to celebrating many more successes with the team in the future. For the past nine years, we have been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact with compliance to the Principles of Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, Labour and Environment.
One very important initiative for us, is providing access to education for all as per UN SDG No 5. We have made some progress towards this goal, particularly in Africa. Over the past few years, we have supported the funding and development of two local schools in South Sudan, to help enable access to basic education. In 2018, we established a Computer Lab at the Gabat School in Juba, South Sudan, making it the first primary school in the country to offer computer classes. We are extremely proud of the success of this development as it has provided an opportunity for young children in Sudanese communities to pursue higher education and build a brighter future.
GSC: Any imminent mergers or acquisitions on the cards?
EM: All our expansion plans, whether organic or by acquisition, will have our end customers’ interests in mind.
GSC: Any plans for the Tristar Group to go public / IPO issuance?
EM: It is part of our longer-term growth strategy. We will provide updates in due course.
Swisslog demonstrates leadership in logistic-related systems, new solutions and innovation
Headquartered in Buchs-Aargau, Switzerland and with a local office in Dubai, Swisslog with its strong Swiss roots and legacy, is a subsidiary of the German robots manufacturer KUKA which has a workforce of more than 14,000 people working across the globe. Swisslog’s range of services includes consulting, concept studies, project implementation, customer service, cutting-edge technologies and software, all tailored to the specific requirements of a business. We stand for innovation, quality, industry-leading software and robotics technologies developed in-house.
To obtain insights and get better acquainted on the extent and eminence of its automation products and services quality, Global Supply Chain got close up and personal with Dubai-based Alain Kaddoum, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East, for a wide-ranging interview and the lowdown on the company’s automated solutions in multiple fields related to logistics and supply chain continuum.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us a sense of the size and scale of your current association with the logistics & supply chain industry in the Middle East?
Alain Kaddoum (AK): Swisslog Middle East is actively and intimately associated with several companies in the Middle East
– in the UAE and Saudi Arabia but due to confidentiality clause we will not be able to reveal further their identity or the details of the projects. The projects currently in the pipeline are E-Grocery, E-Commerce, Retail and Government sector.
In the last year, we have executed some large-scale projects in the Middle East, such as automation for Almarai and Mai Dubai and a project in the banking sector to name a few that we can talk about. Also, we have successfully delivered robot-based warehouse system in retail and e-commerce for Axiom Telecom in the UAE and installed a flexible and scalable automated warehouse management system to achieve automated fulfilment operations for Maison-B-More and RoboStores, one of the largest boutique fashion retailers based in the UAE.
Maison-B-More and RoboStores is renowned for its expertly edited fashion and stores more than 60 designer labels from across the world, including Roberto Cavalli, Just Cavalli, Dirk Bikkembergs, Philipp Plein, Iceberg, Escales Paris and many more.
To address customer demand, the luxury fashion retailer supply-chain is managed and operated by RoboStores. The company dispatches items daily with stringent cut-off times for morning and afternoon dispatches, even small inefficiency in the process can have a major impact on productivity and on the capacity of RoboStores.
Faced with limited space and increasing inventory, RoboStores needed a way to standardise its day-to-day picking across its warehouse, while ensuring high levels of security, flexibility, and efficiency.
With the complexities of the supply management chain, RoboStores needed a sophisticated automated warehouse solution to match the reputation of its brand – one that could efficiently track, stock, pick orders and increase its distribution volume and the bottom line.
Swisslog’s AutoStore technology came as an ideal solution for RoboStores. AutoStore offers maximum storage capacity, flexibility and scalability for today’s warehouse. The AutoStore warehouse solution implemented is a unique and simple solution that is composed of a structural grid, delivery robots and storage bins to quickly process small parts orders.
It provides better use of available space than any other automated system thanks to its unique design that enables direct stacking of bins on top of each other and storage of multiple SKUs in a single bin.
GSC: How is Swisslog currently faring and how does that compare with 2019? What is your outlook for 2021?
AK: Swisslog Middle East has been receiving a lot of enquiries from businesses on how they can integrate automation technology in their existing infrastructure in a very convenient and efficient manner – without disruption to their current business processes, to remain viable and profitable, and ultimately create the future. These requests are mainly coming from E-grocery and E-commerce sector in the UAE, KSA and Kuwait. The team at Swisslog has been working non-stop consulting with retailers, customizing recommendations for each specific project and implementing automation systems since the pandemic began.
A modular robotic automation system can be deployed in 8 to 12 months for small to medium size solutions, delivering a fast return on investment and a longer useful life due to their ability to adapt to change; taking a modular approach to roll out automation can provide important gains earlier and ease the impact of transition – this is our main focus of support to customers now – helping them adapt and be future-ready.
The Middle East is gearing up to take advantage of digitization in a big way, and we are seeing companies in the region making real investments for real results today. Swisslog’s aim will be to continue with its efforts to help businesses address the strong need to shape the future development of logistics automation. The time is ripe for automation in the Middle East. Multinational companies in particular will now further improve their supply chain management and establish robust disaster management mechanisms.
GSC: What are Swisslog’s short and long-term expansion plans for the region?
AK: Swisslog will continue to demonstrate leadership in new products and innovation aimed at embedding efficiency, intelligence, and competitive advantages into warehouse logistics operations, especially for businesses that operate in retail, e-commerce, e-grocery, pharmaceutical, F&B and governmental industries. The ease with which our solutions can be implemented without affecting the existing infrastructure is one of our major USP’s and it will definitely help us expand into various regions in the Middle East.
GSC: What are the opportunities in store and challenges confronting Swisslog in the region going forward?
AK: Covid-19 dramatically changed customer behaviour and has presented a new set of challenges for the supply chain industry.
Today a lot of businesses suffer from many challenges. Rising costs, changing consumer habits, increased operating expenses, loss in sales due to limited fulfillment capabilities add greater pressure on businesses. Though many businesses understand that, not many invest in changes. Reports show that a lot of companies are still afraid of using the latest technologies in their business operations as they assume, they are too expensive but soon this perception is going to change.
A recent survey by PwC indicated CFOs across various sectors are increasingly focused on the benefits of automation within supply chain functions as they exit the initial shock period of the coronavirus pandemic and plan forward to diminish disruption from future crises or even subsequent waves of Covid-19.
The automation market across the region is set for a paradigm shift due to digitalisation initiatives by end-user industries and the global warehouse automation market is set to grow more than 2x from 2019 to 2025, on the back of strong macro and industry growth drivers of e-commerce fulfillment and increasing warehousing labour costs.
Not surprisingly, automation is central to several GCC countries’ future development plans as the region’s logistics market is set to grow at a rate of 7.3% CAGR to a value of $66.3 billion by 2020.
GSC: How is the surge of E-commerce impacting your business?
AK: Small and big attainments in automation have made e-commerce of 2020 unrecognizable from the ecommerce of 1991. E-commerce is the fastest growing segment in the global economy. According to a recent report by Adobe Analytics, online sales this November and December are forecast to surge 33% year over year to a record US$ 189 billion.
While this means tremendous opportunity for both multi-channel retailers and pureplay e-commerce companies, competition has never been more intense. Meeting the challenges of omni-channel fulfillment operations is compounded by consumer expectations for speed, individuality and convenience, forcing retailers to rapidly adjust their supply chain concepts.
Rapid growth in e-commerce is expected to increase the demand for modern warehouses with advanced IT and digital solutions.
Moreover, an increasing number of FMCGs, which are typically a significant contributor to economic growth in the region, are expected to increase the demand for modern warehouses. This is likely to transform warehousing services in the region, specifically in areas of inventory management, cargo loading, order picking and real-time monitoring of stocks.
Some of the other trends we are witnessing are robotics; focus on supply chain visibility and orchestration; and smart last-mile fulfillment. Technology will continue to be a truly disruptive force in how the modern supply chain is shaped, defined, and explored.
From basic improvements like streamlining operations and increasing process efficiency to fully automating delivery trucks, technology is enabling much smarter, simpler supply chain management. In the future, companies will leverage new and innovative technologies to create a self-orchestrated supply chain and previously unimaginable efficiencies
The flexible and modular technologies and software in Swisslog’s Retail & E-Commerce portfolio are specifically designed to meet the dynamic needs of retail, e-commerce and multichannel logistics.
Retailers can increase the speed of order fulfillment, improve order accuracy and effectively manage an ever-increasing number of SKUs with Swisslog’s automated systems for e-commerce. Order fulfillment rates can be up to five times faster than manual systems.
Integrating automation technology and by using robots to pick and pack online orders, e-commerce retailers can bet lower prices and faster fulfilment, in turn result in accelerating demand for online shopping and creating meaningful opportunities to take market share from their competitors.
GSC: What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
AK: Automation processes can be devised to tackle a lot of challenges caused by Covid-19. For example, during the pandemic the local grocery stores are witnessing rapid surge in e-grocery sales and the industry is throttled by persistent labour shortages, traditional fulfilment models, and last-mile delivery challenges. Automation can help grocers monitor the inventories in real-time and automatically notify customers once the product is back in stock.
The automated warehouse solutions and the right automation technology can help grocers move their e-grocery fulfilment beyond manual picking. Other important benefits during such challenging times is energy-saving options for businesses, smart execution of processes with higher efficiency but less spend on utilities and other crucial elements for any business.
Automation solutions for grocers can and should be customized for each business to fit their e-fulfilment strategy in the best way. When every second is valuable, such a modernization project can be actually executed on a side without disruption to the main operations, which allow business to continue its work up-skilling at the same time.
More info on https://globalsupplychainme.com/digital-issues/december-2020/
Turkish Cargo brought the statue of the mother goddess “Cybele” dated back to the 3rd century A.D back to its home. The statue was trafficked abroad back in 1970.
Performing with the utmost care for the shipments of historical artifacts, Turkish Cargo brought the Statue of Cybele, the mother goddess which is believed to be the symbol and guardian of abundance, back to the lands it belongs after nearly 60 years.
The Statue of Kybele, which was brought to Istanbul from New York on December 12 with the sponsorship of Turkish Airlines following great legal efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will be exhibited in the Istanbul Archeology Museum for a set amount of time.
In the recent years, Turkish Cargo carried historical artifacts from Topkapı and Dolmabahce Palaces to Japan, contributed to the return of the missing pieces of the Gypsy Girl Mosaic to its homeland, carried more than 50 masterpieces from Paris Louvre Museum to Tehran, successfully transported the Sarcophagus of Hercules of the Roman Era from Geneva to Istanbul with its specialized teams of experts working meticulously on these sensitive and significant operations that require the utmost care.
Turkish Cargo offers its services for the works of art to its customers in 127 countries around the world with its three sensitive cargo storehouses and specialized staff members with related certificates while also constantly monitoring each and every movement of its fragile and valuable cargos with cameras in and around its storage facilities.
In addition to the wide flight network of the flag carrier Turkish Airlines with more than 320 destinations, Turkish Cargo also operates direct cargo flights to 95 destinations around the world, continuing to transport the most valuable historical artifacts from different cultures, in the most protective manner by making use of cutting-edge technologies.
With the construction of the new 5,000 m² warehouse at its Limburg site, Spedition Stähler, the biggest and most established shipping company in the Limburg-Weilburg district, has also taken the decision to install a warehouse management system. It selected the EPG | LFS Warehouse Management System from EPG (Ehrhardt + Partner Gruppe). This has enabled the logistics service provider to considerably improve its inventory accuracy and transparency. The company uses LFS to administer incoming and outgoing goods processes and has consigned those paper lists to history. This modernization of the warehouse management system has enabled Stähler to significantly grow its customer base within a very short period.
“The decision to install LFS was primarily due to the innovative capacity of EPG. We wanted a solution that will provide us with long-term support and also with an opportunity to grow our business. In comparison to other companies on the market, LFS is the most cost-effective both in this regard and also for our requirements,” explains Egon Bürger, Managing Director of Spedition Stähler. “The new warehouse is the heart of the company. This is why it is important to deploy state-of-the-art, innovative technologies here so we can provide future-oriented services for our customers.”
LFS ensures the dynamic location segmentation in the new 12-meter high warehouse. Across the 5,000 m² storage area there are 5,000 shelf slots for pallets. The objective is to turn the goods round as quickly as possible. “Before the installation of LFS a maximum of two people in the warehouse knew where each item was located. There was no location differentiation and access times were much too slow. There were also challenges with the assignment of batches,” continues Egon Bürger. Incoming pallets are now dispatched, labelled and assigned to a unique bin location with the assistance of a mobile workplace system – also supplied by EPG. In theory, each employee has an overview at all times of the current inventory situation as well as of all incoming orders. Stähler is also taking advantage of the integrated LFS module designed for the financial settlement of logistics services and therefore from an additional optimization of its customer invoicing process.
Growing customer-base
The investment has already paid off. Since the introduction of LFS Stähler has already considerably expanded its customer-base. And further future growth is the company’s top priority. “Spedition Stähler is a perfect example of the extreme flexibility of our software solutions as they can suit every requirement. And this is regardless of whether they are deployed by a medium-sized company or a large corporation,” says Dennis Schönherr, Project Manager and Logistics Consultant at EPG. “This is because, and often this is the most important aspect, our systems simply grow with the company and can adapt at any time. The standard version of LFS is already so sophisticated that many functions are available without any additional programming expense.” For example, Spedition Stähler simply connected its new clients itself and was able to work productively for them very quickly.
De Vries steps in as CEO of the business unit; Wesseling will become COO, a newly-created role.
Bridgestone Mobility Solutions CEO and Managing Director Thomas Schmidt has announced he will be leaving Bridgestone at the end of the year.
Schmidt created and co-founded Webfleet more than 20 years ago.
Bridgestone has appointed Jan-Maarten de Vries and Michiel Wesseling as CEO and COO of its Bridgestone Mobility Solutions (BMS) business unit. Thomas Schmidt, the co-founder of Webfleet, will be leaving Bridgestone and his role as CEO and Managing Director of the BMS business unit at the end of this year.
Schmidt led Webfleet Solutions – formerly known as TomTom Telematics – to become Europe’s leading telematics business. In early 2019, the business was acquired by Bridgestone as a major milestone on its journey to become a leader in sustainable mobility. In the time since then, Schmidt has been instrumental in the successful integration of the two businesses and the creation and leadership of BMS, which is now responsible for Bridgestone’s growing digital mobility solutions business.
Schmidt will be leaving Bridgestone to pursue a new venture: sharing his experience and inspiration with young entrepreneurs and start-ups. In his place, Jan-Maarten de Vries, who joined Bridgestone in July as VP Data Solutions & Innovations, one of the four business lines within BMS, will become CEO of the business unit. Before joining Bridgestone, De Vries worked in global strategic and marketing leadership roles with WABCO, TomTom and Philips.
Joining De Vries is Michiel Wesseling, who will become BMS’s Chief Operating Officer – a newly-created role responsible for the operational aspects of the business including its supporting functions. Wesseling has spent the last 11 years of his career at Webfleet Solutions, of which more than eight were spent as VP Finance & Operations.
By appointing a strong team of complementary leaders to replace Thomas Schmidt, the company ensures business continuity as well as the reinforcement of the current strategy and the accelerated introduction of new concepts. These changes are effective 1 January 2021.
Commenting on this announcement was Bridgestone EMIA CEO Laurent Dartoux: “Thomas has had an incredible impact on not only Webfleet Solutions or Bridgestone, but mobility in general throughout his long career in our industry. He is a true pioneer, whose energy, network and expertise are unrivalled. He will be missed, but I know he will be of huge benefit to the young entrepreneurs out there. Jan-Maarten and Michiel are two experienced and driven leaders who represent a new era for Bridgestone Mobility Solutions in a very important time for digital mobility. Our pipeline of in-house talent has once again been put to excellent use.”
The forum will address the theme ‘Leadership in the New Reality – Catalyzing Sustainable Growth in the Chemical Industry’
The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, today announces that a special edition of the 15th Annual GPCA Forum will take place on 10-11 February 2021 at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, addressing the theme ‘Leadership in the New Reality – Catalyzing Sustainable Growth in the Chemical Industry’.
The forum’s agenda will include four main sessions which will be addressed by CEOs of leading chemical companies and key players from the Arabian Gulf region and globally. They will discuss opportunities for the new era beyond COVID-19. The forum is set to attract senior industry executives from over 50 countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to plunging petrochemical prices, eroding margins, and depressed demand during the first two quarters of 2020. The regional chemical industry started to bounce back in Q3 but has not recovered fully yet. Despite earnings being negative, the third quarter of this year closed with net income growth for the majority of listed GCC chemical producers, which posted an average net income growth of 78%.
As the chemical industry emerges from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, leadership in the new reality will become front and center to companies’ journey towards success in 2021 and beyond. The Annual GPCA Forum will provide renewed perspectives from across the world on key issues that remain top of mind for industry leaders today including leveraging technology post crisis, what value creation will look like in a changing landscape, the need to upskill the workforce of the future, build supply chain resilience and drive positive sustainability results.
Over the last decade and a half, the Annual GPCA Forum has established itself as the most anticipated downstream industry event, and promises to deliver a compelling program with an impressive line-up of speakers who will descend from all over the region and the world. Some of the speakers and panelists confirmed so far include:
Yousef Al-Benyan, CEO, SABIC and Chairman, GPCA
Ilham Kadri, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Solvay
Markus Steilemann, CEO, Covestro and President, PlasticsEurope
Dominic Waughray, Managing Director, World Economic Forum
Ahmed Saleh Al Jahdhami, CEO Downstream, OQ
Faisal Al-Faqeer, CEO, Sadara Chemical Company
Mosaed Al Ohali, CEO, Ma’aden
Ahmed Ali Attiga, CEO, APICORP
Rayan Fayez, MD and CEO, Banque Saudi Fransi
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unimaginable challenges to the chemical industry the world over and redefined the priorities, business strategies and metrics for success for today’s organizations. How can chemical companies safeguard their competitiveness in 2021 and beyond? How can Arabian Gulf producers remain in the driving seat of innovation and global market leadership? What is the recipe for success on sustainability, digitalization, workforce development and value creation for shareholders with long term returns? The Annual GPCA Forum will provide a platform to debate and answer these key questions and more, and share lessons learned from the region and the world as we come together to navigate through the new reality in the post pandemic era and build a more resilient future for our industry, society and planet.”
CargoAi is increasing its offer to freight forwarders by making real-time prices and electronic bookings available on its platform for major leisure carriers: TUI, Condor and SunClass Airlines. This roll-out has been made possible thanks to the support of ECS Group, the GSSA of these airlines in Total Cargo Management.
Pursuing its digitization strategy for air freight, CargoAi thus offers its users access to a variety of air transport solutions anywhere in the world. ‘These three airlines offer a multitude of destinations. Our users can now benefit from this by reserving their capacities on our platform in a few seconds’, says CargoAi CEO Matthieu Petot.
For ECS Group, the approach also aims to provide a premium service to its airline customers and above all, to offer them an additional sales tool for their cargo capacities.
‘Our customers need us to support them in new ways to maximize their income, and digitizing the distribution processes is one of them. We therefore connect to all major e-booking platforms in the market to sell the cargo capacities of airlines under Total Cargo Management contract in a more efficient way’, explains Cédric Millet, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at ECS Group.
This is an important step for CargoAi, which is aiming for a ‘smooth, simple’ digitization of the industry. ‘We offer a turnkey service to our customers by doing all the technical work upstream, without the need for any investment on their part. These are the types of actions that will lead to a digitized industry, equal to its importance in the world economy’, says Matthieu Petot.
The agreement between HyperloopTT and Capgemini’s Altran, the world-leader in engineering and R&D services, strengthens HyperloopTT’s technical presence and will focus on accelerating systems integrations for passenger commercialization in the heart of Europe’s Aerospace Valley in Toulouse, France.
HyperloopTT announced today an agreement with world-leading engineering and R&D services provider Altran, part of the Capgemini Group. The agreement includes one hundred Altran engineers to accelerate the development of commercialized passenger hyperloop systems at the HyperloopTT facility in Toulouse, France, the Aerospace Valley of Europe. HyperloopTT’s European R&D Center is the home of the world’s only full-scale hyperloop system, which has been undergoing testing and optimization since 2019.
The agreement advances HyperloopTT’s capabilities in a lean way, negotiated within HyperloopTT’s hybrid collaborative framework. The announcement comes after recent commitments from both the European Union and the United States, emphasizing the development of commercial hyperloop systems as part of a broader post-pandemic economic solution focused on sustainable high-speed transportation and infrastructure.
“We’re seeing more and more major players in technology and transportation embrace hyperloop as the future of sustainable high-speed travel, and we welcome Altran to the HyperloopTT global movement,” said HyperloopTT CEO Andres De Leon. “Our business model has enabled us to add their top-tier engineering expertise in aerospace, aeronautics, and systems engineering.”
“HyperloopTT is leading the way in profitable and sustainable high-speed infrastructure,” said Altran Executive Vice-President William Rozé. “Our work together will make the HyperloopTT European R&D Center at Aerospace Valley, the epicenter for hyperloop engineering worldwide, while building upon the long tradition of transportation innovation and leadership in Toulouse.”
HyperloopTT’s continued European-based development has accelerated the adoption of commercial hyperloop systems across the continent. Since reaching an agreement with the City of Toulouse in 2017, HyperloopTT has led international hyperloop regulation efforts from its full-scale test site. After developing the world’s first hyperloop insurance framework with Munich Re, HyperloopTT completed the first set of safety and certification guidelines for hyperloop systems with TÜV SÜD and delivered them to the European Commission. HyperloopTT is committed to demonstrating that hyperloop is a sustainable near-term infrastructure project that can solve the congestion, sustainability, air quality, infrastructure, and competition concerns that face the European Union.
Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Flock Freight, a technology company based in Solana Beach, California, that pools shipments to fill unused trailer space. The company uses algorithms to match multiple LTL (less than a truckload) shipments into one shared truckload that eliminates all terminals and hubs, improving quality and efficiency.
Flock Freight allows shippers to move LTL shipments more efficiently and damage-free. It reduces the number of times shipments are handled by avoiding hubs and enables carriers to fill unused trailer space in their FTL shipments. The shared truckload solution eliminates the need for terminals and cuts freight-related carbon emissions.
“We look for start-ups that are building the future with technological developments that will transform the transport industry. We believe that Flock Freight’s business model and technology will play an important part in the future of freight transport on the road,” says Martin Witt, Vice President and Head of Volvo Group Venture Capital.
“Flock Freight can provide the Volvo Group with further insights into optimizing road haulage. Together we can offer our operators and our operators’ customers additional services,” says Dan Tram, Investment Director Volvo Group Venture Capital.
The role of Volvo Group Venture Capital is to make investments that drive transformation by facilitating the creation of new services and solutions and to support collaborations between start-ups and the Volvo Group.
Against the background of the trends shaping the future of transportation and the strategic priorities of the Volvo Group, the key areas of investment for Volvo Group Venture Capital are currently logistics services, site solutions and electrical infrastructure. The organisation has a global scope, but focuses on Europe and North America.
The transaction has no significant impact on the Volvo Group’s earnings or financial position.
Continuing our mission to grow and strengthen the regional presence
Daikin, the leading global innovator and provider of advanced, high-quality air conditioning, heating, ventilation and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products and solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications, has announced the appointment of Masaaki Miyatake as the new Daikin MEA Chairman and President.
Miyatake joined Daikin as a sales engineer in Japan more than 30 years ago. Due to his exceptional abilities, he was promoted to Project Sales Manager. From Japan, he was transferred in 2017 to “Daikin Europe” in Belgium where he worked as the General Manager for the Applied Business. In July 2020, he joined Daikin MEA based in Dubai.
Miyatake had led an award-winning team that developed an inverter heat-pump modular chiller in Japan. This innovative product won the 2017 “Energy Conservation Grand Prize” and the “Energy Conservation Center Chairman’s Award”.
“Seeking to expand its footprint in key regional markets, Daikin Middle East and Africa will open new affiliates, sales offices and service centers as well as introduce new products to enable us to reach as many customers as possible. This move will be supported by a stronger business structure and vibrant cooperation with our sales partners and other industry stakeholders. Internally, we will implement continuous career development and relevant skills training programs to strengthen our teams’ competencies, and to align with our mission to ensure best indoor air quality and deliver comfort through an energy-efficient building climate control solution.” Miyatake said.
Addressing the Daikin MEA community, he highlighted the power of all teams to effect change, reach ambitious targets and transform the company in line with Daikin’s strategic Fusion 25 management plan.
Saudi Arabian Logistics Company (SAL), Saudi Arabia’s leading cargo ground handler and logistics provider, is pleased to announce the unveiling of its new pharma and perishable facilities at the Cargo Village in Riyadh, specializing in perishables and all types of pharmaceuticals, including the much-awaited COVID vaccines soon to be rolled out worldwide. His Excellency the Saudi Minister of Transport Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser inaugurated SAL’s new facilities at the country’s main gateway, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SAL, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, is tasked to complement the nation’s goal of creating a global logistics hub.
With 5,000 square meters of storage, the pharma and perishable facilities combined can adequately handle up to 365,000 tons of cargo a year. With SAL’s partnership with the Saudi Customs, Saudi Food and Drug Authority has made clearance of shipments becomes easier and faster. The new facilities have four docks for loading refrigerated containers. The project, which started its operations, also has twelve warehouses with different temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius to suit the nature and type of cargo to be stored. In addition, within the facility, there is a special storage dedicated for flower cargo.
SAL CEO Omar Hariri commented, “The launch of the Riyadh Cold Storage facilities comes at a historic moment that coincides with the world’s anticipation for the delivery of the COVID vaccine. This urgency makes us harness the capabilities of the operation capacity of our pharmaceutical facility and be fully prepared to receive and handle the new vaccines in coordination with the health authorities.” The new project, he added, will enhance SAL’s handling and storage services for medical and pharmaceuticals in line with the highest quality standards approved by the EU GDP.
The opening of the facilities ushers in a new and advanced phase for handling sensitive cargoes including foodstuffs that require special care. Within the facilities, there are divisions run by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Saudi Customs to inspect and expedite the cargo handling process to avoid an unbreakable cool chain. The new facilities also feature a 650 sqm temperature control breakdown area. There’s also an area for shipping refrigerated containers enough for 20 active containers. It is also equipped with a thermal isolation area.
Last May, SAL started its operations at its new facilities in the Riyadh-based King Khalid International Airport’s Cargo Village. The total area of the facilities is 42,000 square meters while its operation capacity reaches 450,000 tons a year including cargoes and goods handled. SAL aims to contribute to the Vision 2030 objectives and turn the Kingdom into a global logistics hub and invest in its strategic geographical location connecting three continents. The Saudi Ministry of Transport assured the country’s transport infrastructure and facilities, particularly air cargo and logistics, are fully prepared to handle COVID-19 vaccines once it’s ready for distribution.
Water usage around the world continues to rise, but with supply diminishing at current rates, the projections for global water availability are not promising. Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting, estimates that 25 percent of the world’s population is currently living in areas of extremely high water stress, and by 2050 that portion of the population will more than double.
2.7 billion people experience water scarcity at least one month a year and the United Nations has declared 2018-2028 the decade of “Water for Sustainable Development”. A new report by Oliver Wyman, Taking Back Control of the World’s Most Precious Resource: Opportunities for Integrated Water Management, highlights that countries need to take an integrated approach that considers their unique challenges, availability of financial resources and extent of water scarcity. The report shows that by adopting such strategies, the accessibility and availability of water resources will become more achievable.
Commenting on the insights, Bruno Sousa, Partner in the Energy Practice at Oliver Wyman, said: “With water resources becoming increasingly scarce globally, the Middle East region is addressing the critical issues with governments increasingly adopting new strategies for balancing their scarce water resources and growing demand for fresh water. This has led some countries in the Middle East to turn to options such as desalination and treatment and reuse of wastewater.”
According to the report, countries have historically prioritized wastewater treatment lower than water supply services, ultimately resulting in untreated waste being discharged into the environment. In the UAE however, levels of reuse of treated wastewater have reached 51 percent. The use of treatment technology has enabled higher levels of reuse and provided more water at lower costs.
Although many countries continue to use older methods, the report highlights that the water sector has experienced many technological advancements in recent years. Water supply infrastructure can be significantly improved by leveraging new technology and refining existing, ageing infrastructure across the value chain. Innovative water demand management methods can also be deployed to further limit domestic water consumption and expand to agriculture and industrial consumption.
Other methods of addressing sustainable water management presented in the report include developing efficient water supply infrastructure, managing water demand, conserving water domestically, enhancing irrigation and crop optimization among others.
The report also highlights a lack of action to address water-related challenges which will further exacerbate economic losses caused by water-related issues. Losses in agriculture, health, and income from similar issues can result in up to a six percent reduction in GDP in the Middle East by 2050.
Bruno Sousa added: “To ensure water-stressed countries mitigate waster scarcity, countries in the Middle East should establish multi-year, ambitious, comprehensive programs to drive the changes required across water supply infrastructure and demand management.”
“With the help of policy makers, water resources managers, regulators and service provides, an integrated approach that strives to ensure sustainable development of the sector can be achieved. Clear roles and responsibilities must also be established for accountability purposes and to ensure that the control and monitoring of services provided enhance the performance of the water sector.”
The report notes that financial incentives must be in place for water efficiency and conservation initiatives. Likewise, capacity development and technology will create the knowledge and tools to ensure that future challenges are properly met, and that program and initiative objectives will be sustainable in the long-term.
Company scoops coveted title at Innovation in Construction and FM Awards 2020, while Group CEO Mr. Jamal Abdulla Lootah was also recognized as the ‘Visionary Leader of the Year’
Imdaad, a Dubai-based group of companies that provides integrated, sustainable FM services that enhance operational efficiencies of physical assets, has scooped two of the top awards at the Innovation in Construction and FM Awards 2020. The company received the coveted ‘Sanitation and Waste Management Company of the Year’ title, while Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jamal Abdulla Lootah was crowned ‘Visionary Leader of the Year’ for his inspiring stewardship of Imdaad and outstanding contribution to the regional FM sector.
The awards were presented during a glittering ceremony held at the prestigious Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk hotel. Judged by a panel of experts, the Innovation in Facilities Management Awards 2020 is one of the leading events applauding the achievements of the region’s facilities management professionals and attracted some of the industry’s leading figures. Mr. Lootah was accompanied by several high-level executives from Imdaad, including Executive Director for Human Capital and Administration Marwan Othman, Chief Operating Officer Mahmood Rasheed, and Chief Financial Officer Zubin Shroff.
Qatar Airways Cargo appointed Wexco, part of ECS Group, as its general sales agent (GSA) in Australia. Through that new agreement, Qatar Airways and ECS Group are extending their strategic partnership which today covers 20 countries worldwide. The partnership will leverage Qatar Airways’ strong presence in Australia, promoting destinations to the Middle-East, Europe, the Americas and Africa to the Australian exporters.
Qatar Airways serves five major Australian cities: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide and operates 30 passenger and freighters flights per week.
Daniel Parker, Vice President Cargo Asia, Qatar Airways, said: “Qatar Airways is one of the best and most reliable airlines in the Australian market. We have a solid foundation for further growth with our partner Wexco, whose excellent reputation in the Australian market was also a major factor in our decision, together with its deep knowledge of Qatar Airways’ processes.”
The main market for Qatar Airways in Australia remains the perishable exports to the Middle East, but also growing outbound pharmaceuticals traffic to Europe and The Americas. The carrier can also capitalize on the opportunities from Australia to the neighboring market of New Zealand thanks to its scheduled services between Brisbane and Auckland.
Bruno Blin, President of the Volvo Group subsidiary Renault Trucks, handed over the keys of a D Wide Z.E. to Thomas Amstutz, CEO of Feldschlösschen, a subsidiary of the Carlsberg Group. The vehicle is the first one to be delivered from the historic order consisting of twenty 26-tonne Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E. vehicles that will operate in Feldschlösschen’s daily business. Through the use of electric trucks, the Carlsberg Group and Feldschlösschen show that carbon neutral distribution can be achieved.
Last February, Renault Trucks took a key step towards transforming urban transport by announcing the signing of a historic contract with the Carlsberg Group for the delivery of twenty D Wide Z.E. 26-ton trucks. Bruno Blin, President of the Volvo Group subsidiary Renault Trucks, today handed Thomas Amstutz, CEO of Feldschlösschen, the keys to a D Wide Z.E., the first vehicle of the order for twenty fully-electric trucks placed by the Swiss brewery.
“I’m convinced that electric mobility is the solution when it comes to environmental and climate issues, both for ourselves and for future generations,” declared Bruno Blin, President of Renault Trucks. “I’m delighted that Renault Trucks is supporting Feldschlösschen and Carlsberg, a pioneering group when it comes to investing in electric technology. The transportation industry is experiencing a major shift. Our industry is set to change more in the next ten years than it has over the past century and through this partnership Carlsberg and Renault Trucks are showing the way forward.”
Thomas Amstutz, CEO of Feldschlösschen, continues: “We are proud to see our pioneering work with electric trucks, which began several years ago now, finally paying off. We are the first company in Switzerland and even Europe to use these environmentally friendly trucks for beverage transport. Our ambition is to take on a leading role not only in the development of beers and beverages, but also in beverage logistics and climate protection.”
Indeed, Feldschlösschen and the Carlsberg Group, which are strongly committed to environmental protection and reducing global warming, are systematically pursuing the objectives of their ‘Together Towards ZERO’ sustainability strategy and aim to reach a CO2-neutral distribution. To help Feldschlösschen achieve these objectives they will use renewable electricity for the last few miles and rail transport for long distances.
Renault Trucks electric vehicles, a comprehensive zero-emission range
Renault Trucks provides a comprehensive range of fully-electric vehicles from 3.1 to 26 tons. Hauliers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint can acquire a 100% electric truck for immediate use.
Electric vehicles respect air quality by emitting neither CO2 nor NOx (nitrogen oxide) when in use. They can be driven regardless of any restrictions put in place by municipalities, even during periods of peak pollution. As they are silent, they can be used in city centres at night, thereby respecting the sleep of local residents and helping traffic flow more freely during the day.
India is one of the fastest growing markets globally for the food and beverage sector. With a young population that is increasingly well traveled and familiar with international cuisine, there has been a growing awareness and demand in the country for quality produce and food ingredients from around the world.
In 2015, Catch of Norway Seafood, a family business based out of Bengaluru and Oslo, realised the immense potential for bringing fresh seafood from the cold waters of Norway to fine-dining restaurants and homes of customers in India. Mark Alzawahra, co-founder of the company moved to India and set up a small office in Bengaluru to import and distribute salmon and other seafood to end customers in the country.
Over a period of five years, Catch of Norway has met with success, rapidly expanded its client base by supplying to restaurants in 5-star hotels, premium and organic supermarkets as well as leading catering businesses across more than 10 cities in India. Following on from its success in the b2b sector, Catch of Norway has now also established its own direct to customer channels, allowing for individual customers across many cities in India to source seafood from Norway.
From its early days of setting up business in India, Catch of Norway has had a reliable partner in Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates. Through its cargo operations across a global network, Emirates SkyCargo helps facilitate the rapid movement of fresh seafood from Oslo to Bengaluru via Dubai.
“Our first shipment of fresh salmon was transported in 2015 with Emirates from Oslo to Bengaluru via Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo has literally been part of our success from the first time we imported salmon in to India to this day. Emirates came highly recommended and we were already aware of the reputation of the passenger and cargo services. There is a lot of trust in the name Emirates and the organization does not disappoint,” said Mark Alzawahra, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Catch of Norway Seafood.
“Emirates SkyCargo has the best and widest route network with multiple flight frequencies from key cities. For perishables such as premium salmon, cod, halibut, and shellfish, minimizing transport time, transit times, and turnaround times on the ground is crucial. Having multiple flights from Oslo to Dubai and onwards to Bangalore has been very important. If there are delays, there are backup flights within a short timeframe if the initial connection was missed.
“Emirates SkyCargo’s teams in Oslo and Bangalore have been very responsive and supportive over the years. We imported 50 kg of fresh whole salmon and fresh salmon fillets and portions for our first shipment in to India. In 2020, we were importing almost one tonne of fresh seafood from Norway every shipment, mostly with Emirates SkyCargo. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has been operating regular cargo connections to Bengaluru, helping maintain the continuity of the supply chain” added Alzawahra.
Emirates SkyCargo prides itself as a business enabler for small and medium sized enterprises operating internationally by helping them access growth opportunities in new markets through its flight connectivity. Currently Emirates SkyCargo flies cargo to over 125 destinations across six continents. Through its global network and modern all-widebody aircraft fleet, the air cargo carrier is able to rapidly transport time-sensitive cargo including fresh seafood and other agricultural produce from origin to destination.
With Emirates Fresh, Emirates SkyCargo’s specially designed air cargo product for perishables, the carrier is able to ensure that commodities such as sea food retain their freshness throughout the journey.
Emirates SkyCargo has been operating flights to Oslo since 2014. In addition to passenger flights, the air cargo carrier also operates freighter flights to the Norwegian capital since October 2016, offering around 100 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. Between 2016 and 2018, Emirates SkyCargo helped export over 35,000 tonnes of Norwegian salmon to a number of export markets in the Middle East and Asia. Over the last three years, Emirates SkyCargo has transported over 225,000 tonnes of seafood across the globe.
Emirates SkyCargo connects nine destinations in India to its international cargo network through scheduled cargo flights. India is one of the cargo carrier’s most important markets globally. In 2019, Emirates SkyCargo transported more than 250,000 tonnes of cargo to and from India, including important exports of food items and perishables as well as pharmaceuticals.
As part of its business plan over the next 2-3 years Catch of Norway Seafood is looking to expand its source markets, diversifying its product portfolio and embracing e-commerce channels to match the evolving tastes of Indian customers.
“We have sourced seafood occasionally from the Netherlands and we are considering importing seafood from markets such as Canada, Japan and Spain. We are also observing an increased interest in a variety of health-food and plant-based food product ranges from Europe in India, all of which is very exciting and we look forward to using Emirates SkyCargo’s services and expertise in bringing these quality goods from international destinations into the Indian market,” commented Mark Alzawahra.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has partnered with information technology company SITA, to trial the use of facial biometrics in order to check in cabin crew at the airlines Crew Briefing Centre at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The trial will use facial recognition technology to identify and authenticate crew members, allowing them to complete check-in procedures and mandatory pre-flight safety and security questions digitally via their own mobile devices. The new initiative will replace the current kiosk-based check-in process which requires crew to use their staff identity cards as a form of authentication.
Captain Sulaiman Yaqoobi, Vice President Flight Operations, Etihad Aviation Group said: “Etihad is constantly on the lookout for innovative solutions and new technologies that will drive improvements in the airline’s operations and enhance the experience for guests and employees. Etihad is excited to partner with SITA to explore the potential that facial biometric services has for the aviation industry. By integrating contactless technology, biometric services will increase efficiency while simultaneously cementing our commitment to reducing the spread of COVID-19 by limiting physical touch points and maximising social distancing measures.”
As part of the airline’s digitalisation strategy, facial biometric technology is expected to improve operational efficiency by speeding up the existing check-in process and automating crew time and attendance management and access controls. Cabin crew will also experience a seamless and contactless check-in experience.
Roger Nakouzi, Vice President Sales, SITA added: “We are proud to partner with Etihad to design and implement a secure biometric system that offers a smarter and more efficient working environment for crew while solving a key operational challenge of the pandemic by reducing contact points. SITA has extensive experience in both mobile and biometric technology solutions having developed and implemented SITA Smart Path at airports globally, enabling a seamless, low touch passenger experience while increasing airport efficiencies.”
The trial will continue until February 2021 and will provide the airline with invaluable data to explore future exploration of biometric technology for use in guest operations, such as check-in and boarding.
Continuing its contributions for the sustainability of the global supply chain by building a global air cargo bridge all across the globe with its cargo flights, Turkish Cargo started to carry COVID-19 vaccines with its strong fleet, wide flight network and special cargo service quality.
Offering service to 127 countries around the world, Turkish Cargo carried the COVID-19 vaccines, manufactured in China, to Brazil which is at a flight distance of approximately 17 thousand kilometers. The COVID-19 vaccines, loaded inside 7 containers equipped with dedicated cooling systems, were transported safely from Beijing to Sao Paulo, the biggest city of the South America, with a connection flight at Istanbul.
By carrying pharmaceuticals to the key and certificated destinations such as Mumbai, Brussels, Istanbul, Singapore, Dubai, Basel, London and Amsterdam, Turkish Cargo created a global pharmaceutical corridor between more than 400 destinations, and maintains its commitment for transporting the COVID-19 vaccines that are ready or being developed.
Holding the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) pharma certificate, Turkish Cargo, maintains the cold chain at the optimal conditions thanks to the “TK Pharma” product which was has designed for carrying pharmaceuticals at global standards. Transporting pharmaceuticals all across the global in great numbers during the course of the pandemic, the successful brand carried more than 40 thousand tons of pharmaceuticals, medical products and medical equipment between January and September, and reported a growth over 50 percent for the pharmaceutical shipments during the same period.
Turkish Cargo provided a capacity increase for the COVID-19 vaccine shipments
In order to satisfy the increased demand for transportation of the vaccines, pharmaceuticals and temperature-controlled cargo, Turkish Cargo commissioned the temperature-controlled smart warehouse with an additional area of 1200 square meters. Additionally, having increased its capacity for the cold chain shipments by 30 percent by working with the largest suppliers of active containers in the industry, Turkish Cargo enhanced its cold chain shipment scale to 25 thousand tonnes per month thanks to the capacity to service additional 150 aircraft pallets on instantaneous basis.
Turkish Airlines Chief Cargo Officer, Turhan Özen stated; ‘’We made significant contributions for the sustainability of the supply chain and enlarged our cold chain footprint all around the world thanks to the business processes we have been maintaining uninterruptedly during the course of the pandemic. For the purpose of maintaining the cross-continental cold chain, Turkish Cargo offers industrial solutions such as the dedicated temperature-controlled storehouses between the range of -20/25 degrees, pharmaceutical maintenance teams, active containers and thermal carriers. Thanks to our special cargo shipments, for which we hold all global qualifications and certifications, we are ready to transport the vaccines that are ready or being developed to all across the globe.”
SmartIST, the key transit air logistics center between Asia and Europe
Turkish Cargo is getting ready to offer even higher standards for the pharmaceutical shipments with the certificated dedicated operation areas that will be available with SmartIST, its new mega facility located at the Istanbul Airport (IST) that covers an area of 340 thousand square meters.
With an annual handling capacity of more than 4 million tonnes, SmartIST will be equipped with the receival, delivery and operation area dedicated for the special cargo, the temperature-controlled unit devices (ULDs), an operation area of 2100 square meters isolated from the other cargo and a web-based temperature and humidity monitoring systems.
Boasting the world’s widest direct cargo aircraft network, Turkish Cargo reaches over 300 destinations, 95 of which is direct cargo destinations, and offers its services 24/7 to its customers over its global network with its fleet of 365 aircrafts. Turkish Cargo continues to raise its bar for success every day by combining its wide range of service and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantage of Turkey and aims to become one of the top 5 air cargo brands in 2023.
Free Zones across the GCC are increasingly becoming magnets and star attractions for Investors, FDIs
Businesses of all hues and sizes from micro enterprises, SMEs and mega conglomerates are increasingly beating a path to Free Zones across the GCC. These special zones are increasingly becoming popular propositions for attracting investments and professional skills.
The following report from Frost & Sullivan, the global growth consultant firm, puts the GCC Free Zones landscape into perspective and examines the industry ecosystem in the region.
GCC LOGISTICS MARKET OVERVIEW
The logistics industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is evolving rapidly driven by increasing non-oil sector contribution to GDP, infrastructure development, the emergence of free trade zones and industrial parks, and increased trade cooperation. Governments in the region have undertaken policy measures to reduce their dependency on oil exports by strengthening economic diversification initiatives, tax reforms, improving the investment climate, and increasing investment in food security and encouraging private sector participation. The region’s geographical location on the trans-continental trade has facilitated its focus on the development of logistics hubs for both domestic and transit goods.
Stringent containment measures to arrest the spread of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have resulted in a sharp decline in economic and trade activities. Some of these measures include the imposition of travel restrictions, border closures, and lockdowns which have impacted freight capacity and flow of goods in the GCC region. The region is anticipated to see a contraction in the first two quarters of 2020. As the curfews and lockdowns are relaxed, trade activities are expected to pick up in the second half of 2020.
During the rebound phase from the pandemic, digital transformation initiatives are likely to be undertaken in the region with the support of government initiatives which call for the application of digital technologies in both government and private sectors. United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are likely to emerge as front runners in technology adoption in the areas of customs clearance and port terminal operations. The logistics start-up ecosystem has benefited from government initiatives, increased internet penetration, and mobile technologies. Modern warehouses are becoming automated with more use of robotics, and companies are experimenting with the use of autonomous vehicles and drones for efficient and faster last-mile deliveries.
Advancements in digital technologies are expected to influence manned and unmanned connected autonomous transportation as well as connected physical transportation infrastructure driven by the application of smart sensors. In addition, automation, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and Big Data analytics are expected to either transform or disrupt logistics service offerings.
Aramex UK Ltd.; a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announced that it has moved its operations into a new warehouse facility in London Heathrow. This facility will ensure Aramex UK deliver the utmost effective service during peak seasons and enable them to support an ever-growing customer base of leading brands.
The new 80,000+ Square foot state-of-the-art, technology-driven facility is strategically located at Poyle; a long established industrial and logistics epicenter minutes from Heathrow International airport. The facility featuring some of the latest technologies is sure to improve overall operational accuracy and efficiency. Thus, accommodating complex e-Commerce and logistics business ruling.
Umar Butt, Country Manager for Aramex UK said: “Located at the heart of London Heathrow Airport, the facility is equipped with innovative state-of-the-art technologies for higher capacity, faster sortation process and reduced transit times. We believe this will allow us to fulfil growing customer demands for more rapid, efficient deliveries and manage a completely seamless and reliable fulfilment service. This will also support us in catering to the growth in e-Commerce and freight volumes helping us grow our presence in different verticals.
The new facility includes a three-story office accommodation, which will give the Company the flexibility to not only use the site as storage and distribution depot; but also, be home to its headquarters facility in the South East. A prime location for Aramex to expand using the gateways of Heathrow.
Watch Damon Hill’s 360-degree videos with commentary of the Yas Marina Circuit grandstands
Win ten grandstand tickets to the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE and official sponsor of the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has collaborated with Formula 1™ racing legend Damon Hill to produce 360-degree videos of Yas Marina Circuit. In these unique videos, Damon Hill gives racing enthusiasts the opportunity to view the five spectator grandstands at Yas Marina Circuit – Main, North, West, South and the Marina.
Damon Hill, the 1996 World Champion, counts more than 22 victories in his list of achievements. He commentates on the highlights of the view from each grandstand. The series of videos has been launched by Etihad Airways on the airline’s YouTube channel to engage with fans ahead of this year’s final race of the season. After watching the videos, fans can win one of ten tickets to the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021 by visiting etihad.com/F12020 and voting for their favourite grandstand.
Yasser Al Yousuf, Vice President Commercial Partnerships, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As the title sponsor, Etihad has looked at exciting ways of using immersive digital content to bring the Formula 1 experience to the screen. This collaboration with Damon Hill brings the thrill of the grandstands to life and we hope this will excite fans ahead of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. We have many highlights to look forward to over the coming weeks – including carrying the drivers, support crew and officials to Abu Dhabi ahead of the finale.”
Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Adnavem, an online marketplace for freight services. Adnavem offers unbundled door-to-door transport with a present focus on Asia and Northern Europe.
Adnavem, which was founded in 2017 and is based in Gothenburg in Sweden, is disrupting the transport and logistics industry by providing an unbundled service offer where transport buyers can choose the service providers for each part of the logistics chain themselves.
“Nowadays the unbundling of services is a strong trend in many industries and this trend is also redrawing the map for the transport industry. Adnavem offers innovative services for freight buyers but also better terms for haulage companies, which is very important for us. We share the clear goal of making transport more efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly with the help of technology,” says Erik Johansson, Investment Director at Volvo Group Venture Capital.
“We are set to change the multimodal transport industry. The investment from Volvo Group Venture Capital will help accelerate our growth and lay the foundation for an exciting partnership. By digitalising and automating the freight process, we can help transport buyers to find the best transport chains and strike a good balance between price, speed and environmental impact,” says Andreas Wramsmyr, founder and CEO of Adnavem.
The role of Volvo Group Venture Capital is to make investments that drive transformation by facilitating the creation of new services and solutions and to support collaborations between start-ups and the Volvo Group.
Against the background of the trends shaping the future of transportation and the strategic priorities of the Volvo Group, the key areas of investment for Volvo Group Venture Capital are currently logistics services, site solutions and electrical infrastructure. The organisation has a global scope, but focuses on Europe and North America.
ABCC moderates an online panel session on UAE-Brazil trading opportunities
The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) recently took part at the virtual Logistique – Multimodal Logistics and Business Fair and Congress, which brought together key Arab and Brazilian stakeholders, experts, business executives and government authorities. The online panel session, moderated by ABCC President Rubens Hannun, was held to address key aspects of logistics, multimodal transportation and bilateral trade between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
H.E. Saleh Alsuwaidi, UAE Ambassador to Brazil, was one of the event’s high-profile participants. He joined the President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (FIESC), Mario Cezar de Aguiar, and economics journalist Cláudio Loetz in a panel session. The session was titled ‘Potential and Opportunities in Bilateral Trade Between Brazil and the UAE.’
During the discussions, the Emirati Ambassador noted that, as the UAE is a hub for Brazil in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Brazil is a hub for the UAE in Latin America. “I encourage the business community to look at the large markets around us. We could expand and make joint investments in these territories, especially in other Arab states,” Alsuwaidi said, adding that he is interested in having a more in-depth knowledge of Brazil’s southern region.
De Aguiar proposed the opening of a UAE-Santa Catarina flight through the UAE’s flag carrier Emirates. According to him, this flight could be allowed to accommodate both passengers and cargo to lay the foundation for stronger and more vibrant ties.
Hannun pointed out the significant role that Brazil continues to play in the UAE’s economic growth and development. Brazil continues to be one of the UAE’s key economic partners, supplying the country with poultry and beef, sugar, gold, iron ore, semi-finished goods, footwear, and motors. In turn, the UAE provides Brazil with fertilizer, sulfur, diesel, iron pipes, polycarbonate fiber, and polyester fiber.
He said: “Brazil-UAE relations have become closer over the last years, driven further by important mutual visits of top-level government officials. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s visit took place almost a year ago and, since then, things have developed in a constructive way towards building key strategic partnerships between the two countries.”
The event’s conference and business fair were staged online recently, with the trade show featuring large companies and leading industry brands. The ABCC continues to maintain a strong presence in the UAE through its office in Dubai, working constantly and closely collaborating with the local government to communicate with Brazilian authorities and companies on how to secure food supply in the country during these challenging times.
Enjoying the widest direct cargo flight network in the world, the global air cargo carrier, Turkish Cargo continues to increase the number of direct freighter only destinations.
Having an attractive location from the viewpoint of the logistics and trading companies, Budapest (BUD) became the main hub for Turkish Cargo with the newly established Eastern Europe Regional Directorate office here. This Regional Directorate Office coordinates the cargo sales activities of 21 countries based in Budapest. Additionally, along with long time great co-operation with Budapest Airport, Turkish Cargo that has enhanced the service quality and demonstrated a sustainable achievement thanks to its mission, namely, “Raising the Bar”, Turkish Cargo expands freighter capacities at BUD in winter season 2020 with launching 4th frequency with A330 Cargo Aircraft as of November 8th.
As one of the most prominent cargo airlines in terms of network growth, Turkish Cargo serves 43 countries/120 destinations (31 direct cargo) throughout Europe.
Flight schedule as of 8th November (LMT):
Adding its 95th destination to its list of direct cargo flights destinations operated with freighters, Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand in the world, offers the largest air bridge thanks to its fleet of 365 aircraft, 25 of which are freighters, as well as its extensive flight network reaching more than 300 destinations in 127 countries.
Turkish Cargo aims to develop its activities in the air cargo transportation by achieving a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and specialized crew and teams.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com, or contact the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Next year, hauliers in Europe will be able to order all-electric versions of Volvo’s heavy-duty trucks. This means that Volvo Trucks will offer a complete heavy-duty range with electric drivelines starting in Europe in 2021. Volvo Trucks’ massive drive towards electrification marks a major step forwards on the road to fossil-free transport.
Volvo Trucks is now running tests of the electric heavy-duty Volvo FH, Volvo FM and Volvo FMX trucks, which will be used for regional transport and urban construction operations in Europe. These trucks will have a gross combination weight of up to 44 tonnes. Depending on the battery configuration the range could be up to 300 km. Sales will begin next year and volume production will start in 2022. This means that from 2021 onwards Volvo Trucks will sell a complete range of battery-electric trucks in Europe for distribution, refuse, regional transport and urban construction operations.
“By rapidly increasing the number of heavy-duty electric trucks, we want to help our customers and transport buyers to achieve their ambitious sustainability goals. We’re determined to continue driving our industry towards a sustainable future,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks started manufacturing the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric in 2019. These are electric trucks intended for city distribution and refuse operations, primarily in Europe. In North America, sales of the Volvo VNR Electric, a truck for regional transport, will start on December 3, 2020.
A gradual transition to fossil-free alternatives
Electric vehicles for demanding and heavy long-haul operations will follow in this decade. These will be battery-electric and fuel cell electric trucks with a longer range. Volvo Trucks aims to start selling electric trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cells in the second half of this decade. Volvo Trucks’ objective is for its entire product range to be fossil-free by 2040.
“To reduce the impact of transport on the climate, we need to make a swift transition from fossil fuels to alternatives such as electricity. But the conditions for making this shift, and consequently the pace of the transition, vary dramatically across different hauliers and markets, depending on many variables such as financial incentives, access to charging infrastructure and type of transport operations,” explains Roger Alm.
For this reason, most transport companies will change over to electric operation in stages. In practice, many of them will have a mixed fleet of trucks powered by different fuels during a transition period.
“Our chassis are designed to be independent of the driveline used. Our customers can choose to buy several Volvo trucks of the same model, with the only difference being that some are electric and others are powered by gas or diesel. As regards product characteristics, such as the driver’s environment, reliability and safety, all our vehicles meet the same high standards. Drivers should feel familiar with their vehicles and be able to operate them safely and efficiently regardless of the fuel used,” says Roger Alm.
From Volvo Trucks’ perspective, the transition to more sustainable transport is largely about making the shift as smooth as possible for haulage operators, so that they can begin to adjust. The solutions offered must be fossil-free and allow hauliers to achieve the necessary levels of profitability and productivity.
“Our primary task is to ease the transition to electrified vehicles. We’re doing this by offering holistic solutions that include route planning, correctly specified vehicles, charging equipment, financing and services. The long-term security that we and our global network of dealers and service workshops provide our customers with will be more important than ever,” says Roger Alm.
SkyTeam Cargo, the largest alliance in the air cargo industry, has announced the appointment of Omar Hariri as the new chairman of its Executive Board.
Hariri, concurrently the CEO of both Saudi Airlines Cargo Company (Saudia Cargo) and Saudi Arabian Logistics Company (SAL), replaces Shawn Cole, VP Cargo of Delta Airlines, who held the position for three years.
The Executive Board of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance, which is made up of top executives from the group’s 12-member cargo airlines, endorsed Hariri’s new role during their latest meeting.
Commenting on his new role as the Chairman of the SkyTeam Cargo Alliance Executive Board, Hariri said: “It will be an honor chairing the executive board of SkyTeam Cargo, the largest alliance in the cargo industry accounting for nearly 20% of the global air cargo movement. SkyTeam Cargo with its two decades of formulation has come a long way and with its 12-member airlines reaching every corner of the globe, enjoys a vast geographic reach and connectivity between the east and west and vice versa.”
“I would like to thank Shawn for his contributions during the last three years and SkyTeam Cargo Alliance and its members for giving me this opportunity. Moving forward, we will continue focusing on actively promoting and strengthening the alliance between the members and at the same time focusing on enhancing our technologically driven operational and network capability to ensure an outclass experience for our customers. With the growing demand for pharma and e-commerce, our aim is to continue exploring new markets while enhancing connectivity and efficient deliveries, further grow and strengthening the core business of our 12-member airlines.”
Hariri joined Saudi Arabian Airlines Cargo (Saudia Cargo) as CEO in February 2018, bringing with him an extensive experience in air freight and logistics management from his diversified roles at DHL Express and FedEx Express.
The successful brand of national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo is chosen as the best cargo brand of Europe and received “Best Cargo Airline – Europe” award during the Air Cargo News Awards 2020 which was organized for the 36th time this year.
Organized on a digital platform for the first time due to the global pandemic, 12 awards met with their winners. Award winners were chosen by the votes cast by experts of supply chain with criteria such as quality, innovation, efficiency, speed, reliability and vision in mind, open to all sector which offers innovative products, services and operations that can help developing air cargo sector further.
On the award, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee M. İlker Aycı stated; “Receiving the best cargo airline of Europe award, our cargo brand Turkish Cargo continues to make our country proud by maintaining a sustainable success with its air cargo operations conducted to all over the world. Despite the crises that grip the world such as the current pandemic period, Turkish Cargo continues its success story with more effective solutions by developing and using new technologies and innovative approaches. One of the significant examples of these approaches will be the SmartIST, one of the biggest and most modern air cargo facilities in the world. Located in Istanbul Airport, facility will use technologies such as drones, robotic automation and optimization. With its smart technology developments and digitalization works, our brand will soar to many more achievements. I congratulate our flag carrier air cargo brand and all of our employees that contributed to its success.”
Turkish Cargo is building air cargo bridges between continents
As the fastest growing air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo continued its air cargo operations without any interruptions during this global pandemic period and transported food, aid, medicine, masks and medical equipment to all over the world. Carrying on its works selflessly 24/7 to maintain global medicine supply chain, Turkish Cargo managed to carry 1 out of every 20 air cargo in the world.
Turkish Cargo boasting the widest cargo aircraft network
Boasting the world’s widest direct cargo aircraft network, Turkish Cargo reaches over 300 destinations, 95 of which is direct cargo destinations, and offers its services 24/7 to its customers over its global network.
As the best air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo continues to raise its bar for success every day by combining its wide service range with the unique geographical advantage of Turkey and aims to become one of the top 5 air cargo brands in 2023.
The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors today signed binding agreements to form a strategic alliance within commercial vehicles in order to capture the opportunities in the ongoing industry transformation, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2019. The agreements include Isuzu Motor’s acquisition of UD Trucks from the Volvo Group for an enterprise value of JPY 243 billion (approx. SEK 20 billion). The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including approval from regulatory authorities.
The Alliance between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors is set to a build long-term and robust relationship that will encompass but not be limited to:
• Forming a technology partnership, intended to leverage the parties’ complementary areas of expertise within both well-known and new technologies and creating a larger volume base to support investments for world-class technology. The technology partnership encompasses:
– Joint development by Isuzu Motors and UD Trucks of common platforms for medium heavy-duty truck models for the Japanese- and other Asian markets, utilizing amongst others Volvo Group technology.
– Intended cooperation regarding new technologies such as autonomous driving, connectivity and medium- and heavy-duty electrical vehicles.
Creating the best long-term conditions for a stronger heavy-duty truck business for UD Trucks and Isuzu Motors in Japan and across international markets by transferring ownership of the complete UD Trucks business from the Volvo Group to Isuzu Motors. This will accelerate growth by leveraging greater volumes and complementary capabilities, creating significant synergies for Isuzu Motors.
– As a first step, Isuzu Motors and UD Trucks are discussing the conditions for supply of certain truck variants from UD Trucks to Isuzu Motors from 2022 onwards.
– To secure smooth business continuation, the Volvo Group will provide transitional services to UD Trucks, and also supply components to UD Trucks.
Exploring further opportunities for even broader and deeper collaboration within the commercial vehicle businesses across geographical areas and product lines for future urban logistics solutions. Isuzu Motors is one of the world-leaders in the segment of 3.5 to 15T light and medium-duty trucks with volumes of 252 000 units in 2019.
Exploring cooperation in the areas of purchasing and logistics, leveraging common technology, as well as the geographical footprint complementarity and volume expansion.The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors will establish a Joint Alliance Office, with facilities both in Japan and Sweden, which will be overseen by an Alliance Board comprising the Isuzu Motors President, the Volvo Group CEO and other key executives from the two groups.
There is great complementarity between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors from both a geographical- and product line perspective. The two companies have signed an Alliance Framework Agreement for a minimum duration of 20 years, to take up the possibilities and challenges of the logistics industry of the future, maximizing value and benefits for customers as well as for society.
“I have high expectations on this strategic alliance, which will make Volvo and Isuzu Motors even more competitive within their respective markets and segments. This is an opportunity to share technology investments and also to help each other grow. I am confident that UD Trucks will become a bridge between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors and that the strategic alliance will create the conditions to continue to develop UD Trucks to a new level within Isuzu Motors. I also want to express my pride at how the UD Trucks team has been able to serve customers and continue to improve financial performance also during this unprecedented period, characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Volvo Group will continue to support UD Trucks, and participate in the Asian markets through this alliance,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group.
DHL Global Forwarding honored with four Gold 2020 Stevie Awards for Women in Business
Success for the company’s “Women at DHL Global Forwarding” initiative: take home four gold awards in a field of more than 1,500 participants.
The awards make DHL Global Forwarding the world’s first freight forwarder winning such a number of Gold Stevies in one year.
DHL’s diversity drive aims for a group-wide proportion of 30% women in management by 2025.
“Women at DHL Global Forwarding” a diversity initiative at DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has been recognized for its achievements in promoting diversity in the workplace. The initiative has won Gold Stevie Awards in four categories – winning organizational as well as individual awards. More than 1,500 nominations were submitted for consideration to the jury.
“The development of talented women in our organization is a focus for us all at DHL Global Forwarding. We aim to bring a greater number of women into leadership positions and our initiative ‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’ is the main driver for that,” says Tim Scharwath, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, Freight. “Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging are part of our organization’s core values and we look forward to continuing on build a great workplace where everyone is welcome.”
DHL Global Forwarding is the first freight forwarder being selected for such a high number of awards in one year. The categories honoring DHL Global Forwarding are: Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women, Female Executive of the Year – Business Services – More Than 2,500 Employees’, Event of the year and Achievement in Human Resources.
Eva Mattheeussen, Head of Human Resources at DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa, and Global Project Lead of ‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’, received the Gold Stevie Award in the category ‘Female Executive of the Year – Business Services – More Than 2,500 Employees’. Eva says: “I am very proud of what we have accomplished with this project, which goes beyond building a strong community of women. It also focuses on bringing along allies to take active part in building a balanced workplace.”
‘Women at DHL Global Forwarding’ won the first place in three more categories
The initiative was awarded in the categories ‘Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women’ and ‘Achievement in Human Resources’. The initiative’s goal at DHL Global Forwarding is to promote a cultural mindset with focus on equal opportunities by offering work arrangements, transparency, and career support. Align with the cultural mindset, a new talent management program as well as mentoring and networking initiatives were implemented as additional measures. The ‘Women at DGF Virtual Learning Series’ hosted once per month throughout 2020 were honored as ‘Event of the Year’. The series are offered to all employees and cover topics such as personal and career development at DHL Global Forwarding.
Deutsche Post DHL Group, as a global company, values the diversity of its employees as a genuine strength. The Deutsche Post DHL Group brings together over 500,000 people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds – all with different skills, experiences and viewpoints. The group-wide engagement has been recognized second place in this year’s Grand Stevie Award trophies. Grand Stevie Award trophies are presented to five organizations that submitted the best body of entries to the competition. Deutsche Post DHL Group is among the Grand Stevie elite for the third year in a row.
Agri-nutrients produced and exported from the GCC region are estimated to have provided nutrition to 350 million people, equal to 5% of the world’s population
The GCC agri-nutrients industry supports the food supply of 5% of the world’s population, or 350 million people across the globe, according to a new report published by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). This figure marks the rising importance of agri-nutrients in enhancing global food security in a rapidly changing world, where we will need to produce 70% to 100% more food by 2050 to feed our growing population.
The findings were highlighted in a new report entitled ‘Role of Agri-Nutrients in Food Security’ released on the occasion of World Food Day organized by the UN. The report further reveals that over the last five decades, a portion of the global population supported by agri-nutrients manufactured by GCC producers has increased 33 times, from about 9 million in 1970 to 350 million currently.
The GCC agri-nutrient industry supports about 12,100 direct jobs in the region, and almost three times as many indirect and induced jobs, which means that every person working in the sector supports enough food production to feed about 30,000 people worldwide, including people in the GCC. Additionally, every person employed by the regional industry supports 17.7 tons of three main crops production per year (rice, wheat and maize), underlying the significance of the Arabian Gulf region in supporting global food security.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put food security and the nutrition of millions of people under threat, with many of the affected populations already suffering from malnutrition. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the number of people joining the ranks of those suffering from malnutrition post the pandemic may range from 14.4 million to 38.2, or even 80.3 million depending on the GDP contraction.
The role of agri-nutrients during the pandemic has been essential in meeting the needs of billions of people across the globe and ensuring the uninterrupted supply of nutrition to the world’s population.
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, production of agricultural chemicals including fertilizers and crop protection chemicals declined by 5% between January and May 2020 globally. Furthermore, capacity utilization reduced from 81.5% in January to 75.1% in May 2020. Comparatively, in the GCC, fertilizer producers continued to produce essential fertilizers and supply their global customers without significant production and supply chain disruptions.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: “The GCC region is an important, global center for the production and export of agri-nutrients, which have proven to be essential for enhancing global food security, particularly during the current crisis. The global community must work together to ensure open and free international trade and protect food supply chains by providing essential agri-nutrient inputs.”
He added: “Furthermore, we must keep domestic supply chain functions operational to ensure the smooth export of fertilizers, all while taking the necessary precautions for the safety and wellbeing of our employees. International cooperation will be equally important for all countries and regions to have sufficient supply of all agricultural inputs and outputs.”
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, announced today the official go-live of their rollout of WiseTech Global’s integrated logistics execution platform, CargoWise, across its global network.
The CargoWise rollout represents an integral milestone in Aramex’s digital transformation journey that strategically leverages innovative solutions to satisfy evolving customer needs and allows the company to swiftly adapt to changing market conditions. The scope of the implementation will cover the freight forwarding product across Aramex’s global network.
Aramex’s unique approach sees CargoWise implemented simultaneously across its worldwide network of 1,200 freight forwarding specialists, spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle East. CargoWise will support Aramex’s freight forwarding and customs operations and enhance the overall user experience for their employees and customers.
Mohammed Sleeq, Chief Digital Officer of Aramex, said: “We are very proud to launch CargoWise through this challenging time in a ‘big bang’ approach. Aramex is rewriting the textbook on implementing a global transport management system on such a large scale, which is a testament to our agility and speed in responding to the global changing environment. We have shortened the development cycle in years and avoided the landscape of operating a mix of legacy and modernized systems.
“Through a single platform, CargoWise provides configurability, automation and real-time visibility across our global freight operations. The results will be a high ramp up of business benefits that will be felt across all the freight community of Aramex,” added Sleeq.
WiseTech Global Founder and CEO, Richard White, said: “This is great achievement by Aramex. We are extremely pleased that CargoWise has successfully been rolled out across Aramex’s extensive global footprint in such a large-scale, coordinated approach. The CargoWise rollout marks an exciting period of digital transformation for Aramex, and it supports their commitment to technological innovation enabling more efficient movement of goods globally.”
Licensed across 160 countries, CargoWise enables logistics service providers to execute highly complex transactions in areas such as freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, shipping, tracking, land transport, e-commerce, and cross-border compliance, allowing them to manage their operations on one database across multiple users, functions, countries, languages, and currencies.
Emirates SkyCentral DWC in Dubai South to be operated as a dedicated anchor hub for COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Air cargo carrier has also set up a dedicated rapid response team to handle requests for vaccine transport
Emirates SkyCargo is stepping up its readiness to handle the logistical complexities of distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine globally by creating the world’s first dedicated airside cargo hub for the vaccine in Dubai. The air cargo carrier is taking a global leadership position by announcing that it will be re-opening its Emirates SkyCentral DWC cargo terminal in Dubai South to serve as a dedicated anchor hub for cold chain storage and distribution of the vaccine.
The freight division of Emirates has also set up a dedicated rapid response team to coordinate requests from the various partners involved in the international vaccine distribution ecosystem and to streamline the carrier’s response to vaccine transportation requests.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said: “Dubai is well positioned to serve as a gateway and distribution hub for COVID-19 vaccines to the rest of the world. We have the infrastructure and logistics connections, and a geographic location that puts markets representing more than two-thirds of the world’s population within an 8-hour flying radius. Over the years, through our continuous investment in capabilities and processes for the transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals, Emirates SkyCargo has managed to position Dubai amongst major global pharmaceutical customers as the year-round preferred point of transit for their valuable cargo. Setting up a dedicated airside hub for COVID-19 vaccines is a keystone project harnessing our network, reach and competencies to positively impact the lives of people around the world.”
World’s first dedicated airside hub for COVID-19 vaccine
Emirates SkyCargo’s vaccine hub in Dubai South will be the largest dedicated airside facility in the world for COVID-19 vaccines. The Dubai hub will allow the air cargo carrier to fly in vaccines from manufacturing sites globally, store and prepare shipments for regional and global distribution.
Emirates SkyCentral DWC has over 4,000 square metres of temperature controlled GDP certified dedicated pharma storage area allowing for large scale storage and distribution of the potential COVID-19 vaccines. Overall, it is estimated that the facility can hold around 10 million vials of vaccine at a 2-8 degrees Celsius temperature range at any one point of time.
The state of the art infrastructure at Emirates SkyCentral DWC is also complemented by one of the world’s largest fleet of Cool Dollys helping protect temperature sensitive cargo during transit between the aircraft and cargo terminal. Additionally, the availability of a large number of temperature controlled trucking docks and the proximity of the terminal to the aircraft parking gates will ensure rapid and efficient clearance of cargo for further distribution.
In addition to cold storage, Emirates SkyCargo will also offer dedicated zones for value-added services such as re-icing and repackaging of vaccines for global distribution for its customers.
The extensive size of the facility, which can potentially handle millions of vaccine doses, along with the creation of a dedicated team to handle and execute requests will allow Emirates SkyCargo to be able to effectively handle the large volume of time critical requests for cross-border vaccine movement that will follow the successful introduction of a vaccine.
Through a combination of scheduled and charter flights, the cargo carrier will then be able to fly the vaccines to markets where they will be most needed.
Emirates’ pharma transportation capabilities
Emirates SkyCargo is harnessing decades of experience gained from transporting temperature controlled pharmaceutical products and vaccines for global manufacturers to develop innovative solutions that will meet the challenge of distributing a potential COVID-19 vaccine globally within a short timeframe.
Since 2016, the air cargo carrier has invested substantially in its capabilities for the transportation of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals. This included the introduction of a specialised product – Emirates Pharma – and the development of dedicated GDP certified ‘fit for purpose’ infrastructure pharma both at Dubai as well as at major origin and destination points under its pharma corridors programme that currently covers more than 30 cities. Emirates SkyCargo has moved more than a quarter million tonnes of pharmaceutical cargo in the last four years.
With its fleet of modern and efficient all wide-body aircraft and a network that currently spans more than 130 destinations across six continents, combined with the strategic geographic location of its Dubai hub, Emirates SkyCargo will be able to rapidly move vaccine shipments from manufacturing sites to the vaccine hub and then onwards to the rest of the world on a combination of scheduled and passenger flights.
Over the last few months, however, Emirates SkyCargo has worked on restoring its worldwide network and cargo connectivity with flight services restored to 75 destinations by May, 100 by July and nearly 135 destinations by early October. Emirates SkyCargo’s network covers all major pharmaceutical clusters and manufacturing locations, facilitating the eventual transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine once manufacturing commences.
Enjoying the widest direct cargo flight network of the world, Turkish Cargo continues to build the global air bridge
Maintaining its successful business processes across the world, Turkish Cargo increased the number of destinations of its direct cargo operations to 95 by adding London, Bucharest, Bangkok, Singapore, Beirut and Lahore to its direct cargo flight destinations. Global carrier reinforced its position as the air cargo brand with the widest direct cargo flight network of the world.
As of September, Turkish Cargo included Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London, one of the world’s busiest airports, Suvarnabhumi (BKK), one of the largest airports in Southeast Asia, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Rafic Hariri Airport (BEY), the only operational commercial airport in Lebanon, to its cargo flight network.
The successful brand also added Henri Coanda Airport (OTP), the busiest airport in Romania, and Allama Iqbal Airport (LHE) located in Lahore, the cultural center of Pakistan, to its cargo flight network with the winter schedule, thus reaching 31 direct cargo flight destinations in European continent, 22 in Middle East and 16 in Far East.
Connecting the continents to each other, Turkish Cargo continues to carry out its global business operations with its fleet of 361 aircraft, 25 of which are freighters, on the widest direct cargo flight network of the world among the air cargo brands, excluding express carriers with its 95 destinations. Achieving a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and team of leading experts, and aiming to become one of the top 5 global air cargo brands, Turkish Cargo continues to raise its service quality in a sustainable manner by surpassing expectations in the ever-changing world with its new brand strategy, “Raise the Bar”.
The largest virtual event for the global investment community will welcome top-ranking delegates including H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Republic of Tatarstan; H.E. Juri Ratas, Prime Minister of Republic of Estonia; and H.E. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
An impressive lineup of high-level dignitaries is confirmed to participate at AIM Digital, the first digital edition of the Annual Investment Meeting, which will be held from the 20th – 22nd of October 2020.
The world’s foremost dignitaries will come together in one virtual platform to share their in-depth perspectives on key issues focusing on AIM Digital’s six pillars — Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Startups, Future Cities, and One Belt, One Road.
“We are honoured to welcome the high-level officials who have confirmed their participation in AIM Digital which will certainly raise it to a whole new level; an unforgettable event that will be etched in history. It will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for participants as they gain knowledge from the very leaders who are shaping our economy,” stated Mr. Dawood Al Shezawi, the Head of the Organising Committee of the Annual Investment Meeting.
AIM Digital 2020 will be participated by the greatest intellects in the industry such as the heads of state, key policymakers, institutional and non-institutional investors, and heads of international institutions, who will discuss risks, challenges, and opportunities in the economic landscape to ultimately achieve recovery and transformation.
In the Opening Ceremony, the Opening Remarks will be delivered by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy. It will be followed by the keynote remarks of H.E. Juri Ratas, the Prime Minister of Republic of Estonia; H.E. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan; H.E. Dr. Bandar M. H. Hajjar, the President of Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group); H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED); and Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The Global Leaders Debate which will tackle this year’s theme, “Reimagining Economies: The Move Towards a Digital, Sustainable & Resilient Future,” consists of prominent keynote debaters such as Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP); Mohamed Alabbar, the Founder of Emaar Properties, Alabbar Enterprises and Noon.com; Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan, the Chairman of ACWA Power; and Arkady Dvorkovich, the Chairman of Skolkovo Foundation. This high-level panel will discuss how to restructure economies to become more agile, sustainable and resilient.
The debate is followed by the Special Address of Tarek Amer, the Governor and Chairman of Board of Directors of Central Bank of Egypt, which marks the good relations between Egypt and the UAE, as reflected on the continuously developing political, economic and cultural bonds between the two countries.
James Zhan, the Director of the Investment and Enterprise Division of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), will be one of the speakers for FDI Pillar Session 1 titled “Disruptions to Global Value Chains (GVCs), Trade and Investment in a Changing World.” Aside from talks of an ongoing de-globalization, supported by protectionism and trade wars, the session will analyse the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on trade and investment.
His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade will be the Keynote Speaker for FDI Pillar Session 2, “Ministers Roundtable: Adapting to the New Flow of Trade and Investment” which facilitates dialogues with international organizations to discuss the steps that countries are taking to ensure the free flow of trade and investment, building a resilient supply chain, and developing policies to encourage foreign investment within their country.
The FDI Interview Session titled The Impact FDI Decade will feature H.E. Fahad Al Gergawi, the President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and the Chief Executive Officer of Dubai FDI. This interview session will provide strategic context to the global trends and shifts shaping the future of FDI opportunities.
The FPI pillar which aims to provide investors an opportunity to engage in international diversification of portfolio assets and helps them connect with businesses across the world, will feature His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, the UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Global Market who will present a Special Keynote Address on FPI Pillar Session 1.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs will be the Keynote Speaker for SME Pillar Session 1 titled “Navigate Policy Decisions Beyond the Turbulent Times which will explore the qualities of good policy-making, approaches to longer-term strategic planning, stakeholder consultation and co-responsibility with residents and businesses to improve the business environment for SMEs and shape the strength of economic renewal.
Massimo Falcioni, the Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Credit Insurance, will be one of the panelists for SME Pillar Session 2 that will focus on “Improving Access to Capital for SMEs with Financial Risk Management.” As financial risk management is an important area of management of SMEs, the session will discuss the up-to-date strategies to improve financing access for SMEs and what risk management should SMEs deploy.
H.E. Amir Peretz, the Minister of the Economy of Israel will be the Keynote Speaker for Startup Session 1, one of the event’s most noteworthy moments signifying the recent Israel-UAE Peace Deal, which is believed to have a great potential in paving the way for successful startups collaborations as both countries are driven by the latest technologies and are very open to foreigners.
Najla Al Midfa, the Chief Executive Officer of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) and Jun Ge, the Global CEO of Tojoy Holding Group and Former Global Vice President of Nvidia, Apple & Intel will be among the speakers for Start-up Pillar Session 4, “Re-Building the Start-up Ecosystem – What’s at Stake?” This session will discuss start-ups facing double whammy with a drop of consumer demand and VC investments, Post-COVID crisis and its impact on start-up global ecosystem, improving and implementing policies for the emerging ecosystem, and government initiatives to boost start-ups.
Mohammed Jamal Alsaati, the Director General of IsDB Group Regional Hub, will deliver the Welcome Remarks on Future Cities Pillar Session 3, “The Impact of COVID-19 on Logistics and Accelerating Sustainable Transport Solution.” This session will highlight the impact of COVID-19 on ocean, air and land transport, implementing alternative modes of transport, new sustainable transport solutions and reducing carbon footprint, automating the supply chain to boost production and minimize manual interventions, and the impact of drones on logistics and transportation industry.
Saeed Al Zarouni, the Senior Vice President/Mobile Network of Etisalat Digital will lead the virtual discussion on Future Cities Session 1 that will discuss the Future of 5G, which is one of the major disruptive technologies that will have a considerable impact on the economy. This disruptive technology is anticipated to offer expanded system capacity and more reliability, lower delay rates, as well as decrease power utilisation than 4G.
“I would like to thank our guest dignitaries for choosing AIM Digital as a platform to share their expert views, best practices, and valuable investment strategies that will surely benefit all participants from more than 170 countries. The presence of our guest dignitaries in AIM Digital is also an indication that the Annual Investment Meeting has already made its mark in the investment community, and is being acknowledged by various countries and government officials as one of the best platforms that stimulates investment opportunities and helps in revitalizing the economy. I believe that this year’s digital edition will create numerous business opportunities for the local, regional, and international markets. Despite the challenges, we can all contribute to the economy’s recovery by getting involved in this initiative,” mentioned Mr. Al Shezawi.
Airport Show announces new Digital Event in 2020 ahead of Hybrid format planned for May 2021
The organisers of the world’s largest annual airport exhibition have unveiled plans to hold a new ‘digital only’ event in 2020 to keep the aviation community connected ahead of the Hybrid+ event planned in May 2021.
To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Airport Show Hybrid+ on 24-26 May 2021 will introduce a new digital element to the live, face-to-face event, taking place in DWTC, Dubai.
In the meantime, Airport Show Digital+ on 7-9 December 2020 will give the global community an opportunity to network, learn and engage through a new digital platform. The new digital arm has been designed to strengthen the Show experience and give a unique opportunity to seamlessly connect audiences across the world like never before. The all-inclusive opportunity will help in engaging with the attendees before, during and after the event.
His Excellency Mohammed Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) commented: “The rescheduling and reformatting of Airport Show has been necessary to provide a platform for aviation industry decision-makers and professionals to come together to discuss the most challenging times in aviation history. Dubai is moving fast to pick-up lost grounds as the situation improves and it is important to push forward together globally to share best practices, new technologies and strategies to support rapid recovery.”
Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the organisers of Airport Show said: “Incorporating a new digital platform has enhanced the user experience for both events coming up. The Digital Event in December will offer the opportunity for users to visit Digital Stands, schedule online meetings with instant chat functionality, watch On-Demand conferences, participate in Online Roundtables and much more.”
The new digital platform will be open for an additional 15 days after the event and will use Artificial Intelligence to provide recommendations to exhibitors and visitors.
The collocated, CPD certified Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) will hold over 20 online sessions over the 3 days of the December Digital event, hoping to attract over 1,000 delegates with two new conferences added to cover Airport Passengers’ Experience and Future Ground Handling, in addition to existing Air Traffic Management topics.
UAE-based Facilities Management (FM) services provider, Emrill, has been awarded a five-year contract by logistics giant, Aramex. The scope of the contract includes mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP), housekeeping and specialist services across the company’s seven facilities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Emrill, in a press communiqué, stated it will mobilize a team of 73, including management and housekeeping staff. The team will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of MEP services, including firefighting and maintenance of chillers and building maintenance systems.
“This contract marks our most significant win within the logistics sector, which we have identified as a key growth area for the business. Partnering with Aramex, we will work hard to bring the latest technology, efficiencies and sustainable practices to deliver services and ensure world-class standards,” affirmed Stuart Harrison, CEO, Emrill.
“Our partnership with Emrill will allow us to continue our operations with utmost confidence as we intensify efforts to ensure a well sanitized work environment,” stressed Ahmed Marie, GM, Aramex-UAE.
Servicing a built-up area of over 138,000sqm across seven locations in the UAE, Emrill will deploy teams in Dubai Logistics City, Umm Ramool, Al Quoz, Mussafah and Abu Dhabi Airport Free Zone.
“During the bidding process, we placed a real emphasis on not only providing world-class services but also on the practical steps we would take to become a valued partner,” noted Sam Emery, CFO, Emrill.
First cohort of Emirati graduates obtain first Railways Diploma in the United Arab Emirates, join Etihad Rail DB
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the national railway network in the United Arab Emirates, has announced the graduation of the first batch of Emirati nationals on the Railways Diploma Programme from the Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) and their subsequent employment by Etihad Rail DB, the company responsible for the operation and maintenance of Stage One of the national railway network.
The 10 students who joined the workforce are the first batch to finish the Railways Diploma Programme in the United Arab Emirates, which was launched in 2017 under a partnership between Etihad Rail and ADVETI. This first batch will take over a number of technical positions, including the roles of train captain, traffic controller, locomotive and railway maintenance technician, and railway systems technician.
The programme, which is the first of its kind in the country to provide the first Diploma in Railways in the United Arab Emirates that aims to prepare qualified national cadres capable of leading the future of the national train and railway sector. It includes two years of theoretical training and one year of practical training, enabling the students join Etihad Rail DB in full time careers.
Commenting on the announcement, Saeed Salem Al Suwaidi, CEO of Etihad Rail DB, said: “Our efforts to empower Emirati nationals are in line with the strategy of our parent company, Etihad Rail, which actively supports the Emiratisation policy in the country and encourages Emirati youths to join this vital field. We are proud to welcome the first batch of graduates who will represent the future of the railway sector in the country.”
He added, “During their years of theoretical and practical training, the graduates have demonstrated their dedication and ability to take on the challenge of acquiring knowledge in the railway sector, which is a completely new sector in the country, and have demonstrated great interest and passion in the field.”
In line with its efforts to support the Emiratisation agenda in the country, Etihad Rail earlier this year announced the launch of an additional programme to train and employ more Emirati nationals with experience and high skill sets in various disciplines and engineering fields, and the first batch has been appointed to positions across Stage Two of the national rail network, which is currently under construction. In addition to these previously announced opportunities, the company has now opened up additional training and employment opportunities for Emiratis.
A host of issues and developments—globalization, pandemic-related business disruptions, rapidly evolving customer expectations and the quick shift into e-commerce have reinforced the need for SME’s in the region to be more agile, accurate and economic in the way they handle intralogistics and order fulfillments. The immediate need therefore for efficient, automated warehouse and distribution solutions has never been so critical or dire.
Since the onset of the pandemic, e-commerce sales have skyrocketed and put a substantial pressure on warehouse operators. Inventory requirements as well as lead times have increased, new safety guidelines and a lack of space has severely impacted businesses and have prevented them from satisfying customer needs efficiently.
In order to successfully navigate complex warehouse challenges, ACME understands that the intralogistics infrastructures of businesses need to be flexible, scalable and yet provide quick ROI.
ACME with its partners Kardex Remstar and Optimus Sorters brings a wide range of solutions to the region that addresses these needs. The solutions provided assist in the following four key areas:
Partial Automation.
Scalability
Improved material flow.
Easy adaption to existing warehouse racking infrastructure.
The stand-alone modular Kardex LR35 stores and picks small parts quickly and efficiently and can be easily connected to existing multilevel shelving systems that a customer has already within his facility. ACME’s solution design team can design a flexible solution incorporating the LR35 within existing warehouses without the need for purpose-built warehouses.
Key benefits of Kardex LR 35
Easy adaption within existing warehouse infrastructure such as multilevel shelving.
Flexible system that can be configured with multiple options and several access openings.
Provides for 99.9% pick accuracy and increased operator performance.
The LR35 in combination with the Frame Pick Solution flawlessly manages a wide range of goods, numerous order lines and fluctuating order demands. The Frame Pick solution substantially reduces labour costs, helps with quick manpower on-boarding with limited training requirements as well as reduces searching and travel time between aisles.
Based on the product types and nature of business, the team at ACME can configure multiple units of LR35 in series, limiting walking distance to within 12 metres.
Kardex Remstar Shuttle XP with flexible picking solutions.
The Kardex Shuttle XP stores a wide range of goods allowing access to various weights and sizes while substantially reducing space and manpower requirements.
Key benefits of Kardex Shuttle XP
9% pick accuracy, 67% manpower reduction, 85% floor space savings.
Ideal for managing wide range of products and can be configured with lower travel speeds for sensitive articles.
Colour picking using Shuttle XP
Colour picking adds coloured lights into the batch picking process allowing multiple operators to pick within one work zone. The Shuttle XP along with colour picking is highly economical and provides an ROI in less than two years.
It also provides for the physical distancing requirements mandated in current times and is ideal for managing fluctuating, unpredictable demands that is common to businesses in the Middle East.
Display LED Picking assistant for the Shuttle XP
The display LED-Navigator for the Shuttle XP works as a picking assistance system that provides event related information to the operator at the exact moment and thereby increasing picking performance and substantially increasing picking accuracy.
Optimus Sortation Solutions
ACME brings Optimus Sorter solutions to the Middle East. The OptiSorter is designed for sorting a large range of different products. The OptiSorter is capable of sorting products such as garments, shoes, accessories, post, multimedia, cartons, jiffy bags and more.
talabat, the region’s leading food and grocery delivery app to launch in the Republic of Iraq, their ninth market, in 2021.
Erbil will be the first city to be launched with other Kurdish cities to follow shortly, before expanding into Federal Iraq.
talabat is excited to launch in a country with such rich culinary heritage, a thriving restaurant community, and serve people who appreciate good food.
Talabat, the region’s leading food and grocery delivery app, has announced today the expansion of its services into the Republic of Iraq. The app, which operates in eight markets throughout the MENA region, will initially launch operations in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan in early 2021, before expanding into Federal Iraq in 2021.
Founded in Kuwait in 2004, talabat continues to revolutionise the food delivery ecosystem in the eight markets in which it operates, and has now set its sights on transforming food delivery in Iraq, helping restaurant partners grow through , while at the same time allowing customers to enjoy unparalleled affordability, variety and speed of delivery.
Tomaso Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer at talabat, says that the organisation is excited to be expanding into Iraq, a country with a rich culinary heritage and strategic importance in the region.
‘Iraq is a country with a definite love of food, which is why we cannot wait to enter the market. We’re excited to enable that rich culinary heritage to be shared to the broader community by further developing the online delivery experience for customers, and partnering with local restaurants to fuel their growth through our platform, as well as creating employment opportunities for local talent across our operations.
‘The Iraqi market has massive potential and talabat can help unlock that potential to get the country back on its feet after many years of turmoil when it comes to technology and digitisation of SMEs in the restaurant community.’
As the leading platform in the GCC, Egypt and Jordan, and with millions of active customers across the region, talabat is looking forward to redefining the way that Iraqi’s experience the love of food.
Tradeling.com marks a regional first with freight buying integration that helps customers compare, book, manage and track air, ocean or land cargo in real-time
Customers can select from a range of freight providers on Tradeling Smart Freight to get instant quotes with no hidden prices and complete freight booking with a simple 3-step process
The partnership launches key import lanes from China
Tradeling, the hyper-growing eMarketplace focused on business-to-business (B2B) transactions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, brings another innovative and value-added service for the business community through simple, effective and cost-competitive freight booking and management.
Marking a regional first, Tradeling has launched Tradeling Smart Freight, augmenting B2B eCommerce with real-time freight procurement via Freightos.com, the world’s largest digital freight marketplace. With Tradeling Smart Freight, powered by Freightos.com’s Freight-as-a-Service, businesses can benefit from online, real-time access to compare, book and manage their air, ocean and land freight services whether they are active on the Tradeling platform or not. The partnership initially opens up one the world’s biggest manufacturing hubs – China.
Muhammad Chbib, CEO, Tradeling, said: “Through our partnership with Freightos.com we have created an online freight booking ecosystem within our digital platform. It is a powerful example of how we are transforming B2B e-commerce in the region. No company in the region has marked such a strong digital integration of cargo as we now do. This brings an innovative, business-critical digital transformation as logistics is at the heart of trading.
“We are providing any business, not just customers or suppliers registered on Tradeling but anyone who requires logistics services, the opportunity to move into the digital realm. Tradeling Smart Freight will add more value to the business community and invigorate the trade dynamics in the region. Businesses only have to register on Tradeling for the new service, and instantly access the freight providers and complete their booking online.”
Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director General of Dubai Airport Freezone Authority, said: “Tradeling continues to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global trade hub while driving more value for MENA businesses. SMEs, which are one of the main pillars of our economy, will stand to benefit from Tradeling’s partnership with Freightos. It means more small-to-medium-sized enterprises can access goods and services in other parts of the world to better serve their customers. I applaud Tradeling’s constant drive to add value and highlight the strength of the UAE’s position as a leader in trade and commerce.”
Through this collaboration, businesses can conduct seamless trade with traders and enterprises in China. Tradeling Smart Freight gives customers the power to easily compare live freight quotes, book, manage and track the shipment, and then communicate with the vendor in one integrated platform. They will also be able to purchase cargo insurance as an optional extra and opt for customs clearance and door-to-door delivery.
Three fundamental challenges faced in logistics are resolved with the new Tradeling Smart Freight service: concerns in searching and selecting the right shipping method; obtaining freight rates on time; and not knowing where the shipments are and when they are to arrive.
1. Dr. Zarouni, Director General of Dubai Aiport Free Zone photographed in the Airport Free Zone Headquarters, Dubai, UAE, Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Photo � copyright by Tina Hager
Ruthie Amaru, CEO, Freightos.com, said: “As the world’s pioneering online freight platform, we are proud to partner with Tradeling to make global trade easier for businesses worldwide. By integrating our Freight-as-a-Service capabilities with Tradeling, we can bring our customer-centric shipment booking and management capabilities across our network of logistics providers in key markets to the business community in the MENA region, ensuring faster, smoother and competitive freight procurement services.”
The new service supports the needed digital transformation for both buyers and sellers by providing them the tools to grow fast. Any business can now directly engage with freight providers, which will particularly help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to achieve higher levels of cost savings.
Among the advantages for businesses are the widest selection of freight providers, all listed on the platform. Freight buyers can also choose the transport mode and speed of service. The transparency of the process means procurement services can be more effectively managed by businesses that had to rely on third-party providers earlier.
The platform is simple and easy to navigate. It will provide details on shipment and billing, including payment status, proforma invoice and tax invoice details. Tradeling Smart Freight, powered by Freightos, brings world-class cybersecurity protocols ensuring that every detail is confidential.
Tradeling has recorded impressive growth since its launch in April 2020. The digital marketplace now showcases tens of thousands of products in four verticals – Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Office Supplies and Logistics. Today, Tradeling more than 300 suppliers from 25+ countries with gross merchandising value increasing from zero to a high two-digit million figure within three months.
Brian Cartwright, Client Partner, Supply Chain and Logistics for Pedersen & Partners, and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain, meets exclusively with Hussein Wehbe, CEO, Fetchr to discuss a wide spectrum of issues from the current state of his company’s business, priorities, his vision for the future and how technology is altering and eforming the industry landscape.
Brian Cartwright (BC): What did the existing business look like when you took it over?
Hussein Wehbe (HW): When I joined Fetchr there was a lot that was already done and a lot that was still happening. The transformation team was in place and introducing a lot of positive changes to enhance efficiency, performance and productivity within the organization such as closing non-performing country offices, reducing costs by diversifying revenues and streamlining call centre operations. We brought onboard new leaders who were experts in the field of logistics and transportation and along with the existing team, we worked on an improved customer experience, redesigning all the touch points to ensure a seamless journey.
It is also very important to mention that all of these improvements and developments would not have been possible without the dedication, commitment, and capabilities of the existing Fetchr team of whom we are very proud to have on board on this exciting journey.
BC: What was your first mission, what needed to be addressed first?
HW: First and foremost, I was focused on addressing the internal culture at Fetchr. The employees had all been through times of doubt and uncertainty that had a negative impact on their morale in general and their trust in the organization. My mission was to support and encourage the existing Fetchr team to be able reinstate their confidence in the organization. The team showed incredible resilience and commitment to work, to the extent that even during these unprecedented times with order spikes during the lockdown, they managed to keep the service level unaffected.
BC: Why did you have so much faith in the Fetchr brand when given the opportunity to take the business forward as CEO?
HW: I have been a close follower of the Fetchr story since 2012. I saw in the brand an agile and disruptive player who is coming to change the way the industry functions and operates. When the opportunity to join knocked on my door, I saw major potential not only in the company but in the people and the technologies behind this organization that gave me a clear indication about the endless
possibilities that await a company like Fetchr.
BC: What do you think is missing when it comes to B2B and B2C deliveries?
HW: Today’s market is facing challenges when it comes to optimal customer experiences mainly because of the chaos that was caused by Covid-19 that has, in turn, reshuffled all the cards and affected
the delivery capacities and capabilities of all the players. This naturally reflected negatively on the overall delivery service level in the region. Fetchr is coming to tackle this from all aspects and positioning itself as the efficient customer centric tech enabled delivery partner of choice for the e-commerce and B2C players in Saudi Arabia and UAE to start with.
BC: How has Covid-19 impacted the ecommerce market and Fetchr in particular?
HW: As you know, we are currently going through extraordinary times when most industries are facing incredible challenges to sustain; fortunately for us these times presented our industry with great opportunities. We at Fetchr capitalized on our tech enabled delivery solutions to be able to serve the markets where we operate smartly and in the most efficient way possible. The commitment of the team has given us an advantage over the other players which resulted in an optimized performance in the midst of the pandemic.
BC: What is the new Fetchr strategy going forward? What are the short and long-term plans in the region?
HW: Our short-term plans will focus on bringing back the confidence and trust in our brand and services in the markets, while at the same time accelerating our activities in solving the pressing challenges that are being faced today by ecommerce players and B2C operators. On the other hand, for the long term we are looking at an aggressive expansion plan across emerging markets and introducing
more international services that will complement our existing services and solutions in this region allowing us to start penetrating new markets.
BC: What are the new technologies and innovations the company has adopted or integrated to enhance the customer experience?
HW: We cannot ignore the importance of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in improving our efficiency and optimizing our operations that allowed us to reach adequate customer experience
levels. Through utilizing our AI WhatsApp Bot we managed to reduce, by more than 40%, the need to contact customers personally to schedule deliveries. We have a lot of exciting technologies in the pipeline especially when it comes to predictive technologies that bring efficiency to the end to end delivery process reducing the cost of return and undelivered shipments. Our predictive technologies will help us learn more and understand our huge and diverse customer base in markets where we operate and future markets as well, reflecting positively on the overall ecommerce process and experience in the region.
Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform developed by Emirates SkyCargo has successfully completed its first year of operations delivering many a smile and cheer to its customers in the UAE. A fast, reliable and cost-effective international e-commerce shipping solution, Emirates Delivers has been well received in the market.
Emirates Delivers is targeted both at individual customers as well as small businesses in the UAE who regularly shop online at international e-commerce websites for their personal or business needs.
The service, currently available for UAE residents shopping from websites in the US, helps customers save on shipping and transportation charges by allowing them to consolidate purchases from multiple online retailers in the US into a single package and have it delivered to a home or office address in the UAE. Emirates Delivers offers free registration, a complimentary Emirates Delivers US shipping address that customers can use when shopping on US websites and 30 days free storage at the shipping address.
First anniversary Special Offer
To mark its first anniversary, Emirates Delivers is offering all its members an automatic 15% discount on shipping charges for all shipping orders received between 15 and 30 October 2020. There is no limit on the number of times that a member can make use of this discount during the specified time period. To find out more information about the service and to sign up for Emirates Delivers, visit https://www.emiratesdelivers.com/
Clothes, Cosmetics and more
Customers have Emirates Delivers to shop for and transport a wide range of goods for themselves and their homes. Clothing for men, women and children, tended to be the most popular item that customers shopped for and requested from the US. Other items that customers transported with Emirates Delivers included cosmetics, toys and games, books, footwear and accessories as well as vitamins and health supplements.
Connecting customers during COVID-19
In a year when a majority of people were forced to remain indoors for their safety and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emirates Delivers helped provide a vital connection for international shoppers in the UAE. Despite suspension of international passenger flights, Emirates SkyCargo continued to operate cargo flights to and from the US and was able to transport customers’ shopping from the US to the UAE. Emirates Delivers witnessed an increase in its membership base during this period
Focus on Supply Chain order fulfillments, e-commerce and automation
With deep roots in the region spanning almost a decade and half and a laser-like focus on developing and providing Software Solutions for the Supply Chain Execution, Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG) has built its solid reputation as a leading and dependable provider of comprehensive solutions with the capability to deliver customized services.
Established 1987, Ehrhardt Partner Group (EPG), headquartered in Germany, is in the frontlines of
developing its proprietary software solutions for the logistics sector. Since its inception, the privately-owned company has expanded exponentially and globally and is today a force to reckon with in all matter related to Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Pick-By-Voice solutions. With offices
and representations in 17 locations, around 700 staff, overseeing more than 1,500 warehouse projects, and in excess of 100,000 users of its in-house and ingeniously-developed solutions and services around the world, the company is a name to reckon with in the supply chain digital domain.
EPG LFS is a high-performance fully configurable software control and monitor of all processes and all available resources in the warehouse. The company prides in its trademark LFS software offering that can be tailored to their clients ‘existing and future processes. Furthermore, it is easy to integrate with most leading enterprise resource planning systems (ERP systems) and all major technology platforms. This ensures seamless assimilation with current and future infrastructure, regardless of whether it is in the cloud or on premise. Ehrhardt Partner Solutions (EPS) was the first company to be set up in Dubai Logistics City (Dubai South) in 2006.The goal in setting up full-fledged operations and a regional presence in the UAE in its owned premises was to offer the brands trademark, advanced solutions and to integrate the latest technologies in smarter connected warehouse logistics for local and regional companies.
Global Supply Chain journeyed to Dubai World Central to conduct an exclusive, on-site interview with Dr. Makrem Kadachi, General Manager, Ehrhardt Partner Solutions, Middle East Africa (MEA) & Asia-Pacific (APAC), at the company’s sprawling complex housing its regional office and a Logistics Solutions
Center (LSC). “Our core business is developing the finest, best-practices Warehouse Management Systems for our corporates, developing effective IT and digital solutions for the Supply chain. Our USP and primary asset is our expertise in this core domain,” affirmed Dr. Kadachi.
“We understand warehouse operations, we offer optimum technology solutions that best fit the demands of our clients from automation, optimizing inventory management, managing resources.
“The solutions we offer are to meet the individual needs of our customers and therefore tailored accordingly although our standard indigenously-developed solutions cover almost all client requirements. To an extent we are also industry-agnostic and our solutions and services cover a wide spectrum of industries from FMCG, retail, logistics, pharmaceutical and many other sectors. ”
Thanks to massive infusion of capital and investment in roads, sea ports and airports infrastructure, Kingdom poised for the great leap ahead.
The Saudi Arabia freight and logistics market is currently estimated to be valued at US$ 22.95bn and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.35% during the forecast period, according to Mordor Intelligence.
The Saudi Arabian freight and logistics industry is a large and dynamic industry, strongly supported by state-led investments in rail, maritime, road, logistics, and airport infrastructures. Economic growth,
population maturation, and rapid urbanization are the factors driving the Saudi Arabian government to invest in the massive expansion of the country’s transportation networks.
In January 2019, the erstwhile Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih announced that the country is raising US$ 427bn in private sector investments, which may include roughly US$ 36bn for logistics infrastructure. The investment may be used to develop Saudi Arabia into a gateway for the trade supply chains of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Saudi Arabia is determined to broaden the role of the private sector, as it pushes to diversify its economy. Private entities are being encouraged to collaborate with the government, as they develop the country’s transport infrastructure. Partnership is being sought for the operation of seaports, airports, and their related supply chains.
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are being pursued to fund several key schemes, while a number of the country’s publicly operated transportation facilities are being prepared for full privatization. Technology is improving the security, transparency, and control over the import-export process in the country. New measures are in place for better coordination between the Customs Authorities, importers and exporters, Port & Terminal Authorities, Road Transporters, Airport Operations and other
stakeholders in the wider ecosystem to streamline operations and processes.
Brief takes and observations from Gopal R, Global Vice President, Transportation & Logistics,
Frost & Sullivan, on the changing and evolving logistics landscape in the region:
• There would be more alternatives sought in the medium term for the next two to three years
in Supply Chain and Logistics (SC&L), to manage freight with minimal capital investments. At the
same time, this will be an opportunity for investors willing to invest and offer assets for logistics
services.
• To capture and grow business opportunities in a post-pandemic business scenario, it is very essential
to maintain a good forecast and demand planning system. Being able to foresee two-quarters ahead,
with a deviation of not more than 20%, will be a key determinant for revenue growth and profitability in
SC&L business in the region.
• New business models and digital transformation should start with the end in mind, which is ‘The
Customer’. Only then would it have the right business impact.
• Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) need to understand changing client needs in Post-Pandemic scenario, so that they can tap new trade lanes that develop because of changes in sourcing,
procurement as well as trade flow.
• There are likely to be more local solutions and companies offering innovation and technology
support for SC&L business in the region, post-pandemic. Companies are sensing region-specific
niche to suitably develop new products and cloud based solutions for maximizing SC&L efficiency and
reliability.
• Need for Supply Chain resilience will change thinking from ‘Just-in-Time’ to ‘Just-in-Case’. Expect
some fundamental shift in thinking of SCM approaches by Innovators in the region.
• Regional sourcing and procurement will benefit greatly due to near shoring. It is imperative for
Logistics Solution Providers to capitalise using local capability.
• Creating solutions for SME businesses will greatly enhance SC&L offerings and its growth in the region.
COVID-19 Responses in the Transport & Logistics Industry—Respond, Recover, & Thrive
SET UP QUICK RESPONSE TEAMS
Employee safety should be the priority at such times. Quick response teams should be allocated to manage uncertainties related to demand and supply of logistics services.
RESPOND TO FULFILLING CAPACITY
With the maritime and air freight industry experiencing capacity constraints, logistics service providers in the region should strive for transparency by assessing “what-if” scenarios with customers to understand planned volume and strategic needs.
CREATE FLEXIBLE SOLUTION MODELS
As a transshipment hub, congestion at ports is expected. To mitigate risks and ease the process, advanced capacity bookings should be arranged for customers on emergency shipments.
ADAPT DIGITAL AND IOT SOLUTIONS
Considering order backlogs, inventory stocking surfaces as an issue. Adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in warehousing and distribution operations would ensure the placement of the right
products in the right place at the right time.
IMPLEMENT AUTOMATION
In the long run, AI-powered robotics systems should be considered to help mitigate supply chain risks and promote sustainability goals and operational efficiency for warehouse operations.
The incorporation of Honeywell solution ControlEdge™ HC900 into Global Control’s furnace and oven offerings accelerates the OEM’s widespread availability and strengthens its competitiveness
Honeywell announced that Global Control Pte Ltd, a global heating system original equipment manufacturer (OEM), is incorporating Honeywell technologies, including the ControlEdge™ HC900 controller, into its heat treatment solutions to help its customers improve their asset performance, reduce their inventory and lifecycle costs, and save energy.
When integrated into Global Control’s furnaces and ovens, ControlEdge HC900 provides a wide range of new end-user capabilities. For example, it simplifies process ID (PID) execution and eliminates the requirement for an external controller, reducing overall maintenance requirements. It also provides end users with the flexibility to run temperature profiles directly from the human-machine interface instead of downloading the program in the controller every time they use it. Furthermore, Honeywell’s efficient global supply chain combined with Global Control’s forecasting capabilities facilitates timely delivery and on-time startup; and – through Global Control’s service and support offering – end users benefit from consistent Honeywell hardware and software enhancements and upgrades that increase performance further.
“We decided that the best way to differentiate our products and reduce our inventory and lifecycle costs would be to standardize on an advanced, scalable automation platform,” said Nick Law, managing director, Global Control. “Honeywell was the obvious choice because of its proven technology, global reputation and comprehensive worldwide support capabilities. Combining Honeywell’s product strengths with our application knowledge creates a compelling value proposition for our customers around the world, and we look forward to mutually beneficial, long-term engagement with Honeywell.”
In addition to creating a better product for end-user customers, the Honeywell solution provides Global Control with multiple strategic and competitive advantages. For example, ControlEdge HC900’s dedicated library of function blocks for heat treatment applications enables Global Control to reduce engineering effort and accelerate the time to commercialization of the integrated offerings. Additionally, ControlEdge HC900’s tight integration with other Honeywell solutions such as the Experion® HS SCADA control system and SmartLine transmitters helps Global Control reduce inventory and expedite deliveries.
“Through our industry-leading OEM Program, we’re strengthening relationships with OEMs in segments such as heat treatment, and crucially, that’s resulting in better products for end users,” said Bharat Sharma, business leader, Modular Systems, Honeywell Process Solutions. “In the case of Global Control, it’s a win-win for us, for them, and for their customers, who can leverage Honeywell expertise to help them improve asset and safety performance and reduce operational costs.”
Honeywell’s ControlEdge HC900 is an advanced safety and process controller with a modular, scalable design built to accommodate demanding applications and control a wide range of process equipment cost-effectively. It can be used in SIL2-level safety applications such as emergency shutdown, critical controls, burner management systems, pipeline monitoring, fire and gas, and tunnel ventilation systems. ControlEdge HC900 helps industrial furnace manufacturers improve the performance, efficiency and compliance of their heat treatment operations. More than 2,000 ControlEdge HC900 deployments globally are heat treatment applications.
The two organisations will cooperate to develop logistics solutions for crisis relief operations
Emirates SkyCargo to be carrier of first resort for International Humanitarian City’s relief efforts
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates and International Humanitarian City (IHC), the world’s largest hub for humanitarian aid, have signed an MoU to cooperate on humanitarian logistics and crisis relief solutions. The MoU was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo and Giuseppe Saba, CEO, International Humanitarian City.
The partnership between the two entities underlines Dubai’s position as an international gateway for the rapid deployment of aid and relief efforts directed at humanitarian crises.
Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates SkyCargo and IHC will work together to develop innovative logistics solutions for effective crisis relief operations. IHC will also approach Emirates SkyCargo as the air cargo carrier of first resort for transportation or urgently required aid materials to affected destinations. In addition, the two organisations will work together to share know-how and develop best practices around the transportation of specialised cargo for relief efforts.
“We are a carrier with a strong sense of social responsibility. Over the years, Emirates SkyCargo has operated a number of flights and transported relief cargo on behalf of International Humanitarian City in response to humanitarian disasters and crises around the world, including most recently in the aftermath of the explosions at Beirut. Today, we are delighted to consolidate our partnership and develop a platform which will enable a more coherent and rapid response for aid delivery, and facilitate the development of robust and innovative solutions for humanitarian emergency response. With our wide-body aircraft fleet and our global network centred in Dubai, we look forward to supporting International Humanitarian City as their preferred carrier for delivering aid to affected communities around the globe,” said Nabil Sultan.
“I would like first to express all of my appreciation to Emirates SkyCargo for their support in the past for IHC and its community,” said Giuseppe Saba. “A special thanks goes to the leadership of Emirates for the initiative taken immediately after the blast in Beirut, by launching the initiative for supporting the Lebanese population and facilitating many airlifts of humanitarian aid with favourable rates. I’m honoured to sign this MoU, which is a milestone for further expansion of new possibilities which started with the Lebanon initiative. It transforms our cooperation into something which goes beyond the use of the air assets and the large reach of Emirates SkyCargo, which still logistically represents a crucial worldwide network for the IHC Community in emergency response. The high standards and excellent service delivery of Emirates SkyCargo will continue to add a lot of value to the IHC community crisis response mechanism and our synergies will enable us to work together for One Humanity,” he added.
Having digitalized its business processes, Turkish Cargo makes use of innovative technology
Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand that has digitalized its business processes, provides convenience to its customers in its global network and continues its journey to the future by integrating the virtual workforce Robotic Process Automation (RPA) that minimize the error and cost rates, into its successful business processes.
Continuing its technological investments, the triumphant air cargo brand reduces the error rate at its business processes as well as the costs while improving the employee productivity and the speed of the operation and saving time thanks to the software robots, namely “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta“, it has made go live.
At the initial phase of the robotic workforce, integrated into the air cargo processes, Bravo will be in charge of the spot rate approvals, and Charlie will be in charge of checking the mail rate, designations and duplication’s thereof, and Delta will be in charge of the cargo booking. Whereas Alpha will enable the harmonic functioning of the other robots with each other.
SmartIST, our new digital facility equipped with innovative technologies, loads the future
Turkish Cargo will have the capacity to carry 4 million tons of cargo on yearly basis by making use of the state-of-the-art technology at the business processes it will carry out at SmartIST, its digitally equipped facility being constructed at the Istanbul Airport. SmartIST is being designed so as to be dominated by the industry 4.0, artificial intelligence technologies and digitalized processes.
Raising its bar for achievement with each passing day as based on its “Raise the Bar” motto, Turkish Cargo digitalizes its business processes by enhancing its infrastructure with the artificial intelligence technologies each passing day, and continues its journey to the future with its innovative steps.
The company said the new aircraft will boost the cargo and supply operations and help meet the significant surge on the demand for medicine, medical and preventive equipment and other similar goods.
Omar Hariri, CEO, Saudia Cargo, commented, “We have taken practical steps to guarantee the cargo and supply operations smooth continuity to and from the Kingdom ever since the flights, excluding cargo and evacuation, were suspended due to COVID-19. Today, flights have been resumed but to a certain degree. Once the new freighter has been put into operation, it will increase the operation and cargo capacity and help the company meet its targets and provide logistic support to deliver urgent medical cargos to the Kingdom in order to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 as part of its continued efforts.”
The aircraft started the freighter services in September after all licenses have been obtained, flight schedules have been prepared and proper enhancements have been put in place.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, Saudia Cargo has taken numerous measures to ensure cargo operations continue to run efficiently and provide high-quality logistic services. The company increased air freight services to many global destinations and markets covering the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States of America. It announced on March 25 the operation of passenger planes that were converted into cargo aircraft to increase capacity after complying with preventive and safety measures for crews on board.
Saudia Cargo fleet consists of seven Boeing aircraft as follows: four Boeing 777 and three Boeing 747-400F.
Carrying 1 of each 20 air cargo carried around the world, Turkish Cargo increased its global market share to 5.4 percent from 3.9 percent by accomplishing a growth by 67 percent within the first half of 2020 thanks to its special cargo operations it has been maintaining by building up a global air bridge.
In addition to its wide flight network encompassing the globe, Turkish Cargo, being a notable logistics solution partner for the special cargo shipments by continuing its operations uninterruptedly, in particular from/to London, Dubai, Amsterdam and Maastricht, achieves to transport all special cargo shipments in particular the pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, dangerous goods and valuable cargo. The global air cargo brand carried 30 thousand tons of medicines and nearly 10 thousand tons of medical equipment between 1 February and 31 August 2020.
Being the first air cargo brand that holds all of the three certificates, namely the “CEIV Pharma“, “CEIV Fesh” and”CEIV Live Animal“, issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA”), Turkish Cargo ensures protection at high standards at its special cargo storage rooms with various temperature ranges available at its facilities with a total area of 3.500 m2 at the Istanbul and the Ataturk airports.
While it continues to accomplish the storage and operational processes for the special cargo shipments in accordance with the Perishable Cargo Regulations (IATA PCR), the triumphant brand literally implements the cargo sorting procedures consonant with each other.
Possessing all of the capabilities as required for transporting the vaccine, which will be developed against the global pandemic, all around the world, Turkish Cargo minimizes the risk for the health-care products with a high level of sensitivity by making use of the active temperature-controlled Envirotainer and CSafe containers, the electrical air-conditioning container Opticooler, Thermal Dolly and disposal thermal sheets equipped with thermal isolation features.
Having an experience of 30 years in respect of the special cargo shipments, Turkish Cargo transports our best friends safely
Offering high standards and thanks to the shipments it transports by acting with the “Mission Rescue” vision, Turkish Cargo transports the endangered animals in harsh conditions to their natural living environments and continues to make the difference by touching the new life.
Aramex Enters into Strategic Partnership with Transportr to Manage Ittihad Group’s Sea Freight Volumes
Ittihad International Investment has signed with Transportr to provide and manage supply chain and logistics solutions of ITTIHAD and its subsidiaries, in the UAE and abroad
Transportr authorized Aramex to act as its representative with all matters related to sea freight
Aramex is set to benefit from further expansion into Abu Dhabi’s logistics sector
Aramex a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, and Transportr, the fastest-growing digital freight platform in the UAE, today signed a service level agreement whereby Aramex will secure the best possible agreements in terms of rates, transit time and to ensure maximum logistics efficiency for sea freight logistics.
The partnership comes in line with Aramex’s plans to benefit from further expansion into Abu Dhabi’s logistics sector across a key growth market and strategic focus area for the Company’s Freight Forwarding and B2B business segment. Earlier, Ittihad International Investment LLC, a leading private industrial group in Abu Dhabi, has signed an agreement with Transportr to be the service provider for all sea and land transportation requirements of ITTIHAD and its subsidiaries in the GCC.
Commenting on the partnership, Amer Kakish, CEO of Ittihad International Investment, said: “We are delighted to enter into this agreement with Transportr, which will provide us with futuristic digital freight solutions to maximize our logistic efficiency and optimize our overall supply chain cost. The partnership between Aramex and Transportr will enable us to accelerate our transactions and processes while driving more business impact for our customers”.
From his side, Bashar Obeid, CEO of Aramex, said: “We are pleased to become the strategic partner with Transportr and start servicing Abu Dhabi’s leading industrial group, Ittihad International Investment. Together we will be contributing to the advancement and proliferation of the logistics sector in Abu Dhabi, a key area of focus for the Government. Furthermore, this partnership further validates Aramex’s excellent reputation as a reliable, experienced logistics partner providing excellent and highly efficient services to companies and entities across the UAE.”
Alaa Hawari, General Manager of Transportr, said: “At Transportr, we are proud to say that we are one of the fastest-growing digital freight solutions platform in the UAE, thanks to our valuable customers like Ittihad International Investment. We look forward for further expansion in the GCC region in 2021. Our number one priority is to solve decades-old problems of inefficiency in freight movements by providing one-stop platform for all freight requirement services, and by leveraging Aramex’s expertise and deep knowledge, excellent service is certain.”
Earlier this year, Aramex was tapped by Mubadala Healthcare as the logistics partner to help distribute door-to-door critical medical supplies to up to 2,000 patients across the UAE.
A progressive, home-grown, pioneering company with an extensive four and half-decade legacy in providing unique storage solutions and materials handling services in the UAE. Acme prides in its track record replete with proven extraordinary capabilities and accomplishments. Acme is now in the forefront, redefining the domain of intralogistics and systems integration and meeting the challenges of a new techno-centric ecosystem with intelligent, comprehensive and specially tailored warehouse automation solutions.
The origins of Acme go back to the mid seventies when entrepreneur Nambron Narayanan set up a specialized company to offer shelving and storage solutions and an exhaustive range of warehouse and logistics management requirements of its clients. In 1989, the company attained a turning point in its product offerings with the inclusion of fluid sealing solutions such as gaskets and gland packing for the burgeoning oilfield and marine industry.
Another breakthrough was chronicled in 2002, when Acme set up a new division to foray into industrial automation and showcase broad spectrum of pneumatic automation components in partnership with reputed and tested manufacturers. Thereon, the company has grown from strength-to-strength,
evolving at multiple stages and now becoming the powerhouse as a top systems integrator with solutions that enable and power innovation, added capabilities and efficiencies for manufacturers, retailers and logistics services provider in the Middle East region and in India.
In an exclusive, expansive interview with Global Supply Chain, Navin Narayan, Managing Director, Acme, gives the lowdown on the history of the company, its values, corporate successes, mission and addresses issues including current challenges wrought by the pandemic, expansion and growth strategy and his wider vision for the corporate future.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly, walk us through the Acme timeline since its inception?
Navin Narayan (NN): Acme is arguably the region’s largest full spectrum factory and warehouse automation solution provider. Our core focus is in the realm of intralogistics. We design, manufacture, install and commission a wide range of customized warehouse automation solutions including carton and tote handling solutions, pallet handling systems, mini-loads and AS/RS (automated storage & retrieval systems) stacker cranes as well as other state–of-the-art order-picking solutions.
In collaboration with our industry partners, we also bring in a wide variety of industry leading vertical storage and goods sortation solutions. Our solutions are designed to cater to the needs of FMCG manufacturers and distributors, fashion and retail, spare parts and accessories, pharmaceutical distributors, food and grocery retailers as well as e-commerce businesses in the region. We also provide customized solutions for out-of-gauge and heavy goods such as transformers, piping or steel coils. We do not believe that every project needs the latest robotic technology available in the market and we prefer to work with a consultative approach with our customer.
This helps us understand his pain points and develop solutions that are able to resolve these at the same time provide desired RoI as well as being designed to be flexible and future proof. For our manufacturing customers, we provide a wide range of material handling systems as well as end of line solutions including robotic palletization and conveyor solutions.
SAL now runs operations of customs security areas at main airports
Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL), a member of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, has officially begun today running the operations of customs security areas across most Kingdom’s airports, as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed previously by the Saudi Customs and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NDLP), under the patronage of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Saudi Customs Vice-Governor Suleiman bin Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri and SAL Deputy Chief Business Development and Corporate Relations Officer Abdulrahman Ma’en Al-Mubarak signed the agreement at the Saudi Customs headquarters in Riyadh in the presence of Saudi Customs Governor Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Alhakbani and SAL CEO Omar Hariri.
According to the agreement, Saudi Arabian Logistics, which offers specialized ground-handling and logistic services, will fully operate the designated areas starting September 1, 2020. These services cover Kingdom’s main airports including King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, King Fahad International Airport, Dammam, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulziz International Airport, Madinah, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Tabuk, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Qassim, Taif International Airport and Abha International Airport.
SAL has assumed control following its successful operation of the customs security areas at King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh last December 2019. The Saudi Customs will continue to deliver customs, security and supervision services. The new procedure is expected to reduce the time of import operations, improve the efficiency of cargo clearance and security process, increase the storage capacity, facilitate the cargo acceptance and delivery procedures, and enhance full coordination between both parties to offer services in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to turn the country into an international leading logistic hub.
Saudi Arabian Logistics delivers ground-handling services to different local and international airliners across the Kingdom’s airports. Its multiple logistics activities include offering support and supply solutions to all modes of transport and linking them to airports.
Jens Holtinger new head of Volvo’s global truck production organization and member of the Volvo Executive Board
Jens Holtinger has been appointed as head of Volvo´s global truck production organization and member of the Volvo Executive Board. He will replace Jan Ohlsson, who after a long and successful career will retire.
Jens Holtinger, born 1970, began his career at the Volvo Group in 1995. He has extensive international experience and has held many senior positions within production, such as head of production in Ghent, Belgium, Skövde and Tuve, Sweden. Currently Jens Holtinger holds the position as Senior Vice President Europe and Brazil truck manufacturing.
By using optimized storage systems, you can therefore win new customers for your online grocery store. Customers who are purchasing (or want to purchase) groceries online have two requirements in particular: goods must be guaranteed fresh and home delivery must be fast and free.
Consumers in Germany spend approximately 215 billion euros on food, drinks and tobacco products every year. They are currently still relatively cautious about buying groceries online, compared with products from non-food sectors (particularly fashion, electronics and media).
The most popular grocery products online are long-life luxury products such as wine, coffee, tea, confectionery or specialties that are hard to find elsewhere. The drinks and deep-frozen food sectors also offer potential: customers have been ordering such products to their homes since long before the rise of the Internet. For all other types of groceries, such as fresh produce or dairy items, e-commerce still represents a low percentage of overall sales.
However, the proportion of those who would in theory be interested in buying groceries or other day-to-day products online reached 19% in 2016, and this figure has been trending upwards for years. (Source: Statista)
According to the studies, these (potential) customers want free delivery and a fixed delivery window in as short a time as possible.
Aside from basic considerations such as delivery areas, warehouse locations and so on, online retailers in the e-food sector must also ask themselves how they can optimise their logistical processes to meet the demand for faster, free delivery of fresh goods in order to win new customers.
The answer is to choose the right storage system, thus creating the right conditions for keeping delivery times as short as possible. In order for free delivery to be a viable option, online retailers need to implement as many cost-saving measures as possible.
Example: BITO carton live storage systems
Fresh produce represents the high-turnover element (the so-called “fast-moving consumer goods” or FMGS) in an online retailer’s product range. As a result, live storage systems which replace solid floors with rollers are growing in importance. Since goods automatically replenish themselves on each shelf, this enables constant item availability.
This system functions on the “operator-to-goods” principle. Live storage systems are also ideal for supplying cartons in the e-food sector. They enable storage and picking on a FIFO basis: goods are sorted by expiration date, and the picker always reaches for the product with the nearest best-before date. This is essential in the grocery sector, including in online retail.
The use of carton live storage allows businesses to drastically cut down travel times (between 40% and 70%) compared with conventional shelving. The amount of floor space required is also reduced by up to 30%. These factors can save e-commerce retailers significant amounts of money. Long, straight working aisles reduce time spent correcting picking errors, significantly improving employee productivity.
The costs of procuring a live storage system pay off quickly. It will reduce delivery times and save money which can therefore be shaved off shipping fees – helping to win customers as a result.
Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant of the Russian Helicopters holding (part of the Rostec State Corporation) has supplied a Mi-171 helicopter with VK-2500-03 engines to a Chinese civil aviation company.
In 2019, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a national type certificate for Mi-171 with the new power plant. The decision of the Chinese aviation authorities expanded the capabilities of Russian Helicopters to meet the needs of the Chinese market.
“The key advantages of the helicopter, high thrust-to-weight ratio and operational safety in mountainous regions, caught the attention of potential buyers in the end of 2018, when Mi-171 was demonstrated in China”, pointed out Leonid Belykh, Managing Director of U-UAZ. “Chinese Civil Aviation Administration and leadership of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were impressed by the helicopter’s capabilities for transporting goods on an external sling, emergency response, as well as for the ability to quickly load and unload of rescue and firefighter personnel”.
The VK-2500-03 engine, designed and supplied by UEC-Klimov, is more powerful that the older TV3-117VM engine series 02, especially when used in high altitude due to its heat-resistant materials and improved design.
The introduction of the BARK-78 digital automatic control system gives more detailed control over the engines and their different modes, and generally simplifies their operation. The use of VK-2500-03 engines in Mi-171 helicopters ensures higher load capacity and increases the operational and hovering ceiling. Besides, greater available engine power in an emergency mode ensures greater safety during the flight with one running engine.
This was already a second Chinese civilian airline to buy helicopters of this configuration. China currently operates a total of about 200 Mi-171 helicopters.
Maurice Ward Logistics’ (MWL) fleet has eye-catching additions, the new branding for their frigo trailers is ready! As a trusted partner for your business they are constantly seeking to improve and respond efficiently, effectively and flexibly to provide the best fit for your cargo and goods.
They have expanded their service portfolio to transport temperature-controlled goods under ATP like pharmaceuticals, frozen and heated goods in the range -24°C to +28°C.
MWL’s modern, innovative and sustainable fleet of 70 vehicles meets the most stringent European environmental standards, EURO 6. All vehicles are less than 2 years old, serviced regularly, provided with GPS tracking and driven by a team of drivers who have proven their skills and qualities over the years working for the company. Their trailers may be modified for double-deck transport. MWL also offers the Moffat forklifts mounted on their trucks which reduce the time needed for un/loading significantly.
Maurice Ward Logistics can transport literally anything anywhere in Europe, and to the farthest corners of the world thanks to their broad network of agents. They specialize in domestic and international LTL & FTL services, milk runs, last mile deliveries, express deliveries etc. Thanks to technologies like stair robots the company is also able to transport even very heavy packages. Rely on them to design bespoke transport solutions for your business.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), a humanitarian organisation that supports official authorities, launched initiatives to support Lebanon after the Beirut explosion.
Etihad organised aid to support residents who had been injured or displaced from their homes in Beirut and gathered donations including medical equipment, clothes, and amenity bags, masks, shoes and blankets. In addition, Etihad and ERC supplied tents to provide shelter for those who had lost their homes and five medical tents to act as an on-field clinic for anyone requiring emergency medical assistance.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Our main focus of this campaign is to alleviate suffering for the people in Beirut. I am extremely proud that as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, over 50 of our own executives, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff volunteered to pack and organise the aid that has been collected in the UAE.”
Etihad’s CSR programme also launched the initiative ‘To Beirut’ that includes a new drive to collect dried food items such as rice, sugar, tea, instant coffee, flour, pasta and dried milk.
Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme by Etihad Airways, is also encouraging its members to donate their miles to support the victims of the Beirut explosion. The miles will be used to purchase protective equipment including masks and gloves, medical supplies and medicines, dry food items and support home renovation. Etihad Guest will also contribute towards the donations.
An Etihad Airways 787-10 Dreamliner decked out with special equipment that can enhance safety and reduce CO2 emissions and noise has commenced flight testing this week for Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme.
A series of flights will gather the most detailed information to date about aircraft acoustics from some 1,200 microphones attached to the outside of the 787 and positioned on the ground. The collaboration between NASA and Boeing will improve the agency’s aircraft noise prediction capabilities, advance ways for pilots to reduce noise and inform future quiet aircraft designs.
“At NASA, we’ve been researching the individual airplane noise sources, their interactions with the airframe and how they combine to the total aircraft noise,” NASA technical lead Dr. Russell Thomas said. “This unique, carefully designed flight test provides the environment where all these effects are measured, which will be key to advancing our ability to design lower-noise aircraft.”
Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “Etihad participating in this year’s ecoDemonstrator programme builds on our core innovation and sustainability tenets while supporting the research and development of our partners to bring innovation from the laboratory to a real world testing environment.
“By choosing to take part in this programme we are proud to work with the likes of Boeing, NASA and Safran to test cutting-edge technologies and explore “blue sky” opportunities to improve airspace efficiency, reduce fuel use, lower noise for the community and cut CO2 emissions.
“Sustainability remains a priority for Etihad in spite of the current Covid19 crisis and this is just one initiative we’ve taken since the start of the pandemic to continue our drive for sustainable aviation. As far as Etihad is concerned, environmental sustainability shouldn’t be an option or fair-weather project to be shelved when it’s not convenient against other challenges.”
Most community complaints about aircraft noise stem from flights approaching airports, according to industry figures. About one-quarter of the noise is created by the landing gear. Another project will test landing gear modified to be quieter by Safran Landing Systems.
“Our collaboration with NASA and Safran is key to accelerating innovation and furthering the ecoDemonstrator’s mission to improve the sustainability of air travel,” ecoDemonstrator Program Chief Engineer Rae Lutters said. “We’re eager to see a year’s worth of planning come to life when we begin testing.”
Two flights are being conducted during which pilots, air traffic controllers and an airline’s operations centre simultaneously share digital information and use a NASA system called tailored arrival management. These tools enhance safety by reducing workload and radio frequency congestion, optimise routing efficiency to lower fuel use, emissions and noise, and support the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System.
As part of Boeing’s Confident Travel Initiative to address COVID-19, a handheld ultraviolet light wand will be tested to determine its effectiveness in disinfecting flight decks and cabins.
All scheduled test flights are being flown on a blend of up to 50% sustainable fuel, which includes the largest volumes of 50% blend biofuel commercially produced. Flight testing at Boeing’s facility in Glasgow, Mont., is expected to last about 10 days before the aircraft is delivered to Etihad in late September.
This is the latest programme under Etihad’s industry-leading strategic partnership with Boeing, focusing on innovating real-world solutions to the key sustainability challenges facing the aviation industry.
To drive IoT and AI success, UAE companies must look at them through the lens of customer experience and business strategy. By Pieter Bensch, Executive Vice-President at Sage Africa & Middle East.
Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, it was clear that artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are here to stay. The growing reliance on digital platforms to ensure business continuity through the work from home period solidified this insight. Worldwide, spending on IoT is expected to increase 15.4 per cent to US$745 billion this year, according to IDC. As for AI systems, the market researcher projected that global spending was set to climb 44 per cent to nearly US$36 billion in 2019.
This surge in spending means that companies in the UAE need to step up their investment to remain globally competitive. But rather than thinking about these disruptive trends as new technology platforms, companies should embrace them for what they really are – a way to transform their business and its processes.
AI and IoT projects tend to fall short of the mark in helping companies to radically improve their business processes when they are not viewed through a strategic lens. As was the case with mobile and the cloud – success in IoT and AI will come from understanding how these solutions can reshape consumer and employee behaviour as well as how they can be leveraged to transform business operations and operating models.
More than just another tech project
IoT and AI aren’t simple technology projects – and implementing them isn’t a valid goal in itself. They are value creation tools, a way to transform the customer experience and reinvent business processes for the digital age. To maximise their potential, the business’s senior leadership should drive a comprehensive strategy and consider how these tools can enable new business models, underpin innovation and bring massive improvements to efficiency and productivity.
The IoT is a complex and interconnected network of related parts that sense context, transfer data, process information and initiate action. Data streams originating from all sorts of sensors built into a wide variety of “things” (for instance, machines, cars, mobile and immobile goods, clothes, or even human beings) enable companies to create innovative processes, services and products.
The real magic comes into play when machine learning is used to put that data to work. Smart algorithms and AI can be applied to data collected at scale to find patterns, trends and indicators that the human eye might miss. A few of the possibilities include:
* Using predictive maintenance for technical infrastructure in cities, factories, plants and other environments to improve the reliability of machinery while reducing maintenance costs.
* Leveraging traffic data from many different sources, including smart city data from traffic lights, streets, or other vehicles to optimise the management of corporate and government vehicle fleets.
* Creating innovative consumer offerings, such as Amazon-style dash buttons to supply customers automatically and predictively with goods and services.
* Providing medical care services. For example, consider using wearables and even ingestible sensors in the future, to monitor older people living alone at home.
* Using automation to free human beings from tedious manual work. AI-powered chatbots on a website will be able to handle many common customer queries and requests. At the same time, robotic process automation can carry out repetitive tasks such as accessing data from back-end systems to populate forms.
The leaders in digital transformation will have the ability to build, deliver and repeat innovations based on AI and IoT significantly better than their competitors who do not use these technologies. But to get it right, business leaders will need to understand the role these technologies– and others like blockchain – can play from a business outcome perspective.
Business leaders that begin with a vision for using these digital technologies to transform customer, employee and partner experiences will enjoy a headstart in achieving the goals of the business.
We spoke with Madar Farms about why agricultural technology will change how we grow our food for the better through plant farming concepts that are much more sustainable.
A quiet revolution is taking place all around us, in the agriculture industry. On this week’s podcast, we spoke to local pioneers in the space of farming about why technology will change how we grow our food for the better.
Madar Farm’s Haifa Alrasheed and Kyle Wagner join us to talk about how agtech will result in more food being grown in the UAE through methods that are much more sustainable.
Tires made for regional and urban transports – the new Nokian E-Truck 17.5 tire range takes over the city streets
Medium-size delivery trucks and buses are shuttling the streets in every city, keeping people and goods moving. The Nokian E-Truck range of truck tires has proven to be a dependable choice for long and medium haul road transports, so why not expand it to cover these lighter vehicles as well? Now the same economical kilometers are available for regional and city traffic with the new Nokian E-Truck 17.5 tire range.
The Nokian E-Truck range of tires is designed to bring as many economical, trouble-free kilometers as possible in year-round transports on main roads. But city traffic has its own challenges, so the new Nokian E-Truck 17.5 series of steering and drive axle tires was not created just by scaling down the existing products.
“We took the features that have proven useful in the Nokian E-Truck tires, such as the robust tread pattern designs”, says Teppo Siltanen, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “But we developed them further and combined the latest in tread pattern design with our special, abrasion-resistant rubber compound.”
The resulting tires, Nokian E-Truck Steer 17.5 and Nokian E-Truck Drive 17.5, give their best performance on busy city streets. Available in the second half of 2020, they answer to challenges set by urban traffic.
“Maneuvering tight corners and small courtyards is no problem with these tires, thanks to their stable, predictable handling”, says Teppo Siltanen. “The 3PMSF marking also makes sure no winter will slow you down.”
For steer axle
Nokian E-Truck Steer 17.5 is a stable and reliable front tire for medium size delivery trucks and city buses, offering good handling properties with its sturdy four-rib tread pattern. For a long, trouble-free service life it boasts an even wear-pattern, and the special zigzag-shaped wide grooves effectively reduce stone trapping.
For drive axle
Nokian E-Truck Drive 17.5 tire is designed for all-year use in demanding urban traffic. For grip and confident handling in in all circumstances, it features a dense block pattern made of special rubber compound and an open block design with semi-open shoulder design. Optimized tread block staggering provides driving stability for safe, comfortable ride.
Made for real need
Nokian Tyres products are always made for needs dictated by real-world use – wintry forest roads or rocky earthmoving sites, to name a but a few. The new Nokian E-Truck 17.5 tire family is optimized for special needs – quiet, agile, low-emission transports and to withstand the tire-wearing abrasion of the city traffic.
“The city traffic is shifting towards lighter vehicles, and it’s a good thing”, Teppo Siltanen says. “That enables more flexible traffic and cleaner air – so Nokian Tyres wants to offer tires that speed up the change!”
While the global pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on multiple industry sectors, there have been technology-driven paradigm shifts in logistics and supply chain processes and systems thank to the ingenuity and resilience demonstrated by the industry affirms Gaurav Biswas, Founder- CEO, TruKKer the region’s first technology enabled truck aggregator.
The world has changed in multiple ways over the last few months as mankind has been hit by a global pandemic. We underestimated the virus, then were shocked by its spread, then panicked into lock downs and then started to figure out ways to live with it until we find a suitable vaccine to get rid of it.
During this time however, there have been fundamental shifts in the ways we communicate, educate our young, do business and keep the wheels of supply chain moving. The supply chain and logistics sector has shown great resilience and ability to transform post Covid-19. While most businesses have been shut down, retail has suffered with no physical sales, the logistics sector has continued to support the movement of pharmaceuticals, health care equipment, food and consumer goods across the world.
The rise of e-commerce has accelerated as more of us now order online instead of going to the mall. Again, the logistics providers, while being overwhelmed have continued to deliver to sudden increase in demand from online orders.
Industrial cargo movements will see massive disruptions over the next few years due to efficiencies at ports, shipping lines, road borders and general impact on manufacturing and distribution businesses.
Technology in Road Freight
Technology development and adoption are at an inflection point for the supply chain and logistics sector. The companies and teams that are able to innovate and adapt will end up being the next generation sector leaders and disrupt traditional businesses permanently. Technology will drive the following functions faster than it has ever done before Digitization: More and more consumers, companies and supply chain participants will move towards digitization of all processes and business functions. Logistics is very paperwork heaving. Companies like TruKKer have been pushing towards paperless transactions and this change will now further accelerate. TruKKer has been able to achieve 100% digitization in road freight documentation.
Electronic procurement and use of platforms: There has been significant demand erosion and the impact has made companies more price sensitive. This will give further boost to digital platforms like TruKKer that create the utilization based efficiencies through shared economy principles.
Automation at multiple levels: In the road freight sector, there are multiple tiers of sophistication amongst the various participants. Each party has to be addressed accordingly towards an upgrade of the entire ecosystem. The technology to be developed, adapted and implemented for a truck driver has to be very different to that for an international freight forwarder.
Collaboration through integration: The supply chain industry is one of the most complex with regards to the number of parties that are involved in movement of cargo. To enable technology, frameworks for collaboration have to be created with multiple parties namely customs, port authorities, clients, shipping lines, transporters and other regulators and stakeholders. TruKKer is progressing with multiple collaborations.
New Age: All the hi-tech stuff of new age technology like AI, ML (Machine Learning), Blockchain, IoT and other advanced know-how have applications in road freight and logistics. TruKKer believes that autonomous vehicles will be commercially adapted in trucking much faster than cars.
Impact on the regional transporters
In the MENA region, businesses will have to deal with a double impact of Covid-19 and also low oil prices. As cities and regions come out of lock-downs, there is constant pressure on the health care infrastructure and many businesses continue to operate at lower outputs. The region’s infrastructure spend along with some large government backed projects might face slow down in the medium term with resulting impacts on multiple sectors. As a result, almost every sector will be looking for cost saving measures.
Efficient and technology based operators like TruKKer that are also adequately capitalized to capture market share will benefit and accelerate their growth. In the traditional fleet owning companies, most trucking businesses have recovered since May 2020 as trade and industry start coming back from lock down.
However, the individual owner operators and small road freight brokers involved in the international (cross-border) cargo movement business continue to suffer due to border closures.
The suffering of the UAE transporters has been acute as their jobs have been replaced by the Saudi origin trucks. TruKKer has tried to utilize a lot of such trucks for its other projects and lanes within the UAE including for port movements, especially as many clients have started moving cargo by sea due to restrictions and very high pricing for international road freight. TruKKer estimates that road borders will start relaxing from July 2020 and the sector will have a V-shaped recovery catering to large volumes of cargo waiting to be moved as a result of the pent-up demand in Q2- 2020.
Competition and structure
The road freight sector is extremely fragmented across the world and the MENA region is no different. There are thousands of individual owner operators, along with similar fragmentation in the brokerage business. The MENA full truck load (FTL) sector is highly competitive and analytical information is missing almost in its entirety. The large fleet owners make less than five percent of the total supply of trucks and they control the long term contracts with large enterprise clients. Small fleet owners and single owner operators service as sub contractors to large fleet companies or freight forwarders and other brokers.
Digital freight platforms like TruKKer are disrupting this industry structure by enabling the small transporters and individual owner operators with advanced tools, technology interfaces and sophisticated customer service to service the large enterprise clients and SMEs with standard service quality and much better pricing.
Technology triumph
The technology allows for significantly leaner operations and ability to scale across markets and geographies. TruKKer is constantly automating its processes and also its interface with demand and capacity along with addressing every friction in the transactional process. Execution focus is the key to success at TruKKer. Technology is an enabler but nothing is more important than operational and process excellence in logistics.
TruKKer has been investing heavily into the supply infrastructure and driver welfare to ensure that one of the hardest jobs is acknowledged. Over the next few months, TruKKer will be announcing major programs focused on driver welfare and infrastructure for enhanced cargo safety and security.
Digital freight platforms like TruKKer are transforming the fragmented, unorganized and inefficient road freight sector into reliable, standardized, and optimized services with significant commercial and environmental benefits for the entire ecosystem.
While the global fallout of the coronavirus is distressing, there is also hope. Companies around the world such as SSI Schaefer are leveraging tech to fight the pandemic, help businesses cope with the new normal and innovative strategies to empower their associates and communities.
The onset of the international pandemic for the most part in the first half of 2020 saw governments, companies and the public at large confront and corral the global Coronavirus challenge. In a relatively short span of weeks, national economies were upended and the global economy eventually ground virtually to a halt with draconian measures notably safe distancing and minimizing person-to-person contact firmly in place.
The scale, intensity and prevalence of the coronavirus crisis have reshaped society in permanent ways, from governance, the way we conduct our businesses, healthcare, the economy, our lifestyles, our travel plans and more. It has been a cataclysmic transformation in the way we comport ourselves and operate our companies.
We now have the new normal, new SOPs (standard operating procedures), new protocols, new perspectives and a completely new playbook of rules and regulations in this completely transformed economic ecosystem and global business landscape.
So how are companies responding to this ubiquitous breakout that has consumed us all? As a test case and a snap shot of how large manufacturing and solution providers are functioning in a radically altered environment, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive and expansive interview with Matthias Hoewer, General Manager Middle East & Africa, SSI Schaefer, on a wide range of the pandemic issues and the company’s strategy to minimize the impact of the virus onslaught and tactical measures to bounce back.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly, what are key takeaways, broad observations and general comments of the Covid-19 pandemic from the SSI Schaefer corporate perspective?
Matthias Hoewer (MH): The rapidly spreading novel coronavirus has caused a situation that is hard to assess. However, we can control how we react.
To this end we established a Covid-19 taskforce right at the beginning of the crisis. Since then we have been coordinating closely with internal and external sources on a daily basis to assess the current situation and the consequences for our employees, our customers, and our company. As a team, we try to keep the impact on our company as low as possible.
GSC: How has the onset of the pandemic impacted your regional and global operations? And how can SSI Schaefer better contribute to ensure more streamlined operations to avert the impediments arising from the virus onset?
MH: On the one hand, we continue to support our customers with enquiries on current projects or consulting for new projects. Both activities are primarily done by phone or virtually using video conferencing to minimize the risk of infection. We already have a digital toolkit in place to plan customer systems in real time.
With regards to our Customer Service & Support Department, we as a service organization are of course still available for our customers around the clock by phone, e-mail, and remote maintenance. Thanks to our predictive maintenance approach, which we have been promoting for years, many of our current systems are in perfect condition with proper technology in place. If a personal visit is necessary, our technicians will come to the customer’s site as long as it is permitted by and consistent with official regulations.
On the other hand, as SSI Schaefer, we are also part of the supply chain. We continuously check our processes along the supply chain for their functionality to ensure business continuity.
We are in close contact with our global production teams and re-evaluate the situation based on the latest news to implement quick countermeasures. In case we incur changes within our supply chain, we will develop suitable measures to minimize the risk. Due to strengthened prevention measures, including closed borders in different countries, deliveries to our factories or from our factories to customers may experience a delay. Our task force is always involved and tries to find a fast solution in close cooperation with respective internal departments and customers.
Covid-19 has validated the criticality and strategic importance of supply chain management – that is a given.
In this thought leadership contribution, Tom Craig, President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, a leading authority and professional consultant on logistics and supply chain management and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain examines the best case scenario for the restoration of normalcy in a sector turned on its head and ravaged by the pandemic.
Firstly and clearly, the global pandemic is not over. Its impact is still being felt in economies, industries and in markets around the world. How businesses come out of this will differ—from restart to rebuild. It has shown to be the operations backbone of retailers, e-tailers, and manufacturers. Supply chains and their transportation and logistics components are essential services after all. It has been nearly impossible to come through the coronavirus without a changed supply chain management… and it raises a question. Has Covid-19 shown that supply chains were in operating ruts—precoronavirus? Or, in another way, has it taken a global pandemic to make needed changes in SCM? So, what now? It is time to build on what was done—the good and the flaws that were exposed. This is an action plan that supply chain management people can use to put in place for the new supply chain management.
No cookie cutter approach. What I am presenting may not apply to supply chains across industries, market sectors, and the world. Each business has been affected differently by Covid from none or little to extensive. However, there are changes and a new supply chain. While every point here may not be relevant to every business, it does present
thoughts to consider for the new supply chain management and new economic and business reality that is being formed. Some of the changes that are happening are overdue, call it pre-Covid. An example is of firms that are doing SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) rationalization which is a subset item for inventory and warehousing. Others may
have been held back—but that was then and this is now.
Several of the items contain talking points that appear in more than one action item. That reflects the nature of supply chain management. STRATEGY: This is your starting point. This involves a cohesive plan for where
you are going and how you will get there— your new supply chain management. This is what will be done and how it will be implemented and executed. This involves the what, the how, the why, and the steps.
It should include collaboration and buy-in from other areas in the company. The strategy should be about more than fixing problems that the coronavirus exposed. This is your clean sheet of paper. It should reflect how your end-to-end supply chain should be designed and managed for viability. Here are two approaches for your assessment:
Upstream / inbound and downstream / outbound / fulfillment-these are the two sections of the end-to-end supply chains.
These are the parts that had to deal with Covid. Think about that and all you have been dealing with. And / or Inside the four walls and outside the four walls (This is a variation of warehousing and transportation.) Much of your
supply chain is outside the four walls of distribution centres, factories and stores.
Four-wall myopia limits seeing the end-to-end supply chain and its complexity. In turn, this view can impact how well your ERP system functions. This leaves a hole in lean efforts. Do not miss the big picture where so much goes on. These are different from how supply chains have been traditionally structured, and that presents opportunities for new ideas. This includes the usual operation as to stop-go / node-link. This can help with streamlining how products move and sit.
More of this article can be found on www.globalsupplychainme.com
Tranzone has been able to maintain its work momentum and usher in new performance efficiencies even in the long shadow of the pandemic thanks to new work protocols, guidelines and regulations. Overseas expansion is also in the horizon, affirms Biju Joseph, the company’s Operations Manager.
It is now abundantly evident that the raging corona virus pandemic has dented processes and disrupted operations of virtually every industrial sector in the world. The logistics, supply chain and distribution chains have also been adversely impacted following tactical moves by companies requiring employees to stay home to limit the spread of the virus.
This has led to reduced inventory production in many sectors, and the resulting shortages have been felt in many industries, including that of medical supplies, which has seen emergency purchasing push demand. Distributors buying goods from factories that have continued or resumed operations have had their own struggles. B2B resellers may find it difficult to ship items from manufacturers to their international clients because efforts to contain the virus have led to policies restricting air travel and ocean deliveries.
Global Supply Chain recently caught up with Biju Joseph, Operations Manager, Tranzone, Dubai, UAE where he heads the warehousing and distribution systems to discuss how the pandemic and efforts to reduce its spread are impacting global supply chains as well as identify the lessons companies should take from this emergency.
The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and all-pervading, and logistics services providers are doing their best to rally and keep operations running as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. In this exclusive interview Biju Joseph provides his take and dwells at length on all measures taken to keep interruptions to the minimum and increase efficacy and ensure streamlined operations.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly, what are key takeaways and broad observations of the Covid-19 pandemic from the Tranzone corporate perspective on your warehousing operations?
Biju Joseph (BJ): As a result of Covid-19, we have had to make a number of changes to the way we operate to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees. To maintain operational continuity in the warehouse and with physical distancing in place, we implemented a 24h-hour split shift operation reducing the number of employees working at any one time.
By taking suitable and effective action it ensured our employees maintain social distancing whilst working in a safe and hygienic environment. It also guaranteed that operationally our quality and service levels were maintained at optimum levels with shipments being both processed and dispatched on time.
GSC: How is the onset of the pandemic impacting your warehousing business?
BJ: As a Pharmaceutical 3PL we are exempt from the lockdown or any mandatory restrictions put in place by Dubai Government. As a vital sector it was important that Tranzone maintained operations as normal with essential employees only working on site.
All remaining support functions and departments worked remotely. So as far as our customers were concerned it was business as normal whilst maintaining and enforcing strict health protocols and safety procedures.
GSC: How much of your professional work environment and ecosystem in the warehouse has changed as a result of the Covid-19 virus onslaught?
BJ: On account of the nature of the products we store, we operate in a very clean and semi-sterile environment. Hand sanitizer stations have always been in place throughout the warehouse and offices. The real change for the employees has been the wearing of masks and adjustments to the shift patterns to maintain social distancing.
GSC: With the Pharma, Food, Cold Chain and critically required medical / PPE (personal protective equipment) supplies industry in the frontlines of the fight against the virus, how have your priorities been rearranged and what kind of new demands and pressures are being put on your business now?
BJ: Currently nothing has really changed in the way the operation functions day to day. Tranzone operates a very flexible business model which allows us to adjust or modify the way we operate fairly quickly and without detriment to service we offer our customers. What we are now seeing are
more enquiries from European companies for both storage and distribution.
GSC: How can the pharmaceutical industry and specifically ‘warehousing’ better prepare to possibly avert and deal more effectively with this current situation?
BJ: Firstly, given the sensitive nature of the business we operate in, we definitely need to create a safe work environment for the employees to work safely and comfortably. This can be achieved by reducing the on-site presence to essential workers only.
We have increased the warehouse operating hours by adding additional shifts. This ensures that productivity and customer service levels remain uncompromised but with less employees in the warehouse at any one time.
We need to continually remind and educate employees on how to prevent infection. The wearing of Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) in the workplace is important. Washing and sterilizing hands on entering and leaving the warehouse is now compulsory.
We ensure adequate stocks of PPE on site to maintain these levels of personal safety. Finally, it is vital to plan and prioritize operations and the workload daily. As the old Benjamin Franklin adage goes—‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!’
GSC: How can the pharma logistics services providers such as Tranzone better contribute to ensure more streamlined and speedy transportation and availability of badly needed pharmaceuticals and protective supplies?
BJ: Unfortunately, there are some things you can’t control. For example, flights being cancelled or shipping companies changing the departure date as a result of the impact Covid-19 are clearly outside of our jurisdiction.
What we can do as a business is to ensure we have more options available in case of cancellations. In light of what we’ve seen we have started to increase our portfolio of service providers giving the operations team more flexibility or choice.
Internally we’ve already made changes to meet the growing demand. As part of our business continuity plan we’ve made those adjustments that will ensure if we again face another global pandemic we are ready and prepared.
GSC: With a virtual paralysis and freeze in global aviation, how gravely might this affect the pharma chain and warehousing segments?
BJ: The freeze in aviation has impacted not only pharma but every product and industry. What airlines did very well was to realize the global impact this situation would have on Pharma and other essential products and make these flights a priority.
The biggest impact to the customer has been the increase in freight costs as a result of less flights, high demand and available space on these flights.
GSC: Briefly, what lessons to date are we learning from the Covid -19 outbreak as far as the pharma supply chain / warehousing is concerned?
BJ: As a business you have to act fast and make changes. This virus has forced many businesses to re-evaluate and reboot their business model. When faced with a global challenge like Covid-19, you can either take your time making the necessary adjustments or like Tranzone you react quickly taking all necessary precautions to avoid operational failures, reducing the risk on employees, maintaining service levels and the supply chain of pharmaceutical products.
This is also very evident around the world. Countries that were quick to respond to the risks of Covid-19, and embrace enforced lockdowns and change were able to overcome devastating effects or lessen the fallout versus those that didn’t and resisted change or didn’t react by taking the necessary precautions.
GSC: What measures has Tranzone taken to better equip its warehouse team and maintain a safe environment for the employees?
BJ: We have a well structured plan and playbook to ensure safety in the workplace. PPEs, masks, gloves and hand sanitizers are liberally used. We have 24-hour split shift operations to minimize the number of employees working at any one time.
At another level, we encourage remote working for those that can. This has helped reduce any unnecessary active and employee density in the workplace. We have hand sanitizers placed at multiple locations in our offices and warehouse premises. Furthermore, all employees and visitors have their temperature taken before entering the building.
GSC: How is the healthcare-life sciences warehousing different from other industrial warehousing sectors?
BJ: The obvious and main difference is the condition our products need to be stored. Pharma plays a key role in the health and wellbeing of everyone. These pharma products are key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and have to be stored and transported under very stringent and properly enforced temperature and quality-control conditions.
GSC: What are your goals short and long term going forward?
BJ: For the short term, Tranzone will continue to support its customers through this difficult period by offering the best service possible whilst maintaining a safe working environment for the employees.
For the long term, expansion plans are on the cards. Tranzone plans to open an independent operation in Oman. Initially this was scheduled for 2020 but as a result of Covid-19 has now been pushed back to 2021. In addition, we looking to increase our market share in Saudi Arabia utilizing our five pharma warehouses located in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in the Kingdom.
NAFL President Nadia Abdul Aziz holds forth on a wide range of industry
subjects and their consequences in the shadow of the pandemic
There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a massive blow to the global economy. On the supply side, factories and businesses have been forced to close temporarily due to the shortage of input materials from suppliers and the need to protect workers. Demand is declining, too, as consumers stay home and face the prospect of a large-scale economic downturn.
As a natural and obvious corollary, the pandemic has irretrievably impacted both national and international trade and constituent production, supplies, transportation distribution systems with far-reaching economic consequences for the core logistics and supply chain industry.
Many logistics and supply chain companies and related services providers in the UAE have gone out of their usual to not only tackle the disruptions wrought by the pandemic and its fall out on virtually every industry sector across the globe. To get to know and understand the ramifications of the pandemic in the UAE and region, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive expansive interview with Nadia Abdul Aziz, the second-term President of the long-established UAE’s National Association of Freight and Logistics, NAFL, the first apex association of freight logistics service providers to be established in the Middle East. Nadia is also the first Emirati to hold this coveted position.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly, what are key takeaways of the Covid-19 pandemic from the logistics and supply
chain perspective? Nadia Abdul Aziz (NAA): There are clearly many far-reaching and across-the-board implications of the onset of Covid-19 pandemic for the national, regional and international logistics and supply chain industry.
We learned that we need to have the following in place to avoid major business disruptions—to have contingency plans for crisis situations and management of businesses during crises.
We need to train employees on extensive use of IT and new tried and tested technologies for our businesses and how to maximize productivity by the latest available hi-tech services and smart applications. We also realize capability, adaptation and resilience in employees who can run business successfully despite the odds Furthermore, we need to invest more in the software used in the offices as digitalization is the future and becoming increasingly indispensable.
The UAE Government is well prepared in his segment and the Government Strategy & Charter for 2021 was implemented earlier which has proven to be very effective and successful.
The private sector should engage and use the updated and the latest available technology in their work. Quotes, rates, online live client meetings, management reports, online marketing and sales are now the new norm. We need to harness technology to drive sales, generate more business, and reduce costs and most of all now is to connect to the e-commerce users and ensure you can fulfill their needs & requirements.
There has been a big uptake on this front and this will continue in the foreseeable future, which means logistic firms need to be ready to capture this growing market with opportunities. A good example is Noon Logistics which is now really focused on serving clients online by delivering daily groceries to top fashion and electronic items. Many e-commerce businesses have been prudent to realize the potential of online marketing and purchasing a sector that will continue to deliver greater dividends going forward.
GSC: How is the onset of the pandemic impacting the L&SC (logistics & supply chain) trade regionally and globally and the UAE specifically?
NAA: Logistics was badly impaired in some instances or considerably reduced in the immediate aftermath of the shutdown following the outbreak of the pandemic. There was an increase in medical supplies cargo, food supplies, urgent machinery parts and humanitarian aid along with other main necessities. Large volumes of emergency and medical goods are being airlifted to the much needed areas. Due to high demand and restricted flights, the result was higher air freight rates by 3 to 4 times than the regular air freight rates.
Fortunately in the UAE it was well organized compared to other countries and this was thanks to the Government’s
use of technology, smart services long ago which made it easier for forwarders to work remotely during shutdown and even after. During the shutdown forwarders were permitted to work as their industry is one of the vital industries in the country to ensure everything the hospitals, medical community and consumers need are
available.
All operations for imports and exports of necessary goods are done using a single window application such as ‘Dubai Trade’ for Dubai corporates and ‘Maqta Gateway’ for Abu Dhabi. This facilitated the streamlined movements of goods and reduced personal and unnecessary face-to-face interaction as operations are conducted online to complete cargo documentation and clearance.
GSC: How much of your professional work environment / ecosystem in the operations realm has changed as a result
of the Covid-19 virus onslaught?
NAA: I estimate at least 40 percent of our work can be done remotely, as most Government transactions can be done online and even over your mobile. Better coordination and communication skills were used during the pandemic to complete client work and I can say more team work and harmonization is called for as everyone wants to stay safe whilst at the same time secure their jobs even if it means doing the work remotely or in shifts.
We at NAFL have efficiently utilized our office space to ensure all employees can work in a safe environment as we ensured here is appropriate and mandatory social distancing. The same is also true of many of our associates and members. We are continually monitoring the market for quality protective materials that we can provide for our staff. We operate as a close knit team ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities to stay safe and to ensure
safety at all times. We are mindful that our member-companies are also following suit.
Utilizing temperature and heat sensitive cameras in the warehouses to monitor everyone with a fever can be effectively used to reduce risk of any infection or virus spread at the facilities and warehouses. That applies to all and many NAFL associate companies have invested in this arena to ensure safety of their employees and workforce.
First Half 2020 Revenues rose 1% to AED 2,528 million
First Half 2020 Net Profit declined 30% to AED 162 million
Domestic Express e-commerce volumes in core markets rose 133% in Q2
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announces its financial results for second quarter (Q2) and first half (H1) ended 30 June 2020.
Aramex’s Q2 2020 Revenues grew by 4% to AED 1,332 million, compared to AED 1,279 million in Q2 2019 driven mainly by a surge in e-commerce activities resulting from increased online shopping during COVID-19 related lockdowns. Aramex’s Revenues in the H1 2020 increased by 1% to AED 2,528 million, compared to AED 2,512 million in the corresponding period of 2019.
Net Profit in Q2 declined 23% to AED 94.4 million, compared to AED 123 million in Q2 2019. Net profit was negatively impacted by the rise in unforeseen costs prompted by the global onslaught of COVID-19 such as the exceptional challenges in cross-border operations due to border closures, the increase in line haul costs which in turn impacted profit margins in both International Express and Freight. For Domestic Express, higher costs were incurred related to scaling operations in core markets in response to the surge in shipment volumes. Additionally, in line with Aramex’s commitment to providing safe and essential services to its customers, there were increased costs related to personal protective equipment for Company employees and other health and safety measures such as sanitization of warehouses, sorting facilities and fleets. Over the period, the Company introduced cost containment measures and expects most measures to remain in place for the second half of the year in light of the uncertain market outlook and lack of visibility of second and consequent COVID-19 waves. Aramex’s Net Profit in the First Half of 2020 fell by 30% to AED 162 million, compared to AED 231 million in H1 2019.
Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: “Given a very challenging period, I am pleased with Q2 results, the heroic performance of our employees and the strong growth in overall express shipment volumes.
“Within our business lines, Domestic Express was the standout performer driven by exceptional growth from e-commerce related deliveries as government mandated stay at home measures and lockdowns forced people to turn to online channels to shop for necessities and other goods. We also benefitted from a surge in demand for healthcare related shipments which is positively reflected in our Freight and Domestic Express service lines. However, some industries which we service are still witnessing a slow recovery; the oil and gas sector which has been impacted by low oil prices and the economic slowdown has negatively impacted the performance of Freight, as has the sluggish demand for traditional retail. While we are starting to see a modest recovery in some of our verticals, it is too soon to say with certainty that we have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
“As a business, we are now operating in a higher cost environment which is adding pressure to our profitability margins. While some factors pushing costs higher may dissipate or normalize over time, such as sanitization costs, others may adjust higher for an extended period, such as line haul costs. Having said that, we have a robust balance sheet and comfortable free cash flow position, enabling us to manage higher costs while continuing to protect shareholder value. Also, we expect that as we continue to execute on our business and digital transformation strategy, we will carry on improving operational efficiency and quality of customer service which, over the long term, will continue to drive down overall costs and relieve some of the pressure on margins.”
ETIHAD AIRWAYS REPORTS STRONG START TO 2020 WITH SECOND QUARTER HEAVILY IMPACTED BY COVID-19
Record Q1 performance – showing a 34% year-on-year improvement
3.5 million passengers carried
71% seat load factor
Operating revenues US$ 1.7 billion
Cargo revenues improved by US$ 130 million (37%) to US$ 0.49 billion
27% reduction in direct operating costs to US$ 1.9 billion
21% reduction in general and administrative expenses to US$ 0.40 billion
Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) reduced by 53% to 23.69 billion
Etihad Airways (Etihad), has provided details of its half-year (H1: January-June) 2020 performance, which saw a strong start to the year, with the airline progressing well ahead of its transformation plan targets. This included its best monthly results to date for February, prior to the impact of COVID-19, the subsequent closure of international borders, and the suspension of flights to and from the UAE from 24 March.
H1 2020 performance
Etihad carried 3.5 million passengers in H1 (H1 2019: 8.2 million), a reduction of 58% from the same period the previous year. Average seat load factor was 71%. Core operating loss for this period increased by US$ 172 million to US$ 758 million (H1 2019: US$ 586 million), driven by a 38% drop in revenues, which stood at US$ 1.7 billion (H1 2019: US$ 2.7bn). This was partially off-set by a 27% reduction in direct operating costs to US$ 1.9 billion (H1 2019: US$ 2.7 billion), and a 21% reduction in general and administrative expenses to US$ 0.40 billion (H1 2019: US$ 0.50), both driven by management cost containment initiatives and reduced operations. Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) reduced by 53% to 23.69 billion (H1 2019: 50.35 billion).
Cargo revenues were US$ 0.49 billion, an improvement of US$ 130 million (37%) compared to the same period in 2019, with 254,345 leg tonnes of cargo carried. This was driven by an increase in demand and a spike in cargo fares.
The core operating result for the first three months of the year improved by 34%, despite the onset of COVID-19, with a 12% reduction in passenger numbers, and a 9.5% reduction in ASK. Q1 seat load factor was 74% (January’s performance was significantly stronger than the same month in 2019, with a seat load factor of 81.9%), and yield at US$ 5.92 cents. Unit revenue in Q1 reduced by 3.3% to US$ 4.14 cents (Q1 2019: US$ 4.28 cents), offset by continuous focus on driving down unit costs, which were reduced by 2.4% to US$ 7.01 cents (Q1 US$ 7.18 cents).
However, the airline saw a significant decrease in Q2 operating revenues following COVID-19 flight suspensions, with 70% of its fleet grounded. This period registered a 99% drop in passenger numbers and a 95% drop in ASK compared to Q2 2019. Seat load factor for this period was 16%, mainly driven by the operation of special (repatriation) flights, and the resumption of a limited network of transfer services via Abu Dhabi in early June.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad faced a set of enormous and unpredictable challenges in the first six months of the year. We started 2020 strong, and recorded encouraging results as part of our continuing transformation programme. This left us in a relatively robust position when COVID-19 hit, allowing us to act with agility, and to mobilise all available resources as the crisis deepened, taking major steps to reduce costs through a wide-reaching series of measures.
“While we have revised our outlook for the rest of 2020 based on current realities, we remain optimistic that as international borders re-open, we will increase our flying and carry more guests securely and with greater peace of mind, supported by the Etihad Wellness programme and our new Wellness Ambassadors. By September, we aim to increase our worldwide flights to half our pre-COVID-19 capacity. Looking forward, we rest assured that the UAE is leading the way in the research for a vaccine against COVID-19. The incredible efforts Abu Dhabi is making to ensure the safety and security of its residents and visitors will soon enable us to welcome the world back to our amazing home. This commitment was successfully highlighted by the recent hosting of major UFC events in the capital.”
Etihad operated up to 40 of its fleet of 97 passenger aircraft in Q2, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 777-300ERs, and Airbus A320 family aircraft as belly-hold cargo freighters to complement Etihad Cargo’s operational fleet of six 777-200F freighters. Between 25 March and 15 June, over 640 special passenger flights were operated to 45 online and offline destinations, using the passenger cabins of these aircraft to fly foreign nationals out of the UAE, and to bring UAE nationals back home.
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “This year started strong, riding on the positive momentum gained in 2019, and by the end of the first quarter, the airline was on track to achieve a 2020 EBITDA of US$ 900 million (2019: US$ 453 million). Etihad managed to maintain a satisfactory level of liquidity despite a major drop in revenues, while continuing to raise new liquidity facilities supported by local and international financial institutions. This was supported by maintaining an ‘A with a stable outlook’ Fitch rating in April, at the height of the pandemic. Etihad was one of a small number of airlines to maintain its pre-COVID-19 credit rating.
“A greater emphasis is being placed on a drive towards increased cost optimisation and efficiencies across the entire business to face the hurdles placed in our way by COVID-19. Our suppliers and partners have also worked closely with us, including the arrangement of payment holidays with lessors and savings discussions with all of our supply chain, so we can re-emerge stronger together.”
H1 2020 results
Q1
Q2
H1 total
Passenger Revenue (US$ billion)
0.95
0.06
1.01
Cargo Revenue (US$ billion)
0.17
0.32
0.49
Operating Revenue (US$ billion)
1.23
0.44
1.67
Core Operating Result (US$ billion)
(0.24)
(0.52)
(0.76)
Total passengers (million)
3.43
0.03
3.47
Available seat kilometres (billion)
22.45
1.24
23.69
Seat load factor (%)
74%
16%
71%
Cargo tonnage (leg tonnes ‘000)
143.3
111.1
250.5
Network
Etihad is gradually resuming services to more destinations across its global network. This follows the easing of travel restrictions by UAE regulatory authorities on outbound and inbound travel for citizens and residents. All travel remains subject to the entry and health regulations set by the UAE authorities, and those at the end destination.
Throughout August and September, subject to the lifting of international restrictions and the re-opening of individual markets, the airline aims to fly to 61 destinations worldwide from its Abu Dhabi hub, operating approximately 50 per cent of its pre-COVID capacity.
Airline’s 2019 Sustainable Development Report celebrates environmental and social initiative success and lays foundation for group’s future targets
The Cathay Pacific Group has released its 2019 Sustainable Development Report, providing a comprehensive overview of Cathay Pacific’s and its subsidiaries’ approach to and performance in the areas of environmental, social and governance that are of great importance to our stakeholders.
In his message in the report, Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang writes: “At the time of preparing this report, a public health emergency has rocked the global economy. It feels more important than ever to foster positivity, to protect our people, to strengthen our communities and to confront the major challenges we face. We are very determined to play our part in this hugely important undertaking; one which requires us to be financially successful but in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Our commitment to developing sustainably with transparency and accountability is undiminished.”
With a focus on climate change, the efficient use of resources, waste management, and supporting our people and community, the Report sets out the Group’s efforts in moving towards greener aviation. Some highlights from 2019 include:
New single-use plastic reduction target: We have set the target to reduce our single-use plastic footprint by 50% by the end of 2022, removing nearly 200 million pieces of single-use plastic from our operations annually.
Fighting climate change: We have introduced new efficiency initiatives, added six new, more fuel-efficient Airbus A350s to our fleet, and scaled up climate change risk and mitigation planning. Since 1998, our efforts have yielded a 27% cumulative improvement in fuel efficiency.
Caring for our community: We continued to support the positive development of our communities through our new Cathay ChangeMakers initiative and the longstanding I Can Fly programme.
Consolidated Average Daily Volume Surged to Record 20.9% Growth
2Q20 Diluted EPS of $2.03, Up 4.6%; Adjusted* Diluted EPS up 8.7% to $2.13
YTD Cash from Operations of $5.9B; Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $3.9B
UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced second-quarter 2020 consolidated revenue increased to $20.5 billion, a 13.4% increase from the second quarter of 2019. Net income was $1.8 billion for the quarter; adjusted net income was $1.9 billion, 8.8% above the same period in 2019. Operating profit was $2.2 billion, and adjusted operating profit was $2.3 billion, up 7.4% compared to last year’s second quarter.
Diluted earnings per share was $2.03 and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $2.13, up 8.7% from the same period last year. GAAP results included a pre-tax transformation charge of $112 million, equivalent to $0.10 per share. In the prior year period, GAAP results included a pre-tax charge for transformation costs of $21 million, equivalent to $0.02 per share.
“Our results were better than we expected, driven in part by the changes in demand that emerged from the pandemic, including a surge in residential volume, COVID-19 related healthcare shipments and strong outbound demand from Asia,” said Carol Tomé, UPS chief executive officer. “UPSers are keeping the world moving during this time of need and I want to thank our team for their hard work and outstanding efforts to serve our customers, our communities and each other.”
U.S. Domestic Segment
2Q 2020
Adjusted
2Q 2020
2Q 2019
Adjusted
2Q 2019
Revenue
$13,074 M
$11,150 M
Operating profit
$1,182 M
$ 1,215 M
$1,208 M
$1,226 M
Average daily volume increased 22.8%, reaching 21.1 million packages per day.
Demand for residential delivery surged in the quarter, driving B2C shipment growth up 65.2%.
Operating margin was 9.0%; adjusted operating margin was 9.3%.
International Segment
2Q 2020
Adjusted
2Q 2020
2Q 2019
Adjusted
2Q 2019
Revenue
$3,705 M
$3,505 M
Operating profit
$771 M
$ 842 M
$663 M
$665 M
Average daily volume grew 9.8%, driven by strong outbound demand from Asia and an increase in cross-border e-commerce in Europe.
Operating margin was 20.8%; adjusted operating margin was 22.7%.
* “Adjusted” amounts are non-GAAP financial measures. See the appendix to this release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most closely correlated GAAP measure.
Supply Chain and Freight Segment
2Q 2020
Adjusted
2Q 2020
2Q 2019
Adjusted
2Q 2019
Revenue
$3,680 M
$3,393 M
Operating profit
$259 M
$ 267 M
$272 M
$273 M
Revenue increased 8.5%, driven by elevated air freight forwarding demand out of Asia, offset in part by weaker demand early in the quarter in the LTL and truckload brokerage units.
Operating margin was 7.0%; adjusted operating margin was 7.3%.
Outlook
UPS is not providing revenue and diluted earnings per share guidance due to the uncertainty around the timing and pace of the economic recovery. The company is unable to predict the extent of the business impact or the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, or reasonably estimate its operating performance in future quarters.
“Using the scale and flexibility of our global integrated network, we successfully managed operational challenges throughout the quarter. Moving forward we are focusing on efficiency and revenue quality to improve U.S. operating margins longer term,” said Brian Newman, UPS chief financial officer. “Our liquidity and cash position remain strong, allowing us to invest in enabling capabilities through this time of unprecedented business disruption.”
BITO has added another bin variant to their successful MB multi-purpose container range:
Online grocery purchases have seen a steep rise which is challenging online retailers. They are confronted with the question: How do I deliver temperature sensitive foods safely to the consumer – if possible, without producing any further packaging waste? The online shopping trend is on the rise and goes hand in glove with the movement toward sustainable and eco-friendly shopping, especially in the food sector. Avoiding plastic waste as far as possible – whether secondary packaging or single-use shopping bags for carrying purchases home – is becoming more and more of a priority with consumers. Reusable, stable carrying and transport aids are therefore more in demand than ever, by consumers and of course also by online retailers, who are looking for optimum solutions to reduce costs.
BITO provides the answer with their new MB Food & Delivery container that is an addition to the successful MB multi-purpose container series. Sized 600 x 400 x 373 mm, this container variant has been developed especially for the retail e-commerce market and is provided with various equipment options. Dean Lawrence, Managing Director at BITO Middle East : “Suppliers in the e-food sector have gained a lot of experience over the years since the start of online food shopping. Especially with regard to the necessary requirements when transporting food over the last mile to the customer. We received an increasing number of customer enquiries for bins and containers that had to meet certain requirements for food distribution. We have now responded by adding a new container type to our successful MB series.”
What exactly is important to the customer – and therefore also to the end customer?
The goods must reach the consumer undamaged. Freshness and quality assurance are top priorities – compliance with cold chain requirements from leaving the market or warehouse to door-step delivery is essential. In addition to this, goods that need to be shipped standing f.ex. must be secured against tipping over. Another requirement was to minimise the number of totes required per delivery and to keep the storage area for empty totes small.
Dean Lawrence: “Customers do not only need a space-saving, nestable container, but also various options of customisation. It is important that a wide variety of products can be transported in the same container without wasting space. The new container height, for example, resulted from the fact that 1.5 l bottles often have to be transported standing, a requirement that was repeatedly brought to our attention. In addition, different temperature zones in one and the same delivery box are another requirement. Since packaging quality and product size can vary a lot, it is important to ensure that items do not tip over, break or leak. The quality of the goods during transport and delivery must in no case be jeopardised, this was a top priority. Dealers also want to avoid that delivery containers are only half full in order not to give away space in transport vehicles.”
The MB Food & Delivery comes with a lot of extra features
Many optional features make the MB Food & Delivery the ideal shipment tote for online grocery shopping. This includes dividers that prevent items from slipping, tipping and leaking and make sure that bottles or cups remain in an upright position. Equally important are insulation inserts made of EPP for various dry storage or lower temperature areas for fresh produce, dairy products or frozen foods. Thanks to these inserts, it is possible to create several temperature zones within the same container. This is an advantage for small orders with only a few items per temperature range. These orders can be shipped in one and the same container, thereby reducing the number of containers per customer. The insulation inserts are currently available in two modular sizes that allow to combine two temperature zones in one container. Also available: Matching cold packs made of “phase-change” materials (PCM) that also have a divider function and deep-freeze packs for temperatures as low as -21°C. They are a safe, inexpensive and, above all, multi-use alternative to dry ice.
If required, the container can also be equipped with bag holder rails for convenient order picking and neat product presentation to the end customer. At the same time, the bag provides additional product protection. For more protection during transport, customers can opt for a lid and seals.
The new MB-series container is also available with permeable sides. This ensures that cool temperatures in transport vehicles or storage rooms can reach the goods. Permeable sides help reduce a container’s own weight which makes carrying easier.
“The new MB Food & Delivery container perfectly meets customer demands for a versatile, sturdy and re-usable all-in-one solution for grocery online shopping,” says Dean Lawrence.
HONEYWELL AND MUBADALA SUBSIDIARY REACH PRODUCTION MILESTONE OF ONE MILLION N95 MASKS IN THE UAE
First facility of its kind in the GCC to produce critical N95 masks to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Mubadala Investment Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Strata Manufacturing, today reached the manufacturing landmark of producing one million N95 masks in Strata’s Al Ain facility.
The collaboration is providing critical personal protective equipment (PPE) for the UAE’s front line health workers, while transforming the country into an international exporter of respirator masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19 around the world.
Since opening, the operation has been ramping up to full capacity production and is on track to reach its annual target of producing over 30 million masks. A combined Honeywell and Strata workforce of 70 has increased daily production of PPE to meet growing national requirements as well as support international needs in the future.
“Our valued, long-term partnership with Strata, coupled with our expertise in producing worker safety technologies, has enabled us to come together quickly to provide a critical PPE solution for medical professionals and the UAE community,” said Miroslav Kafedzhiev, vice president and general manager for Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions, Middle East, Russia, Turkey and Africa.
He continued: “We remain committed to protecting workers around the world and look forward to millions more N95 masks to supply local, regional and international markets with this essential equipment during these challenging times.”
Ismail Ali Abdullas, chief executive officer of Strata added: “We are very proud to have quickly reached this important milestone of producing one million masks for our healthcare workers and community, as we aim to help combat the spread of COVID-19.”
“In collaboration with our partner, Honeywell, we have been able to rapidly mobilize to provide critical PPE following an unprecedented global requirement for N95 masks in light of the pandemic. This milestone marks the first of many to come as we take an active role in transforming the UAE into an international exporter of much-needed safety equipment,” he concluded.
The collaboration between Honeywell and Mubadala is part of Mubadala’s #WeAreDedicated campaign, a recently launched group-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its efforts to coordinate initiatives across its business platforms and assets to support communities locally and internationally.
Image Caption: Honeywell and Strata Manufacturing reach production milestone of one million N95 masks in the UAE
Dubai witnesses crew change of 3,000 seafarers within its territorial waters
Completing the success of the cooperation between the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA) to facilitate ships’ crew change, 3,000 seafarers have been recently registered within Dubai territorial waters, comprising 1700 sign on and 1300 sign off since DMCA announced the resumption of crew change. It is a remarkable achievement for Dubai, which is allowing crew change, offering a safe haven for those stranded on board their ships for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After DMCA’s decision to resume the procedures allowing for changing ships’ crews in ports and anchorage areas within the territorial waters of Dubai, it has witnessed growth in marine activities, while maintaining full compliance with the Dubai Health Authority and ensuring confirmed flights from the UAE.
Competent authorities continue to receive hundreds of requests to change crews of different nationalities, in close coordination with DMCA, the port authorities, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, airlines, and continue to work with the Dubai Health Authority to facilitate the precautionary measures which will enable the crews to sign on and off from the ship as a top priority.
Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Executive Director of Dubai Maritime City Authority, explained that the increased activities of changing crews within the territorial waters reflect the growing confidence in Dubai’s leadership in the global maritime map. He noted that the emirate has provided all the means of guarantee to assist the sailors, which were held due to the exceptional global circumstances associated with COVID-19.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum highlighted DMCA’s commitment to enhance communication, cooperation, and coordination with the concerned authorities, Dubai ports and airports in the UAE to ensure smooth, efficient and reliable operations, and in line with international health protocols and precautionary measures followed by the emirate. He concluded: “The resumption of the marine crew change operations comes from our constant efforts to guarantee the highest levels of health, safety and security of seafarers, visitors and workers within the maritime sector.
The move has proved to be a strong boost to national efforts to revitalize the economic movement in the post-corona period, which prompts us to continue providing the necessary facilities for the return of marine activities while following strict precautionary measures that ensure the change of ship crew members and managing its operations are conducted with full efficiency, in line with Dubai’s leading position as one of the most competitive, safe, and attractive marine capitals in the world. ”
The decision to resume the procedures for changing ship crew members within the territorial waters in the Dubai obligates all shipping agents to coordinate closely with the DMCA, the GDRFA – Dubai, Dubai ports and airports in the UAE, in order to speed up procedures for the movement of crew members from the airport to the ship and from the ship to the airport.
Maritime agencies also have an obligation to perform the required medical examinations, in compliance with the preventive procedures and guidelines pertaining to COVID19 to preserve the health and safety of both the crews and personnel involved in maritime activities.
GCC Chemical Producers Slash Emissions and Waste by a Third, Despite Increased Production: GPCA Report
Latest figures are according to GPCA’s ‘2019 Responsible Care® Performance Metrics Report’ released today
Chemical producers in the Arabian Gulf have cut waste generation by 29% in 2019 and emissions by over 35% in the last six-year period, despite a continuous increase in petrochemical production across the region, a new report by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, has found.
According to GPCA’s 2019 Responsible Care® Performance Metrics report “Our Commitment to Sustainability” released today, the volume of waste generated by GPCA member companies decreased by a third from the year before, while production went up 2%. The new milestone was achieved as a result of successful waste reduction projects undertaken by chemical companies in the region in line with their commitment to sustainability and the circular economy.
Emissions reduction per ton of production recorded over the last six-years were even higher, dropping by 35% (NOx) and 39% (SOx), respectively. However, despite remaining at a steady rate in the previous two years, average GHG emissions (in tons of CO₂e[1]) increased slightly in 2019 by 1.7%, which is largely attributed to higher production rates across the region. CO2 intensity[2] has been on a downward trend since 2013, decreasing by 23% overall during the seven-year period.
According to the report, GPCA Responsible Care® companies also implemented a series of efficiency projects to decrease wastewater generation and increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment at their plants, resulting in a 40% improvement over the last six years.
GPCA is also pleased to report that the industry achieved a new safety record in 2019, with no fatalities recorded, despite an increase of 23% in man-hours worked. This, coupled with a significant drop of 51% in the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), showcases the uncompromising commitment of all GPCA member companies towards inculcating a culture of safety and compliance within their organizations.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “Now in its 7th edition, the GPCA Responsible Care® Performance Metrics report has demonstrated the chemical industry’s commitment to sustainability and the highest degree of transparency. I congratulate all 38 member companies who participated in the report, submitting a total of 836 data entries, for their achievements and success, and encourage them to continue on the trajectory of continuous improvement.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented innumerable challenges for all, but the efforts of GPCA member companies to ensure the highest level of safety, while maintaining high production, highlights the importance of the Responsible Care® program as well as the ability of chemical companies in the region to respond to the crisis with agility and resilience. That said, more needs to be done to truly transition towards a sustainable future. I am confident that with the adoption of the right technology, research and innovation, and continuous investment in the skills of its employees, the chemical industry in the region will improve on its performance even further and help to meet global and regional targets.”
[1] CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints.
[2] CO2 intensity is presented as the average volume of carbon dioxide generated per equivalent ton of production.
GCEC Trading’s automotive monitoring technology is blazing a new trail enabling effective vehicle oversight while monitoring, managing and improving driving behaviour for safe, secure, efficient and compliant fleet.
Established in 2007, UAE-headquartered GCEC Trading is clearly in for the long haul and in the vanguard of vehicle movement and oversight technologies.
The pioneering company, founded by Mohammad Sulaiman, Founder-CEO, was conceived to provide clean energy products. In 2014, Farhana Kausar Joined GCEC, at this juncture the company under the management of Farhana Kausar diversified in providing cutting-edge software technology and telematics, to reduce the carbon footprint. It prides in its offering an array of advanced GPS Tracking solutions; Fuel Management systems; Mobile Digital Video Recording (MDVR) and Streaming solutions; In-vehicle Temperature Management and other bespoke critical offerings which enable to manage assets thus reducing the carbon footprint.
In 2015, GCEC was an approved vendor of DPS- (Dubai Protective Systems) an extension of Dubai Police who rolled out their breakthrough SecurePath, a cloud-based navigational and digital map and GPS tracking technology. This certified and approved service is used in Dubai rental vehicles which are registered under the business category of vehicle rentals and leasing.
GECE is registered with SecurePath, the Dubai Police’s Department of Protective Services’ initiative for key, vital monitoring mechanism operating under the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) the state regulatory body for issuing security licensing and related services.
GCEC is very well placed with its experienced and professional team who understands its customers’ needs and requirements and provides tailor-made solutions for its clientele.
In an exclusive interview with Global Supply Chain, Mohammad Sulaiman, Founder-CEO, GCEC, outlined the company’s numerous accomplishments, the developments of bespoke, in-house developed innovative technologies that are defining the demands and prerequisites of managing assets.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Very briefly, please profile GCEC Trading and the range of products and service it offers?
GPS Tracking Solutions – MDVR (Mobile Digital Video Recording) – CCTV – Security Hardware Products – Software Development – Innovative Products.
Mohammad Sulaiman (MS): GCEC was founded in 2007 principally to plan and develop renewable, sustainable energy projects and environmentally-friendly products. Over the years, the company has gravitated towards other industry verticals focussing on the IT and associated sectors industry and primarily Telematics, which we now consider our forte.
GCEC is an approved GPS Tracking services provider on behalf of and working closely with the Dubai Government and other regulatory and enforcement authorities. To this end, we are associated with SecurePath, a Dubai Police Initiative under the aegis of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA).
Our proprietary self-developed products include GlobaliTrack®, a GPS tracking mechanism catering to corporate fleets for asset management, temperature control, fuel, seat belt usage, door sensors monitoring and other parameters.
In our domain also is GlobaleyeTrack®, another ingenious GCEC product that mainly caters for the corporate sector fleet for asset monitoring through the Mobile Digital Video Recording and Streaming (MDVR) device.
GSC: What is your assessment of the telematics industry in the region and how significant is this geography for GCEC?
MS: More and more companies in the region and across the globe are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to use appropriate techniques and protocol for the management and security of company assets and the safety of their employees.
The United Arab Emirates is security conscious country providing the utmost security for its citizens, residents and visitors. We are not just limited to the UAE, we provide tracking solutions throughout the GCC and the wider Middle East.
We believe the industry is likely to grow due to major events and upheavals now taking place across the world. Security is one aspect of the GPS tracking by managing the fleet which results in, among other advantages, the reduction of carbon footprint.
GSC: What potential do you foresee for GCEC in the region and which countries hold the most promise?
MS: The UAE is certainly a country that holds substantial promise and potential. The nation continues to grow from strength to strength and attracts international businesses and investments. Another country that we are very upbeat about is Saudi Arabia, a regional powerhouse with stable financial foundations and assured income from its abundant energy resources
GSC: What are GCEC’s USPs and advantages over its competitors?
MS: GCEC’s work ethic, professionalism, our commitment to develop products and programmes that meet the highest and the most demanding industry standards.
We also pride in what I would like to characterize as our impressive customer service offering and expertise borne out of experience and competence. Other standouts include the use of high quality components and applications, user-friendly software, implementation of the newest available effective technologies and high-quality continued research and development.
GSC: What opportunities and challenges confront GCEC in the Middle East?
MS: We foresee unlimited opportunities and these continued unabated. However, we face daily challenges with inferior and sub-standard competitor products. Our aim is to, do it right with proven abilities and implementation at the very outset so that our customers do not face any downtime.
GSC: How aware / cognizant are logistics and supply chain companies and transportation companies in particular of telematics in the region?
MS: We believe that companies are presently well aware of vehicle monitoring systems. However, the majority have not taken advantage or implemented the GPS technology into their operational strategies. So whilst there is awareness, this has not resulted in implementation.
GSC: How vital is the telematics industry for the logistics industry?
MS: Vital is an understatement in this day and age and it is a complete necessity for the use of telematics and its derivative and applications to any logistical operations. The basic requirement for any supply chain is to know when the shipment will arrive, be it by air, sea or road.
Arrival dates and estimated periods can be obtained from advanced telematics which also performs a slew of much-needed functions including container tracking, time sensitive refrigerated cargo, the monitoring of air freight shipments or any other packages—big and small.
All are connected through a tracking system for many years now. If the entire industry is tracked for their shipments so why not vehicles especially with time sensitive refrigerated cargo such as fresh meats, dairy etc etc.
GSC: What is the extent of the telematics services that you offer in the region in relation to Fleet Management / Driver Safety and Vehicle Tracking?
MS: Telematics has wide applications in today’s businesses. Telematics can be harnessed by corporate fleets for a number of functions. By combining a GPS system with on-board diagnostics it is possible to record and map exactly where a vehicle is and how fast it is traveling, and cross reference that with how a vehicle is behaving internally.
Wireless vehicle safety communications telematics aid in car safety and road safety. It is an electronic sub-system in a car or other vehicle for the purpose of providing analytical information, about such things as driver behavior, locations, speed of vehicles etc which ultimately adds positively to the bottom line.
With our dedicated Management team and associates, we represent almost 12% of Dubai vehicle rental market in the United Arab Emirates.
Sohar Port is set to play a key and instrumental role in realizing the Sultanate’s Logistics Strategy 2040 which aims to rank Oman among the top ten countries in the world for exceptional logistics performance by the year 2040.
Sohar Port’s stellar accomplishment since its inception in 2002 and further fortified by the establishment of the sprawling and rapidly developing Free Zone in 2010, is well chronicled and makes for an interesting narrative.
SOHAR is rapidly becoming a major industrial and logistics hub in the region, with easy access to global markets. Its strategic location makes it a gateway between the East and West, at the heart of some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Our vision is to establish SOHAR on the global map for transhipments, thereby contributing to Oman’s logistics performance.
In 2002, the Government of Oman and the Port of Rotterdam signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a concession agreement for SOHAR Port. Royal Decree 80/2002 ratified the Concession Agreement of Sohar Port and was issued in August of the same year.
Briefly, provide us the history and origins of the SOHAR Port & Free Zone?
In 2002, the Government of Oman and the Port of Rotterdam signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a concession agreement for a 50/50 joint venture for SOHAR Port until 2043. The Royal Decree 80/2002 ratified the concession agreement and was issued in August of the same year.
SOHAR is rapidly becoming a major industrial and logistics hub in the region, with easy access to global markets. Its strategic location makes it a gateway between the East and West, at the heart of some of the busiest shipping routes in the world. Our vision is to establish SOHAR on the global map for transshipments, thereby contributing to Oman’s logistics performance.
The construction of the petrochemical complex, the first terminal and other facilities started in 2003. The same year, the first lease agreement was signed between Sohar Industrial Port Company and Sohar Refinery, followed by a second agreement for the general cargo terminal with C. Steinweg Oman LLC.
In 2007, a concession agreement was signed between the Omani government and SOHAR to develop SOHAR Freezone, with the 4,500 ha free zone officially established in 2010. Since then, SOHAR Port and Freezone has been at the core of Oman’s economic diversification efforts, contributing to the Sultanate’s growth and logistics network.
How have things shaped and evolved for the port over the past over 18 years since the formation of the port?
SOHAR Port has created a remarkable footprint, both in the region and globally and we are proud to be ranked one of the fastest-growing port and free zones in the world, with investments exceeding USD 27 billion. Thanks to our strategic geographical location we provide convenient access to markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with an outreach of over 2 billion end consumers,
SOHAR Port continues to play a vital role in accomplishing the objectives of the Sultanate of Oman Logistics Strategy 2040 (SOLS), which aims to place Oman among the top ten countries for logistics performance by the year 2040, and the transport sector as the second-highest source of national income.
What are the future plans for the growth of SOHAR Port? You currently have new two licenses—can you please elaborate these and what other plans are in line with the further port expansion and development?
SOHAR Port and Freezone continues to expand and reach out to important markets and reinforce relationships with investors from across the globe. Our well-established mission and vision have helped all the members of the SOHAR family remain focused on delivering business excellence to clients and tenants.
There are several projects in the pipeline, including establishing a Solar Park for both upstream and downstream opportunities and the creation of an LNG bunkering facility. Both are in line with our commitment to sustainability and the provision of cleaner energy sources.
Our land lease opportunities at SOHAR Port South and Terminal 2D help us grow and adapt as per current market demands. We also take pride in implementing other innovative solutions, based on the latest developments and technologies that are beneficial to our existing and future tenants as well as the community at large.
Businesses looking to set up a business at the Port or Freezone can apply for a General Trade License (GTL), which extends several discounts to established and potential investors. A second license, Tasheel, is available for our customers to streamline documentation requirements. Derived from the Arabic word for ‘Simplified’, this easy-to-use online Permit Management System is one of our many digitised services and additions to Tasheel are planned to offer more features and flexibility to all users.
In tandem with the growth of the Port is the Freezone and its multiple clusters. Please elaborate.
SOHAR hosts a number of industrial clusters at both the Port and the Freezone, with the latter specifically comprises of the solar, metals, logistics and automotive clusters. It also offers several incentives for investors to set up and operate their businesses with ease, including 100% foreign ownership, corporate tax holiday of up to 25 years, One-Stop-Shop for all relevant clearance, 0% personal income tax, low capital requirements and much more.
SOHAR Freezone boasts of a large grid power infrastructure within its area. Together with Shell Development Oman (SDO), SOHAR signed an agreement that will see the provision of clean energy solutions through the facilitation of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. The development will focus on meeting the energy demands of industrial tenants within the Freezone. The Freezone will see the development of the biggest antimony-gold processing facility,which will be the first-of-its-kind in the region.
The developing area is home to several warehousing spaces that are ready and tailor-made to suit customers’ needs. With the expansion of several tenants, including Al Hosn Logistics & Warehousing Services LLC, Matrix Prime and RFX Parks, the Freezone is looking forward to welcoming potential visitors seeking to set up in a rapidly expanding logistics hub, enhanced by integrated facilities to the Port.
Recently, we established additional office space and are overseeing the construction of cold storage facilities (by Al Hosn), both of which will enable the transit of products and commodities through Oman or for distribution within the region.
What are key takeaways / broad observations from a corporate perspective for SOHAR Port and separately for the Freezone?
Our strategic location and the Sultanate’s stable political climate make SOHAR the optimal location to set up a business. High levels of government support, easy-to-obtain project financing from local banks, 100% foreign ownership, and seamless connectivity are all key incentives for investors.
Our integrated facilities enable us to support the entire supply chain, from production to delivery, in one easily accessible area. As an example, everything from the import of minerals, to its processing and final distribution, can take place entirely within SOHAR Port and Freezone.
We believe that working together with the Port of Rotterdam is an immensely fruitful partnership. With over 600 years of experience, their insight into the industry and best practices in the field of environmental protection and technological innovation is second to none. While we continue to chart our own course, the knowledge we have obtained from such close ties has been vital to our growth and expansion. As a result, despite SOHAR being 18 years young, we have emerged as one of the fastest-growing ports in the region and one that is steadily emerging as a regional logistics hub.
How has pandemic impacted your business in the Sultanate of Oman and regionally?
We are in the fortunate position to have experienced a limited impact on transshipment business due to the COVID-19 crisis. Although Oman may see a decline in import and export volumes over the course of 2020, our outlook remains positive with the supply chain’s ongoing adaptations to current challenges. It remains to be seen how the decline in global demand affects the Sultanate’s diversification opportunities, but we continue to work towards a better and bright future.
How is SOHAR Port better preparing to possibly avert and deal more effectively with this current situation?
We are moving towards finding innovative methods to digitalise our services and enhance the ease of doing business. Our most recent project, Tasheel, enables our tenants and service providers to apply for various work permits online. Our business continuity plan has seen the implementation of preventive measures all around our facility – from welcoming vessels to the port to creating a safe work environment at our offices. Inspections are conducted aboard all vessels and our marine staff is equipped with the necessary PPE.
We continue to keep ourselves well-informed, not only to be in the position to adhere to the regulations of the Supreme Committee, but also to ensure quality customer service.
On the community level, we support initiatives that aim to minimise the impact of COVID-19, including donating to the Endowment Fund of the Ministry of Health and providing vehicles and equipment to frontline workers. Overall, we hope to avert any challenges the communities may face as a result of the pandemic.
Effective 27 July, Etihad Airways will resume passenger flights from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to Shanghai, China. The service will operate with an initial weekly flight using a Boeing 777-300ER, featuring Business and Economy cabins.
Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to announce the resumption of scheduled services to China, as we gradually return to more destinations on our global network, supporting the recovery of economic and social activities worldwide. Our priority now is to build the network back up on markets that have opened up and to provide a secure and hygienic flying environment across the entire guest journey.
“The restarting of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai will cater to the large demand from business travellers in the UAE, China, and other economies in the Middle East and Africa. We are tremendously grateful to our customers and partners for their continued loyalty and we stand ready fly more frequencies to China when possible.”
Flight Schedule, effective 27July (all times local)
Flight
Departure
Time
Arrival
Time
Aircraft
Frequency
EY 862
Abu Dhabi
01:00
Shanghai
13:50
Boeing 777-300ER
Monday
EY 867
Shanghai
23:40
Abu Dhabi
05:10 +1
Boeing 777-300ER
Tuesday
Those wishing to book are advised to visit www.etihad.com to view their options, and to remain informed on the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE), 400 8822 050 (Mainland China), or through a local or online travel agency. A list of other local Etihad contact centres is available at www.etihad.com/contacts.
Important note
Guests travelling on Etihad Airways flights to China will be required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result received within 72 hours prior to departure from Abu Dhabi, or from their departure airport if they are transferring from other cities via Abu Dhabi.
In the UAE, guests travelling to all Etihad Airways destinations, including Shanghai, can make use of a new home testing service introduced in collaboration with Mediclinic. For a fee, UAE-based travellers can book a convenient COVID-19 PCR test at their home, or at a Mediclinic facility in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, or Dubai, prior to their travel. The service is also convenient for those crossing the Abu Dhabi border from other emirates to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The return to a larger network of international flights is being greatly supported by the Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey. This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and peace of mind.
More information on the stringent measures being taken by Etihad Airways to provide a healthy and hygienic travel experience is available at www.etihad.com/wellness.
FAI Technik GmbH, the maintenance division of Germany’s FAI Aviation Group, has been appointed as an authorised Channel Partner for Honeywell Aerospace. The agreement allows FAI to supply and service Honeywell avionics parts and systems. It covers all Honeywell Aerospace business aviation avionics products including its range of connectivity solution and services, cockpit and cabin upgrades.
As a Channel Partner, FAI Technik will be able to offer detailed Honeywell system upgrades, installation solutions, EASA and STC (Supplemental Type Certificates) certification as well as Honeywell parts at the most competitive prices. Additionally, as part of the global Honeywell network, FAI will collaborate with the global aerospace manufacturer to develop marketing strategies, identify business opportunities and bring the best value to customers.
This latest appointment will further expand FAI’s offering and facilitate faster installation times for customers owing to improved supply chains. FAI Technik is already in discussions with a number of clients about the opportunities presented by Honeywell’s products.
Commenting on the announcement, Siegfried Axtmann, FAI Aviation Group Founder and Chairman, said: “We are honoured to be appointed as an authorised Honeywell Channel Partner. Their innovative solutions are highly regarded across the globe and as such, this collaboration is a significant agreement for the company. We are increasingly being asked by our customers for options for CMS and IFE upgrades on mid to large size business aircraft so the new arrangement will enable FAI Technik to considerably broaden its offering which in turn will benefit our customers.”
Nuremberg-based FAI Technik is globally recognised for its ability to install the latest cabin management (CMS)/in-flight entertainment (IFE) technology and high-speed connectivity. This includes interface units which enable cabin functions to be operated from a smartphone. As such, customers can easily access a broad range of movies (or music) which can be viewed from multiple, wide screen, high definition monitors. Complementing this is a state-of-the-art surround sound system offering a superb acoustic experience while in the air. FAI Technik also installs KA-Band solutions which enable seamless high-speed in-flight connectivity providing passengers with enhanced IFE and maximum business productivity.
ENDS
About FAI Aviation Group
FAI Aviation Group operates Germany´s largest Bombardier business jet fleet. FAI´s group fleet of 27 jets and one turboprop comprises six Global Express, one Challenger 850, six Challenger 604s, 12 Learjet 60s, together with two Premier 1A light jet and one King Air 350 turboprop.
FAI runs a 14,000 m² carbon-neutral fixed-base operation at its Nuremberg, Germany headquarters, employing a full-time staff of 220 people, including 60 mechanics and engineers at its MRO subsidiary FAI Technik.
FAI´s Group revenues in 2019 were close to € 100 m combined to a fleet utilization of more than 14.000 hours of airtime.
FAI was proud to receive the Diamond Safety of Flight Award from the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) in May 2018, marking the highest safety recognition awarded by EBAA to member companies operating business aircraft for 50 years or 100,000 hours without accident. In autumn 2018 FAI Aviation Group scooped “Germany´s Best Airline” accolade in the 2018 Focus Money Awards.
In October 2019 FAI’s Air Ambulance Division was one of three finalists for the 2019 ITIJ industry award – Air Ambulance Company of the Year. During the Dubai Airshow in November 2019 FAI was honoured with an Aviation Annual Achievement Award, in recognition of its 30 years of air ambulance and special mission flying and a 10-year anniversary award from MEBAA, reflecting the fact that 20% of FAI’s flying activity is now in the Middle East.
The move is part of DMCA’s resolution to resume maritime operations across Dubai anchorage areas
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has announced the move to strengthen its bunkering fleet in Dubai waters as part of an advanced step towards the path of organizing, facilitating and enhancing maritime activity. The DMCA has increased the number of licensed vessels to 12 ships, for supplying fuel across the emirate’s territorial waters. The decision was made in conjunction with the move to resume maritime operations in Dubai anchorage areas, including ship repair and maintenance operations and in full compliance with the controls applied to ensure the highest levels of security and safety of ship crew members and visitors.
Strengthening of the bunkering fleet falls within the framework of the DMCA’s commitment to develop and improve the operational and legal framework–further guaranteeing the growth and development of the marine segment and ensuring the continuous supply of ships with fuel without interruption, especially in view of the ongoing preparations to receive regional and international tourists coming to Dubai.
Eng. Mohammad Al Bastaki, Director – Marine Anchorage Operations Department, said, “Strengthening the bunkering fleets represents a quality focused addition to the efforts aimed at providing guarantees for the return of momentum to the local marine sector, particularly in the present scenario, when there is an easing of restrictions in Dubai and in conjunction with the completion of the National Disinfection Programme.”
He pointed out that the return of maritime operations in the landing areas for the ships strengthens confidence and offers a positive outlook of the promising opportunities available within the local maritime sector, which is based on advanced infrastructure, key legislation and world-class maritime and logistical capabilities that make it a safe and sustainable marine environment.
“We will continue to focus on updating the operational and legal framework governing marine activities to be at pace with the rapidly changing variables, keeping in mind the adoption of best practices that support the growth and sustainability of marine activity, in line with the “Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy” which is focused on enhancing the attractiveness, competitiveness and inclusiveness of the local marine community. We look forward to providing the necessary support for all services offered in Dubai anchorage areas to ensure the return of maritime operations with strong momentum, in line with the ongoing inclination to receive international tourists again. We affirm our continuous commitment to provide the best services that meet the aspirations of the marine sector pioneers, while applying best practices that guarantee maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency, in order to enhance Dubai’s position as a leading destination on the global marine map,” Al Bastaki added.
According to DMCA, the decision to resume maritime activity across Dubai’s anchorage areas will enable ships based in the emirate’s territorial waters to have access to the ship’s services, which includes maintenance, repair and refuelling, subject to obtaining the proper permits from the DMCA and other relevant authorities and in fulfilment of safety requirements and protective measures.
Qatar Airways Cargo is taking action like no other airline before and playing an active role in building tomorrow’s world. The world’s largest cargo airline is committed to helping people in need through its ‘1 Million Kilos’ campaign : From July to the end of December, charities will be able to use the services of Qatar Airways Cargo to transport humanitarian aid and medical supplies all over the world, free of charge.
Such action is unprecedented in its scale. Qatar Airways is donating 1 million kilos of freight to selected customers around the world to give to the charities of their choice. This will allow the movement of medical equipment, humanitarian relief and essential products to where they are most needed, free of charge.
“This action was triggered by the Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic is a tragedy for millions of people, and we looked for ways how we, as an airline, could help those in the greatest difficulty. This solution – shipping 1 million kilos of cargo free of charge – is a firm commitment for QR Cargo. More than just words, we wanted to act and to adopt a comprehensive approach based on actions for the future,” said Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways.
‘1 Million Kilos’ is the first chapter in an ambitious sustainability project called We Qare. Built on the four fundamental pillars of sustainability (economy, environment, society and culture). We Qare is a series of concrete air cargo actions designed to create a positive impact on the industry and the world.
The history of the airfreight industry must change in line with the new challenges the world is facing. As the leading voice within the cargo market, QR Cargo is pioneering the future, sustainable and socially responsible air cargo industry.
Etihad Airways is now collaborating with Mediclinic Middle East, part of private hospital group, Mediclinic International, to offer its UAE-based travellers a convenient COVID-19 PCR testing service at their home, or at a Mediclinic facility, prior to their travel. This development is part of the airline’s Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, recently introduced to ensure the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey.
Some destinations may require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result before departure. All travellers are advised to check www.etihad.com for specific destination requirements. Guests travelling to all Etihad Airways destinations can also make use of the Mediclinic service, as well as those crossing the Abu Dhabi border from other emirates to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services, Etihad Airways, said: “Collaborating with world-class medical providers such as Mediclinic is vital to the services Etihad is providing its guests as part of the Etihad Wellness programme. We have a paramount responsibility to ensure those who are travelling from Abu Dhabi can do so assured in the knowledge that every effort is being made to care for them at every stage of their journey. Enabling home PCR testing will remove much unnecessary stress from the travel experience during this challenging period.
“These measures are also a reflection of those being taken across Abu Dhabi, which has been a world-leader in its response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine research, mass testing, and community sanitisation programmes. Etihad will continue to work closely with the local authorities and partners to find innovative and convenient ways to protect our guests, and to promote secure and hygienic flying as the world slowly opens up to international travel.”
The airline aims to evolve the relationship with Mediclinic to further simplify the home testing process for its guests as international travel restrictions are eased and more countries open their borders to inbound visitors.
David Hadley, Chief Executive Officer of Mediclinic Middle East, said: “Mediclinic is proud to partner with Etihad Airways on this new initiative which will enable their passengers to undergo COVID-19 PCR testing in the convenience of their homes prior to travel, or at one of our facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Dubai, should they prefer. All testing is carried out by a trained professional, and our dedicated COVID-19 testing laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Dubai mean that results are available quickly and accurately.”
Kazan Helicopters of the Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) has received positive qualification of Ansat helicopter training simulator’s compatibility to international standards. The evaluation was carried out by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI).
The comprehensive Ansat simulator was tested for its compliancewith the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Evaluated characteristics included the layout and design of the cockpit, simulation of flight and engine dynamics, controlling on ground, helicopter systems, acoustic, visual and vibration effects and navigation. The assessment result was positive.
“We consider the certification of the Ansat helicopter simulator according to ICAO standards as one of the important achievements of our company. Our Aviation Training Center is now waiting for the first intake of students to pass the simulator training in August 2020. The training will be organized to foreign customers: pilot training is included in the price of the helicopter in all export orders”, pointed out Managing Director of Kazan Helicopters, Yuri Pustovgarov.
Providing air cargo service to 127 countries worldwide, Turkish Cargo’s “CARGY”, the new artificial intelligence robot that provides customers with the opportunity to inquire the status of their cargo 24/7, goes live.
During its initial phase, Cargy, the artificial intelligence-based chat bot and the new member of the Turkish Cargo family, provides the users with the opportunity to inquire the current status, details, available dates and flights for their cargo shipments via the airway bill (AWB) number.
Serving at the WhatsApp number of 0850 333 0777 with Turkish and English language options, Cargy will offer the opportunity to inquire the rate details at its second phase in September and will provide other details related to the cargo at its third phase which will go live in December.
You can at any time inquire the status of all of your cargo shipments through Cargy and check for the flights that meet your requirements.
Enhancing its technological infrastructure day by day and offering conveniences to its customers in its global network by steps of digitalization, Turkish Cargo continues to enhance its service quality.
According to the data announced for May by the WACD (World Air Cargo Data), the international air cargo information provider, Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand, increased its market share to 5 percent and transported 1 of every 20 air cargo, carried throughout the world, in the industry where the global air cargo market has shrunk by 28.5 percent, resulting from the pandemic.
During the course of the pandemic with its acute effects on a global scale, the global air cargo market was affected potently and experienced a severe shrinkage, and decreased by 18 percent between January and May, but Turkish Cargo did not experience any loss of tonnage on year-on-year basis, and acted as a global bridge for the purpose of preventing the interruption of the international supply chain.
During the course of such process, having provided service to 90 direct cargo destinations by means of its freighters with high-tonnage capacity, Turkish Cargo made use of 32 wide-body airliners during such operations while it has performed air cargo operations to more than 60 destinations, including London, Moscow, Oslo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Doha, New York and Casablanca, by employing the wide-body airliners of Turkish Airlines, its master brand.
Turkish Cargo transported medicine and medical equipment shipments all around the world
Turkish Cargo, which has obtained the “CEIV Pharma” certificate in consequence of the training, assessment and validation process, established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the purpose of enabling the performance of global air cargo operations at a high standard, accomplished the transportation of 21 thousand 547 tonnes of medicine and approximately 7 thousand medical equipment between February 01 and June 30, and operated more than 1100 flights just in June by making use of the freighters and airliners.
Continuing its activities devotedly on 7/24 basis for the purpose of transporting food, aid materials, masks and medical equipment all around the world, and in particular preventing the interruption of the global medicine supply, Turkish Cargo has taken any and all hygiene measures for its operational personnel and taken the actions as required for providing masks and sanitizers/disinfectants and maintaining the social distancing, and it has been keeping up such measures.
Being one of the fastest developing air cargo brands in the world, Turkish Cargo continues to raise the bar for achievement higher with each passing day by combining its wide range of service and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of Turkey.
Tony Douglas, Group CEO, offers words of advice to more than 250 young leaders tuning in from 23 cities across the world to the Cityzens Giving Young Leaders Summit.
Over the course of the week, participants will hear from an impressive line-up of thought leaders on navigating times of uncertainty, adapting community football for the new normal, and developing specific programmes in response to COVID-19.
The summit will run from 6 to 10 July and for the first time, will be presented virtually.
Etihad Airways is proud to be supporting the launch of the Young Leaders Summit, an annual initiative from Manchester City that brings together community leaders for a week of digital learning, delivered through interactive live sessions and webinars.
The summit was opened with a virtual address from Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, who welcomed the young leaders, and spoke about his experiences of leading an organisation through a crisis.
“We all look to leaders, and what they stand for. I’ve had the great pleasure of being involved in a number of organisations, and I’ve seen leaders who have that incredible capability to remain calm, almost unflappable, but of course, inside they are harbouring their emotions just like everyone else.
“What we see in sport, as well as in business, is that the strongest leaders are quite often the ones who aren’t trying to make the most noise. They’re not the person who’s trying to self-promote and be in front of everybody all of the time. There are some incredible role models within City for young people to look up to. Leaders like the Chairman, HE Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Pep Guardiola, who each carry themselves with a humble confidence that I admire.”
The Young Leaders Summit, sponsored by Etihad Airways, is an annual event which historically took place at the Etihad Campus in Manchester, however has turned virtual due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 250 young people from 23 cities across the Americas, Central and Asia-Pacific regions, will receive live-streamed content from City’s community coaches, inspirational speakers and subject matter experts. The focus of this year’s event is arming young people with the tools to help them support their communities on their journey to recovery.
Each session will focus on one of four pillars – leadership in times of crisis, social impact through football, project management and community coaching in COVID and post-COVID environments. The Summit will also welcome guest speakers to share their inspirational leadership journeys, including Tommie Smith, US sprinter, Olympic gold medalist and human rights activist, Tanni Grey-Thompson, legendary Paralympian who won 11 gold medals and is now a crossbench peer on disability rights for the House of Lords within the British Parliament, Marion Bartoli, former Wimbledon winner, and Micah Richards, former England and Manchester City defender.
The Summit forms part of the broader ‘Cityzens Giving for Recovery’ campaign which was launched by City Football Group on 16 June 2020. The campaign launch was supported by Etihad Airways through the donation of the front of shirt space, ordinarily bearing the Etihad logo, to ‘Cityzens Giving for Recovery’. Etihad is proud to support the 12-month programme which is aimed at helping communities get back on their feet, and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Etihad has been Manchester City’s principal partner for more than a decade, and works in collaboration with City on their outreach programmes, including the Young Leaders Summit, to bring benefits to communities across the world. Since the beginning of the partnership, the Club has lifted 20 trophies across the men’s and women’s team, six during the 2018/19 season when they made history by becoming the first English football club to lift six trophies across both its men’s and women’s teams in the same season. City Football Group are an important partner for Etihad, bringing Etihad’s brand to football fans in regions all over the world.
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has issued a circular lifting the timing restrictions for maritime activities. The step indicates the return of the maritime sector in Dubai to its normal pace following the Dubai Government’s successful completion of the National Disinfection Programme, which paved the way for the restoration of economic activities including tourism initiatives.
DMCA continues its efforts to implement all the necessary measures to regulate and facilitate maritime activities that would strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global maritime hub. The Authority focuses on developing and implementing the legal and legislative frameworks needed to further regulate the maritime sector in Dubai, as well as constantly enhance its procedures to provide the best services that support maritime activities.
Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Executive Director of Dubai Maritime City Authority, said: “The decision to lift the restrictions on maritime activities comes in line with the government’s directives to ease the movement of people in Dubai, paving the way for the maritime sector to return to its normal operations as we move towards the post-coronavirus phase. This is an important step in facilitating the commercial activities in the emirate, especially that it now prepares to welcome huge number of tourists from all over the world.”
He added: “The UAE is taking steady steps towards overcoming the impacts of this global crisis, thanks to the tremendous efforts by the concerned authorities under the guidance of the country’s wise leadership. With the easing of restrictions, we look to all members of the community in taking full responsibility and continue to adhere to the guidelines and preventive measures that will ensure public health and safety and enable us to overcome this challenge as soon as possible.”
DMCA relentlessly works to develop and update the legal and legislative frameworks regulating maritime activities, while remaining focused on enhancing its services such as facilitating procedures for license issuance to support maritime activities, and contribute to major efforts which position Dubai as a leading global hub for maritime tourism, maritime and commercial activities, and logistics services.
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) announced that the second edition of the Air Cargo Sustainability Award is now open for applications. The competition aims to recognize outstanding businesses and industry initiatives leading the way to a more sustainable air cargo. CHAMP Cargosystems, one of the leading industry IT solutions providers, has generously committed to continue sponsoring these awards.
“CHAMP is pleased to continue supporting TIACA for the 2nd edition of the Air Cargo Sustainability Awards. The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our industry is putting more than ever sustainability at the forefront of our priorities. After seeing several aftershocks in every corner of the world, we should thrive to collaborate and ensure fast and sustainable recovery. This event is a unique opportunity to influence the ´new normal´ and strengthen the value of air cargo which plays such an important role today,” states Arnaud Lambert, CEO of CHAMP Cargosystems.
TIACA is calling for applications demonstrating solutions and practices making positive change in the 3+2 areas of TIACA’s sustainability vision for air cargo: supporting social welfare, economic development and environmental protection through innovation and partnerships.
This year, two categories of leadership in sustainability will be awarded:
Corporate Prize will recognize an established corporation, an international organization or a scholar with a long-standing presence in the cargo community with a one-year free membership in the TIACA Sustainability Strategic Partnership Program, worth USD 10’000.
The Start-Up Prize will recognize and encourage young growing businesses building their presence in air cargo industry:
Winner: USD 10’000
Two runners-up: USD 2’500 each
All shortlisted candidates will also be recognized with access to exclusive TIACA events and speaking opportunities, publicity in TIACA’s communication and networking opportunities.
“The COVID-19 crisis has put our industry under an enormous pressure, but it has also given us a unique opportunity to rethink and optimize the air cargo business model and innovate faster than ever before,” said TIACA’s Chair Steven Polmans. “I am confident that by embracing this opportunity we will make air cargo more sustainable and more resilient. And by launching this year’s award we want to recognize and encourage the change makers who are taking our industry forward.”
A panel of independent industry and sustainability experts will choose the three shortlisted submissions in each category. The award finalists will be invited to present their solutions at the Air Cargo Forum 2020 in Miami, the largest air cargo networking event this year.
Application is open from 29 June until 15 September 2020.
Aramex partners with Mubadala Healthcare to provide door-to-door medical supplies service to patients across the UAE
Up to 2,000 patients across the UAE will receive necessary medical supplies to their doors on a daily basis
Aramex will leverage operational expertise and use specialized vehicles to ensure safe and speedy deliveries
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Mubadala Healthcare, a unit of Mubadala, to distribute door-to-door critical medical supplies to patients across the UAE.
Under the agreement, Aramex will collaborate with participating hospitals under Mubadala’s Healthcare portfolio including Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Healthpoint and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for next day delivery of over-the-counter drugs, prescription-only medicines, and nutritional feed to affected patients that are recovering outside of hospital facilities.
Through the partnership, up to 2,000 patients across the UAE will receive the necessary medical supplies they need to recover which will help alleviate pressure on the healthcare system and ensure government-mandated physical distancing protocols are respected.
Commenting on the partnership, Anas Hijjawi, Chief Commercial Officer at Aramex said: “We are honored to be supporting the health authorities and Mubadala in our united fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It is necessary to have the operational scale and expertise to be able to handle such crucial deliveries in a safe, consistent and timely manner. Aramex has deployed highly specialized vehicles that are quality assured and temperature-controlled to deliver critical medical supplies and the fleet is equipped with the technology and protective gear to be able to carry out the deliveries with utmost safety and care.
We would like to thank the Aramex team and other front liners for their unwavering dedication and commitment during these stressful times and wish all those who have been impacted a speedy recovery.”
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Senior Vice President at Mubadala Healthcare, said: “We are pleased to join forces with Aramex to deliver medications to patients’ doorsteps. This collaboration expands our efforts that aim to reinforce the COVID-19 response through innovative solutions and services.
“As part of Mubadala’s #WeAreDedicated initiative, Mubadala Healthcare facilities are always looking for opportunities to ramp up their services to the community by making impactful partnerships with local entities and authorities to protect the safety of everyone and provide the highest standards of patient and caregiver care.”
SAL launches its pharma facilities at KFIA Cargo Village with operational capacity of 14,000 tons a year
Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) has launched the operations of its state-of-the-art pharma facilities recently opened at the Dammam-based King Fahad International Airport’s Cargo Village.
The new warehouses will support the infrastructure of pharma and medical equipment handling facilities as per the international standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Union Good Distribution Practice and Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
A subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, SAL said the facility expansion plan is being implemented as scheduled at selected sites within the Cargo Village at the Dammam Station.
Before expansion, the total area of the medical storage facilities stood at approximately 118 square meters but after expansion it reached approximately 542 square meters with an operational capacity of 14,000 tons a year as follows: 262 square meters of the facilities are dedicated for storing goods with temperature ranging between 15-25 Celsius whereas 262 square meters are used for storing goods with temperature between 2-8 Celsius. The facilities can also be used for storing different types of medical cargos with very low temperatures, below zero.
Omar Hariri, SAL CEO, said in a statement, “We usher in a new phase of advanced cargo handling services for pharma and medical equipment. We are creating the proper environment and developing the infrastructure needed for the current period, which has seen an increasing demand on pharma and medical equipment cargos during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Saudi Arabian Logistics has enhanced the quality of its medical storage warehousing services, bought state-of-the-art temperature-controlling equipment and devices, and installed efficient safety systems to prevent risks. All the equipment and devices meet the quality standards of the European Union Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP) for handling and storing medicinal products, explained Hariri, adding that SAL qualifies its cadre to efficiently handle such types of cargo.
Saudi Arabian Logistics works to provide integrated logistics operations and ground handling services. It acts as a link between land and sea shipping and the Saudi airports in line with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, which is one of the pivotal themes of the Vision 2030, especially in the light of the gigantic economic transformation the Kingdom has been seeing. The company directly contributes to reinforcing and developing the infrastructure to act as platforms and warehouses for handling different types of cargo while enhancing the quality of cargo equipment and warehousing facilities related to international trade and electronic commerce.
Volvo Group North America Recognized for Waste Reduction Efforts by DOE Better Buildings, Better Plants Program
Volvo Group North America recently received a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Plants Better Practice Award for preventing and reducing waste at several North American facilities. The Volvo Group was chosen among a record number of applicants to receive the honor.
The Better Practice Award is presented to partners for innovative and industry-leading accomplishments in implementing and promoting practices, principles and procedures of energy management.
The Volvo Group implemented several initiatives at its facilities to help the company work toward landfill-free status. Currently, four U.S. manufacturing facilities are certified landfill-free, including the New River Valley facility in Dublin, Virginia, where all Volvo truck models for North America are assembled; Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack heavy-duty models for North America and export are assembled; Middletown Remanufacturing, Middletown, Pennsylvania; and the Volvo Construction Equipment facility in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
“Reducing and eliminating landfill waste is imperative to helping protect our greatest resource – the environment,” said Rick Robinson, Volvo Group North America director of Health, Safety and Environment. “We are pleased that our efforts were recognized by the DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program, and we hope to continue moving toward landfill-free at all of the Volvo Group’s North American facilities.”
In addition to the facilities already certified, the Volvo Group has three other sites that are in the 12-month certification process for landfill-free status. They include the Central Distribution Center, Memphis, Tennessee; Volvo Group Powertrain Operations, Hagerstown, Maryland; and the Charlotte Remanufacturing facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Volvo Group began working toward landfill-free status at its North American sites by conducting multiple studies to identify reduction opportunities and developed plant-level intitiatives to facilitate waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
The Volvo Group also benchmarked itself against peer companies in the manufacturing industry to determine best practices and created the Landfill-Free Facilities Operational Waste Directive to establish a definition for landfill-free (less than 1% of operational waste sent to landfill) and create a process for facilities to achieve Volvo Group landfill-free certification.
The certification process includes the documentation and mapping of all waste types, implementation of waste reduction, reuse and recycling program and sustaining landfill-free status for a minimum of 12 months. Certified sites must apply to the Volvo Group Environmental Committee for re-certification every three years.
“Better Plants partners are implementing innovative energy efficiency solutions in the industrial space that are cutting costs and energy use, and the Better Practice and Better Project awards honor their leadership,” said Valri Lightner, deputy director, Advanced Manufacturing Office, DOE.
DHL Express Germany and Munich Airport have concluded an agreement for the construction of a new cargo building at Munich Airport. The new building will be built on the site currently occupied by the car parks P 80 and P 80 West and will have a gross floor area of more than 8,000 square meters. For the first time, the partners signed the contract digitally, reflecting the current restrictions. DHL Express will plan, build, and operate the new building and lease the land for it from Munich Airport. Currently, the company rents hall space in the existing cargo center at Munich Airport. The start of operations at its own location, which will be six times bigger, is scheduled for 2022.
In recent years, DHL Express has seen a substantial increase in import and export volumes at its Munich gateway. “The existing building could not keep up with this growth,” says Markus Reckling, Managing Director of DHL Express Germany, explaining the need for this EUR 70 million investment project. “After modernizing and expanding our service center in Unterschleißheim for EUR 13 million last year already, the construction of our new gateway at the airport is the next step in the infrastructure plan with which we are clearly committing to our presence in the Munich region. Even in the currently difficult economic situation, we are continuing to invest systematically in service for our customers, which is our top priority.” The new gateway will have direct airside access and two “PUD” (pick-up and delivery) fingers. Up to 65 delivery vehicles at a time can be dispatched here. This creates a time-saving benefit for pick-up and delivery, particularly for customers in the Landsberg-Ingolstadt region.
In addition, the new station will meet the security requirements of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) and obtain the globally recognized TAPA Class A certification, the highest security level in air transportation.
Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers welcomes the express service provider’s decision to focus systematically on growth at Munich Airport: “Particularly in these very difficult times for the aviation industry, this sends an important signal and is a strong proof of confidence in Munich as a business location. The increased commitment of DHL Express will sharpen our profile as a logistics location and create significant stimulation for air freight traffic.”
Serco Middle East appoints new Managing Director for Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram
Public Services Company Serco Middle East has appointed Wallace Weatherill as its new Managing Director, a role in which he will spearhead the operations of the largest automated transport system in the region the Dubai Metro as well as the Dubai Tram in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Serco Middle East operates and maintains the Dubai Metro and operates the Dubai Tram on behalf of the RTA. Wallace has worked in the Middle East rail industry for over 6 years, firstly mobilising the North-South high-speed passenger Railway in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Wallace re-joins the public services company having previously served as Serco’s Director for Rail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With almost 20 years dedicated experience in the operations of critical rail systems in both the UK and the Middle East, Wallace brings with him the knowledge and expertise required to successfully continue the award-winning Dubai Metro operations both Serco and the RTA are known for.
Prior to his overseas appointments, Wallace led passenger railway businesses in the UK such as Southeastern, London Commuter Railway and London Midland. Wallace also brings his infrastructure management experience gained with the UK infrastructure operator Network Rail from 1999-2006.
Speaking about his appointment and vision for Serco’s future partnership with the RTA, Wallace said: “My vision is to build on the success that has already been achieved by the RTA and Serco on the operations of the iconic RTA rail transit systems in Dubai. We must also integrate the new Red Line Extension in a seamless way, unlocking new journey opportunities and building the resilience required to welcome the increase of passengers. Serco’s aim to empower nationals within our business will continue; our people are our assets and at Serco, we are all proud to be delivering essential services to the UAE.”
Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East added:“I am delighted to see Wallace return to Serco Middle East at a globally challenging time. He has a strong level of expertise that will help navigate our business in the rail sector and continue to provide a high standard of service to our clients as well as the citizens and residents of the UAE. I am confident that Wallace will be an asset to our team and will continue Serco’s award-winning delivery of service across the RTA transport systems.”
Wallace’s appointment with Serco and the Dubai Metro and Tram will play a pivotal role in ensuring a timely and sufficient operation on behalf of both Serco and the RTA.
GCC Chemical Industry Must Plan and Prepare for Post-COVID Period, says GPCA
The oil and gas and chemical sectors are expected to start to recover in Q3 2020
The chemical industry in the Arabian Gulf must plan and prepare for the post-COVID period, turning adversity into advantage, and capitalize on the lessons learned to retain and enhance its global competitiveness, according to the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA).
In a newly released white paper entitled ‘COVID and Chemicals’ GPCA provides exclusive insights into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on supply and demand, petrochemical prices, the dual shock from the pandemic and the oil price collapse, as well as the implications on the region’s supply chain and international trade. According to the paper, the pandemic is revealing flaws in the supply chain that the chemical industry has relied upon for decades, which presents an invaluable opportunity to address existing weaknesses and transform the region’s supply chain.
Like the chemical industry globally, the GCC petrochemical sector has felt the strain from the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of plunging petrochemical prices, disruptions on the Chinese market, travel and export restrictions, as well as collapsing demand due to a slowdown in key end-user industries. On the positive side, demand for products used in the manufacturing of sanitizing products, personal protection, and health care remained upbeat and the production of fertilizers was not impacted. For chemicals used to fight COVID-19, prices have stayed moderate, while fertilizer prices improved by 3% in March 2020 compared with February 2020.
According to estimates by global consultancy firm McKinsey, the oil and gas and chemical sectors will start to recover in Q3 2020. Prices are expected to rebound with the resumption of consumer demand. However, if the situation persists and prices remain depressed beyond a year, the long-term impact will be severe.
Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented, “These are unprecedented times for the industry not just in the region but all over the globe, and GPCA remains committed to supporting its members in navigating the ongoing challenges. With this in mind, GPCA has released its latest white paper on the impact of COVID-19, which provides exclusive insight into implications for the regional chemical industry and highlights the opportunities to transform the challenges into opportunities.”
He added, “The time is now for chemical players to focus on key areas to strengthen their competitive position and emerge stronger from the crisis. Companies must study lessons learned during COVID-19 period to improve their organizational effectiveness. They can further use changing consumer attitudes due to COVID-19 as an opportunity to improve their product offering, address new customer needs and focus on innovation. Finally, the COVID-19 crisis has amplified the importance to diversify regional economies and focus on value-added chemicals that can not only play a key role in providing unique solutions in healthcare, but help insulate the region from future oil price shocks.”
Aramex Launches “Aramex SMART- Unbox First. Pay After.” to Boost E-commerce Growth Across its Core Markets
“Aramex SMART” is the industry’s first comprehensive delivery, payment and returns solution available for e-tailers around the world selling to shoppers in Aramex’s core markets
The innovative solution provides an easier and more convenient delivery, payment and returns experience for consumers to enjoy their online shopping from e-tailers across the globe
“Aramex SMART” with the tagline “Unbox First. Pay After.” allows consumers to check their purchase and pay later at their convenience
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announces the launch of “Aramex SMART”, an innovative and comprehensive delivery, payment and returns solution for e-tailers that enhances consumers’ online shopping experience, increases payment optionality and delivery flexibility, and promotes the overall growth of e-commerce industry in the region.
“Aramex SMART” is the world’s first all-in-one stack delivery, payment and returns solution offered by a logistics and transportation company. It enables e-tailers around the world to deliver a premium experience for their shoppers in Aramex’s core markets. Consumers that use this solution benefit from a convenient online shopping experience which gives them access to fast deliveries, easy returns, and allows them options to complete their payments within a period of 14 days after the delivery of their shipment, using a payment method of their choice.
Commenting on the launch, Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: “The launch of ‘Aramex SMART’ is a milestone not only for Aramex, but for the entire e-commerce industry as it brings together a full stack of delivery, payment and returns solution in a single offering. As one of the leading industry players, part of our strategy is to continuously improve the ecosystem by identifying gaps and coming up with innovative solutions to help resolve bottlenecks that will ensure a healthy and uninterrupted growth of e-commerce. With ‘Aramex SMART’ we aim to support businesses that wish to grow their online sales channels, and improve the online shoppers’ overall experience, especially during the current unprecedented challenges brought by COVID-19. Through the launch of this innovative solution, we aim to boost growth in the digital economy and support resurgence in retail demand.”
Arun Singh, Aramex’s Corporate Treasurer and Head of Aramex SMART,said: “We are very excited to launch ‘Aramex SMART’ in response to evolving consumer needs and e-commerce industry trends. Through our extensive market research, we identified a need for a full suite solution that will address disparities between an increased consumer preference for cash-on-delivery shipments in spite of limited digital payment options offered by e-commerce players. Our research showed that one of the main reasons for preference for cash-on-delivery is due to the trust deficit consumers have in the e-commerce experience. Our studies also revealed that businesses suffer from slower deliveries, high rejection rates, and inventory inefficiencies with cash-on-delivery shipments. To address these gaps, we have developed this innovative platform that provides shoppers convenient and flexible payment options when making online purchases, as well as supporting e-tailers with cash flow management, ensuring seamless and efficient transactions, higher acceptance rates, improved consumer trust and enhanced bottom line growth.”
“Aramex SMART” is the latest addition to the suite of other innovative solutions that Aramex developed as part of its digital transformation journey. Earlier this year, the company introduced a fully revamped mobile App that includes real–time shipment and courier tracking, and seamless connection to Aramex’s WhatsApp chat-bot.
In 2018, Aramex launched “Aramex Fleet”, a crowd-based delivery platform that connects Saudi Nationals to flexible last mile delivery work to leverage Saudi Arabia’s sharing economy and support fluctuating demand in the Kingdom. This was followed by the launch of Aramex Spot, a partnership with retail outlets to support last mile delivery access across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Recibimiento de avión procedente de Emiratos Árabe Unidos, con donación de insumos para combatir covid19 en Costa Rica. 12 junio 2020. Foto: Roberto Carlos Sánchez @rosanchezphoto
UAE national airline’s first ever flight to the Central American country operated via the Dominican Republic
Etihad Airways yesterday operated its first ever flight from Abu Dhabi to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. The goodwill flight transported Costa Rican citizens returning home, and humanitarian aid from the Government of the United Arab Emirates, to help Costa Rica in its fight against COVID-19.
The Boeing 787-9 was also carrying Dominican nationals returning from the UAE, and the flight landed in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic, before continuing to Costa Rica.
The flight was met by Costa Rican officials and diplomatic staff from the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in San Jose.
Following the suspension of all normal passenger flights to and from the UAE on 24 March, Etihad has operated special humanitarian services to 34 cities around the world, all of which are not currently served by the airline’s passenger or cargo network of flights. These include Bogota, Havana, Santo Domingo, Bucharest, Grozny, Kiev, Larnaca, Podgorica, Tirana, Yerevan, Zagreb, Auckland, Bhubaneswar, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Dhaka, Erbil, Kabul, Lucknow, Makhachkala, Addis Ababa, Antananarivo, Bamako, Banjul, Conakry, Freetown, Harare, Kinshasa, Moroni, N’Djamena, Niamey, and Nouakchott. The airline recently operated special humanitarian flights carrying essential medical and humanitarian cargo bound for the Palestinian Territories.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is encouraging travellers to start planning their next trip, once travel restrictions ease, with the launch of ‘Etihad Travel Voucher’.
Guests who purchase an Etihad Travel Voucher between 10 and 24 June 2020 will receive an extra 50% cash value for future travel from 1 August 2020 onwards.
Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Now, more than ever, we want to give the world something to look forward to. Valid for two years, Etihad Travel Voucher will give our guests plenty of time to plan their future trip, and with 50% extra credit, they will spend less on that well-deserved break”.
Etihad Travel Vouchers are available in increments of USD 250 to a maximum of USD 65,000. The value of the purchased voucher plus 50% extra credit will be added to a Travel Bank account for future redemption on flights, upgrades and extras.
To purchase Etihad Travel Vouchers, simply sign-up to Etihad Guest, the airline’s loyalty programme, and phone the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on (+971) 600 555 666 in the UAE. The list of other local contact centres is available at www.etihad.com/contacts. Visit www.etihad.com/travelvoucher for more information.
ETIHAD ENGINEERING EXPANDS OPERATIONS AS AIRLINES BRING FORWARD MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
Etihad Engineering, the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of Etihad Aviation Group, has been expanding its operations in aircraft maintenance and parking, to meet the new requirements of airline operators as fleets have been grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MRO provider continues to adapt to the ever-changing market needs and leverages its one-stop-shop service to cater to an increase in parking requirements and opportunistic maintenance. Operators from around the world have worked closely with the MRO to bring forward maintenance work that was initially planned towards the end of the year.
The current projects involve the delivery of cabin uplift, passenger to freighter conversion, longeron modification, heavy maintenance (C-check), major structural modification, parking solutions, painting and deep cleaning of aircraft for both Etihad Airways and third-party airline customers.
The MRO provider has collaborated with Etihad Airways on a major project to conduct a full cabin refresh on all 96 passenger aircraft. The refurbishment includes cabin renovations, interior detailing, seat repairs and a full sweep of the inflight entertainment system. The refurbishment project is due to be completed by the end of June.
Frederic Dupont, Vice President Technical Sales & Customer Service, Etihad Engineering, stated: “While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the aviation sector at large, we have been doing our best to find the opportunity amidst the crisis. We have taken advantage of the grounding period and used it to carry out maintenance services to ensure the entire fleet is operating at its optimal and will be uninterrupted by maintenance requirements as services return. The cabin refurbishment project is our most extensive collaboration with Etihad Airways to date, as we have been working on the entire passenger fleet of 96 aircraft within a concise time frame.”
Mr. Dupont added: “We will continue to go above and beyond to support all our customers during this challenging time, and continue to deliver a differentiated customer experience for our airline clients. We understand that it may not be possible for some of our customers to be physically present with us as engineering work on their aircraft progresses, however we have embraced the technology available to communicate seamlessly with our clients based all over the world. Continuous footage of the maintenance progress is captured by GoPro cameras and shared back with our clients, and virtual meetings provide the latest updates. This is to ensure that we cater to our customers’ needs in the exact same manner as if they were here with us at our facilities”.
Etihad Engineering has experienced an increase in parking requests from third-party customers, with the majority of parking slots currently occupied at its facilities. A number of airline operators have decided to park their aircraft in Abu Dhabi due to the long-standing partnerships they enjoy with the MRO provider as a one-stop maintenance shop, as well as the convenient geographic location of the emirate. All aircraft parked at the facility will undergo preservation maintenance while under the care of Etihad Engineering to ensure that they remain serviceable in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidance.
Every aircraft arriving at the facility for maintenance or parking undergoes a deep cleaning process by the disinfection team before any work commences. The team wear personal protective equipment and use a cleaning chemical well known for destroying viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19. It takes four hours to clean a narrow body aircraft and eight hours for larger aircraft.
With economies severely battered, a rethinking and rearrangement of supply chains appears inevitable
There are clear and imminent indications that supply chains will be irretrievably altered in the aftermath of the pandemic. With global trade in turmoil and the blame-game becoming a veritable free-for-all, the present economic upheavals will lend themselves to a reorientation of trade patterns and review of trade deals. In
this special contribution author Eelco Dijkstra, Managing Partner, Europhia
Consulting, assesses the current logistics landscape and the certain reshaping of the contours of the supply chains globally—Editor
There is barely any facet of normal life and business that has not been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. There have been fierce debates on the origins and spread of the novel CoronaVirus (Covid-19) that have consumed the world since the start of this year. The economic fallout from the ongoing political war of words related to the pandemic between the nations of the world could be huge. It’s becoming clear that there will be a shake-up of global sourcing strategies pulling away from some of the current mass production Asian centres of manufacturing.
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
In less than 3 months’ time, the US unemployment rate has skyrocketed to over 20% of the US workforce being sent home and now without a job. The total unemployed is now 30 Million workers. A number unheard of since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. In Europe and elsewhere around the world, the lockdown has also severely impacted economies and businesses. It is feared that the GDP of most countries will severely contract in 2020. The US first-quarter GDP contracted 4.8% and is expected to contract more than 10% for the second quarter ending end of June.
Here in the UAE, the impact is also considerable. Key sectors which have been hit thus far are the airline and hospitality industries. Emirates and Etiyad have grounded most of their passenger operations. During the lockdown most hotels across the emirates were closed as well as all restaurants, cafes and malls. Many staff were sent home, most with reductions to their salaries. Only now businesses are starting to re-open slowly. Expo 2020 has also been postponed for one year and will now start October 2021. As it becomes clear that people globally won’t be traveling much the coming 12 months this will for sure have a significant impact on the UAE’s economy in the months to come – heavily dependent on global travellers and tourists.
Mr Alain Marckus, Managing Director at First Abu Dhabi Bank was quoted in an article in Gulf News April 7th “We expect to see a sharp contraction for the second and third quarter GDP combined,” but “remain constructive for Q3-20 and beyond with an Dh100 billion stimulus and other measures, such as relief via grants and on indirect taxes to support the economy.
Elsewhere, countries globally have also designed stimulus packages to try and support faltering economies. The US has passed several bills in relief funding and tax breaks to large and small businesses totalling 2.5 Trillion USD. In Europe, governments both at national and at European Union level passed legislation for relief funding to businesses. The UK government announced to pay 80% of wages for those not working in coronavirus crisis in an effort to keep them employed with employers.
OIL PRICES
To make matters worse for oil producing nations, global oil prices went down in parallel to COVID-19. This was partially caused by an oil war between Saudi Arabia and Russia but in recent months fuelled further by lack of demand for oil due to the lockdown of much of the global economy which has meant people are not flying and driving.
Saudi Arabia announced on May 11th that it would triple its VAT rate from 5% to 15% by July 2020. It also announced plans to suspend giving out cost of living allowances starting from June 1, according to its state news agency SPA. The Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan says these measures have been taken as part of the government’s efforts to manage the economic and fiscal impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the crash in oil prices.
The impact of lower oil prices on top of the COVID-19 problems will likely impact also many economies across the GCC region.
BLAME GAME – BACK TO US-CHINA POLITICS
With a US Presidential election set for November of this year, it is expected that the rhetoric from the Trump administration towards China will not wind down any time soon. As President Trump looks for a scape goat for the current economic fiasco the blame game has truly started and could get even uglier in the months to come.
At stake for the US President Trump is the Presidential election itself. However, there are underlying issues which run deeper and relate to the US-China trade deficit and the dependence the US and other countries have on China when it comes to the production of many products.
CHINA – THE WORLDS FACTORY
COVID-19 has made clear that many medical products such as Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) are actually produced in China. With the COVID-19 outbreak, countries were scrambling to find PPE medical equipment to protect their medical workers in the front line fighting COVID-19 in hospitals and retirement homes. Most of the searches for PPE supplies ended up with manufacturing suppliers back in China. As a result of the increased demand, a huge shortage of products emerged as buyers from all over the world started competing for the same products supplies. Traders saw opportunities to get in on the procurement game which sent prices soaring even further. What made matters worse was the shortage of air-cargo capacity around the world as many airlines were grounded. This also significantly increased the prices for airfreight to transport the PPE goods from China to destinations around the world.
However, China is a dominant producer of many products consumed today all across the world. Where twenty years ago, China produced relatively low value products of inferior quality, today China is a dominant producer of many high value goods such as machinery, electronics equipment, mobile phones including Apple’s Iphone. It also produces most of the apparel items for most US and European luxury retail fashion brands. China produces 72% of shoes sold in the US and it produces 49% of all toys sold in the US.
Chinese companies such as Huawei export advanced mobile network systems around the world on which entire or partial mobile phone networks of an entire country operates. We now also know that many medical products such as PPE’s are produced in China. What many people don’t know is that also many pharmaceuticals, as final product or as active API ingredients, are manufactured in China vital to the production of many of the medicines sold around the world today.
Massive Supply Chain Reshuffle After COVID-19
Citing a February survey by German supply chain consultants Kloepfel Consulting, every third company in Europe and the US has major Chinese customers and 81% of companies it surveyed rely on Chinese suppliers.
Due to retaliatory tariffs imposed on each other in the U.S.-China trade war, companies had already started diversifying their supply chains out of China. It is expected that the speed at which they do this will now accelerate.
The Trump administration has been increasingly vocal in recent weeks that US companies should reduce their reliance on China as manufacturing base.
Other governments are also reassessing their reliance on the China as manufacturing base for many Japanese companies. The Japanese government has offered to pay Japanese firms to leave China and relocate production elsewhere as part of its coronavirus stimulus worth 2 Billion USD.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Dependence on China
The Trump administration says the U.S. is too dependent on China for vital drugs. The US government wants to encourage more American manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and reduce dependence on China for the drugs and medical products that fuel the federal health care system.
The New York Times recently published an article which mentions that The US government effort will include a “Buy American” plan to ensure more medical and pharmaceutical products will be required through law to be purchased American-made.
The hope is that increasing government demand for American-made drugs and medical products will provide an incentive for companies to make their products in the United States, rather than China.
While the United States remains a global leader in drug discovery, much of the manufacturing has moved offshore. The last American plant to make key ingredients for penicillin announced it would close its doors in 2004.
Chinese pharmaceutical companies supply more than 90% of U.S. antibiotics, vitamin C, ibuprofen and hydrocortisone, as well as 70% of acetaminophen and 40-45% of heparin in recent years, according to Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. China is also increasingly a large manufacturer of many API active ingredients for US pharmaceutical companies.
Supporters of reducing reliance on China have used the coronavirus epidemic to highlight what they say is a longstanding vulnerability that could leave Americans dangerously short of medicines in the event of a war, trade conflict or pandemic as we see today through the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
A final word, the post COVID-19 world will be a different world than before. Countries but also companies in many vital sectors will be reviewing their manufacturing base from a risk management perspective. They will be looking to reduce dependence in product supply from any single production source in China. Where in the past ten years, we saw a global trend of “single” sourcing of certain products we will for sure move towards a global market with dual and multiple production sources for any single product in which domestic political motives will also play a role.
Eelco Dijkstra is Managing Partner at Europhia Consulting. Europhia Consulting is an international management consulting company specialized in the logistics, supply chain and distribution sector. We operate global supply chain strategy and design assignments for our clients out of our office in the United Arab Emirates. The opinions are based on the author’s own views and understanding of the dynamics within the global supply chain sector.
To discuss your changing supply chain needs please contact Eelco Dijkstra at europhia@outlook.com
ETIHAD AIRWAYS TO OFFER SPECIAL TRANSFER FLIGHTS CONNECTING KEY CITIES ON ITS GLOBAL NETWORK
New transfer connections linking 20 cities in Europe, Asia and Australia via Abu Dhabi
Effective 10 June, Etihad Airways will link 20 cities in Europe, Asia and Australia via Abu Dhabi. The new transfer services will make it possible for those travelling on the airline’s current network of special flights to connect easily through the UAE capital onwards to key global destinations.
Etihad recently launched links from Melbourne and Sydney to London Heathrow, allowing direct transfer connections to and from the UK capital via Abu Dhabi.
Throughout June, Etihad is continuing to operate a network of special flights from Abu Dhabi to previously announced destinations across its international network. Easy transfer connections via Abu Dhabi will now be available from Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo to major cities across Europe including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London Heathrow, Madrid, Milan, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Zurich.
Those wishing to book are advised to visit www.etihad.com/transfer to view their options, and to remain informed on the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE), or through a local or online travel agency.
Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. The airline has implemented an extensive sanitisation and customer safety programme and is practicing the highest standards of hygiene at every part of the customer journey. This includes catering, aircraft and cabin deep-cleaning, check-in, health screening, boarding, inflight, crew interaction, meal service, disembarkation and ground transportation, among others.
More information on the stringent measures being taken by Etihad Airways to provide a healthy and hygienic travel experience is available at www.etihad.com/wellness.
Important note: As a precautionary measure, guests travelling on Etihad Airways flights are required to wear a face mask throughout their journey.
New facility will form part of Honeywell’s alignment to Saudi Vision 2030 and localization commitments, supporting economic diversification
Honeywell becomes the first international company to produce industrial gas detectors in Saudi Arabia
Honeywell, a global technology leader, has today announced it will open a new facility for the production of gas detection devices in Saudi Arabia. The factory underscores Honeywell’s commitment to the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program.
Established to accelerate Saudization, IKTVA’s aim is to achieve 70% localization of production and jobs by 2021 and act as a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030. The new “Made in the Kingdom” Honeywell factory will support IKTVA’s localization objectives by creating production jobs for Saudi nationals that enhance workforce skills and capabilities.
Through the new factory, Honeywell becomes the first international company producing gas detectors in the Kingdom, enabling local availability of the equipment, shorter lead times, and on-the-ground customer support. The devices will provide a reliable and cost-effective way to ensure the safety, compliance and productivity of workers who are operating in hazardous environments in Saudi Arabia.
“Our advanced gas detection systems help keep workers safe and enable them to rapidly respond to gas leaks and site incidents,” said John Waldron, president and CEO, Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS). “We’re proud to bring new manufacturing capabilities to Saudi Arabia to help industrial customers maximize safety, improve operational performance and better mitigate emissions.”
Located at the extension of Dhahran Techno Valley, the Honeywell facility will produce 10,000 portable gas detectors and 800 fixed gas detectors annually when it reaches full production in 2022. The production line includes the multigas Honeywell BW™ series, in addition to fixed detectors including Searchpoint Optima Plus Point Infrared Gas Detector and XNX™ Universal Transmitter.
Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell, High Growth Regions, Middle East, Russia, Turkey, Central Asia & Customs Union, added: “Honeywell remains committed to supporting the national Saudization drive and helping the country meet its Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. Over the course of our six-decade history in the Kingdom, we have continued to further the transformation of the country’s future through the establishment of localization initiatives and deployment of advanced solutions. This new facility marks another milestone in our Saudi Arabian history, providing new employment opportunities and expediting an increased drive for locally manufactured goods.”
Saudi Arabia is a high-growth, strategically important market for Honeywell. Honeywell continues to play a vital role in advancing the development of Saudi Arabia’s industries and successful long-term careers through the introduction of training programs, partnerships and facilities that aid the country’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy. These include working with professors and researchers from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran on new catalytic processes for producing paraxylene, the Honeywell UOP University and Global TECPro initiatives, among others.
THE UPS FOUNDATION COMMITS US$3 MILLION TO GAVI TO EXPAND INNOVATIVE LAST MILE DELIVERY NETWORK AND BRING ESSENTIAL VACCINES TO CHILDREN
UPS partnership with Gavi builds on successful efforts to expand and improve vaccine delivery in Uganda and some of the world’s most underserved communities
To date, UPS cold chain best practices have resulted in regularly scheduled vaccine deliveries, significant stockout reductions and an increase of 100,000 in monthly vaccine distribution rates
Commitment leverages US$2 million from the Gavi Matching Fund, resulting in US$5 million in support
Program taps into UPS’s deep expertise in healthcare supply chain management and commitment to humanitarian and development goals
The UPS Foundation, which leads the global citizenship programs for UPS (NYSE: UPS), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, announced today a commitment of US$3 million in new funding and in-kind logistics support spanning two years, provided by UPS and The UPS Foundation to Gavi. The new support will enable Gavi to continue to strengthen supply chain networks that deliver life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries, and expand coverage of essential childhood vaccines with the mission of eliminating childhood deaths from avoidable diseases.
The UPS Foundation’s contribution of US$2 million in cash and US$1 million in UPS in-kind services, combined with a match of US$2 million from the Gavi Matching Fund, results in a total of US$5 million toward an expansion of previous shared efforts by the organizations. The contribution will apply to Gavi’s 2021 to 2025 strategic period. The Gavi Matching Fund was created in 2011 to encourage businesses to invest in global immunization.
This commitment extends The UPS Foundation’s and UPS’s long-time partnership with Gavi and draws on the company’s deep expertise in healthcare supply chain management. The UPS Foundation’s corporate partnership with Gavi began in 2014. Since that time, UPS has provided funding and technical expertise aimed at establishing reliable cold chain networks, expanding last mile delivery of vaccines, broadening the pool of trained supply chain managers in priority countries and spearheading innovation.
“Strong and efficient supply chains are essential to Gavi’s work,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi. “With support from The UPS Foundation, we have in recent years been able to greatly enlarge and improve supply chains that Gavi-eligible countries rely on to deliver vaccines, even in some of the most remote areas of the world. We’re extremely grateful to The UPS Foundation, whose close partnership with Gavi has yielded truly groundbreaking accomplishments. We’re excited to move ahead with the next chapter of this enormously fruitful relationship.”
“As a purpose-driven, global organization, our support for Gavi’s mission can help advance our society in the most important way – our children’s future – and catalyze more private sector support,” said Eduardo Martinez, President of The UPS Foundation and UPS Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. “We aspire to create pathways for the public sector and civil society to better connect with the private sector, to create more efficient systems, and enable innovations that improve the delivery of vital health services and commodities like vaccines.”
With the support of the Ugandan government and Minister of Health, in July 2018, UPS and Gavi developed a pilot last mile vaccine delivery network in three districts around Kampala, Uganda, serving three million people and focused on improving the percentage of Ugandan children who receive childhood vaccines. Working with the Ugandan Ministry of Health, UPS, Gavi and UPS’s authorized service contractor established a vaccine delivery system reaching more than 150 clinics. The pilot, which was well received by local health networks, utilized cold chain best practices, vehicles with refrigerators, temperature monitoring tools, stock management systems to track inventory and trigger ordering before vaccines are out of stock.
The UPS Foundation’s contributions have supported, among other activities, the Strategic Training Executive Program (STEP) Leadership Development program, which builds supply chain managers’ capacity to provide end-to-end management of vaccine supply chains.
This new contribution from The UPS Foundation, combined with the Gavi Matching Fund, will be used to support Gavi’s supply chain initiatives across the 2021-2025 period, strengthening the Alliance’s capacity to engage with the private sector and replicate the successful Uganda model to exponentially increase availability of vaccines for children in other countries.
Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its weekly scheduled cargo flight operations to cover 75 destinations across six continents. Through its wider reach, Emirates SkyCargo is able to transport essential commodities and other urgently needed cargo more rapidly across the world, allowing exporters and importers across markets to benefit from direct access to widebody cargo capacity.
Some of the destinations recently included in Emirates SkyCargo’s network include Colombo, Conakry, Dakar, Dhaka, Dublin, Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, Perth and Quito.
In addition, Emirates SkyCargo has also upped frequency of flights to several key destinations such as Amsterdam, Beijing, Bengaluru, Brussels, Chennai, Chicago, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Johannesburg and London allowing businesses more choice and flexibility in having their cargo shipped to customers and supplementing additional cargo capacity for the transport of urgent and necessary goods.
Over and above scheduled flight operations, Emirates SkyCargo also operates charter flights in response to customer demand.
SAL launches its new facilities at KKIA under Ministry of Transport
Under the patronage of the Minister of Transport his excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) launches its operations at the Model Cargo Village at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA). The launch was announced during a webinar attended by Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, the President of General Authority of Civil Aviation, Sami Sindi, the Director-General of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, Fawaz Al-Fawaz, SAL Chairman, Mohammad Abunayyan, SAL Executive Board Member and Mohammed Al Maghlouth, CEO of Riyadh Airports Company.
In a speech, SAL CEO Omar Hariri said although the Kingdom is facing great difficulties and challenges because of COVID-19, the development in the country has continued. This integrated logistics project provides general and specialized handling services for cold chain goods, perishables, medicine, cars and hazardous materials including express and air mail as well as e-commerce shipments.
The facility runs on an area of 42,000 square meters and includes a 20,000 square meters warehousing with an area of 6,600 square meters for exported goods, 6,500 square meters for e-commerce and 5,200 square meters for cold storage shipments. The capacity of the entire facility reaches 450 thousand tons a year. The handling operations are performed through 16 Loading dock. The facility has been equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
Hariri also, pointed out that the new cargo facilities in Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport will be ready this September with a total area of 131,000 square meters of which 65,000 square meters will be dedicated to warehouses. The facilities will help enhance the flow of cargo to and through the Kingdom and make the country a global logistics hub.
The Minister of Transport hailed the SAL new facilities at King Khalid International Airport and spoke highly of the vital role the cargo services and operations providing foodstuffs, medical supplies and essential goods. The new project will handle all types of cargo and help transform the Kingdom into a global logistics center.
LogiPoint at Jeddah Islamic Port established the first bonded corridor connecting the Bonded and Re-Export Zone at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz International Airport to facilitate the multi-modal movement of cargo.
The trial conducted on a shipment that arrived by sea freight to LogiPoint Bonded and Re-Export Zone at Jeddah Islamic Port then shipped onward to its final destination in the Netherlands by airfreight through King Abdulaziz International airport.
With the support of the Saudi Customs and Jeddah Islamic Port and in line with vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NDLIP), the success of this shipment increases the competitiveness of the region. It creates an efficient and cost-effective sea-air and air-sea link to establish Jeddah as a preferred multimodal transshipment hub.
LogiPoint CEO Farooq Shaikh said, “The bonded corridor facilitates trade for customers by providing a multimodal bonded access to regional target markets combining sea, land and air freight. It also gives Jeddah a significant advantage to compete in the transshipment cargo segment”
LogiPoint is always making dynamic efforts to introduce international concepts and solutions towards enhancing logistics efficiency to attract foreign investors. Its strategic location and the world-class facilities have which strengthen the position of Jeddah Islamic Port a major logistics hub.
Investigative practices by Indian authorities on anti-dumping regulations raise serious concerns under the WTO rules
GCC ethylene glycol (EG) imports into India may be severely hurt as a result of an ongoing anti-dumping investigation targeting imports from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Singapore, the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, the regional trade body representing the common interests of the chemical and allied industries in the Arabian Gulf stated in a press release.
The inconsistent investigative practices by Indian authorities on anti-dumping regulations raise serious concerns under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and threaten to severely hurt GCC economies, jeopardizing US$ 543mn worth of mono ethylene glycol (MEG) imports, which is equivalent to 20% of total chemical imports from the region into India, according to GPCA analysis.
India is the second largest importer of GCC chemicals and accounts for over a third of total GCC export volume together with China.
On 6 April 2020, Indian authorities terminated the investigation for the sole imports from Saudi Arabia, and continued the investigation into imports from Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. This partial termination of the investigation is inconsistent with Indian anti-dumping rules.
GPCA is therefore urging the fair treatment of GCC MEG producers and calling upon Indian authorities to terminate the partial investigation into MEG imports from the remaining GCC states, in order to restore a level playing field for all producers.
“This detrimental and ill-advised measure is having a harmful impact not just on GCC economies but also on bilateral trade, threatening to disrupt India’s domestic market and damage long-standing friendly relations between the nations,” commented Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA.
UPS Expertise & Flexible Global Network Keep Supply Chains Moving
Focused on the Health and Safety of Employees and the Public
Supported Customers with Near Record On-Time Service
COVID-19 Weighed on First-Quarter Results
Cash from Operations of $2.6B; Adjusted* Free Cash Flow of $1.6B
UPS Liquidity and Financial Condition Remain Strong
UPS today announced first-quarter 2020 diluted earnings per share of $1.11 and adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.15. The company’s results were adversely affected by the disruption to customers from the global coronavirus pandemic.
UPS has been designated by governments around the world as a Critical Infrastructure Business and continues to operate in all major countries, while adhering to additional regulatory requirements. In the U.S., the company is also front and center in leading the pandemic logistics response for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal and state government agencies. As a logistics leader, UPS is supporting FEMA and its Project Airbridge by managing charter flights around the globe. UPS has delivered several million pounds of Personal Protective Equipment for FEMA into dedicated UPS distribution space. In addition, as part of FEMA’s Project Airbridge and other healthcare-related missions, in April the company increased the number of flights by over 200 to transport critical life-saving cargo to the U.S. and Europe.
“I want to thank all 495,000 UPSers for their extraordinary efforts to leverage the full power of our global network in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, keeping critical goods moving for businesses and consumers globally,” said David Abney, UPS chairman and CEO. “The world is counting on UPS more than ever before as we support the people on the front lines of this crisis and our customers with speed, ingenuity and reliability.”
In the first quarter of 2020, the company incurred a pre-tax transformation charge of $45 million, or $0.04 per share after tax. First-quarter 2019 adjusted results excluded a pre-tax charge of $123 million, or $0.11 per share after tax, from transformation-related charges.
Consolidated Results
1Q 2020
Adjusted
1Q 2020
1Q 2019
Adjusted
1Q 2019
Revenue
$18,035 M
$17,160 M
Net Income
$965 M
$1,000 M
$1,111 M
$1,204 M
Diluted Earnings Per Share
$1.11
$1.15
$1.28
$1.39
* “Adjusted” amounts presented in this release are non-GAAP financial measures. See the appendix to this release for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most closely correlated GAAP measure.
For the total company in 1Q 2020:
Consolidated revenue increased to $18 billion, driven by growth in business-to-consumer shipments and gains in healthcare.
Net income was $965 million; adjusted net income was $1 billion.
Net income included material headwinds due to disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic, higher self-insurance accruals and other items.
Adjusted capital expenditures were $939 million to support network enhancements.
Dividends per share increased 5.2%, with dividends remaining a high priority for the company.
U.S. Domestic Segment
The progression of stay-at-home restrictions instituted across the country as a result of coronavirus closed businesses and disrupted supply chains, resulting in an unprecedented shift in customer and product mix in the quarter. The company’s automated hubs and other transformation investments generated efficiency gains; however, these benefits did not offset the significant headwinds from the impact the coronavirus pandemic had on UPS customers, coupled with higher self-insurance accruals. UPS continues to adapt its network to the current economic environment while supporting customers and critical government programs.
1Q 2020
Adjusted
1Q 2020
1Q 2019
Adjusted
1Q 2019
Revenue
$11,456 M
$10,480 M
Operating profit
$364 M
$ 401 M
$666 M
$694 M
Revenue increased 9.3% and average daily volume was up 8.5%, with growth across all products.
Next Day Air average daily volume grew 20.5%, the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit increases.
Revenue per piece decreased less than 1% due to changes in customer and product mix.
Commercial deliveries declined while residential deliveries were elevated.
Shipment growth in the quarter was driven by large customers.
On-time performance across all service levels was near a record high in a dynamic environment.
International Segment
UPS’s International segment generated $551 million in operating profit, or $558 million in operating profit on an adjusted basis, despite weakening global economic activity. The company executed well to contain costs and target customer opportunities as the coronavirus pandemic rapidly spread from Asia to other parts of the world.
1Q 2020
Adjusted
1Q 2020
1Q 2019
Adjusted
1Q 2019
Revenue
$3,383 M
$3,459 M
Operating profit
$551 M
$ 558 M
$528 M
$612 M
International average daily volume was down 1.8% with declines in commercial deliveries.
China volume primarily rebounded in March as its economic recovery accelerated, offsetting declines in January and February. Healthcare, high-tech and e-commerce sectors were positive contributors.
International cost per piece was down 0.5%, primarily due to the impact of currency. Additionally, the significant change in mix was partially offset by network adjustments to align capacity to changing trade patterns.
Operating margin was 16.3%; adjusted operating margin remained strong at 16.5%.
Supply Chain and Freight Segment
Supply Chain and Freight generated operating profit of $157 million, or $158 million in operating profit on an adjusted basis, despite significant economic headwinds from the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue was negatively impacted by widespread reductions in global economic activity. The segment is taking numerous actions to assist customers and improve financial performance as demand recovers, including activating aircraft charters from Asia, expanding customer relationships in the healthcare sector and applying peak surcharges where appropriate.
1Q 2020
Adjusted
1Q 2020
1Q 2019
Adjusted
1Q 2019
Revenue
$3,196 M
$3,221 M
Operating profit
$157 M
$ 158 M
$200 M
$211 M
Revenue was down less than 1% due to disciplined focus on growth opportunities and the segment’s broad portfolio of solutions.
Toward the end of the quarter, UPS Freight and Coyote experienced depressed volume levels primarily from mandated stay-at-home restrictions and businesses closures.
Logistics grew both revenue and operating profit, led by double-digit growth from Marken.
Within the Forwarding unit, International Air Freight tonnage rebounded in March generating revenue and profit growth in the quarter.
Outlook
At this time, UPS is unable to predict the extent of the business impact or the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, or reasonably estimate its operating performance in future quarters. As a result, the company is withdrawing its previously issued 2020 revenue and diluted earnings per share growth guidance. UPS has taken steps to ensure it remains strong and resilient throughout this period, including:
The company expects 2020 capital expenditures will be reduced by approximately $1 billion from previous estimates.
UPS is suspending share buybacks for 2020, reducing its planned full-year repurchase target by approximately $783 million.
“We will continue to adapt through this challenging period and prioritize investments and operational decisions that put UPS in the best financial position.” said Brian Newman, UPS’s chief financial officer. “We take a disciplined and balanced approach to capital allocation and are confident in our liquidity position including our commitments to capital management and dividends.”
Almajdouie Logistics always looks forward to new challenges, especially ones that allow us to showcase our expertise. We recently completed a massive heavy lift operation, transporting cargo measuring 20.85 x 5.43 x 10.00 metres (L x W x H) and weighing 81 tonnes from Dammam’s 2nd Industrial City to Ras Tanura.
There were many logistical challenges to overcome due to the height of the cargo. With assistance from Saudi Electricity Company, certain lines were temporarily shut down and lifted in order to accommodate the movement. We also used a specially designed side-by-side trailer to maintain stability while covering uneven roads on-route. As always, safety was a top priority, and our team maintained the highest standards at all times.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, extra attention was given to ensure that operations staff complied with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines. A usual safety officer was also assigned during the movement for monitoring and implementation.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand in the world, achieved the highest growth rate among the best 25 air cargo carriers with 16.6 percent growth rate, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Freight Tonne Kilometers (FTK) February’20 results.
Previously ranking 8th in 2019, Turkish Cargo rose to 5th place and increased its global FTK market share to 4.4 percent, while the global air cargo industry shrank by 2.6 percent, according to FTK data, which is the measure of a flight’s freight carrying capacity calculated by multiplying the number of tonne of freight on an aircraft by the distance travelled in kilometers.
On the successful growth of the Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated: “Just like our nation, we are a company that cannot abide losing or giving up. During these difficult days where the only thing we can do is to carry cargo, we are doing our duty to the best of our abilities while doing valuable work for humanitarian and commercial ends. The success of Turkish Cargo shows our commitment to carry our country to a central position in the world for the air cargo sector. Our geopolitical location and available means will help our country to become a more significant player in the air cargo sector following the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, we will be marching with surer footing towards our goal of making Turkish Cargo one of the top five air cargo brands in the world by 2023.
Turkish Cargo continues to contribute to the global supply chain
Turkey’s national air cargo brand Turkish Cargo, continues its operations 24/7 in order to keep the global supply chain intact by carrying food, relief supplies, masks, medical equipment and medicines during the global pandemic of COVID-19.
Turkish Cargo continues to carry much-needed medicines and medical equipment from different continents first to Turkey and afterwards from Turkey to Chicago, Taipei, Atlanta, Sao Paulo, Seoul, New York and Kiev, and to all over the world. The successful brand carried 4,000 tons of medicines and 500 tons of medical equipment during April.
Turkish Cargo, which has the 6th largest air cargo carrying capacity in the world, is providing air cargo services with 25 high-capacity freighters to 90 direct cargo destinations, while also reaching 38 destinations, including London, Moscow, Cairo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Doha, Dubai and Casablanca with 19 wide-body passenger aircraft from the fleet of Turkish Airlines.
During this critical period, flag carrier air cargo brand continues to act as a bridge between countries in order to prevent the disruption of global supply chain, operating more than 900 flights in April with cargo and passenger aircraft.
In addition to its contributions towards maintaining the global supply chain, global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo also continues to perform its duty to our nation, supporting our people as the national flag carrier during these difficult days.
Al Mansoori: Digital technologies play a major role in driving collective global response to COVID-19 crisis
G20 economic ministers discuss role of digital technologies in enhancing business resilience during extraordinary Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting
H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, participated in the extraordinary G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting, which was attended by economic ministers of all G20 member states. The meeting was held virtually under the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is also the host of G20 meetings for the year 2020.
During his participation in the meeting, Al Mansoori said that digital technologies play a major role in accelerating the global response to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. H.E continued that while the countries of the world are joining forces to deal with the repercussions of the COVID-19 outbreak and address the impact of the pandemic on various development sectors, most importantly public health and economic sectors, the significant role of digital technologies and related policies in driving these efforts have come to the fore.
The meeting discussed the role of digital technologies in enhancing business resilience and preserving jobs, lives and the global economy. In addition to setting options for policies to support the digital transformation of business models during the pandemic period, the development of policies for digital infrastructure, ICT-based innovation, ways to harness digital technologies to serve the society, as well as the role of digital economy in the creation of jobs and spurring economic growth were also discussed.
During the meeting, Al Mansoori explained that the UAE has made great progress in the field of digital transformation and has adopted Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, especially artificial intelligence, and its applications to drive the growth of the country’s vital sectors.
He added that the country is evaluating the repercussions of the current crisis and ways to transform current risks and challenges into opportunities that support economic growth and the transition to a more flexible and sustainable economic model.
H.E further elaborated on the most important measures taken by the UAE to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the business sector and to enable business continuity. The country is capitalizing on its advanced technological and smart infrastructure to ensure business continuity at both governmental and private levels, he said.
Furthermore, the availability of 3,730 federal and local government services online makes the UAE one of the best countries in the world to lead a digital life. In addition, more than 180 smart services are also available in the country to effectively address the needs of society in various aspects of life, said the Minister.
Al Mansoori further explained that the UAE’s readiness in terms of the delivery of smart services has enabled it to avoid interruptions in government operations and collapse of services. This also helped hospitals and medical centres to support the health sector in providing many services and adopting precautionary measures. Besides, a wide range of applications are being used to support remote learning efforts, remote work systems, apart from the development of smart platforms to support the labor market that has been affected by the precautionary measures. This includes a virtual labor market to register employees of affected companies, so that they can be absorbed by other companies based on the needs of the labor market.
Al Mansoori emphasized that the UAE today has a wealth of experience and visions in the field of digital transformation, and is looking forward to exchanging those experiences, resources and knowledge with members of the G20 to enhance joint efforts in facing and overcoming the current crisis.
The agenda of the ministerial meeting focused on a number of main axes such as: developing the telecommunications infrastructure; achieving a secure exchange of data and information; exploring ways to develop digital technologies for the health sector; expanding the uses of digital technologies and solutions; and developing a secure environment via the internet to enhance business flexibility and continuity.
10 countries from across the world accede to the joint ministerial statement
Al Mansoori: Statement strengthens joint regional & global efforts to facilitate movement of trade & other necessary goods across borders
The UAE has joined a joint ministerial statement issued by several countries around the world, expressing their commitment to keeping the supply chains open in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initiative by New Zealand and Singapore stipulates that the signatory countries pledge their commitment to ensuring the continuity and interconnectivity of supply chains during the pandemic crisis and intensify joint efforts and coordination to identify and remove trade restrictive measures that negatively impact the movement of necessary goods.
H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, in a letter to his counterpart David Parker, Minister for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand, confirmed that the government of the UAE joins and endorses the ministerial statement, based on its belief in the need to strengthen joint efforts at regional and global levels to facilitate the movement of trade and the continuity of cross border trade will increase the ability of the UAE and its external partners to cope with the pandemic crisis, while also maintaining vital economic cooperation channels open.
The signatory countries affirmed through the joint ministerial statement that, out of their keenness to achieve their shared interests, they will work to keep the trade lines, including air and sea freight operations, open in order to facilitate the flow of goods, including essential items.
The signatories further emphasized the importance of refraining from imposing controls that hinder exports or applying tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade and removing any existing measures that restrict the supply of basic commodities, especially medical supplies during the ongoing crisis.
The signatory states further indicated that they will work with various other countries of the world that share their interests to ensure the continuity of trade without obstacles and to maintain the vital infrastructure of trade to support the continuity, safety and interconnectivity of supply chains at global level.
Commenting on the statement, H.E. Al Mansoori said that the UAE has strengthened dialogue with trade partners and has sent clear messages regarding its commitment to support international trade and ensure the continuity of the flow of goods and services between countries, as a lifeline to address the needs of people in various parts of the world and as an engine that drives economic recovery.
H.E added: “The UAE has always proven its prominent and vital position in the global trade arena. We will continue our efforts to ensure the flow of necessary supplies and the integrity of supply chains by supporting the continuity of operational logistical networks, and by maintaining air, land and sea shipping routes. There is no doubt that the country’s accession to this joint statement, which includes countries from many continents of the world, is consistent with our vision and leading policies to support the movement of trade and its continued growth. ”
Apart from New Zealand and Singapore, the signatories of the statement, alongside the UAE, include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Laos, Myanmar and Uruguay to date.
Carrier turns passenger planes to all-cargo flights resulting to 35 weekly flights to help fight the Coronavirus pandemic crisis
Saudia Cargo says it made a record payload carrying essential food supplies from Lahore, Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, using a passenger aircraft turned into an all-cargo flight, a new trend that emerged in the ongoing fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The record 65.3 tons of perishables such as meat and vegetables were loaded into the lower deck of a Boeing-777 passenger plane and safely arrived in the Kingdom on April 25.
Saudia Cargo has successfully expanded its freighter fleet since March 23 by using the passenger planes of Saudia Airlines as all-cargo only flights.
Commenting on Saudia Cargo’s record payload and commitment to serve communities amid the pandemic CEO Omar Hariri says: “Saudia Cargo is committed to serve our customers and in less than a week after the airline grounded the passenger fleet due to the COVID-19 crisis, many of the aircraft were back in the air serving as cargo only flights. With reduced cargo capacity, it is more important than ever to maximize available cargo space to be able to serve the need for essential food, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical and pharmaceutical supplies.”
Saudia Cargo has expanded its freighter capacity with more than 35 weekly flights operated as cargo only passenger aircrafts, enabling the air cargo carrier to serve the Kingdom’s needs for essential food, medical and other supplies during this time of global health crisis.
Its continued operations also ensured the seamless link in transporting essential supplies between the East and the West in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
Emirates SkyCargo has utilised the cargo capacity on its Boeing 777 freighter and Boeing 777-300ER passenger freighter aircraft to help maintain and replenish food supplies in the UAE during the Covid-19 pandemic. The air cargo carrier has helped import more than 34,000 tonnes of food into the country between January and April 2020, out of which 13,000 tonnes were imported between March and April. In the month of April alone, Emirates SkyCargo helped bring in food supplies into the UAE from over 35 countries around the world.
“Despite the severe reduction in the number of flights we operate and the resultant reduction in the amount of cargo capacity we can work with, we have given top importance to maintain food supplies in the UAE as we consider this our responsibility. Through our regular cargo flights from major food production markets such as Australia, Egypt, India, Kenya, Pakistan and many other nations, we have been able to import quality food items. This has helped keep store shelves in the UAE well stocked with the familiar and comfort food items that puts a smile on people’s faces. We are also thankful to the support from the various UAE authorities who have helped facilitate these imports during such critical times,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.
Emirates SkyCargo is currently operating flights to around 60 global destinations on a scheduled basis and to many more destinations as charter and ad hoc operations. Food bound for the UAE is loaded on these flights from markets across the world. With its access to expertise in specialised handling for perishables through its Emirates Fresh product, Emirates SkyCargo ensures that the produce reaching the UAE maintains its freshness during transit.
Just some of the food imports that Emirates SkyCargo has facilitated since the start of the year include
More than 5,200 tonnes of food from Australia including chilled meat and fruits such as grapes and melons
Close to 2,500 tonnes of food from Egypt including fresh fruits such as strawberries, guavas and vegetables including sweet potatoes
More than 4,000 tonnes of food from India including fresh vegetables and fruits
More than 2,500 tonnes of food from Kenya including fresh fruits such as pineapples and mangoes and meat
Close to 1,600 tonnes of salmon from Norway
Over 4,500 tonnes of food from Pakistan including chilled meat, fish and vegetables
In addition to securing UAE food supplies, Emirates SkyCargo also provides a boost to the local economies of the various countries it operates to by providing a lifeline for the agricultural and other produce exporters. The export revenues generated from trade of fruits, vegetables, sea food and meat support the livelihoods of farmers and growers in these regions. Just last week, the air cargo carrier announced that it would be working with the Australian government to facilitate exports of Australian agricultural and sea food commodities.
In light of the ongoing pandemic, UD Trucks has put in place a series of support measures in line with the company’s commitment to go the extra mile for its customers in the MEENA region
UD Trucks has announced a 60 day warranty extension for customers in the Middle East, East and North Africa whose vehicles’ warranties end during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
This iniative aims to support its customers who are not able to carry out services due to the varying levels of social distancing measures mandated by individual governments.
UD Trucks hopes to alleviate any concern from customers who have vehicle maintenance and repair needs during these challenging times.
Logistics is the lifeblood of society and with the current situation it is more important than ever that trucks stay on road to deliver the goods we take for granted in our day-to-day lives.
UD Trucks is continuing to go the extra mile to secure customer uptime with these services:
Ongoing service and support to customers carrying out essential services *
Extensions to periodical service and maintenance without any impact on the warranty terms *
Extended warranty coverage of 60 days for vehicles whose warranty expires during the lockdown period*
Business continuity is key in this period of unprecedented global disruption and UD Trucks is endeavouring to play its part to help negate the impact.
Disclaimer: please note that lockdown dates, service contracts and warranty terms and conditions might vary from market to market. Customers should contact their local importer/distributor for more information.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest-growing air cargo airline in the world with continuously prospering operations, became the first air cargo airline toconcurrently achieve all three “CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh, and CEIV Live Animals” certifications, under the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) program.
Pursuing the air cargo services as based on the vision created by Turkish Airlines, its master brand, Turkish Cargo carries out the transportation of drugs/medical products, live animals and perishable products in compliance with international and industry standards.
Having satisfied the requirements for the certifications in the wake of the training, assessment and validation processes created by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, with the objective of raising the bar in performance and operations related to the transport of special cargo products, to ensure compliance with the highest standards and ensuring continuous improvement, Turkish Cargo became a holder of the CEIV certificates which represent its approach based on excellence for the special cargo operations. The certifications have a validity period of three years.
Turhan Ozen, the Chief Cargo Officer of Turkish Airlines remarked as follows; “We are passing through the days pointing how vital the air cargo industry is for trade across the world as well as transportation. We really make much of the IATA CEIV certificates that prove that we meet the international standards at our special cargo operations, during such a vulnerable and critical period”.
Glyn Hughes, the Global Head of Cargo at IATA commented; “Turkish Cargo deserves to be praised for becoming not only the world’s first air cargo airline to concurrently hold all three CEIV certificates, but also the first air cargo airline in Europe to have obtained the CEIV Live Animals certificate. The air cargo industry now enters a period whereby the vulnerability at the special cargo services is augmented, and the CEIV program intends to ensure that the sensitive cargo is transported and delivered at the highest standards, meticulously and punctiliously, as much as possible.”
Thus, compliance with global standards set by the global air cargo association is key and is also proven since it has obtained the “CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh and CEIV Live Animals” certificates. Itresponsibly handles and treats the shipments such as drugs, lifescience products, organs and medical equipment that are of vital importance, and which carries out shipments of time-sensitive goods in accordance with the directives as specified in the IATA TCR (Temperature Control Regulations). It also transports live animals safely, ensuring its welfare as these are our best friends and in a healthy and peaceful environment as per the CITES and IATA regulations. ,.
Maintaining its Dual Hub operations successfully, Turkish Cargo strictly implements the complete handling procedures together with its specialized teams at the special cargo warehouses and operational sites at the cargo facilities equipped with the state of the art technology available at the Istanbul and Ataturk airports.
Turkish Cargo, which performs its operations meticulously on 7/24 basis by acting with such awareness during these days where maintenance of the flow of air cargo is of too critical and life-saving nature, not only continues to serve as a bridge between 127 countries worldwide, but also meets the internationally-recognized quality standards and proceeds to raise the bar for the achievement in a sustainable manner.
The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has raised its concern on the air-cargo sector in Africa which has experienced a significant drop in capacity to Europe by 70% compared to 2019 according to CLIVE Data Services. Despite the vital role this activity plays in providing people with basic necessities and essential medical equipment, the situation is very concerning on the continent. TIACA is calling on all stakeholders – institutional and private alike – to take action without delay to contain this phenomenon.
“We are encouraging African airlines to respond to capacity requirements immediately, in particular by putting Passenger Freighter systems in place, such as those implemented by airlines including Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, SAA and Rwandair,” said Sanjeev Gadhia, TIACA Vice Chairman and CEO of Astral Aviation. “Collaboration and cooperation between African airlines across their respective fleets and networks are both essential so we can overcome the challenges we are facing,” he added.
According to Mr Gadhia, a concrete example is the drop in capacity has resulted in a capacity crisis in Nairobi for its perishables exports to Europe from 5,000 tons to 1,800 tons per week, which will have disastrous effects on the agriculture sector in Kenya, which is yet to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIACA calls on the Air Cargo Community in Africa to rise up to the challenge by formulating a Recovery Plan that will enable it to sustain the shocks of the Pandemic which will require a collaborative strategy between the Airlines, Airports, Handlers, Forwarders and Shippers.
TIACA also calls on African governments and on civil aviation authorities (CAAs) to take immediate measures to support the Aviation sector and the economy, by cushioning them against the impact of the Pandemic and in particular:
Airport closures due to lockdown, closure or curfew measures;
Quarantining of crews in certain African airports and the need to standardize crew quarantine requirements, including by providing dedicated rest areas;
Lifting the night bans affecting the move of ground staff;
Restrictions and limitations on cargo flights in certain African countries;
Simplifying procedures and easing the clearance for goods like pharma and food;
Fumigation requirements put in place in multiple African countries.
Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) has moved some of its services to the newly-launched facilities at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA).
This comes in line with SAL new operational plan aiming to enhance ground-handling services and streamline the cargo acceptance procedures through the village, which is a global integrated logistics platform for cargo and supply services.
Three quality and important services will be provided from the new venue during the first phase, which are export cargo handling, domestic cargo handling and express mail services effective April 20th, 2020.
SAL CEO Omar Hariri said the new facilities are a major leap in the company’s progress because the Cargo Village offers capabilities. He noted that the village is the first of its kind in the region and was launched last January to contribute effectively to trade growth and enhance all logistic services.
“The movement of ground handling services to the new facilities will undoubtedly enhance the cargo operations being provided during the COVID-19 crisis and ensure the continuity of the logistic operations and the flow of cargos,” he explained.
The SAL customers will get faster services as the operational capacity has doubled and will reach 450,000 tons a year at a total area of 67,000 square meters. There are 10 aircraft aprons and 15 docks for loading and unloading goods inside trucks. There are free parking areas for customers as well.
The Saudi Arabian Logistics is the main cargo gate in Saudi airports and the only logistic platform linking all airports and facilitating ground handling services, electronic commerce activities, land transportation, warehouse management and storage solutions.
ETIHAD CARGO TO DELIVER CRITICAL AIRFREIGHT SERVICES TO AUSTRALIA
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of the Etihad Aviation Group, has partnered with the Australian Government to provide critical international airfreight assistance to Australia.
Under the agreement with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Etihad Cargo will provide dedicated cargo services between Abu Dhabi and Australia, leveraging bellyhold capacity of its fleet of Etihad Airways passenger aircraft to deliver essential supplies into the Australian market, and facilitate bi-directional trade to further ensure continuity of fresh imports to the UAE from Australia including meat, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables. The initiative has been established by the Australian Government to accelerate delivery of agricultural and fisheries exports into key overseas markets, with over 560 Australian businesses already registering their interest in utilising the International Freight Assistance Mechanism.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Managing Director Cargo and Logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In this time of crisis, the facilitation of international trade and delivery of essential supplies is more important than ever. Australia has been a longtime and vital trading partner for the UAE and we are pleased to be able to continue to provide this lifeline connecting our countries and enabling the movement of goods that is helping to save people’s lives, supporting Australia’s produce exporters and continuing to support the UAE’s food security programme.”
Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said this new network would be crucial to coordinating international freight out of Australia until commercial passenger flights were restored.
“Around 90 per cent of our air freight, usually goes out in the bellies of passenger aircraft. With very few international passenger flights leaving Australia at present, our exporters are facing major hurdles,” Minister Birmingham said. “Through the better coordination of freight out of Australia, we can restore key freight routes and establish more frequent flights to our key markets so our agricultural and fisheries exporters can deliver their products to customers on time. We’ve moved quickly to establish this network and are now getting on with the job of supporting our exporters to get their products flowing again. With a network of some of the world’s largest airlines and most reputable freight forwarders in place, we’re injecting more reliability into the system that will also help our smaller exporters to aggregate their freight into volumes so they don’t miss out on export opportunities.”
The addition of weekly services to Australia expands on Etihad Cargo’s network of 22 cargo-only passenger freighters, plus an additional 10 used for charters, with regular services already in place between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam, Brussels, Beijing, Bangkok, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Jakarta, Kochi, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manila, Mumbai, Oslo, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Zurich
In addition to regularly scheduled cargo services, these activities ensure the delivery of fresh food, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies as part of the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emirates will operate from Dubai to: Frankfurt, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Lagos, London Heathrow, Madrid, Manila, Tunis
Emirates plans to operate passenger services to Frankfurt (25, 27, 29 April), Jakarta (26 April), Johannesburg (25 April), Lagos (26 April), London Heathrow (23, 24, 26, 28, 30 April), Madrid (29 April), Manila (24, 28, 30 April), and Tunis (30 April). These services will facilitate residents and visitors wishing to return home.
Those who wish to travel to Johannesburg, Lagos, and Tunis must contact the respective embassy or consulate for these countries in the UAE. For all other flights, passengers can book directly on emirates.com (select the “one-way” option when booking), or via their travel agent.
Only citizens of the destination countries, and those who meet the entry requirements of the destination will be allowed to board. Customers will be required to follow all health and safety measures required by the UAE authorities and the country of destination.
Similar to other repatriation flights that Emirates has operated thus far, for health and safety reasons, the airline will offer a modified inflight service that reduces contact, and the risk of infection. More information is available on emirates.com.
Passengers are required to apply social distancing guidelines during their journey and wear their own masks when at the airport and on board the aircraft. Travellers should arrive at Dubai International airport Terminal 3 for check-in, three hours before departure. Emirates’ check-in counters will only process passengers holding confirmed bookings to the above destinations. All Emirates aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai, after each journey.
RENAULT TRUCKS prepares A GRADUAL AND SAFE restart OF ITS plants IN FRANCE
Disinfection of machinery, workstations and work tools, the wearing of masks, gloves and overalls, social distancing rules,organised movement in shared areas… Production has been at a standstill since 18 March, but Renault Trucks is now preparing for a slow, gradual and safe resumption of activity in its production sites, constantly following the same baseline approach, namely to protect the health and safety of its employees.
Since the start of the lockdown and despite the temporary interruption in production, Renault Trucks has carried on serving its customers, as far as reasonably possible, by continuing in particular to supply spare parts and repair trucks. These activities are essential to ensure the continuity of vital services to society, especially to transport and deliver basic necessities, medicines and food.
However, although some employees have carried on working, production, sales and R&D have come to a halt and the vast majority of employees have been in short term layoff for almost a month.
Concerning Renault Trucks in France, an agreement has just been unanimously signed by trade unions to ensure fair compensation for these staff members in short term layoff.
Applying until July 3, 2020, the agreement erases the disparities between the different categories of employees, resulting from the legal provisions and the Metallurgy collective agreement, protects the lowest wages and aligns compensation for all employees at 92% of their usual net pay thanks to the solidarity of managers, and thanks to an additional contribution from the company.
“This agreement allows all employees to be treated fairly during this unprecedented crisis period. It enables all employees to get close to 100% of their usual remuneration through a vacation buy-back plan, while safeguarding the company’s future,” emphasises Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks. “In addition to the employees’ solidarity, the company is contributing around 8% of the total payroll.”
Renault Trucks is planning to resume its activity. Factories in France will be restarted gradually, from April 22, 2020, starting with Lyon-Venissieux Engine Plant. Other Renault Trucks production sites, such as Bourg-en-Bresse and Blainville-sur-Orne assembly plants, should gradually resume their activity in the following weeks. The restart of industrial activity is planned, for all plants, at a very low level. Ramp up will be slow and be spread over several weeks, in line with customer demands, the ability of suppliers to deliver the required provisions, and in synchronization with the other Volvo Group plants.
The industrial restart will be conditioned by the implementation of reinforced health protocols adapted to each site, in consultation with the trade unions and employee representatives. Drawn up by the company’s occupational physicians based on the precise route taken by employees, from the cloakroom to their workstation, they aim to eliminate the risk of coming into contact with the virus.
“We will only resume activities if health and safety conditions are exemplary – there will be no compromises. This is why we are envisaging a gradual restart, involving an initial period during which we will be testing the health protocols, as well as the supply chain and logistics, before considering a ramp-up” explained Bruno Blin.
Measures to be taken in Renault Trucks plants include:
Applying social distancing rules and protective measures,
Widespread use of alternative masks,
Wearing FFP2 masks with goggles or visors and gloves when the one-metre distance cannot be respected,
Keeping doors open (except fire doors) to prevent contact with handles,
Cleaning of workstations, work tools, logistics equipment, changing rooms and canteens,
Organising movement in all common areas, changing rooms, corridors and canteens, extending the opening hours and limiting the number of people present at any given time
ETIHAD CONTINUES TO PROGRESS SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES TO HELP CUT CARBON EMISSIONS
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has continued to progress its sustainability agenda, testing a range of initiatives during the wind-down and suspension of its scheduled passenger services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline has highlighted some of its continuing activities in a new video released today to mark Earth Day 2020: https://we.tl/t-Hxq1bop3KD
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In these challenging times, and beyond Covid-19, our response to the climate change crisis will not be neglected. Earlier this year, we pledged a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and to halve our 2019 net emission levels by 2035. Through the Etihad Greenliner Programme, we remain committed to reducing our impact on the environment, in collaboration with partners across the aviation industry.”
This year, Etihad has worked with Boeing, GE Aviation, EuroControl and others to test and implement measures to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise.
When it was delivered from Boeing’s North Carolina assembly plant, the signature aircraft of the Etihad Greenliner Programme – a ‘green-themed’ Boeing 787 – was fuelled with a 30 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel, refined from agricultural waste.
Boeing engineers used the delivery flight to research new fuel efficiency measures, based on real time data from the aircraft, to maximise efficiency and minimise emissions by providing customised data to the pilots.
Recently, on Ireland’s national day, the signature Etihad Greenliner operated an optimised roundtrip flight between Abu Dhabi and Dublin, reducing the usual journey time by 40 minutes, cutting fuel consumption by 800 kilograms and reducing carbon emissions by three tonnes over a standard Boeing 787 flight on that route.
The sustainable performance of this Boeing 787 flight was also measured against the same flight one year prior, which was operated with a less efficient aircraft type. Compared to the 2019 flight, the 2020 service operated with eight tonnes less fuel and a staggering 26 tonne reduction in carbon emissions.
Etihad has also implemented a range of other sustainability measures, including the use of data to determine the optimal volumes of potable water for aircraft toilets and washrooms, and ‘taxi fuel’ to power the aircraft on the ground. By customising volumes of both, the airline is reducing significantly the weight of aircraft on many routes, helping to reduce fuel burn and emissions.
During the grounding of its scheduled passenger flights, Etihad has also been testing single-engine taxi-in of Boeing 787 aircraft without using the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU), again with more sustainable outcomes.
WABCO Telematics Boost Efficiency and Safety for Almajdouie’s Extensive Middle East-Based Fleet
Leading logistics group equipping 1,200 trucks and 1,400 trailers with WABCO telematics
Advanced technology to support Almajdouie’s ambitious digital transformation
Solutions designed to enable leaner, greener and safer operations
YPRES, Belgium, 20 April 2020 – WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC), the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles, announced today that it has signed a landmark deal with Almajdouie Logistics Company in Saudi Arabia. WABCO is equipping 1,200 trucks and 1,400 trailers of the leading Saudi-based transport company with its advanced telematics solutions and support services, replacing the company’s current basic track-and-trace solution.
The implementation of the new solution will support Almajdouie’s ambitious digital transformation program, enabling it to increasingly build its business through real-time fleet management capabilities and data-driven insights.
WABCO’s advanced Fleet Management Systems (FMS) will enable Almajdouie to strongly differentiate their customer service and quality. The technology will significantly increase the efficiency of both its fleet and back office operations, cut operating costs, helping meet increasingly stringent regional legal requirements and boosting driver and cargo safety.
“For years, Almajdouie has been using a basic track-and-trace solution to pinpoint the whereabouts of its fleet. In today’s increasingly competitive and connected logistics market, that is no longer enough,” explained Almajdouie Logistics Heavy Lift General Manager, Eyad Hamzah Arafah. “As operating costs, particularly for fuel, continue to rise, we wanted more control over both our fleet and cargo while simultaneously raising the efficiency of our drivers and our back office to better service our customer base. The new solution will also enable us to further boost our stringent safety requirements, which is our number one priority.”
WABCO as their partner of choice
After a thorough market study, Almajdouie selected WABCO as its partner of choice. As part of the agreement, WABCO’s advanced TX-GO 2™ on-board computers will be fitted in all Almajdouie trucks. Installed behind the dashboard, TX-GO 2™ is connected to the CAN bus. The solution delivers advanced fuel management capabilities, cargo and temperature monitoring, trend reporting and driver authentication and driver scoring.
The Almajdouie trailers, for their part, will feature WABCO’s robust TX-TRAILERGUARD™ telematics device, which will be connected to various peripherals and sensors to monitor cargo weight compliant with the new legislation. In this way, dispatchers in the back office will be able to easily manage, track, and control their designated trailers remotely.
“WABCO offers one of the widest and most complete portfolios in the sector, combining solutions for trucks, trailers and the back office into one single ecosystem,” Mr. Arafah added. “Other key considerations in the selection included the extensive ECO program and smooth integration with our existing TMS and ERP systems.”
Almajdouie expects the new telematics solution to support its ambitions around leaner, greener and safer operations. The combined truck and trailer solution will help the company gain real-time visibility of its fleet and cargo, enabling it to deploy vehicles and trailers to their maximum capacity as well as increase vehicle uptime.
Expanding coverage in Middle East
Almajdouie is the second largest logistics company in the Middle East to choose WABCO solutions. WABCO has been helping Saudi Arabia-based Almarai – one of the world’s biggest dairy companies – to future-proof their fleet. With this new agreement, WABCO is significantly strengthening its foothold in the fast-growing MENA logistics market.
“We are honored to welcome a market leader like Almajdouie Logistics as a greatly valued customer,” said Peter Bal, Business Leader Fleet Solutions EMEA at WABCO. “We are confident that our solutions will boost their ambitious digitization journey and will enable them to take their already highly rated customer services to the next level.”
Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery platform launched by the freight division of Emirates has witnessed a strong reception by UAE customers in March and April 2020. A reliable and cost-effective e-commerce shipping solution targeted at individual shoppers and small businesses in the UAE, Emirates Delivers permits consolidation of purchases from multiple online retailers in the US into a single package and have it delivered to an address in the UAE.
As customers have turned increasingly to shopping online during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates Delivers has seen an increase in membership and orders since March 2020. The e-commerce platform saw a month on month jump of 20% in shipments delivered over the last month with customers shopping for a range of items including medicines and supplements, toys and games, fashion and sporting goods.
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo said: “Emirates Delivers is a very unique e-commerce offering and we stand by our customers in the UAE during these challenging times to help deliver their valuable shipments from online retailers in the US. Our customers can make use of the 30 day free storage offer in the US and take advantage of the most attractive offers on various e-commerce sites to consolidate their shipments and save on individual shipping costs through the competitive shipping rates that they can access through Emirates Delivers.”
Despite challenging conditions, including the suspension of all passenger flights from the UAE, Emirates SkyCargo has been connecting Emirates Delivers shipments through its freighter services from the US, offering UAE customers an average transit time of around 7 days. Emirates Delivers offers contactless deliveries for its packages in the UAE keeping in consideration the well-being of its customers and staff.
Today SEA-LNG welcomes SOHAR Port and Freezone as its first Middle Eastern port member.
SOHAR joins SEA-LNG to promote its investment in LNG bunkering facilities and the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. SEA-LNG is the leading multi-sector industry coalition, created to accelerate the widespread adoption of LNG. MARSA LNG, a venture comprised of TOTAL S.A. and OQ, is developing a state of the art LNG liquefaction plant and bunkering facility in SOHAR Port.
Highlighting the importance of the upcoming project, Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port said; “This major LNG Bunkering project will generate in-country value and job opportunities, and will support industry diversification efforts by promoting shipping activities in Oman. The establishment of this facility will make SOHAR one of the key LNG bunkering facilities on the main shipping trade routes, alongside other strategic ports, many of whom are already SEA-LNG Members, such as the Port of Singapore. MARSA LNG will supply LNG sourced locally in the Sultanate.”
The project will see the provision of LNG to the shipping lines calling at SOHAR Port. The switch from traditional marine fuel oils to LNG has accelerated following the implementation of new sulphur emission limits by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in January 2020 and the IMO greenhouse gas emission targets set for 2030 and 2050.
Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG said; “We are excited to welcome SOHAR to the SEA-LNG coalition. SOHAR is our first Member from the Sultanate of Oman and will provide an attractive global offering once the marine bunkering project is completed. From our perspective, this is an opportune time to develop LNG capabilities in Oman given the expansive growth of marine activity within the region. We welcome SOHAR to our cause of furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel.”
Due to its unique location outside the Strait of Hormuz and mid-way between Europe and Asia, SOHAR is ideally positioned to become a major LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East. In addition, SOHAR Port and Freezone feature deep-water drafts capable of handling the largest vessels in the world. The liquefaction plant and bunkering project will be able to offer attractive business conditions, further enhanced by access to a dedicated logistics chain as well as large domestic gas reserves.
Peter Keller continues: “As well as providing a means to comply with recently enforced sulphur limitations, LNG provides a clear pathway for the shipping industry to decarbonise through the introduction of biomethane and synthetic methane. Now is the time to move forward with LNG as an important maritime fuel. Inaction is not a plan and we cannot afford to wait decades for solutions that may never be realised. Investing in LNG capable vessels now provides the shipping industry with a pathway to a low carbon future as well as significant and immediate environmental and health benefits.”
ETIHAD AIRWAYS ADVISES ON OPERATIONAL STATUS AND OUTLINES RE-START PLANS
500 special passenger, belly-hold freight and cargo flights operated worldwide
Most extensive maintenance programme in Etihad’s history underway
Greater support for customers affected by COVID-19 cancellations
Etihad Airways has provided an update on its current and planned operations as COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place around the world.
Subject to UAE government imposed travel restrictions being lifted on passenger travel, Etihad plans to operate a reduced network of scheduled passenger services from 1 May to 30 June, with the aim of gradually returning to a fuller schedule as and when the global situation improves.
Etihad is also continuing to operate a growing schedule of special passenger flights allowing foreign nationals in the UAE the opportunity to travel out of the country, and to carry essential belly-hold cargo such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies. To date, the airline has also repatriated almost 600 UAE nationals on return services.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “The term ‘unprecedented’ is currently the most used in our industry, and the most appropriate. The monumental challenges being faced by all airlines, and our customers, have been beyond measure. However, we remain cautiously optimistic and will push ahead with our plans to resume normal flying, while striving to better serve and support our customers and our employees.
“While the intention is to assume a ‘business as usual’ approach to the restart of our operations, the aviation landscape has changed, and how it will look month by month is difficult to predict. This has necessitated a fundamental shift in focus for us. However, the cumulative gains achieved by our ongoing transformation, and the unwavering support of our shareholder, has left us in a relatively strong position to withstand any instability. We will pivot on this and act with agility to seize opportunities we may not have previously considered.
“We are implementing a series of network-wide route and fleet efficiencies, while conducting an extensive brand study and trialing new service concepts in our guest experience proposition. We are also using this time to drive further internal improvements in the efficient use of automation and technology across all areas of the business, while maintaining productivity, creativity and quality.”
Network and Fleet
Currently, Etihad is using 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 777-300ER passenger aircraft, with five more ready for service, to complement its operational fleet of five 777-200F freighters. These aircraft are providing scheduled and special passenger and belly-hold cargo services to several destinations worldwide.
Since 25 March, approximately 500 special passenger, freighter and cargo flights have been operated. These include passenger and belly-hold freight flights to Amsterdam, Bogota, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Jakarta, London Heathrow, Manila, Melbourne, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Seoul Incheon, Singapore, Tokyo Narita, Washington, D.C., and Zurich, with other destinations planned.
Etihad has revised the launch date of its inaugural service to Vienna from 22 May to 1 July.
Etihad Cargo is now operating up to 100 turnaround flights per week to 32 destinations on five continents. In addition to normal scheduled cargo services, special freighter and humanitarian flights have been flown to Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Beijing, Bogota, Bucharest, Copenhagen, Chennai, Cochin, Dublin, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Karachi, Khartoum, Kiev, Milan, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Tbilisi, Wuhan, and Zagreb. More special flights will be introduced in the coming weeks.
Most extensive maintenance programme in Etihad’s history
With 80 per cent of its passenger fleet on the ground, the airline has embarked on the biggest aircraft maintenance programme in its history. Etihad Engineering, the group’s Engineering Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) division, is performing maintenance work on 96 passenger aircraft including 29 Airbus A320 and A321s, 10 Airbus A380s, 38 Boeing 787s, and 19 Boeing 777-300ERs. The programme ranges from minor maintenance tasks, such as seat repairs and updates to Inflight Entertainment Systems, to bringing forward scheduled engine changes and modifications on several aircraft, eliminating the need to withdraw them from service when flights begin operating again.
To date, this work has seen almost 19,000 seat covers laundered, and over 40 rolls of new carpets and 367 metres of leather used. Furthermore, approximately 5,000 aircraft touch points have been checked, and more than 4,000 parts fabricated through the engineering workshop.
Customer care and Loyalty
The main priority is to provide continued support to its affected customers and the airline has introduced a range of travel waivers, solutions and benefits to help ease the burden the pandemic is having. Customers who booked directly with the airline before 31 August 2020, now have greater flexibility to change their bookings or to utilise generous value-added Etihad Credit where possible. This credit will provide each customer with the value of their current unused ticket and up to US $400, plus up to 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles, for future travel. Additionally, for tickets purchased directly from Etihad within Europe or the United States, a refund is also available if requested.
Etihad Guest, the airline’s loyalty programme, is supporting members to retain and upgrade their Tier Status through a number of initiatives while they remain unable to travel during this period. In addition to receiving the monthly bonus Tier Miles, members who achieved 80 per cent of the qualifying requirements will be extended or upgraded for 12 months. Members who achieved less than 80 per cent of the qualifying requirements will be extended for three months. Etihad Guest Miles that expired in March and are due to expire in April or May, will be extended for three months for members who have been active with the programme over the last 18 months. Members can also donate their miles to charities including the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Emirates Red Crescent, who are supporting vulnerable refugees impacted or at risk as a result of COVID-19.
Community
Etihad’s award-winning catering unit, Etihad Airport Services Catering (EAS), has been commissioned by various government entities, business organisations and community centres, to prepare and provide meals to individuals impacted by the global spread of COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic, EAS has cooked and delivered over 15,000 meals a day to people self-isolating or under quarantine, frontline medical staff, humanitarian drives and for various businesses across Abu Dhabi.
EAS is also delivering amenities and providing a laundry service for Etihad employees living in temporary isolation at the airline’s eco-residences in Masdar City so they can continue to operate essential freighter and special passenger flights. These include loadmasters, cargo agents, pilots and cabin crew. Etihad crew living in company provided accommodation and requiring a meal delivery service are also being catered for free of charge.
“There have been lessons to be learned. In the early days of this pandemic, the disruption created by border closures and subsequent cancellations meant we were unable to effectively deal with the disruption our customers faced, despite our best efforts. We are tremendously pleased that we now have generous and considerate solutions that will undoubtedly deliver tangible benefits to them today, and when the time is right for them to travel again.
“The invaluable loyalty of our customers, our travel trade partners, and a phenomenal workforce which has continued to go above and beyond, despite taking temporary reductions in salary, will guarantee the security and continuity of the UAE’s great national airline,” concludes Mr. Douglas.
A video of Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, is available here: https://youtu.be/hQJvLOStz3A
Hahn Air is regrouping its departments supporting partner airlines, travel agencies and the global distribution systems (GDS) into the new commercial and operation divisions. The new divisions also include communications and marketing as well as IT support. The set-up allows the company to further increase business results for its more than 350 partner airlines and over 100,000 travel agency partners while taking advantage of synergies for internal and external support.
Kirsten Rehmann, General Director of Hahn Air, commented on the new set-up: “The restructuring process already started in 2019 and will enable us to maximise results for all customer groups and further increase efficiency and optimise team work internally. This will especially be of advantage after the Coronavirus crisis when our partner airlines and travel agencies will have a strong need to kick-start their business.”
The newly formed commercial division will be headed by Alexander Proschka who has been promoted to Executive Vice President Commercial. His division comprises of the following departments: airline business, communications and marketing, sales analytics and travel agency distribution. Proschka has been with Hahn Air since 2008 and was previously in charge of the sister companies Hahn Air Systems and Hahn Air Technologies with their products H1-Air and X1-Air. He holds a diploma in international business and industrial engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden.
Another long-standing Hahn Air executive, Frederick Nowotny, has been promoted to Head of Operation to lead the new operation division. Nowotny joined Hahn Air in 2008 and previously headed up the sales engineering department. His division now includes the teams in charge of all airline and product implementation processes, GDS interfaces and inventory displays. In addition, he oversees the IT and second level support departments, as well as the Hahn Air Service Desk which assists partner airlines and answers ticketing enquiries of travel agents worldwide 24/7.
More information on Hahn Air can be found on www.hahnair.com
The bus can drive longer & emission-free on electricity
The new Volvo self-charging buses with hybrid power, the “S-Charge” model range have been upgraded with new capabilities and can now drive silently and emission-free on electricity at higher speeds and cover longer distances than before. This creates new possibilities to use self-charging hybrid-electric powered buses in city zero-emission zones and other sensitive areas.
For the new Volvo S-Charge model range, electric propulsion can be used at speeds of up to 50 km/h compared to the previous 20 km/h. Depending on climate and topography, the Volvo S-Charge can run on electricity for up to 1 km at a time. The upgrade also includes improved connectivity and Volvo’s system for geo-fencing, Volvo Zone Management, which makes it possible for the operator to program the bus so it automatically switches to electric propulsion within selected areas and has its speed regulated without driver intervention. It is also possible to define zones for sustained self-charging, to ensure emission-free operation in an upcoming zero-emission zone.
“We are now expanding our customers’ possibility for harnessing the benefits of electric power while at the same time retaining the impressive flexibility offered by hybrid buses. The new S-Charge model range can be deployed on any route since no charging infrastructure is needed, which enables fast implementation and improved operational efficiency for our customers”, says Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses.
One other advantage is that the S-Charge models can be driven quietly, emission-free and energy-efficiently on electricity even before arriving at the bus stop, while at a standstill for boarding and exiting, and when leaving the bus stop. This makes it possible to not only reduce emissions, but also to create bus stops and zones where the buses run in silent and clean electric mode.
“The new S-Charge models are among Volvo’s cleanest buses and will reduce the carbon footprint by up to 40% compared to equivalent diesel buses. The S-Charge can also drive on biofuel, reducing CO2-emissions even more. It is probably the most fuel-efficient and reliable self-charging bus on the market”, says Håkan Agnevall.
Volvo’s S-Charge model range includes a conventional 12-metre configuration, the Volvo 7900 S-Charge, an articulated bus, the Volvo 7900 S-Charge Articulated, and as bare chassis, the Volvo B5L S-Charge, to be finalized as a Single or Double decker.
· Simplifies waivers and refunds policy with one unified approach worldwide
· Eases concerns about pre-booked summer travel by extending waiver policy to tickets issued before 31 May 2020, for travel before 31 August 2020
· Offers three options: Keep your ticket for 760 days; exchange ticket for travel vouchers valid for up to 2 years; full refunds on unused vouchers or ticket
Putting customers first, Emirates has updated its COVID-19 travel waiver policies into one simplified approach for rebooking and refunds on tickets issued in all its global markets.
Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “The travel and airline industry have complicated rulebooks for how fares, re-bookings or refunds are applied, which also differ depending on market regulation. We understand that explaining and unravelling all of that is confusing and frustrating for customers. The COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented for everyone, and we’d like to thank our customers and trade partners for their patience, understanding and support as we worked through this period to ensure our policies are not only customer-friendly but also in line with regulatory requirements.
“We sincerely hope that our customers will choose to rebook and fly with us again at a later time, and that is why we’re offering up to two years validity on their current tickets, or travel vouchers which can be redeemed for any Emirates product or service. Any fees for making a change to the tickets will be waived for tickets issued till 31 May 2020 for travel up to 31 August 2020. However, if they would still like to opt for a refund, we will process that. We would just like to seek our customers’ understanding that refunds will take time as we have a significant backlog to manage.”
Emirates is offering three options to its customers affected by flight cancellations and travel restrictions:
1 – Keep your ticket: all Emirates tickets booked before 31 May for travel up to 31 August will be automatically extended for 760 days. Customers holding such tickets can be assured their tickets will be honoured, and they can rebook when they decide to travel.
Whenever they are ready to travel again, within two years from the day their ticket was originally issued, they simply need to contact Emirates or their travel agents to reschedule their flight. Their ticket will be accepted for any flight to the same Emirates destination or to another city within the same Emirates region with no fees for changes. Those who wish to rebook their ticket to travel to another region can also do so – Emirates will not charge reissuance fees, only any applicable fare difference.
2 – Request a travel voucher: Travel vouchers are valid for one year from date the voucher was issued, and can be extended for a second year. The voucher can be used for any Emirates product or service, which means customers can use it to offset charges for flights to any destination in any cabin class, or other services. No change fees apply to this voucher, so customers will have more flexibility to reschedule when they are ready to travel again.
3 – Refunds: Customers who have opted to keep their ticket or opted for a travel voucher can still apply for a refund, if they are unable to travel. There will be no refund penalties.
ETIHAD EXPANDS PASSENGER FREIGHTER COVERAGE AS IT CONTINUES TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO UAE AND THE WORLD
Additional flights to Asia, Australia and Europe
Following its recent launch of passenger freighter flights to 10 destinations, complementing its Boeing 777 freighter operations, Etihad Cargo is pleased to announce five additional routes using Etihad Airways passenger aircraft to increase the flow of essential supplies into the United Arab Emirates and provide further east-west connectivity between major markets.
Using bellyhold capacity on a mix of Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft, Etihad Cargo is introducing services between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, Chennai, Kerala, Karachi, and Amsterdam, in addition to passenger freighters already operating scheduled cargo-only flights to Seoul, Beijing, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Riyadh.
The new routes will further ensure continuity of fresh imports to the UAE including meat, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, as the nation continues to take responsible measures to ensure food security and national health as part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Etihad Cargo has also operated a series of special charters to carry urgent consignments of medical supplies from mainland China and Hong Kong to destinations in Europe and the Americas. As the national airline of the UAE, Etihad is working closely with government authorities to provide such consignments having recently concluded dedicated cargo charters to Serbia, Greece, Chad, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Italy.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Managing Director Cargo and Logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In accordance with the mandate from our country’s leadership to preserve the wellbeing and safety of the citizens and residents in the UAE, Etihad Cargo is pleased to play a leading role in continuing to deliver essential supplies to the UAE, in this unprecedented environment. We are also playing our part in supporting international requirements for essential freight, carrying significant consignments of goods between other nations.”
With these additional flights Etihad Cargo will now operate over 90 turnaround flights a week to 29 destinations in 5 continents using the combined fleet of dedicated Boeing 777 freighters and Boeing 787 passenger aircrafts.
A strong international unity was emerging at the ICAO Council meeting that took place on Thursday 09 April 2020. The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) along with high-level representatives from ACI, CANSO, ICCAIA and IATA[1] were invited to the informal briefing of the Council which was held as a video conference. The objective of the briefing was to present to the Council views of the international aviation community on the main measures that States should take to provide immediate support to the aviation industry and, at a later date, to support its recovery. The central theme of the meeting was ‘work together and in unison’.
TIACA, the sole organization dedicated exclusively to representing air freight, defended its members’ interests before the Council. “I gave to the Council a background on our association, its mission and main objectives, as well as some examples of the successful collaborative work in the last seven years with ICAO. But of course, the main presentation was on the measures that TIACA and its members are recommending to alleviate effects of this crisis to maintain orderly business activity,[2]” said Vladimir Zubkov, TIACA’s General Secretary.
TIACA reiterated – and several other organizations agreed – that pressure on resources is intense and government financial assistance is necessary both immediately and at a later date to support the industry’s recovery. The international alliance focused in particular on protecting resources and staff, as well as the need for strict prioritization.
“Unity among the international community and its stakeholders is essential,” said Vladimir Zubkov.
In his summary the ICAO President, Salvatore Sciacchitano, emphasized the importance of a strong international alliance to help the aviation industry emerge from this crisis.
The ICAO Council will take practical measures and industry representatives will continue to work together at Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Technical Meetings, organized each week by ICAO with TIACA as a fully-fledged member.
Carrier now operating scheduled cargo flights to more than 50 destinations globally with multiple weekly frequencies
Operating increasing number of charters to transport relief supplies and medical equipment
More than 33,000 tonnes of perishables and 1,700 tonnes of pharmaceuticals brought into UAE since January
Keeping up its unwavering commitment to deliver food, medical supplies and other essential commodities to markets across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates SkyCargo has rapidly scaled up its cargo services to connect an increasing number of global destinations. The air cargo carrier currently operates flights to 51 destinations globally, out of which 19 cities are served by the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft offering up to 100 tonnes of capacity per flight and 38 destinations are served by dedicated cargo flights on Emirates’ Boeing 777 passenger aircraft offering up to 50 tonnes belly capacity. (For a full list of destination and schedules, visit the Emirates SkyCargo website)
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates, said: “We have particularly ramped up operations for transporting cargo in the bellyhold of our passenger aircraft in the last two weeks. Emirates SkyCargo has been expanding its network on a daily basis and some of the latest destinations for our cargo flights on passenger aircraft include Bangkok, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Singapore and Taipei. Air cargo remains the fastest means of connecting essential supplies to those that need them and our expanded network allows for increased connectivity across different global origins and destinations.”
During the week ending 4 April 2020, Emirates SkyCargo had operated more than 160 flights on its freighter aircraft and close to 90 flights on its passenger aircraft. The following week, the air cargo carrier had operated close to 160 flights on its passenger aircraft alone.
In order to streamline operations and cut costs under rapidly changing global conditions, Emirates SkyCargo has also transferred all its cargo handling operations in Dubai to Dubai International Airport. Watch a video about the change to Emirates SkyCargo’s hub operations.
Charter Operations
Over and above scheduled operations, Emirates SkyCargo has also operated an increasing number of special charter flights for cargo both on its freighter and passenger aircraft. Since the start of April, the carrier has executed more than 30 charter flights connecting over 20 global destinations. The main commodities transported on the charter flights are medical supplies including face masks, protective covers, sanitisers, equipment for hospitals in addition to pharmaceuticals, raw materials and spare parts.
In the space of just three days between 7 and 9 April, some of the notable charters operated by Emirates SkyCargo included
100 tonnes of masks and other protective supplies transported from Guangzhou to Dubai on 7 April. This was part of several other charters to bring medical supplies into the UAE.
Close to 100 tonnes of medical supplies including masks and other protective equipment transported on 8 April from Shanghai to Mumbai on the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter
100 tonnes of protective equipment transported from Shanghai to Dubai on a Boeing 777 freighter on 8 April. The supplies will then be flown to Bucharest on 10 and 11 April on four separate flights on the Boeing 777 passenger aircraft.
Over seven tonnes of medical supplies transported to Los Angeles on 8 April in the belly hold of an Emirates’ Boeing 777 passenger aircraft. This was also the first dedicated cargo flight on a passenger aircraft operated by Emirates SkyCargo to North America.
Close to 1 million Covid-19 testing kits to be transported to Sao Paulo on 9 April. An earlier shipment containing 500,000 kits was transported on 30 March.
Emirates SkyCargo has a dynamic and responsive team handling charter operations. In some cases, the team has been able to deploy aircraft within 24 hours of the original request coming in for a charter operation.
Emirates SkyCargo global teams go the extra mile
Both at Hub Dubai and across the world, Emirates SkyCargo’s staff have been working hard to ensure the safe and efficient transport of cargo despite challenging conditions.
“Under these unprecedented conditions, our staff are fully committed to making sure that that medicines, medical equipment, food and other necessary commodities for people and businesses around the world are being transported without any compromise of the high service levels that differentiate Emirates SkyCargo from other players in the market. We are truly grateful to the non-stop efforts of our team that contribute to our successful operations,” added Sultan.
Some of Emirates SkyCargo’s stations including Hong Kong and Amsterdam have had to manage increased freighter operations with Hong Kong managing more than 30 and Amsterdam managing more than 16 freighter flights a week.
Emirates SkyCargo’s team at Karachi were even able to break a global record for maximum cargo loaded in the lower deck of a Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft. The team helped transport just under 62 tonnes of cargo, primarily food items including vegetables, fish and meat, on a single flights bound to Dubai.
Bringing food and medical supplies to the UAE
From across its global network, Emirates SkyCargo has helped import more than 33,000 tonnes of perishable items and more than 1,700 tonnes of pharmaceuticals into the UAE since the start of the year. Food items are brought in from several markets including Australia, India, Kenya and Pakistan.
“With our expanded network now covering more than 50 global destinations, we are able to ensure a constant supply of food and medicines from across the world into the UAE. Emirates SkyCargo remains committed to maintaining and constantly replenishing vital food and medical supplies in the country,” emphasized Sultan.
Globally, the air cargo carrier has transported more than 93,000 tonnes of perishables and more than 20,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals. The carrier has also transported more than 3000 tonnes of medical supplies for combatting Covid-19 across the world.
UPS Board Appoints Carol Tomé As CEO; David Abney To Be Executive Chairman
The UPS (NYSE:UPS) Board of Directors today announced it has named Carol Tomé as UPS Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1. David Abney, the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain in his role until June 1 when he will become Executive Chairman of the Board. He will retire from the UPS Board on September 30. In order to ensure a smooth transition and successful peak season, Abney will remain as a special consultant through the end of 2020 and then retire after 46 years of UPS service. On September 30, William Johnson, UPS Lead Independent Director, will assume the role of Non-Executive Chairman.
“After a rigorous selection process involving both internal and external candidates, Carol was the clear choice,” said Johnson, who also serves as Chair of the UPS Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee.
“Carol is one of the most respected and talented leaders in Corporate America and has a proven track record of driving growth at a global organization, maximizing shareholder value, developing talent and successfully executing against strategic priorities,” said Johnson. “As a member of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee, Carol has in-depth knowledge of UPS’s business, strategy and people, and is the right executive to lead the company at this important time in its transformation.”
Johnson continued, “We congratulate David on a truly exceptional career at UPS. He has undertaken bold actions to place UPS at the forefront of the transportation industry and position its global network and people to capitalize on emerging trends that will carry the company well into the future.”
“UPS has been one of my life’s passions and through UPS I have been able to live the American dream,” said David Abney. “I am proud to have worked with UPSers to prepare this great company for its next 100 years. I am confident in the UPS management team and their capabilities to execute our strategies in the future. This is the right time for me to pass the baton. I am extremely pleased for Carol and know she is the best choice to lead the company. She understands UPS’s culture and values, is a strategic leader and possesses a customer-first mindset.”
“I look forward to working with and further developing the talented management team and the company’s 495,000 employees to deliver for our customers and shareowners,” Carol Tomé said. “David has led a remarkable transformation at UPS and I plan to build on his success. UPS’s rich culture and commitment to its values will guide us as we continue to lead the industry and build on the company’s already strong foundation.”
Carol Tomé becomes the 12th chief executive officer in the 113-year history of UPS. She has been a member of the UPS Board of Directors since 2003 and serves as Chairperson of the Audit Committee. Tomé is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Home Depot, the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S. with 2,300 stores and 400,000 employees. Her responsibilities included corporate strategy, finance and business development. During her 18-year tenure as CFO, she is credited with helping to deliver a 450 percent increase in The Home Depot’s shareholder value.
Abney was appointed CEO in 2014 and as Chairman in 2016. Under his leadership, UPS has:
increased revenue by 27%, increased adjusted net income by nearly 50% and raised adjusted earnings per share by nearly 60%;
returned over $29 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases;
implemented a multi-year transformation program that established strategic growth priorities and significantly improved U.S. operating leverage in 2019;
significantly expanded global network capacity, enabling over 32 million package deliveries per day during the 2019 peak season;
created UPS Flight Forward and obtained the FAA’s first full approval to operate a drone airline;
shifted the composition of the Board and management team to increase the company’s diversity.
Abney previously served as Chief Operating Officer since 2007, overseeing logistics, sustainability, engineering and all facets of the UPS transportation network. Before serving as COO, he was President of UPS International, leading the company’s strategic initiative to increase its global logistics capabilities. During his career, he was also involved in a number of global acquisitions that included Coyote, Marken, the Fritz Companies, Sonic Air, Stolica, Lynx Express, and Sino-Trans in China. He began his UPS career in 1974 as a package handler in a small facility in Greenwood, Mississippi, while attending Delta State University.
UPS has operated in the region since 1989 and strategically located its Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Dubai. It was chosen as the Official Logistics Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai which is enabling UPS to demonstrate its global expertise and experience in international trade and shipping.
RSGT expands operations in Jeddah today and ear marks $1.7 Billion for further Expansion & Renovation
Red Sea Gate Terminal (RSGT) has expanded its operational capabilities and capacity at Jeddah Islamic Port. Today marks the official commencement of RSGT’s take-over of operations in the northern section of Jeddah Islamic Port (previously known as North Container Terminal, or “NCT”). A new 30-year concession agreement for the existing north port facility concluded at the end of last year between RSGT and the Saudi Arabian Ports Authority, (Mawani), calls for $1.7 billion of investment in infrastructure, equipment and technology by 2050, with annual container throughput capacity growing to 8 million TEUs.
“As we begin operations at the northern part of Jeddah Islamic Port today, we are very proud to commemorate this tremendous milestone of the RSGT growth strategy, demonstrating our ongoing and long-standing commitment to expansion, modernization, and world-class terminal services,” stated RSGT CEO Jens O. Floe.
By 2023, the expanded RSGT, covering an area of 1.5 million square meters, will have increased annual container throughput capacity to 5.2 million TEUs. Already able to accommodate Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCS) of 20,000 TEU class and above, at the end of the first three-year phase of investment, RSGT will be equipped with 24 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes, 67 Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs), and will offer 4,900 Reefer plugs.
“This carefully planned program of growth and investment will firmly establish RSGT as the largest logistics gateway, and the busiest container terminal, in Saudi Arabia, and on the Red Sea,” said Mr. Floe.
Red Sea Gate Terminal has already signed an Islamic financing agreement with Banque Saudi Fransi and Al Rajhi Bank for the project.
“We are looking forward to executing this outstanding project and thank the Government of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Ministry of Transportation and Mawani for their foresight and trust in our ability to continue to bring excellence to the trade” stated RSGT CEO Jens O. Floe
Hoarding / Panic Buying is a special pressure on Supply Chains. Supply cannot keep up with demand chaos. The supply exists and is being manufactured. But it cannot move as quickly as panickers are taking it off shelves. The sequence is go to stores. If they are out of stock, go online. If they are out of stock, repeat sequences until purchase is achieved. There are two parts to what is happening. One, hoarding/panic buying that is drawing down supplies faster than they can be replenished. The supply is there and being manufactured. It is getting delivered to keep up with the panickers. Second, and perhaps more important, is that crowd avoidance/social distancing will shift business from stores to online sites. How much of that business will come back to stores and how much will remain in e-commerce? And the longer that customers avoid stores, does that influence how much stays online? One other comment, if you look at the e-commerce sales buyers–and their sales percentages–a very few retailers own the market. Will the online go to the firms with robust supply chains to satisfactorily service customers? If so, what does all this mean to store retailers and weak e-commerce providers? Will the gap between leaders and laggards become too great? Will there be a tipping point? Is coronavirus speeding up the shift to e-commerce? Will it change retail apocalypse to retail Armageddon? Many retailers and CPG/FMCG manufacturers have wasted the past few years with non-robust business and supply chain transformations. Has the virus closed their windows of opportunity? Amazon is trying to hire 100,000 people to deal with a surge of orders. How much of this volume will stay with them when CoViD is under control? How much of surge e-commerce business will other retailers get? Do they have a New Supply Chain to handle it as customers will expect? Will retail finally define omnichannel and where and how each channel should be used. Clear lines. This has difference over emphasizing one channel and then having redundant geographic coverage with the other. And, service is all about the new supply chain management.
In this Opinion-Editorial (OpEd) contribution, Tom Craig, President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, a leading authority and professional consultant on logistics and supply chain management and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain who examines the new supply chain innovation as it applies to e-commerce.
One Click Delivery Services grows, supporting businesses and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic
As most retail stores are temporarily closing and restaurants are decreasing their walk-in capacity, outlets are forced to adjust their business model by turning to deliveries, in order to maintain a revenue stream during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entities such as One Click Delivery Services – one of the fastest growing regional technology companies specializing in delivery – is currently experiencing a sharp spike in demand for fleet and fleet software management in order to respond to their client’s high demand of food and groceries orders.
“We are experiencing an unusual surge of demand on our fleet and digital solutions by our existing and new partners. We are honored to take on the responsibility of helping companies maintain business activity. More importantly, from a public health standpoint, all citizens’ essentials are delivered to their doorstep while they keep themselves and their families safe.” Hassan Hallas, CEO and co-founder of One Click Delivery Services
Since isolation and social distancing have become crucial, companies such as One Click Delivery Services are striving to keep the economy going. Currently offering technology solutions and fleet to some of the largest F&B and e-commerce names in the market, One Click Delivery Services has now increased its fleet capacity by 14% since the beginning of March 2020 and taken on multiple new clients across all industries.
With deliveries of groceries, food, drugstore products, e-commerce, courier, banking and telecom; One Click Delivery Services reaches a wide customer base and caters to most needs.
“It is important to remain as positive and proactive as possible during this challenging period, which is why we intend on going above and beyond to support our clients, to avoid them experiencing the financial impact of having to stop or ‘slow down’.” Ayush Khatri, Corporate Strategy Director at One Click Delivery Services
As customers’ and employees’ well-being becomes a top priority, One Click Delivery Services has implemented stringent hygiene protocols in line with the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to avoid contamination. Some of the measures taken include obliging fleet drivers and riders to wear gloves and masks – and changing them multiple times throughout the day – continuous sanitization of hands as well as deep cleaning of cars, vans and motorbikes.
In addition to hygiene protocols, One Click Delivery Services now strictly deliver goods through the ‘knock-and-drop’ method – meaning that drivers knock on the customer’s door and drop off the package, taking several steps back in order to avoid any contact with the customer. Fleet riders and drivers are instructed to handle packages from certain angles, to avoid the overlapping of hand placement on them with customers. One Click Delivery Services’ hygiene measures are constantly revisited as public health remains a critical priority.
In this special independent contribution, author Eelco Dijkstra, Managing Partner, Europhia Consulting,and an industry expert, reviews the clear and current supply chain risks for pharmaceutical and medical products in relation to the COVID-19 crises currently overwhelming the globe.
The observations, from a global supply chain perspective, are based on the author’s input and concerns from many professionals and peers within the industry working in different parts of the supply chain.
Only ten weeks ago, the emergence of the novel corona virus COVID-19 seemed remote—its occurrence in far away Wuhan in central China apparently posed no threats at all. Then suddenly, and viciously, the virus started popping up in various other parts of the world. At the time of publication of this report, with more than 396,000 cases and more than 17,000 deaths globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that we now have a global pandemic on our hands that is ravaging across the world.
An increasing number of countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US are sliding into lock down mode. Exhibitions, conferences, sports events and social gatherings have been banned. Schools and places of worship are closed. People are being told to stay at home and streets across Europe in Italy, France and Spain are being policed. No one saw this coming. What started as a strange virus with a funny name has turned into everyone’s worst nightmare.
Panic purchases
People all around the world have started panic buying food from their local supermarkets leaving shelves empty. People are locked up in their homes. Companies around the world have started to halt manufacturing lines similar to what has already been happening earlier across China.
Whole industries are coming to a halt. Flights are being cancelled and airlines and hotels have started laying-off staff. Other industries are doing the same—starting to lay off temporary staff and flexi workers.
Three key industries are vital—manufacturing, auto and airlines
A number of companies have started to slow down or stop completely their manufacturing activities. In China this has already been going on for some weeks which implies products such as electronics, mobile phones, fashion and textile exports are coming to a halt. Of course, China is the global factory for so many products and all these product supplies are affected as inventory levels across the world are starting to run low.
This week a number of key car makers announced a full production stop such as the French PSA Group (Peugeot Citroen, Opel+) and the German Volkswagen. Others such as Renault, Ford and Fiat have announced similar closures of key factories. Soon there will be no new cars to buy from the showroom. This is just an example of a whole sector grinding to a halt.
Closure of airspace’s
Another one is the airline sector, as countries close their borders and people stop traveling, all airlines are winding down their operations. Major airlines operating flights between the US and Europe have started to fully cancel all flights in an attempt to reduce the financial impact on their business. Soon there will be no trans-Atlantic flights a situation unheard of since World War II.
However, most people don’t realize that most air cargo moves around the world on-board passenger jets. Airlines are making the right decisions from their own financial business perspective, but from a macro socio-economic perspective this will start affecting supply of goods across the world.
There are three key industries which run the highest risk of impacting all of us the most very soon if governments and big business don’t step up. These sectors are utilities such as water and energy, food and food processing, pharmaceuticals and medical care.
Energy, food and medical supplies sectors
The energy sector is well organised, and governments traditionally have a direct role to play in this sector as they own most of the assets and/or have a vested financial revenue interest in ensuring energy gets to consumers as part of their tax system. The energy sector looks probably okay for now.
However, in the food industry we are already starting to see many people stock up food to build up buffers in their homes in case events turn for the worse. Most of us have never experienced this before in our lifetime.
The pharmaceutical and medical supply sector is the third sector which although on everyone’s radar screen in terms of the medical and hospital care needs, is at great risk of breaking down soon unless governments step in fast.
The Pharmaceutical supply chain will run dry
During normal times the pharmaceutical and medical supply sector typically has about six months of inventory on hand in its supply chain. There are various factors why pharmaceutical products from the pharmaceutical industry will soon be in short supply.
The production of medicines typically has a very long and global supply chain from raw material production to API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) to semi-finished product, compounding or filling to packaging. Many pharmaceutical products touch a number of countries before the finished product is actually available in the hospital or across the counter in your drug store around the corner.
Supply conundrum
Right now, there are various ‘supply’ related factors slowing down the whole pharmaceutical supply chain. Firstly, manufacturing itself is slowing down as companies are trying to protect their staff. Secondly, government pressure on certain companies has started to slow the export of certain medicines and medical consumable items as governments step in to secure supply for their own domestic needs first.
Thirdly, the transportation of product itself is under severe pressure as airlines stop flying. Medical consumables is typically moving around the world via sea-freight is also under severe pressure due to several additional factors and overland transportation on trucks is also being complicated as countries have started to block their borders.
Demand-supply balance
On the ‘demand’ side we have seen in the pharmaceutical and consumables a similar development compared to the food industry, namely stocking up of product. This is currently going on throughout the whole global medical market.
Governments and hospitals around the world have been caught ‘off-guard’. They are not known as fast movers and behave reactive to events. Price levels of many products have shot up and whilst some hospitals and clinics have secured additional stock others have clearly not been so lucky and are scrambling to find additional stock from anywhere.
Shortages
All of the above factors together are putting pressure on the whole supply chain system within the pharmaceutical sector. As a result, we could soon face severe shortages of medical supplies as the whole global supply chain for these products slow down. Inventory levels will wind down whilst medical needs for certain products such as medical gowns, surgical masks, sterilization equipment but also for certain pharmaceutical products will go further up as the corona virus gathers further pace.
What now needs to happen fast
COVID-19 needs to be treated like an enemy during war time. Not only is securing strategic stock of certain products right now vital but even more so is ongoing continuity of supply. Governments needs to step up and work more together to secure continued supply and they need to do so fast.
This is a fine balancing act as they weigh domestic political and social pressures against the need to work together internationally to ensure global pharmaceutical supply chains keep working effectively.
Currently, the global transport sector in airfreight, trucking and sea freight are all reducing capacity and they struggle financially to keep their heads above the water. This is completely the wrong direction to take and will lead to the ‘doomsday’ scenario we need to try to avoid where product supply can no longer be guaranteed as whole supply chains break down.
In the most extreme scenario, some airlines and some transportation players may need to be temporarily nationalized to ensure short term business continuity. This will cost money for sure but will cost governments far less than if they leave this problem lingering on for too much longer.
The good news
The good news will come if governments and big business act fast and work together. Securing vital supply chains will ensure there are enough products to support the hospital and medical care sector dealing with the virus with the products they need to keep the entire hospital care system going in each country.
By regulating and financially supporting key pharmaceutical manufacturing, transportation and logistics players governments can play a vital role in ensuring ongoing supply of product reaches hospitals and patients around the world. This will create a balancing factor badly needed in an industry looking for leadership and direction.
(Europhia Consulting is an international management consulting company specialised in the logistics and supply chain industry in the life-sciences sector. The opinions are based on the author’s own experience and understanding of the dynamics within the sector.)
With its cargo operations, Turkish Cargo maintains the air bridge built by Turkish Airlines
As the global repercussions of the unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 outbreak continues, Turkish Cargo, the global brand with the world’s sixth largest cargo capacity, has started to operate cargo flights with Turkish Airlines’ passenger aircrafts in addition to its flights with 25 high capacity freighters in order to prevent any mishaps in the supply chain and carry the medical cargo that are of vital importance.
Flying the first of the cargo flights operated with a passenger aircraft on 20 March with a B777 type on Istanbul-Kiev route, Turkish Cargo is to operate cargo flights to Bucharest (OTP), Tel Aviv (TLV), Amsterdam (AMS), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Amman (AMM), Beirut (BEY), and Dubai (DWC/DXB), thus adding an 5 thousand tonnes of additional capacity.
During these times with global repercussions and national challenge, Turkish Cargo continues its mission to act as a bridge that transports the much-needed medicine and medical equipment to Turkey from across the world and from Turkey to the countries that need them. With that in mind global cargo carrier already started to carry the rapid test kits that can give results in 15 minutes to Turkey from China.
In this crucial process, Turkish Cargo added 14.500 tonnes of extra capacity from and to Turkey with additional 167 cargo flights. By adjusting to the rapidly changing situation and maintaining its commitment to provide additional capacity, global cargo carrier will contribute to the continuation of the supply chain while doing its duty during these challenging times by standing with its nation as the flag carrier.
Dubai-based integrated energy logistics provider Tristar Group has assured its 2,000 employees across 21 countries and territories that there will be no layoffs due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have a very resilient business model and together with your continued support and hard work I expect that we can survive the current challenges and come out stronger and better when this is all over,” wrote Group CEO Eugene Mayne in an email message today, March 24.
Mr. Mayne added that timely payment of staff salaries will continue to have the top most priority and that ‘we are working to release the 2019 bonus to all staff soon which I trust will be welcome in these difficult times.’
He also urged everyone to act as leaders: “All of us our born leaders, in some way or another, and there is no greater time than now to show this leadership. We must act responsibly in our homes, our work places and our neighborhoods. Social distancing or keeping away from crowds and crowded places is the need of the hour to contain the spread of the disease.”
All office and admin staff in the UAE and other GCC countries are now working from home while its global road transport, specialized warehousing, shipping, fuel farms, fuel supply operations and lubricants distribution are still running without exposing Tristar personnel’s health and well-being.
MENA business leaders weigh growth, employment and health challenges in the face of COVID19
NB. Embargoed until 2am (Gulf Standard Time) on Monday 23 March 2020
More than 4 in 5 businesses in the region have downgraded (37%) or are expecting to downgrade (44%) their business growth expectations for 2020 because of the COVID19 pandemic (Fig 1, below).And many are reducing the size of their workforces as a result.
The Economist Corporate Network undertook a survey of senior business leaders in the Middle East: Coronavirus: implications for MENA businesses and their leaders, to discover how they are responding to the challenges posed by the new coronavirus.
The situation is highly uncertain for the regional business community, but there is a general consensus that COVID19 will have a negative impact on business: more than a quarter of respondents (27%) believe it will be strongly negative and a further 61% believe it will be “somewhat negative” (Fig 2).
Opinion is split on the likely duration of disruption to business from the coronavirus. Slightly more than half (52%) of respondents expect business disruption to last for more than 3 months, with a pessimistic 11% saying that it will continue beyond 6 months; while 43% of respondents believe the challenge to business will abate within 3 months (Fig 3).
The disruption caused by COVID19 is translating into a deferment of investment projects for 51% of respondents and a temporary suspension of parts of their business for 28%.
And this is coming at a cost to the staff of regional employers, many of whom face losing their jobs. Nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents say that their business is already making redundancies, and 20% say that it is enforcing unpaid leave as a result of business disruption caused by COVID19. Meanwhile almost 3 in 10 (28%) regional businesses are currently enforcing paid leave.
A reminder of the personal nature of the impact of COVID19 is provided by survey respondents’ answers to questions about their primary concerns (scores are out of 5: 0 = not at all concerned; 5 = extremely concerned). The survey shows that business leaders’ worries about their own health and financial security are real, but these are secondary to their concerns about the health of their employees and their families.
Regional business leaders are concerned about the prospects for their own organisations, but are even more worried about the future of the regional and global economies.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (The EIU, another division of The Economist Group) now believes that global growth will stand at 1% this year (from 2.3% before the outbreak started), as the pandemic affects both supply and demand and limits trade and travel.
GDP growth in the MENA region will be 0.8% (2.3%), with Saudi at 0.5% (1.7%) and the UAE at 1.2% (2.2%), with risk firmly on the further downside.
A sharp fall in global oil demand, coupled with tensions between Russia and Saudi Arabia, have prompted The EIU to revise its oil price forecast: it now believes that oil prices (Brent crude) will average US$45/barrel this year, and recover to US$53.8/b in 2021.
Robert Willock, Director MENA for the Economist Corporate Network, says: “The results of our exclusive survey of senior regional business leaders demonstrate the very real challenges being faced by companies in the Middle East as a result of COVID19. The vast majority are experiencing or expecting a slowdown in business performance, and many are having to make difficult decisions to mitigate that.
“While company revenues and profits, and GDP growth are all important measures of economic success in normal circumstances, perhaps the dashboard of indicators we should care about right now are health outcomes and support for key workers, as well as unemployment and income protection for families.
“Business leaders, who often have responsibility for the livelihoods of hundreds or thousands of staff, will be doing all they can to minimise the human cost of this pandemic, and will be grateful for any government-provided fiscal support on offer to help with that mission.”
Enjoying the widest direct cargo flight network of the world among the global air cargo carriers, Turkish Cargo continues to increase the number of destinations with direct flights with its freighters.
Having an attractive location from the viewpoint of the logistics and trading companies, Linz (LNZ) became the 90th direct cargo destination of Turkish Cargo that has enhanced the service quality and demonstrated a sustainable achievement thanks to its mission, namely, “Raising the Bar”.
Adding its 90th destination to its list of direct cargo flights destinations operated with freighters, Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand of the world, builds the largest air bridge of the world thanks to its fleet of 359 aircraft, 24 of which are the freighters, as well as its extensive flight network reaching more than 300 destinations at 127 countries.
Linz stands as a key industrial city of Austria which is located at the junction point of the Europe and enjoys very advanced shipping and transportation capabilities. Turkish Cargo, the only air cargo brand that operates scheduled cargo flights to Linz, now launched its second cargo destination in Austria, following Vienna. The Linz destination is not only a key city in terms of culture and tourism, but it also shines with its export potential and is called as the industrial region of Austria.
The first of the Linz flights, which will be operated by Turkish Cargo for 2 days a week (Thursdays and Sundays) by making use of the Airbus 330 and B777F airplanes, is to be operated on the ISL-BLL-LNZ (Istanbul Airport – Billund Airport – Linz Airport) route on April 2.
Turkish Cargo aims to operate flights to 120 direct cargo destinations in 2023, while keep being the preferred brand in air cargo transportation by achieving a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and specialized crew and teams.
Hariri: Cargo operations will continue on humanitarian and commercial basis to safe destinations
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has taken proactive steps to ensure the continuity of all cargo and supply operations and the arrival of necessary goods and products including medical equipment, medicine and foodstuffs, said CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri.
The steps come in line with the official decisions, which excluded all cargo operations from suspension imposed on other business activities as part of the precautionary measures the Kingdom has taken to prevent a Coronavirus outbreak.
“We have high-level coordination with all related parties as per the recommended precautionary measures the Saudi health authorities have taken, which permitted the cargo operations and the flow of goods to run uninterrupted,” Hariri explained.
All cargo flights to Europe will continue through Frankfurt and Liège stations in addition to Dhaka station. Work at these stations is run as scheduled in order to mitigate the impact of the imposed suspension aiming to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
The decision suspending passenger flights as a preventive measure has made the Saudia Cargo operate a number of additional cargo flights to Dubai and other destinations because all cargo operations on passenger aircraft came to a complete halt.
“The Saudia Cargo staff work around the clock as part of the company’s national responsibility and regional role in enhancing logistics during these circumstances which the whole world is going through,” he said.
The Saudia Cargo, he stressed, always acts based on the official decisions, instructions and directives so that it can ensure an alignment between meeting the humanitarian needs and protecting the public safety. Cargo flights will continue to operate on humanitarian and commercial basis and cover certain key commercial and safe ports and cargo stations around the world.
While it is trying to compensate any loss of capacity, resulting from the contingency bringing about the effects that are experienced intensely on global basis (COVID-19), Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand, is increasing the frequencies of its flights, operated by freighters, for the purpose of avoiding any delay.
Despite the fact that the cargo transportation capacity on board the passenger aircraft is significantly narrowed down due to the travel restrictions across the globe and the decrease in customer demand, the prosperous brand, operating by making use of the 6th freighter fleet with the largest cargo capacity in the world, is now making a planning so as to utilize from all of the freighters in its fleet in full capacity for the purpose of meeting all requirements of the exportation in Turkey as well as the foreign trade that is of critical importance.
Albeit the unusual change of demand, continuing to serve as the solution partner for the Turkish manufacturers and exporters by also complying with the restrictions imposed by the national authorities and the precautionary practices implemented by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey, Turkish Cargo will start to serve for cargo transportation purposes by making use of the aircraft available in its fleet, in addition to its current cargo freighter capacity, which was increased to 25 from 13 during the last 4 years.
Furthermore, acting by being aware of the fact that continuation of the air cargo flow will be life saving during this period, Turkish Cargo supports all of the efforts made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for fighting against the corona virus, globally.
While continuing its operations with its specialized crew and team members and operational units, Turkish Cargo, the flag carrier national brand, serves 7/24 with its booking system just as it has always done, and keeps being a preferred brand in air cargo transportation.
As one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle brands, UD Trucks has long been a major player in the Eastern African market. Yet 2020 is set to be a landmark year for the Japanese brand that is fully owned by the Volvo Group, as it rolls out ambitious new plans for its operations in Kenya.
CMC Motors Ltd, a motor dealer with a rich legacy spanning over 70 years in Kenya and the regional market is the dealer of choice appointed by UD Trucks to continue with the dedicated development, advancement and expansion of the brand both locally and regionally.
Patrick Amenya, the group sales Director said “The UD Truck brand has a rich heritage in the region and specifically in Kenya where it is being relaunched. CMC is a household name and brand in Kenya whereby we have been in existence for over 70 years, UD brand has had a home at the company for over three decades. The UD Truck brand has been assembled locally at the KVM plant in Thika in which CMC is a joint shareholder with 35 % and the Kenyan Government with 32.5 % alongside other shareholders. The assembly process creates direct jobs to Kenyans with auxiliary one emanating from parts supply chain”.
CMC is proud to offer to UD Truck customers the new range of models that are anchored in the brand DNA of “Ultimate Dependability.” The Quester and Croner range are designed to go the extra mile for the customer in terms of delivering unique solutions for every application.
In line with the Big 4 Agenda of the Kenyan government on local manufacturing, the UD Trucks are assembled in the state-of-the-art assembly plant – Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers -KVM in Thika. The plant was the first assembly line in Kenya having started in the year 1976. It has an installed capacity of 6600 vehicles annually.
The facility has created jobs to Kenyan youths with greater expansions and more opportunities expected in the coming years. Presently, there are over 290 staff working in the facility.
Jeferson Machado, Sales Director for UD Trucks East Africa commented: “Kenya is one of the major strategic markets for UD Trucks. We have been spending a lot of quality time with CMC visualizing, planning and implementing the project to re-launch UD Trucks in the market. We are now going through a really exciting time, in January we held the banking day with the major asset financing institutions, February we started the KD ( Knocked down) operations at KVM with the first units delivered by the end of February 2020, and now we are about to relaunch the full range through a major customer event in Mombasa. It has been a great journey so far and I`m confident that UD Trucks is back for good to serve our Kenyan customers.”’
It is a delight to see the vehicles roll out of the assembly line, adds Patrick Amenya. The imports come in as CKD (Completely Knocked down units). It is estimated that over 500 trucks will be assembled annually. The trucks assembled at KVM include the medium duty and Heavy-duty quester.
The heavy-duty New Quester, available in both tractor head and chassis variations, introduces a range of enhancements to help customers boost their business. Features such as ESCOT (Easy safe controlled transmission)
automated manual transmission, engines with higher horsepower and comfortable cabs all promote greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency, safety and uptime. New Quester is available in a wide range of specifications, including, making it ideal for construction industry use, with tipper, mixer and truck-with-crane applications.
Designed to excel in the medium duty segment, Croner offers options for three gross vehicle weight models and their wheelbase variants, offering a range of configurations to suit specific demands of various industries. It is also the only truck in its specific segment that offers a fully automatic gearbox (Allison), which provides ease of drive and reduces fatigue for drivers
Added peace of mind is provided by the high levels of customer and aftersales service that are offered by UD Trucks and CMC Motors. Customers can benefit from preventive maintenance packages, two years fitted parts warranty, and dedicated sales and service teams that will go the extra mile to understand customers’ business needs. Durability, dependability, and resilience are the qualities that have made the UD Trucks brand stand out as the preferred brand. These qualities have also enabled it to retain its resale value making it superior amongst its peers. At UD Trucks we are going the extra mile for our customers, every single day. Ultimate Dependability is our core value, our DNA. We are smart and modern in everything we do. We continuously improve performance to excel on the essentials. UD philosophy –
Arabian Auto Agency, IVECO’s distributor in Saudi Arabia, hosted an event at its showroom in Riyadh, where it presented IVECO’s full offering.
IVECO distributor Arabian Auto Agency (AAA) welcomed more than 200 guests that included customers, government representatives, local authorities and business leaders to a well-attended open house event held at its premises in Riyadh. The full IVECO line-up was showcased with a display that included two Trakker 6×4 Rigid Chassis mounted with a local body tipper, a Trakker 6×4 Tractor heavy truck, a Performer 4×2 Tractor head, two Eurocargo trucks, two Daily vans and three Daily light-duty trucks.
Mike Fritz, Senior Vice President at ZMS Group, AAA’s holding company, commented: “At AAA we are driven by a question that we ask ourselves every day: “How can we serve our customers better?” That question drives us to give our customers better service, better support, better machines, a wider network, and ultimately, help them achieve their vision for their business. As Saudi’s leading equipment and commercial vehicle distributor group, we are best positioned to deliver on our customers’ ambitions. With numerous world leading brands including IVECO, we are the engine that drives the local economy. Welcome to the world of AAA!”
Maan Gharaibeh, AAA General Manager added: “At AAA our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We have become the go-to partner for major Saudi companies based on our industry-leading service levels. Supplying world-leading brands, backed by world-class service. AAA and IVECO will become one of the major truck suppliers in the Saudi market. Welcome to the world of AAA – IVECO!”
Marco Torta, IVECO Saudi Arabia Area Manager said: “The quality and reliability of our vehicles are very well known in the market. Our commitment to all our customers is that when they buy an IVECO truck, they can rely on the durability of our products. Durability also means a strong focus on after sales service, and this is one of the main pillars for IVECO and AAA in this market. In partnership with AAA, our ambition is to meet the needs of our customers in Saudi Arabia with IVECO’s full range. We want to show what we are capable of and attract more and more customers with the quality of our vehicles and first-class support. Passion is driving us.”
Air Cargo India announces Turkish Cargo as the fastest growing air cargo brand in 2020
Maintaining its successful growth, Turkish Cargo was announced as the winner of the ‘‘Fastest Growing International Cargo Airline of the Year” award at the Air Cargo Excellence Awards Night, held by the Stat Times magazine, for being the fastest-growing international air cargo carrier of the year.
Participants from the air cargo industry, agencies, customers and followers of the global air cargo industry casted their votes for the Stat Trade Times awards, regarded as one of the biggest and most credible events of the Asian air cargo market.
The award ceremony in Mumbai, India hosted the professionals and air cargo companies from all across the globe. Apart from the prestigious award received by Turkish Cargo, awards of over 20 categories found their recipients at the event before the conclusion of the night followiNg the gala dinner.
Reaching 127 countries with to its extensive flight network, which includes 89 direct cargo flight destinations along with more than 300 destinations, Turkish Cargo is the preferred brand in the air cargo industry as it achieves a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet, specialized crew and teams.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing global air cargo carrier, continues to expand its flight network. The successful air cargo brand has just added Quito (UIO), the capital city of Ecuador, to the destinations with direct cargo flights.
The new addition to the flight network of the Turkish Cargo is not only an important cultural and financial center but also possesses a significant export and import potential. Name of the city means the center of the earth in the local language, as the city is located 2,800 meters above the sea level, and has a rather constant and cool climate due to its altitude and proximity to equator.
Being one of the most notable flower producers of the world, Quito hosts developed textile, metal and agricultural industries, and its most significant exports include coffee, sugar, cacao, rise, bananas and palm oil.
The first one of the Quito flights, to be operated for 2 days a week by the Boeing 777F freighters of Turkish Cargo, is planned to be operated on the Istanbul – New York – Quito – Curaçao – Maastricht (ISL-JFK-UIO-CUR-MST) line on 7th of March.
Reaching 127 countries with to its extensive flight network, which includes 89 direct cargo flight destinations and more than 300 destinations, Turkish Cargo is the preferred brand in the air cargo industry as it achieves a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet, specialized crew and teams.
Quito schedule;
Al
FlNo
Start
End
Pattern
DEP
STD
STA
ARV
A/C
Al
TK
6557
March 7, 2020
March 28, 2020
…..6.
ISL
00:55
11:55
JFK
TK
77X
TK
6557
March 7, 2020
March 28, 2020
…..6.
JFK
15:10
21:40
UIO
TK
77X
TK
6558
March 8, 2020
March 29, 2020
……7
UIO
00:10
3:25
CUR
TK
77X
TK
6558
March 8, 2020
March 29, 2020
……7
CUR
04:55
14:15
MST
TK
77X
TK
6558
March 8, 2020
March 29, 2020
……7
MST
16:45
19:50
ISL
TK
77X
*All times are UTC
Al
FlNo
Start
End
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
A/C
TK
6557
April 3, 2020
Oct 23, 2020
….5..
ISL
03:00
14:00
JFK
77X
TK
6558
April 3, 2020
Oct 23, 2020
….5..
JFK
16:55
23:25
UIO
77X
TK
6558
April 4, 2020
Oct 24, 2020
…..6.
CUR
06:25
15:45
MST
77X
TK
6558
April 4, 2020
Oct 24, 2020
…..6.
UIO
01:55
5:10
CUR
77X
TK
6558
April 4, 2020
Oct 24, 2020
…..6.
MST
18:15
21:20
ISL
77X
*All times are UTC
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Egypt Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Arab League Secretary Generaland President of the Council of Arab Businesswomen to speak at event
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has announced the confirmation of new speakers for the coming Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum, which will take place on April 14, 2020 at the Hotel Unique in Sao Paulo. ABCC has revealed the addition of Egyptian Minister of Commerce and Industry H.E. Nevine Gamea; Sheikha Hessa Saad al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, President of the Council of Arab Businesswomen (CABW), Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Secretary General Yousef Hasan Khalawi, to the prestigious forum. The Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Khaled Hanafi, has also confirmed his presence at the event.
The Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum is expected to be graced by representatives from both Brazilian and Arab government, including organizations from key sectors like agribusiness, infrastructure, technology, tourism, innovation, logistics, and halal products and services.
The forum will be divided into panels covering business, global movements that create economic impacts, sustainable development, food security, and demographic and behavioral changes–with each panel highlighting potential business and investment opportunities.
Rubens Hannun, President, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce said, “We are excited to announce additional speakers for the Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum, which is being positioned as a key gathering of companies with shared interests so that they can explore potential business and investment opportunities. The exciting one-day forum will also witness the signing of bilateral agreements along with the announcement of the Arab Investors Award, which aims to recognize the significant contributions made by Arab and Latin American entrepreneurs to the field of commerce.”
In 2019, exports from Brazil to the 22 countries of the Arab League grossed USD 12.20 billion, up 6.3 per cent from a year before, when Brazil’s traditional trade partners reduced their purchases. This made the Arab League go from Brazil’s fifth to third most important foreign trade partner, only behind China and the United States.
Volvo Trucks launches new generation of heavy-duty trucks with the driver in focus
Volvo Trucks is introducing four new trucks, with a strong focus on the driver environment, safety and productivity. “We are really proud of this big forward-looking investment. Our aim is to be our customers’ best business partner by making them even more competitive and help them attract the best drivers in an increasingly tough market,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks. The four heavy-duty trucks; Volvo FH, FH16, FM and FMX, represent about two thirds of Volvo Trucks’ deliveries
An expected growing demand for transport is putting pressure on the availability of skilled drivers worldwide. In Europe, for example, estimates show that around 20 percent of all driver jobs are vacant. To help customers recruit and retain the best drivers, Volvo Trucks has focused strongly on developing the new trucks to make them safer, more efficient and more attractive working tools for qualified drivers.
“Drivers who handle their truck safely and efficiently are an invaluable asset to any transport company. Responsible driving behaviour can help reduce CO2 emissions and fuel costs, as well as helping reduce the risk of accidents, injury and unplanned downtime. Our new trucks will help drivers work even more safely and productively and give our customers stronger arguments when competing to attract the best drivers,” continues Roger Alm.
The various truck models in Volvo Trucks’ range are available with many different cab models and can be optimised for a wide range of applications. In long-haul trucks, the cab is often the driver’s second home. In regional transport trucks it often serves as a mobile office, while in construction the trucks are robust, practical work tools. Therefore, visibility, comfort, ergonomics, noise level, manoeuvrability and safety were key focal points when developing all the new truck models. The truck exterior has also been upgraded to reflect the new trucks’ properties and create an attractive overall design.
Theyab bin Mohamed witnesses the signing of a contract to expand Etihad Rail’s fleet to 45 locomotives
The Board of Directors of Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway, has awarded a contract for the supply of locomotives for the UAE’s nationwide rail network to Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., a Caterpillar company, expanding the company’s fleet to 45 locomotives, which is equivalent to 6 times the current fleet consisting of 7 locomotives.
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of Etihad Rail, the contract was signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Ramzi Imad, Progress Rail’s Regional Director of International Sales for North Africa and Middle East.
Speaking on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed said: “In the year of “2020: Towards the next 50”, we are moving forward in completing all the necessary components for this national project that contributes to the UAE’s progress and enhances the country’s prestigious global position. The cutting-edge fleet of locomotives will raise the bar in the transportation system and logistics services in the country and increase the network’s annual capacity to more than 60 million tons, compared to the current annual capacity of approximately 7.2 million tons.”
H.H. added: “Our advanced locomotives fleet will serve the needs of the customers of this national strategic project, which will transform the transport industry in the country and the region.”
Etihad Rail contracted Progress Rail, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of diesel-electric locomotives, to design, manufacture, test, and ship 38 EMD locomotives especially designed to withstand the high temperatures and humidity of the gulf region. Additionally, the locomotives fleet will be equipped with a state-of-the-art air filtration system that filters sand from the air intake and pulse cleaning systems, ensuring effective and efficient operations while passing through desert areas.
The locomotives feature powerful motors and will be supported by advanced emission reduction technology, reducing carbon emissions by 70-80%. The locomotives are designed to haul a 100-wagon train, which can replace 5,600 on-road truck trips per day.
The agreement increases the fleet of Etihad Rail to 45 heavy 4,500 HP locomotives, which are among the most powerful locomotives in the region. Since Etihad Rail became operational in 2016, the company’s current fleet of 7 locomotives has contributed to decreasing the number of truck trips on the roads of Al Dhafrah by more than one million, with up to 28 million tons of granulated sulphur transported from sources at Shah and Habshan to the processing and export point at Ruwais.
The signing of the contract follows the awarding of all civil works contracts for Stage Two of the national railway network, the launch of construction works of Package A of Stage Two, and the award of a contract to build a series of freight facilities for the rail network, underlining the company’s consistent and strong performance to complete one of the biggest and most important infrastructural projects in the country.
The renewable materials company, Stora Enso tests autonomous trucks – the Nokian Tyres Intuitu solution makes sure the tires perform their best at all times
Nokian Heavy Tyres, Nokia, Finland – Autonomous vehicles are being developed and tested in many real-world environments. One of the most promising applications is material transport in closed areas, where safety matters are under tight control. Now Stora Enso, a major Finnish forestry renewable materials company, is testing an autonomous truck in their mill area in Uimaharju, Eastern Finland. Nokian Tyres has provided the test truck with top-notch smart tires with Nokian Tyres Intuitu technology.
As industries strive towards better efficiency, safety and sustainability, the automatization of routine transports becomes beneficial. Stora Enso’s pulp mill in Uimaharju has been modernized recently, and Stora Enso invests heavily into digitalization. For example, drones are utilized in timber measurements. Now they are also testing an autonomous truck for a 1.4 km woodchip transport route inside the mill area.
”The test use of an autonomous truck will give us more insight into the environmental and safety benefits and cost savings the new kind of vehicle can bring to our mill transports,” says Antti Suvinen, Head of Harvesting Operations at Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland . “In the future, the driver may operate the vehicle from a remote-control room, which improves ergonomics and safety.”
Expertise from many fields
The autonomous truck testing project is a joint effort between several Finnish expert companies – the commissioners are Stora Enso and the transport operator is Mantsinen Group, the truck’s smart guiding system and accessories are provided by the load handling expert Hiab Finland, that has developed them in collaboration with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. VTT is also involved in developing the system safety with the industrial safety system provider InnoTrafik.
Tires play an important role
One vital area for safety and efficiency is the tires. As the automatic steering system has no “feel” for example for changing road conditions, the tires must provide very accurate and predictable handling as well as constant information on factors such as tire pressure and temperature. The changing conditions and snowy winters in the Northern Karelia area where the pulp mill is located further adds to the challenge. Nokian Tyres provided the trial truck with the top-of-the-line Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck series of tires – with Nokian Tyres Intuitu smart tire functionality.
“Nokian Tyres has gathered technical experience in autonomous vehicle projects and recently launched its Nokian Tyres Intuitu smart tire solution – first for tractors and eventually for the entire Heavy Tyres’ product range”, says Toni Silfverberg, Head of Sales and Marketing at Nokian Tyres. “Accurate, real-time tire data is a crucial safety factor in driverless applications, and Nokian Tyres Intuitu smart tire system provides just that.”
Smart, safe and efficient
The whole unmanned truck trial aims for better safety, fuel economy and efficiency – and thereby reduced CO2 emissions. These goals are at the heart of Nokian Tyres as well. “Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck tires have a low rolling resistance, which has a direct effect on fuel consumption”, says Toni Silfverberg. “And the Nokian Tyres Intuitu smart tire functionality both monitors the tire temperature, which is critical for spotting problems beforehand, and pressure, which is also important for fuel consumption and tire service life.”
During the testing period, special attention is paid to safety. The transport speed never exceeds 20 km/h and as an extra measure, the truck is always manned with a supervisor that can take control in case something goes wrong.
Tires for future needs
Nokian Tyres boasts one of the most sustainable manufacturing processes in the world. The factory in Nokia, Finland has undergone renovations, and now features a brand new 3500m2 product development center that makes sure that more tire innovations can be developed and brought to market faster.
“The future of tires is digital”, says Toni Silfverberg. “Our tires can no longer be dumb pieces of rubber, but active components in the ever more digital vehicle environments. This way, the tires drive the progress and enable new possibilities.”
According to the international air cargo information provider WACD’s December data (cumulative), the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo, which serves 127 countries of the world, grew significantly by achieving a tonnage increase of 7.1 percent in a sector wherein the global air cargo market shrank by -4.4 percent. Turkish Cargo, which has the largest growth rate among the top 10 airlines, rose to 7th place in the international air cargo industry and increased our global market share to 4.1 percent.
Turkish Cargo keeps growing in Far East and America markets
On the basis of the tonnage sold, the successful air cargo brand has grown by 17.1 percent in North and South America, 14.1 percent in the Far East Region, 9.7 percent in South Western Europe, 4.7 percent in the Middle East and South Asia, and 7.1 percent in Africa, thus achieving positive results in all regions wherein it provides air cargo service, and kept growing steadily in these regions.
In addition to the Turkish Airlines’ cargo carrying capacity, Turkish Cargo performs direct cargo flights to 88 destinations with its cargo aircraft fleet and has achieved a sustainable growth through its current infrastructure and newly made investments. Turkish Cargo continues to increase its capacity through successful operations in over 300 destinations covered by its current flight network.
Serving 321 destinations in 127 countries, the successful air cargo brand reaches new heights by combining its broad range of services and operational capabilities with Turkey’s unique geographical advantages.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
UPS PARTNERS WITH WORLD BANK TO SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE MENA
The World Bank and UPS Corporate today announced a new partnership to help women entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa region to grow their businesses through assistance in accessing e-commerce platforms.
“By making e-commerce platforms more accessible, this partnership addresses a key constraint faced by women business leaders in reaching new markets,” said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa. “E-commerce platforms create opportunities, and we must ensure these opportunities are open to women-owned businesses across the region.”
UPS will provide e-learning modules on different e-commerce topics to help women-owned and women-led small and medium enterprises seeking to expand their businesses. UPS will also provide shipment discounts to women entrepreneurs. The project will provide support to an estimated 750 women entrepreneurs and will train a cadre of e-commerce advisors in each country who can provide tailored assistance and coaching to businesses. The partnership will work with entrepreneurs in Algeria, Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia.
SSI SCHAEFER wins internationally experienced manager as CEO
The positions of the Group’s Management Board have now been effectively filled.
The Advisory Board of the SSI Schaefer Group has appointed Mr. Steffen BERSCH CEO of the SSI SCHAEFER Group. Mr. Bersch will start at SSI Schaefer on 1 March 2020. After a short transition period, Mr. Bersch will succeed the interim CEO of the Group, Dr. Helmut Limberg, on 1 April 2020.
Since 1 January 2016, Steffen Bersch was a member of the Executive Board of the GEA Group AG and as of the beginning of this year he was in charge of the divisions Liquid & Powder Technologies, Food & Healthcare Technologies, Refrigeration Technologies and Global Technology.
Steffen Bersch worked for the GEA Group AG since 2000 and occupied various management positions. Among others, he was Managing Director of GEA Middle East in Dubai and successfully managed a business unit for separators. Until the end of 2019, he was responsible for the business unit Equipment as a member of the Executive Board of the GEA Group AG.
Dr. Kay Mayland, Head of SSI Schaefer Advisory Board, stated: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Steffen Bersch, a very successful and internationally experienced manager, as CEO of the SSI Schaefer Group. Furthermore, Mr. Bersch contributes great experience in strategic development of globally acting groups of companies.”
The shareholders and the Advisory Board are convinced that the new CEO will sustainably complement the corporate management of the SSI Schaefer Group.
Partnership highlights commitment to industry development in line with Saudi Vision 2030
Furthering its commitment to contributing to the advancement of the maritime sector, Bahri, a global leader in logistics and transportation, reiterated its support to Saudi Maritime Congress. In its capacity as Founding Strategic Partner of the event, the company has also extended an official invitation to its global network of partners and customers as well as the wider international maritime community to participate in the Kingdom’s largest and most important industry event, taking place from 22 and 23 March 2020 in Dammam.
According to Abdullah Aldubaikhi, Chief Executive Officer, Bahri: “Saudi Maritime Congress comes at a time when the industry is at a crossroads, faced by regional and global geopolitical developments as well as technology and regulatory disruptions. The Congress offers us a unique opportunity to discuss current and emerging trends in the logistics and transportation sector and create a roadmap for us stakeholders to play a vital role in shaping its future. At Bahri, we are confident that this will also provide us an unparalleled platform to further our collective contribution towards achieving the goals set out in Saudi Vision 2030 and are proud to underline our continuing support to this important event through encouraging our partners and customers to join and drive the conversation forward.”
As Founding Strategic Partner of the event alongside the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), Bahri will be participating in both the conference and the exhibition being held as part of Saudi Maritime Congress in order to provide the ideal platform to stimulate private sector investment in the maritime industry and further strengthen Saudi Arabia’s major efforts in boosting the role of the shipping sector in its economic transformation.
Keynote Session: Vision2030 – an update on progress and opportunity for growth
Abdullah Aldubaikhi, Chief Executive Officer at Bahri, will participate in the Keynote session at Saudi Maritime Congress. In this headline session, leaders of the organisations driving maritime business and policy within the Kingdom will discuss the opportunities for domestic and international maritime and logistics companies and the progress of key Vision 2030 objectives.
Session: The fuel revolution to 2050
Abdulaziz Sabri, President of Bahri Ship Management, joins an important session reflecting on lessons learned since the implementation of the IMO 2020 Sulphur cap. The panellists will explore what alternatives – including battery power – will be available in the near future. A key discussion point will consider whether ship owners and fuel suppliers are fully prepared for a changing energy landscape.
World-Class Exhibition
Bahri will be exhibiting at Booth C10 at Saudi Maritime Congress and join a powerful group of maritime technology suppliers and marine service providers within the exhibition.
Chris Morley, Event Director, Seatrade Maritime, reiterated the significance of Saudi Maritime Congress and added: “We have designed the conference programme and the exhibition floor of SMC 2020 to bring together shipowners, ship operators, shipyards, manufacturers and more in a stimulating blend to help grow networks, solidify maturing business deals and nurture new opportunities. We have been fortunate enough to work closely with key influencers such as our Founding Strategic Partners, Bahri and MAWANI, to ensure the event continues to evolve and support the objectives of the companies playing a fundamental role in one of the most prosperous economic developments in recent maritime history.”
The Saudi Maritime Congress is the largest and most important event in the Kingdom for international and local maritime professionals designed to provide a platform for meeting, networking and discovering new business opportunities in Saudi Arabia. For the first time, the conference will be free to attend, and advance registration is recommended.
The full agenda, info about the registration and info about sponsorship can be found on the event website at www.saudimaritimecongress.com.
Swisslog to showcase its latest advanced technological solutions for the Cold Chain Industry
The latest solutions are designed to cater to customized requirements and help companies cut costs, improve labour productivity and compliance
Global warehouse automation specialist, Swisslog, today announced their participation at the Cold Chain Middle East Expo 2020, the only dedicated event catering to the cold chain industry in the Middle East. The participation at the event is aimed at showcasing their latest technological advancements in the cold chain sphere, which can help companies gain a more efficient building and warehouse operation in the process.
The automated warehouse solutions not only provide the flexibility companies need from production to the point of sale, but also fulfil the customer demands for faster, more accurate orders as well as meet high standards and government regulations set for cold chain management.
In line with the UAE government’s vision to achieve poll position on the Food Security Index by 2051, the leaders across the region are prioritizing food security, quality and safety to protect a growing population, which in turn has transformed the landscape of food supply chain and led to a huge demand for sophisticated cold chain solutions in the Middle East.
Swisslog’s solutions for the cold chain industry are designed around the unique requirements of the companies temperature controlled operation, ensuring freshness and quality, while reducing costs, human errors and order fulfillment time.
With an estimated value of USD 203 billion in 2018, the market is projected to reach a value of USD 293 billion by 2023. The rise in consumer demand for perishable food items, growth of international trade due to trade liberalization, and expansion of the organized food retail industry are some of the factors driving the growth of the market. Government support for infrastructural development in several developing regions also fuels the growth of this industry.
Alain Kaddoum, General Manager of Swisslog Middle East, commented “Warehousing is a critical component in the cold chain industry. With regulators and consumers wanting to see full Farm to Fork traceability, companies producing convenience meals, perishable products, organic foods and exclusion diet products need a highly dynamic warehouse and distribution system to cope with higher outputs and shorter change-over times. We look forward to addressing the needs of the companies that are looking to optimize their supply chain and/or improve facility operations during the expo.”
Alain further added, “The solutions designed by Swisslog for the cold chain industry is aimed at destroying the ‘wall’ between manufacturing and distribution while ensuring an error free movement throughout the supply chain.”
Industry professionals visiting the event can expect to find the latest solutions they need for the modernization and better performance of their facilies. Swisslog’s senior management will be available to discuss retail automation solutions on 9 – 10th of March 2020 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). For more information, visit https://www.swisslog.com/
JDA Software Inc announces the opening of a new office in Dubai
Underscoring its increased focus in the Middle East and expanding reach across EMEA with its supply chain and retail solutions. JDA will use the office at Arjaan Office Tower 12th floor, Dubai Internet City, to showcase digital edge supply chain innovations with customers across the region. This new office will allow JDA to strengthen its network in the region committing to help customers build strategies for digital supply chain success.
The local presence in the region will be marked by a client event on Wednesday 1st April open to JDA’s customers and partners during which we will talk about the retail and supply chain of the future.
SAL launches its newly expanded facility at Dammam airport
Hariri: Expansion enhances our logistic operations and expedites accomplishment of Vision 2030 objectives
The Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) Co. has inaugurated its new 37,800sq meter air cargo facility at the Dammam-based King Fahad International Airport in the presence of Abdullah Al-Zamil, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dammam Airports Company and numerous representatives of the airport’s governmental authorities.
The state-of-the-art facility offers advanced logistic services and boasts spacious facilities for dangerous goods, radioactive substances and cargo in-transit areas as well as designated areas for shipping live animals, heavy-weight shipments and a 24/7 customer service office.
SAL CEO Omar bin Talal Hariri said the new expansion serves to enhance the company’s logistic services at King Fahad International Airport while at the same time makes use of the services provided at the airport through the Cargo Village, the first of its kind all over the Kingdom’s airports. With the new expansion, the level of logistic services will improve whereas the operating capacity will increase to handle 130,000 tons a year. The Dammam station is the second since the launch of SAL facility at the Cargo Village of King Khalid International Airport last January under the patronage of Riyadh Governor His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz. Meanwhile, a similar facility is being constructed in Jeddah.
“At SAL, we recognize our tremendous responsibility as a major contributor to Vision 2030 objectives relating to the logistic services and the goals of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program “NIDLP”. We aim to make advantage of the Kingdom’s strategic and vital location and transform it into a global important hub for cargo transportation and shipment,” Hariri explained.
Hariri spoke highly of the level of coordination between SAL and the government authorities including the Customs Authority, the Dammam Airports Company and security authorities.
“We have constantly worked together with our partners in order to provide more flexible cargo services such as cargo handling, clearance, transportation while linking cargo services with other Saudi airports,” he said. Hariri commended the latest improvements introduced to the procedures, which helped expedite the overall cargo processes and operations.
A Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation’s subsidiary, SAL is the main cargo gate at Kingdom’s airports and the only logistics entity that connects carriers with airports and provides them with different services including ground handling, e-commerce activities, land transportation, warehouse management, and storage solutions, to mention but a few.
With initial investment of SAR 1 billion RSGT welcomes the first batch of modern advanced terminal equipment.
Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) a world-class terminal spearheaded by the Saudi Industrial Services group SISCO, has announced the arrival of the first consignment of new advanced terminal equipment, which includes terminal trucks and trailers that will accelerate and speed up port and quay operations at the Northern Part of Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP), the biggest and busiest port in Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah Islamic Port is the primary port of call and trade conduit for trade and shipping in and out of the Kingdom via the Suez Canal.
The delivery of the new advanced machinery follows the recent signing in December 2019 of the 30-year concession mega contract valued at SAR 6.6 billion by RSGT with the Saudi Port Authority (Mawani) to redevelop and modernize the Northern Part of Jeddah Islamic Port.
The new Terminal Trucks and Trailers, the newest of its kind in the Kingdom, come equipped with the latest and most demanding safety features, which will significantly contribute to increasing productivity and performance at JIP.
About RSGT
Red Sea Gateway Terminal is the first container terminal in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is built by the private sector under a ‘build, operate, and transfer’ (BOT) agreement, and the only terminal at the Jeddah Islamic Port capable of accommodating Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCS) of 20,000+ TEU capacity.
The Red Sea Gateway Terminal is committed to regional and global infrastructure and facility investments to better serve the growing requirements of global shipping lines and domestic cargo, and container services, as well as expanding our presence internationally in the global logistics chain through organic growth and by obtaining new concessions or acquisitions.
E-commerce spurs strong growth in Express shipment volumes while business transformation efforts continue to drive operational efficiencies
Financial highlights
Full Year 2019 Revenue hit AED 5,246 million, up 3% vs FY 2018; and Q4 2019 Revenue up 3% to AED 1,463 million
Full Year 2019 Net Profit increased by 1% to AED 497.4 million vs. 2018; while Q4 2019 Net Profit was down 1% at AED 152.5 million vs. Q4 2018
In 2019, Express shipment volumes surged 15% vs. 2018 as a result of the strong growth in global e-commerce activities
Revenue growth and margins continue to be impacted by e-commerce pricing pressure
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announced its financial results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year ending 31 December 2019.
Full Year 2019 Revenue increased by 3% to AED 5,246 million, compared to AED 5,086 million in FY 2018. FY 2019 Net Profit increased 1% to AED 497.4 million, compared to AED 492.6 million made in the year ago period.
Aramex’s Q4 2019 Revenue grew by 3% to AED 1,463 million, compared to AED 1,425 million in Q4 2018. Q4 Net Profit dropped slightly by 1% to AED 152.5 million, compared to AED 154 million in the year ago period. In Q4 2018, Aramex registered a one-off impairment of AED 46 million from the divestment of Aramex Global Solutions (AGS).
The Company remains in a very strong cash position thanks to prudent financial management; at the end of 2019, Aramex’s total cash stood at AED 1 billion and free cash flow of AED 294 million.
Commenting on the results, Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said:
“We are pleased with our resilient performance despite headwinds emanating from regional and global economic challenges and pricing pressure on our core business prompted by shifting e-commerce dynamics.
In 2019, we strategically focused efforts on upgrading our operations and deepening our commitment to building a digital infrastructure that enables a higher service level to customers, more efficient processes to handle strong growth in shipment volumes and partial mitigation of impacts from pricing pressure, especially in our express business. More specifically, we invested heavily in the last mile operations, one of the most critical and competitive stages of the delivery journey. This has enabled us to become the leaders in last mile in our core markets.
Simultaneously, we are fast tracking our commercial transformation process to encourage accelerated growth in our B2B business lines such as fashion retail, telecommunications, manufacturing, chemicals and healthcare, which will help us diversify our revenue mix. To extract more value from that business we are undergoing a restructuring of our commercial teams and processes, and expect it to increase its contribution to our performance in the coming quarters.”
Q4 2019 Business Performance Highlights:
Aramex’s International Express business declined 4% to AED 673 million, compared to AED 702 million in Q4 2018. This decline is attributed to the continued pressure on pricing for e-commerce business in Aramex’s Asian markets, especially China and Hong Kong, despite the growth in volumes. E-commerce business from other markets including the UK and USA witnessed double-digit growth compared to the year ago period.
Domestic Express surged 20%, to AED 324 million, compared to AED 270 million in Q4 2018. The significant growth in this business line is attributed to the double-digit growth in core markets, notably from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE. Excluding India restructuring and impact from exchange rate fluctuations, Domestic Express growth would have reached 26%.
Freight-Forwarding witnessed flat growth of AED 294 million, from AED 293 million in Q4 2018. Meanwhile, Aramex’s Oil and Gas business registered healthy growth. Aramex continued to diversify across different geographies and strategic sector verticals, mainly fashion retail, manufacturing and healthcare, setting the foundation for a steady projected growth over the long term.
Aramex’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management business grew by 15% to AED 97 million, compared to AED 84 million in Q4 2018, as a result of the growth of business across the company’s key markets, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The increase is driven by more traditional retailers choosing to tap omni-channel sales to compete with pure-play e-commerce companies.
Iyad Kamal, Chief Operating Officer at Aramex, said:
“Over the course of the year we have invested in strategic ground infrastructure projects specifically in our core markets with the ultimate objective of boosting operational efficiencies and enhancing the overall customer experience. Our efforts, together with the continuous commitment and dedication of our passionate teams around the world, have enabled us to handle growth of 30% in shipment volumes in our core markets efficiently with an improvement in delivery times. Those investments included the establishment of new fulfillment facilities, increasing the number of Aramex PickUp and Drop Off (PUDO) points to be closer to end recipients, and introducing more automation in our operational and back office processes.”
Commenting on Aramex’s digital transformation Mohammed Sleeq, Chief Digital Officer at Aramex, said:
“In 2019, we have invested in several digital technologies with a strategic focus on enhancing customer experience, last mile transformation and modernizing our core technology infrastructure. These investments helped reshape our digital identity to increase agility and speed innovation and efficiency across all business lines. Our data lake, which hosts a big data infrastructure that leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, allows us to digitize the end-to-end customer experience and solve some of the industry challenges. We also introduced Aramex Fleet and Spot, innovative solutions together forming a zero-asset tech-driven model that supports our capacity scalability efforts and solve last mile challenges, especially around peak periods. We will continue to invest in latest technologies that allow us to accelerate our digital transformation journey, improve service level to customers and realize higher efficiencies.”
Full Year 2019 Business Performance Highlights:
Aramex’s International Express business grew by 3% to AED 2,349 million, compared to AED 2,273 million in 2018, most notably coming from USA, UK, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
In FY 2019 Domestic Express business grew by 5% to AED 1,108 million, compared to AED 1,051 million in 2018, driven by the rise in domestic e-commerce across GCC and Australia. Performance was impacted by the strategic restructuring of operations in India and currency fluctuations; excluding these two factors, Domestic Express would have grown by 13% in 2019. In Aramex’s core markets, Domestic Express shipment volumes rose by 27% compared to 2018, namely driven by strong growth in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Aramex’s Freight-Forwarding business declined by 2% to AED 1,138 million, compared to AED 1,164 million in 2018 due to continued regional economic uncertainty.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management operations over the year increased 18% to AED 355 million, compared to AED 302 million in 2018, due to the strong demand from traditional retailers for Aramex’s warehousing and other value-added services across key markets.
Commenting on the outlook for 2020, Bashar Obeid said: “While we anticipate shipment volumes to continue to demonstrate healthy growth in the coming year, notably from our core markets, pricing pressure on e-commerce business is expected to continue over the coming period. Our efforts in 2020 will be focused on accelerating our business transformation roadmap across different areas in the company to realize synergies and lower cost of doing business on the ground. We will also continue our aggressive roll-out of the commercial restructuring process prioritizing the B2B segment, to ensure we have a well-diversified revenue mix.”
Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. (Famco) has announced the launch of the Middle East’s first Uptime Centre supported by Volvo as it looks to raise standards of customer service to even higher levels in 2020.
Customers operating Volvo Trucks and/or Volvo Construction Equipment will benefit from upgraded standards of support courtesy of the region’s first Uptime Centre, by Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. (Famco UAE) supported by Volvo, based at the Famco workshop facility in Dubai Investment Park.
The technical bays supporting the uptime centre are proficient in all required categories related to the pre-planning needed to ensure efficient servicing and that unplanned repairs are dealt with in an efficient manner. This service includes the consistent use of proven fleet management systems, in addition to designated uptime bays, updated workflows, Genuine Volvo Parts and specialized technicians.
For truck owners, the Dynafleet fleet management system provides constant updates on a vehicle’s performance, making it possible to pinpoint critical data and take prompt action to reduced costs, improve vehicle utilization and allow for the quick re-deployment of assets. At the same time, the CareTrack advanced telematics service, available to equipment operators, allows machine problems to be caught before they occur, while also improving technical response time and downtime resolution speed.
Mr. Vladimir Knezevic, Managing Director at Famco UAE, commented: “Our customers are central to everything we do, so it was a logical decision for us to enhance our services by establishing the Middle East’s first Uptime Centre. This will allow us to better support our partners, providing further reassurance that when they choose a Volvo truck or machine, they are actively prioritising increased uptime and maximising profit, whilst reducing downtime and any negative impact on their investments.”
Frank O’Connor, Middle East Market Director of Volvo Trucks, said: “It is still uncommon for dealers to provide the levels of service that Famco is now offering, both in terms of the standards of advanced technology involved and the investment made in the upgrading of the Famco workshop facility. With the launch of its new Uptime Centre supported by Volvo, Famco is setting new standards for the truck industry in the Middle East.”
Renault Trucks signs historic agreement with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 electric trucks
Renault Trucks is taking a critical step in the transformation of urban transport by announcing the signing of a contract with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 D Wide Z.E. These 100% electric 26-tonne trucks, which will be delivered in 2020, will be operated by the Feldschlösschen brewery, the Group’s Swiss subsidiary.
Renault Trucks believes that urban transport needs to move towards electric mobility quickly to improve quality of life in city centres and tackle global CO2 emissions.
Renault Trucks is taking a decisive step in this direction and is announcing the signing of a contract with the Carlsberg Group to deliver 20 D Wide Z.E. to the Feldschlösschen brewery in Switzerland.
Bruno Blin, president of Renault Trucks emphasises: “It is the first order of this scale in Europe. It proves to our customers that the transport sector is undergoing a major transformation and reflects an industrial and commercial reality: our Renault Trucks electric trucks are rolling off the assembly line and will be on the roads of Europe in a few weeks’ time.”
These 20 Renault Trucks D Wide Z.E. 26t will make daily delivery rounds of between 100 and 200 km to supply Feldschlösschen Swiss clients from the brewer’s 15 logistical sites in Switzerland.
LogiPoint, the leading logistics zones developer in Saudi Arabia, announced the completion of phase one of Logistics Park Modon 1 project.
Phase 1 comprises 350 truck parking spaces designed to bring Modon much needed respite from congestion and pollution through taking the parked and waiting trucks off the roads. Modon tenants and service providers will have the option of leasing truck parking space, which complies with international security and safety standards, on daily/monthly/yearly lease as per their requirement.
Modon hosts more than 400 factories in the Jeddah Industrial Area. This thriving industrial base needs a state-of-the-art logistics infrastructure, which helps bring world-class efficiency to its operations. Logistics Park Modon 1 is making that state-of-the-art infrastructure a reality in Modon.
Upon completion, this project located in the heart of the Jeddah Industrial Area, will include a 20,000 Sqm of multi-temperature warehouses, which will be the only one catering to all kinds of storage requirements of the industrial city 1. It will offer customized and tailor-made support services to the clients and boost supply chain efficiency across sectors through sharing best practices and leveraging expertise and experience. The Modon investors will benefit from improved ROI because of highly professional and cost-effective storage and distribution becoming available in their vicinity.
Farooq Shaikh, CEO of LogiPoint said,”LogiPoint has set out to build on the success of the Bonded and Re-export Zone and to develop similar high quality integrated facilities throughout the Kingdom. Logistics Park Modon 1 underlines our commitment to this vision and is proof that our strength in developing vibrant Logistics Zones continues to expand and grow with time.”
LogiPoint – Logistics Parks Modon 1 is a BOT (build, operate & transfer) project in partnership with The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities (Modon) in line with objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP)
Hariri: We contributed to numerous global events as a national company
Saudia Cargo’s sponsorship for the Second Saudi International Golf Tournament is part of the three-year contract signed with the IMG Company, the organizer of the event, Chief Executive Officer Omar Talal Hariri said.
Hariri commended the successful sponsorship of the first tournament last year, which encouraged the Saudia Cargo to do the same for this year, noting that the Saudia Cargo was keen to participate in this global event, taking place in the Kingdom because it believes that golf is one of the many popular sports around the world. Hariri stressed that the Kingdom boasts one of the most advanced sports infrastructure including golf courts, which enables it to host any international sports championships.
In a statement he made prior to the launch of the tournament next Thursday, Hariri said, “Last year’s big success will definitely make us together with the Saudi Golf Federation and the sponsors participating in the event exert more efforts to prepare for this global event, which will take place at the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)’s Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from January 30 to February 02.”
Hariri commended the pivotal role of the General Sports Authority (GSA) under the leadership of Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal and noted that the GSA closely follows up all sports activities and international events held in the Kingdom. The GSA accomplishments have reflected the Kingdom’s exceptional and advanced capabilities for organizing different sports events.
Hariri pointed out that the Saudia Cargo was keener this year to invite VIPs from the air cargo and ground handing sector as well as its partners in the government sector to attend the activities and competitions accompanying this event. The Family Day for Saudia Cargo staff’s will be held at Saudia Cargo Pavilion inside the Fans Village. Numerous senior officials, organizers and international golf players are expected to visit the pavilion.
“We made remarkable accomplishments for the air cargo business in 2019 and contributed effectively to various sports and entertainment events. Saudia Cargo harnessed its human and financial resources and recorded incredible successes during Jeddah and Riyadh seasons, notably the transportation of the WWE equipment, luxurious cars, and Formula E cars that participated in the Riyadh International Expo last November. It also carried heavy equipment and supplies for events such as the fireworks, the cirque and the World Golf Tournament 2020,” Hariri said.
Saudia Cargo recognizes the important role it plays in developing the logistic and cargo services sector and the serious efforts it continues to exert to effectively support Vision 2030 objectives, aiming to turn the Kingdom into a global logistics hub by making advantage of its strategic and vital geographical location. Saudia Cargo has also contributed to achieving the Vision 2030 objectives for other sectors and programs including the Quality of Life Program, which seeks to meet and surpass the expectations of different segments of society through holding various cultural, entertainment and sports events.
“2019 was another good year for the Volvo Group. We grew net sales by 11% to SEK 432
billion and improved our adjusted operating income to SEK 47.9 billion (40.7), with a margin
of 11.1% (10.4). During the year we also continued to increase our financial strength. With an
operating cash flow of SEK 38.3 billion, we ended the year with a net cash position of SEK
62.6 billion in the Industrial Operations, excluding pension and lease liabilities. Our
increased profitability and strong financial position allow us to invest in our future as well as
return cash to our shareholders,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO.
THE FOURTH QUARTER 2019
In Q4 2019, net sales amounted to SEK 105.4 billion (105.8). Adjusted for currency
movements, net sales decreased by 5%.
Adjusted operating income amounted to SEK 9,223 M (10,597), corresponding to an
operating margin of 8.8% (10.0).
Reported operating income amounted to SEK 9,379 M (3,597).
Currency movements had a positive impact on operating income of SEK 763 M.
Diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 3.27 (1.26).
Operating cash flow in the Industrial Operations amounted to SEK 19,856 M (15,471).
Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors intend to form strategic alliance.
THE FULL YEAR 2019
For the full year 2019 net sales increased by 11% to SEK 432.0 billion (390.8).
Adjusted operating income amounted to SEK 47,910 M (40,660) corresponding to an
operating margin of 11.1% (10.4).
Reported operating income amounted to SEK 49,531 M (34,478).
Diluted earnings per share amounted to SEK 17.64 (12.24).
Operating cash flow in the Industrial Operations amounted to SEK 38,309 M (26,597).
The Board of Directors proposes an ordinary divi
UD Trucks continues its growth journey of growth across the Middle East and East Africa region in 2019
Launch of New Quester contributed to sales growth in UAE, Kuwait and Oman, with Saudi Arabia confirmed as a primary focus for 2020 after year of transition
The launch of the new, heavy-duty Quester, a series of major fleet deals and the announcement of a new retail partner in Saudi Arabia were among the highlights of 2019 as UD Trucks enjoyed another positive year across the Middle East, East and North Africa (MEENA) region.
Against the backdrop of extremely challenging economic conditions, the Japanese commercial vehicle brand that belongs to the Volvo Group recorded sales increases in a number of key markets, in particular the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman.
In the UAE, UD Trucks sales were up almost 10 percent year-on-year, despite the overall market shrinking. It was a similar story in Oman, with the market down but UD Trucks registering 10 percent growth. As a market, Kuwait bucked the regional trend with truck sales increasing, helping UD Trucks to an impressive doubling of sales. The company maintained its number one position in Bahrain, while reinforcing its position in Qatar as the number one brand in the Japanese truck segment and number three brand overall, including the European manufacturers.
2019 was very much a year of transition for UD Trucks in Saudi Arabia. Following a mutual agreement to terminate its collaboration with Rolaco Group, the brand’s previous partner in the Kingdom, UD Trucks announced Zahid Tractor as its new exclusive importer and distributor in the country. With the start of this exciting collaboration between the two companies, and underpinned by the ambition and professionalism of Zahid Tractor, 2020 is set to be an excellent year for the brand as it seeks to continue its growth and take customer satisfaction to a higher level.
UD Trucks has invested significant time and resources in the East Africa region in recent years as it seeks to reactivate its presence there. Last year it was rewarded for its reactivation of Ethiopia with a doubling of its market share, while the brand also helped to inaugurate a UN driver school in the country – under UD/Volvo Group’s sponsorship, UD Trucks supplied three Quester models and ran numerous driving school sessions. UD Trucks also re-commenced activities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania over the course of the year. 2020 will see a continued focus on this region, and particularly in Kenya where a local assembly project will be launched.
Central to UD Trucks’ strong regional performance in 2019 was the Middle East arrival of the New Quester in April. Building on proven robustness and reliability, New Quester has introduced key features such as ESCOT automated manual transmission, engines with higher horsepower and user-friendly telematics to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency, safety and uptime for customers.
The new Quester and medium-duty Croner, both of which are designed and engineered especially for the region, have been in high demand and were at the heart of the numerous major fleet deals that peppered the year. In September the Kuwait Municipality took delivery of 106 Quester and Croner models for waste management use, while in the same month UD Trucks signed its first ever deal for 20 Quester 8×4 Mixers with Oryxmix in Dubai. A further 118 Questers and Croners were sold to waste management company Lavajet in the UAE and 25 to Oriental Trading Co in Qatar, with many other similar agreements signed across the GCC and East Africa.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, commented: “In 2020 we will continue our strategy to grow by reinforcing our market share in countries where we are already present and by entering a number of new markets. Our objective always has been, and always will be, to deliver the highest standards of customer service because this is the only way to guarantee sustainable growth in the long-term. We will continue to do this by collaborating closely with our regional partners while simultaneously remaining focused on that most valuable human capital: our employees.
“Having strong partnerships in each market is critical to our success, so it was a positive reflection on how we are doing that so many of our partners reconfirmed UD Trucks as their brand of choice, over the course of the year, highlighting their pride in working with the company and the very special family spirit that exists among all parties. This essence of close and positive collaboration was strengthened by the bodybuilders conference that was held in August and the annual partners conference that took place in September.”
UD Trucks is a proud member of the Volvo Group, which in 2018 saw a year-on-year increase in sales of nine percent and employs a workforce of 100,000 employees globally.
Leveraging cooperation and cross-border e-commerce among topics of discussion
Dubai Customs will host a series of high-level panel discussions during the 5th World Customs Organization (WCO) Global AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) Conference in Dubai. Set to be held from March 10 to 12, 2020 at the Festival Arena, the conference, which is taking place in the Middle East for the first time, will be hosted by Dubai Customs in cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Federal Customs Authority. The event will feature key sessions and round table discussions covering timely topics, including customs work and the development of a global customs system.
The panel discussions are scheduled to be staged on the first day of the exciting three-day event, which is being organized to provide an international platform for sharing of ideas and exploring opportunities required to take the flagship AEO program to the next level. The AEO program is instrumental in the creation of international standards for customs procedures and clearances for trading companies. It also helps promote better customs security systems and smoother trade facilitation among its members.
One of the panel discussions will focus on the important role of customs, government agencies, and inter-governmental institutions involved in international trade and supply chain security in the success of the AEO program.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, said: “During one of the panel discussions, the speakers will discuss and highlight the best practices and experiences to reinforce coordination. We need to establish a strong partnership among relevant authorities to ensure effective and efficient response to supply chain security challenges. Through our robust cooperation, we can also streamline processes by avoiding duplication of requirements and inspections and guarantee secure movements of goods in a manner that facilitates trade.”
Another panel discussion during the 2020 edition of the conference will focus on extending the scope of AEO programs to e-commerce operators, who include owners of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and individual sellers.
“Dubai Customs has been doubling its efforts to reinforce the UAE’s positioning as a global leader in customs, trade, and logistics. The upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai will show the world the city’s capabilities in this regard. Our commitment is also in line with Dubai Silk Road Strategy to achieve the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai towards promoting Dubai‘s strategic position on the global trade map as a leading maritime, air and logistics hub for international trade flows. Much is in store for all participants in the global conference as top industry leaders will grace the event to share their expertise about key topics of relevance to global trade supply chain,” Musabih said.
According to Dubai Customs’ Director General, by making the AEO programs available to MSMEs and other e-commerce stakeholders and intermediaries, they can fully benefit from opportunities available in cross-border e-commerce activities. He said the move will also benefit e-commerce companies in the UAE that are seeking to penetrate the global market and take advantage of the growth prospects on the international stage.
He added: “In the United Arab Emirates and Dubai particularly, we continue to draw praises not only for our advanced trade policy and safe investment environment but also for our innovative customs system. These achievements are aligned with Dubai Customs’ long-term development strategy and in response to the directives of the UAE leadership towards getting ready for the next 50 years to ensure sustainable development and wellbeing for future generations. The conference will be an opportunity for us to showcase how we are supporting mutually beneficial global partnerships through innovations as a critical part of strengthening the local customs system.”
The conference is also seen to drive the global customs sector as well as strategically contribute to the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Dubai Customs said preparations for the WCO Global AEO conference are now in full swing in the emirate, which is one of the region’s leading trading hubs that is renowned for its major role in global trade activities.
The World Customs Organization represents 183 Customs administrations across the globe who are key decision makers in their respective countries in terms of building a stable, safe, transparent and predictable business environment. The WCO provides a platform for discussing issues related to various areas of the customs business such as harmonized system, rules of origin, customs valuation, law enforcement, facilitation, and capacity building.
Tristar Group acquires land for logistics operations in the Port of Duqm
Move is part of the strategy to expand into the Sultanate of Oman
Tristar Group, the global integrated energy logistics company, has acquired more than 11,000sqm logistic land in the Port of Duqm.
It will have a 3,048sqm covered warehouse with a capacity of 5,000 pallet position and an open yard for future expansion. The logistics warehouse project will offer 3PL and 4PL services.
Tristar established its presence in Muscat, Oman in 2002 and this move will enable the company expand its operations into the Sultanate of Oman.
Tristar also has a new facility located in the Rusayl Industrial Estate Phase 2 (Muscat) with a total plot size of 15,000sqm with an office building, a warehouse with a capacity of 1,000 pallet position, a five-bay workshop with two inspection pits, and a washdown bay. It can store products outside and inside the warehouse.
The facility offers Port Marine Services at various Ports and Anchorage areas in Oman by transporting crew, supplying fresh water, stores, lube oil, and gas oil; and providing marine logistics.
“The expansion of our presence in Oman to Duqm further strengthens our value proposition as we continue to serve the future requirements of our international oil and gas customers as well as major local companies, with the highest level of operational and international safety standards,” stated Eugene Mayne, Group CEO, Tristar Group, at the lease agreement signing ceremony.
“By attracting such leading logistic service providers as the Tristar Group to our logistics area we aim to confirm Port of Duqm’s position as the center of excellence serving the oil and gas industry in the Sultanate of Oman and beyond,” noted Reggy Vermeulen, CEO, Port of Duqm.
Oman Shipping Company (OSC)’s USD 80 million Sharia based leasing facility “Ijarah” with ADIB is the first of its kind in the company’s history
The facility will allow OSC to enhance its debt position by reducing overall financing costs and eliminating refinancing risk, all while continuing to diversify its pool of financial partners.
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading financial institution, has signed an agreement to provide a US$80 million Shariah-compliant Ijara facility to Oman Shipping Company SAOC (OSC), a member of the ASYAD Group, for the financing of two VLCC (Very Large Crude Carriers) tankers within the OSC group.
The transaction represents OSC’s first Sharia based leasing “Ijarah”, as well as ADIB’s ongoing commitment and ability to finance significant assets in the marine and energy sectors.
Christopher Phillips, Head of Ship Finance at ADIB, said: “ADIB has significant experience and expertise working on Middle East shipping deals across the full range of industry segments. Over the years we have been able to add significant value to partners across a wide range of innovative structures in terms of both bilateral and syndicated facilities. Completing this transaction with OSC is a testament to the hard work our team and we are well-positioned to build on our track record in this specialised business in order to assist our clients in 2020 and beyond.”
Michael Jorgensen, Chief Financial Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer at OSC, added: “It was important for us to find a trusted partner for our first Sharia-compliant Ijara facility. ADIB’s team were able to provide a competitive Ijara facility which served our needs, allowing us to finance two VLCC tankers and further support our expansion plans.”
Founded in 2003, OSC is today an international full-scale shipping company having a well-diversified fleet of 53 modern vessels (owned and chartered-in) and is a leader in shipping transportation services. The company’s business investments and growth strategy are closely aligned with the strategic maritime transportation interests of the Sultanate’s rapidly industrialising economy.
ADIB has a strong track record of delivering several landmark and award-winning transactions for high profile Corporate and Institutional customers from across the region. In 2019, ADIB concluded over 15 high profile transactions across structured and syndicated finance, Sukuk, M&A and advisory products.
In the Islamic Capital Markets, ADIB acted as a Joint Lead Manager & Bookrunner on a number of high profile Sukuk mandates including Majid al Futtaim’s first ever Green Corporate Sukuk, Warba bank and Al Dar.
ADIB’s corporate financing has also been recognised through numerous awards , including: “Best Shipping Financier” and “Shipping Deal of the year” at the Seatrade Middle East Awards, as well as “Best Islamic Financier” at the International Trade Finance Awards 2019, “World’s Best Islamic Bank” by the FT’s The Banker Magazine, “Best Premium Banking Service in the UAE” from Banker Middle East; and “Best Islamic Bank” at the EMEA Banking Awards.
THE UPS FOUNDATION flies urgent relief from UAE to flood-stricken Somalia
UPS in collaboration with UNHCR, announces the delivery of close to 100 tons of relief items to bring critical supplies to victims of the recent flooding in Somalia which has affected half a million people and uprooted 400,000 from homes.
The relief efforts and collaborations in Somalia are just the latest in UPS’s history of supporting communities in times of need. In 2018, UPS and The UPS Foundation responded to 29 major world disasters and invested $16 million in funding, in-kind, and technical support for community safety initiatives that included disaster preparedness and urgent response, recovery and public health system strengthening. Relief spanned 71 countries across continents around the globe.
Saudia launched SAL for ground handling and logistics services at Saudi airports
In order to invest in Kingdom’s strategic location and act as logistics hub for global cargo operations
Under the patronage and presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transport, Saleh Bin Nasser Al-Jasser. On Monday 16 December 2019, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) launched the Saudi Arabian Logistics (SAL) Co., the new independent entity within the Saudia Group which will act as the main cargo gate and ground handling and logistics services hub across the Saudi airports.
The launch was announced in a grand ceremony held in Riyadh and attended by the Governor of Customs Authority Ahmad Al-Haqbani, Abdulhadi Al-Mansouri, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Anef Abanomi, President of Saudi Post, Sami Sindi, the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) Director General, the directors of government agencies working at Saudi airports, CEOs of the companies and the strategic units of the Saudia, cargo and aviation transport experts.
A speech was delivered by Fawaz Al-Fawaz, Chairman of SAL Board, underscoring SAL logistics goal and its pivotal role in achieving the Vision 2030 objectives. Al-Fawaz thanked everyone who had a contributory role in founding the company, which will usher in a new logistics era keeping up with the growth and development across the precious Kingdom. Following the speech, Eng. Al-Jasser announced the official launch of the SAL brand into the world of logistics services.
SAL CEO Omar Talal Hariri delivered a speech and played a short video explaining the SAL goals and brand identity.
“SAL aims to provide integrated logistics operations and ground handling services. It acts as a link between land and sea shipping and the Saudi airports in line with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, which is one of the pivotal themes of the Vision 2030, especially in the light of the gigantic economic transformation the Kingdom has been seeing. SAL will improve the quality of logistics operations and support the Kingdom’s vision towards transforming the country into a global logistics hub handling all types of cargo and shipping operations pointed out Hariri.
GACA President handed over GACAR 151 license to SAL CEO, which qualifies SAL to officially provide ground-handling services at King Khalid International Airport’s cargo station.
Al-Jasser noted that one of the SAL strategic goals is to invest in the Kingdom’s strategic location as the heart and the crossroads of key international trade routes between three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa and a distinctive logistical getaway between the East and the West and all over the world.
Describing the logistics service sector as vital and strategic, Al-Jasser commended the milestone developments achieved so far and hoped to see more public and private sector partnerships that help support and bolster the comprehensive development across the nation in this prosperous era as well as contribute to achieving the logistic goals of Vision 2030. He hopes SAL will have a noticeable effect on the overall logistics industry.
“The unprecedented comprehensive development projects being implemented require all government agencies and the private sector to join forces in order to execute similar projects that help develop logistical services and efficiency. The government views the transportation sector as pivotal and works to develop it in order to provide the best transportation and integrated logistics services that keep up with the comprehensive development programs. SAL is one of the ambitious initiatives,” Al-Jasser said.
Saudia Director General Sami Sindi said SAL will improve the efficiency of logistics operations and ground handling services through integrating land and sea transportation operations and linking them with the Saudi airports in order to enhance logistical services across all stages.
“SAL will contribute directly to enhancing and developing the logistics infrastructure including all types of cargo platforms, warehouses and equipment as well as e-commerce cargo and shipping facilities,” Sindi explained.
He said SAL will start its business activities in January 2020 and offer high-quality logistics and ground handling services in line with the national and development goals. It will also create more economic and development opportunities through forging strategic partnerships with different local and global logistics service providers.
DP World awarded 30-year concession for the South Container Terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port
Global trade enabler DP World has been awarded a 30-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), for the management and development of the Jeddah South Container Terminal at the multi-purpose Jeddah Islamic Port.
Under the agreement, DP World will invest up to $500 million to improve and modernise the Jeddah Islamic Port, including major infrastructure development to enable the Port to serve the ultra-large container carriers (ULCC’s), which are considered the world’s largest mega containerships.
Established in 1976, the Jeddah Islamic Port is on the red sea and the largest port in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with annual volumes of over 6 million TEU’s. As a crucial link on the world’s busy east-west trade route and the Kingdom’s main commercial centres, the Port currently handles approximately 60% of the country’s sea-imports and is a strategic hub that connects East-West cargo.
Developing Jeddah Islamic Port will contribute to achieving Saudi Vision 2030 as the project is considered a key milestone towards achieving the targets of The National Industrial Development and Logistics Vision Realization Program, one of the Vision’s major initiatives. The concession will also be instrumental in facilitating the smooth and efficient movement of cargo and greater access to local and international markets. DP World has operated the South Container Terminal on a lease agreement for more than 20 years.
As the main trade destination for Saudi Arabia and one of the Kingdom’s major port privatisation projects, the new terminal will also have an upgraded capacity of 3.6mn TEU up from 2.4mn TEU, to meet the expected growth demands of the future, and will provide 1,400 jobs.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO, said: “DP World is honoured to support the Kingdom’s 2030 growth vision through this new concession to transform the country into a global logistics hub. We have committed to investing significantly to modernise the Jeddah South Container terminal, which will not only result in greater direct and indirect job creation but also deliver best-in-class efficiency and productivity to the Port’s operations.”
Bin Sulayem added, “We look forward to leveraging our strategic partnership with Mawani and the Ministry of Transport and National Centre for Privatisation to collaboratively develop the Kingdom’s trade ecosystem while enhancing the nation’s competitiveness. Beyond the terminal, our ambition is to develop inland connectivity across the Arabian Peninsula between Jeddah and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, as well as to Saudi Arabia’s cities through smart technology-led logistics, which should support further growth in this strategic hub that connects East-to-West.”
In line with DP World’s mission to transform container terminal operations through technology driven innovation, the South Container Terminal will become successfully state of the art facility with advanced infrastructure and fully commissioned smart services that ensure transparency of transactions and greater facilitation of trade.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO held a signing ceremony of the BOT concession at the Jeddah Islamic Port on 23rd December, in attendance of Makkah Acting Governor, HRH Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, H.E Engineer Saleh bin Naser Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Mawani’s Chairman of the Board, H.E Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, HE Saad Al Khalb, President of Mawani and HE Sheikh Shakbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to KSA.
Dubai Customs hosts global event in cooperation with World Customs Organization and UAE Federal Customs Authority
“WCO Global AEO Conference 2020” set to discuss in Dubai key efforts towards enhancing global customs system
Dubai is set to host the 5th World Customs Organization (WCO) Global AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) Conference 2020 which is being hosted by Dubai Customs in cooperation with WCO and the UAE Federal Customs Authority. The global event which will take place from March 10 to 12, 2020, will be introduced for the first time in the region, further reiterating Dubai’s leadership and major role in global trade, thanks to its competitiveness, safety of trade and investment environment, as well as innovative customs system that make Dubai one of the leading trading hubs in the region.
Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs said: “The 5th WCO Global AEO Conference 2020 continues to attract international attention following the successes of previous editions which have established a great momentum in terms of enhancing the linkages and communication with the customs community. The event provides an ideal platform for enhancing global customs procedures and facilitate trade across borders and enable stakeholders to keep pace with rapid global changes. The conference reflects the UAE’s leading efforts to strengthen international cooperation through constant innovation in the customs system.”
He added: “Our preparations to host the conference are underway and we are pleased to announce that it will feature a series of high-level activities aimed at encouraging the exchange of international best practices and the most successful pioneering experiences. We look to highlight Dubai’s experience as a leading hub for global trade which has a major impact in boosting the customs work and has gained major attention in terms of establishing a framework that promotes economic diversification. We look forward to the conference which will contribute to supporting the global customs sector’s efforts in building a safe and sustainable system that help achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030, as well as foreseeing the future of trade in line with Dubai Customs’ plan towards the next 50 years as outlined by the UAE leadership.”
Hosting the conference is timely for Dubai which gears up for Expo 2020 and envisions to become a global leader in customs, trade, and logistics. This is in line with the objectives of the Dubai Silk Road Strategy, one of the top priorities of the Fifty-Year Charter, and the UAE Soft Power Strategy.”
The AEO as a program continuously attracts new members as it facilitates initiatives and key agreements, the latest of which was the AEO plan and Mutual Recognition Agreement between UAE and China in December 2018 which was aimed at promoting trade exchange and customs cooperation between the two countries.
The AEO is a foundation concept in the creation of international standards for customs procedures and clearances for trading companies. It enhances the customs security system and ensures trade facilitation, enabling member companies to easily move their goods to global markets, especially to countries and markets which are members of the program.
The World Customs Organization represents 183 Customs administrations across the globe who are key decision makers in their respective countries in terms of building a stable, safe, transparent and predictable business environment. The WCO provides a platform for discussing issues related to various areas of the customs business such as harmonized system, rules of origin, customs valuation, law enforcement, facilitation, and capacity building.
Almajdouie Logistics has won the Frost & Sullivan KSA Logistics Service Provider Company of the Year Award for the fourth year in a row. Frost & Sullivan Global President and Managing Partner, Anoop Zutish presented the award to Almajdouie Logistics Deputy CEO, Mohammed Ali Almajdouie at the 2019 Middle East Best Practices Awards Banquet, which took place in Dubai, UAE on 11th December.
Mr. Almajdouie said: “Winning this prestigious award for four consecutive years is a great honour. I would like to thank all our stakeholders and employees for their hard work and dedication, without which this achievement would not have been possible. In the past year, we have launched a range of innovative new services with our customers’ evolving requirements in mind, and we look forward to building on our achievements in 2019 and beyond.”
Mr. Almajdouie added: “This recognition reflects the combined efforts of our entire team, the diversity of our services, and inspires us to work even harder to surpass our high standards. We appreciate the efforts of Frost & Sullivan for conducting these awards, which help the entire logistics industry to grow by recognising quality and setting a benchmark for success.”
The Frost & Sullivan awards recognise companies driven by visionary growth, innovation, and leadership that will catalyse and transform industries in the near future. The winners were selected for their exceptional accomplishments and superior performance in technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.
This year, 40 Awards were presented across seven industry verticals: Transportation & Logistics; Healthcare; ICT; Industrial; Mobility; Chemicals, Materials and Nutrition; and Metals & Minerals. A rigorous measurement-based methodology was used to select the winners in each category.
Etihad Rail awards AED 4.6 billion contract for Package D linking Fujairah and Khorfakkan ports to the national railway network
His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of Etihad Rail, has supervised a board meeting during which he approved a AED 4.6 billion tender for the civil works and construction of Package D of Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway. Package D will link the ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan to the network at the Dubai border with Sharjah, and stretches over a distance of 145 kilometres. Through connecting key ports to manufacturing, production and population centers, Package D will connect to quarries for building material in the Northern Emirates, contributing to the improvement of the transport and infrastructure industries in the UAE.
Etihad Rail awarded the contract of Package D to a joint venture of the China Railway Construction Corporation, CRCC, and National Projects and Construction, NPC. The agreement signing was attended by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Wenzhong Wang, Vice President of the China Railway Construction Corporation and the agreement was signed by Shadi Malak, Etihad Rail Chief Executive Officer, Zhao Dianlong, the representative of CRCC and Hamad Al Amri, Managing Director of of NPC.
Speaking on the importance of the contract, His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed said: “The awarding of this contract is a highly significant achievement as Etihad Rail follows its path to progressing one of the most important and economically strategic projects in the UAE. While expanding a vital sector that constitutes the lifeline of our national economy, we continue to provide a safe, modern, and sustainable national railway network that meets the aspirations and expectations of our nation and its leaders, supporting the UAE’s position as a major link in the regional and global supply chain, and as a key player in the logistics system.”
The 145-kilometer Package D includes the construction of 15 tunnels through the Hajar Mountains with a total length of 16 kilometres, in addition to the construction of 35 bridges and 32 underpasses.
Linking the ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan to the railway network, will allow the transportation of up to two million TEU’s (twenty-foot equivalent container units) per year, thus promoting international trade. In addition, Etihad Rail trains will carry up to 30 million tons of construction material annually to distribution centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, cutting the overall cost of transport and reducing on-road truck trips by more than 2,000 journeys per day.
This will contribute to the improvement of the UAE’s freight and transport sectors by enabling faster and more efficient distribution of goods by linking the UAE’s principal centres of manufacturing, production and population to strategic ports, facilitating the advancement of economic and social development and achieving a quantitative boost to the freight traffic and logistics sector.
Etihad Rail has previously awarded contracts for the Design and Build of Package A to a joint venture between the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and South Korea’s SK Engineering and Construction, and Packages B and C to a joint venture between the China Railway Construction Corporation and the Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting Company. This comes as part of the company’s mandate to establish a 1,200 km national railway network, which will also form an integral part of the proposed GCC Railway.
Zahid Tractor named exclusive importer and distributor of UD Trucks, Parts and Services in the Kingdom
UD Trucks, the Japanese commercial vehicle brand that is fully owned by Volvo Group, has today confirmed Zahid Tractor as the new exclusive importer and distributor of UD Trucks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This announcement follows a mutual agreement between UD Trucks and Rolaco Group, (the brand’s previous partner in the Kingdom), to terminate their collaboration.
The customer is central to everything that UD Trucks does – over almost 40 years of operation in KSA, the brand has been focused on delivering the highest possible standards of customer service, with a specific focus on minimizing downtime, ensuring reliability and adhering to UD values.
During the initial phase of this new partnership, UD Trucks and Zahid Tractors’ principal objective will be to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction whilst ensuring that customers do not experience any delays during the brand’s transition to the new distributor.
Together, UD Trucks and Zahid Tractor are committed to raising the standards of customer service and support to the highest evels, reflecting UD Trucks’ ambitions for the Kingdom and Zahid Tractor’s long-standing reputation as a customer-centric organization.
The new partnership between UD Trucks and Zahid Tractor is a natural transition, with the Saudi-based company already serving as the importer for several other Volvo Group brands. Founded in 1967, and today focused on three core business units – Construction Machinery, Commercial Vehicles and Rental; Zahid Tractor boasts an impressive reputation for its customer service. Zahid Tractor’s branches network includes 26 locations, strategically situated across the Kingdom.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, commented: “Saudi Arabia has always been, and continues to be an extremely important market for UD Trucks. In our new partnership with Zahid Tractor, we see excellent potential for future growth and look forward to implementing the significant plans we have for the Kingdom together. At the same time, we recognise that the strong reputation that the brand enjoys throughout the country would not have been possible without the efforts of Rolaco Group over recent decades. We thank them for this, and wish them success as they pursue their efforts in other fields.”
Nasser J. Bayram, Group President – Transport at Zahid Group, commented: “We value this new opportunity and partnership with UD. We are excited about the strategic potential it adds to our portfolio with its range of Medium and Heavy Duty trucks. UD, a Volvo Group Brand, is a natural fit to Zahid Tractor, a Volvo Group partner of 40 years. The same infrastructure, after sales services, Customers Centers network we already have in place serving our Volvo Trucks, Renaults Trucks, and Volvo Bus customers will be welcoming all of UD existing and new customers. UD is also well positioned to join our “Made in Saudi Arabia” Production line of 20 years at our new factory, Arabian Vehicles Industries (AVI), in King Abdullah Economic City – Rabigh, in the near future. This new alignment only demonstrates the strength of our 40 years of partnership with the Volvo Group.
UD Trucks’ positive reputation in Saudi Arabia is based on almost four decades of operation in the country, during which time the company has built a strong and loyal customer base. The brand is active across a range of segments, such as general cargo, FMCG, logistics, waste management, and construction. And while it is already particularly strong in the medium duty sector, the company is firmly focused on increasing its share in the heavy-duty sector.
Following the success of the brand’s legacy range in the Kingdom, UD Trucks renewed its line-up by introducing the new Quester in 2016, followed by the new Croner in 2017, and then the Quester 40 T in 2018. This year, the company introduced an upgraded version of the new Quester heavy-duty truck, equipped with advanced features such as ESCOT (Easy Safe Controlled Transmission) and UD Telematics, designed to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency and safety.
Photo captions:
Image 1 – (R – L) Jacques Michel, Senior Vice President International Sales UD Trucks, Nasser J. Bayram, Group President – Transport at Zahid Group, Takamitsu Sakamaki, President UD Trucks, Mohamed W. Zahid, Director, Commercial Vehicles Division- Zahid Tractor, and Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA
Image 2 & 3 – Contract signing between UD Trucks and Al Zahid Tractor Company at UD Trucks headquarters in Agio, Japan
Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors intend to form strategic alliance
The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors today signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with the intent to form a strategic alliance within commercial vehicles in order to capture the opportunities in the ongoing transformation of the industry.
In a first step, the intention is to establish a global technology partnership and to create a stronger, combined heavy-duty truck business for Isuzu Motors and UD Trucks in Japan and across international markets. This will entail transferring ownership of the complete UD Trucks business globally from the Volvo Group to Isuzu Motors in order to accelerate growth by leveraging greater volumes and complementary capabilities. There is great complementarity between the two Groups from both a geographical and product line perspective, with further opportunities to be explored over time.
The enterprise value for the complete UD Trucks business is JPY 250 billion (approx. SEK 22 billion as per the end of November 2019) and will be subject to the final scope of the business transferred and Isuzu Motor’s due diligence. The transaction is expected to, at the time of closing, result in a positive impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income of approximately SEK 2 billion and increase the Volvo Group’s net cash position by approximately SEK 22 billion.
“The Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors have a well-established relationship on medium-duty trucks in Japan based on mutual respect, shared values and win-win spirit. We see great potential to extend our cooperation within technology, sales and service as well as other areas going forward, for the benefit of our customers and business partners,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group. “Our UD Trucks colleagues have done a great job to improve performance in recent years and the alliance opens up a great opportunity to continue the successful journey.”
“Isuzu Motors and the Volvo Group strongly believe in the business opportunities and synergy potential between the two Groups. We intend to derive the full value from each other’s different specialties across product and geographical strongholds. Our collaboration will actively contribute to service improvements and strengthened customer satisfaction as well as to prepare ourselves for the forthcoming logistics revolution,” says Masanori Katayama, President and Representative Director of Isuzu Motors Limited.
The intended strategic alliance between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors will include:
• Forming a technology partnership, which will leverage the parties’ complementary areas of expertise within both well-known and new technologies as well as to create a larger volume base to support necessary, forthcoming technology investments.
• Creating the best long-term conditions for a stronger heavy-duty truck business for UD Trucks and Isuzu Motors in Japan and across international markets.
• Exploring opportunities for even broader and deeper collaboration within the commercial vehicle business across geographical areas and product lines, such as light- and medium-duty trucks.
The intention is to transfer ownership of the complete UD Trucks business globally, which had revenues totalling SEK 24 billion in 2018. The business had a minimal impact on the Volvo Group’s operating income in 2018.
All technology cooperation between the Volvo Group and Isuzu Motors will be managed through individual contracts.
The Memorandum of Understanding is non-binding. The next steps will be finalizing the scope of the business to be transferred, due diligence by Isuzu Motors and negotiations of binding agreements. Signing of binding agreements is expected by mid-2020 and closing of the transaction is expected by the end of 2020. All potential transactions will be subject to regulatory and other approvals.
Renault Trucks signs a major deal with UAE waste management Co.
New deal is West Coast Group’s first partnership with Renault Trucks
Renault Trucks’ distributor, Al Masaood, secures biggest ever order in the UAE for AWD trucks
Leading UAE waste management company pens deal for 24 All-Wheel Drive Trucks
West Coast Group, one of the UAE’s leading suppliers of waste and facilities management services, has confirmed an order for 24 All-Wheel Drive (AWD) trucks from Renault Trucks. The deal, which is the French truck maker’s biggest ever order of AWD trucks in the United Arab Emirates, is for 22 units of the D14 RK270 4×4 model and two Kerax 440 P6x6 trucks.
All models are All-Wheel-Drive trucks, which is just one of the reasons West Coast Group decided to choose Renault Trucks for this significant purchase. Renault’s trucks are renowned for their reliability and are equipped with a multitude of safety features, such as ABS and EBS, as well as technologies that meet the UAE-based waste management company’s operational requirements.
The usable chassis length is one of the longest available on the market at over six meters, and the trucks’ turning circle provides optimum maneuverability in narrow spaces. Compared to competitor brands, Renault Trucks offers class-leading engine performance with higher torque at lower RPM which results in frugal fuel consumption and a longer engine life.
Mohamed Zeftawi, General Manager of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment, said: “Al Masaood has been an icon of the UAE automotive market for over four decades. Being the sole distributor for Renault Trucks in Abu Dhabi has helped us to deliver excellence in service and our major clients now range from government departments and civil defence through to industrial and commercial organizations. This new deal with West Coast Group represents an important vote of confidence in both the quality of the vehicles produced by Renault Trucks and the strong reputation of Al Masaood for delivering the highest standards of service.”
He added: “It is a result of our decades of experience in the UAE’s automotive sales and after-sales market that we are able to provide our customers with the highest professional standards of service.
A substantial factor in securing the deal was West Coast’s confidence in Renault Trucks’ UAE distributor – Al Masaood – which has been a leader in the waste management industry for almost two decades. In particular, the high quality of after sales service it provides, with 24/7 availability across three branches in the UAE, and Renault Trucks’ two year warranty on spare parts both contribute to a seamless operation.
Commenting on the new deal, Dany Rmeily, CEO of West Coast Group, said: “Trucks are in the frontline of our business, so the success of our services significantly relies on the vehicles we use in the field. Having Renault Trucks in our fleet provides the guarantee of quality and reliability that is essential for us. We took delivery of both models in the standard specification which is perfectly suited to the various applications, such as tipper and tipper with crane”
Founded in 2000, West Coast Group provides a multitude of services including waste and facilities management through its different subsidiaries. Working with many of the UAE’s best-known organizations and companies, West Coast Group operates a fleet comprising almost a thousand vehicles in total, ranging from specially designed trucks that are used to collect municipal waste to road sweepers and logistics and support vehicles.
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, Guillaume Zimmermann, said: “This new deal with West Coast re-emphasizes the confidence that the country’s leading fleet management companies have in Renault Trucks’ vehicle line-up. We have extended experience in the waste management industry and our products are perfectly suited to the needs of our partners, and, we have the ability to customize our vehicle to ensure they get the most out of our trucks.
Across the Middle East, Renault Trucks supplies transport professionals with a wide range of services and vehicles, ranging from 2.8 to 120 T, that are adapted to local and regional distribution, construction and long-distance activities. Globally renowned for being sturdy and reliable, with low fuel consumption that delivers greater productivity and enhanced operating costs, the model line-up includes D, C and K ranges.
Agreement paves way for technical cooperation between both sides
Signing takes place after ABCC-organized seminar in São Paulo
The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi Ports, paving the way for more robust technical cooperation, port promotion, and joint business-related events and activities.
The signing took place after the conclusion of a seminar organized by ABCC in São Paulo. The seminar – which came following the state visit of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the UAE in October this year – showcased the growing business opportunities in both São Paulo, Brazil’s vibrant financial center, and Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi Ports’ flagship, deep-water port.
Around 70 executives of various companies operating at the Khalifa Port, which boasts a handling capacity of 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units, attended the seminar to shed light on the growth prospects available at Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone and Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). The speakers, who represented food, coffee, cosmetics, mining, construction, trading, and foreign trade consultancy companies, among others, also featured their services and product offerings during the event.
Rubens Hannun, President, ABCC, said: “The MoU is an opportunity as well for both parties to explore, promote, and boost substantial inbound and outbound investment prospects. By collaborating, we are opening up new channels for Brazilian firms to enter and flourish in the steadily rising Abu Dhabi market. KIZAD, for instance, is a strategic, cost-efficient area with tremendous growth scale, enabling Brazilian businesses to further expand not only in Abu Dhabi and the UAE markets but also in different parts of the region and the world.”
KIZAD supports diverse business activities in the UAE, which is considered an export hub that buys and resells many products to other countries. The Emirates is Brazil’s third largest buyer among the Arab countries.
The ABCC was established to facilitate the growth and diversification of trade partnership between Brazil and Arab nations, especially the UAE, Brazil’s third largest business and investment partner, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
The recently signed MoU reflects the ABCC’s mission to build stronger and more vivid economic, social, and cultural ties between Brazil and Arab countries; expand their partnerships; and create trade and investment opportunities in various sectors, including but not limited to agriculture, medical technology, beauty, mining, construction, trading, and foreign trade consultancy.
Leading Asian Third-party Logistics Provider Kerry Logistics Launches Regional Operations In Bahrain to Access GCC Markets
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) – the investment promotion agency for the Kingdom of Bahrain – has announced that one of Asia’s largest third-party logistics provider, Kerry Logistics Network, has launched operations in the Kingdom.
The Hong Kong-headquartered company, which manages 60 million square feet of logistics facilities over 53 countries and territories, investment in Bahrain is part of their regional footprint expansion plans to enhance access to key markets such as the Saudi market – the Gulf’s largest market.
As well as access to Saudi Arabia and the opportunity to scale across the wider $1.5 trillion GCC markets, Kerry Logistics cited the EDB as part of their decision-making process in launching operations in Bahrain.
Mr. Raymond Cheng, Director – Middle East & Africa at Kerry Logistics said: “Bahrain’s access to the region is unrivalled, as is the support we received from the EDB. There is enormous potential to grow and scale our services across Saudi Arabia, the GCC and beyond. The Kingdom has acted as a commercial bridge between the East and the West for thousands of years. In today’s increasingly digital and hyper-connected world, it is the ideal regional logistics hub.”
Hussain Rajab, Co-Chief Investment Officer – Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at EDB said:“Attracting a company of the size of Kerry Logistics required seamless collaboration and work between the Economic Development board Bahrain, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism and the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication to support the company in every stage during the setup process. The rapid access to key decision-makers enjoyed by businesses, large or small, when looking to set up in Bahrain is unparalleled. We call it our ‘Team Bahrain’ approach and it embodies the access and connectivity that really sets Bahrain apart. I’m delighted to have seen it in action with Kerry Logistics, who will be a fine addition to our logistics ecosystem.”
Bahrain enjoys easy access to GCC markets via Saudi Arabia by the 25km King Fahad causeway, and with a second causeway to Saudi Arabia in the planning stage. Also due for completion in the first quarter of next year is a new terminal for Bahrain International Airport, which will increase annual capacity of passengers to 14 million from 8 million, and cargo capacity to 1 million metric tonnes per annum. With continuous improvements to its air, sea and road networks, Bahrain has positioned itself as the region’s de facto logistics hub, where several global logistics leaders, including DHL have based their regional operations.
There are few things more critical to the success of businesses across multiple industry verticals than a robust and well-rounded inventory management process. The issue and dilemma with inventory control is that it’s tough to know where to even start in the first place. With inventory management, there can be dozens of moving pieces. It’s made even more complicated by the fact that there’s no one right way to manage inventory. Tom Craig, President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, and a regular contributor to Global Supply Chain, provides a set of universal guidelines that one can tweak and improve efficiencies and maintain a high level of organisation in the system. Successful inventory management is the result of rock-solid data analysis asserts Tom Craig in this landmark contribution—Editor.
Do you have inventory problems? Are you inventory-rich and out-of-stock at the same time?
The Reality and the Problem: Speed is the new competition and is an explicit and implicit requirement of retailing and manufacturing in today’s reality. It applies to both B2C/D2C and B2B and across industries. Customers want their orders and products faster. They want perfect orders-complete orders delivered on time. Or store replenishment’s should be delivered complete and on time. In a time of growing customer power, failure is not an option.
You know that not having needed products in stock is not new. These incidents were more tolerated until e-commerce and its order delivery velocity—and customer expectations changed. No substitutions, no delays, no exceptions. Yet many companies, especially midsize, struggle to achieve the perfect order customer metric—perhaps the best company metric for growth and success. This happens for holidays, promotions, and everyday sales. It happens when getting products made and delivered. Trade wars and recessions bring external confusion to the underlying issue. How are you doing with all this disruption?
Scope of Inventory
The situation about inventory can be broader and more involved than you may imagine. For starters, having too much inventory (often not needed or not really saleable items) while also being out of stock (of needed products) is not without costs. How are you doing here as to having too much inventory and being out of stock? Have you asked about your days of inventory or inventory turns? Are you satisfied with your turns? Include finished goods, raw materials, components, and other items used for production and sales in that inventory. They all mean money spent. In calculating turns or days of inventory, also include inventory in transit. That can be a significant number and should not be excluded. Otherwise, there can be an understatement of your inventory investment—and its opportunity cost. Ask yourself if you have too much inventory. Are you inventory-rich? Inventory rich means working capital tied up that could be used for other purposes.
Imagine the opportunity cost. Think about what else you could do with that money tied up in inventory that is sitting in the warehouse instead of turning into sales and cash. You should see if there is a correlation between your inventory turns and operating margin. Remember too that a lot of inventory sits in storage. No sales are made. No cash is created. Here money is tied up as it gathers dust.
Basically, it comes down to this. Products are supposed to flow, not sit. From a lean view, this is waste. Moving inventory more quickly is important to the new speed reality and to good financial practice. The problems with inventory velocity, too much inventory, and out of stock are more than finished goods. They include components, raw materials, assemblies, and other items. Out of stock here and rushes to meet customer orders can cause firefighting and the extra expenses of expediting. Do you firefight? Why? What are you doing about it?
Warehousing costs
Hidden also is your warehouse cost impact. That extra inventory takes up warehouse space. If an outside provider is being used, those pallets and cases are on the invoice. If at the company warehouse, there is the extra cost and lost productivity to pick items and orders because of additional time travel costs—to do it. Being out of stock means extra outlays, lost sales or delays in order completion and being paid. You know this. Add in the expediting expenses. So less money hits the P&L or more money is tied up in the balance sheet.
The above is not the only impact. There is the timeliness of when products are received versus when they are needed to sell. This involves inventory revenue yield maximisation.
Revenue Yield Maximisation:
This is an inventory impact that you may overlook. Timing comes into play with yield maximization. Revenue yield management is often associated with the airline and hotel industries where reservation-based companies attempt to maximise revenue from fixed supply or capacity, seats on a flight or rooms in a hotel. It recognises that the price or revenue creating the ability of the item in supply decreases with time. Yield management is applicable your supply chain inventory is viewed as the supply whose revenue yield is to be maximised. Inventory is key to success for manufacturers and retailers.
Having the right inventory is also difficult and challenging. Insufficient inventory means lost sales opportunities. Too much inventory means markdowns-and reduced profits—to sell it. You work on thin margins especially feel such pain. Furthermore, constant discounting may be an indication that change is needed. Many items enjoy a short shelf life relative to demand and the price your customers are willing to pay. Sales promotions, discounts, and markdowns are almost common practices to draw customers. Firms that are in dynamic, volatile businesses especially know the impact of short product life cycles and pricing decisions on the bottom line.
Old practices with moving inventory through supply chains are running into the realities of time compression and doing it faster. The analytics approach can determine an ‘optimal’ markdown(s). However, this is somewhat of an after-the-fact approach. It does not address the dynamics of doing business. Additionally, it does not address the underlying problem of demand planning and uncertainty and how to mitigate it. The length of the inbound supply chains has increased significantly with global sourcing. Longer chains mean longer times to produce and deliver products from suppliers. That length adds to the likelihood of your having increased buffer inventories.
The Solution:
First off, let us get this out of the way. There are no quick fixes and easy answers. These problems did not happen overnight. Neither does the answer. Central to your improving inventory problems—out of stock, too much inventory, tied up working capital, improving revenue yield maximisation, reduced expediting, and additional warehouse costs are creating inventory velocity. The trick is what to do and how to do it.
The movement and handling of inventory involve supply chain management. More exactly, with the new business reality and disruption, there is the new supply chain management (SCM). Inventory acceleration is the new supply chain management and its speed.
The structure of the new supply chain management, thanks to what Amazon successfully has done and is doing and that is spreading across industries, not just e-commerce, has three parts:
Make supply chain management strategic
Weaponise it
Build end-to-end SCM velocity
There are supply chain elements that are essential to what is happening and what must be done.
All cargo bound for the construction of the central business and financial district of the capital will go through the Port
DP World Sokhna recently entered into a trilateral partnership with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), and the China Ocean Shipping Company Ltd (COSCO), to serve as the hub for all construction material imports needed to build the central business and financial district of Egypt’s new administrative capital.
As part of the agreement, CSCEC, the largest construction conglomerate in China and the company in charge of developing the central business and financial district in the new capital, will benefit from Sokhna’s proximity to the new capital and its advanced road and rail links, in addition the Port’s strategic location just below the southern entrance to the Suez Canal, on the Red Sea, a key gateway for Asia, Europe and other international markets.
DP World Sokhna already has a dedicated facility for catering existing and future business of CSCEC. Upcoming Basin 2 facility will support the business of CSCEC.
Located approximately 50km east of the current capital Cairo, Egypt’s new administrative capital will cover an area of 700km2 and will be capable of accommodating 6.5 million people, when completed.
Suhail Al Banna, CEO and Managing Director of DP World Middle East and Africa said: “Our strategic partnership with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation and China Ocean Shipping Company provides the opportunity for DP World Sokhna to expand its role in supporting Egypt’s economy by serving as the exclusive port for all of the central business district’s cargo, and ultimately, companies who will be setting up their operations in the new capital.”
Al Banna added: “As a major gateway for Egypt’s trade, we look forward to utilizing DP World robust capabilities to handle cargo transiting through the important East-West trade route.”
As a driver for economic growth, job creation and urban transformation, the new capital is a $45 billion mega-project and one of the key development projects that are being rolled out by the Egyptian government. Moreover, the government plans to relocate ministries, parliament and civic institutions to the new capital.
The signing ceremony was held at CSCEC premises in New Capital near Cairo, and attended by Ajay Singh, CEO of DP World Sokhna, Alia Gammal, Commercial Manager of DP World Sokhna, Chang Weicai, General Manager of CSEC Egypt, Tiang Dong, Vice President of COSCO Shipping Europe GMBH, Lin Ji, Chairman of the Management Board and Fan Jue, Managing Director of COSCO Egypt.
DP World Sokhna recently marked its 10th year anniversary by announcing a major expansion through Basin 2, a move which brought DP World’s total investment in Egypt to $1.6 billion.
When completed in the second quarter of 2020, Basin 2 will nearly double capacity at the port to 1.75 million TEUs per year.
Identifying and placing talent for the region’s Supply Chain sector
When it comes to identifying and placing talent for the region’s end-to-end Supply Chain sector, the leading Executive Search expert in Supply Chain & Logistics has a keen knack for engaging top-performing senior executives for his clients. Brian Cartwright is a rarity in an industry sector that’s often struggling to find and attract the right calibre of high-performance leadership talent.
As with any fast-paced and volatile business, discovering top and perfectly suited talent for the Supply Chain and Logistics industry can be difficult. In many instances there is a dearth of good talent, skills and experience which is why many corporations use the services of high end executive search firms to provide professional placement services. Many clients use them to identify suitable competent candidates that may not be immediately identifiable in the market and, essentially, avoid the cost of a bad hire.
Brian Cartwright, the Dubai-based Client Partner at Pedersen & Partners, has over fifteen years of experience in Executive Search and Recruitment, and credited with having successfully carried out hundreds of senior leadership searches for the global Supply Chain and Logistics sector. His Middle East and Africa experience consists of assignments completed over the course of a decade living and working in UAE. He specialises in Supply Chain and Logistics-related functions for top C-Suite, VP, and Director-level positions in global, regional, and country level roles, working with service providers and end-user companies including large listed corporations, family-owned conglomerates, SMEs, and start-ups.
During his career, he has successfully managed businesses in the Middle East and Europe. Prior to joining Pedersen & Partners, Cartwright founded his own Executive Search and Leadership Advisory firm, which focused on adding value to organisations, and recruiting senior executives across the entire Supply Chain spectrum. Global Supply Chain recently engaged with the dapper and affable Brian Cartwright, a veritable industry veteran. A regular contributor to the publication, he has been intimately involved with the industry and across a spectrum of top-tier line and functional managers for a considerable period of time in this region through his professional responsibilities and extensive networking. Here he offered us insights and perspectives on his work and the state of the ever-evolving, ever-changing and industry at large in this exclusive interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us the brief 30-second spiel on Pedersen & Partners?
Brian Cartwright (BC): Pedersen & Partners is a leading international Executive Search firm, founded in 2001. We operate 57 wholly owned offices in 53 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Dubai was our first office in the MEA Region, opening in 2008.
Since then, Pedersen & Partners has established offices in Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia. We combine our comprehensive experience in emerging and developed markets with an extensive global footprint and proven expertise in making successful executive placements to ensure that our clients grow and expand into new markets while simultaneously remaining competitive.
Our novel ‘Best Team Forward’ approach ensures that our service goes beyond standard solutions for executive appointments. Instead, we strive to solve complex senior recruitment needs for our clients, from top-level management and C-Suite level placements to complex board governance issues, and to become their trusted advisors. We are devoted to building and sustaining authentic long-term relationships with our clients and candidates, staying focused and engaged on providing precise support and well-rounded advice to secure the absolute best leadership teams.
GSC: As the Client Partner, Supply Chain & Logistics, what specifically does your work entail?
BC: Ultimately, I support companies who are hiring senior leadership roles in the global Supply Chain and Logistics sector, although it’s probably more accurate to say I am in the knowledge and relationships business. It’s my job to constantly engage with people in the market to stay abreast of the trends, challenges and opportunities across the global supply chain whilst keeping a close eye on the top performing leaders in the sector and building relationships with them. My daily goal is to constantly expand my knowledge of the market by meeting and speaking to people.
When clients engage me to conduct an executive search, they are benefiting from my knowledge and my ability to open discussions with key people in the market, including people who don’t have a public profile online, or who are not even considering a change of jobs right now. My ability to successfully complete each search is a by-product of my involvement in the sector every day. Whenever I interact with people, it’s a discussion based on trust and deep insight and knowledge of the people, the companies and the sector I specialise in.
GSC: How significant is the Supply Chain and Logistics practice in this region for Pedersen & Partners?
BC: It is of major significance. Keep in mind that Supply Chain and Logistics can be seen as a functional specialisation, but it’s also a sector which spans every practice group within the firm across the globe. Add to that a challenging global economy which is undergoing rapid and often unpredictable changes, as well as some unique regional challenges for the end users and supply chain solutions providers, and it becomes evident – a well-managed or poorly-managed supply chain can have a huge impact on a business, whether positive or negative.
Pedersen & Partners has been partnering with clients in this region since before 2008, when they launched the regional office in Dubai, and most of those clients are focused on improving the efficiency of their supply chains, which can only be achieved by having the best people onboard to lead the way.
GSC: How has the rise of online social networking platforms impacted the recruitment business?
BC: Executive Search relies on a deep knowledge of the candidate pool, of the sectors in focus, and on direct access to senior decision makers and leaders. The social networking platforms are helpful in the sense that they provide data (the Who’s Who), but that data is often incomplete. Above all, access to data does not replace a professional network and established relationships.
GSC: What professional skills, traits and attributes are most sought after by employers in the Supply Chain and Logistics sectors?
BC: There is a new wave of Supply Chain leaders coming through the ranks who are focused on adding digital transformation skills and experience to their traditional Supply Chain competences. Most of my Supply Chain contacts have embarked on some form of education or training to raise their game in the area of digital transformation.
Most organisations are working on digitising processes, or developing omni-channel go-to market strategies, and because of this it’s imperative for Supply Chain leaders to fully understand and be able to implement digital strategies, mapping and matching the physical Supply Chain processes to the digital side. Next to this, and arguably more important, is the ability to adapt to change, and be flexible and open to ideas and new working practices. These days, people need to be constantly ready to reinvent themselves as job roles are evolving.
GSC: How competitive is your business?
BC: Even though deep expertise in emerging markets has been the cornerstone of Pedersen & Partners’ global operations since its early days, our rapid growth has enabled us to put together a team that excels at combining the best knowledge hubs across the firm and expanding our specialisation to developed markets and various geographies. The engagement with the client can originate anywhere in the world, and can be transferred to anywhere else in the world, bypassing borders but maintaining the same level of competence and support that our clients have come to expect from Pedersen & Partners.
This can be secured due to our unified business approach, and our complete and open flexibility when partnering with a client. In a highly fluid search environment, and with executive functions constantly evolving to encompass increasingly digitised responsibilities, “competitive” means full and relentless dedication to aligning the client’s strategy, ownership structure, growth vision, and culture with the absolutely best-suited leadership team that preserves its business qualities, but also has the humanity, authenticity, empathy, and openness required to succeed. We always take into consideration current global trends, such as digital transformation, cyber security and risk management, regulation and compliance, diversity and transparency, reputation and integrity, independence and dedication, and shareholder empowerment when we commit to a client partnership.
GSC: What opportunities and challenges confront you going forward?
BC: As with all the other professional advisory industries, Executive Search has rapidly evolved and is incorporating new trends into the operations, from technology upsurge with algorithm-assisted selection of candidates to detailed assessment and prognostics of executive potential once brought on board. Although there is the sense that recruiters will have to adapt to these challenges themselves in their efforts to advise clients and candidates on the best way forward for businesses, from start-ups to MNCs, the fundamental basis of all partnerships between clients and search experts – building solid, trust-based relationships – will remain paramount.
GSC: Which are the top three most promising countries in the region for recruitment for the short and /or long term?
BC: In the MENA region, the top three are certainly Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt. We also see strong growth potential in Iraq, given the need to further develop local infrastructure and the Iraqi consumer market itself.
GSC: What are the expansion plans for Pedersen & Partners in the region?
BC: Dubai is ideally located as a hub for the MENA region, and we already have presence in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the other two largest markets. Rather than opening new regional offices, we intend to grow our MENA presence in the form of a larger team, with more consultants focusing on additional sectors and functional areas.
GSC: Describe your relationship with your clients?
BC: We work alongside our clients as advisors and partners, which in my opinion is the only way to get the best possible outcomes. We need to work collaboratively leveraging our strengths–the strengths of both their organisation and of Pedersen & Partners.
An excellent example of this is when we can open up discussions with key senior executives who weren’t previously considering a move; when the organisation we are representing has a strong reputation as an employer of choice, it helps to move the discussion forward.
Another great example is that for the partnership to work well, it is imperative that the end-employer can manage an efficient and timely internal recruitment process. It is pointless for us to attract the right people and gain their interest, if they later withdraw from the process themselves because the employer was disorganised and gave a bad first impression.
The good news is that we are well-equipped to help our clients to position themselves better. We can employ our deep industry knowledge and experience, and share best practice advice when it comes to attracting and retaining high-performance business leaders. Best Team Forward’ approach ensures that we can convene the best power team every time, engaging colleagues from offices across the globe to tackle each client’s demands.
Daikin, the leading global innovator and provider of advanced, high-quality air conditioning, heating, ventilation and refrigeration (HVAC-R) products and solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications, has revealed the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two parties across various fields of interest while also taking advantage of Dubai’s strategic location as a vital logistics hub. The agreement was finalized during the visit of Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza to Daikin’s new facility in Dubai.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region and CEO of Jafza said: “The agreement reflects the tremendous trust and confidence Daikin has in Jafza’s capabilities to support and grow its business. With the company planning to further expand its operations in the Middle East and Africa region, we believe Daikin Middle East and Africa is moving in the right direction, from the right place. As enablers of trade, we are well aware that the business is built on the global supply chain. Our flagship developments, Jafza and Jebel Ali Port, create a unique business and logistics hub that supports global companies looking for efficient operational eco-systems to help boost their strategic plans.
“The new facility’s green credentials are impressive and welcome Daikin MEA’s commitment to exchange expertise and knowledge as part of our efforts to build long term bridges of collaboration. Our aim is to partner with our stakeholders to create value and opportunities and believe in pursuing growth in a sustainable manner. We are pleased to be associated with Daikin and are committed to backing their goals in this vibrant and rapidly-growing geography.”
Yuji Miyata, Chairman and President at Daikin MEA, said: “We highly appreciate JAFZA’s support, providing us with a fully-fledged facility for our Headquarter operations in the region. The collaboration together emphasizes our determination to strengthen and expand our business, create and provide advanced HVAC solutions, achieve our overarching goal of creating new value for our customers, contribute to society and save energy. Under the collaboration, we are committed to exchanging expertise and knowledge in various fields to serve the common goals of strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading trading platform incubating major international companies.”
He added, “Our new facility is green and sustainable, features the latest product solutions promoted in the region, including a chiller, smart VRV, along with AHU, FCU and BMS systems. The full HVAC design is highly efficient, environmentally friendly, saves energy and equipped with full energy management tools. Our facility will be the base of operations for 250 staff members from sales and operational functions working in a totally open office environment culture, and is situated on 22,000 sqm of land, with the building and factory amounting to 7,500 sqm, and combines the Training Academy, fully air-conditioned AHU Factory and the flagship experience center.”
Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Apex.AI, a leading software company in autonomous mobility. The investment will fund the development of a safety-certified software framework for autonomous systems.
Apex.AI, a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017, is building an automotive-grade version of ROS (Robot Operating System), an established open source software framework commonly used in robotics and autonomous systems research. By providing a safer and more reliable version of ROS that will be certified according to the functional safety standard ISO 26262, Apex.AI enables companies to take their autonomous vehicle projects into production.
“We are excited to invest in a company that enables easier development of safety-certified systems,” says Anna Westerberg, acting CEO of Volvo Group Venture Capital and SVP Volvo Group Connected Solutions. “Apex.AI has a promising product offering with important commercial deployment potential for autonomous systems,” says Dan Tram, Investment Director of Volvo Group Venture Capital, who is based in Silicon Valley. The role of Volvo Group Venture Capital is to make investments in innovative companies at the forefront of service orientation as well as product differentiation and to support collaboration between startup companies and the Volvo Group.
Based on the trends shaping the future of transportation and Volvo Group strategic priorities Volvo Group Venture Capital focus investment areas are today Autonomous Solutions, Connected Services and Electromobility. The scope is global with a focus on Europe and North America.
The 3rd Saudi Maritime Congress is planned for March 2020 to take place in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Held in partnership with Founding Strategic Partners, Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and Bahri, the event will be held from 22-23 March under the patronage of Transport Ministry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will highlight the achievements of the Kingdom’s shipping industry.
The event will provide an ideal platform for local and global industry leaders and authorities to examine the prospects for development and investment in the Kingdom’s maritime and logistics sectors in line with the Vision 2030 plan to make Saudi Arabia a logistics and maritime hub for the Middle East.
According to Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, organisers of event: “There could not be a better time to hold this crucial event within the Kingdom and every session planned within the 2-day conference programme addresses a highly important subject matter.” Top of the agenda is Vision 2030, which leads into a discussion about trade relationships with key partners…and, in particular, opportunities for the Kingdom’s logistics sector and its development. Sessions also include the latest disruptive technology in the maritime sector, as well as the fuel revolution to 2050 and managing risk in shipping.
Addressing nationalization, a dedicated session will focus on developing and training the Kingdom’s workforce and what progress has been made to fill the workforce gap. Alongside the conference session, an exhibition will run in the Dhahran Expo gathering local and international companies under one roof to discuss, network and do business. Strategically important, news that the Saudi Maritime Congress will be held again next year, comes on the back of a recent announcement that 55 new ships will be added to the Saudi fleet as part of a raft of initiatives to boost the sector.
Fareed Al-Qahtani, Vice Chairman responsible for maritime transport at the Saudi Public Transport Authority (PTA), has said that the recent news “seeks to raise the levels of efficiency in maritime transport, safety and security, and to open prospects for development and investment and facilitate maritime navigation procedures in line with the striving to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics center to achieve the ambitious vision 2030 in cooperation with strategic partners.”
The country’s fleet currently consists of 368 cargos and a Saudi-flagged vessel. The gross tonnage has reached 8 million tons, a significant growth from 3.4 million tons in 2017. And is expected to reach about 9 million tons by the end of 2019.
For more information about Saudi Maritime Congress, please visit: www.saudimaritimecongress.com
Turkish Cargo participated in ‘’Logitrans – 2019’’ fair.
The global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo participated this year in Logitrans, Turkey’s most extensive international transportation and logistics fair, for the 11th time. Having a 155 m2 wide stand area in the fair organized in CNREXPO Istanbul Fair Center on November 13-15, Turkish Cargo met business partners and event participants.
The Logitrans fair has hosted approximately 150 firms composed of the representatives of cargo agencies, automotive producers, air cargo firms, airport and harbor authorities, IT service providers, customs authorities, logistical associations, logistical schools, the representatives of international logistical publications, and over 15 thousand visitors.
Turkish Cargo, within the scope of Atlas Logistics Awards organized for the 10th time this year; He was awarded the first prize in the “International Air Carrier” category and the Jury Special Award for ‘Dual Air Cargo Hub Solution’ and ‘Mission Resque’ projects.
Participating the international fairs regularly, Turkish Cargo gives air cargo service in over 300 destinations in 126 countries and keeps growing steadily. According to the international air cargo information provider WACD’s September data, the successful brand grew significantly by achieving a tonnage increase of 8.8 percent in a sector wherein the global air cargo market shrank by -5.4 percent. Turkish Cargo’s target is to be one of the top five air cargo brands of the world in 2023.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
UAE discusses four key challenges facing global maritime sector during IMO’s 31st General Assembly Meeting in London
Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime proposes ways to address major issues
E. Al Nuaimi: UAE has helped develop new standards to prevent fraudulent ship registrations
H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of FTA – Land and Maritime, recently underscored the four key areas in the maritime sector that are expected to bring new challenges to the global maritime community. Speaking on the sidelines of the 31st General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, H.E. Al Nuaimi cited cybersecurity, port development and modernization, the seafaring profession, and collective maritime capacity building as the fundamentals that will help shape the future of the industry. As such, he said joint programs and collective actions among international players and stakeholders are needed to address and anticipate challenges that may arise in these areas.
On cybersecurity, H.E. Al Nuaimi pointed out that building a safe and secure digital infrastructure is crucial to the future of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), which rely heavily on the integrity of information and communications technology (ICT) systems and data confidentiality. According to him, a strategic plan by IMO will help identify the needed improvements and steps to reduce cybersecurity risks and, consequently, avoid a global disruption to the global supply chain and international trade.
As for port management, he said that the global maritime community should work together to modernize ports and ensure that they are capable of meeting the future demands of the shipping industry and the growing maritime trade. The future smart ships will demand smart ports as connected technologies continue to move the maritime sector into the digital age, he added. Enhanced collaboration between port stakeholders will help optimize operations, promote efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and support a green and sustainable maritime environment.
The third key area, the seafaring profession, is facing two current and future challenges. H.E. pointed out the shortage of skilled seafarers worldwide and the critical skills upgrade in line with the rising digitalization in the maritime industry, which accounts for 90 per cent of the total world trade.
On the fourth area, he said that the international maritime community should collaborate to promote the sector’s global competitiveness, build a sustainable maritime shipping segment, and optimize the use of energy resources, while ensuring environmental sustainability.
To meet future challenges, the UAE has already aligned its National Maritime Strategy with the IMO Strategic Plan 2018-2023. In addition, the UAE has adhered to the IMO’s directive in relation to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of ships. The country has also expressed its continued support for the development of a follow-up action plan and the fourth IMO’s GHG study. Further, it has developed the 2017-2050 National Plan for Climate Change, which aims to address climate change challenges and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
He said: “The UAE is working closely with IMO’s member states to help prepare a proposal dealing with MASS regulations under the supervision of the Maritime Safety Committee and Legal Committee. We also contributed to the making of new measures designed to prevent unlawful and fraudulent registration practices in the shipping industry.”
H.E. Al Nuaimi added: “The UAE has made valuable contributions to many of IMO’s initiatives, including implementation of reforms, improvement of the application process for the consultative status of non-government organizations (NGOs), and introduction of e-voting.”
The FTA has reviewed the UAE’s maritime accomplishments, from the establishment of the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) to maritime education and training. The NTTFC was established to bring together the maritime, air, land, and rail transport sectors under a unified national framework and a single window platform. On training, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Sharjah and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport in this regard. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy was established to provide a world-class maritime education.
New low profile, all-weather tires – Nokian Hakka Truck tire family expands to 60-series
Nokian Heavy Tyres, Nokia, Finland, November 26, 2019 – The low-profile 60-series truck tires have become popular with low-chassis height trucks which are towing high-capacity semi-trailers. From the end of 2019, Nokian Hakka Truck Drive and Nokian Hakka Truck Steer tires will be available in new 60-series sizes, enabling new types of trucks to benefit from their well-balanced all-weather properties.
The Nokian Hakka Truck product family is a series of truck and bus tires optimized for year-round medium and long-haul transports on Central European roads. Carrying the 3PMSF marking, the entire range is well suited for changing weather conditions and all kinds of road surfaces.
“Nokian Hakka Truck tires strike an excellent balance between features”, says Teppo Siltanen, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “Comfortable ride and precise steering response, good grip in all conditions and excellent mileage due to even wear shape – it’s all there.”
The grip that lasts
Some of the most distinctive Nokian Hakka Truck features are the open design and deep, effective sipping. They make sure that the grip remains even when the tire wears down. “A long service life means more economical and sustainable use”, Siltanen says. “What’s more, the tire’s low rolling resistance means lower fuel consumption and more quiet operation.”
New 60-series sizes
Starting from the end of 2019, the Nokian Hakka Truck tires are available for steer and drive axle positions in low profile 60-series sizes. For steer axle, the new Nokian Hakka Truck Steer size is 315/60R22.5. For drive axle, there are new Nokian Hakka Truck Drive sizes 315/60R22.5 and 295/60R22.5.
“There is a growing need for low profile tires for low chassis height trucks with high-capacity semi-trailers”, Teppo Siltanen says. “Quality tires bring peace of mind for the driver and the entire operation.”
Turkish Cargo expands the ‘Pharma Corridor’ in its wide flight network.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing global air cargo brand thanks to its wide flight network, keeps bringing health to the world by carrying pharmaceuticals between destinations certified by the global aviation authorities.
The successful brand has created a pharma corridor between over 400 stations by carrying pharmaceuticals in important and certified destinations such as Mumbai, Brussels, Istanbul, Singapore, Dubai, Basel, London, and Amsterdam.
Turkish Airlines Chief Cargo Officer, Turhan Özen said; “As Turkish Cargo, we carry out the pharmaceutical transports from Atatürk and Istanbul Airports that have been certified by the global air cargo authorities and thus hold the IATA CEIV certificate within the cold chain integrity. While maintaining our successful Dual Hub operations, we carry out the land transports between two airports by using active temperature-controlled vehicles that hold all the necessary international certificates to preserve the cold chain integrity. Besides, the natural hub Istanbul, which is at the center of gravity of the air cargo trade, provides the appropriate climate conditions for the time and temperature sensitive cargo transportation throughout the year. Together with our flag-carrier master brand Turkish Airlines, we aim to become one of the top three air bridges of the world.”
Operating in 15 stations that hold the IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) certificate, Turkish Cargo also has completed the IATA CEIV Pharma certificate renewal process for Atatürk Airport and is qualified for the the same certificate for Istanbul Airport (IST) now as well. The global air cargo brand, which serves in 14 stations that hold the EU’s Good Distribution Practice certificate, also carries out its pharmaceutical transport operations in 40 stations that hold QEP (Qualified Envirotainer Provider) certificate and ensures active temperature control between destinations that are thousands of kilometers far from each other.
Maintaining its operations in compliance with the global air cargo standards in 126 countries of the world, Turkish Cargo continues to offer active and passive solutions for medicine consignments through its storage areas within the temperature range of -20/+25° C that meet high quality standards along with temperature-controlled wide body and cargo aircraft.
Covering the world with its wide flight network composed of over 300 stations with 88 of them being direct cargo destinations, Turkish Cargo continues to be a preferred brand in air cargo transportation sector by ensuring a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet, and specialist teams.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
UPS DELIVERS AUDIO-VISUAL ELEMENTS FOR EXPO 2020’s AL WASL DOME IN THE RUN UP TO ‘WORLD’S GREATEST SHOW’
As the Official Logistics Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, UPS (NYSE: UPS) announced today the successful completion of its delivery of projector equipment for Al Wasl dome, the immersive 360-degree projection surface that forms the centre piece of the Expo site and is designed to be one of the world’s largest projection domes.
UPS delivered 11 high value projector enclosures about 3.6m in diameter, along with highly sensitive and fragile glass doors to, Cimolai & Rimond Middle East, the contractor responsible for providing the steel work for the intricate domed trellis of the Al Wasl Plaza.
UPS handled the logistics from Monterrey International Airport, Mexico, to the Expo 2020 site and chartered this oversized shipment by air with the Antonov AN-124 plane, one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world. UPS ensured fast and safe delivery of the projectors with a total gross weight of more than 46 tonnes.
Expo 2020 Dubai chose UPS as Official Logistics Partner for an event that is billed as the “world’s greatest show” by organizers, on a site that is roughly the size of 750 soccer fields, with 192 countries confirmed to participate. To support Expo 2020 Dubai, UPS draws on its experience as the logistics sponsor of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
STRATA SIGNS STRATEGIC 10-YEAR CONTRACT WITH MALAYSIA’S CTRM
Contract will see Composites Technology Research Malaysia supply composite detail aerospace parts to the Al Ain-based aero-structure manufacturer
Strata Manufacturing (Strata), the advanced composite aero-structures manufacturing company wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, has signed a contract with Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) for the supply of composite detail aircraft parts.
Under the 10-year contract, which was signed today at Dubai Airshow 2019, CTRM will supply Strata with structural composite detail parts for aircraft components. The first shipment is due to arrive at Strata’s world-class Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park production facility in the second quarter of 2020.
Outlining a strategy to secure best-cost international supply chain partners for Strata-manufactured composite aero-structure components, Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO of Strata, said: “Composite details are vital components in the final products we provide to our customers across the global aero-structures market.
“By outsourcing sub-tier business functions to selected suppliers with proven track record of excellence, Strata can place a greater focus on core manufacturing activities and take full control of the end-to-end supply chain. This arrangement will enable Strata to continue exceeding customers’ expectations in terms of cost-efficient delivery.”
Shamsuddin Mohamed Yusof, CEO of CTRM, which has three decades of global supply chain experience in electronic, automotive and composite aero-structures for major commercial and military aircraft manufacturers, stressed the Malaysian firm’s arrangement with Strata will enhance its capacity to develop technology-based solutions for the advanced composites industry.
“The deal with Strata augments our key strategy to further expand our business and footprint in the industry. Through this strategic arrangement, CTRM becomes the extended manufacturing arm and capacity provider for Strata. By leveraging on each other’s respective strengths and capabilities, Strata and CTRM will complement each other in capacity and capabilities towards strengthening our position in this aerospace industry,” said Shamsuddin.
Strata works with leading aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, and Pilatus. Based at Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, Strata supports the development of a leading aerospace hub in Abu Dhabi as part of the emirate’s economic diversification initiatives. The homegrown manufacturer employs more than 700 people of 30 different nationalities – with more than half of its workforce being represented by Emirati nationals.
Over 150 guests attended the reception at a top Dubai hotel
Germany, headquartered Hahn Air recently celebrated its 20th anniversary commemorations of its founding and sixth birthday commemorations in Dubai. Among the participants were travel agents, distribution partners, media and other stakeholders.
The guests celebrated in Hahn Air’s signature colour blue, and witnessed great performances with live music, traditional dances and a light-show-act. They also took the opportunity to pose alongside a life-sized Martin, the Hahn Air mascot.
Hahn Air’s Vice President of Sales and Agency Distribution, Kimberley Long, welcomed the attendees and thanked them for their trust and loyalty. “We are so thrilled to celebrate with our partners in Dubai. A big thank you to all travel agents, Global Distribution Systems (GDS) partners, online travel agencies, tour operators and consolidators in the UAE and Middle East who trust in our solutions,” she remarked.
“It’s been many years of fruitful cooperation and continual growth we look forward to the next 20 years. We remain committed to expanding our network of airline partners and our portfolio of services,” she added.
Other representatives from the head office included, Robert Heerenveen, Vice President Global Account Management, and Ahmed Mansour, Director Global Account Management. 1999-established Hahn Air is a German scheduled and executive charter airline. It offers indirect distribution services to other airlines and thus provides ticketing solutions to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets. With 20 years of experience, the company has established itself as the market leader. Today, Hahn Air’s partner network encompasses more than 350 partner airlines.
Hahn Air offers its distribution services exclusively to transportation companies and ticketing solutions to travel agents only. However, travellers benefit as well as they are able to choose from more carriers, more routes and more destinations. Every year millions of passengers travel between 4,000 locations using Hahn Air’s HR-169 tickets.
It is the first and only airline worldwide that offers free and comprehensive reimbursement in case of insolvency of the operating carrier. Hahn Air is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and a globally connected stakeholder playing a leading role in the airline industry.
Hahn Air is 100% owned by the Hahn Air Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich near Frankfurt, Germany. The fleet of Hahn Air Lines operates out of the airports Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Egelsbach.
The Group, which has offices around the world, including Minneapolis, Montevideo (Chile), Casablanca, New Delhi, Manila and Johannesburg, achieved an annual global turnover of approximately US$ 1 bn in the last fiscal year.
The 12-year US $280 million sale and lease-back agreement provides the UAE’s national carrier with 12 spare engines
Sanad Capital (Sanad), the aerospace asset leasing and financial solutions company, has completed delivery of its 12th engine to Etihad Airways. The delivery marks the final tranche of a US $280 million, 12 engine deal signed between the two Abu Dhabi aerospace companies in 2016.
The 12-year sale and lease-back agreement between Etihad Airways and Sanad, provides the UAE carrier with seven additional spare GEnx engines, four additional spare GP7270E engines and one V2527-A5 spare engine.
Troy Lambeth, Chief Executive Officer of Sanad Capital, said: “Our long-standing relationship with Etihad Airways is testament to Sanad’s position as a leasing partner of choice that can provide effective long-term lease financing solutions. The completion of this landmark agreement with Etihad Airways builds on our recent successes and demonstrates Sanad’s commitment to support our customers in their long-term growth.”
Collectively investing in the most technologically advanced platforms within the aviation industry and in-line with the shared mandate of both companies to further grow Abu Dhabi’s aerospace sector, Sanad and Etihad Airways have been key partners since 2011 and have closed over US$ 750 million in long term leasing transactions together.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Sanad has been a trusted and reliable partner in our growth over the past decade and we look forward to expanding our relationship in the future.”
The financing facility in support of the US $280 million, 12 engine agreement signed in 2016 was provided by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML), and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).
The Al Ain-based aero-structure manufacturer and Spain’s Grupo Aeronáutico Zona Centro sign five-year supplier contract for metallic bonded and CNC machined detail aircraft parts
Strata Manufacturing (Strata), the advanced composite aero structures manufacturing company wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, has signed a contract with Grupo Aeronáutico Zona Centro (GAZC) at Dubai Airshow, to establish a competitive and lean supply chain network.
Under the five-year agreement, GAZC, the leading Spanish manufacturer of machined detail parts for major OEMs and aerospace industry heavyweights, will be Strata’s strategic supplier of fixed metallic ‘computer numerical control’ (CNC) machined detail aircraft parts until 2025.
Strata will receive its first GAZC shipment at its Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park production facility later this year.
“Building strategic relationships to leverage the very specific expertise of well-established players across the global supply chain of aero-structure components and establishing Strata’s own supply network are key factors in Strata’s immediate and long-term strategy,” said Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO of Strata.
“GAZC is renowned as a globally-recognised expert in manufacturing metallic CNC machined detail aircraft parts of the highest levels of precision and customisation. Securing their place in Strata’s next phase of growth marks an important highlight in our journey and ensures we will continue to service our global customers competitively and on-time delivery,” added Abdulla.
Strata’s alignment with GAZC represents the UAE manufacturing pioneer’s latest initiative in outsourcing sub-tier business functions, specifically best-cost procurement partnerships for aircraft parts that are vital elements of Strata-manufactured composite aero-structure components.
“We thank Strata for their consideration and for trusting GAZC in its future development strategy. This agreement represents the consolidation of a common vision between Strata and GAZC, it enables us to further build our business relationship and provides us a firm foundation for future collaboration essential in order to meet the growing needs and expectations of a high regulated aerospace sector,” said Alfonso Delgado Recio, CEO of GAZC.
“The added value of this arrangement empowers Strata as a major player in the aerostructures market by best utilising GAZC production capability and industry knowledge, while further enabling GAZC as a strategic supplier within the operational structure and strategy of Strata.
This is the first step in a joint development path that will ensure the satisfaction of our customers by anticipating their requirements, and providing unique innovative solutions as a direct result of this mutual partnership agreement,” added Recio.
Strata works with leading aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, Boeing, Leonardo, and Pilatus. Based at Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, Strata supports the development of a leading aerospace hub in Abu Dhabi as part of the emirate’s economic diversification initiatives. The homegrown manufacturer employs around 700 people of 30 different nationalities – with more than half of its workforce being represented by Emirati nationals.
Royal Jordanian Airlines has recently entrusted , a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, with landing gear services for the airline’s regional aircraft fleet of Embraer E-Jets.
The three-year contract encompasses landing gear overhauls for one Embraer 195 and two Embraer 175s. In addition, Hawker Pacific will support Royal Jordanian with landing gear spares on a loan- and exchange-basis. The first overhaul of the aircraft’s landing gears in Hawker Pacific’s Sun Valley facility is scheduled for November 2019.
Lufthansa Technik already has a decades-long business relationship with Royal Jordanian, that in addition to the new contract emcompasses both landing gear services as well as a Total Component Support (TCS®) for the airline’s Airbus A320 fleet.
Royal Jordanian’s President and CEO Stefan Pichler said: “We are glad to partner with Hawker Pacific being a leading landing gear repair and overhaul provider. We believe that their high-quality standards and timely services will support Royal Jordanian’s continued keenness to maintain our aircraft in their best performance. This agreement will further enhance our historical cooperation with Lufthansa Technik.”
Bernd Freckmann, Chief Executive Officer of Hawker Pacific Aerospace, further added that the company “is proud to serve Royal Jordanian with Embraer landing gear overhaul services, a product where Hawker Pacific Aerospace was and is able to demonstrate great experience and quality. We are dedicated to provide Royal Jordanian with the high level of quality they have experienced within the Lufthansa Technik Group”.
About Royal Jordanian
Being a leading carrier in the region, Royal Jordanian’s (RJ) vision is to be the Airline of Choice that connects Jordan and the Levant with the world. Back in 1963, RJ was established by a Royal Decree, as the national air carrier of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. From its hub at Queen Alia International Airport, RJ operates a fleet of
26 aircraft to reach 45 direct destinations providing an extensive travel network for its guests via Amman to Europe, the US and Canada, North Africa and the Far East. RJ is also a member in the oneworld airline alliance, along with big names in the air transport industry.
As for air freighting, Royal Jordanian is a leading provider of air cargo services in the Middle East, offering fast, reliable and safe shipping services. RJ’s cargo sector plays an important role in enhancing the national economic development and supporting Jordan’s exports of vegetables, fruits, garments and pharmaceuticals, in addition to the courier mail. The airline is currently implementing a five-year turnaround plan that consists of four main pillars, including being the number 1 carrier in the Levant, achieving sustainable profitability, being a Customer Champion and an Employer of Choice.
Tristar Group awarded Special Commendation at the Golden Peacock Global Awards for Sustainability 2019
Tristar Group, the integrated logistics services provider, is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Special Commendation for the Golden Peacock Global Award for Sustainability – 2019. The award highlights Tristar’s commitment to achieving leadership in sustainability and its dedication to managing the business to the highest health, safety, environmental and compliance standards.
The Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability (GPGAS) commends companies pioneering internal initiatives promoting sustainable development. The awards use a meticulously defined and transparent selection criteria, and honors are determined by a highly elaborate and independent assessment process. Previous winners of the GPGAS include Rolls Royce, SEE, IBM and Nokia.
Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar, said: “Tristar Group is delighted to have been awarded the Special Commendation for the Golden Peacock Global Award for Sustainability. We have always been devoted to holding ourselves to the highest sustainability standards, and this is a commitment we uphold wherever we operate. We are extremely proud of this recognition, which as a reflection of our purpose to build a sustainable business.”
The Golden Peacock Awards, instituted by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991, are regarded as a benchmark of Global Corporate Excellence. The awards celebrate the companies leading in the areas of Leadership, Corporate Governance and Sustainability, and intend to improve overall performance standards and recognize the achievements of the best performing organizations.
The awards presentation took place at The Montcalm Hotel in London on Thursday 14th November 2019, as part of the Institute of Directors, India’s Annual London Global Convention. Eugene Mayne was present to collect the award in the presence of the conference’s distinguished business leaders and participants.
Mr. Mayne gave a Special Address at the convention opening on Wednesday, 13th November, held at the House of Lords. He was also a speaker at the plenary session on sustainability held on Thursday, 14th November, where he joined a panel of industry leaders who discussed the importance of sustainability in relation to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Tristar’s commitment to sustainability spans across care of the planet and environment, to ensuring the wellbeing of its employees and the communities the company engages with. Tristar’s pursuit of being a ‘Business for Purpose’ means ensuring that the Company makes a positive impact across its operations and is central to the Company’s operations and identity. This ethos embraces the Company’s long-held determination to operate in a manner that is transparent, safe, and sustainable.
According to the international air cargo information provider WACD’s September data, the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo, which serves 126 countries of the world, grew significantly by achieving a tonnage increase of 8.8 percent in a sector wherein the global air cargo market shrank by -5.4 percent.
According to WACD’s September data, in September when only Turkish Cargo, one of the top 10 airlines, achieved a positive result, the cumulative contraction in the global air cargo market was -5.0 percent.
Turkish Cargo keeps growing in Far East and America markets.
On the basis of the tonnage sold, the flag-carrier air cargo brand has grown by 11.1 percent in America, 9.7 percent in the Far East Region, 8.7 percent in Europe, 7.9 percent in the Middle East, and 5.3 percent in Africa, thus achieving positive results in all regions wherein it provides air cargo service, and kept growing steadily in these regions.
In addition to the flag-carrier Turkish Airlines’ cargo carrying capacity, Turkish Cargo that performs direct cargo flights to 88 destinations with its cargo aircraft fleet and has achieved a sustainable growth through its current infrastructure and newly made investments has been continuing to increase its capacity through successful operations in over 300 destinations constituting its current flight network.
The successful air cargo brand that serves 126 countries keeps raising its success bar by combining its broad range of services and operational capabilities with Turkey’s unique geographical advantages.
Contracts include three AW139s and two AW169s with deliveries in 2020 joining 16 AW139s already in service
The signing marks the first order for the AW169 by Abu Dhabi Aviation
Over 200 AW169s ordered by customers worldwide to date
Dubai, 18 November 2019 – Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), the largest commercial helicopter operator in MENA and Leonardo, an international aircraft manufacturer and supplier, announced today, during an official ceremony at the Dubai Air Show, the signing of contracts for 5 helicopters including three intermediate AW139s and two light-intermediate AW169s. The aircrafts are scheduled for delivery in 2020. The agreement, which represents ADA’s first order for the AW169 helicopters, will expand ADA’s fleet of Leonardo helicopters which already incorporates 16 intermediate AW139 helicopters, primarily supporting the oil and gas industry. These latest orders are part of an agreement for 15 helicopters including the AW139/AW169/AW189 types announced at the end of 2015.
Like the AW139s, also the AW169s will benefit from the support solutions provided locally by AgustaWestland Aviation Services LLC, an Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) and Leonardo joint venture delivering thorough support and maintenance services in the region. Operating both the AW139 and AW169 ADA will also add to the range of customers worldwide who are benefitting from the unique advantages of the AW Family of new generation helicopter models.
“This agreement has come to support the oil and gas industry inside and outside the UAE and to satisfy the transport, air-ambulance and other needs. It is in line with the Company’s strategy to expand its fleet of new generation aircraft in order to meet its customers’ needs, in light of the expected high demand in 2020″ said H.E. Nader Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation.
Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo CEO, said: “We’re honoured our long established leading partner Abu Dhabi Aviation has now decided to add the AW169 to their fleet, confirming their trust in our technology to provide a major contribution to their future success.”
Information on the AW169 Helicopter
The new generation twin-engine light multi-role helicopter, the 4.8 ton AW169, has been designed in response to the growing market demand for an aircraft that delivers high performance, meets all the latest safety standards and has multi-role capabilities. Its high performance and state-of-the-art technology make it just the best choice for operations in high temperature conditions both onshore and offshore. AW169 has become the best-selling helicopter in its class for a wide range of operations including air transport, air ambulance and VVIP transport. Over 200 AW169s have been ordered by customers worldwide to date.
Overview of Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA)
Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) is a national shareholding company and the largest commercial helicopter operator in MENA region, established in 1976. The company owns a fleet of 55 aircrafts, including 51 helicopters and 4 fixed-wing aircrafts. ADA also operates aircrafts for various entities. ADA has won multiple international aviation awards. It has completed 1,000,000 safe flying hours.
Abu Dhabi Aviation activities
Services to Oil Companies
Abu Dhabi Aviation provides aviation offshore oil field support and other services worldwide and in particular for the oil and gas production companies inside and outside the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Company also provides air ambulance and Search and Rescue services.
Maintenance Operations
Among the most significant services provided by Abu Dhabi Aviation are the air ambulance and medical evacuation services provided to various entities. The Company has developed its services using a fleet of modern aircraft to satisfy work requirements and its adopted safety strategy.
Additional Services
* Multiple logistic support services to the police and the army.
* The company also provides VVIP passenger transportation services, crop spraying, aerial construction, seismic support, fire fighting in the UAE and Europe.
The Company has continued to expand its business into other markets as well, as it holds 50% of Royal Jet, the world’s largest award-winning commercial operator of Boeing Business Jets. In addition to its Boeing Business Jets fleet, Royal Jet operates a varied fleet of other business jet aircrafts to meet the needs of its elite clientele.
Another growth area for Abu Dhabi Aviation is the specialized heavy-jet air cargo market. In 2008, ADA acquired Maximus Air LLC, a medium-size company based in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Aviation, in association with Leonardo, an international aircraft manufacturer, established AgustaWestland Aviation Services LLC for the maintenance of AW139, AW169, AW189 and AW109 helicopters. The company provides aircraft maintenance and repair services and sells aircraft spare parts and accessories.
The said helicopter models are widely use in the Middle East allowing for more efficient local management. Key elements in all the Company’s decisional and operational processes are its Quality and Safety Management philosophy and systems.
ADA has held the prestigious Helicopter Association International’s Platinum Award of Safety since 2006. The Company exceeded 1,000,000 helicopter flight hours with an enviable safety record – especially given the extremely high number of offshore takeoffs and landings – each offshore helicopter averages seven cycles per hour. This level of activity demands the highest caliber of flight and maintenance crews supported by a noteworthy quality assurance and training regime.
The key to Abu Dhabi Aviation’s success and continuity lies in its vision: “One team, propelling ADA safely and profitably into the future”. The Company’s values comprise: Safety, Quality, Customer Focus, Teamwork, Integrity, Ethics and Sustainability.
Lufthansa Technik Middle East (LTME) has further increased its footprint for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services in the Gulf region and is set to continue on its recent growth path. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG has recently expanded both its production capacity as well as its product and capabilities portfolio. In addition, the company welcomed several new major regional and supra-regional customers and moreover greatly increased its workforce at the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub at Dubai South Airport (DWC).
The number of people employed by LTME recently surpassed the mark of 100 and is set to grow even further in 2020. During the recent expansion, special emphasis was put on the acquisition of local talents, which was moreover fostered by intense cooperation with Middle Eastern universities such as the Emirates Aviation University in Dubai and the American University of Sharjah.
Since the inauguration of the new facility in 2017, LTME’s customer base has seen continuous growth and now stretches even beyond the Gulf region with the company also providing regular services to several African and East-Asian airlines. Moreover, the company was recently able to further strengthen its local customer base in the Middle East by providing ad-hoc maintenance services within its repair portfolio for Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Gulf Air’s Chief Technical Officer Jamal Hashim commented: “Gulf Air is committed to achieving technical excellence in aircraft maintenance. LTME’s vast experience and high quality technical expertise in the areas of maintenance is the primary reason we selected the company as Gulf Air’s ad-hoc repair service provider for such critical items like radomes. Secondly, their close proximity to Bahrain has the added benefit that our parts will no longer have to leave the region for maintenance, thereby improving efficiency, decreasing turnaround time, reducing logistic charges and ultimately lowering Gulf Air’s operational costs while maintaining the highest quality of safety standards.”
“The establishment and further expansion of Lufthansa Technik Middle East is progressing well. Our new facility inaugurated two years ago has significantly strengthened our footprint in the region,” said Ziad Al Hazmi, Chief Executive Officer of LTME. “With ongoing investments in our local product and capabilities portfolio as well as in the local people, we are looking forward to even further expand our contribution to this important region.”
LTME’s local product portfolio has recently been broadened with additional Airframe Related Components (ARC®) and flight control repair capabilities and an extended spare parts pool for engine nacelles of the Boeing 787. Moreover, the company offers ARC® support, AOG (Aircraft-On-Ground) support and engine wash services as well as a local material support desk. The material pool in Dubai now covers parts and components for the Boeing 787, 777 and the Airbus A320 and A350 families.
Image caption: HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid visiting the booth of Lufthansa Technik at Dubai Air Show 2019.
Airbus and Emirates Airline have signed a purchase agreement for 50 A350-900s – Airbus’ newest generation widebody aircraft.
The order was signed at Dubai Airshow 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer.
HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “Today, we are pleased to sign a firm order for 50 A350 XWBs, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. This follows a thorough review of various aircraft options and of our own fleet plans. It is Emirates’ long-standing strategy to invest in modern and efficient aircraft, and we are confident in the performance of the A350 XWB.
“Complementing our A380s and 777s, the A350s will give us added operational flexibility in terms of capacity, range and deployment. In effect, we are strengthening our business model to provide efficient and comfortable air transport services to, and through, our Dubai hub.”
Sheikh Ahmed added: “This deal reflects our confidence in the future of the UAE’s aviation sector, and is a strong affirmation of Dubai’s strategy to be a global nexus connected to cities, communities and economies via a world-class and modern aviation sector.”
“We are honoured by Emirates’ strong vote of confidence in our newest widebody aircraft, taking our partnership to the next level. The A350 will bring unbeatable economics and environmental benefits to their fleet,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to seeing the A350 flying in Emirates colours!”
The A350 XWB offers by design unrivalled operational flexibility and efficiency for all market segments – up to ultra-long haul (17,900km). Its Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle aircraft and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight flying experience. The aircraft features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Together, these latest technologies result in 25% lower operating costs, as well as 25% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared with previous-generation competing aircraft – demonstrating Airbus’ commitment to minimise its environmental impact while remaining at the cutting edge of air travel.
FOCUS ON CUSTOMER CENTRICITY: ETIHAD CARGO PARTNERS WITH LEADING E-BOOKING PLATFORM CARGO.ONE TO EXPAND GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION
Innovation driver: Digital-first policy sees Etihad Cargo sell capacity on e-booking platform cargo.one, providing its customers additional choice
Solidified market position: one to strengthen its market position as the top digital distribution channel
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has augmented its digitalisation strategy by signing a landmark distribution agreement with cargo.one, the multi-airline e-booking platform.
Finalised on the side lines of Cargo Connect, an industry forum co-located with Dubai Airshow, the agreement confirms Etihad Cargo as the latest international carrier to partner with cargo.one.
A key driver in its commitment to provide customers with a best-in-class booking experience, the cargo.one agreement empowers Etihad Cargo to offer an additional avenue for bookings on available cargo capacity to a wider pool of European customers.
Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, Etihad Aviation Group’s Managing Director of Cargo and Logistics Services said: “Etihad Cargo’s ambition to lead the industry into a new digital era has driven significant investment in our digitalisation programme across back of house and customer facing platforms in the last 12 months. This landmark partnership with cargo.one builds on the success we have achieved on our own online platform, etihadcargo.com, which now represents 38 per cent of our bookings.
“Our digital investment enabled us to rapidly build the required API connectivity to seamlessly link to the cargo.one platform. Through cargo.one we will offer global capacity to users on new routings and to new destinations across our extensive worldwide network, and provide our own customers with additional booking choice.”
Serving more than 300 freight forwarding companies across Europe, cargo.one has been growing its customer base at a rate of more than twenty per cent month-on-month. In adding Etihad Cargo’s global network to the platform, cargo.one forwarders will have access from Europe to new markets across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Africa, Australasia and US – including Sydney, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Through the partnership cargo.one has heightened its attractiveness as the number one e-booking platform for freight forwarders, revealed Moritz Claussen, Managing Director of cargo.one.
“cargo.one is the number one choice for airlines to foster digitalisation and to put their customers first. Our fast-growing user base not only makes it attractive for airlines to join as a means of reaching new customers, but also helps them to serve their customers’ needs in the best possible way. With Etihad Cargo on board we strengthen our market position as the leading distribution channel for cargo airlines and further grow our offering for freight forwarders,” said Claussen.
Following a phased roll-out starting today, Etihad’s capacities will become available on the cargo.one platform in all major European markets.
Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub attracts high interest at Dubai Airshow 2019
New aerospace hub already 35 per cent complete
The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, an integrated global aviation center providing world-class infrastructure and aviation support facilities, has drawn high interest from fellow participants and visitors from all over the world at the ongoing Dubai Airshow. MBR Aerospace Hub joined the exhibition, which is currently running until November 21, 2019, to highlight its unique edge and features that are vital to the steadily rising aviation industries in Dubai and the UAE.
During the airshow, MBR Aerospace Hub, which is located within Dubai South, is showcasing its top-notch services and facilities, including a wide range of world-class soft and hard infrastructure to meet the needs of Business Aviation and Aerospace Industry. The capacity of business aviation facilities within MBR Aerospace Hub, which currently handles more than 70 per cent of private jet movements in Dubai, is expected to increase with the expected completion of the new aircraft hangers in 2021. Through MBR Aerospace Hub, industry players and operators will have access to key regional and global markets.
Tahnoon Saif, CEO, MBR Aerospace Hub, said: “MBR Aerospace Hub is a global aerospace facility with a fully dedicated commercial strip. We provide business travelers and private jet owners, among others, with customized services to ensure their expectations. These services include a dedicated fuel farm with 20-minute response time, high-quality catering services, and maintenance facilities. At Dubai Airshow, interest in the aerospace hub and its offerings is high. Many visitors are coming to our stand daily to engage with our team and learn more about our value proposition.”
More importantly, as supply chain is critical to the growing MRO market and the aviation industry as a whole, the MBR Aerospace Supply Chain Zone with dedicated Supply Chain Building and Suppliers Complex is being built to provide a range of aviation-related services. The complex is set to offer key opportunities and advantages for companies that provide support services; operations; maintenance, repair and overhaul, and supply of aircrafts parts; chartering; and fleet management.
Apart from an education and training cluster for aircraft repair and maintenance technicians, a business area will soon rise at MBR Aerospace Hub to house offices and retail stores. Located near the luxury VIP Terminal, the new area will be home to aircraft management, air services, financial, legal, and insurance companies and other relevant institutions that are seeking to set up their headquarters and branches in Dubai.
More than 1,300 exhibitors and 87,000 aviation professionals are part of the five-day Dubai Airshow, one of the largest aviation exhibitions in the world. As one of the leading exhibitors from the UAE this year, MBR Aerospace Hub also highlights how it is creating an ideal and integrated environment with free zone status for the industry.
At the Dubai Airshow, which runs from 17-21 November 2019, Airbus will showcase its wide range of innovative technologies, products and services from market leading commercial and military aircraft to helicopters and space systems.
The Dubai Airshow is an important platform for Airbus to highlight its best-in-class products and innovative services to customers. Airbus’ continued participation at the largest aviation event in the Middle East demonstrates its continuous commitment to enhancing the aerospace and aviation industries in the UAE and wider region.
Static & flying displays
On the static display, visitors will be able to get up close to Airbus’ range of commercial aircraft. This includes the A350-900, the cornerstone member of the A350 XWB Family, Salam Air’s A320neo, from the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft family, as well as EGYPTAIR’s A220-300, the newest member of the Airbus single-aisle family. Airbus will also display an ACJ319 from K5 Aviation, highlighting the comfort and space on offer, and echoing the trend towards larger cabins in new-generation business jets. An ACJ319, operated by K5 Aviation on VVIP charters, will highlight the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet. Airbus corporate jets have a strong presence in the Middle East market with both the ACJ320 Family and VVIP widebodies.
In the customers’ display, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways will showcase their A380s, giving the opportunity to tour the popular double-decker and see its award-winning products across all classes. The daily flying display will include the A330-900, a variant of the Airbus A330neo, as well the A400M airlifter. Airbus Helicopters will display Kuwait Police’s H225, tailored to the specifications of the Kuwaiti police force. The 11-tonne twin-engine helicopter is the choice of commercial operators and governmental agencies due to its long range and all-weather capabilities.
Meanwhile, Airbus Defence and Space will present the A400M new generation airlifter and the highly versatile C295 military transport and mission aircraft as well as the A330 MRTT, “Multi-Role Tanker-Transport”, the only combat-proven new-generation tanker. As the official founding partner of Air Race E, Airbus will present the first example of an electric race plane scheduled to compete in the world’s first electric airplane race series launching in 2020. The competition will drive the development of cleaner, faster and more technologically advanced electric engines that can be applied to urban air mobility vehicles and eventually, commercial aircraft.
At the Global Air Traffic Management show in the exhibition hall, booth 157, Airbus UTM and Airbus companies Metron Aviation and NAVBLUE will demonstrate how Airbus is helping the Air Traffic Management industry minimise delays, reduce fuel costs and balance demand and capacity through Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM).
On the occasion of ADIPEC 2019, EMAC has taken the opportunity to deliver a seminar that looks at “Oil & Gas disputes – Past, Present and Future’ on Tuesday 12 November in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Abu Dhabi.
Oil & Gas disputes are often complex, cross border and multi-jurisdictional. To add to these complexities is the integration of new technologies that are moving at a development pace regulators are challenged in keeping up with. How this works proactively and retroactively is what the panelists, Joseph Campbell, General Counsel, Legal, Governance and Compliance Division at ADNOC, Alex Bevan, Partner at Shearman & Sterling and Kagan Aktas, Partner at Secretariat International was put forward to a well attended event.
Highlighted as part of the discussion was how the complexity of Oil & Gas disputes has changed over time; the different legal instruments available to deal with such disputes and approaches that need to be considered in keeping with technological developments.
“In order for the Oil & Gas industry to manage dispute processes efficiently, EMAC will continue to seek opportunities that deliver informative presentations that are insightful and practical”, said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC. “This is EMAC’s way of staying connected and engaged with the industry’, he continued.
A week following ADIPEC, EMAC will open Dubai Arbitration Week on 17th November with a topic that looks at the landscape of arbitration in the UAE and how businesses can use the efficiencies of arbitration to cut back on the cost of alternative dispute resolution.
Tristar urges companies toaddress mental health at inaugural ‘Safety at Sea’ conference
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne urged regional shipowners to address and tackle the mental health issues facing seafarers at the inaugural Tristar ‘Safety at Sea’ conference held last Sunday, November 10. Mr. Mayne highlighted the importance of managing the emotional wellbeing of crew at sea when he addressed over 150 attendees at the One&Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai.
Mr. Mayne shared the findings of the P&I Club that the rate of suicide amongst seafarers has more than tripled since 2014. He further highlighted the report from the Sailors’ Society that 26% of seafarers show signs of depression. “Nearly half of them said they had not asked anybody for help,” Mr. Mayne added.
“The irony is that despite such high rates of suicide amongst seafarers, the topic of mental health is still considered to be a taboo in our industry,” Mr. Mayne explained. “We need to change this mind-set as leaders in our industry and we need to collectively pay attention to this growing trend and come together to do something about it.”
The conference also covered critical topics such as preventing mooring rope failures and restricting cargo tank entry. The sessions were live streamed to over 500 seafarers in crewing centers in India and the Philippines.
Tristar Group is an integrated logistics services provider to the downstream oil and gas industry. It owns and operates chemical, oil and gas tankers and bulk carriers trading globally, mostly with Oil Majors. Six 50,000 DWT MR Tankers were delivered in 2016 by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. Six more new build 25,000 MT DWT, IMO Type 2 Oil and Chemical Tankers will be delivered by the same dockyard starting next year.
LogiPoint and NAQEL sign landmark agreement to establish the first bonded express facility
Provision at Jeddah Islamic Port dedicated to e-commerce operations
LogiPoint, the Kingdom’s premier logistics parks developers and operators, has signed an agreement with NAQEL Express; a subsidiary of Saudi Post and the largest last mile delivery provider in the country, to establish the first Bonded Express facility at LogiPoint Bonded and Re-Export Zone at Jeddah Islamic Port and will be dedicated to e-commerce operations.
In line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NDLIP), this facility will be the first of its kind at a Saudi Port dedicated to the clearance and fulfillment of express and e-commerce shipments.
Once completed the facility can handle inbound and outbound express shipments by sea, air and land transportation
“The logistics sector in the Kingdom is transforming rapidly, and LogiPoint is the Kingdom’s torch-bearer in achieving global competitive standards and in adapting a customer-focused approach,” remarked Farooq Shaikh, CEO, LogiPoint.
“Signing of a long-term agreement with NAQEL Express to establish the very first bonded facility dedicated to e-commerce operations is testimony to the trust and confidence our customers pose in us for not only providing them with world-class logistics facilities, but also the eco-system that facilitates their service offerings,” he added.
“With this expansion, NAQEL Express will further strengthen its service offering to e-retailers, on-line platforms and exporting companies around the world aiming to penetrate their target markets in Saudi Arabia and rest of the Middle East,” commented Mohammed Al Bayati, CEO, NAQEL Express.
The agreement was officiated in the presence of Captain Abdullah Al Zamee, Director General, Jeddah Islamic Port and Mohammed Abdullah, Director General, Jeddah Islamic Seaport Customs.
Turkish Cargo is entitled to “TAPA FSR” security certificate.
The global air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo, is entitled to “GROUP A TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) FSR” certificate founded to reduce the loss in the international supply chain and based on the security of facilities.
TÜV Rheinland, providing independent audit services in terms of quality and security has issued this certificate for Turkish Cargo’s cargo facilities at Istanbul and Atatürk Airports.
Considered very important by numerous international companies, the GROUP A TAPA FSR certificate has been accepted by global producers, logistics service providers, transporters, law enforcement bodies, and other shareholders worldwide.
Having more than 650 members, TAPA includes the world’s leading producers, logistics service providers, and transporters. The TAPA certificate;
Meets the customers’ security expectations by achieving a high customer satisfaction level.
Provides personnel with more personal security and ensures enhancement of materials’ physical security.
Ensures mitigation of the loss-related incidents risk and that the security is taken care of by professionals.
Turkish Cargo aims to become one of the top five air cargo brands in the world by 2023 through its activities giving priority to customer satisfaction and security.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Volvo Buses has received the largest single order for electric buses in Europe. Volvo Buses will deliver 157 electric articulated buses to Transdev starting in 2020. The buses will operate on a number of routes in Gothenburg. With their introduction, emissions and noise will be significantly reduced, and the electric buses will be able to operate in sensitive areas or zones with special restrictions.
“It is immensely gratifying that we have secured Europe’s largest ever single order for electric buses – no less than 157 buses. Volvo is a pioneer in electromobility and sustainable public transport. We have a holistic system perspective for cities that encompasses vehicles, services and charging infrastructure. We focus on solutions that offer high reliability and high service levels for route operators and passengers. This large order confirms that electric buses are already recognised as a sustainable and financially viable solution for demanding high-capacity public transport needs,”
says Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses.
“Transdev is today Europe’s leading operator of electric buses and we know what challenges there are with the transition to electric propulsion. We’ve therefore been extremely thorough in choosing a partner with a holistic approach, a partner that will be able to deliver both buses and charging infrastructure on time and with excellent uptime. Being able to announce that we have chosen Volvo as our partner for city bus operations in Volvo’s home city of Gothenburg is of course
particularly satisfying,” says Gunnar Schön, CEO of Transdev Sweden.
All of the buses will be of the recently launched 7900 Volvo Electric Articulated model. The Volvo Electric Articulated can carry 150 passengers with an energy consumption that is 80 per cent lower than that of a corresponding diesel bus. The Volvo Electric Articulated combines high passenger capacity with low operating costs. The buses will be charged at quick-charge stations along the route, using the industry common charging interface OppChargeTM, in order to ensure the most
efficient operation possible. In addition to the electric buses, the order includes 27 Euro VI buses for regional operations, running on biodiesel.
“For us as a mobility supplier, it is vital to always be able to offer passengers good service and functional vehicles, but it is also important that our drivers have a good working climate. New buses, in particular quiet electric buses, not only result in cleaner cities – they also improve the everyday working environment,” explains Gunnar Schön.
“Electromobility creates new exiting opportunities for urban planning since we now get emissionfree and quiet public transport that can operate closer to the city’s residents. Volvo aims to be a leader in increased electrification and to be a partner for cities that wish to implement long-term sustainable public transport solutions for their inhabitants,” concludes Håkan Agnevall
SOHAR has created 10,836 direct job opportunities and contributed to 4.8% of Oman’s GDP
SOHAR Port and Freezone recently celebrated its 15th Anniversary in a glittering ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel Muscat. The event was conducted under the auspices of HE Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport, alongside the presence of ministers, dignitaries, partners and members of the SOHAR Management.
“The port itself is a success story, with regard to several aspects. This especially includes its achievement of attracting large vessels and international investors, accommodating a variety of industries and handling a diverse range and size of general cargos, containers and other goods,” noted Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Futaisi.
“We are also proud to be ranked as one of the fastest-growing port and free zones in the world, with investments exceeding OMR 10 billion. With our strategic geographical location, providing us access to global markets with an outreach of over 2 billion people, SOHAR Port has played a vital role in line with the national Logistics Strategy 2040,” remarked Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of SOHAR Port and Freezone.
An agreement was signed for the development of a truck rest area. The upcoming project will have a total investment of OMR 2.5 million (US$ 6.5mn) and will take up an area of 50,000sqm at SOHAR Freezone.
Initiated by the Ministry of Transport and spearheaded by ASYAD, the truck rest area will assist in promoting road safety after the significant increase in the number of trucks at the port. Oman Global Logistics Group ‘ASYAD’ was established in 2016 to maximize the economic and financial returns from the Government investments in ports, freezones, land and sea transport and logistics services.
Move to strengthen the company’s presence in the GCC and services to its customers
FedEx Express has announced its expansion in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, transitioning to a direct presence in the Sultanate of Oman. FedEx Express has been facilitating trade in Oman since 1993 by offering its services through a local service provider.
“We see great potential as Oman continues to evolve into a key logistics powerhouse in the Middle East and beyond. With access to our unparalleled Middle East road network and the world’s largest air express network, FedEx Express connects Oman directly to the rest of the world,” stated Jack Muhs, Regional President, FedEx Express-Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
This announcement by FedEx Express supports the country’s coordinated efforts and broader strategy to diversify the national economy. The logistics sector is a key contributor towards employment, investment and overall economic growth in the Sultanate, and a critical part of the nation’s future growth.
In 2018, the Muscat International Airport invested in a new terminal, following the government’s expansion plans in the aviation sector. According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, Oman ranks 8th globally in road infrastructure, while inflows of foreign direct investment and major infrastructure developments are the driving forces for the nation’s sea ports.
The international business arm of Munich Airport – the 100% subsidiary Munich Airport International (MAI) – has signed a cooperation agreement with ADB SAFEGATE.
The collaboration combines MAI’s worldwide expertise in airport development, management and operations with ADB SAFEGATE’s global presence and insight into airfield, apron and tower systems. As a single source for technology upgrades and process improvements, the cooperative efforts of both parties will support airports to meet the immense challenges posed by growing demands for air travel including capacity constraints and difficulties in expanding infrastructure.
Dr. Ralf Gaffal, Managing Director MAI, views the agreement as a logical next step after successfully working on joint projects in the past: “ADB SAFEGATE’s intelligent solutions add significantly to our expertise and we look forward to working together on exciting new projects. This unique combination of skills will help airports obtain maximum capacity, revenue and cost savings out of their existing infrastructure.”
Christian Onselaere, CEO ADB SAFEGATE, supports this view: “This cooperation with MAI brings together two leaders in airport solutions and airport operations, creating a powerful offering for airports looking to optimize their efficiency.”
Customers will benefit from:
A pool of experts in all airport domains from airport planning to operations
A comprehensive portfolio of products and services
Local product and service support available 24/7
World-leading technical and operational knowledge of airport ICT, systems and equipment
In addition to the above, future activities of this cooperation will be able to include developing new services such as a Virtual Apron Control Center and collaborating on R&D.
Leading UAE Concrete supplier purchases its first fleet of Renault trucks K models
Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C) takes delivery of twelve K 480 T6x4 Heavy Duty Prime Movers with 48CBM Tipping Trailers
The trucks will be used to transport aggregates and other products to various facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C), one of the UAE’s leading concrete suppliers, has just taken delivery of twelve new Renault Trucks K models, representing one of the French brand’s big conquest deals in Dubai and the Northern Emirates this year.
This is the first time that Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C) has purchased Renault Trucks. The trucks are equipped with 48CBM Tipping Trailers and will be used to transport aggregates and other products to various facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In choosing these specific models, the Dubai-based company cited their proven abilities in the field of operation, high standards of safety and impressive fuel efficiency.
The K Heavy Construction Range trucks are equipped with the latest features and technology. Fitted with 13L engines, they offer a capacity of 120 tons and have automated transmission along with All Wheel Drive (AWD) capabilities that deliver full power to all the wheels. This makes them ideal for heavy duty use and strengthens the models’ abilities to tackle off-roading in the UAE’s tough terrains.
The new trucks return low fuel consumption figures and meet Euro 5 Engines emission Standards, making them among the most environmentally friendly options in the market.
Also key to Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C)’s decision was the flexibility offered by the Renault Trucks’ finance programme, which was introduced to support construction businesses and can be tailored specifically to a business’ needs. The scheme provides a number of payment options designed to reduce payments or initial down payments, to build equity, and fixed rates for enhanced finance control.
Commenting on the new deal, Ally Edha Awadh, CEO of Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C), said: “We were impressed by the new K 480 Heavy Duty trucks’ robustness and impressive fuel efficiency, along with the very competitive Renault Trucks finance offer. These factors made Renault Trucks the natural choice when we decided to expand our fleet.”
Middle East Ready Mix Concrete (L.L.C) was founded in 2005 and is part of the international Lake Oil Group of Companies. The company has two fully automatic concrete batching plants, with attached ice plants, in Dubai Investment Park, Jebel Ali. It is one of the largest concrete suppliers in Dubai and uses the latest technology to create the highest quality readymix concrete and precast products.
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, Guillaume Zimmermann, said: “This new fleet order further cements our position as a market-leading truck manufacturer trusted by many large companies across the region. Our vehicles are known for being sturdy and reliable with a leading position in terms of fuel efficiency, consequently enabling our customers to deliver greater productivity and control operating costs to the benefit of their companies.”
LogiPoint Signs an Agreement with Aramex for its New Ground Operations Hub
LogiPoint, the leading logistics business and the largest bonded and re-export zone in KSA, announces that it has signed a long-term agreement with Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, for the construction of “Build-to-Suit” facilities for Aramex’s western province ground operations.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Eng. Saad Al khalb, the President of Saudi Ports Authority “MAWANI”, Mr. Aamer Alireza, Vice Chairman of Saudi Industrial Services Company – SISCO and Captain Abdullah Al Zamee, Director General of Jeddah Islamic Port.
The new “Build-to-Suit” facility will be located in Jeddah Islamic Port with a built-up area of 20,000 square meters. LogiPoint’s central location offers Aramex an unparalleled connectivity for their last mile delivery as well as connectivity to all major highways for their linehaul business.
Farooq Shaikh, CEO of LogiPoint, said: “This agreement underlines LogiPoint’s vision to act as the enabler of the logistics industry, reinforcing our ambition to grow into the Kingdom’s leading logistics parks developer and operator. It is also a mark of confidence and trust which our esteemed clients pose in us when they choose LogiPoint to be their long-term partner.”
Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Alnowaiser, General Manager of Aramex in Saudi Arabia, said: “The Saudi market is a vital arena for Aramex, and today’s agreement supports our continuous efforts to keep investing in our operations in KSA, further develop our service offerings and enhance the overall customer experience. We believe this new facility will allow us to meet the growing customer demand for rapid and more efficient shipment deliveries.”
This agreement comes in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NDLIP), with the support of the Saudi logistics Hub Committee to transform the Saudi Logistics Landscape and develop specialized and “build-for-purpose” logistics facilities.
Turkish Cargo adds Kuala Lumpur and Ahmedabad to its cargo flight network.
The fastest growing global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo continues to expand its cargo flight network. The successful air cargo carrier has added Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and the western Indian city of Ahmedabad (AMD) among the destinations to which it performs direct cargo flights.
The new addition to the flight network of the flag carrier’s air cargo brand, Kuala Lumpur is both cultural and financial capital of Malaysia, boasting a considerable import and export potential. The aim here is to carry electronic products, medical products, and spare parts to all various countries around the world and especially Frankfurt and Amsterdam in Europe and Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston in the United States.
Turkish Cargo plans to perform its Kuala Lumpur flights, which will be operated with Boeing 777F cargo aircraft, on the ISL–KUL–SGN (Ho Chi Minh/Vietnam) route, thus creating a strong import-export line in the region.
Located in western India, Ahmedabad is the biggest city of the State of Gujarat and it has been connected with Doha and Bahrain destinations that possess high import potential. One of the fastest growing cities, Ahmedabad is a considerable pharmaceuticals market.
A holder of IATA CEIV Pharma certificate, which is the global quality standard for pharmaceutical transportation and operating as per the relevant competency criteria, Turkish Cargo aims to become an important air cargo brand for Ahmedabad. The flights will be on the DOH–AMD–ISL andBAH–AMD-ISL routes and they will be operated with Airbus 330F cargo aircraft.
Covering the world with its wide flight network that spans over 300 destinations in 126 countries, Turkish Cargo continues to be the preferred in air cargo transportation by ensuring a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet, and specialist teams.
Al
FlNo
Start
End
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
Own
A/C
TK
6222
13.Nov.2019
25.Mar.2020
..3….
ISL
04:00
8:05
DOH
TK
33X
TK
6222
13.Nov.2019
25.Mar.2020
..3….
DOH
10:05
13:15
AMD
TK
33X
TK
6223
13.Nov.2019
25.Mar.2020
..3….
AMD
15:15
21:50
ISL
TK
33X
*UTC
Al
FlNo
Start
End
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
Own
A/C
TK
6560
10.Nov.2019
22.Mar.2020
……7
ISL
02:25
6:15
BAH
TK
33X
TK
6560
10.Nov.2019
22.Mar.2020
……7
BAH
07:45
10:45
AMD
TK
33X
TK
6561
10.Nov.2019
22.Mar.2020
……7
AMD
12:45
19:20
ISL
TK
33X
*UTC
Al
FlNo
Start
End
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
Own
A/C
TK
6470
31.Oct.2019
28.Mar.2020
…4.6.
ISL
04:20
14:20
KUL
TK
77X
TK
6470
31.Oct.2019
28.Mar.2020
…4.6.
KUL
16:20
18:05
SGN
TK
77X
TK
6471
31.Oct.2019
28.Mar.2020
…4.6.
SGN
20:05
7:05
+1
ISL
TK
77X
*UTC
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Middle East businesses must adopt new technologies in response to
global supply chain risks, urge industry leaders
Investment in technology and skills can help firms mitigate supply chain risks
Key issues and opportunities to be discussed at the Procurement and Supply Chain MENA event later this month
Middle East businesses must develop their capabilities and embrace new technologies to take advantage of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to tackle increasing threats to the global supply chain, according to industry experts who are set to convene in Dubai at the Procurement and Supply Chain MENA Summit on 30 October.
Sam Abchampong, Head of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) MENA, Dirk Karl, MTN Group Executive and CPO, and Maha Bouzeid, VP Head of Sourcing in the MEA region for Ericsson, are among the line-up of respected industry figures who will be participating in the Summit.
While all agree that the Middle East is relatively well-placed to weather the worst excesses of key issues such as protectionism and global trade wars, Achampong warns that more needs to be done to ensure the right tools and capabilities are in place for companies to deliver industry best practice.
“Technology itself is an enabler rather than a risk,” he says. “However, the lack of readiness to deploy the correct systems and solutions, as well as a shortage of talent with the relevant skills to be able to operate and add value in today’s business environment, is a risk.”
While the region’s proactive approach to technology puts it in a strong position to adopt the latest solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain, Achampong believes training and development must be prioritised.
He adds: “Industry 4.0 technologies provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for procurement and supply practitioners to re-examine what skills are needed, what tasks are crucial and what activities can be better undertaken by the technology at our disposal. The availability of increasingly effective technological tools allows procurement and supply practitioners to focus on strategic objectives aimed at generating real value and competitive advantage for an organisation, free of repetitive and transactional tasks.
“There is some way to go, however, to ensure that capability development initiatives continue to be in line with the skills required by employees now and in the near future.”
MTN’s Dirk Karl agrees that technology has a major role to play in strengthening supply chain management in the Middle East. He says: “There is a lot of investment into cognitive technologies in the UAE and exposure to some of the best conferences centred around technologies such as AI and machine learning, so we are well positioned to implement these to increase visibility and gain new levels of understanding using data to predict supply chain disruptions and put mitigation measures in place to reduce risk.”
Karl believes those companies which are proactive will be best equipped to mitigate the potential for supply chain issues: “The best way to capitalise on supply chain risks is to be better than your competition at managing them. If you are an organisation who is an early adopter of technology and process then you are more likely to be able to manage supply chain disruption, maybe even avoid it fully.”
According to Ericsson’s Maha Bouzeid, companies in the UAE can also draw on the benefits of the country’s safe and stable working environment. She says: “The UAE is well equipped to deal with supply chain risks as it facilitates a base for international companies to establish themselves in the region. Safety, telecom infrastructure, schooling and healthcare are key factors for companies to choose the UAE over less safe or stable options. That is why Ericsson has invested in the establishment of a Supply Hub in Dubai to support the Middle East and East Africa markets. Businesses need to highlight the safety and the added value of doing business both with the Middle East, and within the Middle East through the UAE.”
Bouzeid also urges businesses to have an adaptable, long-term approach, adding: “They need to be flexible in their cost base to cope with economic dynamics, and provide true added value for Customers with affordable products and services.”
Karl suggests that the Middle East also has a natural advantage over other parts of the world because of its geographic location, adding: “A key benefit for Middle East businesses is the ability to access supply chains easily from the East or West, making it potentially less disruptive to make a switch if the need arises.”
Procurement & Supply Chain MENA, in partnership with CIPS MENA, will gather heads of procurement & supply chain to share big picture, business-led strategies on how not only to guarantee supply during industry flux, but become a key value driver, innovator and business partner for any organisation. With over 200+ senior delegates, 50+ superstar speakers and six topic tracks, the event provides a day of real-life experiences and actionable use-cases for any budget.
Organized by Ventures Middle East and B2B Connect (Ventures Connect), leaders in consulting and events management in the Middle East, the event will host subject matter experts, including: Hani M. Alsaigh, Technical Procurement General Manager, Saudi Telecom Company; Waleed Al Saeedi, Director of Supply Management, Department of Culture & Tourism Abu Dhabi; Mohammed Y. Al-Sogour, Director Global Supplier & Material Management, SABIC; Lisa Campbell, Chair of CIPS MENA Fellows & Director of Procurement, University of Sharjah; Jennifer Muller, Director Regional Procurement Near East, Beiersdorf; Dr. Arafat El Mourad, Vice President – Head of Strategic Sourcing, Emirates NBD; Mina Hakim, General Manager Group Procurement, Al Futtaim Group; and Sulaiman Abdulla, Manager Contracts and Procurement Section, TRA. For more information, please visit: http://www.procurementandsupplychainmena.com
The Helicopter Company, Bell and More to be at Dubai Airshow
The Dubai Airshow, the largest aerospace event in the Middle East, will bring together key players from all aspects of the aerospace industry, including the world’s leading helicopter companies. When the show opens on 17 November 2019, trade attendees can expect to see offerings from this year’s platinum event sponsor, the Helicopter Company, alongside Bell, Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin Company), Leonardo, the Russian Helicopter Company and many others.
Launched earlier this year backed by Saudi Arabia’s state-run Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Helicopter Company is the Kingdom’s first commercial helicopter operator and is aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 to provide the best support services to the transportation industry in general, and the aviation industry in particular.
The Helicopter Company plans to use the Dubai Airshow as a platform to develop relationships with contacts in the industry, connect with other players in the local and global aviation and aerospace industry and to introduce its latest Rotorcrafts for VIP transportation within the Kingdom.
“The Middle East’s aerospace industry is a growing market that offers a lot of opportunities,” says Yahya AlGhoraibi, CEO of The Helicopter Company. “The biggest challenges would be to keep up with the accelerating growth in this industry. Fortunately, this makes room for a multitude of investment opportunities and partnerships for local and foreign partners. The Dubai Airshow is a perfect opportunity for talks about such partnerships.”
In the Middle East region, Bell focuses on Law Enforcement with the Bell 429, Bell 412EPIs and military trainer opportunities for the Bell 505 and Bell 407, plus the light attack helicopter segment with the Bell 407. On the other side of the spectrum, the Bell 525 super-medium helicopter is disrupting the market with its new technologies, redefining luxury vertical lift, is a 16 to 19 seat helicopter coming to market. The first commercial helicopter with fly-by-wire controls, Bell describes it as “probably the most advanced commercial helicopter that has ever been developed for oil and gas and search and rescue”.
“The Dubai Airshow is the opportunity to meet with our regional customers in one place, to continue the engagements we have year round with our operators,” says Patrick Moulay, Senior Vice President, Bell Commercial Business – International. He continues, “It is also a great platform for us to provide updates on our activities, our local success and what you can expect from Bell in the Middle East.”
“The Dubai Airshow has always been the platform for the entire aerospace industry,” says Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of show organisers Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East. “The helicopter sector is an important part of that, and we are thrilled to have the Helicopter Company on board as platinum sponsor for the Dubai Airshow 2019.”
The static display area at the Dubai Airshow will include up to 165 aircraft including an AW139 from the Helicopter Company, an Mi-2MSB-1 from Motor Sich and a CH-47F Chinook Helicopter from Boeing, in addition to other helicopter models. The full list of aircraft on the static display will be announced shortly on the show website www.dubaiairshow.aero.
Volvo Group Venture Capital invests in cybersecurity
Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Upstream Security, a leading Israeli
automotive cybersecurity company. The investment will fund the development of systems to
protect connected vehicles following the introduction of data-driven technologies.
Upstream Security is a Tel Aviv-based start-up company which provides cybersecurity solutions
designed specifically to protect connected vehicles from cyber threats or misuse while stationary
and in motion.
The investment is a direct result of the Volvo Group’s partnership with DRIVE, the leading
innovation centre that focuses on disruptive start-ups in the Israeli mobility sector.
“Upstream Security has a promising offering and capability to support with cyber security
solutions to meet our future requirements,” says Anna Westerberg, acting CEO of Volvo Group
Venture Capital and Senior Vice President, Volvo Group Connected Solutions.
Market research shows that there will be substantial growth in the market for cybersecurity solutions
for connected vehicles in the coming years.
“Our mission is to protect every connected vehicle and smart mobility service on the planet. This
funding is perfectly timed to meet the growing demand for our data-driven, cloud-based platform,
providing our customers with the capabilities it needs to accomplish this vitally important task,” says
Yoav Levy, Upstream Security co-founder and CEO.
The transaction has no significant impact on the Volvo Group’s earnings or financial position.
Turkish Cargo received the Customer Satisfaction Management Certificate (ISO 10002).
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand in the world, obtained the “Customer Satisfaction Management Certificate” (ISO 10002) and developed the Cargo Customers Feedback Management Policy accordingly.
Under the Feedback Management Policy developed across Turkish Cargo, various improvements have been performed on the reporting methods, related processes and the feedback management system titled as 3CS, and all employees have been assigned with trainings in the respective issues.
The accomplished air cargo brand placed the customer satisfaction-focused boxes titled as “Sizi Dinliyoruz (We Care About Your Feedback)” at the cargo terminals at Istanbul and Ataturk airports, ensuring a transparent, competent, accessible, objective, fast, answerable and continuously-improvable process management.
Acting with a commitment to the customer-focused projects, Turkish Cargo acts in strict adherence to the principle of confidentiality in all feedback, and resolves any and all requests rapidly.
Providing service with a focus on customer satisfaction, the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo aims to be among the top five global air cargo brands by 2023.
In recognition of its conformity with handling and storing standards Saudia Cargo receives EU GDP certificate from SGS
The global certification leader SGS has issued Saudia Cargo the certificate of European Union Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP) in the sector of pharmaceuticals. The certificate marks a new achievement for Saudia Cargo and a well-deserved recognition of its high-quality storing and transporting services of pharmaceuticals and medical cargoes. Saudia Cargo has fulfilled and met all international requirements for the certificate.
“This certificate recognizes that Saudia Cargo maintains and complies with the quality management standards throughout the supply chain and applies efficient procedures and policies for receiving and handling pharmaceuticals & medical products without any risks,” said Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak, Chief Commercial Officer, Saudia Cargo.
The company has enhanced the quality of medical products warehouses and equipped its main stations inside the Kingdom with state-of-the-art equipment and devices to control temperature, which is the most important factor in the logistics services related to medical products and pharmaceuticals. The company has also qualified its cadre to efficiently handle pharmaceutical loads.
Saudia Cargo announced earlier the launch of cold storage facilities for storing pharmaceuticals & medicines at numerous main stations. The facilities conform to the international standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use as well as the local standards of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. The facilities also ensure different temperatures and accommodate pharmaceutical companies’ containers, which require advanced technology solutions.
Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre discusses session on maritime casualties in UAE waters
Marine casualty management has been a topic of interest to maritime stakeholders in the Middle East region, which is why EMAC has provided a discussion platform focusing on maritime casualties in UAE waters with Mehtab Kassam, Senior Associate at Clyde & Co.
In her presentation, Ms. Kassam spoke about the complexities in maritime casualties; what this means through the eyes of Sharia laws and criminal aspects of casualties.
“EMAC has continued to work towards bringing topics of vital importance to the UAE maritime community. We believe that prevention is better than cure, and through a knowledge series hope to provide an understanding about issues in maritime, and also a way to address claims and disputes through the right mechanisms”, said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC.
The team at EMAC are preparing for a very active November by participating at ADIPEC, one of the largest oil and gas events in the world, from 11 – 14 November, 2019 in Abu Dhabi. On the occasion of ADIPEC, EMAC has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a Breakfast with EMAC seminar on the second day to look at Oil & Gas Disputes – past, present, future with industry experts from ADNOC, Shearman & Sterling and Secretariat International.
Further, EMAC will open Dubai Arbitration Week on 17th November with a topic that looks at the landscape of arbitration in the UAE and how businesses can use the efficiencies of arbitration to cut back on the cost of alternative dispute resolution.
The Volvo Group creates new business area for autonomous transport solutions The new business area, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, will accelerate the development, commercialization and sales of autonomous transport solutions. This will enable the Volvo Group to meet a growing demand and to offer the best possible solutions to customers in such segments as mining, ports and transport between logistics centers, as a complement to today’s products and services.
With global developments that are characterized by higher demand for transportation, increasingly congested roads and major environmental challenges, the industry needs to provide transport solutions that are safer, have a lower environmental impact and are more efficient.
Autonomous transport solutions, based on self-driving and connectivity technologies are well-suited for applications where there is a need to move large volumes of goods and material on pre-defined routes, in repetitive flows. In such situations, autonomous transport solutions can create value for customers by contributing to improved flexibility, delivery precision and productivity.
“We have experienced a significant increase in inquiries from customers. With the Volvo Group’s wide range of offerings and broad experience of different applications, we have a unique opportunity to offer solutions that meet their specific needs. It is a logical next step for us to gather expertise and resources in a new business area with profit and loss responsibility to take autonomous transport solutions to the next level,” says Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO. The Volvo Group has already demonstrated a number of different autonomous transport solutions.
In the Electric Site project, material handling in a quarry was automated and electrified. The result was a safer working environment and a reduction of operator costs by 40 percent and of carbon dioxide emissions by 98 percent. At the Brønnøy Kalk mine in Norway, autonomous Volvo FH trucks will be used in commercial operation to transport limestone along a five-kilometer stretch.
Another pioneering initiative is the self-driving, connected and electric vehicle Vera. In its first assignment Vera will form part of an integrated solution to transport goods from a logistics center to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Emirates SkyCargo launches new e-commerce delivery platform
Initiative in line with the Dubai Silk Road Strategy
Platform will enhance Dubai’s position as global hub for e-commerce fulfilment
Individual and small business customers can consolidate purchases from multiple US e-commerce retailers into a single package which will be transported by Emirates SkyCargo
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, has launched Emirates Delivers – a new e-commerce delivery platform that allows customers shopping from multiple online retailers in the US to consolidate their purchases and have the goods delivered to a home or office address. Now available to individual or small business customers in the UAE, Emirates Delivers supports Dubai’s vision to become as a global hub for e-commerce, as envisioned under the Dubai Silk Road Strategy announced by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Emirates Delivers is a fast, reliable and cost-effective e-commerce shipping solution that is targeted both at individual customers as well as small businesses who regularly shop online for their personal or business needs. It is an open e-commerce fulfilment platform that can also be used by other e-commerce businesses and logistics integrators.
Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo, said: “Emirates SkyCargo is delighted to be the first international cargo airline in the world to develop a dedicated e-commerce delivery platform. Currently, Emirates Delivers enables consumers to purchase their favourite products from any US based online retail store and have it delivered in the UAE. The launch of Emirates Delivers is in line with our strategy to roll out specialised and innovative air transportation products targeted at industry verticals and with our efforts to position Dubai as a global e-commerce fulfilment hub for customers based in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. This is line with the Dubai Silk Road Strategy announced earlier this year by HH Sheikh Hamdan which aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a key trade and logistics hub.
Turkish Cargo keeps reinforcing its fleet with Boeing 777 F freighters.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand of the world, included the sixth Boeing-777 Freighter, capable of flying at a range of 9200 km, without any limitation, to its fleet.
Taking off from Everett Paine Airport (Seattle/USA) and landing at Ataturk Airport on Wednesday, the Boeing-777 Freighter falls under the new-generation freighter category capable of carrying 102 tons and equipped with a high level of fuel saving and technical safety.
Taking delivery of the first Boeing-777F freighter, which has many substantial benefits in terms of operational costs, efficiency and reliability in intercontinental journeys, in 2017, Turkish Cargo will have a total of 8 Boeing-777 Freighters by 2020.
Developing and reinforcing continuously its fleet of 344 aircraft including 24 freighters, the global air cargo brand keeps growing with accomplishments. According to the data obtained by WACD, the international air cargo data provider, in August, Turkish Cargo has increased its tonnage rate by 7.5 percent, ranking 7th across the air cargo market which has shrunk by -7.1 percent.
Maintaining its sustainable and accomplished growth with air cargo operations at more than 300 destinations including 88 direct cargo destinations at 126 countries across the world, Turkish Cargo aims to be one of the top five global air cargo brands by 2023.
Tristar Group joins the Middle East Gases Association (MEGA) to help promote safety and environmental care
Tristar Group, the integrated logistics services provider, is pleased to announce its membership of The Middle East Gases Association (MEGA) of which it will be the very first Category 4 member. Tristar will actively participate in three of MEGA’s working groups, namely, Transport, Safety and Environment.
Through its membership of MEGA, a safety and technically oriented non-profit organization, Tristar demonstrates its commitment to achieving the highest levels of safety and environmental care in handling of industrial gases.
Eugene Mayne, founder and Group CEO of Tristar, said: “We are delighted to have been admitted as a member of MEGA, and we look forward to collaborating with other businesses in the industry to improve technical standards and safety practices. We are committed to managing our business to the highest health, safety, environmental and compliance standards and relish the opportunity to work with other knowledgeable businesses in this space.”
MEGA, which is head quartered in Dubai, was established in 2010 with the aim of fostering the exchange of technical information in the handling of industrial gases through the development of documents with industry experts. It liaises closely with national authorities in the region to provide assistance with the preparation of laws and regulations via expert advice on production, transport, storage and applications of industrial, medical and food gases.
Roger Sayah, MEGA’s General Secretary said: “Since it was established, MEGA’s mission is to maintain the highest level of safety concern for the environment at work and in the community. We welcome Tristar’s membership of the group and anticipate that its expertise will be a valuable contribution to MEGA’s Working Group discussions.”
MEGA also aims to promote consistency and harmonization of Safety, Health, Environmental and technical standards throughout the industrial gases industry in the region.
Tristar’s KSA’s office has recently signed up Saudi Industrial Gas Co. ltd. (SIGAS) to transport liquid gases for two years, underpinning its status as a logistics provider of choice in the region. SIGAS is a member of the Linde Group which is a world leading supplier of industrial, process and specialty gases. Linde-SIGAS is the second biggest industrial gases company in the Kingdom.
Linde is also a customer in the UAE and Qatar which has recognized Tristar’s safety performance of achieving 8 million kilometers of safe driving for more than 10 years.
Tristar has world-class HSE management systems which serve as a benchmark for all activities throughout the business. Its stringent HSE performance standards help it meet and exceed its customer and statutory requirements.
Sharjah International Marine Sports club visits DMCA to discuss maritime recreation and tourism
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently reviewed the existing laws and regulations concerning the registration of vehicles used for excursions in Dubai. The review was part of the DMCA’s move promoting maritime recreation and tourism in the emirate in line with the UAE’s economic diversification plan. It took place during the visit of H.E. Ahmed Issa Al Hosani, Executive Director of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, and his delegates to the DMCA office, where they were welcomed by Executive Director Amer Ali. During the meeting, both parties agreed to engage in the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and the best industry practices related to building a safe and integrated maritime environment in the hope of solidifying the UAE’s leadership in global maritime recreation and tourism.
Ali reiterated the importance of constant communication between industry stakeholders in the UAE to maintain maritime safety, secure navigation, and operational efficiency. This cooperation will help catapult the UAE into the ranks of the world’s most attractive destinations for marine recreational activities. Ali also welcomed the visit of Sharjah delegation, saying it reflected their shared goal to implement effective mechanisms, laws, and regulations to manage the registration and licensing procedures for boats and Jet skis according to the highest local and global standards.
Ali added: “The visit of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club officials showed their confidence in our experience and capacity to ensure smooth licensing procedures in Dubai. Our mechanisms conform to the highest local and global standards and resolutions. We aim to maintain maritime security in Dubai and the UAE to cement the country’s leading position in the global maritime community. We look forward to sharing our experiences with other institutions. We will continue to improve maritime services for recreational activities according to the highest international standards and form partnerships with all local maritime stakeholders. Ultimately, we seek to roll out exceptional maritime registration and licensing processes using smart technologies. This is in line with the country’s digital transformation path.”
On the other hand, H.E. Al Hosani thanked the DMCA for its warm welcome and continued partnership. H.E. maintained the significance of building a unified maritime system in the country amid the ongoing national digital transformation initiatives. He also noted the wise leadership’s full support for the maritime sector, a key pillar of the country’s economic growth. The visit, he said, was aligned with the organization’s goals to cooperate with various local and international institutions.
During the visit, the DMCA showcased Dubai’s marine recreational facilities and ongoing efforts to integrate maritime activities for faster registration and licensing of sailing permits in cooperation with the public and private sectors. Additionally, they discussed innovations and smart transformation of the maritime sector in the emirate as well as the numerous associations and clubs within the community.
H.E. Al Hosani’s delegates included Musab Al Raisi, Licensing and Safety Officer; Abdullah Abdulhameed, Media Coordinator; and Mustafa Nabil, Events Coordinator. The meeting was attended by Abdullah bin Touq, Director of Maritime Inspection Department; Hamed Hassan, Director of Maritime Registration and Licensing Department; and Mohammed Khalifa Al Huraiz, Director of Waterway Control.
To preserve temperature sensitive cargo, Saudia Cargo launches Dry Ice Replenishment service
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company announced the launching of its newest service, Dry Ice replenishment services to temperature-controlled products such as perishable and pharmaceuticals which require specific temperature requirements while being transported and stored, this service can be provided to clients 48 hours in advance prior to service delivery.
Saudia Cargo’s Chief Commercial Officer Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak emphasized: “Dry Ice Replenishment service is now available at Jeddah & Riyadh stations for import and transit cargo in the first stage & soon it will be provided to the rest of the stations as well. Moreover, the Ground Handling Unit always dedicates its effort to provide best industry solutions ensuring the safe & secure handling of all loads & cargoes.
Furthermore, Al-Mubarak underscored Saudia Cargo’s efforts into enhancing its logistical capabilities & Ground Handling services pointing out to the company’s direction towards diversifying its products & services in order to meet the growing demand for Air Cargo & logistics, in line with the Saudi vision 2030 that aims to empower the logistics industry & make the Kingdom a unique global logistical hub.
Saudia Cargo’s network covers more than 900 global destinations in more than 175 countries, a proud SkyTeam Cargo Alliance member, having logistical capabilities & a freighter fleet, as well as utilizing the belly-capacity on-board Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger flights.
The logistics sector plays a vital role in Oman’s modern and ambitious economy and is key to increasing inward investment, non-oil exports and the nation’s competitiveness. Logistics isn’t only an important sector in its own right but also a critical enabler for businesses of all sizes operating across the sultanate – from the gypsum quarry in Thumrait, hypermarkets in Seeb, battery manufacturer on Rusayl Industrial Estate, the pelletizing plant in Sohar to the plastics exporter on Salalah Free Zone. A well-oiled logistics sector provides Omani businesses and manufacturers with ways to increase efficiency, go greener and drive profits.
Earning revenues of US$7.87bn in 2013 that are forecast to reach US$12.02bn in 2017, Oman’s logistics sector is already competitive, contributing 4.9% to the sultanate’s GDP in 2015. The industry is led by multinationals offering a comprehensive range of sophisticated logistics services, down to smaller national freight forwarders offering the simple storage and shipping of merchandise. Oman’s logistics industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% between 2015 and 2020. The key drivers for economic growth are the infrastructure investments in ports, free zones, industrial estates, roads, airports and rail network, economic diversification efforts and trade with GCC states, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
FOR OMAN’S PORTS THE LOGISTICS OPPORTUNITY IS THERE FOR THE TAKING. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONED RESEARCH ON CONSOLIDATION IN THE CONTAINER SHIPPING INDUSTRY ESTIMATES THAT ON A BENCHMARK VOYAGE DIRECT FROM SINGAPORE TO SUEZ, A WEEKLY CALL AT SALALAH FOR AN ULTRA-LARGE CONTAINER VESSEL WOULD REPRESENT AN ANNUAL COST OF US$4.47M, AT DUQM US$8.69M AND AT SOHAR US$17.09M.
UPS FLIGHT FORWARD ATTAINS FAA’S FIRST FULL APPROVAL FOR DRONE AIRLINE
Makes first revenue-generating flight beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)
UPS’s full “Part 135 Standard*” certification is a first for any company
UPS to expand company’s drone delivery network serving healthcare and other customer applications
UPS Flight Forward Inc. today announced it has received the U.S. government’s first full Part 135 Standard certification to operate a drone airline. The company will initially expand its drone delivery service further to support hospital campuses around the country, and to provide solutions for customers beyond those in the healthcare industry. UPS Flight Forward plans in the future to transport a variety of items for customers in many industries, and regularly fly drones beyond the operators’ visual line of sight.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded UPS Flight Forward a Part 135 Standard certification on Friday. The UPS subsidiary immediately launched the first drone delivery flight by any company under Part 135 Standard at WakeMed’s hospital campus in Raleigh, N.C. That flight, using a Matternet M2 quadcopter, was flown under a government exemption allowing for a “beyond visual line of sight” (BVLOS) operation, also a first in the U.S. for a regular revenue-generating delivery.
UPS has proven the need for drone delivery in healthcare operations, where the shortest time in transit can improve efficiency and help healthcare professionals serve their patients better. Earlier this year, UPS partnered with drone-maker Matternet to launch its healthcare delivery service on the WakeMed campus. This first ever revenue-generating service demonstrated the business case for drone delivery of medical products and specimens. With its Part 135 Standard certification, UPS is ready to build on this application and expand to a variety of critical-care or lifesaving applications.
“This is history in the making, and we aren’t done yet,” said David Abney, UPS chief executive officer. “Our technology is opening doors for UPS and solving problems in unique ways for our customers. We will soon announce other steps to build out our infrastructure, expand services for healthcare customers and put drones to new uses in the future.”
The FAA’s Part 135 Standard certification has no limits on the size or scope of operations. It is the highest level of certification, one that no other company has attained. UPS Flight Forward’s certificate permits the company to fly an unlimited number of drones with an unlimited number of remote operators in command. This enables UPS to scale its operations to meet customer demand. Part 135 Standard also permits the drone and cargo to exceed 55 pounds and fly at night, previous restrictions governing earlier UPS flights.
“UPS Flight Forward is benefitting from our knowledge as one of the world’s leading airlines. The Flight Forward organization is building a full-scale drone operation based on the rigorous reliability, safety, and control requirements of the FAA,” Abney said.
“This is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North Carolina and building on the success of the national UAS Integration Pilot Program to maintain American leadership in unmanned aviation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
UPS has established itself as a leader in unmanned aerial vehicle delivery, having tested drones for urgent commercial deliveries over water; funded and supported humanitarian deliveries in Africa; and tested non-urgent commercial residential delivery in rural areas with drones launched from a UPS package delivery car.
UPS also has provided input to government regulators responsible for establishing rules for safe drone operations in the United States. A UPS senior executive has served since 2017 as one of a select group of corporate advisors on the FAA’s drone advisory committee.
On The Horizon for UPS Flight Forward
UPS Flight Forward is forging paths to create innovative new services for customers. Part 135 Standard certification enables UPS to integrate drones into the UPS logistics network, creating potential for new applications in many industries. The company has a long-term plan with important milestones in view. These include:
Expansion of the UPS Flight Forward delivery service to new hospitals and medical campuses around the country.
Rapid build-out of ground-based, detect-and-avoid (DAA) technologies to verify drone safety, while enabling future service expansion.
Construction of a centralized operations control center.
Regular and frequent drone flights beyond the operator’s visual line of sight.
Partnerships with additional drone manufacturers to build new drones with varying cargo capacities.
Adding new services outside of the healthcare industry, including the transport of special commodities and other regulated goods.
The company highlighted its continuous efforts on how to improve the vessels’ efficiency to align with the IMO2020 compliance and beyond
The Dubai-based Zaitoun Green Shipping L.L.C has participated at the 9th edition of “Gulf Intelligence Energy Market Forum” that was held from the 30th September to the 1st of October 2019. The forum carried out the theme of ‘IMO2020- Megatrends and the Energy Transition’; where key industry players and decision makers shared their insights on the topic during informative sessions and roundtables. The forum was held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al-Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Fujairah, UAE.
Commenting on his participation, Eng.Mohammed Zaitoun, CEO of Zaitoun Green Shipping and the President of the International Maritime Consortium emphasized, “We are moving rapidly towards the IMO2020 and the shipping industry needs to keep up its pace to align itself with the new regulations and the future. There is a call for change that needs to be addressed in the industry; more ship owners and decision makers need to diversify their business models to stay ahead of the curve, maintain their sustainable growth and preserve their continuity in the market.”
Decreasing vessels footprint for a prosperous future
According to market research, LSFO (Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) is priced around 200-300 dollars per barrel. This is an alarming indicator for ship owners, and calls for immediate actions. Keeping sustainable standards in the shipbuilding process is a key differentiator when it comes to achieving greater efficiency and maximizing performance on large merchant vessels.
“Ships are responsible for more than 18 percent of some air pollutants. Therefore, there is need to change the ships that are being built to be more sustainable and proactive towards environmental compliance. According to a report from the European Union, international shipping contributes to 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, and it is predicted to rise between 50% and 250% by 2050.” Zaitoun confirmed.
Zaitoun concluded, “The UAE has made considerable efforts in sustainability and ensuring vessels efficiency as tone of the world’s leading countries in maritime. Conferences, workshops and forums are being held across the country to prepare for IMO2020 and the future of LNG fuels and cleaner energy forms. These changes need to be applauded, as they are efforts in which other vital parties shall collaborate with the government such as ship owners, decision makers, key players and investors in the market. These entities need to carry out the needed tangible actions to tackle the market challenge of producing cleaner energy, in addition to the financial institutions that should change their finance methods to enhance maritime investment. Eco-efficient vessels demand a premium price at new build stage, are more likely to be chartered, maintain asset value over time, have a longer lifespan and ensure profitability.”
It’s worth mentioning that Zaitoun Green Shipping has initiated innovative sustainable and green initiative through the International Maritime Consortium to ensure the efficiency of ships and create a new business model for the market. The company contributed to the construction of the world’s greenest and most efficient Ultra Large Container Vessels. The efficient and qualified vessels went on to produce countless TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) records and resulted in 60% lower CO2 output per TEU compared to larger container vessels existing in the market.
HONEYWELL TO DEMONSTRATE TECHNOLOGIES SHAPING THE FUTURE OF RETAIL, SUPPLY CHAIN INDUSTRIES
Company to highlight IIoT solutions to optimize e-commerce and digitalization initiatives across the retail, transportation, logistics and warehousing sectors
Honeywell (NYSE: HON) will demonstrate cutting-edge IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) technologies designed to optimize e-commerce operations and advance digital transformation across the region’s retail, transportation, logistics and warehousing sectors at GITEX 2019, taking place Oct. 6 – 10 at the Dubai World Trade Center.
With the Middle East’s e-commerce market expected to grow in value to $48.6 billion in 2022, up from an estimated $26.9 billion in 2018*, retailers are increasingly leveraging advanced technologies to meet growing consumer expectations around delivery options, shorter delivery timelines and lower costs for shipping goods.
Honeywell’s recent “IIoT Market Spotlight – UAE & Saudi Arabia” report, which analyzed the views of approximately 250 C-level executives at medium-to-large companies across key industries, reveals there is a strong and growing appetite among businesses to embrace digitalization to meet market demands. Key data from Honeywell’s research in the transport and logistics sector includes:
50% of companies say IIoT solutions are critically important to operations today
19% say these technologies will become critical to operations during the next five years
47% say they are actively investing in IIoT technologies, and 70% report they plan to increase investments during the next five years.
“Over the past decade, the Middle East’s retail and supply chain industries have undergone a significant transformation due to the growing requirement for the more rapid and seamless delivery of goods,” said Miroslav Kafedzhiev, vice president and general manager for Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions, Middle East, Russia, Turkey and Africa. “At Honeywell, we deploy a range of smart solutions that facilitate digital warehouses and more connected supply chains, where operators can receive, store and ship goods quickly and accurately using advanced software, artificial intelligence and mobile computer technologies.”
Over five days of GITEX 2019, Honeywell will address the growing digital demand across retail and supply chain by hosting industry-specific Tech Talks and Executive Briefings at its stand, presented by senior leaders and subject-matter experts. The presentations will cover key topics from the retail, transportation, logistics and warehousing sectors. It will also showcase cutting-edge technology, including:
Warehouse of the Future
Honeywell’s ‘warehouse of the future’ solutions combine machine-level sensors, smart controllers and devices, to deliver vital information on a facility’s performance in real-time. Through intelligent, data driven and automated processes, the warehouse of the future portfolio enables the digital transformation of a warehouse to increase reliability and maximize productivity.
Specifically, Honeywell will highlight its Guided Work Solutions, which is a fully integrated voice-directed productivity offering and provides distribution center customers with improved productivity, accuracy and safety. The software application runs on the Android™ platform and is based on the company’s industry-leading Vocollect voice technology. The flexible software integrates with many leading enterprise resource management systems to streamline the deployment process.
Retail Solutions
From the storefront to the backroom, Honeywell’s in-store retail solutions bring together people, assets and merchandise in powerful new ways. With innovative tools and data insights built on the expertise of leading software developers and retail workflow specialists, retailers can connect associates with each other, with shoppers and with enterprise systems that drive shelf replenishment, task management and reverse logistics.
Retailers can also tap into Honeywell’s proven experience in helping teams work more efficiently every day, supported by a full portfolio of fast-deploying Mobility Edge™ technologies – built to simplify operating system updates through Android 11.
Connected Safety Technology
Honeywell offers smart wearable technology that keeps workers safe on the jobsite, improves productivity and ensures compliance with processes and regulations.
At the event, integrated site-wide safety solutions will be on display, which combine fixed, portable, and smart wearable and threat detection monitors as well as worker status and location information. The deployment of innovative solutions that integrate smart voice technology and wearable technology with predictive analytics can help prevent an incident before it occurs.
Honeywell will also showcase technology that enables key safety and productivity benefits of having real-time connectivity while minimizing the expense, distraction and safety risks associated with a mobile phone.
In recognition of its partners’ support for maintaining smooth and safe maritime traffic in Dubai, the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently organized an annual meeting of partners to discuss navigational aids at Raffles Hotel. The meeting highlighted the importance of unifying efforts to ensure increased implementation of navigational aids in accordance with the international agreements and the Executive Council Decision No. 63 of 2016 issued by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, praised maritime entities concerns in Dubai for maintaining navigational aids in compliance with local laws and global conventions. He reiterated DMCA’s commitment to sustain smooth and efficient maritime traffic management in Dubai. With strong focus on the safety aspect, the Authority said it would employ tools for secure tracking of ship movement and enhanced emergency response, in line with Dubai’s bid to become one of the world’s best maritime capitals.
The Authority has already put in place maritime navigation lights and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to provide accurate navigational assistance, give approval for ships to sail, dock, and move to and from new ports, which enhance navigational safety and operational efficiency in Dubai waters.
Mohammed Khalifa Al Huraiz, Director of Waterway Control, DMCA said: “Maritime traffic regulation in Dubai’s new projects is in line with DMCA’s efforts to implement the best practices for safe maritime navigation. We emphasize the importance of cooperation between DMCA and our strategic partners in applying these practices in the hope of cementing Dubai’s leadership on the global maritime community.”
He added: “We aim to ensure safe navigation by using the latest technological innovations and advanced information and communication systems to avoid collision of ships and assist them in obtaining the necessary information about the location, direction, speed, world time, and registration number from the International Maritime Organization. This is in line with our continuous efforts to improve the performance, safety, efficiency and competitiveness of the local maritime community, develop an integrated and safe maritime environment, and attract regional and international investors.”
The navigational aid in Dubai include the basic and side buoys, safe water floats, and private and hazardous area buoys, among others. (See attached infographic).
Rotor, UAV/drone, and Homeland Security sectors to take center stage at 8th Dubai HeliShow in November 2020
Dubai HeliShow 2020 to feature the Unmanned Ariel Vehicle / Drone and Military & Homeland Security sectors through its Exhibition and Conference
Biennial event to be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The Dubai Helishow, the biennial international helicopter technology and operations exhibition dedicated to the helicopter industry, is returning in 2020 on November 10-12 at the Royal Pavilion of E2 Dubai South Event & Exhibition Center, Al Maktoum International Airport. The event will be staged under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The Dubai HeliShow 2020 will highlight the new developments in the rotor industry, including the next-generation helicopters and air taxis; the futuristic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technologies; the future maintenance and repair organizations (MROs) in the region; and updates on aerodrome and heliport regulations. To be co-located with the Military & Homeland Security show, the 8th edition of Dubai HeliShow will also feature the Unmanned Arial Vehicle/Drone sector as a new addition to its Exhibition and Conference platform.
An exclusive three-day conference – another main highlight – will shed light on a vast range of topics, including ‘Urban Mobility and Next Generation Air Taxis;’ ‘The Electric and Autonomous VTOL Revolution;’ ‘Update on Aerodrome and Helicopter Regulations;’ ‘Integrating Drones Into Controlled Airspace – Challenges and Security Issues;’ ‘The Role of Rotorcrafts in Homeland Security;’ and many others.
The upcoming edition will feature key companies from the rotor, UAV/drone, and defence industries from around the world. With a global audience, the event will also be an excellent opportunity for industry stakeholders to highlight their recent achievements and advancements as well as meet and interact with prospective buyers from the Middle East.
Dubai South, which includes Al Maktoum International Airport, a key supporter and host of the show seeks to expand its aviation district in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance operations, a critical part of this growth will be in the Helicopter sector. Tahnoon Saif, CEO of Dubai South’s Aviation District, said: “the HeliShow 2020 will provide a unique opportunity to place together customers, suppliers and government officials to reflect the growing importance of the Helicopter sector within our regional aerospace, highlighting the latest developments and advancements, firmly putting it on the map as a place to do business.”
Ahmad Abulhoul, Managing Director, Domus Group, organizer of Dubai HeliShow 2020, said: “With the increasingly important roles played by helicopters and UAVs/drones across a number of industrial, hospitality, and crisis management scenarios, including military, transport and cargo, firefighting, rescue, and offshore oil support, the upcoming edition of the highly successful Dubai HeliShow is already attracting a great deal of interest from international exhibitors, decision makers, government and defense officials, along with commercial customers, owners, users, and manufacturers.”
To name few of the earliest confirmed international companies participating at Dubai HeliShow 2020 are Cartivator/SkyDrive (Japanese company building a flying car and targeting to use it to light the 2020 Tokyo Olympic flame), TACOR Inc. (American Aircraft MRO company), Vita Inclinata Technologies (leading Load Stability Systems in USA), KosmosAvia (spare parts and components supplier for various Russian helicopters and aircrafts), Aviation Traders Limited ATL (aviation design and certification specialist from UK) and Flight Vector (American software created to fulfill the needs of the modern age flight communication center).
Munich Airport moves up to fifth place among the world’s leading hubs
In the latest rankings of the world’s best-connected airports, Munich Airport has risen to the number five position. The new rankings were released by the Official Airline Guide (OAG), the global authority on air service information. OAG releases an annual Megahubs Index in which it rates the connectivity of major air transportation hubs. According to the latest figures, Munich, which ranked 11th in the previous index, is now ranked number five behind London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Chicago O’Hare and Amsterdam. More than 260 destinations were offered in Munich last year.
The airport’s connectivity was likely boosted by new intercontinental routes – for example to Osaka, Bogotá and Dallas. “This outstanding placement in the OAG rankings impressively reaffirms that Munich Airport is now firmly established as an important hub within Europe’s transportation infrastructure. The beneficiaries of this development are above all travelers and businesses in southern Germany, who profit from a wide selection of non-stop connections to important cities and markets all over the world,” said Munich Airport CEO Dr. Michael Kerkloh.
DMCA hosts ‘Marine Safety Awareness Campaign’ for fishermen in Dubai
Event held during UAE Maritime Week 2019
150 fishermen attend lecture and training sessions
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently concluded the ‘Fishermen safety awareness campaign’ organized to enhance the awareness of the fishing community in the emirate. The event was in line with the government’s economic diversification policy and growth agenda.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: “The recently held awareness campaign was the continuation of DMCA’s relentless efforts to ensure maritime safety in Dubai and the UAE. Dubai is a key player in the regional and global maritime industries. The fishing community is an important part of the industry and integral to the UAE’s cultural heritage.”
The latest leg of the campaign, which began in January this year, was held at the Fishermen’s Port 3 in Umm Suqeim, Dubai. A total of 150 fishermen attended the event to learn about the latest global best practices in relation to sustainability and safe navigation initiatives. During the entire campaign, DMCA already held a series of awareness lectures and training programs in Arabic and Tamil.
Mohammed Khalifa Al Huraiz, Director of Waterway Control, DMCA, said: “Our fishermen learned about the latest best maritime practices and standards to help them better manage their operations. The event’s success has further inspired us to continue our educational and awareness efforts so that we can further enrich knowledge and build capacity in the development and management of maritime operations. Our efforts are in accordance with the highest standards of maritime safety, safe navigation, and operational efficiency. The confidence of international maritime leaders in Dubai, one of the leading maritime capitals and the best shipping centers in the world, remains high.”
UPS Worldwide Express expanded to three new countries in the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Africa (ISMEA)
New postal codes for UPS Worldwide Express added in 11 countries
UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday service expanded to Nigeria and Oman
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced the addition of three new countries served by UPS Worldwide Express, and broadened its reach across 76 cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa (ISMEA). The service has now been expanded to Algeria, Reunion and Namibia. As part of UPS’s international suite of shipping services that guarantees time- and day-definite delivery for urgent shippers, UPS has also enhanced its services with the addition of UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday export from Nigeria and Oman.
“UPS’s goal with these investments in our smart global logistics network is to make the global marketplace more accessible for our customers. This latest expansion will help businesses of all sizes in the Middle East, Africa and India to cross borders and international customers capture growth opportunities in this dynamic region,” said Rami Suleiman, president for UPS ISMEA. “By delivering faster, earlier and expanding our reach, we help customers in these high growth markets increase their value, strengthen their competitive advantage and stand out on the global stage. From small businesses to Expo 2020 Dubai participant countries, UPS continues providing importers and exporters with greater flexibility to meet their time-sensitive requests.”
This sweeping expansion of services comes as part of the company’s effort to continuously better connect businesses to its smart global logistics network, demonstrating its strategic focus on international high-growth markets and as well its role as Official Logistics Partner of Expo 2020. With up to 25 million visitors expected during the undertaking, UPS is helping over 194 participating countries to:
Minimize the need for excess inventory with guaranteed
on-time delivery and improve cash flow
Save time and increase efficiency and productivity by using one shipping, tracking and billing system for both packages and freight
Better meet their customers’ critical needs with more time-of-day delivery options and an increased number of services that improve end-to-end customer experience
With the addition of 3 new markets, UPS Worldwide Express is now available in 157 countries. UPS also grew its express services footprint within key existing markets by adding new postal codes in 76 cities in Bahrain, Egypt, India, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Reunion, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia. In addition, UPS customers can now take advantage of robust customs brokerage services in these newly expanded areas.
As one of the world’s largest customs brokers, UPS helps customers navigate changing regulations, maintain compliance and keep shipments moving smoothly through customs and across borders. The UPS customs brokerage team has more than 80 years of experience, more than 400 import and export clearance locations, and processes over 25 million entries each year in the U.S. UPS continues to strengthen export and brokerage solutions which customers can count on as they explore alternative modes and lanes in response to the shifting trade environment.
Broad-based meetingof Dubai Maritime City Authority with councils, working groups and various maritime associations to ensure unified vision in quest to promote Dubai`s maritime sector leadership
DMCA has organized a broad-based meeting of all Maritime associations in Dubai on the sidelines of “UAE Maritime Week 2019.” The meeting saw the development of a comprehensive roadmap aimed to bring all maritime associations and partner global communities together under the umbrella of the ‘Global council for maritime clusters.’ This first-of-its-kind initiative aims at developing collaborative frameworks among maritime sector pioneers to reinforce the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. The council is comprised of members that include the Maritime Community of Hamburg, Vancouver, Panama and Ireland. A group of virtual offices will be launched to serve as a platform to exchange real-time expertise, information and services around the clock.
The meeting’s attendees emphasized on the importance of building firm partnerships to help make a sustainable world-class maritime sector a reality. They also stressed on the necessity of unifying and navigating joint efforts towards developing innovative solutions aimed at utilizing opportunities in the best marine capitals in the world, in favor of shipowners and maritime affiliates. The world -class maritime achievements of the UAE were also highlighted during the meeting, including its recent achievement of being recognized as the ‘Top marine capital for 2019.’
The agenda covered discussions on promoting maritime integration and foster effective communication between maritime stakeholders. Present during the meeting were influential figures and decision makers including Mr. Iason (Jason) Georgiou, UNSSA Vice President, Omair Bin Obaid Armathi: Dubai Fishermen Coop Association, along with senior officials from DSAA – Ship Agents Association, UAE Shipping Association (UAESA), Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries, The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Maritime Domestic & Leisure Group – Rasiena, National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL) and International Institute of Marine Surveying.
The attendees unanimously agreed on the need to unite joint efforts to move forward in the implementation of strategic plans and directions to enhance the competitiveness, efficiency and attractiveness of the maritime sector within the framework of effective partnership between the public and private sectors.
DMCA officials present at the meeting were Amer Ali, Executive Director; Hamed Bin Lahej, Consultant; Adel Clenter, Director of Customer Care; Khalid Meftah, Director of Maritime Development at DMCA and Khalifa Al Neyadi, Director of Strategy and Quality Department.
Amer Ali explained that the DMCA seeks to develop ways on how to enhance maritime integration frameworks, unify capabilities and guide efforts in serving Dubai’s leadership as the best regional and global provider of maritime services. He said, “The meeting provided a great opportunity to highlight the achievements of the local maritime sector, which push us to continue to launch specific initiatives aimed at enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness on the global maritime map, We laud the remarkable attention paid by our wise leadership to enhance the contribution of the maritime and logistics sector in driving the path of growth and economic diversification through the development of infrastructure, legislation, maritime and logistics services that make Dubai the world’s main port and a major terminal between East, West, North and South.”
He concluded: “We are committed to continue in developing integrated frameworks for communication with government entities and local, regional and international organizations concerned with maritime affairs. Keeping in mind the need to provide the means to enhance the confidence of regional and international investors in the competitive marine environment in Dubai, which is steadily moving towards building a sustainable economic model driven by productivity, innovation and high competitiveness.”
Participants reviewed their achievements and plans in support of the local maritime community, which represented an ideal opportunity to explore new horizons in support of the national trend towards enhancing the maritime and logistical capabilities that will ensure the management of maritime operations in accordance with the highest standards of occupational safety and best environmental practices and local and international decisions.
DMCA’s officials gave a presentation highlighting Dubai’s march towards global maritime leadership under the pioneering efforts of the country’s wise leadership to guide the growth of the ships, ports, engineering operations and maritime support sectors, as well as employing and adapting R&D, innovation and advanced technology to enhance the competitiveness, attractiveness and inclusiveness of the local maritime sector, which currently hosts 7400 companies and 13,000 maritime and investment activities, reinforcing its pivotal role as a tributary of economic diversification.
The meeting served as a strategic platform to shed light on the new opportunities within the maritime community in Dubai, in light of the continuous efforts to promote air and sea freight and logistics integration and in line with the national trend towards the implementation of the ‘Dubai Silk Road strategy,’ which aims to support the strategic role of the emirate in the field of maritime, air and services Logistics and international trade flow.
‘UAE Maritime Week 2019’ will allow global maritime industry leaders to learn the latest innovations in shipping and cargo, which help facilitate, revitalize, and support the global maritime trade. This year’s edition will feature special events such as ‘The Dubai Maritime Agenda;’ ‘Seatrade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa;’ ‘Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats Middle East;’ ‘Seatrade ShipTech Middle East;’ ‘Marine Insurance Conference;’ and ‘Dubai Maritime Law Conference.’
12 countries take part in event held in partnership with IMO
The Federal Authority – Land & Maritime Transport successfully organized today (Monday, September 23, 2019) a ‘Regional Training Course for Assessment and Examination for Officers and Marine Engineers.’ The event, which was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime, will run until September 26, 2019. The training is being organized in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and with high-level participation from more than 12 countries around the world. Held every year under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Ports, the event is aimed towards supporting the efficiency of international maritime transport and to build a safe, secure and clean shipping industry through the proper implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) including assessment and inspection of seafarers.
The training course brought together participants from various government entities and ports who presented their insights, experiences and best practices in the assessment of seafarers’ performance within the IMO model. Participants in the training course stressed that maritime training and education is one of the pillars of the maritime transport industry, especially as this sector is considered to be a modern, technical and professional specialty that requires great skill, knowledge and experience from the maritime workforce.
H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Authority – Land & Maritime Transport, said that the UAE strongly believes that the growth and development of the maritime sector depends on the safety, security and efficiency of the international maritime transport industry and in line with the regulatory framework developed by IMO. Al Nuaimi stressed on the UAE’s keenness to support all IMO activities through its re-nomination for IMO Council membership under category B as a country of great interest in international maritime trade.
Al Nuaimi said: “Organizing a Regional Training Course for Marine Engineers and Officers Assessment and Examination, demonstrates UAE’s belief in the importance of the seafarer’s role and their impact on the safety of the maritime shipping sector. We believe that providing training and assessment for seafarers should be an ongoing process aimed at maintaining high levels of efficiency within the maritime shipping sector, as their role is fundamental in the global trade. The training is an opportunity to discuss all issues related to the assessment and examination of seafarers, as well as a chance to tackle latest practices and knowledge in this area.”
As of this year, 164 Member States, representing 99.2 per cent of the global freight load, have approved the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Sentinel for Seafarers, which reflects their keenness to improve the safety of the marine environment through the advancement of international standards for training and assessment levels for seafarers.
LogiPoint wins Seatrade Maritime Supply Chain & Logistics Award 2019 forthe Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa
LogiPoint (Logistics Enabled) , the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia, has been awarded the Seatrade Maritime Supply Chain & Logistics Award 2019 for the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa during a special ceremony held in Dubai to celebrate and honor distinguished regional shipping, port and maritime logistics operators.
LogiPoint has won the award for the extended commitment to continually provide high quality and advanced integrated logistics solutions, and by making dynamic efforts to introduce international concepts towards logistics efficiency contributing to Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NDLIP), under the supervision of the Saudi logistics Hub, which seeks to develop the Kingdom’s economic growth beyond dependence on the oil industry
The Chief Executive Officer, Farooq Shaikh of LogiPoint said “To receive such an award for the second time validates the positive results of the outstanding efforts to continually improve and being the customer’s champions by providing them with a maximum ease of doing business via up-to-date facilities, Bonded and Re-Export zone at Jeddah Islamic P, state-of-the-art Warehousing, and customized Value Added Solutions”
He concluded by saying “This recognition would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of LogiPoint team who have worked and demonstrated on a daily basis at the highest levels of commitment also the support and trust of our customers and the collaboration and partnership with the stakeholders. I am confident that LogiPoint will be able to continue its success story as it is in our DNA”
Dubai South to showcase fully dedicated e-commerce zone
EZDubai at Ecommerce Expo
In line with its commitment to play a key role in the move to advance Dubai’s leadership in global trade and e-commerce, Dubai South is set to highlight the latest developments in the Middle East’s rapidly growing e-commerce sector at the upcoming e-commerce Expo in Olympia, London. During their presence at the show, Dubai South will be promoting the Logistics District and its recently launched fully dedicated e-commerce free zone, EZDubai, including its capabilities and key features. Ecommerce Expo is set to take place from September 25 to 26, 2019 and is considered the UK’s largest e-commerce event attracting more than 12,000 delegates and over 200 companies from across the country.
Recent market reports have shown rapid growth of e-commerce in the Middle East and North Africa valued to reach up to USD 24 billion by 2022, the region’s e-commerce trade have soared by 1500% for the last 10 years, with UAE leading the industry by maintaining 50% in terms of e-commerce sales. The growth is further spurred by new shopping habits and changing lifestyles coupled with easy access to mobile and smart technologies.
Dubai South’s Logistics District, which spans across 18 square kilometres, takes on a design that looks towards complimenting multi-modal infrastructure development. The logistics free zone is aimed at providing seamless connectivity and flexibility through its offer of a diverse portfolio of business solutions, strategic infrastructure and value-added services to a long list of local and international companies.
EZDubai, the 920,000 square-meter purpose-built e-commerce zone, is an AED 2.1 billion project located within Dubai South’s Logistics District is designed to provide a range of logistics facilities and business solutions through structured regulatory framework, complete ecosystem, and the dual warehouse concept.
Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Dubai South’s Logistics District, said: “The UAE and especially Dubai is rapidly gaining its reputation as an ideal e-commerce hub strategically positioned to serve the global e-commerce market following the steady growth of online shopping in the UAE and the Middle East. Our participation at the upcoming Ecommerce Expo is in line with our goals to promote the emirate as the preferred destination for doing business, supported by world-class logistics and supply chain facilities and services solely dedicated to the needs of the rapidly growing e-commerce in the region.”
He added: “We are confident that our presence at the show will receive positive response, especially for our latest projects within the Logistics District, like EZDubai, which is being developed to complement Dubai’s world-class transport infrastructure, primarily the airport-seaport corridor, allowing cargo to be moved from port to airport within 20 minutes. We envisioned it to be a gateway and an integrated platform providing global businesses with access to free zone assets, network and connectivity to trusted providers or services to further enhance and expand the business while also keeping true to our focus of providing smart facilities and cutting-edge services to drive in enhanced improve efficiency and an improved ease-of-doing business process that is in line with Dubai’s set goals and objectives.”
Dubai South is also hosting a panel discussion on the second day of the event at the Cross-Border Theatre, featuring e-commerce leaders from the UAE such as Aramex and Sharaf DG, among others. The panel will discuss industry trends in the region and the various factors shaping the industry and Dubai’s strategic position to advance the sector at the regional and international level.
New connection in Munich: Vueling launches service to Florence, Italy, with five flights per week
Non-stop from Munich to Tuscany: Starting immediately, the Spanish carrier Vueling will depart from the Bavarian capital to Florence five times a week. An Airbus A319 will take off for the Italian metropolis every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Florence owes much of its distinctive beauty to palaces and churches such as the Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore. A special highlight is the iconic Ponte Vecchio, which spans the 200-kilometer River Arno. Lined with many small shops, it is among the world’s oldest segmental arch bridges. The Tuscan capital is also a magnet for art lovers: In the world-famous Uffizi galleries, more than a thousand works by such renowned artists as Da Vinci, Botticelli and Titian are on display. And in the Galleria dell’Accademia, visitors can experience Michaelangelo’s magnificent David. This work, more than 5 meters tall, is one of the most famous sculptures in art history.
Along with the new connection to Florence, Vueling is also offering services from Munich to Rome, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca this summer. Florence is an important base for Vuelling, which is part of the IAG Group. The Spanish carrier serves 120 short and medium-range destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Leading public services provider will serve as Silver Sponsor at the 6th edition of the annual conference taking place in Dubai on September 16-17
The development of smart cities is now an integral aspect of the construction industry throughout the GCC, which has been bolstered in recent years by an array of high-profile projects including the Neom gigaproject in Saudi Arabia worth USD 500 billion or Sharjah’s USD 6.5 billion Aljada megaproject. In line with these activities, Serco Middle East (Serco ME), a leading provider of essential public services, has announced that it will participate at the 6th Annual Arab Future Cities Summit as Silver Sponsor, with the company keen to embrace ambitious plans to develop more smart cities in the coming years and play a prominent role throughout such processes.
The upcoming event, which will be held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai on 16th and 17th September, will examine the rapid developments that have taken place throughout the Middle East as cities aim to evolve into leading global smart cities. Jason Hunt, Commercial Director at Serco ME, will present an interactive discussion on ‘Constructing inclusive, connected, livable cities’. Speaking to attendees on day two of the Summit, Jason Hunt will address the following topics: Importance to integrate technology, Sustainable smart projects, and Key challenges for connected and inclusive cities – following citizen-oriented development and ensuring its sustainability.
Commenting on the participation, Phil Malem, CEO, Serco ME, said: “At Serco ME, improving the experience of customers by continuously introducing innovative services to government and semi-government organisations and large private corporations has always been among our top priorities. A major event such as Expo 2020 presents key challenges to Dubai’s infrastructure, but also offers great opportunity to understand and explore the value of developing smart cities. The Arab Future Cities Summit provides a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with likeminded people and showcase our expertise in managing public services throughout the region.”
He continued: “Digital technology is having a huge impact in every sector and is driving seamless connectivity and smarter solutions, enabling the growth of smart cities, which we are increasingly witnessing in development projects in some of the leading cities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This unique event also serves as an innovative platform to promote strategies for sustainable development that complement the latest smart technology implementations. The Summit has already attracted a huge amount of interest and I look forward to seeing the results of what promises to be a successful event for the smart cities sector.”
Over 300 senior executives across numerous sectors and industries will come together for the two days event to learn and share the various opportunities for growth in the smart cities roadmap which continues to evolve.
Seminar discusses topic from an insurance perspective
Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre kicks off its first breakfast after the summer period with a presentation on marine casualties from an insurance perspective. Speakers, Bengi Yuceer, Regional Head of Marine Claims and Vivek Sharan, Regional Marine Client Director both from Howden Insurance Brokers LLC focused the talk on recent casualties and events in shipping, the status of the insurance market and future outlook, as well as casualty management in insurance claims.
“Marine Insurance, is one of the oldest forms of insurance. Insurance brokers are faced with a multitude of shipping claims on a daily basis, hence a talk of this nature is key to understanding operational risks and how to manage issues when they do arise, be it through insurance or dispute resolution. At EMAC it is our responsibility to provide a platform for informative industry discussion, opinions and knowledge building,” said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC.
The team at EMAC will remain active through their participation on each day of the
UAE Maritme Week beginning with the Dubai Maritime Agenda on 22 September, Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats on 23 September, the Marine Insurance Conference on 24 September and Maritime Law Conference on 25 September. Through this participation, it is clear that EMAC remains committed to ensuring that the industry knows about the Centre’s support and services.
The next Breakfast with EMAC seminar will continue on 20 October, co-hosted with Clyde&Co.
First session to focus on ‘Commercial uncertainty: China, Brexit, and maritime market fundamentals’
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) is set to discuss the fundamentals of the maritime community amid the rapid global changes as well as the major efforts to catapult Dubai into one of the world’s best maritime centers at the Dubai Maritime Agenda 2019. The event will be held on September 22, 2019 – the first day of the UAE Maritime Week 2019 – under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said that the Dubai Maritime Agenda 2019 will provide a global platform for maritime industry leaders to discuss the latest developments and issues affecting the local and international maritime sectors. Ali noted that the presence of high-level international stakeholders and leaders in the gathering will serve as another strong reaffirmation of Dubai’s leading position as an influential player in the local and global maritime communities. The emirate’s world-class status is also the result of its wise leaders’ relentless support for the local industry, giving emphasis on creativity, technological innovation, excellence, human investment and training, and environmental sustainability.
Ali added: “During the first session of the Dubai Maritime Agenda, we will discuss the impact of global trade on shipping, the implications of fluctuating oil prices, the basics of the maritime industry in relation to the growing Chinese economy, and the United Kingdom’s impending exit from the European Union, popularly known as Brexit. The DMCA will tackle as well the international community’s readiness to implement the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) directives to reduce the sulfur content of marine fuels used in open seas and adopt alternative fuels as part of the global movement to build a carbon-free future. To start strong through the first session, the Dubai Maritime Agenda will cover a range of maritime issues of global importance, from operational efficiency and environmental sustainability to regional and global laws and treaties.”
The event will commence with a session titled ‘Commercial uncertainty: China, Brexit, and maritime market fundamentals.’ It is expected to attract high international participation, which reflects Dubai’s standing as a strong and influential international player in the maritime industry. The first session will discuss the most pressing issues facing the maritime shipping segment against the backdrop of the rapid technological revolution, the fluctuating world oil prices, and IMO’s directives. The attendees will include dignitaries and industry figures led by Richard Morgan, Regional Managing Director of Maersk West and Central Asia Ltd.
The first session will examine the fundamentals of the maritime market in light of Brexit and China’s One Belt, One Road initiative, which aims to revive the ancient Silk Road that links the Asian nation to global markets. and account together for about 40 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.
The first session will also highlight the pivotal role of Dubai and the UAE in the ambitious China-led initiative. The UAE is China’s second largest trading partner and the largest export market in the Middle East and North Africa. The countries enjoy strong economic relations, with the investment volume between the two sides amounting to about USD 6 billion between 2018 and 2019. Their partnership covers vital sectors, including marine operations, renewable energy, information technology, industry, and many others. On the other hand, China is the UAE’s first global trading partner in non-oil trade. The non-oil trade between the two countries exceeded USD 43 billion in 2018.
Set to take place on September 22, 2019 at Jumeirah Madinat Al Salam in Dubai, the Dubai Maritime Agenda will focus on current uncertainties in global trade relations and their impact on the shipping industry, in addition to Dubai’s adoption of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation to improve shipping efficiency as well as enhance the operations of companies based in the emirate. It will also see the participants discussing the UAE’s role in helping stabilize global trade and the effects of the One Belt, One Road initiative on the future of the global maritime industry. China’s initiative involves the establishment of a large network of land and sea links to connect Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. More than 60 countries will be part of this initiative, which is divided into two main categories, namely the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt and the ‘Maritime Silk Road.’ The latter is a sea route that will allow China to directly access Africa and Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The Dubai Maritime Agenda 2019 will hold four sessions titled ‘Commercial uncertainty: China, Brexit, and maritime market fundamentals;’ ‘Artificial Intelligence/Blockchain Technologies and Maritime Trade;’ ‘Globalisation and Consolidation: Two Irreversible Trends for the Industry;’ and ‘Regional Maritime Growth and Trade opportunities.’ Among the expected attendees are maritime leaders, decision makers, regional and international experts, government officials, policy makers, and representatives of major international maritime companies.
The Dubai Maritime Agenda 2019 is one of the main highlights of the UAE Maritime Week 2019. The UAE Maritime Week is a unified platform for global maritime industry leaders to discuss the future of the maritime community driven by innovation, knowledge, and smart transformation. It is taking place amid the rapid changes in the 21st century. The event will explore growth prospects in the maritime trade as well as provide a venue for sharing of the best practices and experiences. Dubai, in particular, will share its efforts to become a major maritime hub for global trade.
Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand flying to the most countries around the world, extended the validity period of its IATA CEIV (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators) Pharma certificate to 2022, proving its success in all processes throughout the air transportation of medicinal products.
Trainings for renewal period of the certificates, obtain initially in 2016 in order to be valid and applicable for a period of three years, were planned with the Turkish Airlines Aviation Academy, and completed successfully following the audits by the IATA, resulting in extension of the validity periods of such certificates for the “Turkish Airlines INC (Air Carrier) and Ataturk Airport (ISL)” station.
Turkish Cargo acts responsibly with priority to maintenance of the integrity of all cold-chain products throughout the transportation process of the critical medicinal products such as medicines, vaccines, biotechnological products, diagnosis samples, sensitive medical devices, organs, tissues, etc. which have a high level of importance in respect of temperature and time, and carries out its operations in accordance with the qualification criteria for the IATA CEIV Pharma certificate.
Implementing all handling procedures with dedicated teams working in harmony at its special cargo storage facility of 3,500 m2 in all its accomplished special cargo operations, Turkish Cargo makes use of active temperature-controlled Envirotainer and CSafe containers, the electrical air-conditioning container Opticooler, Thermal Dolly and disposable thermal sheets equipped with thermal isolation features, minimizing any and all risks in highly-critical medicinal products.
Making use of special products designed exclusively for consignments including medicines and medical products and introducing its superior shipment quality to the giant global pharmaceutical companies, Turkish Cargo provides air cargo service to 126 countries thanks to its extensive flight network.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
In the presence of H.E Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the Chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime
The Federal Transport Authority-Land and Maritime has revealed its preparations to take part in the activities of World Maritime Day 2019, which will be held on September 26th in London. This year’s event is being held under the slogan, ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community’ and will focus on raising awareness on the importance of gender equality in the maritime sector and creating a stimulating environment for women that will enhance their participation in maritime jobs, including administrations, ports and maritime training institutes, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
H.E Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the Chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime, said, “Our participation this year is an important addition to us especially as the event focuses on the important role of women in the global maritime sector. Women are a vital component of the maritime community in the country–thanks to their pioneering skills and capabilities that enable them to engage in the maritime labor market. We are keen on promoting gender equality and reduce the gap between male and female employees in all maritime fields. We consider women as a key partner in the development of a maritime sector that contributes to supporting the development process and strengthening the national economy.”
H.E Al Nuaimi added, “The UAE has made quality achievements in enhancing the efficiency, comprehensiveness, sustainability and safety of the maritime sector in general, which contributed to the improvement of the performance of this sector in terms of developing legislation and policies such as updating maritime law, as well as strengthening the control over the shipping and navigation companies and the development of container handling volume. Women have played a leading role in holding high-level positions in the maritime sector, demonstrating their presence and ability to take on the most difficult tasks in this sector and achieve excellence and leadership in maritime work.”
“We are pleased to participate this year in this international event to highlight the importance of supporting and enabling women in the various maritime fields and providing them with the necessary expertise to enable her to promote the maritime industry and stimulate economic development in general,” concluded Al Nuaimi.
In 1988, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched a program for gender equality, capacity building and the integration of women in the maritime sector. This program contributed to the establishment of an institutional framework in IMO policies and procedures, as well as its role in enabling women to have access to maritime training and employment within this vital sector.
Saudia Cargo enhances its Europe & Africa global network presence
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company enhanced its presence in the African & the European continents adding new freighter flights alongside extra belly-capacity onboard Saudia passenger flights during the high season aiming to increase its network capabilities starting this September.
Saudia Cargo added a second additional weekly freighter flight to operate on Tuesday and Thursday to JFK Airport in New York via LGG Airport in Liege, Belgium by a 747-400F freighter aircraft moreover, Saudia Cargo has become the largest player in the Kenya-Europe market by adding four weekly freighter flights from Nairobi airport to Europe as a total of 11 flights per week. In addition, the company added an additional flight to Khartoum International Airport via a 777F aircraft.
Last June, Saudia Cargo announced the launching of its new stations in Athenes & Marakesh in line with the company’s strategy to enhance its global presence & improve its logistical capabilities in order to answer the growing demand for Air Cargo & Ground Handling Services.
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, covers more than 900 destinations in more than 175 countries, through a dedicated state of the art freighter fleet alongside the network of SkyTeam Cargo Alliance in addition to the belly capacity onboard Saudia passenger flights.
Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) signs Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi Global Market Arbitration Centre (ADGMAC)
In the spirit of continued collaboration between government entities in the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Global Market Arbitration Centre (ADGMAC) and Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance arbitration and mediation services across the whole UAE maritime industry.
Mr. Majid bin Bashir, Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC and Mrs. Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts, marked the collaboration at a signing ceremony on 8th September 2019 in Abu Dhabi. “We are very pleased to seal collaboration with ADGMAC. Through this partnership we believe that we will be able to enhance the accessibility, efficiency and effectiveness of commercial and maritime arbitration and mediation that will allow us to share knowledge and ideas to facilitate the rendering of the United Arab Emirates as a perfect seat of arbitration in Middle East,” said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Acting Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC.
“ADGM Arbitration Centre is pleased to join efforts with the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre to better serve the business requirements and developments of the growing maritime and commercial sector in the UAE and wider Middle East region. As an International Financial Centre, ADGM is well recognised as an effective, efficient and safe seat for the conduct of international arbitration. Its state-of-the-art Arbitration Centre provides a neutral and inclusive venue, open to all arbitrations and mediations, regardless of sectors, industries and geographies. We look forward to working with EMAC to raise the standards of arbitration and mediation in the region,” said Linda Fitz-Alan, Registrar and Chief Executive of ADGM Courts.
Leader in enabling global trade showcases energy logistics expertise and sustainable mobility innovations
Global trade enabler DP World and its subsidiary P&O, will be participating in the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC) as the ‘Logistics Partner to the Energy Industry’. Attending this event for the first time, DP World will showcase its global experience, capabilities and operations in energy logistics and sustainable mobility. The WEC is the world’s most important global energy event and will be held in the Middle East for the first time.
Under the theme ‘Making Energy Flow’, DP World and P&O will demonstrate the connectivity of energy-related cargo movement around the world as they engage the international energy community and shed light on the best practices, trends and future outlook of logistics across the energy sector supply chain. Key focus areas will include marine logistics through P&O and the promise of sustainable transportation through DP World Cargospeed systems, enabled by Virgin Hyperloop One technology.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group’s Chairman and CEO, stated: “DP World is pleased to participate in and support the 2019 World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi. The event represents an ideal opportunity to highlight our leadership, investment and experience in energy logistics. As a progressive end-to-end global logistics solutions provider with a footprint in more than 45 countries, we are committed to enabling smarter trade to make a better future for everyone while creating synergies within the energy industry supply chain.”
“Through strategic network growth, acquisitions and partnerships, DP World successfully established a world-leading logistics infrastructure, diversifying its portfolio to better serve the dynamic trade needs of our customers through the deployment of next-generation technology and innovations that deliver safer, faster, efficient, and more sustainable solutions,” Bin Sulayem added.
P&O, a DP World company, has a rich marine heritage which spans more than a century, operating a fleet of over 300 vessels globally. Having established an enviable track record in providing exceptional services to the energy industry, P&O will showcase its premier range of maritime support services for governments, oil and gas companies, suppliers, and service companies operating across the globe.
DP World’s recent acquisition of Topaz Energy and Marine for $1.1 billion represents a critical strategic investment that demonstrates its commitment to leadership and excellence in energy logistics. The deal adds substantial scale and complements the operations of P&O’s marine services business, cementing its position as a leading operator in energy sector logistics.
Topaz has been a leading provider of critical marine logistics and solutions to the global energy industry for some time, operating a modern fleet of 118 vessels, predominantly in the Caspian, MENA, and West Africa regions.
Moreover, P&O, leveraged by the Topaz acquisition, will continue its tradition of innovation by rethinking offshore logistics for oilfields, such as the construction and design of Module Carrying Vessels (MCVs) to transport modular units to Kazakhstan for installation at a megaproject in the Tengiz field – the sixth-largest oil field in the world.
As part of the range of services on offer to the sector, P&O also provides technology and drydocks operations, featuring a leading ship repair, conversion and offshore fabrication yard.
Visitors at DP World’s stand at WEC 2019 will also have access to the groundbreaking futuristic DP World Cargospeed concept, developed through a strategic partnership with Virgin Hyperloop One. This concept has the potential to transform logistics for on-demand shipments through hyperloop-enabled systems that offer ultra-fast, sustainable and efficient delivery of palletised cargo.
DP World Cargospeed aims to support the creation of thriving economic regions while delivering freight at the speed of flight but at a cost closer to that of standard trucking. As sustainability pioneers, DP World and Virgin Hyperloop One are developing a system which will be 100% electric and can be powered by renewable energy, creating a more sustainable solution for cargo transport.
DP World will be exhibiting at stand H7-150 and visitors will be able to access a variety of unique and interactive modules, platforms and user-experiences.
Aramex has built a big data platform on AWS leveraging machine-learning capabilities, which increased accuracy in shipping-date predictions by 74 percent
The disruptive leader in the global logistics and transportation industry moving all technology infrastructure to AWS
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, has announced that it will migrate all of its technology infrastructure from the company’s on-premises data centers to Amazon Web Services (AWS), in order to increase agility, speed of innovation, and security. In its first phase of cloud adoption, Aramex has built a data lake, which is hosting a big data infrastructure that leverages machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to further enhance the customer experience by transforming the last mile delivery.
Taking advantage of Amazon SageMaker, a fully managed machine learning service for building, training, and deploying machine learning models, Aramex’s in-house data science team built a data analytics and machine-learning platform on AWS. Utilizing this platform, Aramex is improving delivery accuracy and solving for the lack of proper physical addresses in the region by developing intelligent address prediction models that convert descriptive addresses into geo locations. The ML-based platform is also providing the company the ability to have accurate and instant delivery time predictions, using calculations based on seasonality and capacity constraints. As a result of this adoption, Aramex has increased accuracy in shipping-date predictions by 74 percent, and lowered its average processing time for a prediction from 2.5 seconds to under 200 milliseconds.
Commenting on the move to AWS, Mohammed Sleeq, Chief Digital Officer at Aramex, said: “Adopting AWS is pivotal to driving further innovation within our business and provides a platform for growth within Aramex. We are focused on enhancing the customer experience and solving industry challenges primarily around address management, volatility in volumes and last mile capacity. Today, we are able to look at our customers’ delivery experience and expectations from origination to last mile delivery and work backwards to identify technologies and processes that can help us to deliver faster, more efficiently, and operate with elasticity. We are now starting the full migration of our IT infrastructure to AWS and are excited to realize the full benefits of the cloud.”
Andy Isherwood, Managing Director of Amazon Web Services EMEA said of the news:
“Aramex has a longstanding history of innovation, over many decades, and it is great to see how it is using cloud to solve unique industry challenges in the Middle East and North Africa. Combining this with our own experience of using ML technology for the transport and logistics of packages with Amazon.com, we look forward to helping Aramex leverage advanced and secure AWS technologies to further improve the customer service they deliver.”
The move to AWS is the latest milestone in Aramex’s digital transformation journey. In October 2018, Aramex became one of the first companies in the logistics and transport industry to roll out WhatsApp for Business to customers in the form of an AI-based Chatbot. In December 2018, Aramex launched ‘Aramex Fleet’, a crowd-based delivery platform that connects individuals to flexible last mile delivery work to support strong demand for Aramex services in the region.
Aramex’s new, 60,000-square meter fulfillment center in Dubai features new technologies including a ‘Pick to Light’ system, which uses light-directed picking technology to improve accuracy and efficiency, and an automated conveyer belt system.
Aramco Chemicals Company chooses LogiPoint as a strategic export hub for the Petrochemical products at Jeddah Islamic Port.
LogiPoint has concluded a major milestone achievement, entering an agreement with Aramco Chemicals Company (ACC).
With the extensive support from Saudi Customs and Jeddah Islamic Port to Re-engineer the Export Process this agreement provides ACC with a strategic export logistics Hub, which helps eliminate the need to use an intermediary overseas hub for storage and onward shipping of their cargoes therefore enhancing its ability to provide cost-effective solution by shipping the cargo directly to the target market, efficient services and reduce the export processing time from one week to one day thereby increasing the demand and appeal for Saudi products.
This agreement comes in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and logistics Program (NDLIP), Under the supervision of the Saudi logistics Hub , which seeks to develop the Kingdom’s economic growth beyond dependence on the oil industry, and will open new doors and economic opportunities within the Kingdom, providing Saudi-based companies with expanded access across the GCC and wider Middle East region, in addition, international exposure and expanded opportunities to do business globally. Saudi Customs is reaffirming its commitment toward continuously developing its procedures and ensuring they are in line with the highest global standards on both technological and operational fronts. It is also dedicated to maintaining cooperation with all the relevant entities to ensure the utilization of Saudi Arabia’s strategic location in connecting the world’s continents.
The first and largest Bonded and Re-Export Zone (BRZ) spread over 1 million m2 in Jeddah is an example of the type of world-class, customer-centric integrated logistics service area that LogiPoint has pioneered in the Kingdom giving the advantage to its clients to reliably save up to 8 days shipping via Jeddah and to re-export without needing to pay customs.
LogiPoint has been making dynamic efforts to introduce international concepts towards logistics efficiency to attract international investors. Its premium location and the world class facility located in Jeddah Islamic Port has made it a major logistics hub in the region providing services such as lead-logistics, trucking, warehousing, port services, turn-key supply chain integration from the port terminal to the distribution center, specialized handling, labeling and co-packaging. LogiPoint (a subsidiary of Saudi Industrial Services Co. – SISCO), a Saudi Joint stock company listed on Tadawul, the leading logistics business and the largest bonded and re-export zone in KSA.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem credited the company’s strategy of developing innovative new products and services and prudent management for DP World’s impressive half-year results. Bin Sulayem added that DP World’s excellent performance against the backdrop of challenging global economic conditions is a testament to the company’s resilience, sound growth strategy and the diversification of its global investment portfolio across energy, maritime and sustainable mobility amongst others.
The statement was made as global trade enabler DP World PLC announced strong financial results today for the six months ending 30 June 2019 with reported adjusted EBITDA and attributable earnings growth of 21.9% and 26.8% respectively.
“Our half-year financial results have been in line with our expectations, Mr Bin Sulayem said. He highlighted that DP World continues to be guided by deep market understanding, innovation and operational excellence across 45 countries worldwide. Despite uncertainty from the trade war and challenging regional geopolitical realities, DP World has been able to deliver and excel a broadly impressive performance in the first half of 2019.
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Company
753
593
26.8%
22.2%
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Company after separately disclosed items
681
642
6.1%
–
Basic earnings per share attributable to owners of the Company (US cents)
90.7
71.5
26.8%
22.2%
Basic earnings per share attributable to owners of the Company after separately disclosed items (US cents)
82.1
77.3
6.1%
–
Results Highlights
Revenue of $3,463 million (Revenue growth of 31.9% on reported and 10.8% on a like-for-like basis)
Revenue growth of 31.9% supported by acquisitions and growth in non-containerized revenue.
Like-for-like revenue increased by 10.8% driven by growth in non-container revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA of $1,611 million and adjusted EBITDA margin of 46.5%
Adjusted EBITDA grew 21.9%, and EBITDA margin for the half-year stood at 46.5%. Like-for-like adjusted EBITDA increased by 9.9% with a margin of 51.4%.
EBITDA margin declined due to a change in the mix with the consolidation of lower margin Logistics and Maritime services businesses.
Profit for the period attributable to owners of the Company increased by 26.8% to $753 million
Profit attributable to owners of the Company before separately disclosed items rose 26.8% on a reported basis and grew 22.2% on a like-for-like basis.
Strong Cash Generation and Robust Balance Sheet
Cash from operating activities remains strong at $1,046 million in 1H2019.
Leverage (Net debt to annualised adjusted EBITDA) increased to 3.0 times (Pre-IFRS16) from 2.8 times at FY2018. On a post-IFRS16 basis, net leverage stands at 3.7 times.
DP World credit rating was kept at BBB+ by Fitch with a stable outlook citing the resilient and diversified nature of the portfolio.
Raised $1.3bn through the issuance of long-term bonds at record low rates.
Further strengthens the balance sheet and offers financial flexibility.
Continued Investment Across the Portfolio
Ports & Terminals investments include two new assets in Chile, Fraser Surrey Docks8 (Canada) and consolidation of assets in Australia.
Logistics & Maritime investment include acquisition of Pan-European logistics platform of P&O Ferries and marine logistics operator, Topaz Marine & Energy8.
Capital expenditure of $636 million invested across the existing portfolio during the first half of the year.
Capital expenditure guidance for 2019 remains unchanged at up to $1.4 billion with investments planned into UAE, Posorja (Ecuador), Berbera (Somaliland), Sokhna (Egypt) and London Gateway (UK).
Posorja8, the only deep-water port in Ecuador with a capacity of 750k TEU opened on time and budget.
Acquisitions performing in line with expectations and logistics solutions offering now established
Unifeeder is delivering in line with expectations and continuing to benefit from structural changes in the market.
DP World now a significant operator of inland logistics in India, offering end-to-end solutions.
Global trade continues to grow, but the outlook is uncertain
The container trade grew by low single digits in the first half of 2019, but concerns around the trade war continue to weigh on the outlook.
We continue to focus on delivering operational excellence and maintaining our disciplined approach to investment to ensure we remain the trade partner of choice.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, added:
“DP World is pleased to report like-for-like earnings growth of 22% in the first half of 2019 and attributable earnings of $753 million. This strong financial performance has been delivered in an uncertain trade environment, once again highlighting the strength of our portfolio.
We have continued to make progress on our strategy to become a trade enabler and solutions provider as we look to participate across a wider part of the supply chain. We have invested significantly across our Ports, Logistics & Maritime Services businesses. The aim is to connect directly with customers to offer logistics solutions and remove inefficiencies in the supply chain to accelerate trade. We are seeing positive signs of progress in our new businesses that give us encouragement for the future.
“Our balance sheet remains strong, and we continue to generate high levels of cash flow, which gives us the ability to invest in the future growth of our current portfolio. Going forward, we aim to integrate our new acquisitions and deliver synergies with the objective of providing smart end-to-end solutions, which will improve the quality of our earnings and drive returns.
“While the near-term trade outlook remains uncertain with global trade disputes and regional geopolitics causing uncertainty to the container market, the strong financial performance of the first six months also leaves us well placed to deliver full-year results slightly ahead of market expectations.”
COMPACT IN SIZE, SAFE AND RELIABLE
Al Ghurair Automobiles (AG AUTO) announced today the arrival of a new range of CMC commercial vehicles. The Super Veryca CMC commercial vehicles have been completely revolutionized before being relaunched under the new exclusive dealer for the brand in the UAE, AG AUTO.
Declan McCluskey, Chief Executive Officer, AG AUTO explains, “We worked closely with CMC to develop and manufacture transport and logistics solutions that meet the specific needs of our customers in the UAE before relaunching the vehicles under our dealership. While the Super Veryca vehicles might look deceptively compact in size from the outside, they are very spacious on the inside and are equipped with a superior 1.5L engine meeting Euro-IV emissions standards boosting efficiency in operations.”
The new Super Veryca CMC vehicles are also equipped with the latest safety features and are available in range of models, all equipped with the 1.5L engine and manual transmission.
Starting with the van range, there are options of a full panel van ideal for efficient and cost-effective last mile delivery; a semi-panel van combining excellent load space with the option to carry 5 passengers; and a full window van offering space for 8 people for passenger transport.
The second choice is the pick-up with a solid rear deck with rail surround offering a flexible load space; and finally there is the factory built freezer model with a high-tech integrated chiller body capable of keeping loads cooled to temperatures ranging between -20°C to – 30°C inside.
“With the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector in the UAE, where consumers expect almost anything to be delivered to their doorstep within a few hours, we believe that our new range of CMC vehicles are tailored to enable online businesses operate more efficiently; whether it is by reducing shipping costs, covering more geographical area and/or reducing delivery time”, adds McCluskey.
The all-new range of Super Veryca CMC vehicles are suitable for small-medium sized businesses as well as larger corporates and offer a very cost effective transport solution. Prices start from AED 49,000 only with 3 years manufacturer warranty and service. For further information, please visit www.agautomobile.com or call 04 271 5050.
AG AUTO is also the sole distributor for the GCC’s number one bus brand King Long and was named the Best Distributor of the Year for 2018 by King Long.
Opening of new one-stop shop to complete registration and technical inspection falls in line to achieve customer happiness
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has revealed the successful opening of its newest registration and licensing centre in Umm Suqeim. The move complements the government’s continuing efforts towards achieving customer happiness through better and enhanced experiences. The new centre represents an advanced step towards providing a faster and more simplified approach in applying for marine transport licensing, which are based on innovative guidelines designed to conform to set maritime safety regulations, local environmental requirements and key international standards.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said, “The opening of the new centre is a step forward in the move towards achieving customer happiness and a quality-focused move in facilitating better maritime licensing services, which is crucial in ensuring that maritime operations are managed in a manner that serves the goals of the Dubai Maritime sector strategy. We look forward with confidence to the new Umm Suqeim Customer Happiness Center, which enables users to complete all transactions related to maritime licensing and technical inspection in one place, ensuring customer satisfaction and happiness as a top priority.”
The new centre serves as a unified platform designed to complete inspections, technical examination, registration and issuance of permits—helping save effort and time on the users of marine transport while also enhancing the levels of satisfaction and happiness of customers. The move is in line with the commitment of the DMCA to provide the best services that meet the needs of the local and international maritime community.
Hamed Ali Hassan, Director of Registration and Licensing Department, DMCA, explained that the new centre will receive customers from Sunday to Thursday, providing a full portfolio of registration services and issuance of permits for marine transport and inspections and technical inspection procedures. All offered services reflect the DMCA’s keenness to provide best ways to ensure the management of maritime operations are in compliance with local and international laws–achieving full integration of maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency along the Dubai coast, while also serving the vision to build a secure, integrated and sustainable maritime sector.
The 2019 edition in February witnessed an eye-popping 83% increase in attendance, reinforcing its reputable standing as the fastest-growing event in the global Breakbulk portfolio
Under the patronage H.E Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the Chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime, Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the largest breakbulk and project cargo event in the GCC, will return to the UAE on the 25th and 26th of February 2020. This will mark the second consecutive year that the comprehensive two-day conference and exhibition is held in the Emirate of Dubai. The 5th annual edition will strategically take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre Venue, offering a convenient location of the assembly to a wide range of the Middle East region’s key players and top decision-makers.
DP World, UAE Region will be the official host port of BBME2020 for the second consecutive time.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region, said, “We are pleased to be partnering with Breakbulk Middle East again in their efforts to bring together our region’s industry leaders. We believe that within a short span of five years, Breakbulk Middle East has established itself as an ideal network platform for port operators, carriers, shippers, forwarders and heavy-lift logistics specialists.
The breakbulk sector will significantly benefit from informed discussions provided by industry leaders attending the conference concerning opportunities and the challenges we face collectively. With Dubai consistently elevating its stature as one of the top maritime hubs in the world, Breakbulk Middle East has given the industry a strong sense of confidence in its ability to contribute to this vision. We look forward to the upcoming edition of BBME 2020, which will effectively build upon the success achieved so far.”
Proven Platforms
Over 3400 attendees and 1700 companies attended last year’s edition, justifying the decision for BBME to make a repeat appearance in Dubai. Commenting on the optimized value of choosing to carry out the event in Dubai for the second consecutive time, Ben Blamire, the event’s Commercial Director explained, “Dubai’s hospitable business climate makes the UAE one of the most attractive destinations for conducting business. The 2019 edition of Breakbulk Middle East reinforced this notion as the event saw more than 90 exhibitors from 75 countries participating, and a significant spike in attendance of 83% from the previous year. These promising results showcased Dubai’s vital role in uniting key decision-makers of the cargo and supply chain industries.”
Blamire further elaborated, saying, “Similar to Dubai’s forward-thinking culture, Breakbulk Middle East is adamant on fostering innovation to enhance the project cargo industry and overall regional landscape. Accordingly, BBME2020 will highlight the latest trends and technologies and initiate workshops across educational institutes within the UAE to better prepare the youth. BBME2020 will align with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) vision of increasing women in maritime by collaborating with organizations like the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) and the Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA).”
Alongside the exhibition, BBME offers a full two-day conference covering significant industry issues to enable project cargo specialists with the ability to seize regional opportunities and construct effective project plans. Sponsored by loyal key partners like King Abdullah Port, Agility, Bahri Logistics, Abu Dhabi Ports, King Abdulaziz Port, MICCO, COSCO Shipping and Port of Salalah, both the conference and expo guarantee face-to-face opportunities to discuss these topics in greater depth.
Leslie Meredith, Marketing Director of Breakbulk Events & Media, stated, “The most recent edition of BBME witnessed exceptional success. Results showed that 55% of attendees planned to purchase from an exhibitor that they had met and 64% came to source new suppliers and business partners. With nearly 150 shippers having attended the 2019 edition, both Dubai’s and Breakbulk Middle East’s strong ability to promote collaboration within the maritime industry was on full display. We are tirelessly working with our prestigious sponsors and partners to ensure that the upcoming fifth edition of the event lives up to the standards of this year’s fourth edition to ultimately exceed expectations yet again.”
Meredith concluded saying, “We will be opening the door for registration for the fifth edition of the event soon, and we welcome all industry leaders and experts to join us by registering through our official platforms.”
The eminent material handling professionals offer comprehensive turnkey solutions
The ACME Group, the long standing materials handling specialists, is a full spectrum system integrator with over 44 years of experience in the Middle East. ACME’s expertise in warehouse and industrial automation lies in solution development, installation, system integration and life cycle support. With an experienced in-house team based in Dubai, ACME is able to react to customer needs quickly and develop solutions that are tailored to the needs of our customers in the region.
In a recent interview with Global Supply Chain, Navin Narayan, Founder-CEO, ACME, spoke at length on a variety of subjects affecting the materials handling industry, the opportunities and challenges, expansion plans and his vision for the future.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us a sense of the size and scale of ACME’s current association with the logistics & supply chain industry in the Middle East?
Navin Narayan (NN): ACME is one of the oldest storage and material handling companies in Dubai. Over the years we have transformed ourselves from a purely industrial components and racking systems supplier into a technology driven intra-logistics solution provider catering to customers in MENA and Indian Subcontinent.
To reaffirm our commitment to the region, ACME has opened a full-fledged manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali that is capable of manufacturing conveyor systems as well as AS/RS stacker cranes and mini-load systems which we design in-house.
Presently, we have over 80 team members located in our various offices in the region catering to industries such as FMCG, retail, E-commerce, pharmaceuticals as well as food and beverage.
GSC: How significant is Materials Handling 2019 for ACME? What potential do you foresee for the future?
NN: Material Handling 2019 gives ACME the opportunity to connect with existing customers and partners as well as to meet with potential customers and partners that are looking to work with regional intra-logistics solution providers such as ACME. It allows us to showcase the range of solutions that we provide as well as the new ‘Made by ACME’ range of products.
GSC: How is ACME currently faring and how does that compare with 2018? What is your outlook for the remainder of 2019?
The market on the whole has been impacted by the issues affecting the region. However, we have been blessed and have been successful in tiding over this and keeping our order-books full.
2018 has been a record year for ACME and 2019 has been good so far too. Our core customers have used this period to reassess their supply chain processes and have decided to go ahead and invest in new technologies to bring in efficiencies. By working closely with them, we have been able to continue on the growth trajectory.
GSC: What are your short and or long-term expansion plans for the region?
NN: At ACME we have begun to work on projects in Turkey, wider MENA as well as places as far away as Bangladesh. We are also proud to announce that starting 2019, ACME is an authorized distributor for Kardex Remstar’s range of intra-logistics solutions for UAE and Saudi Arabia.
We are also keen to ramp up our ‘Made by ACME’ range of products that we manufacture at our Jebel Ali facility.
GSC: What are the opportunities in store and challenges confronting ACME in the region going forward?
NN: Customers are now looking to stem inefficiencies in their supply chain and are now focused on improving their intra-logistics processes and looking to incorporate best practices. This is where our role comes in to share our expertise garnered over four decades in the region.
Further, labour shortages coupled with the enhanced push for industrialization and the movement away from a purely oil-driven economy has greatly opened up new opportunities for us. We are very confident that the intra-logistics automation industry will move forward in this region.
GSC: How is the surge of E-commerce impacting your business?
NN: E-commerce has definitely given a beating to the brick and mortar business in the region. Ecommerce fulfillment is a totally different ball game in comparison to the traditional sales channels. Many big players have begun the transformations needed to cater to these demands.
With Kardex solutions in our range, we are now in a position to support SME’s who need to revamp their supply chain processes to cater to the demands of the Omni channel market.
GSC: What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
NN: Previously we used to see a fear in customers towards mechanization of the warehouse. This fear of machines is slowly withering away. MENA customers have been slow in adopting the latest warehouse automation solutions that are popular in the rest of the world.
However, this has changed; over the last 2-3 years we have been receiving inquiries from many customers on how to move from traditional overstaffed manual warehouses to automated efficient intra-logistics systems.
In order to remove the fear of automation we now also offer complimentary warm-up support to many of our customers.
GSC: ACME is a privately held business. Do you plan to go public and separately do you have mergers or acquisitions in mind?
NN: We have been successful in growing our business organically over the last few decades. We are on the lookout for companies in developed markets that we could acquire that would help us leapfrog technologically and expand our range of solutions in-house built solutions.
Our focus at the moment is to continue to grow organically without the need to tap the financial markets for additional capital.
GSC: What have been some of your recent major accomplishments in the region? Please elaborate?
NN: ACME just completed a high-speed high-density ASRS installation in Jeddah, Saudi for one of the largest dairy companies in the region. The facility has a capacity of over 40,000 pallet locations and is built on a very small foot print. With automated trailer unloading, shuttle storage and a throughput of over 160 pallets per hour, it is definitely a unique facility in Saudi Arabia.
We have also just completed an automated distribution warehouse in Kuwait for one of the largest fashion retailers in the region. Another project closer to home is a high speed sorter system for one of the largest hypermarket chains in the region. We expect this project to go live mid 2020.
GSC: ACME moved its head office to the plush Business Bay enclave. What implications does this relocation move have for the company?
NN: Our new corporate head office in Business Bay is ideally located for customers and partners who would like to visit us. Easy public transport as well as traffic free access is definitely a plus point. This office manages administration as well as pre-sales.
In addition to Business Bay, we have a new 45,000 sq foot facility in Jebel Ali Free Zone that is central to our ‘Made by ACME’ strategy. At this facility we are capable of manufacturing conveyor systems, stacker cranes and other intra-logistics systems.
We are proud to say that currently we are the only organization that has the technical expertise to design and manufacture these systems in the region. This greatly improves project implementation timelines in addition to giving customers peace of mind with regard to local support for the systems that run the backbone of their business.
GSC: As CEO and Group supremo, what is your long-term vision for ACME? Where do you hope to take the company hereon?
NN: Over the last years, we have built a team of dedicated and highly experienced intra-logistics professionals that can design, build, operate and maintain highly complex automation solutions that cater to a wide variety of industrial and retail businesses. We are now in the position to not only deliver an automated warehouse solution, but also to manage and run the system for our customers.
One of our greatest strengths is the talented and dedicated team that we have on-board. The team along with our new manufacturing facility in Jebel Ali should definitely empower ACME to achieve our long term vision and that vision is to be the market leader in innovative automated intra-logistics solutions in MENA and the Indian sub-continent.
Kardex Remstar gets star ratings for star performance
Kardex currently has more than 2,500 automated storage installations in the country covering all the Emirates with full-fledged branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, RAK, Fujairah, Al Ain and Sharjah.
The immensely popular Kardex Shuttle Vertical Lift System has been designed to meet a broad range of storage and retrieval applications in manufacturing, distribution, retail and warehouse operations. The combination of optimal storage density, flexibility, efficient storage strategies, ergonomics and security makes the Shuttle XP from Kardex Remstar a unique storage solution.
Towering technology
The modular Shuttle XP Vertical Lift is an enclosed system on which trays are stored vertically on the front and rear of the unit. There is an extractor device located in the centre, which automatically delivers trays with the stored items to the access opening at the push of a button or the scan of a barcode.
The device is modular in its construction with the ability to change its height and number of access openings pre- and post-construction. Depending on the ceiling height, at least 85% of a conventional storage system’s occupied floor space can be recovered. The Shuttle XP automatically scans every tray with the use of Optiflex technology, finding the ideal storage location within the system in increments of 25mm. Items are stored in the least possible amount of space.
The versatile Kardex Remstar Shuttle XP offers even greater flexibility thanks to various options available pre-or post-installation. It can be resized, moved and altered to meet changing business, facility and application requirements. The system can be installed in the direct vicinity of a production line to increase productivity and reduce floor space requirements. It can connect several floors or be installed outside the building with pass-through access.
Kardex Remstar provides customers with dramatically increased levels of employee productivity, reduced floor space requirements and increased inventory visibility and management.
Wide-ranging applications
Besides the standard storage solutions, Kardex has the capability to provide customized storage solutions to any industry or office including Financial Institutions, Hospitality, Human Resource, Legal, Health care, Manufacturing, Logistics & Warehouses, Automobile, distribution, retail and other industry segments.
Juma Al Majid has the technical expertise to offer storage solutions that will increase staff productivity by 150% along with 70% saving in floor space. The combination of optimal storage density, flexibility, efficient storage strategies, ergonomics and security makes Juma Al Majid along with Kardex Remstar, a unique, effective storage and retrieval solution provider in UAE.
Global Supply Chain recently interviewed KP Rakesh, General Manager, Juma Al Majid Est.,for the low-down on the company’s operations, the current scenario, its participation in Materials Handling ME 2019 and a range of other crucial issues.
Global Supply Chain (GSC):Tell us about brand Kardex Remstar and the size and scale of your current association with the logistics & supply chain industry in the Middle East?
KP Rakesh (KPR): The long-sustained and growing relationship between UAE’s Juma Al Majid Est. and Germany’s Kardex Group can be traced way back to 1980. Over the past almost four decades, the Kardex Group, one of the world’s leading suppliers of intra-logistics, automated storage and retrieval solutions, has emerged as the undisputed market leader with an overwhelming 80% of the market share in the UAE.
GSC: How significant is Materials Handling Middle East 2019 for Juma Al Majid? What potential do you foresee for the future?
KPR: Materials Handling Middle East 2019 is the best opportunity to showcase the latest solutions from Kardex Remstar. The previous years’ events have been extremely beneficial for us and we expect the same this year too.
GSC:How is Kardex currently faring in the UAE and how does that compare with 2018? What is your outlook for the remainder of 2019?
KPR: We have been growing year-on-year and we bagged some very important major deals in 2019 for the Kardex Vertical Storage solution.
GSC:What are your short and or long-term expansion plans for the region?
KPR: We are focused solely on UAE market. Since every organisation is looking to cut costs, it is imperative that there will be a surge in requirement for Storage Solutions that will save space and hence rental as well as increase productivity of staff by after storage and retrieval. We have been strengthening our sales and support staff to take care of the increasing demand.
GSC:What are the opportunities in store and challenges confronting this Juma Al Majid Division in the region going forward?
KPR: There are huge opportunities because many organisations are yet to optimize their storage. Creating awareness about the solutions available and converting them to business is the way forward.
GSC:How is the surge of E-commerce impacting your business?
KPR: E-Commerce companies are always on the lookout to reduce delivery time. This calls for faster storage and retrieval of items. Therefore, the surge of e-commerce is adding to the increasing opportunities for Kardex Storage Solutions.
GSC:What trends do you foresee in intra-logistics automation for the region?
KPR: Robotics in storage will be the major trend in the years to come.
GSC:What have been some of your recent major accomplishments in the region? Please elaborate?
KPR: Our major accomplishments have been the implementation of Kardex Vertical Storage solutions in the transport sector, in both the land and air segments.
GSC:What are your goals and long-term vision for Juma Al Majid Est.?
KPR: Our long term goal is to consolidate our position as the leading Storage Solution provider in UAE
Ongoing efforts between the public and private sector to help lay the foundations for maritime safety
Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently concluded a meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee. The meeting, which was attended by maritime stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, included key discussions on how to provide full support in the ongoing efforts to maintain the highest global maritime safety standards in Dubai’s territorial waters while also placing strong focus on the move to enhance readiness and responsiveness of newer maritime facilities. The meeting reflects the DMCA’s continued commitment towards strengthening cooperation and coordination in establishing the foundations of maritime safety as a top priority and a key pillar for improving the competitiveness of the local maritime cluster.
Captain Khamis Weld Ghumail, Director of Maritime Traffic Management at DMCA, emphasized on the importance of the meeting as it serves as an ideal platform for strengthening coordination and cooperation between the government and private sectors, particularly in the move to elevate technical and technological readiness of maritime safety in accordance with federal and local laws and regulations. He reaffirmed the DMCA’s commitment towards ensuring that maritime operations are managed in accordance with the highest standards of professional safety and global best practices—resulting in a safe, sustainable, and diverse marine cluster in Dubai that is globally competitive and attractive. Weld Ghumail also expressed the DMCA’s support for the Maritime Advisory Committee in their efforts to review and update search and rescue procedures in local territorial waters, which is part of the move to consolidate Dubai’s leading position as one of the best maritime capitals in the world.
“The meeting of the Maritime Advisory Committee enabled us to identify important preparations of the maritime facilities while reviewing and adopting the tasks of the Maritime Safety Committee. We were also able to tackle ways on how to further develop search and rescue procedures within the territorial waters of Dubai. These meetings represent part of our continuing efforts to ensure the highest levels of maritime safety based on solid foundations of innovation, technology and efficiency under the supervision of qualified human personnel—all directed in achieving an integrated marine sector that is renewable, sustainable and has the ability to drive economic diversification in the UAE. We have the responsibility to strengthen fruitful cooperation with the government and private sectors to ensure the integration of maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency along local coasts, thereby enhancing Dubai’s competitive potential and consolidating the competitiveness, attractiveness and inclusiveness of the components of the maritime cluster, which has become one of the best in the world.” He added.
The meeting also covered discussions on latest mechanisms that support efforts aimed at raising the level of maritime safety in Dubai’s territorial waters, as well as highlighting the importance of providing marine consultancy services to encourage all kinds of offshore facilities in adopting best practices. Also discussed were ways on how to connect the businesses related to running ports with other vital maritime sectors to serve the growth, development and sustainability of marine cluster components.
With several developmental plans underway, including future projects, SOHAR Port and Freezone continues to seek possibilities for growth and expansion. In line with this principle, SOHAR is now looking forward to leasing out their Terminal 2D. The sizable land area was initially developed in 2009 as a container terminal expansion but has now been dedicated to businesses involved in the logistics and metal sectors. The waterfront location hosts an area of a 100-hectares with easy access to cool water and the surrounding industrial clusters.
Commenting on the potential of Terminal 2D, Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port and Freezone said, “SOHAR is strategically positioned at the centre of global possibilities, and has a consumer reach of over 2.2 billion across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Potential customers are generally based outside Oman, so we aim to garner as many opportunities as possible to support them in setting up at SOHAR. Additionally, with the help of our One-Stop-Shop facility and the benefits we offer, investors will receive a favourable return on investment.”
The One-Stop-Shop (OSS) service at SOHAR Port and Freezone acts as a single-window for clients to obtain all necessary documentations and operate their businesses efficiently and effectively. It provides multiple key amenities (including company registration and licensing, plot work and labour permits, visas, etc.) under a single window to deliver high-quality services.
“With several regional ports currently running out of space, SOHAR still has the capacity to further expand and attract prospective investments. Clustering is an innovative form of business. Therefore, the close proximity to our petrochemical, logistics and food clusters will also support the creation of upstream and downstream opportunities for further business developments. Moreover, as the Port and Freezone are both managed under a single entity, this allows for a seamless connection between the two, while also enhancing efficiency for feedstock imports and product exports,” Geilenkirchen added.
Strategically located by the sea, Terminal 2D waterfront location is perfect for businesses looking to take advantage of the deep-water facilities and the accessibility of logistic services surrounding SOHAR Port and Freezone.
The new company will develop and operate unmanned aerial systems for revenue-generating deliveries.
UPS Flight Forward is positioned to be one of the first fully-certified U.S. drone operations.
UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced that it has applied to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Part 135 certification to operate commercial drone flights in the UPS® network under a subsidiary business called UPS Flight Forward, Inc.
The new subsidiary is a recently incorporated business that could receive Part 135 certification as early as this year, putting UPS on track to have one of the first fully-certified, revenue-generating drone operations in the United States.
“UPS is committed to using technology to transform the way we do business,” said Scott Price, UPS chief transformation and strategy officer. “UPS’s formation of a drone delivery company and application to begin regular operations under this level of certification is historic for UPS and for the drone and logistics industries.”
When approved, this certification lays the foundation for drone flights beyond an operator’s visual line of sight, and for flights occurring day or night. Such flights are highly restricted in the United States and approved only by exception.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do at UPS,” added Rami Suleiman, UPS president for the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA). “We are constantly exploring new ways in which to use cutting-edge technologies such as drones and autonomous vehicles, as well as alternative fuels, to move goods in a fast, safe and sustainable manner. We have first-hand experience of how drones can make critical medical deliveries in hard to reach places. It is inspiring to see how technology and supply chain expertise can be used to help people from all around the world.”
In contrast to more-limited FAA certifications for drone flights by other companies, which have been more limited, UPS Flight Forward would operate under the FAA’s standard Part 135 certification. This legally certifies a designation to a company as a certified Air Carrier and Operator.
Currently, UPS operates drone healthcare deliveries in a specific use-case under FAA Part 107 rules. In March, UPS initiated the first FAA-sanctioned use of a drone for routine revenue flights involving the transport of a product. The FAA approval was for a contractual delivery agreement in the United States at WakeMed’s flagship hospital and campus in Raleigh, N.C. In this program, the company delivers medical samples via unmanned drones, supplementing a ground courier service. UPS intends to expand its drone delivery service to other hospitals or campus settings.
Previously, The UPS Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, supported the expansion of a medical drone network into Ghana. The project involved using drones to make on-demand, emergency deliveries of 148 high priority products including emergency and routine vaccines, blood products and life-saving medications. The program is an expansion of the groundbreaking collaboration between The UPS Foundation, Gavi, and Zipline which began in Rwanda in 2016 by supporting the Government of Rwanda to provide access to life-saving medical supplies in minutes rather than hours for millions of Rwandan citizens in remote communities.
Many Arabian oil exporters have begun to increase their offshore spending after nearly five years of massive cutbacks, according to a Seatrade Maritime report titled ‘Middle East Offshore Market on the Move.’ The report further points out that multibillion relevant projects in the region is expecting to inject new energy into the sector. In line with this, many analysts have observed that a number of national oil companies in the Middle East have recently started the process of boosting their exploration and production budgets.
Citing a study released by MEED, a Dubai-based business intelligence and analytics specialist, the report pointed out that the ongoing oil, gas, and petrochemical projects, which have a combined value of USD 211 billion, across the Middle East are positive indicators that could translate to better growth prospects for the striving offshore and workboat sectors. These projects are on top of other initiatives valued at USD 242 billion that are now at various pre-execution stages.
Paul Bartlett, Director, PB Marine Consulting, said: “While some of these projects focus on onshore investment, they will still directly or indirectly impact workboat operators. Large corporations behind these major initiatives, along with offshore oil developments, will require a wide range of vessel types for the timely completion of their projects. These include platform support vessels, anchor handlers, cable- and pipe-layers, trenching units, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) ships, subsea construction vessels, and survey ships, among others.”
The report investigated some of the Middle East’s major ventures with strong impact on the offshore and workboat sectors. One of these is DP World’s acquisition of Dubai-based Topaz Energy and Marine from Renaissance Services SAOG and Standard Chartered Private Equity/Affirma Capital for more than USD 1 billion.
The report was released ahead of the Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats 2019, which will take place from September 23 to 24, 2019 in Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The leading conference and trade show for the global offshore marine and workboat industries will gather and connect a powerful network of influencers, leaders, and innovators to discuss industry opportunities and challenges as well as the latest trends and developments.
Chris Morley, Event Director, Seatrade Maritime, said: “The Seatrade Offshore Marine and Workboats 2019 is an ideal platform to delve deeper into the Seatrade Maritime report. An increase in offshore spending will be the much-needed catalyst for the industry’s significant expansion under the present market condition. We need to continue our dialogues and develop strategic action plans to achieve our shared objectives and optimize opportunities following this latest development in the Middle Eastern market.”
Dubai ranks fifth in International Shipping Centre Development Index for 2nd consecutive year
Bin Sulayem: “Latest recognition a result of effective public-private partnerships with the unlimited support of wise leadership.”
Dubai outperforms Rotterdam & Hamburg to consolidate its position among major maritime clusters such as Singapore, Hong Kong, London & Shanghai
The latest report by Baltic Exchange for trading and shipping and the Xinhua news agency of the China Economic Information Service based in London has ranked Dubai fifth in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI) for the second consecutive year. The latest recognition adds immense value to the emirate’s pioneering track record on the global maritime map.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone and Chairman, Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) expressed his pride in Dubai’s position among the top five in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI) for the second consecutive year. He pointed out that this latest recognition is the result of pioneering efforts led by the Dubai Maritime City Authority in cooperation with leading government and private sector entities, in order to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the local maritime sector and to make it one of the areas that contribute to economic diversification. This falls in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who spearheads the economic diversification in order to build a stable and sustainable future.
Dubai’s ranking as the world’s fifth best maritime hub reflects its highly competitive capabilities, which include state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class maritime and logistics capabilities, a competitive business environment, and investment and free zones that offer integrated services the best in the world.
The emirate has outperformed some of the world’s top maritime centers including Rotterdam and Hamburg that ranked sixth and seventh respectively. Singapore topped the list for 2019, with Hong Kong second and London third and Shanghai fourth. Dubai maintained its fifth position globally, supported by a portfolio of advanced marine services and innovative logistics solutions that reflect the attractiveness, competitiveness and comprehensiveness of the local maritime cluster.
Bin Sulayem said: “Maintaining the fifth position among the leading international maritime centers motivates us to continue our efforts to further enhance Dubai’s competitiveness in the global maritime landscape. We are exploring ways to enhance the confidence of regional and international investors in the local maritime sector, especially shipping, ports, engineering, training and maritime support services, based on strong foundations of R & D, innovation and smart transformation.”
The latest recognition can also be attributed to the unlimited support of the UAE’s wise leadership and the pioneering efforts of DMCA to develop the maritime and logistics system to the highest international standards and enhance the integration of operational efficiency, safety, which provide an ideal environment for owners, ship operators and regional and international investors in line with the objectives of the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy.”
The latest achievement also highlights DMCA’s success in carrying out a number of initiatives to support Dubai’s position as an influential force within the global maritime economy, particularly Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy, Dubai Logistics Strategy and Marine Industrial Strategy, as well as its successful hosting and active participation in major maritime forums and organizers of the largest and most comprehensive maritime event in the Middle East, the UAE Maritime Week.
International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCDI) follows a methodology based on the assessment of competitiveness in attracting maritime businesses and efforts to integrate creativity and innovation in maritime centers around the world, as well as the vital role played by each of the candidates in stimulating the growth of the global maritime sector.
DP World and Maspion Group sign preliminary agreements in ceremony attended by Indonesia’s President and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince
Two preliminary agreements between global trade enabler DP World and Indonesia’s leading conglomerate Maspion Group were signed today to create a US$ 1.2 billion container port and industrial logistics park in East Java.
The exchange of agreements was witnessed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, and Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia. Also present at the signing ceremony were the Indonesian Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, and Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Mrs. Rini Soewarno. It is the first joint venture of its kind in the Indonesian transportation sector involving a private sector partnership between an FDI partner and a private sector Indonesian company in Maspion, within the context of co-operation in maritime services with the state-owned maritime services operator Pelindo III.
Two term sheet agreements* aim to create a modern, integrated container terminal and industrial logistics park, expected to play a vital role as a trade gateway for Eastern Java. It includes cooperation in setting up Maspion International Container Port in Gresik, East Java, with an investment of USD 1.2 billion and 3 million TEU’s of capacity using electric power in its operations to help cut carbon emissions.
An integrated 360 hectare industrial and logistics park could also provide a world class trade environment for Indonesian and international businesses to help drive economic growth and job creation.
The project is expected to break ground later this year and commercial operations are being planned for the first half of 2022. The vision is to support East Java’s infrastructure as part of President Joko Widodo’s programme to accelerate economic growth.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, said: “This partnership will be a major addition to our global portfolio and a new step in our ongoing expansion. It will also enhance our continuing commitment to Indonesia, one of the most important world economies.
“Our business model and vision are aligned with President Jokowi’s commitment to continue his infrastructure focus and to make sure it is interconnected. We believe it will further consolidate the excellent relations between the UAE, the Indonesian government and Pelindo 3 and take DP World’s presence in the country to a new level”.
DP World ended its concession agreement with Pelindo 3 at the Surabaya Container Terminal in April 2019. The new agreements confirm a long-term strategic partnership in the economic development of the country which has been growing rapidly in recent years. Indonesia has the fastest rate of growth in electronic retail in South East Asia.
Dr Alim Markus, President Director and CEO of Maspion Group commented: ”This collaboration
DP World PLC handled 35.8 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the first half of 2019, with gross container volumes growing by 0.5% year-on-year on a reported basis and 0.5% on a like-for-like basis.
Strong performance across Asia Pacific, Indian Subcontinent and Africa drove growth in 2Q, 2019, but weaker volumes in the UAE and Australia offset this trend.
At a consolidated level, our terminals handled 19.5 million TEU during the first half of 2019. Consolidated volumes in 2Q, 2019 grew by 10.6% on a reported basis but down 0.6% on a like-for-like basis. The strong reported growth in Americas and Australia region is due to the consolidation of Australia and acquisition of Pulogsa which consists of two terminals in Chile.
DP World Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Said:
“In line with our expectations, we have delivered a broadly stable volume performance in the first half of 2019. Encouragingly, despite uncertainty from the trade war, we have seen robust volumes in Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent, while growth in Africa remains strong. In contrast, UAE and Australia volumes have been soft due to a loss of lower-margin cargo and challenging market conditions. However, we expect a more stable throughput performance in the UAE for the second half of the year.
On our broader portfolio, we have made good progress in strengthening our product offering, allowing us to enable trade and connect directly with end customers to deliver a range of logistic solutions. Our near-term focus is on integrating our recent acquisitions, managing costs and disciplined investment to cement DP Worlds position as the trade partner of choice.”
Further Information
Gross Volume
‘000 TEU
2Q
2018
2Q
2019
% Growth
(like for like)
1H
2018
1H
2019
% Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
7,908
8,234
+4.1%
(+7.2%)
15,621
16,246
+4.0%
(+5.5%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
7,873
7,740
-1.7%
(-1.6%)
15,591
15,138
-2.9%
(-2.5%)
Americas & Australia
2,248
2,346
+4.4%
(-6.3%)
4,408
4,428
+0.4%
(-6.7%)
Total Group
18,029
18,320
+1.6%
(+1.6%)
35,620
35,811
+0.5%
(0.5%)
*UAE Volumes included in Middle East, Africa and Europe region
The National Program to Support the Management of Projects in Public Entities, Mashroat, has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Serco, a leading global provider of essential public services.
The newly formed partnership will ensure that international standards in facility management (FM) will be followed through a knowledge transfer system which will enable Mashroat to design and implement policies, procedures, and processes based on Serco’s experience. The overall aim will be the improvement and enhancement of public facility and asset management systems across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
The agreement follows substantial government investment over the past ten years, which were aimed at improving infrastructure sustainability and is expected to drive in an increase of more than SAR 300 billion by 2030, according to a National Committee for Legislation and Standardization of Operation and Maintenance (NCLOM) report released in 2015.
Eng. Ahmed Bin Mutair Al-Balawi, Director General, Mashroat, said, “We believe in the Saudi workers’ ability to take full responsibility in managing public facilities. Based on our newly signed agreement with Serco, we look forward to utilizing our partner’s experience in the smooth transfer of knowledge and the move to further develop the skills and capabilities of government employees and develop their skills in this sector.”
“The Kingdom’s spending on infrastructure management is considered to be within the high rate, in accordance with international standards. However, Saudi Arabia seeks to improve the quality and user’s satisfaction, especially when it has the opportunity to enhance capital and quality efficiency in the public facility management segment within vision 2030. Therefore, we are working to create a proper climate to lead a transformation in the facility management industry in order to enable the government sector in creating a flexible environment designed to manage its facilities and apply the highest standards of efficiency,” Al-Balawi added.
Phil Malem, CEO, Serco Middle East, said, “Serco has enjoyed a strong presence in the region for more than 60 years now—successfully providing support to several regional mega-enterprise facilities. The signing of this new agreement with Mashroat underscores our commitment to the Saudi government to develop its public facilities in line with set international standards. We look forward to working together in ensuring that all future projects and facilities in the Kingdom are managed to the highest levels of best practice”.
Serco Middle East has extensive experience in managing mega-facilities in several sectors, including aviation, defense, health, integrated facilities management and transportation, as well as others facilities inside the Kingdom, including the railway project linking the north and south of the Kingdom in cooperation with the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO), supporting King Fahad International Airport in Dammam with rescue and safety services and managing a large number of other facilities in the Kingdom’s private sector.
Carrying animals under the most real-like conditions in the skies, Turkish Cargo performed another life-saving transportation operation. An endangered griffon vulture, which started flying in Serbia and became exhausted in Sanliurfa after flying 1600 kilometers long on its seasonal migration route, was carried to Belgrade by Turkish Cargo.
The 1.5-year old rare griffon vulture named Dobrila, the last chain of the ecological system and living in the Uvac canyon of Serbia only in Europe, became exhausted while flying towards the east on its seasonal migration route, landed in Sanliurfa. After having been found by the farmers in Sanliurfa, it was taken to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Urfa.
The griffon vulture underwent some checks and reached its proper and healthy weight again at this center in Sanliurfa, and then, it was released to the nature to continue flying on its migration route. When it was noticed that Dobrila, a member of the fowler family, couldn’t continue flying, the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry established contact with the Serbian authorities using the tag and tracking number, available in its foot. Following the discussions between the officials of the two countries, it was decided to send Dobrila to the Biological Research Institute (Siniša Stanković) in Belgrade.
After having been carried to Serbia from Sanliurfa via Istanbul under the sponsorship of Turkish Cargo which acts in line with its mission of respect towards animals’ lives and nature in all its transportation operations, the griffon vulture was handed over to the Serbian officials during a ceremony attended by Tanju Bilgic, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Serbia, and Goran Trivan, the Minister of Environmental Protection of Serbia.
’’Today is a very special day for Dobrila, because after months of rehabilitation, it will fly for the first time. We thank Turkish Cargo for their support. ’’ said Responsible Biologist Irena Hrıbsek (Foundation for the Protection of Birds of Prey).
Turkish Cargo, acting according to its vision #MissionRescue and carrying out live animal shipments at the highest level, previously transported four lions from Ukraine, which were struggling with hunger and suffering, to their natural habitat in Johannesburg.
Having an extensive flight network reaching more than 300 destinations in 124 countries around the world, Turkish Cargo takes the CITES and IATA LAR (IATA Live Animals Regulations) regulations as the reference, and implements all documentation, caging, labelling and marking rules, prescribed under these regulations, strictly in admission, storage and transportation processes during live animal transportation service it provides with maximum care.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Minsk is a city that brings people together. For many travelers, however, the attractions of this metropolis, with its 2 million residents, have remained a secret: The idyllic city center, along the banks of the Svislač River, is home to impressive historical buildings alongside futuristic architecture and a wealth of hip cafés and restaurants. Outside the city, unspoiled nature awaits. In Narаchanski National Park, centered around Lake Narach, visitors can hike, fish or cycle amid thousands of hectares of forest.
Passengers can now choose from four weekly flights departing from Munich to the Belarusian capital. Every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 14.15, Belavia Belarusian Airlines will depart for Minsk with an Embraer E175 jetliner. Minsk Airport offers an excellent range of destinations, with attractive connecting flights to such countries as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Armenia. The flight schedule also features more distant locales such as the Lebanese capital of Beirut and Baku in Azerbaijan.
The flying time from Munich to Minsk is just two hours. Representatives of Belavia and Munich Airport were on hand to celebrate the premiere of the new connection to Belarus. Passengers on the first flight were treated to traditional gingerbread hearts.
Below please find first flight photos for download as well as the press release of our partner Belavia.
The Tristar Group based in the UAE and the Stevens Group based in the Netherlands have launched the Tristar Hazmat FZCO in the Jebel Al Free Zone which will provide logistics and supply chain management of hazardous goods and substances throughout the Middle East.
The joint venture brings together the diverse footprint and established network of the Tristar Group in the logistics and supply chain management across the Middle East providing the Stevens Group with a unique opportunity to deploy its niche products and services across the industry.
Tristar Hazmat FZCO has an ambitious business plan and aims to become a major industry player in the region over the next five years.
The Tristar Group’s core expertise lies in handling hydrocarbons, lubricants, chemicals and liquid gases with fully owned infrastructure to manage road transport, warehousing, fuel farms, turnkey fuel supply operations, into plane refueling services, chemical distribution, ship owning and chartering.
The Stevens Group has developed into one of the world’s leading specialist logistics and supply chain management networks for hazardous cargoes. Its client portfolio ranges across a number of industry sectors both domestically and internationally.
Eugene Mayne, Tristar Group CEO, commented: “This is a step in the right direction for our group as we seek to establish a leadership position in storage and handling of dangerous goods and hazardous materials in the GCC. The JV with the Stevens Group will complement our existing DG business and infrastructure to ensure that we import and implement international best practices for safe storage, handling and distribution of all classes of Hazardous Materials.”
Greg Stevens, Stevens Group Founder and Chief Executive Officer, added that “a key building block of the growth of our business and our global aspiration is to partner with best in class players in the industry with the footprint to maximize our products and services.”
“Tristar are best placed to do this in the Middle East and I am proud and honored to announce this partnership with Tristar today and look forward to working with them through our new company Tristar Hazmat FZCO,” Stevens further said.
According to the data obtained by WACD, the international air cargo information provider, in May; Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand providing service to 124 countries around the world, increased its tonnage rate by 7.1 percent, and grew substantially across the industry which shrank by 5.1 percent in the global air cargo market.
Maintaining its steady growth as proven by the data disclosed right after its relocation to the Mega Hub Istanbul Airport, the accomplished air cargo brand increased its market share to 4.0 percent from 3.9 percent across the industry which shrank by 4.0 percent in the global air cargo market, and maintained its position at the 7th rank in the air cargo market.
Record-Breaking Growth across the Asian and American Market
Based on the regional data obtained by WACD in May, Turkish Cargo achieved the most remarkable growth across the Asian and American market. The flag-carrier cargo brand attained a growth rate of 34.4 percent across the American Continent, 19.3 percent across the Far East Region, and 12.2 percent across the Middle East/South Asia Region as based on the sold tonnage. The accomplished air cargo brand achieved good results at all regions it provides air cargo service.
Operating direct cargo flights to 88 destinations by means of its fleet of freighters in addition to the cargo carrying capacity of the flag-carrier Turkish Airlines, the accomplished brand operates its dual-terminal operations from Ataturk and Istanbul Airports in 2019. Achieving a sustainable growth with its newly-launched destinations, current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo keeps enhancing its capacity in more than 300 destinations included in its current flight network.
The outstanding air cargo brand, providing service to 124 countries, combines its wide range of services and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of Turkey, and keeps setting the bar higher.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
From refrigerators that think for themselves to intelligent street lighting
Intelligent kitchen appliances, sunglasses to fight jet lag, and streetlights that measure air pollution: Munich Airport’s Terminal 2 is hosting a new exhibition by bayern design, the center of competence for design in the State of Bavaria. Entitled “Well Connected”, the show is centered around digital solutions offering a long-term, positive impact on everyday life. It presents nine trailblazing projects in categories ranging from household, health and architecture / urban planning to knowledge sharing and service/security. All of them were created with the involvement of Bavarian companies or designers.
Bosch is presenting a refrigerator with a Home Connect function: With a smartphone app, users can adjust it from any location or capture photos of the inside to check what they need while grocery shopping. CHRONOGY sunglasses by the Munich-based company Osram simulate natural daylight to make it easier to relax or to help overcome jet lag.
Munich Airport’s LabCampus innovation site offers a glimpse at the future of work, with flexible workspaces and networked interactions with colleagues, customers and partners. This city of the future, now taking shape in the north-west of the airport, will blend the worlds of living and working and bring together companies, research institutions and creative minds under ideal collaborative conditions to develop, test and present new innovations.
The EU-funded “Smarter Together” project is also concerned with the smart city of the future. At the Well Connected exhibition it will present special streetlights that collect traffic data, measure pollution concentrations and provide wifi hotspots.
“Well Connected” is the third central theme in a five-part exhibition series focusing on innovative designs and products from Bavaria. The exhibits will be on display in the exhibition space in the south departure area of Terminal 2 until September 11, 2019. Exhibitions on the themes of “Discoverers” and “Smart Living” will follow.
Trucks will be used to help conserve and manage the UAE’s forests and wildlife
The purchase of three new Renault Trucks vehicle expands Barari Natural Resources’ fleet.
Barari Natural Resources, the leading forest management company in the United Arab Emirates, has taken delivery of three new Renault Trucks K to add to its existing fleet.
Barari Natural Resources plays a crucial role in conserving and managing forests and wildlife in the UAE, using state-of-the-art technology to support in promoting the historical, physiological and cultural value of the natural environment.
Having purchased its first Renault Trucks – the K440 T6x4 – in 2017, Barari Natural Resources has now upgraded to the latest models, one K460 T6x4 and two K440 P6x6 trucks. Among the reasons that these robust models were chosen was the fact that they boast a high ground clearance with an approach angle of 32 degrees, perfect for their work in forest management.
The K Heavy Construction Range are equipped with the latest features and technology. Fitted with 13L engines, they offer a capacity of 120 tons and have automated transmission along with All Wheel Drive (AWD) capabilities that deliver full power to all the wheels, making them ideal for heavy duty use and strengthening the models’ abilities to tackle off-roading in the UAE’s tough terrains.
Commenting on the new deal, Ghassan Fares, Head of Procurement at Barari Natural Resources, said: “We have been extremely impressed not only with the performance of our first K440 T6x4 truck, but also with the great aftersales service of Al Masaood and the company’s excellent long-term warranty. These factors made Renault Trucks the natural choice when we decided to expand our fleet of trucks.”
The new trucks return low fuel consumption figures, making them some of the most environmentally friendly options in the market, in keeping with Barari Natural Resources’ brand values. “We were also impressed with the new trucks’ fuel efficiency, which made them even more attractive as we are continually looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” Fares added.
Commercial Director of Renault Trucks Middle East, Guillaume Zimmermann, said: “We are proud to continue to support Barai Natural Resources and their admirable efforts to protect and enhance the environment.”
Mohamed Zeftawi, General Manager of Al Masaood Commercial Vehicles & Equipment (CV&E), said: “Al Masaood has been an icon of the UAE automotive market for over four decades. Being the sole distributor for Renault Trucks in Abu Dhabi has helped us to deliver our service excellence and our major clients now range from government departments and civil defence through to industrial and commercial organizations.”
He added: “Our decades of experience in the UAE’s automotive sales and after-sales market has allowed us to provide our customers with the highest professional standards of service. In addition, the heavy-duty trucks equipment we now have at our disposal has the right fleet of sustainable and environmentally friendly vehicles and we look forward to fully supporting Barari Natural Resources in the months and years ahead.”
Air cargo carrier unveils purpose-built pharma facility at Chicago
Emirates SkyCargo has significantly boosted its worldwide pharma handling capabilities and infrastructure thereby boosting its position as a key provider of air transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals. The new dedicated pharma facility is located in Chicago.
Emirates SkyCargo has commenced handling pharmaceutical cargo at a new purpose-built facility in Chicago. The facility, dedicated solely for pharmaceutical shipments, is spread over 1,000sqm, with scope for additional expansion and provides comprehensive protection for pharma cargo through temperature controlled zones for acceptance and delivery, pharma cargo build up and break down, storage and direct ramp access. Developed in partnership with ground handling company Maestro, the facility has a capacity of 15,000 tonnes of pharma shipments per annum.
“Having a dedicated facility for pharma at one of our busiest stations for pharma in our network is a big boost to our pharma handling credentials and capability,” said Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo.
The facility offers temperature controlled zones (2-8 degree Celsius and 15-25 degree Celsius) for acceptance and delivery, pharma cargo build up, breakdown and storage. The proximity of the facility to the ramp also means that cargo has to spend lesser time in transit to and from the terminal to the aircraft.
Expansion of global pharma corridor network
The dedicated pharma facility in Chicago is part of Emirates SkyCargo’s broader strategy to enhance protection for temperature sensitive pharma shipments not just at its hub in Dubai but from origin to destination.
Following up on the success of the pharma corridors initiative which was announced in Jan 2018, Emirates SkyCargo has expanded its initial network of 12 pharma stations to 20.
As part of pharma corridors, Emirates SkyCargo works with ground handling partners and other local stakeholders at the stations that are important origin or destination points for pharma, in order to ensure a high standard of handling operations for pharmaceuticals in line with Emirates SkyCargo’s stringent norms.
“We introduced the pharma corridors initiative because we wanted to expand the required high standard of handling for pharma shipments further into our network and serve markets better from origin to destination,” commented Henrik Ambak, Senior Vice President, Cargo Operations Worldwide, Emirates.
GDP Recertification for Emirates SkyCargo’s hub operations in Dubai
Emirates SkyCargo’s pharma operations in Dubai including the 24X7 trucking operations between its terminals at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central have been certified as compliant to EU GDP (Good Distribution Practices) guidelines this year.
Emirates SkyCargo first received GDP certification in 2016 which was then revalidated in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, the air cargo carrier went through a rigorous audit by Bureau Veritas where its pharma handling facilities and processes were evaluated completely from the ground up.
With over 8,000sqm of dedicated pharma storage and handling space, Emirates SkyCargo operates the world’s largest multi-airport GDP certified hubs in Dubai. During the financial year 2018/19, the carrier transported more than 75,000 tonnes of pharmaceuticals through its network.
Tristar Group received another RoSPA Gold Award for having ‘achieved a very high level of performance, demonstrating well developed occupational health and safety management systems and culture, outstanding control of risk and very low levels of error, harm and loss’ in 2018. Tristar Group GM for Road Transport and Warehousing Shivananda Baikady attended the awarding ceremony held recently at the ExCeL in London, UK.
RoSPA is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and has a long standing and well established presence the health and safety Industry for almost 100 years. Her Majesty the Queen of England is the Patron of RoSPA.
RoSPA has also enjoyed a long standing and well established presence within the Middle East for many years. More and more Middle Eastern companies are calling upon the services of RoSPA in all areas of business from driver training to safety awards to health and safety training. Tristar has partnered with RoSPA in its Road Safety Awareness campaigns since 2014 in the UAE, Oman and recently in Saudi Arabia.
At the Tristar Road Safety Seminar held on April 17 in Riyadh, Robert Burgon, executive head of training at RoSPA, reiterated that 95% of all road accidents are preventable because they are caused by human error. He said that drivers can avoid accidents by being focused while driving so that they don’t get distracted and make the right judgements, especially at junctions and intersections.
Last year, Tristar Assistant GM-Operations Arundhan Alphones received the RoSPA Gold Award on behalf of the Tristar Group. He was accompanied by Tristar Manager HSE & Sustainability Sridhar Srinivasalu. In 2016, Tristar received the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Award for five consecutive years and was presented the Gold Medal Award.
Tristar also received the MORR Trophy in 2013, a year after being named as MORR Gold Award winner. The trophy is the highest safety award for excellence in managing occupational road risk. In 2014, the company received the MORR Highly Commended Award; then in 2015, for the second time, Tristar was given the MORR Trophy.
Photo Caption: Tristar Group GM for Road Transport and Warehousing Shivananda Baikady (left) receiving the RoSPA Gold Award at the ExCeL in London, UK.
DP World acquires leading international marine logistics operator
DP World PLC announces the acquisition of 100 per cent of Topaz Energy and Marine Limited (“Topaz”) from Renaissance Services SAOG and Standard Chartered Private Equity/Affirma Capital for an enterprise value of $1,079 million.
Topaz is a leading international critical logistics and solutions provider to the global energy industry. The company operates a modern, versatile fleet of 117 vessels, predominantly in the Caspian Sea, MENA, and West Africa regions. The group enjoys a particularly strong position in its core Caspian Sea market. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water in the world, and one of the most strategic oil basins. Long-term contracts and high barriers to entry characterise the basin, which holds approximately 6 per cent of global oil reserves. Topaz also maintains long-standing relationships with many of the leading international and national oil companies, including BP, Chevron, Dragon Oil, Dubai Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Tengizchevroil.
Topaz’s enduring focus on securing long term strategic contracts has allowed it to outperform the market, and the Company’s market-leading contract backlog of $1.6 billion as of 31 March 2019, far exceeds industry benchmarks, demonstrating the success of the Company’s strategic approach. For DP World, the transaction supports our objective of increasing the company’s presence in the global logistics and marine services industry.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Topaz, which further strengthens DP World’s position as a world-leading operator in maritime logistics services. In recent years, we have been investing selectively in the marine logistics sector in companies with high revenue visibility, consistent track record and strong customer relationships. This latest acquisition complements the operations of our P&O Maritime Services (POMS) business, which maintains over 300 vessels globally. Much like DP World, Topaz has evolved its business, offering customers a range of logistics solutions and helping the Company outperform the industry. We believe that this innovative approach, together with the increased scale, will allow the combined Topaz and P&O Maritime Services business to drive efficiencies and earnings growth. Furthermore, this new partnership opens the door for DP World to explore new business areas more extensively, for example, increasing transit volumes through Azerbaijan within the East-West trade corridor.
This transaction is in line with our strategy to grow our presence in marine logistics and become a solutions provider to end customers. We look forward to welcoming the Topaz team into the DP World family.”
Serco Middle East, a leading provider of public services that operates the Dubai Metro and Tram and other services in the UAE will host a series of opens days aimed at hiring talented UAE nationals. As a business with platinum status from MOHRE, Serco’s vision of nationalisation expands beyond just hiring, as it looks at attracting, nurturing, retaining, promoting and developing national talent to build a pipeline of future leaders. UAE nationals make up 12% of our work force in the transport sector, ranging from senior positions, to engineering to customer, to functional support roles.
With the support of MOHRE and Tawteen, regular open days ensures transparency and consistency; it allows a range of opportunities to engage with eager candidates face-to-face, assessing their credentials immediately and present prospects to qualified applicants. It also gives us access to a wider range of candidates covering all available job vacancies on offer.
“We are proud of our partnership with Serco, as it sets an example for others to follow when it comes to empowering local talents. To have a sustainable nationalisation strategy is always a welcomed addition, especially when it’s being done flawlessly. As our long-term partner, we are looking forward to working with Serco HR team to attract educated and ambitious young Emiratis,” said Mansour Al Falasi, Director Human Resources and Development, Roads and Transport Authority.
Working for Serco
Serco offers a variety of roles in its transport sector working on iconic projects such as the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Tram. Development programmes are in place to support these roles ensuring that its talented workforce is trained and presented with growth opportunities. One of the leading programmes, Fursati, is a work placement programme for students to give a ‘hands-on’ experience. Being a globally recognised firm, students will have the opportunity to learn about managing railway systems, customer service expertise, engineering know-how and technical systems within the operational control centre.
Another programme caters for part-time opportunities; Muwazana, the programme offers part time work placement for UAE nationals who are looking for a balance between work, studies and family and yet are ready to contribute to the business with enthusiasm to learn and grow in their careers.
“As a leading service provider, Serco aims to be world class in not only delivering its services across the range, but in attracting and retaining talent. As a national, Serco has given me the tools to develop my career and avail opportunities to further my growth through a well-planned policy to ensure a sustainable growth” Fadhel Ali, Security and Stakeholder Director Serco Dubai Metro and Tram.
Move part of joint cooperation designed to ensure success of global event
The Expo 2020 Bureau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) after the latter was tapped to provide technical vehicle support services for activities related to the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai. The MoU also covers opportunities for building and expanding relations between the two parties. The Workshop has already started to provide fast vehicle services, collectively known as mobile workshop, at the Expo 2020 venue. The agreement was signed by H.E Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Expo 2020 Bureau, and Fahad Ahmed Al Raeesi, DGW’s Deputy Executive Director, at the Expo 2020 Bureau’s headquarters, in the presence of the Bureau’s managers and employees.
H.E. Al-Ali emphasized the importance of collaborating with various government entities and private sector institutions to ensure the success of Expo 2020, the biggest event of its kind in the country’s history.
“We reaffirm Expo’s important role as a global event with immense impact on the entire UAE as it reflects the spirit of giving and loyalty to our country. DGW has considerable contributions in delivering top-notch government services and enhancing customer experience,” he said.
He said DGW’s collaboration with Expo 2020 Bureau is part of its ongoing efforts to deliver the best services to the public and guests of Expo 2020. This is in line with the UAE Government’s directives to give participants and attendees enhanced services and provide them with a pioneering and exceptional experience.
Al Raeesi said: “The MoU signing is part of our efforts to enhance our cooperation and interaction with various government, semi-government, and private sector entities in Dubai and the UAE. We are confident that this latest development will contribute to Expo 2020’s success. The agreement also represents DGW’s superior vehicle and transportation services, especially in the areas of repairs and maintenance. DGW is at the forefront of providing transport services to Dubai and its government entities.”
He added: “The UAE’s successful bid on November 27, 2013 to host Expo 2020 Dubai is an important turning point in the country’s successful socio-economic progress. This world-class gathering will bring together the globe’s leading companies and corporations under one roof, allowing stakeholders across various industries to network, communicate, and build partnerships. At DGW, we aim to support the ongoing efforts of various parties to advance the country’s development process through active communication and efficient exchange of knowledge and experiences. Collaborative efforts ensure excellent and successful hosting of this important global event in the UAE.”
The MoU promotes partnership development, strong communication, and robust cooperation between the two entities in preparation for Expo 2020. Both parties agreed to coordinate in relevant areas, including tire replacement and repair covering vehicles to be used during the event. The DGW-approved fleet system will also track preventive maintenance services as it assigns a permanent mobile workshop to address related emergency needs.
DGW will continue to provide top-notch services to help enhance Dubai’s leadership, bring customer satisfaction and happiness, and achieve the goals and objectives of Dubai 2021, which seeks to develop a pioneering and innovative government capable of providing world-class services that meet the needs of individuals and society.
Continental’s latest road safety initiative raises awareness of tyre safety among young drivers in the UAE
New research shows that more than one in ten youngsters in the country are ignorant of the importance of well-maintained tyres
Research conducted in collaboration with American University in Dubai, University of Dubai and YouGov
A majority of young drivers in the UAE are not taking the required steps to ensure that their cars meet recommended standards of safety when it comes to tyre maintenance, with independent tests revealing that over 40 percent of students’ cars are equipped with one or more tyres that do not meet recommended safety standards.
These are among the findings of new research undertaken by Continental, the premium tyre and automotive manufacturer, which found that over 50 percent of young drivers aged 18-24 were not checking their tyres in line with expert advice, and over ten percent were ignorant of the importance of the role tyres play in road safety.
This new research is the latest undertaken by Continental in the Middle East as part of its global Vison Zero safety initiative. Following on from last year’s study regarding the attitude of parents of children of school age towards their car tyres, the German brand has this time focused on relatively new drivers through two studies: one in collaboration with YouGov and another in partnership with leading educational institutions in the UAE – American University in Dubai and University of Dubai.
While the situation regarding road safety has improved over recent years, it continues to be an important issue in the UAE, with figures from the Ministry of Interior and National Transport Authority showing that 468 people lost their lives on the country’s roads in 2018 [1]. Furthermore, according to UAE Ministry of Interior data, 45 percent of all road accidents UAE-wide are caused by young drivers (18-30).
According to the Continental-commissioned YouGov survey, more than half (55 percent) of car owners in the UAE aged between 18 and 24 years old had not checked their tyres in the past month. Tyres should be checked regularly, as unbalanced air pressure, insufficient tread depth and irregular wear can lead to catastrophic tyre failure. Both Continental and Dubai’s RTA recommend that drivers check their car’s tyre pressure every couple of weeks [3].
The survey also confirmed significant ignorance about the important role that tyres play. Despite tyres being the only point of contact between a car and the road, more than one in ten (11 percent) of youngsters questioned stated that it was ‘not at all important’ or ‘not very important’ to have well maintained tyres, and just 63 percent considered it to be very important.
The potential safety issues highlighted by the survey were dramatically confirmed by the findings of Continental’s own checks on over 330 cars at the two Dubai universities. Of the cars checked, 44 percent had at least one tyre that did not adhere to recognised safety standards. The nature of the issues discovered included incorrectly inflated tyres, damaged or cracked tyres, expired tyres and worn treads.
Incorrect tyre pressures, which can contribute to irregular tread wear and side-wall damage, were found in 101 (30 percent) of these cases. But arguably of most concern was the fact that the experts found that 21 cars (six percent) needed to have all four tyres replaced.
Staff from Continental and its local partner, Emirates for Universal Tyres (EUT), checked 331 vehicles parked at the American University in Dubai and University of Dubai over several days, testing for air pressure, tyre sizes, tread depth, wear and punctures. At the same time, students were able to engage with Continental experts to find out more about the importance of tyre safety. They were also provided with a Continental Safety Tips booklet.
Speaking about the tyre safety initiative, Haitham Al Maaini, Acting Director, Student Services Department at University of Dubai, said: “At University of Dubai, we are determined to spread safety awareness among our students and personnel, particularly road safety. Our initiatives come in line with the efforts made by UAE authorities to reduce fatalities and protect people’s lives from car accidents mostly caused by high speed driving or using road-unworthy vehicles. Therefore, the comprehensive tyre check campaign delivered by Continental at University of Dubai was essential and very beneficial to our students.”
The UAE results from the Continental YouGov survey were gleaned from a wider study focused more specifically on millennials, covering three Arab markets and engaging with over 1,500 respondents.
As a frontrunner in automotive technological advancements and road safety, Continental is a dedicated advocate of greater safety on the roads – its global Vision Zero initiative aims to totally eradicate road accidents and deliver Zero fatalities, Zero injuries and Zero crashes. These surveys were commissioned by Continental as part of its approach to delivering Vision Zero through enhancing drivers’ knowledge, attitude and awareness.
CSR award-winning and leading oil and gas logistics service provider Tristar Group launched its 7th consecutive Sustainability Report with a commitment to further support the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne handed the first copy of the report entitled ‘Empowering the Next Generation for Sustainable Development’ to Emirates Environmental Group Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi in a town hall meeting held recently at the Tristar head office in Jebel Ali where the company celebrated World Environment Day.
“We have and will continue our support towards the advancement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals as we have an obligation to recognize and promote the need for stability of our environment and to acknowledge the social impact of our business in the communities in which we operate. We at Tristar believe that Business for Purpose must rank at par with Business for Profit and we will continue to champion this mission in the years to come.” declared Mr. Mayne
Tristar is promoting SDG No. 3 on Good Health and Well-being and No. 4 on Quality Education with its road safety awareness campaigns in the GCC and with its support to the education sector in South Sudan and Kenya, respectively.
Mrs. Al Marashi commended Tristar for being a homegrown responsible business: “I was here at the launch of the 1st edition of the sustainability report and I am delighted to be launching the 7th edition of the sustainability report of our corporate member – Tristar, a company that has truly embraced the concept of ‘responsible business’. I am sure Tristar will continue to be committed to reporting on its initiatives leading by example, and I hope to be part of all the sustainability milestones throughout its journey.”
In 2011, the Arabia CSR Awards of the Arabia CSR Network where Mrs. Al Marashi is the CEO declared Tristar winner in the Best Newcomer of the Year category. In 2014, 2016 and 2017 Tristar was received the runner-up award in the Partnership and Collaborations category for its public road safety awareness campaign in the UAE.
Tristar has received other CSR awards from the Golden Peacock Global Award, Supply Chain and Transport Award and Maritime Standard. Tristar Group is a fully integrated Liquid Logistics solutions provider catering to the needs of the petroleum and chemical industries. Operating in 20 countries and territories across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, the group’s core expertise lies in handling hydrocarbons, lubricants, chemicals and liquid gases with dedicated facilities to manage road transport, warehousing, fuel farms, turnkey fuel supply operations, into plane fuel services, chemical distribution, and ship owning and chartering for clean petroleum products.
Event aimed to increase safety awareness of abra drivers
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently concluded a safety awareness workshop for abra drivers in Dubai. Titled ‘Safety campaign for Abra Drivers,’ the event held at Ramee cruise witnessed a huge turnout of abra drivers, who took part in a series of discussions and knowledge and experience sharing. Through various activities, the attendees learned about safety methods and emergency response procedures adopted by the local maritime community.
Abdullah Bin Touq, Director of Maritime Inspection, DMCA, said: “The Authority, which prioritizes maritime safety, is fully committed to teaching all concerned stakeholders in Dubai, including our abra drivers, about the proper use of safety equipment while operating maritime vessels. This is part of our efforts to strengthen the local maritime industry and attract investments in support of our government’s economic diversification policy. The recently concluded campaign was designed to develop, organize, and enhance maritime operations as well as establish a secure, renewable, and sustainable maritime community in line with Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy.”
Apart from raising the safety awareness of abra drivers, the event also aimed to boost maritime safety, promote safe navigation, achieve operational efficiency, and increase Dubai maritime sector’s competitiveness and attractiveness.
Mohammed Khalifa Al Huraiz, Director of Waterway Control, DMCA, said: “We will continue to hold educational awareness initiatives to ensure the security of all maritime stakeholders in Dubai and the safety of life at sea; avoid potential risks, especially during emergencies; save lives and property; and build globally competitive maritime community with robust components.”
Besides awareness campaigns aimed at educating drivers and promoting safety of life at sea, the DMCA also regularly participates in various local and international maritime events to form stronger partnerships with various government and private entities and create an environment conducive for business, investment, and leisure. Its active participation reflects Dubai’s leading position on the global maritime stage.
The Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) has continued to engage with various firms to provide a platform that brings attention to trending regulatory and law related discussions specific to maritime.
In hosting ‘BIMCO’s Bunker Terms 2019’ seminar, the Centre has once again ensured that stakeholders learn more about risk management specific to contracts that are tied to the changes in regulations applicable to the IMO’s 2020 Sulphur Cap.
In an announcement followed by the IMO’s regulation capping the global fuel sulphur limit at 0.50% being enforced from 1st January, 2020, the bunker fuel supply and availability landscape will undoubtedly change and as a result impact the shipping industry.
Presented by Mr. Erik Jensby, Head of Membership and Business Development at BIMCO, the objective was to ensure that parties pay attention to terms that work for the purchase and supply of marine fuels to ships when the 0.5% Sulphur Cap takes effect. The seminar further shed some light on the transition of fuels specific to Time Charter Parties that are in place and will overlap the Sulphur Cap application date.
“EMAC is well tuned into maritime and the overall focus on environmental sustainability. Hosting BIMCO for a seminar on a very relevant matter, is yet another way that EMAC is able to add value to maritime stakeholders in the region who may seek alternative dispute resolution support in future,” said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Acting Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC.
“The shipping industry is in need of contractual clarity and standard contracts and clauses to assist in a period of big change for the shipping community,” said Mr. Erik Jensby of BIMCO. ”We are delighted that EMAC has provided BIMCO with support to make our presentation in Dubai.”
BIMCO is the largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners; its membership controls around 65 percent of the world’s tonnage and it has members in more than 120 countries, including managers, brokers and agents.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company launched two new Cargo routes from-to Athens, Greece & Marrakesh, Morocco starting June 2019, aiming to meet the growing demand for cargo operations & stimulate trade movement to/from both destinations.
Athens is Saudia Cargo’s new destination to be operated year-round, with four weekly flights from Riyadh starting in June on-board the Billy-capacity of Saudia A-320 aircraft. Furthermore, Marrakesh destination is operated by Seasonal flights from the 2nd of June till October 25th with three weekly flights from Jeddah through the Billy-capacity on board Saudia 787 aircraft.
Through these flights Saudia Cargo aims to increase its presence in the African & the European continents to fill the exceeding demand for Air Cargo & logistical services through freighter flights & the belly-capacity on-board Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, offers 900 destinations in more than 175 countries, through a dedicated state-of-the-art freighter fleet in addition to the belly capacity on board Saudia passenger flights, a proud member of SkyTeam Cargo (www.skyteamcargo.com), the world’s leading cargo alliance established in 2000.
Two parties sign MoU to help promote trade, identify joint initiatives, and promote research and innovation
Dubai Maritime Cluster Office (DMCO) of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has joined forces with the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) to further boost the maritime collaboration between the two as both work towards strengthening their respective maritime industries by building a smart, vibrant, and sustainable maritime platform of cooperation for maritime operations and businesses.
The cooperation is the latest in a string of strategic partnerships of DMCA with international maritime bodies and organizations as part of its bid to create a reliable and vibrant maritime community capable of driving Dubai’s economic development and sustainability in line with the objectives of Dubai Plan 2021.
Under the MoU, DMCO and IMDO will jointly promote trade across global infrastructure and maritime spectrum as well as identify mutually beneficial initiatives in key maritime areas. Both parties agreed as well to work together on open innovation-based initiatives and programs. Additionally, they will jointly embark on promotional and networking efforts during local and international trade events, conferences, and events to facilitate new cooperation between organizations, promote increased trade, enhanced connectivity, and present their respective competitive edge and advantages.
Other critical areas covered by their latest cooperation include mutual referral of business opportunities in each party’s fields of specialties; research activities establishing the socio-economic benefits of a sustainable maritime industry at the national and international levels; identification of reciprocal investment opportunities for Irish and Dubai maritime companies; knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices and expertise.
Liam Lacey, Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office, said: “The IMDO welcomes the opportunity to work with the DMCA and looks forward to cooperating and collaborating with the DMCA to the benefit of both our maritime economies.”
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said: “Our strategic collaboration with IMDO is an opportunity for us at DMCA and Dubai Maritime Cluster Office to further foster innovation and research in Dubai’s maritime community as well as continuously implement enhanced global best maritime practices.” The MoU is also expected to pave the way for the cultivation of stronger relationships between DMCA and Irish maritime companies and other relevant bodies. It will also be an opportunity for Irish companies to explore ways to better position themselves to work with DMCA and DP World as well as learn more about the Authority’s functions and its upcoming projects that will help open up new forms of international coordination.
“Through this collaboration, Dubai will benefit from Ireland’s vibrant knowledge and innovation economy as well as world-class business eco-system, particularly in emerging sectors such as deep tech, artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain. Our ties will help accelerate our efforts to build a vibrant and safe maritime environment and will be instrumental in enhancing Dubai’s position as a leading center of maritime sectors worldwide. Our cooperation is especially relevant as Ireland bids to become an International Shipping Services Centre (ISSC), a major urban regeneration scheme with appropriate commercial, residential, and cultural amenities, which, if realized, can brought forth immense benefits to Dubai and the UAE,” Ali said.
He added: “Conversely, the country will have a strategic advantage of learning about the intricacies and uniqueness of the maritime sector in Dubai and the UAE, providing them access to substantial local growth opportunities, fueled by national initiatives in accordance with Dubai Vision 2021. Recognized for its reliability, inclusiveness, and leadership, Dubai is the center of maritime excellence at the local, regional, and global levels as it continues to attract investors from different parts of the world.”
Dubai’s achievements attract strong interest from global maritime industry at the ‘NOR-SHIPPING 2019’ exhibition in Norway
Dubai’s maritime achievements have attracted great interest from the world’s maritime industry leaders at the ‘NOR-SHIPPING 2019’ exhibition, with numerous leading figures from around the globe praising the pivotal role of the global maritime map on the sidelines of Dubai Maritime City Authority’s (DMCA) participation at the event, which was held recently in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway.
The successful international gathering came with the involvement of several prominent local entities including Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC), Dubai Maritime City (DMC), Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), DP World and Drydocks World; all of whom provided a strong boost to the pioneering efforts led by DMCA to represent the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE in leading international forums. Each organization assisted in efforts to promote cooperation, communication and interaction with global maritime industry leaders and strengthen connection in terms of knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices supporting the growth, sustainability and universality of maritime clusters in the world.
Visitors to the DMCA platform at the exhibition were presented with the opportunity to learn more about Dubai’s leading initiatives to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness and comprehensiveness of the local maritime sector. The Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster was a stand-out feature and provided a chance for regional and international investors to have an integrated portfolio of marine services central to attracting foreign direct investment to the emirate of Dubai – that boasts many promising avenues as one of the best maritime capitals in the world.
The Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster’s importance is universally recognized as it serves as a platform for adopting innovation and technological advances in the service of the Maritime Cluster, which is emerging as one of the world’s most competitive and attractive Maritime clusters. The Maritime Sector Strategy also proved to be an outstanding success in raising Dubai’s position on the global maritime map; focusing particularly on human investment and the development of infrastructure, integrated logistics programs, maritime regulations and legislation that will ensure the management of maritime operations, according to the highest standards of occupational safety and best environmental practices and local and international decisions.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said that the wide acclaim of Dubai’s achievements reaffirms international confidence in the promising opportunities and competitive advantages of the local maritime cluster. He noted that Dubai is on par with the world’s leading maritime centers, under the guidance of the wise leadership, and continuous efforts of the Maritime Authority to support maritime components including ships, cargo and logistics continue to be hugely beneficial. Furthermore, he added that the Maritime Authority will continue to focus on employing innovation and R&D in the development of integrated logistics programs, advanced infrastructure and management of maritime operations; according to specific initiatives directed to enhance competitiveness, attractiveness and comprehensiveness that the maritime cluster requires to be a driving force for economic growth and diversification.
Amer Ali said: “Leading global events such as ‘NOR-SHIPPING’ present the perfect opportunity to build bridges of communication with the world’s maritime leaders, and to explore new horizons for establishing strategic partnerships that serve the common aspiration of promoting the global maritime industry based on innovation, sustainability and technology; in line with the requirements of the twenty-first century. Our successful participation represents an important step forward in our efforts to showcase Dubai’s leadership experience to the world as we can exchange our knowledge and expertise, and highlight our successive achievements inspired by the vision of our leadership to become the leading maritime capital in the world.
We look forward to the continuation of the ‘Marine Sector Strategy’, the ‘Quattro Helix Partnerships’ and other leading initiatives that have had a great impact on building a sustainable and integrated maritime sector and establishing the framework for a constructive partnership with the public and private sectors; which have ultimately led Dubai to the forefront of the most distinctive and competitive maritime capitals in the world.”
The NOR-SHIPPING 2019 delegation included senior officials from DMCA, as well as representatives of EMAC, DMC, DMCC, JAFZA, DP World and Drydocks World.
Dubai FDI’s Global Promotional Investment Team announces preparations for investment mission to China to boost emirate’s role in ‘Belt & Road’ initiative
China maintains leading position as Dubai’s largest trading partner valued at AED 139 billion in 2018
Dubai high-level delegation to lead ‘Dubai Advantage Forum 2019’ in Shanghai on June 24
Roundtable discussion and series of meetings to be held in Shenzhen set to expore investment partnership opportunities
In support to the UAE’s important role as a ‘vital station along the new Silk Road’ as reflected in the latest agreement between China and the UAE valued at AED 12,486 billion, Dubai FDI, the investment development agency of Dubai Economy (DED), is set to embark on its latest investment mission to major cities in the country as part of its strategic efforts to support the global infrastructure program Belt and Road initiative. Dubai FDI will lead a delegation of government and business leaders to take part in Dubai Advantage Forum and exclusive meetings in Shanghai and Shenzhen from June 24 to 29, 2019.
The delegation will be composed of Khalid Al Boom, Deputy CEO; Ibrahim Ahli, Director of Investment Promotion Department; Nasser Al Suwaidi, Expert from Dubai FDI; Ahmad Hamza, Executive Director – Free Zone, DMCC; Shoaib DAl Rahimi, Vice-President of the Business Park, Dubai South; Imran Sheikh, Chief Investment Officer, Dubai Healthcare City Authority; Khalid Sharaf, Head of International Business Engagement at Expo 2020 Dubai; Nadimeh Mehra, Vice President – District 2020; and Michael Qu, Cargo Manager, Emirates Skycargo, in addition to other officials from these entities. They will engage in an interactive platform to discuss Dubai’s leading initiatives in facilitating foreign direct investments (FDI) through ‘Dubai Advantage Forum 2019’ in Shanghai on June 24 as well as take part in several business meetings in China on June 25. A roundtable discussion will be held in Shenzhen on June 27 followed by direct visits to major Chinese companies and business meetings on June 28.
Fahad Al Gergawi, CEO, Dubai FDI, said: “Dubai has always played an important economic hub for Asia and this role continues to evolve towards greater heights following China’s launch of the Belt and Road initiative, the new global trading highway designed to link Asia to Africa and Latin America directly through the Middle East. With the emirate’s current strategic position as a regional base for many Chinese companies, the Dubai Government continues to engage in initiatives that would further promote the ease of doing business in the emirate for China’s public and private sector in line with its global ambition to pave the way for the new Silk Road.”
Khalid Al Boom, Deputy CEO, Dubai FDI, noted: “China maintains its leading position as Dubai’s topmost trading partner with its market value reaching AED 139 billion in 2018. The emirate’s key trading partners in China continue to enjoy lucrative opportunities market and we are keen to promote and facilitate the investment processes for leading companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen in this planned mission. Following the recent major deals which took place between UAE and China, we are confident that the forums and business meetings to be held soon in Shanghai and Shenzhen will open new opportunities for leading businesses in major sectors.”
Dubai continues to promote the emirate’s investment growth opportunities in line with the UAE’s plan to expand global leadership in key sectors such as aerospace, manufacturing, advanced technology, logistics, healthcare, financial services, life sciences, and food products and agriculture. The UAE has been a strong bilateral trade partner of China, which is its second largest trading partner, valued at AED 194,642 billion and is expected to soar up to AED 257 billion by 2020.
Following a recent agreement, a 60-million square feet ‘Traders Market’ which received AED 8,814 billion of Chinese investments will be built opposite Dubai’s Expo 2020 site, aimed at providing an international station for storing and shipping Chinese products from Jebel Ali to the world.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company transported 175 Tons of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) equipment all the way to Jeddah, from Maastricht in the Netherlands for the WWE event that will take place at King Abdullah Sports City on June 7.
Saudia Cargo has successfully provided all its logistical capabilities to bring the WWE wrestling ring equipment of the show that were forwarded by Sound Moves via Saudia Cargo freighters; Boeing 747-8 & Boeing 777 carrying total tonnages of 175 tons & delivered on the 22th of May, moreover, the company provided special Ground Handling for the heavy loads at King Abdulaziz International Airport’s Cargo station.
The CEO of Saudia Cargo Omar Hariri stressed on the national role played by Saudia Cargo in supporting national & global events, expressing the company’s pride in collaborating towards the success of this distinguished sporting event.
The WWE Super Showdown will be hosted in partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority, at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, on June 7. The event will feature WWE Superstars Roman Reigns, Undertaker, Kofi Kingston, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Goldberg, AJ Styles & Brock Lesnar, furthermore, the show will stream live on WWE Network.
In addition, Saudia Cargo supports & transports this global sporting event for the third time after the huge success in the past two times.
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, offers its services to 225 international destinations & 26 routes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a member of SkyTeam Cargo (www.skyteamcargo.com), the world’s leading cargo alliance established in 2000, further expanding its global network with SkyTeam Cargo members reaching across 900 destinations in more than 175 countries, through a dedicated state-of-the-art freighter fleet.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company, a SkyTeam Cargo member is participating in Air Cargo Europe 2019 taking place in Munich, Germany from Jun 4 – 7, with more than 2360 exhibitors that will represent the world’s leading Air Cargo & logistical services companies & authorities.
This participation comes in line with Saudia Cargo’s continual presence in the different International conferences & events in the field of Air Cargo, logistics & transportation, moreover, many business deals & agreements are expected to take place at Air Cargo Europe.
With this occasion, Saudia Cargo’s CEO Omar Hariri noted: “Saudia Cargo has recorded a significant presence in the past editions of Air Cargo Europe in Munich, where the company earned several awards, besides, this year is considered the first for Saudia Cargo to participate as a SkyTeam Cargo member which will have a pavilion that showcases all the member Airlines.
Hariri added: “This International exhibition and conference will discuss many pivotal topics related to the Air Cargo & logistical services industries, the conference program will include several workshops about E-commerce & digital transformation, surely we are striving to keep in line with the progress achieved at Information Technology in the field of transport within the framework of the company’s 2020 transformation strategy.”
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, offers its services to 225 international destinations & 26 routes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a member of SkyTeam Cargo (www.skyteamcargo.com), the world’s leading cargo alliance established in 2000, further expanding its global network with SkyTeam Cargo members reaching across 900 destinations in more than 175 countries, through a dedicated state-of-the-art freighter fleet.
In addition to providing the belly capacity on board Saudia passenger flights, Saudia Cargo offers quality Ground Handling & logistical services in four mainline international stations around the Kingdom, delivering an efficient & cost-effective solution for cargo services around the world.
Turkish Cargo includes Khimki, the city of science of Russia, to its cargo flights network.
As the fastest growing brand among the global air cargo carriers with its extensive flights network, Turkish Cargo included Khimki (SVO-Sheremetyevo Airport), called as the city of science of Russia and being the most important city of the country in terms of cargo activities, to its direct cargo flight destinations network.
The accomplished air cargo brand will carry many exports products especially automotive accessories and oil raw materials originating from Russia, as well as many imports products such as textile products, electronics and vegetables-fruits to be sent to Russia, through its new destination Khimki. Located just 30 km far away from the capital Moscow, Khimki has a close commercial relationship with the capital and encompasses the largest shopping malls of the country.
Our flights to Khimki with an exports and imports marketplace for Turkey, the USA and Europe especially the Far East will be performed by means of A330-200F freighters on Wednesdays on Istanbul (ISL) – Khimki (SVO) line as of June 12.
Reaching 124 countries thanks to its extensive flight network covering 88 direct cargo flight destinations and more than 300 destinations, Turkish Cargo achieves a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and team of leading experts, and keeps being a preferred brand in air cargo transportation.
Flight Number
Route
Start
Day
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
A/C
TK6251
ISL-SVO
12.Haz.2019
Wednesday
ISL
08:00
10:50
SVO
A330F
TK6252
SVO-ISL
12.Haz.2019
Wednesday
SVO
12:50
15:55
ISL
A330F
ALL TIMES ARE UTC.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Strategic partnership between Dubai Air Navigation Services and Dubai Aviation City Corporation to help prepare Al Maktoum International Airport as site for new training academy
New dans training facility to offer a diverse range of courses to address technical, operational and theoretical matters in air traffic management
Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) has announced the signing of a strategic new leasing agreement with the Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC). Under the terms of the agreement, dans will establish its first training facility within Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) (DWC). The agreement was signed by H.E. Mohammed A. Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and CEO of dans, and H.E. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of DACC in the presence of Suzan Al Anani, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO, dans.
Once fully established, the new dans’ Training Facility will offer a diverse portfolio of training courses that address all technical, operational and theoretical subject matters in the field of Air Traffic Management (ATM). The facility primarily focuses on creating a global training hub from within the Emirate of Dubai that has the capacity to train individuals who are already experienced in the ATM sector and are keen towards further enhancing and developing their operational aptitude and skills, in addition to individuals who are looking to start a career in ATM.
H.E. Mohammed A. Ahli, Director General, DCAA and CEO, dans, said, “In line with the economic vision set for the Emirate of Dubai and in alignment with our dedication to support the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to ‘connecting minds to build a better future,’ and to support the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, dans Chairman, the launch of the new dans’ Training Facility will mark a very important and unparalleled milestone in the history of the UAE’s ATM sector. The signing of this strategic new leasing agreement, which identifies the location of the academy, is a crucial positive step in the right direction for the academy–whose name shall soon resonate across local, regional and international fronts for being the leading operational training provider synonymous for quality driven contemporary taught operational courses. The academy shall open its doors to professionals working in and outside of the UAE to help enhance their skills. Moreover, operating such a unique facility that is specialized as such from within the UAE, also supports our efforts in preparing and equipping Emirati talent with the necessary skills required to succeed in an ever-growing ATM sector, which continuously requires keeping up with the fast pace of innovation and development. On that note, we would like to express our appreciation for the continuous support coming from the DACC as led by H.E. Khalifa Al Zaffin, the Executive Chairman. The DACC serves as a catalyst in making this initiative happen, especially now that we have identified Al Maktoum International Airport as the location of the academy from where all future operational trainings will commence.”
The courses set to be offered at the new dans’ Training Academy includes operational courses in the ATM Sector that range from foundation training, rating & qualification training towards validation, first competency assessments, subsequent training and competency assessments leading to additional endorsements and qualifications, professional aviation development courses, emergency continuation training, to refresher/remedial & supplementary ATM trainings.
H.E. Khalifa Al Zaffin, stated that this project embraces the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s, who said that ‘we are not building the largest airports in the world, we are building the aviation capital of the world.’ The establishment of a world-class aviation training academy that is locally developed addresses this vision and will establish a legacy for the UAE’s knowledge-based economy. The DACC is proud to be associated with the DANS project where learning and innovation go hand in hand to benefit the UAE’s Aviation industry.
dans is the air navigation services provider that manages Dubai’s and part of the Northern Emirates’ airspace–offering air navigation services for airport authorities and numerous prestigious airlines, including the World’s busiest airport in terms of international passenger numbers-Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) is the owner of both the Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, and the free zone authority within Dubai South. Under its umbrella, DACC operates four leading government entities–dans, DAEP, Dubai South, and Dubai Airports Corporation.
SSI Schaefer announces its new brand ambassador, Mick Schumacher. The reigning Formula 3 champion, who is competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship this year, has entered a long-term partnership with intralogistics specialist SSI Schaefer.
Mick Schumacher has been impressing fans, colleagues, and the general public alike for years with his stringent quest for improvement. The 20-year-old son of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, Michael Schumacher, has long since created his own identity. As a member of the exclusive driving field of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Mick is now one of the best young racers in the world.
“Driving for Excellence” is the clear goal for this partnership. “Mick brings a great passion that impresses us here at SSI Schaefer. Giving everything, gaining experience, and accepting challenges that work towards a solution with intent and hyper focus is what connects our company with him. True to our corporate tagline, ‘Think Tomorrow.’, SSI Schaefer looks ahead to achieve the ambitious goals for our customers,” stated Michael Mohr, EVP Sales for SSI Schaefer.
Mick Schumacher has been driving for the Italian PREMA team since 2016. The 2018 European Formula 3 Champion just recently started driving for the Formula 2 team this year and he joined into the Ferrari Driver Academy program that promotes young talents. As a young driver, Schumacher started test driving in April for Bahrain in Formula 1 for both, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racing. “I’m delighted to welcome SSI Schaefer as a partner because we share the same core values: a down-to-earth attitude, striving for success, innovative solutions, as well as long-term thinking and action. ‘Think Tomorrow.’ suits me too,” stated Schumacher.
Various joint activities are planned for the partnership between the intralogistics specialist and the Formula 2 driver. Mick Schumacher is taking part in a panel discussion at one of the world’s largest in-house events in the industry this autumn, with international logistics users, expert discussions, keynotes and live demonstrations of logistics systems.
But for now, Schumacher’s focus is on Monaco since today marks the fourth racing weekend out of the 12 for Formula 2. The Grand Prix Formula 2 is scheduled from 23rd to the 25th of May 2019 in Monaco. The entire SSI Schaefer family will certainly be cheering.
Brazil Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ernesto Henrique Fraga Araujo met with DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia this week.
They discussed social reform, a stable and efficient regulatory framework to attract investors alongside public private partnerships to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI). The meeting preceded Mr. Bin Sulayem’s discussions with President Jair Bolsonaro during the visit.
DP World Santos, Brazil, is a key part of the global trade enabler’s operational network in the region. The company has major interests across Latin America with services to cargo owners and shipping lines at five key gateways on the west coast of South America in Posorja (Ecuador), Callao and Paita (Peru) and San Antonio and Lirquen (Chile) as well as operations in Argentina and the Dominican Republic.
Completing the gradual transition process to Istanbul Airport, one of the largest airports of the world, the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo maintains its dual-terminal operations with full capacity on 7/24 basis without any sales restriction.
Maintaining its cargo transportation operations by means of passenger flights seamlessly at Istanbul Airport, Turkish Cargo will have a capacity to handle 4 million tons of cargo annually at the cargo terminal that will have an indoor area of 300 thousand square meters upon completion of all phases. The global air cargo brand performs its operations by means of freighter flights from the existing cargo terminal at Ataturk Airport.
Providing service to 124 countries around the world leveraging on its fleet of 336 aircraft, Turkish Cargo takes concrete steps towards its targets set on the way to become one of the top-five brands of the air cargo industry with its investments and ever-developing fleet.
EMAC’s participates as associate conference sponsor and exhibitor
As the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC) marks its third year of operation, the centre has not slowed in its effort to provide awareness about its alternative dispute resolution support and services which focus primarily on maritime, offshore energy and logistics. This is one of the reasons why the centre has sponsored this year’s IBA maritime and transport conference, themed: Opportunities and Risks in Shipping in 2019 taking place in Oslo until the 22nd May. On the agenda are key topics which include arbitration, offshore maritime insolvency and restructuring, IMO sulphur emissions limits, marine insurance, etc.
“Participating at such international key events is of utmost importance for EMAC. These avenues help us spread the word of our core messaging; EMAC is a centre for the maritime and legal communities and we are here to provide full support,” said Mr. Majid Obaid bin Bashir, Acting Chairman and Secretary General, EMAC. “It is not only a pivotal opportunity to engage with our regular stakeholders, but also provides a platform to form new collaborations with the legal community,” he added.
Last year, EMAC attended the Annual IBA Conference in Rome, and will be back in June for the one of most sought-after shipping events worldwide, NOR Shipping in Oslo.
The International Bar Association (IBA) – the global voice of the legal profession – is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies for over 70 years.
The Dubai Airshow 2019 is expecting business aviation to be a significant part of the event when it returns from 17 – 21 November at DWC, Dubai Airshow Site.
Business aircraft movements in the region are predicted to reach 175,000 by 2020. The prediction, made at the MEBAA Conference Dubai in December, underlines the industry’s growth in the region, and is reinforced by key players in business aviation demonstrating their commitment to the Middle East’s leading aerospace event. In addition, the UAE is execting an increase in private jet landings next year as a result of Expo 2020, leading to increased opportunities for the industry.
Key business aviation OEMs will be represented at the show, including Boeing Business Jets, Gulfstream, Dassault Aviation, Airbus Corporate Jets, Textron and Pilatus who will be joined at the show for the first time by Citadel Completions. Exhibitors at the event represent the whole business aviation supply chain, from OEMs to interiors, completions specialists to FBOs including Jet Aviation and DC Aviation, private airports such as Al Bateen Executive Airport; and gourmet catering firms, providing an ideal platform for those in the industry to network and forge relationships to take advantage of the opportunities offered.
“Business in the region relies on face-to-face meetings and personal relationship building,” says Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of show organisers Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East. “The fantastic thing about the Dubai Airshow is that it provides a truly global stage for all aspects of the aerospace industry, and business aviation is always extremely highly represented. I look forward to welcoming the industry to Dubai in November.”
During the Dubai Airshow 2019, the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) will host the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) and International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BOA) workshops within the show itself. Developed by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) in conjunction with its member associations and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), these workshops will enable business aviation professionals in the region to achieve recommended best practices and standards.
The Dubai Airshow 2019 is expecting 1300 exhibitors and up to 87000 trade visitors across the five days. For more information or to book your space please visit www.dubaiairshow.aero or see the team on stand T33 at EBACE.
Elemica Drives Innovation with Recent Supply Chain Quality Solution Acquisition
Quality control certification, checked guarantee of standard of company product.Elemica, the leading Digital Supply Network for process manufacturing industries, announced today two significant client enhancements within their Supply Chain Quality Management Solution, Elemica Quality. The new capabilities help minimize risks and manufacturing disruptions related to the quality of goods from suppliers during the pre-shipment process.
One significant capability added is the ability to support Ship-to-Control (STC) techniques and its associated industry standards. The Elemica Quality Solution automates this process using data inputs to statistically derive control limits for specific properties of a product. By automating this process, a supplier can quickly identify out of range products before shipment.
“These innovations are a result of significant interactions with clients in the high tech, aerospace and defense, chemical and food and beverage industries,” said Kurt Nusbaum, Vice President of Elemica Quality Solutions. “Elemica Quality solutions like these ensure that suppliers comply with the design specifications of their customer.”
Additionally, Elemica Quality solution now automates the Pre-Ship Authorization (PSA) saving time by coordinating the approval process, generating the authorization, and notifying all the parties. Pre-Ship Authorization ensures production that a supplier complies with specifications of the buyer and the terms of a purchase order or letter of credit prior to shipment by using a pre-shipment inspection.
Both of these new capabilities are available and are being tested and deployed at Elemica Quality Solution clients.
Drugstore chain Al-Dawaa implements KNAPP’s automation solutions with a Track & Trace System
KNAPP AG, headquartered in Hart bei Graz in Austria, and its Regional partner ALS Logistic Solutions, headquartered in Dubai, have been awarded by the Saudi Arabian pharmacy and drugstore chain Al-Dawaa to provide a turnkey automation solution with shuttle and central belt technology, as well as the SAP® EWM warehouse management system. The new distribution centre will be erected in the Sudair Industrial City in Riyadh and will be a technological trailblazer for healthcare distribution in the region.
Al-Dawaa Medical Services Company supplies around 800 of its own pharmacies and also acts as a wholesaler for drugstore and medical goods. In order to supply its growing network of retailers faster and more frequently, Al-Dawaa decided to fully automate its processes. With the latest technology, the most cutting-edge distribution centre for pharmaceutical and drugstore products in the Middle East will be built jointly by ALS and KNAPP expertise. SAP eWM will serve as the warehouse management and warehouse control system to ensure smooth warehouse operations. Orders from the highly automated warehouse and manual area will be consolidated with ease using the eWM package.
Highly technological – highly efficient
With the help of the most cutting-edge shuttle system in the world, the OSR Shuttle Evo, the most important warehouse processes such as space-effective storage, replenishment management, picking and dispatch can all be covered within a single system. Picking will take place at ergonomic Pick-it-Easy work stations. Fast-mover autopickers will be on hand to pick fast-moving articles automatically. When it comes to manual picking, RF technology is designed to support the personnel and make error-free working a reality. Dispatch preparation and container supply for dispatch will be automated. Finally, SAP eWM by KNAPP will ensure that all processes in the warehouse will run smoothly.
End-to-end traceability
A Vision Central Belt solution will be used to automatically record lot and serial numbers at the autopickers. As a result, Al-Dawaa can accommodate the plans of the Saudi Food & Drug Authority, who requires all domestic and foreign medicines to be traced from production or import to delivery to the patient. The SAP transport management system guarantees transparency along the supply chain.
Core Logistics and IT competencies
KNAPP is implementing the project in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with local partner ALS Logistic Solutions. “KNAPP technology is pioneering in healthcare distribution on the one hand, and on the other, KNAPP has many years of experience and IT skills. This combination makes us the leading provider not only in Saudi Arabia but in the entire region,” explains Walid Khoury, Managing Director at ALS Logistic Solutions, who believes in the KNAPP cooperation. Mahmoud Mousa, CIO DBS, adds, “Al-Dawaa Pharmacies is running SAP ERP, so it was important for us to select a solution provider with excellent warehouse automation as well as implementing SAP eWM as WMS and WCS in the new warehouse.”
The new distribution centre is planned to go into operation in mid 2020.
As one of the fastest growing global air cargo carriers, Turkish Cargo included Porto (OPO), the second largest city and the most crucial industrial hub in Portugal, to its wide direct cargo flight network.
Porto, the recently-launched destination of the accomplished air cargo brand, is not only one of the most important industrial ports of Europe but also a vital exports point. Turkish Cargo will operate flights to/from Porto on Sundays by A330-200F freighters on the line İstanbul (IST) – Madrid (MAD) – Porto (OPO) – İstanbul (IST).
Located in Southwestern Europe, Porto has many crucial industrial ports on the shores of the Northern Atlantic Ocean dating back to the 4th Century A.D. Giving Portugal its name and among the most ancient cities in Europe, Porto has a population of 1.8 million people.
Reaching the entire world thanks to its extensive flight network, Turkish Cargo covers more than 300 destinations worldwide, in addition to its 88 direct cargo dedicated markets. Turkish Cargo continues achieving a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and team of leading experts.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
A Regional First: Sohar Port and Freezone Launches Sohar Navigate
The innovative online route planner contains deep-sea and short-sea schedules connecting to 550 ports worldwide
SOHAR Port and Freezone recently launched SOHAR Navigate, a unique online route planner, which provides information on available connections to hinterland destinations. The platform is the first of its kind in the region and will comprise of sea schedules connecting to 550 ports worldwide.
Commenting on the launch of the proprietary tool, Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO of SOHAR Port and Freezone noted, “The Navigate platform was initially launched by our partner, Port of Rotterdam. It is considered the most comprehensive route planner of its kind. Capitalising on this technology, we have modified SOHAR Navigate to suit our regional and global stakeholders and provide them with outreach, as well as a user-friendly means to locate the most efficient and optimal routes for their activities. Users of SOHAR Navigate are able to plan routes from specific areas, via SOHAR, in an easy and convenient way.”
The platform takes into consideration the specified point of departure and the desired final destination, to offer the user several different routes. Based on modality and expected transportation time, users can then choose whichever option works best for them. The platform also offers extensive analysis tools and dashboards with relevant user data.
Anacin Kum, CEO of Hutchison Ports SOHAR added, “SOHAR Navigate has been developed especially for companies seeking smarter ways to plan their container transports. The launch of the beta version of this tool is a good first step and we are excited about its role in the global logistics market. With the addition of more operational data, SOHAR Navigate will become an increasingly valuable resource to improve efficiency within the supply chain. It will also provide visible and convenient options for local importer and exporter groups, who generally rely on logistic providers.”
SOHAR Navigate comprises of a business directory and the option to get in touch with any specific organisation, while also providing insight into the carbon footprint of any container transport.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company resumed its freighter flights to Guangzhou in China & Mumbai in India with a weekly freighter flight effective first of April 2019, aiming to meet the growing demand for cargo operations & stimulate trade movement to/from the Asian continent, in addition to the already operating 5 weekly flights to Dhaka & the 7 weekly flights to Hong Kong.
CEO of Saudia Cargo, Omar Hariri said: “This operation reflects the company’s policy aiming to enhance and increase trade activities between the Kingdom & both countries.”
Hariri added: “Saudia Cargo will mobilize its logistical capabilities to and from both destinations, adding an extra weekly freighter flight to Guangzhou operated by a Boeing 777F Aircraft & another to Mumbai, operated by a Boeing 747-400F, offering estimated 100 tons of capacity to each destination in addition to the belly-capacity on board Saudia passenger flights.”
During this year Saudia Cargo strengthened its presence in the Asian continent to fill the exceeding demand for Air Cargo & logistical services through the belly-capacity on-board Saudi Arabian Airlines that operates 480 Weekly flights with the capacity of 5,836 Tons a week to/from 21 destinations in Asia.
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, offers 225 international destinations & 26 routes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a proud member of SkyTeam Cargo (www.skyteamcargo.com), the world’s leading cargo alliance established in 2000, further expanding its global network with SkyTeam Cargo members reaching across 900 destinations in more than 175 countries, through a dedicated state-of-the-art freighter fleet in addition to the belly capacity on board Saudia passenger flights, providing quality Ground Handling & logistical services in four mainline international stations around the Kingdom, delivering an efficient & cost-effective solutions for cargo services around the world.
Tristar encourages business leaders to support UN Sustainable Development Goals
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne has called on companies in the UAE to support the Global Goals of the United Nations (UN) focused to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all people of the planet.
Speaking at the UN Global Goals Workshop, organized by International Quality and Excellence Consultant Sunil Thawani, Mr. Mayne reiterated that business leaders must support the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) ‘not just by lip service but by action.’
The 10 Principles cover four areas related to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption and directly contribute to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of economic, social and environmental goals ratified by 193 countries, including UAE at the UN in September 2015 which aims to ‘end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change’ by 2030.
“Since our inception in 1998, we made a commitment to be a Responsible Business and today this commitment underpins every decision we make,” Mr. Mayne declared. Tristar is promoting SDG No. 3 on Good Health and Well-being and No. 4 on Quality Education with its road safety awareness campaigns in the GCC and with its support to the education sector in South Sudan and Kenya, respectively.
Mr. Thawani presented compelling facts about the SDGs and inspiring stories of individual Leaders, Groups and Organizations who take a stand on social issues they care about and are making a positive difference across the world. He also shared details of UAE’s commitment to the SDGs and added that the ‘UAE is the worlds’ largest per capita donor contributing 1.31% of gross national index as Official Development Assistance’.
The UN Global Goals Workshop with the theme ‘Be Inspired. Get Involved. Take Action’, organized by Quality Indeed Consulting and held at the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel, Dubai focused on making UN Global Goals well-known to inspire individuals at the local level to adopt and champion the 17 SDGs.
Dr. Renu Sarah Thomas, an Art Psychotherapist and Educator, talked about Mental Health which is related to SDG No. 3 while Kaveh Houshmand Azad, a Performance Excellence leader, conducted a Webinar from California, USA, on Global Trends in Pursuit of Sustainable Quality Healthcare.
The event saw the participation of executives and CSR professionals from various private and public entities, including representatives from the UN Global Compact Local Network UAE. Mr. Thawani concluded with a call to take action and “Leave No One Behind” (website https://action4sd.org/leavenoonebehind/). He encouraged attendees to become “Goal Keepers” and register as Partners under SDG No. 17.
Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Airlines, elected to the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) Committee.
Turhan Ozen, serving as Chief Cargo Officer at the global brand Turkish Airlines, was elected to the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) Committee, the joint voice of the industry that aims to enhance the air cargo profile with intensive efforts towards the global standards.
Having a vast amount of knowledge about Balkan countries, the Middle East and Africa region, as well as the surrounding regions of Turkey, Mr. Ozen has been leading Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing global air cargo brand, flawlessly since 2016.
Leading the upswing trend of Turkish Cargo, which will have the capacity to handle 4 million tons of cargo on an annual basis at its new mega cargo facility equipped with the state-of-the-art technology at Istanbul Airport, Mr. Turhan Ozen said: “Effective leadership is required to handle the customers’ constantly diversifying demands accurately across the air cargo industry. I truly believe that my new membership duty of the TIACA committee will reinforce this leadership, and provide a positive contribution to development of the international air cargo industry.”
Sebastiaan Scholte, Chairman of TIACA and CEO of Jan de Rijk Logistics, said: “Following the stunning Istanbul Airport, Turkey has become a mega hub for air transportation between Europe and Asia. All steps taken and experiences gone through by Mr. Ozen for completion of this giant project will be invaluable for TIACA committee and its members.”
Equipped with an experience of nearly 20 years, Mr. Ozen continues to be an important impulse and driver for Turkish Cargo, which aims to be one of the top 5 global air cargo brands by 2023 and keeping its upswing trend, to achieve its targets.
Turkish Cargo awarded with the prestigious ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2019’ prize by the global logistics industry.
Maintaining its upward trend, Turkish Cargo was granted with the ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2019’ award, called as the Oscar of the global logistics industry, by the global air cargo sector readers of the Air Cargo News magazine. Air Cargo News awards, one of the greatest and most reliable ratings across the global air cargo market, were voted online by more than 20 thousand air cargo sector readers.
Bringing together professionals and more than 250 air cargo companies worldwide, the award ceremony was held at Runnymede Hotel in Egham, England; and Mr. Fatih CIGAL, Turkish Cargo’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, received the ‘Cargo Airline of the Year 2019’ award.
Presenting awards in 14 categories based on direct voting, corporate applications and editorial team’s recommendation, besides the prestigious award presented to Turkish Cargo, the ceremony ended with the gala dinner.
Aiming to be one of the top-5 global air cargo brands by 2023, and maintaining its upward trend; Turkish Cargo develops special and practical solutions for increasing logistics requests, and keeps improving regional trade, and thereby, supporting exporting companies.
To view flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Dammam airport achieves 8% growth in air traffic during the Q1 2019
Dammam Airports Company (DACO), successfully concluded its participation at this year’s edition of the Airport Show 2019, a leading global event in the field of building and equipping airports, which was held from April 29, 2019 to May 1, 2019 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. During their presence at the show, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman & CEO of the Emirates Group, DACO showed its key series of projects that are part of its continuing strategic expansion initiative.
Turki Abdullah Al Jawini, CEO, DACO, said, “we are pleased to witness the strong response that we have received from our participation at this year’s Airport Show, which brings together some of the world’s leading major companies in the aviation sector and relevant experts to exchange best practices and the latest innovations to support operational capacity building and operational efficiency for airports.”
He added, “Our presence at the event gave us the opportunity to present our diverse range of projects and achievements at King Fahd International Airport, which is currently taking key steps towards achieving our strategic goals. In fact, we have already welcomed 2,581,724 passengers during the first quarter of this year, while the total number of flights in the same period also reached 24,000 trips–showing a steady growth of eight per cent in the number of passengers as compared to 2018.”
“Having been able to present our projects demonstrates our commitment towards ensuring a seamless flow of passengers and aircraft, maintaining the security and safety of our operations and improving and enhancing the airport’s services to be ranked among one of the world’s best airports. Our presence at this event also reflects our ability to adopt emerging global trends and work in line with the strategy to further develop the airport’s operations via projects that are expected to extend until 2041. These initiatives include the development of runways and parking lots; the rehabilitation of the baggage handling system and other projects aimed at the comprehensive development of infrastructure and all facilities at the airport,” concluded Al Jawini.
In addition, DACO also presented some of its newer projects in the airport’s cargo village, which is currently being completed in time for the launching of the third phase of the village. One of the projects is the opening of Bonded Zone, which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, the fourth phase will include the Logistics Zone, the provision of various solutions for distribution and general storage. In retrospect, the first and second phase of DACO’s cargo village feature seven companies in Express Cargo and Air Cargo.
UPS’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT MAKES FIRST LANDING AT DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL (DWC)
Leveraging a network of assets and people, UPS flexes its global smart logistics network to maintain record service levels during DXB runway closure.
UPS announces a temporary new route for its largest aircraft – the Boeing 747-8F freighter that landed for the first time today in Dubai World Central airport (DWC). With the strategic investment of 28 new 747-8 jumbo jets, UPS offers sustainable lift on long-range international routes with a greater payload and a reduction of fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
UPS recognizes its excellent relationship with UAE and Dubai Airports along with the UAE’s position as a strategic international hub.
In anticipation of the 45-day long renovation of the southern runway at Dubai International (DXB), UPS has been hard at work to ensure a smooth contingency plan whilst maintaining excellent service levels. With the ongoing support of various airport partners and a focus on connecting flight to flight with great efficiency, the time in transit delivery announced to customers was successfully maintained and in some cases enhanced. As the official logistics partner of Expo 2020, UPS has the expertise and agility to turn challenges into opportunities.
Q1 2019 Net Profit increased by 4% to AED 108 million over Q1 2018
Q1 2019 Revenues increased by 4% to AED 1,234 million compared to Q1 2018
Cross-border International Express volumes increased by 22%, while margins declined by 2.2% in Q1 2019, compared to the corresponding quarter a year earlier
Integrated Logistics & Supply Chain Solutions Revenues surged by 23%
Aramex (DFM: ARMX), a leading global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, today announces its financial results for first quarter ended 31 March 2019.
Aramex’s Q1 2019 Revenues grew by 4% to AED 1,234 million, compared to AED 1,190 million in Q1 2018. Revenues would have grown by 8% excluding the impact from currency fluctuations, mainly in the Libyan Dinar, South African Rand and Australian Dollar; and the company’s strategic restructuring of its domestic operations in India.
Net Profit for the quarter rose by 4% to reach AED 108 million, compared to AED 103 million in Q1 2018. Net profit was negatively impacted by the amount of AED 10.6 million due to the implementation of IFRS16 and currency fluctuations. However, Aramex’s strategic restructuring of domestic operations in India delivered a positive contribution of AED 6.7 million to net income. Excluding those impacts, the bottom line would have grown by 8%.
Commenting on the results, Bashar Obeid, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: “We continue to benefit from the healthy growth in global e-commerce volumes; however, we have started witnessing pressure on International Express margins due to lower and more competitive pricing. Our key priorities for this year are to continue to invest in upgrading our service level across all our core markets, while progressing aggressively in executing our digital transformation roadmap. This will help us boost operational efficiencies to cater for rapidly changing e-commerce business requirements, including faster shipping and delivery solutions at lower costs.
Our Integrated Logistics and Supply Chain Management business had a great quarter, thanks to our efforts to mobilize assets and resources to capitalize on the increase in demand for those services, especially from regional retailers aiming to boost their online sales.”
Iyad Kamal, Chief Operating Officer at Aramex, added: “In Q1 2019, we continued to improve operating efficiencies and accelerated our digital transformation efforts in order to enhance service levels, especially in the last-mile delivery. These initiatives will help us win in the long-term, as we will be able to handle more capacity more efficiently and at a lower cost. Another trend that positively impacted our business this quarter was the entrance of major Middle East retailers into the online sales space as part of an omni-channel approach, which is why we are investing in servicing this promising market. We also launched our new, partially automated fulfilment center at Dubai Logistics City, which has improved our logistics and supply chain management solutions and offering.
Our operating expenses have increased by 8% in Q1 2019 following the expansion of our infrastructure in key markets like Saudi Arabia. Today, we have more than 150 pick-up points across Saudi Arabia with aggressive plans to further expand our presence, in an effort to make it as convenient as possible for customers to pick up their packages and ship with Aramex.”
Aramex’s cross-border International Express business grew by 7% to AED 533 million. This performance is mainly attributed to the continuous growth in cross-border e-commerce, which registered double-digit growth across most of Aramex’s markets, mainly Turkey, Asia and North America. Shipment volumes surged by 22% in Q1 2019, yet lower margins prevailed.
The Domestic Express business dropped by 3% to AED 257 million, due in large part to the strategic restructuring in India and fluctuations in foreign currency, mainly in the South African Rand and Australian Dollar. Excluding those factors, the business would have grown by 7%. The e-commerce Domestic Express business performed very well in GCC markets, and registered double-digit growth especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Freight Forwarding growth stabilized at 1% to AED 287 million, with Oil & Gas segment experiencing strong double-digit growth.
The Integrated Logistics & Supply Chain Solutions business experienced strong growth of 23% to AED 85 million, owed in large part to Aramex’s efforts to service the major regional retailers’ strong appetite to tap into omni-channel sales model, which led to strong demand for warehousing, sorting, and last mile delivery solutions.
Commenting on Aramex’s outlook for the remainder of 2019, Bashar Obeid said:
“We continue to maintain a positive outlook for the remainder of the year. However, the fast-changing landscape means that we will have to grow market share by being more competitive with our pricing, more efficient with our offerings and exceling at the quality of our service. We will carry on investing in automation and other technologies as part of our digital transformation roadmap to improve our operations and enhance the overall customer experience.”
“Despite lower margins, we remain confident about our Freight Forwarding business, driven by our internal restructuring efforts, the introduction of new dedicated teams and our aggressive push into new verticals. We are also optimistic about the opportunity to expand our logistics and supply chain solutions in the region,” concluded Obeid.
E-Comm experts convergence in Dubai: 60+ Speakers 250+ Delegates
The power packed two days conference themed ‘Shaping the Future of e-tail’ was held on 24-25 April 2019 with an impressive speaker panel from market leading organisations like SAP, Bosch, Godrej Storage Solutions, Be Code, Adapty, PTV Group, to name a few. With 60 speakers, 250 delegates, 8 Sponsors and 9 exhibitors the event was an ideal platform for learning from successful case studies, networking with industry peers, garnering feedback from existing and potential customers and most importantly transacting business.
The speaker panel put a spotlight on growth in the region by onboarding new customers, expansion of product offerings, optimised delivery standards, better retention and customer service standards. The sector despite a conducive policy framework, plenty of investments is facing growth challenges which can be attributed to its nascent stage.
DP World PLC handled 17.5 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the first quarter of 2019, with gross container volumes declining by 0.6% year-on-year on a reported basis.
Gross like-for-like volumes declined by 0.7% in 1Q2019 due to the higher year-on-year comparables (1Q2018 like-for-like volumes grew 8.4%), and softer volumes in the UAE and Australia.
The UAE handled 3.5 million TEU in 1Q2019, down -8.8% year-on-year, due to the challenging macroenvironment and loss of lower-margin cargo. Growth in Americas, Africa and Indian Subcontinent was robust with strong growth in Callao (Peru), Sokhna (Egypt) and Mumbai (India).
At a consolidated[1] level, our terminals handled 9.2 million TEU during the first quarter of 2019, a decline of 0.8% on a reported basis and down 3.0% year-on-year on a like-for-like[2] basis. Reported consolidated volume in the Americas and Australia region was boosted by the consolidation of Australia from March of 2019.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem commented:
“As previously flagged, we have seen softer volumes in 1Q2019 due to a strong prior year performance and general caution in some markets given the current uncertainty in the macro-environment. In the UAE, the volume weakness is mainly due to loss of low-margin throughput, where our focus remains on profitable cargo and, while we expect the recent trends to continue into the second quarter, we do expect an improvement in the second half of the year.
On our wider portfolio, we have made good progress in strengthening our product which offers a greater role in the global supply chain as a solutions provider. We continue to focus on delivering operational excellence, managing costs and disciplined investment to remain the trade partner of choice.“
The increasing Renault Trucks market share; with the reveal of new Renault Trucks ranges D,C, and K
Triangle Heavy Equipment, the sole distributor of world’s finest heavy equipment brands in Egypt, today officially announced its partnership with Renault Trucks in Triumph Hotel, New Cairo, by launching the latest range of models of heavy-duty trucks to meet the growing demands of the booming construction and infrastructure development projects across the country.
The 2019 launched models include D, C and K ranges; globally renowned for being sturdy and reliable, with low fuel consumption that result into delivering greater productivity and control operating costs. The trucks are equipped with the latest features, delivering a reliable experience to its users, including drivability, comfort and durability.
Speaking during the launch event, Amr Eltawil, Triangle Group CEO said: “Our partnership with Renault Trucks comes in line with the expansion of the transport network in Egypt and following up with the infrastructure development goals according to vision 2030. Such valuable partnership will result in more efficient heavy-duty transportation process, for an increasingly demanding and aggressive construction and development timeline for the country. Hence, ensuring our customers are equipped with robust, durable and fuel-efficient vehicles”.
Renault Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and industrial engines. Building on the legacy of more than a century of French truck know how, Renault Trucks supplies transport professionals with a wide range of services and vehicles adapted to local and regional distribution, construction and long-distance activities.
Gregoire Blaise, President of Renault Trucks Greater Middle East, commented: “Egypt has recently become a much more strategic market for Renault Trucks as part of the Greater Middle East region, and for this we’re very excited to choose a partner like Triangle Heavy Equipment who will see us through the next phase of our journey here. The products we reveal here today, particularly the C and K, are among our major investments that provide a large range of options and solutions for every application. The heavy duty capabilities of Renault Trucks are built to meet the needs of the fast-paced construction projects Egypt is witnessing today, and with the rising fuel costs, we’re proud to say that the D Range in particular, has proven to reduce fuel consumption by up to 7%.”
Earlier this month, Renault Trucks invited 10 Egyptian customers to its Xperience Days 2019, which took place in Bahrain bringing together an international audience of 450 participants from the truck industry in a unique experience. Starting with a test drive experience in its latest models in long-haul range, including the C series, as well as the construction range – the K series, followed by workshops about Renault Trucks’ transport solutions, addressing safety, fuel efficiency, after sales and financing services.
D Range Trucks (Distribution)
The little Brother, Gross Vehicle Weight from 13 to 18 tons, and power ratings 190 to 280 hp. Comes out of two engines “5L & 7L”. Only rigid trucks are available with 4×2 and 4×4 configurations. 6 speeds or 9 speeds gearboxes are available to match your application. C shape chassis frame (260 mm height) and wheel bases from 3.5 m to 6.8 m will for sure accommodate any size of refrigerated boxes, car carriers, etc. with its Cab width of 2.1 m; the D range will easily maneuver in the city as easy as passenger car and carry up to 13 Ton goods. High ground clearance but low cab access to enhance driver comfort.
C Range Trucks (Long Haul & Construction)
Tough on the Jobs but soft with the drivers. Gross Vehicle Weight starts from 18 to 100 tons, and driven by a range of three engines “7L, 11L & 13L” rated 280 to 500 horsepower coupled to the most advanced automated 12 speeds gearbox OPTI-DRIVER. Rigid & Tractor Head available with configurations (4×2, 6×2, 6×4, 8×4). C Shape frame (300 x 90 x 8 mm & different length reinforcements 277 x 80 x 5 mm) is carried on Mechanical Suspension or Air suspension. One of a kind Cab (2.3 m wide on light range & 2.5 m wide on heavy range) offers the most comfortable life on board. Robust front end is one of the iconic features; bumper with steel corners or full steel bumper. A standard safety measures such as Electric Parking Brake “EPB” activates automatically when the engine stops, Automatic activation of headlamps and windscreen wipers, Bend assist lights. You can support the safety on road when you add the Tire Pressure Monitoring System “TPMS”, and the Advanced Emergency Braking System “AEBS”.
K Range Trucks (Heavy Haulage, Heavy Construction& Mining)
Gross Vehicle Weight starts from 21 to 120 tons (160 Ton under certain conditions). Available engines “11L & 13L” rated 330 to 500 horsepower coupled to the most advanced automated 12 speeds (& additional 2 crawlers) gearbox OPTI-DRIVER (Opti-Driver Xtended). This gearbox has 2 software’s in one; On road (smooth shifting to maximize the fuel efficiency) and off-road mode (to utilize the maximum engine power by shifting gears in 1 by 1). Rigid & Tractor Head available with configurations (4×2, 4×4, 6×4, 6×6, 8×4 & 8×6, 8×8). 9 Ton front suspension with straight axle beam as standard and Xtreme rear suspension up to 38 Tons is available if required. Full steel front bumper allows up to 32 degrees front approach angle and maximize the ground clearance to 395 mm. A standard safety measures such as Electric Parking Brake “EPB” activates automatically when the engine stops, Automatic activation of headlamps and windscreen wipers, Bend assist lights. You can support the uptime and productivity on road when you add the Tire Pressure Monitoring System “TPMS”.
Who will claim the title of the UAE’s best all-round truck driver? This was the question being asked at the UAE final of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2019
The competition, which this year involved more challenges than ever before, attracted professional drivers from 55 companies. The overall winner of the competition was Mr. Tawhed Ali from Trojan based in Abu Dhabi, UAE
The third annual edition of the competition focused on three key areas; Safety, fuel efficiency, and productivity. The aim of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is to draw attention to the important work done by truck drivers. It is also a way of attracting more trucks drivers in the constantly growing industries of transportation, constructions and logistics.
Commenting on the event, Mr. Vladimir Knezevic, Managing Director at Famco UAE, said; “The Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2019 in the UAE brings together all the different challenges that truck drivers face every day. Their skills are often the critical factor in the safety, fuel efficiency and productivity of our customers. Truck drivers also make a major contribution to road safety. The UAE Final gave us the opportunity to see incredibly skilful drivers doing an impressive job of handling their trucks.”
Mr. Fredrik Samuelson, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Middle East, said; “The team at Volvo Trucks together with our valued partner, Famco, are once again very happy to host the 2019 Driver Challenge. Every year customers and drivers participate in our event and see how we learn from each other. It’s important that we understand how we can get most out from Volvo Trucks; our transport solution simply will not work without the valuable insights we get from professional drivers around productivity and fuel efficiency that truck owners in UAE value so highly today.
Speaking about his victory, Mr. Tawhid Ali from Trojan, said “Winning the UAE 2019 Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is a big achievement for us! The final was tough and we were up against many experienced drivers. We are impressed that Famco stages this motivational event which attracts so many drivers from all over the emirates,”
The UAE Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge Facts
The competition has been held every year since 2017
The prequalification rounds were organised at Famco DIP 2, Dubai, UAE on April 15th and 16th 2019
This year’s competition involved more than 55 drivers out of which 12 qualified to take part in the UAE final
The competition aims to put the driver in focus and reinforce the importance of skilled and competent drivers
The focus areas of the competition are safety, fuel efficiency and productivity
Road safety experts urge all drivers to change their behaviors at the Tristar seminar in Riyadh
All the speakers at the Tristar Road Safety Seminar held on April 17 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reiterated that 95% of all road accidents are preventable because they are caused by human errors.
The first speaker, Robert Burgon, Executive Head of Training at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents or RoSPA, explained that drivers can avoid accidents by being focused while driving so that they don’t get distracted and make the right judgements specially at junctions and intersections.
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne said that to reduce road accidents and fatalities drivers should change bad habits like speeding, talking on the mobile phone and not following rules. He added that Tristar will continue to spread road safety awareness in the Kingdom. Tristar has been promoting road safety awareness in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for several years in collaboration with the Center for Responsible Business of Dubai Chamber and the Traffic Department of the Roads and Transport Authority.
“I would like to thank Tristar for organizing this seminar, and creating this opportunity to share the knowledge and learn about road safety and for giving us the platform to connect and build the relations with the different organizations,” expressed Miasem Bajowaiber, the only woman speaker at the event held at the Hyatt Regency in Riyadh.
Ms. Bajowaiber is a civil engineer with the National Road Safety Center – KSA who has been provided the proper training by experts in road safety and has attended road safety auditing workshops organized by the World Bank.
“Cars are a dangerous machines. It is important to understand the risks associated with cars so paying attention to the rules and following them is essential for avoiding road accidents,” she explained. “With having a background in civil engineering in the road safety field, it is helping me getting involved with the road infrastructure and design guidelines in order to design and regulate safer roads for our transport system.”
Tristar is a fully integrated liquid logistics company specializing in petroleum and chemical handling and distribution. The company has an operating presence in 20 countries and territories in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas
UAE-based oil and gas logistics leader Tristar Group has signed firm contracts for six new build 25,000 MT DWT, IMO Type 2 Oil and Chemical Tankers with South Korea’s premier shipbuilder, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The vessels will be delivered between the middle of May 2020 till the first week of January 2021.
The vessels have been ordered on the back of long-term charter contracts with oil major Shell. This follows Tristar’s acquisition of six new build, 50,000 MT DWT, MR Tankers from the same yard in 2016, also with long term charters with Shell.
“Our business model will continue to be built around the needs of customers and we are confident that if we continue to offer best in class services at competitive pricing there will be immense opportunity to leverage the brand equity that we have built over the years,” explained Mr. Eugene Mayne, the founder and the Group CEO of the Tristar Group.
The vessels will be built to the latest specifications with an improved hull form design. They will meet all the latest regulations and are fitted with Tier 3 Engines to reduce emissions to comply with Tier 3 NOX requirements. The ships are expected to be on the water starting from May 2020.
Established in 1998 with headquarters in Dubai, UAE, Tristar is a fully integrated liquid logistics company specializing in petroleum and chemical handling and distribution. Its shipping business has seen rapid growth over the last couple of years and with the latest addition the company shipping fleet will grow to 23 ocean going vessels and eight coastal tankers.
Tristar has an operating presence in 20 countries and territories in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas, with about 2,000 people of diverse nationalities, cultures and religious beliefs.
New Quester designed to extend uptime and provide MEENA fleet customers with a higher return on investment.
UD Trucks unveiled the New Quester in the Middle East, East and North Africa (MEENA). This new version of the brand’s well-established heavy-duty truck introduces a range of enhancements that will enable logistics companies across the region to tackle critical industry challenges and boost their bottom line through Smart Logistics.
Fuel efficiency, productivity, connectivity, and supporting and developing drivers are top priorities for fleets and transport companies in the MEENA region and New Quester will address these challenges with new features such as ESCOT (Easy Safe Controlled Transmission) and UD Telematics.
To be introduced in fast-growing regions around the world, the launch of New Quester highlights UD Trucks’ unwavering commitment to “Going the Extra Mile” for customers’ businesses.
Building on proven robustness and reliability, New Quester introduces key features such as ESCOT automated manual transmission, engines with higher horsepower and user-friendly telematics to deliver greater fuel efficiency, productivity, driver efficiency, safety and uptime.
Mourad Hedna, President of UD Trucks MEENA, said: “The truck industry in the region is changing rapidly and customers are increasingly conscious of the total cost of ownership. With New Quester we have the ideal product to address these needs. Moreover, New Quester combines the best of three worlds: UD Trucks’ strong Japanese heritage and craftsmanship; Volvo Group’s innovative technology; and our strong local support for our valued customers, which we call our Gemba spirit.
“We are humbled by the tremendous confidence and recognition that the Quester line has earned. With New Quester, we are looking forward to carrying on this legacy of being the truck brand that our customers want to partner with.”
Ensuring increased fuel efficiency for businesses to better manage fuel costs and mitigate oil price volatility
New Quester aims to boost productivity and profitability for business owners and logistics companies, for whom a rise in fuel costs consequently increases operating costs. New Quester delivers enhanced fuel efficiency of up to 10 percent over the current Quester. This is aided by the ESCOT automated manual transmission, lighter tare weight and optimized driveline, and is also affected by the operating conditions, driving behavior and vehicle maintenance.
ESCOT includes software which optimizes gear shifting according to the engine revs, vehicle speed, loading weight and even road gradient. The smart system also includes a sensor that will select the optimum gear automatically instead of assuming a first gear selection.
New Quester’s enhanced fuel performance also aligns with the increasing global focus on curbing fuel consumption and meeting environmentally-friendly regulations in relation to emissions quality standards, all of which effectively reduces the new model’s overall carbon footprint.
Introducing a more attractive and comfortable working environment, to support transport companies with developing their pool of drivers
New Quester introduces more driver-friendly features to make the driving experience more seamless and comfortable.
A game changer in the transportation business, New Quester with ESCOT automatically selects the optimal gear at the right time based on the operating condition. This takes away the need for manual gear shifting which, depending on the transportation operations, happens 1,000 to 1,500 times a day. ESCOT’s automated gear selection also enables drivers to easily adapt to operating New Quester and better focus on driving with ease.
In addition to making driving simple, New Quester also aims to help businesses expand the pool of driving talent with an easy-to-operate gear lever that uses a straight shifting pattern. In certain target markets, for example, the number of female Quester drivers is increasing due to its drivability. New Quester opens the doors for companies to attract even more prospects to pursue truck driving as a career and diversify the pool of talent for this role.
New Quester increases overall drivability and safety for drivers with features that focus on increasing drivers’ comfort levels and reducing driver fatigue.
Driver fatigue continues to be a serious industry challenge, contributing to up to 20 percent of road accidents in the world. To address this, New Quester is developed with an air suspended cab and ride comfort package which reduces cab vibrations by up to 18 percent. Driver comfort is also enhanced by the ergonomic seats and lumbar support for long-distance assignments.
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Operational efficiency, safe navigation, and maritime safety are priorities in Dubai maritime sector
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) revealed a significant improvement across maritime traffic inspections conducted in Dubai waters in 2018, resulting in an increased of marine, coastal, commercial, tourism, sports and leisure related activities. The positive performance also demonstrates the authority’s continuing commitment to enhance and improve maritime regulatory and operational procedures for berths, including the practice of maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency along local coastlines.
Maritime inspections procedures are seen as important drivers that ensure full compliance and adherence to local and international standards as well as helping in the move to boost Dubai’s efforts to increase the global competitiveness of its maritime clusters. This is in line with the emirate’s efforts to attract regional and international investors, build a sustainable maritime environment, and solidify its status as an influential global maritime player.
Abdullah Bin Touq, Director of Maritime Inspection, DMCA, said: “The rising maritime traffic in Dubai is the result of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to improve all aspects of the maritime sector in partnership with the public and private sectors. We aim to make the maritime sector a key pillar of the emirate’s sustainable growth and economic diversification. It is also worth pointing out that the increasing maritime activities of all kinds in the local waters reflect the sector’s status as one of the most competitive and attractive in the world.”
Bin Touq added: “The growing maritime traffic is also a compelling evidence of the remarkable development of maritime operations in Dubai. The improvements are part of our endeavors to implement the objectives of the Maritime Sector Strategy, which aims to build a safe, integrated and sustainable maritime clusters. Undoubtedly, our progress has led to increased economic contribution of the local maritime community. We are continuing our efforts in cooperation and coordination with our strategic partners from both the public and private sectors as we all work together to promote safe navigation and achieve operational efficiency within our territorial waters. Ultimately, our aim is to establish Dubai’s leadership on the global maritime map.”
Turkish Airlines’ successful air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo managed to increase its cargo tonnage by 9.6 percent in February despite the shrinking in the global air cargo sector. The air freight company steadily continues towards its goal of becoming one of the top five of the world’s air cargo brands.
Continuing its growth during the 2019 which also had the world’s biggest moving operation, Turkish Cargo managed to rise to the 7th spot in the WACD (World Air Cargo Data) with 9.6 percent increase in its tonnage despite the 5.8 shrinkage in the air cargo market along with 5.7 percent fall in the demand according to IATA (International Air Transport Association) reports during January and February.
Successful air cargo brand increased its market share in the sold tonnage by 0.6 points in the first two months of the year compared to last year and reached a growth of 4.3 percent while increasing its cumulative market share by 0.4 points to 4.1 percent and achieved a sustainable growth.
On this successful performance of Turkish Cargo, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı stated the following; “We are happy about the continuous rise of Turkish Cargo in the global air cargo market. We can’t say that the success we achieved during the first two months of 2019 was a surprise. We continuously experience these exciting achievements especially in recent years. For instance, in the last two years, we rose from 12th place to 7th place after surpassing five big global air cargo brands from Europe and Far East. Especially considering that the shrinkage in the demand for the market causes gloom in the sector with disappointing numbers, this success brightens the future of Turkish Cargo even more. With our determination and growth strategy in the air cargo market, Turkish Cargo will be one of the top five air cargo brands in the world. I express my thanks to all my colleagues who contributed to this success.”
With the moving operation to Istanbul Airport, the world’s biggest airport project, Turkish Cargo will continue its operations with Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport as “Dual Hub”. After the completion of Istanbul Airport’s all phases, Turkish Cargo will have the capacity of handling 4 million tonnage of cargo in a year thanks to its cargo terminal with 300 thousand m² indoor space.
Reaching 307 destinations in 124 countries with belly capacity of Turkish Airlines and additionally operating dedicated cargo flights to 86 destinations with its fleet of cargo planes, Turkish Cargo continues to increase its service quality everyday with its current infrastructure and investments.
As one of the world’s fastest growing air cargo brands thanks to the new destinations added to its flight network, Turkish Cargo continues to increase its success bar every day by combining its varied service range and operational capabilities with Turkey’s unique geographical advantages.
Company’s new facility located in e-commerce hub EZDubai
International courier, parcel and express mail company DHL Express has revealed that it will soon be expanding their UAE operations to its latest facility located in the state-of-the-art EZDubai, the new addition to Dubai South’s Logistics District. The expansion will allow DHL Express to serve its existing and new customers who will be based in the newly formed free zone as well as those located outside EZDubai and Dubai South.
This latest development is aligned with DHL Express’ efforts to build facilities with easy access to major ports and airports for faster delivery of its services. Expanding their operations also demonstrates the company’s commitment to support the development plans of its customers in the GCC region and beyond.
Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Dubai South’s Logistics District, said: “DHL Express remains globally competitive because of its constant efforts to boost it capabilities. We welcome the company’s decision to expand their operations to EZDubai in keeping with its goal of continuous improvement. The move also reflects its confidence and trust in the state-of-the-art e-commerce hub’s ability to support its business expansion in the region. With its modern infrastructure and key regulatory framework, it boasts a suitable business environment capable of backing the company’s operations and further increasing its profitability and productivity prospects. We are delighted to be the company’s new home in the country.”
The new 3,200-sqm two-story facility will handle rising B2C exports in Dubai South, with 13 pick-up and delivery (PUD) routes to be relocated to EZDubai. It will also follow the standard material handling system layout, with conveyable automated throughput of 3,000pph. Additionally, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA)-approved facility meets the global service engineering framework (SEF) standards, including its air-conditioning and exhaust extraction systems. It also boasts improved stem time, resulting in earlier deliveries of goods and products.
Highlighting the significance of expanding operations to EZDubai, Geoff Walsh, UAE Country Manager for DHL Express, commented: “The Middle East logistics and e-commerce market is rapidly growing, primarily driven by the UAE, which is why we are expanding our operations to EZDubai. It aims to attract e-commerce industries, with the right regulatory framework, latest infrastructure and cost-effective warehousing capabilities. With operations at EZDubai, we will be able to connect sellers and consumers around the world with even greater speed and efficiency.”
The 920,000 square-meter purpose-built e-commerce zone EZDubai, which was the recently launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, offers a range of logistics facilities and business solutions to multinationals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Once fully completed and developed, the AED 2.1-billion project hub will offer six dedicated areas that will help bolster Dubai’s position as a strategic hub for e-commerce.
The UPS Foundation is coordinating with United Nations partners to speed food and supplies to impacted communities in Mozambique and Malawi.
Dubai-based UPS Freight Forwarding team facilitates flights to deliver urgent supplies to devastated areas
UPS today announced relief efforts are underway to bring critical supplies and food to victims of the recent cyclone that slammed into East Africa. Collaborations between The UPS Foundation and leading humanitarian relief organizations are bringing urgent relief by land, sea and air.
“We express our deepest sympathy to those who have been affected by the tragic turn of events that have recently taken place,” said Rami Suleiman, UPS president for Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA). “With UPS’s regional headquarters based in Dubai, a world humanitarian hub, we have the opportunity to leverage public-private partnerships to support the communities we serve by delivering aid during humanitarian crises. Our regional freight forwarding team has been coordinating flights from Dubai to deliver crucial supplies to help those who have been impacted.”
The number of people impacted by Cyclone Idai has climbed to more than 3 million people, with 500 people reported dead, a number that’s been projected to increase. As flood waters slowly recede, UPS and The UPS Foundation continue to engage in close collaborations with the UN Logistics Cluster and relief organizations including The World Food Programme, UNICEF, UNHCR, CARE and MedShare.
“The situation is heart-wrenching, and the need for help is urgent,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and UPS chief diversity and inclusion officer. “The collaboration with our United Nations and disaster relief network partners is allowing us to address immediate needs for food and shelter, and to bring supplies that will be critical during the recovery period.”
The multi-modal relief strategy includes:
Coordination with United Nations partners on four flights landing on the east coast of Africa to bring food and supplies.
Two flight rotations from Nairobi, Kenya into Beira, Mozambique on behalf of UNICEF to bring ready-to-eat meals that will provide essential nutrition to more than 7,000 people.
Collaboration with The World Food Programme on the airlift of two amphibious transport vehicles called “SHERPs” from the Ukraine to Beira, Mozambique, to deliver food and supplies to isolated communities where roads are impassible or no longer exist.
Coordination with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to transport from Dubai, UAE more than 190,000 lbs. of core relief items, including tarps, buckets, solar lamps, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, food preparation equipment and blankets, to Lilongua, Malawi.
Transport of 168,000 water purification sachets from Dubai to Lilongwe, in addition to the activation of $25,000 of the advanced relief funding provided to CARE by The UPS Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase tarps and blankets which are being transported to Beira via ocean transport.
In collaboration with MedShare, UPS is preparing to transport an ocean container of medical supplies that will help more than 12,000 people in Malawi.
In collaboration with the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), UPS has also transported 15 pallets of cholera and typhoid treatment kits which will help prevent the outbreak of water-borne illnesses in Mozambique, an increasing threat as waters recede.
The relief efforts and collaborations in Africa are just the latest in UPS’s history of supporting communities in times of need. In 2018, UPS and The UPS Foundation responded to 29 major world disasters and invested $16 million in funding, in-kind, and technical support for community safety initiatives that included disaster preparedness and urgent response, recovery and public health system strengthening. Relief spanned 71 countries across continents around the globe.
Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne (center) was invited to participate in a panel discussion at the Future Blockchain Summit held recently at Dubai World Trade Centre. Mr Mayne discussed Tristar’s digital strategy and pioneering work with Blockchain in the region and how Tristar is leveraging the technology to provide a world class service to its customers.
Tristar has been recognized for being the first logistics company in the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) to have a fully live Blockchain platform, which provides customers with full real-time oversight on end-to-end warehousing and transportation processes.
Blockchain technology is being leveraged at Tristar for business relationships as a single point of access for all documents/records, and the managing of trusted data with little or no use of paper.
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Turkish Cargo, the accomplished air cargo brand, ranked first at “Cargo Airline of The Year Group B’’ level with the highest score in the air cargo transportation evaluation criteria at the ‘’The 3rd ICN Awards” ceremony held on March 21 by the Incheon Airport, one of the most important airports of the world.
Turkish Cargo kept raising the achievement bar with this award thanks to its timely performance, transit shipment rate, security training records, special cargo rate, rate of increase in employment and 15 thousand-ton capacity achieved in 2018, besides its sales volume at the award ceremony attended by the airlines, handling agents and airport service providers operating across the South Korea, as well as many other guests.
With our export operations of 15 thousand tons and import operations of 10 thousand tons, South Korea is the country where we achieve the highest tonnage and revenue level across the Asia – Far East region following China and Hong Kong.
Providing air cargo services to 37 destinations in 22 countries across the Asia – Far East region with a critical position in terms of import and export operations, the accomplished air cargo brand Turkish Cargo plays a crucial role of connecting the region with the other parts of the world.
Becoming the fastest growing air cargo brand thanks to its accomplished performance in the global air cargo industry, Turkish Cargo develops exclusive and practical solutions for the ever-increasing logistics demands, improves the regional trade operations, and provides support to the importers with a focus on its initiatives taken for the goals set for 2023.
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Middle East’s primary manufacturer of prefabricated steel structures produces up to eight different Cold Rolled Steel profiles in its plants in the region
Growing demand for speed, quality and cost-effective construction is paving the way for growth in pre-engineered buildings (PEB) system in the Middle East amid booming infrastructure development. To further address this need, Technical Supplies & Services Company (TSSC), a leading manufacturer of advanced building materials and systems in the region and a primary member of Harwal Group, has invested in a first-of-its-kind automated production of Cold Rolled Steel (CRS) as part of its PEB offerings in regional markets.
TSSC is the first and only company in the Gulf region producing up to 100 tonnes of CRS profiles per day and offers eight different profiles in light steel frames, which are used in the construction of different types of buildings. CRS is an innovative building material that is 30 per cent lighter than hot rolled steels and 20 per cent lighter than built-up structures, making it a cost-effective choice for industrial buildings such as warehouses, labor camps, workshops, factories, and showrooms. It is also suitable in the construction of transport facilities including aircraft hangars, metro stations, bridges, and in agriculture for the building of sheds, breeding farms and storage houses.
Arcangelo DellaPenna, CEO, TSSC, said: “TSSC continues to set the benchmarks in the construction sector, following its unique business model based on the principles of innovation, excellence and sustainability. With our state-of-the-art superior line cold roll forming machine, we can minimize human errors. Our profiles are 100 per cent pre-fabricated in the factory and there is no need for onsite welding, thereby saving on labor cost.”
The innovative steel product is one of the components being offered within TSSC’s Advanced Building Systems, a turnkey solution for the construction industry. It offers developers and builders the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of sourcing their building materials supplies and services under a single platform and fast-track their construction process.
Orhan Sevket Avar, Projects Manager, TSSC, noted: “TSSC works hard to innovate and introduce new construction practices in the region and reshape the course of the industry. We are confident that making CRS locally-produced in the region is a significant step towards enhancing the quality of building materials in the region. It also contributes to lowering the cost of construction and further advancing the growth of pre-engineering building systems in the region.”
CRS’ frame structures are easy and simple to use, offering flexibility in the design depending on the required applications. It is also faster to produce and easy to assemble using nuts and bolts. The use of cutting-edge software ensures that the steel quality passes structural integrity standard.
With continued economic development and infrastructure investments in the Gulf region, TSSC is poised to take the regional construction market to new levels of growth.
Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand, will perform its cargo transportation operations via passenger flights at the temporary satellite facility, which is completely satisfactory in terms of infrastructure at Istanbul Airport, as of April 6, 2019 at the same level of quality and care as previously.
The operations, performed via freighter flights, will continue to be performed from the existing cargo terminal at Ataturk Airport until construction of the Mega Cargo Facility is completed at Istanbul Airport.
Getting ready to maintain its operations from Ataturk and Istanbul airports as “Dual Hub”, Turkish Cargo will have a capacity to handle 4 million tons of cargo annually in our modern cargo terminal that will have an indoor area of 300 thousand square meters when all phases of Istanbul Airport will have been completed.
With its investments and ever-developing fleet, Turkish Cargo takes concrete steps towards its targets set on the way to become one of the top-five brands of the air cargo industry.
Europe-GCC transport periods substantially reduced
A new, far-reaching initiative by LogiPoint has hit the ground running and is already having a strong impact on delivery times on GCC bound shipments originating from Europe.
A long and well-established provider of logistics services, Saudi Arabia-based LogiPoint has an impressive track record spanning two decades of proven capabilities in the Kingdom.
“The company’s signature CBG (Cross Border Gulf) Service commenced a bold pilot project to reduce lead time for our customers and minimise uncertainties and delays due to limited carrier options for their shipments from Europe to the upper Northern Gulf,” affirmed Farooq Shaikh, CEO, LogiPoint.
The average transit time by sea from major European ports to the GCC is between 25 to 30 days with multiple trans-shipments. Given the high volumes involved, airfreight is not a cost effective option, and the journey is not long enough to warrant sea-air combination as an alternative.
Key Saudi Port
Jeddah Islamic Port is Saudi Arabia’s busiest maritime hub owing to its strategic location on the Red Sea coast, at the centre of the Europe-Middle East- Asia international shipping routes. It is estimated that over 30% of the world’s container volume passes through the Red Sea Basin annually.
“With the support from Jeddah Islamic Port and Saudi Customs Authority, and working closely with clients and their suppliers, the LogiPoint CBG team was able to craft an effective multimodal solution that made this land-bridge an operational reality,” asserted Shaikh.
Link Corridor
The aim is to establish a bonded corridor linking the Red Sea ports in the West of the Kingdom and the Arabian Gulf in the East.
It is being publicised as the project of the future, a turning point in the Kingdom’s logistics and supply chain network that would transform the East-West trade corridors in both directions. The LogiPoint pilot has now proven to be an effective and sustainable solution for Middle East companies.
“The transit time for sea consignments from major European ports to Jeddah is between 12 to16 days. The trucking time from Jeddah to GCC nations is a mere 2 to 3 days. LogiPoint CBG has thus managed to reduce the lead-time by almost 10 days and at the same time increased the carrier choice for the client since most carriers offer direct sailing from all major ports to Jeddah Islamic Port,” observed Shaikh.
The GCC-bound cross-border solution
Since its introduction, LogiPoint CBG has already caused waves in the UAE-KSA logistics trade when it provided an alternative to time-consuming and cumbersome border clearance at the ever-busy and heavily congested Sila-Batha border with the UAE.
“Instead of enduring the long queues of laden trucks at the border and trying to resolve the inspection and customs clearance challenges more than a thousand miles away, clients now have the option to process their customs clearance at the LogiPoint Bonded and Re-Export Zone,” explained Shaikh.
“On that all-important, Jebel Ali-Jeddah corridor, this translates to a valuable 24 hour reduction in the transit time with an added advantage of expedited and much streamlined clearance process, which also minimises cargo damage in handling and pilferage,” he continued.
LogiPoint operates the largest Bonded and Re-Export Zone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a sprawling one million square meters area located within Jeddah Islamic Port.
LogiPoint have been pioneering innovative logistics solutions in the Kingdom for almost 20 years, and have played an important role in transforming the logistics experience in the Kingdom. Indeed, over the years, they have grown from being a service provider in the logistics industry to an enabler of the industry.
Multiple benefits
Traditionally, clients have enjoyed such facilities as duty deferment, duty-free storage in open yards or LogiPoint warehouses, and convenient re-export from the Bonded Zone.
Clients can import their goods into the Kingdom saving on major handling and freight charges, with LogiPoint providing value added services including re-labeling, bundling, and re-packaging prior to custom inspection process thereby offering a streamlined and hassle-free cargo inspection and customs clearance.
According to Shaikh, LogiPoint also offers distribution and delivery to all parts of the Kingdom.
LogiPoint is a subsidiary of Saudi Industrial Services Company (SISCO), a Saudi Joint Stock company listed on the Saudi Tadawul (Stock Exchange), and was previously known as Tusdeer before it was rebranded in 2017 as LogiPoint.
With the thunder and lightning and rain last evening, nothing kept The 12th Networking Mixer from taking place. Held at the cosy Jumeirah Island club JLT, the event saw industry stalwarts co together for a unwind of business and regional issues.
The 12th Networking Mixer aims to provide the supply chain industry with information that assists in meeting and overcoming challenges and making the most of supply chain opportunities. The event covers all aspects of the industry from transport (air, sea, road, rail), technology, warehousing, materials handling, reverse logistics, sustainability and more.
From the Main Sponsor – Innova Supply Chain develop processes for exceptions within the usual process, otherwise known as Supply Chain Event Management (SCEM). This is to ensure that a breakdown in the supply chain in one area can be compensated, or bypassed, by an exception process in order that the whole, or part of, the supply chain does not come to a standstill and is still able to function.
Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand of Turkish Airlines that provides service to 124 countries, carried 186 historical artifacts, owned by Dolmabahçe and Topkapı Palaces, to Tokyo, the capital of Japan, as the sponsor carrier, in order to be displayed at the exhibition titled as “The Ottoman Empire and Tulip Culture“ held as part of the events organized for 2019 which was declared as the “Year of Turkish Culture” across Japan.
Before the carriage operation through Istanbul – Narita route, the artifacts in Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces were packaged with protective materials that shielded their texture and structure before they were put into 56 high-security wooden cases. Using a wide-body B777F type air freighter belonging to Turkish Cargo, the flight carried no other cargo due to the significant nature of the operation.
Acting with the utmost care for its carriage operations involving historical artifacts, Turkish Cargo conducted this operation with its expert teams again. With this successful operation, the artifacts that have been preserved meticulously for long years in Topkapı Palace such as “Bed of Suleiman the Magnificent”, “Kaftan of Sultan Osman II”, “Ceremonial Flask” along with the artifacts in Dolmabahçe Palace such as “Yusen Shippo Vase”, “Wooden Writing Table”, and “Bamboo Mirror” which were gifted to Sultan Abdulhamid II, by Emperor Meiji of Japan, have been all delivered to Japan.
These 186 artifacts, which weigh around 8 tons and carry great significance for the Turkish culture and history, will be displayed at the National Art Center, Tokyo, between March 20 – May 20, and at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, between June 14 – July 28.
Bringing the missing pieces of the ‘Gypsy Girl Mosaic’ back to its home, carrying more than 50 masterpieces, displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, to Tehran, as well as the ‘The Tomb of Heracles’, dating back to the Roman era, to Istanbul from Geneva, Turkish Cargo, the dynamic brand of the air cargo industry, proved once again how reliable it is in carriage of art works requiring utmost care. In addition to the extensive flight network of Turkish Airlines that reaches to 306 destinations, Turkish Cargo maintains its successful operations by operating dedicated direct cargo flights to 85 destinations.
Turkish Cargo provides service to its global clients across 124 countries with its three vulnerable cargo rooms and certificated staff members in carriage operations for art works requiring utmost care. Turkish Cargo keeps all movements of its vulnerable and valuable cargo under supervision by means of the cameras installed in and around its storage facilities.
DMCA underscores role of maritime insurance segment in move to increase competitiveness and attractiveness of Dubai’s maritime sector
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has emphasized a new Dubai’s pioneering experience in maritime insurance as it shed light on some of the major local insurance services designed to ensure safe navigation, support maritime operational efficiency and security, and help transform the emirate into one of the best maritime capitals in the world.
Hamed Hassan, Director for Registration and Licensing, DMCA said, “A comprehensive insurance coverage is one of the major pillars of the growth and sustainability of a maritime sector. We are keen towards adopting an integrated portfolio of insurance services that have been developed to meet the needs of the maritime sector, investors, owners and operators of international ships—ensuring their protection and coverage in case of an accident or an emergency situation.”
Hassan added, “We are very interested in marine insurance services, especially that it represents a strong boost to our efforts to enhance the competitiveness and sophistication of the local maritime cluster on a global level and serves the national direction towards economic diversification. We look forward towards attracting more marine investments and taking advantage of the benefits that Dubai offers as the emirate is recognized as one of the world’s most attractive marine destinations. The move is in line with Dubai Plan 2021 and its plan to transform the emirate into a major hub for the global economy.”
As an example, several local insurance companies provide a range of comprehensive and high-valued services for private and commercial pleasure crafts. These services range from Marine Hull Yacht Insurance to Third Party Legal Liability Insurance, that also cover both crew and passengers.
The DMCA has been at the forefront of promoting excellence and quality across key maritime indicators, including maritime insurance, that form part of a robust, inclusive, attractive and sustainable maritime environment, the ongoing efforts of the Maritime Authority contribute to enhancing the contribution of the maritime sector to the GDP of the Emirate of Dubai.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has appointed Per Hojland to the position of Executive Director, Cargo Operations Worldwide.
Per, a Danish national, took up his new position in Jeddah in March. He joins Saudia Cargo after having spent the past 25 years in various roles in the air cargo- and logistics industry, having worked for companies such as SAS and Spirit Air Cargo Handling, as well as logistic companies outside the aviation sector.
In his new role, Per will be responsible for the management of all Saudia Cargo’s International operations including overseeing the standards and services world-wide.
“Per has vast experience in the air cargo industry and within logistics and this will make him a great addition to our team. We look forward to him making a valuable contribution to our business and customer services,” said Teddy Zebitz, Chief Air Cargo Officer, Saudia Cargo.
“I am proud to be joining Saudia Cargo with its strong vision for the future and I look forward to be a part of the Saudia Cargo team and contributing to its continued success,” said Per.
Saudia Cargo has an extensive global network spanning four continents, 225 international destinations, and 26 domestic destinations, it operates a modern dedicated freighter fleet and offers an ample capacity on Saudia passenger fleet with a wide range of products, it renders a high level of service whilst continuing to deliver cost-effective solutions.
With the participation of many international Airlines, aviation companies & governmental firms, Saudi Airlines Cargo Company participated under the umbrella of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) alongside the other subsidiaries in the first Saudi International Airshow, taking place in Al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh, during the period March 12-14, 2019.
The booth of Saudia included a special pavilion for Saudia Cargo showcasing its newest products & services in the Air Cargo & Ground Handling industries demonstrating its state-of-the-art logistical capabilities, & achievements.
The Saudi International Airshow is the first Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition of its kind in Saudi Arabia, With the participation of many global exhibitors varied from different international companies specialized in aviation, spare parts, Airports, military jets & various service providers.
Mr. Omar Hariri, Chief Executive Officer of Saudia Cargo underscored that the company’s presence in the Airshow comes to endorse this important event in the scale of aviation & logistics industries, moreover, the company’s participation came as part of its pivotal role in achieving Saudi vision 2030 which aims to make the Kingdom a global leading logistics hub.
Saudia Cargo has an extensive global network spanning four continents, 225 international destinations, and 26 domestic destinations, it operates a modern dedicated freighter fleet and offers an ample capacity on Saudia passenger fleet with a wide range of products, it renders a high level of service whilst continuing to deliver cost-effective solutions.
As part of its efforts to increase engagement with startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) amid rising trends on the ‘gig economy’ worldwide, Dubai South, Dubai’s integrated city and flagship urban project, continues to build new initiatives that support businesses in Dubai to maintain its global attraction as a magnet for foreign investors. The emirate is strategically positioned in key sectors surrounding innovation and digital technology such as e-commerce, AI, blockchain and fintech, following 26 per cent increase of foreign direct investments (FDI) during the first half of 2018, reaching AED 17.7 billion.
Dubai South’s ongoing initiatives are further boosting the business activities of its partners which include startups, SMEs and multinational companies, and most recently, individual professionals in specialized professional sectors. Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), which is the licensing and regulatory body for Dubai South free zones, have announced that freelancers can now avail the opportunity to work under a freelancer work permit, in line with global trends of a growing number of professionals are seeking for work options that have flexible working hours and work-from-home agreements.
This new development reflects Dubai South and DACC’s commitment to help position the emirate as the most innovative business hub attuned to the modern needs of both companies and the workforce in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Shoaib Al Rahimi, Vice-President of the Business Park, Dubai South, said: “Dubai South’s commitment to create a viable business environment for SMEs and multinationals alike continues to be reflected in various initiatives. Considering the ever-evolving business landscape, policies and strategies from 10 years ago had to undergo huge transformation to adapt to current trends and meet the needs of businesses. We are keen to be on top of leading efforts that meet the needs of today’s SMEs, startups as well as individual professionals seeking independence through a range of customized solutions that will further hep them grow their business.”
The new scheme is expected to widen the scope of income sources for professionals in Dubai and the UAE and take advantage of the business opportunities within Dubai South. Among other initiatives, the Business Park continues to boost the role of multinational companies (MNCs) and connect them with SMEs at Dubai South Business Park through various engagement sessions, including periodic workshops. The Business Park is home to some of the leading international business organizations such as the Japan Trade Center, Chinese Business Hub, and Queensland Australia.
Business entities also enjoy a range of incentives such as rent reduction from 5 per cent up to 25 per cent for existing and new tenants in line with customer loyalty program, leading to 85 per cent tenants’ retention. It also allotted 10 per cent of its annual procurement and projects to Dubai-based SMEs, including more than 25 per cent reduction on annual rent.
The latest initiative defines a freelancer as a sole practitioner who conducts his business in his birth name as opposed to a brand name. Freelancers, who manage their own schedule, will have the flexibility to choose the company they work with and the projects they accept. When applying for a work permit in Dubai South, they must be a degree holder and they should submit a professional certificate or proof of relevant freelance experience. The guidelines also state that no lease is required to be granted the permit and benefiting from the Free Zone privileges while maintaining a sustainable business environment and 3 years visa.
Khalid Abdulla Ahmed, Vice President – Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, noted: “we made the decision to issue this special permit to keep up with the dynamic changes that we have been seeing over the past years. This is in line with the UAE’s phenomenal rise as a leading business hub which is reflected by a clear long-term vision towards sustainable development by the country’s leaders.”
Leading personalities driving motivation behind policies and initiatives of Vision 2030 gather on March 11, 2019 in Riyadh
The commitment from five of the Kingdom’s maritime leaders at the world-class Saudi Maritime Congress in Riyadh highlights the significant platform this allows to discuss how Vision 2030 will transform the Saudi economy and its heavy reliance on oil, and what this may mean for the shipping and logistics sectors.
H.E. Dr Nabel Bin Mohammed Al Amudi, Minister of Transport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr Rumaih bin Mohammed Al Rumaih, President, Public Transport Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Eng. Saad Bin Abdulaziz Alkhalb, President, Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), H.E. Ahmed Alhakbani, Governor, General Customs Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Eng. Abdullah Aldubaikhi, Chief Executive Officer, Bahri are all invested in speaking to delegates from March 11 to 12, 2019 at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre in the intensive two-day programme.
Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, said: “The Saudi Maritime Congress 2019 will offer a platform for local, regional, and global leaders and stakeholders from the shipping, ports, ship construction, and offshore marine communities to engage in a deep exchange of ideas and experiences during the two day conference. They will have an opportunity to explore the scale and nature of the ambitious Vision 2030, discuss its impact from the industry’s perspective, and examine the contributions of the shipping and logistics sectors to its success.”
The shipping and logistics sectors are considered a key pillar vital to the Kingdom’s aggressive economic diversification and growth efforts. The domestic logistics industry’s huge potentials alone are reportedly valued at USD 18 billion.
During the two days, key opportunities into the booming shipping and logistics sectors will be emphasized in connection with the Saudi Government’s major transformation initiatives under its Vision 2030 program. The keynote session titled ‘At the Heart: The Powerhouse, The Hub’ will tackle the principal features of Vision 2030 and their implications on the economy. The first session to kick strat the Congress will highlight the main features of the Saudi transformation plan addressing various fundamentals such as: the private sector’s economic contributions; foreign direct investments; employment opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s growing young demographic and the goal of nationalization through Nitaqat; and further integration of the Kingdom into the regional and global economies as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
Other sessions lined up for the two-day event include ‘Harnessing Smart Technology and Automation,’ which will look into the scale and pace of adoption of digital technology for the maritime and supply chain sectors and automation in Saudi ports; ‘Ship Building, Fleet Expansion and Diversification,’ which will examine the Saudi Arabia’s move into large scale ship construction and repair and diversification of the fleet; and ‘Creating \industry Expertise and a High Qualified Saudi Workforce’, which will look into new initiative to support maritime educationamd impact of technology on employment.
The Saudi Maritime Congress enables maritime professionals to network, do business, strengthen and nurture new relationships, while hearing about industry topics within relevant and comprehensive conference sessions.
DP WORLD RECOGNISED FOR EXCELLENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Global trade enabler DP World’s Global Education Programme (GEP) for 8 – 14-year-olds features as a case study in the latest UAE Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report. This programme is being implemented across DP World’s international network of 40 countries and aims to engage 34,000 children by 2020.
The programme enlists the company’s 45,000 strong workforce to deliver modules in local schools as part of their volunteering leave. It covers a wide range of topics to engage young people on the subject of ports, trade and logistics, a little-known and often overlooked, yet crucial element of the world economic system.
Programme modules include guidance and delivery notes, lesson plans, student activities, and worksheets and have been rolled out in 14 languages. The lessons were initially piloted in the UAE, India, Pakistan, Senegal, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and the Philippines and subsequently launched across the rest of DP World’s network on six continents.
A survey of participants shows that 97.3% of teachers believe the programme provides something the school couldn’t, while 96.6% of students believe that they learned something new. More than 580 volunteers in 18 countries have participated and delivered the modules to date, and 94% of employees say their job satisfaction has increased after taking part in the programme.
DP WorldGroup Chairman & CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayemsaid: “Sustainable development has been the cornerstone of the UAE’s policy-making. As part of this, we are committed to supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while enabling trade and economic development. Our Global Education Programme also reflects our commitment to support better educational standards internationally. The programme aims to boost the skills, aspirations and confidence of young people in the communities where we operate, raising awareness about our sector and related career opportunities. The programme also helps us develop a talent pipeline of future employees for our business.”
Subjects covered by the GEP include port management, sustainability, careers in trade and logistics and the maritime sector, geography, ocean protection, disaster relief, illegal wildlife trafficking, mathematics, design, and technology.
To help implement the UN SDGs, the government of the UAE has created a National Committee consisting of 17 federal government entities to align goals, share information and support an integrated implementation. The National Committee, through its secretariat FCSA, collaborates with stakeholders to broaden the ownership of the 2030 Agenda. DP World is a member and also forms part of the Private Sector Advisory Council, an umbrella organisation of the National Committee.
Offering service to 124 countries and being the fastest-growing air cargo brand around the world, Turkish Cargo has brought the three young lionesses Luca, Charlie, Kai and the young lion Nathan to South Africa, their natural habitat, from Kiev with a connection flight from Istanbul, as driven by our respectful attitude to animal rights.
The young lion Nathan and the three young lionesses Luca, Charlie and Kai had been used as circus animals and had been placed in a concrete and steel cage of 35 square meters in Ukraine under harsh conditions without direct sunlight and clean air, far away from their natural habitat.
The lions were saved by the Lawrence Anthony World Organization (LAEO), an organization that acts with the mission of defending animal rights, and were transported to their natural habitat in South Africa under the sponsorship by the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo.
The lions were transported in specially-designed containers, where their nutritional needs were met, and they were accompanied by their keepers, specially-assigned veterinarians, an authorized person from the Lawrence Anthony World Organization and IATA LAR (IATA Live Animals Regulations) certificated Turkish Cargo personnel during the flight.
After a long flight covering almost 9 thousand kilometers, the lions were set free at Kragga Kamma Natural Park, a natural habitat embracing huge animal populations of Africa and offering all-green coastal forest and meadows extending along 14 thousand square meters. Initially having some difficulties to get used to their own habitat as they got used to the conditions of the circus, the lions will discover their real habitat and freedom with their new friends from now on.
Having ratified the ‘United For Wildlife (Buckingham Palace) Declaration (UFW)’ in 2017 for the purpose of preventing illegal wildlife trade and increasing the industrial awareness thereto, Turkish Airlines has highlighted its cognizance of the live animal transportation processes and animal rights.
Showing utmost care for live animal transportation service and creating real-like natural habitats on the skies, Turkish Cargo takes the IATA LAR regulations and the CITES guidelines as the reference for the acceptance, storage and shipment processes, and it meticulously implements the documentation, encaging, labeling and marking guidelines as described under the said regulations.
Almajdouie Logistics is delighted to inform that the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has honoured us with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MRM) Business Innovation Award for our commitment to ingenuity and continuous improvement.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Emirates Group, and Chief Executive of the Emirates Group presented the award to our CEO, Baheej Al Biqawi, during a ceremony at Dubai Opera on February 26. In attendance were more than 1,500 delegates, including dignitaries, government officials, and business leaders from the UAE and GCC.
The award recognises and celebrates businesses for outstanding practices and achievements in innovation, which contribute to the development of their country’s economies and serve as an inspiration for like-minded companies across the GCC.
This incredible accomplishment, which reflects the efficacy of our Spark idea submission platform, would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our entire team and the valued support of our clients.
The win inspires us to work even harder to improve our high standards of quality, innovation, and business excellence.
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has officially launched the updated version of ‘Sea Dubai’ as part of the ambitious vision to create a leading maritime cluster for Dubai’s maritime activities and enhance their accessibility. The launch is the result of wide acclaim of visitors of the Dubai International Boat Show 2019, held at the Dubai Water Canal until March 2; which valued the role of the quality initiative as a key pillar in the development of maritime leisure activities and a key component of the local maritime cluster – the most competitive, attractive and distinctive maritime cluster in the world. The move comes in line with the commitment of the DMCA to develop a clear mechanism to support, develop, coordinate and promote the integration of maritime products and initiatives, ensuring a unique experience for the sea pioneers convenient with Dubai leading position on the world’s leisure maritime map.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: “The launch of the updated version of ‘Sea Dubai’ is part of our commitment to keep abreast of and lead rapid developments within the global maritime sector and establish Dubai’s leadership as a global cluster to maritime leisure in all its aspects. Since its official launch at the Dubai International Boat Show 2018, ‘Sea Dubai’ has proved a success in the development of the maritime means and activities in the emirate; with provisions secure to access accurate and correct information in relation to the entire maritime leisure sector in the emirate.”
Ali continued: “The updated initiative is an important step forward in promoting strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors to develop maritime leisure activities as a vital source of economic diversification in Dubai and the UAE. The interest in ‘Sea Dubai’ encourages us to provide new features and innovative services in line with maritime innovation and smart transformation; ensuring a renewed, sustainable and secure maritime sector that supports the objectives of Vision 2021 to build a diversified base of productive and innovative economic activities.”
The DMCA team has presented a detailed explanation of the latest updates on ‘Sea Dubai’ in order to facilitate the work of maritime means and activities as the cornerstone for driving growth of maritime leisure sector. The provision of comprehensive services for the development of leisure anchorage areas, leisure yachts and cruises, promotion of leisure maritime licenses for yachts and maritime means, licenses for maritime means and maritime training companies, and the providing of comprehensive information on marinas and maritime clubs were all areas were highlighted. The ‘Sea Dubai’ has been updated to include all aspects related to leisure maritime activities such as water bikes, sea sports, restaurants, floating shops, beaches and public water transport, including water bus, water taxi, traditional transportation such as abras and others.
The visitors of the largest event of its kind in the maritime industry will have the opportunity to recognize the importance of ‘Sea Dubai’ as integrated framework for speeding up and facilitating the registration and licensing of sailing permits; to show the specified maritime speeds and determine the tourist places allowed to sail in it, as well as to identify the places of rest, floating restaurants, marinas operating in the emirate and the types of yachts that receive it, alongside working with companies leasing of maritime means.
The initiative is the focus of the Maritime Authority at the 27th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show, which will be participating with three pavilions at the show.
DMCA provides maritime licensing services directly during the Dubai International Boat Show 2019, in accordance with innovative and specific mechanisms to verify compliance with marine technical specifications, maritime safety regulations, local requirements and compliance with international standards. For more information on the updated version of the ‘Sea Dubai’, please visit http://www.seadubai.com
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company inaugurated its brand-new Cargo sales office in the Free Zone of Dubai International Airport, operational from Jan 27.
The opening of the new sales office comes in line with the company’s strategy to develop its brand-image, enhance its sales outlets & facilities, aiming to improve the logistical services & products offered to the clients.
Dubai sales office is considered one of the major sales outlets for Saudia Cargo in the region due to the increased demand for Air Cargo services in Dubai, the UAE’s primary center for commerce & businesses, moreover, the company uses the belly-capacity of Saudi Arabian Airlines with 14 Daily Flights from Dubai to Jeddah, Riyadh & Dammam.
The company also stated that the new sales office operates the whole week from 8 AM till 11 PM, Saudia Cargo’s clients can contact Dubai office through the following numbers: + 9714 2822110 & +971506527465.
Offering service to 124 countries and being one of the fastest-growing air cargo brands around the world, Turkish Cargo has signed a Master Rental Agreement with DoKaSch Temperature Solutions, the provider of climate-controlled solutions for air cargo based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Its Opticooler is regarded as one of the safest containers for transporting temperature-sensitive products such as vaccines and other pharmaceuticals by air.
“As one of the leading airlines of the world, we provide our cargo clients with the best quality services to transport high-value pharma products. So the Opticooler is one of the natural choices and the Master Rental Agreement confirms that we have all the necessary procedures in place.” Said Fatih CIGAL, the Turkish Cargo’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, remarked.
Starting in February 2019, DoKaSch will supply its Opticooler for Turkish Cargo, the largest carrier in the world by number of passenger destinations and a member of the Star Alliance network. “Turkish Airlines serves more destinations than any other airline. This means that our Opticoolers are now available to many more clients that need reliable temperature-controlled air freight,” said Andreas Seitz, Managing Director of DoKaSch Temperature Solutions.
The Opticooler, electric air-conditioned container, can keep pharmaceuticals exactly within their temperature range, regardless of a tropical summer or arctic winter. The Opticooler has a very high fail-safety and is considered to be reliable product for pharmaceutical transportation. Just like in a normal warehouse, a constant temperature can be maintained if the Opticooler is occasionally connected to the power grid.
With the move of Turkish Cargo to the Istanbul Airport in 2019, Turkish Cargo’s clients will benefit from spacious and state-of-the-art cargo facilities and will provide a safe hub for transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals all over the world.
DP World PLC announces the acquisition of the holding company of P&O Ferries and P&O Ferrymasters (together P&O Ferries) for a purchase consideration of GBP322mn (USD421mn¹), implying a 2017 Enterprise Value/EBITDA valuation multiple of 6.1x.
P&O Ferries is a pan-European integrated logistics business consisting of a market leading roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries operation and a European transportation and logistics solutions provider, P&O Ferrymasters. P&O Ferries operates a fleet of 21 vessels on the Short Sea, North Sea and Irish Sea sectors across 11 ports whilst P&O Ferrymasters provides supply chain solutions in 19 European locations. P&O Ferries handles over 2.5mn freight units per year which accounts for approximately 75% of group revenues. P&O Ferries reported FY2017 revenues of GBP1.1bn (USD1.4bn) and EBITDA of GBP100mn (USD131mn). The acquisition is expected to be earnings accretive from the first full year of consolidation and is expected to meet DP World’s return targets. On a proforma basis, DP World’s net leverage as of 1H2018 would be 2.96x Net Debt to EBITDA with this acquisition compared to the reported 2.91x.
The transaction is subject to customary completion conditions and is expected to close in the first half of 2019. As the acquisition is considered a related party transaction under the DFSA Market Rules, DP World will comply with the relevant requirements of DFSA Market Rule 3.5.3.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “We are pleased to announce the return of P&O Ferries back into the DP World family. P&O Ferries is a strong, recognisable brand and adds a best-in-class integrated logistics provider into our global portfolio. Importantly, P&O Ferries provides efficient European freight connectivity building on last year’s acquisition of Unifeeder. This transaction is in line with our strategy to grow in complementary sectors, strengthen our product offering and play a wider role in the global supply chain as a trade enabler.
P&O Ferries has delivered a robust performance in recent years and we aim to drive further value through increasing efficiencies and offering value-added solutions to our customers. Overall the transaction offers compelling value strategically and financially, and we look forward to P&O Ferries contributing to driving shareholder value in the coming years.
Panalpina’s board of directors has confirmed that they are in the preliminary stage of discussion with Kuwait-based Agility Group on strategic opportunities with regard to their respective logistics businesses.
Panalpina, a Switzerland-based holding company engaged in the transportation sector, is in talks with Agility, but is still reviewing an approach by Denmark’s DSV, the company said in a statement.
Negotiations about combining Panalpina and Agility are progressing and a transaction is backed by the Ernst Goehner Foundation, Panalpina’s biggest shareholder. The foundation, which owns 45.9% of Panalpina, rebuffed DSV’s unsolicited US$ 4.1bn offer this month.
Panalpina Chairman, Peter Ulber, and Vice Chairman, Beat Walti, serve not only on the Panalpina board but also on the board of Ernst Goehner. The foundation said that it fully supports the company in implementing its strategy and realising its full potential which includes taking an active role in the consolidation of the industry.
Stefan Karlen, chief executive officer (CEO), Panalpina said that the company would be looking to grow organically and inorganically through acquisitions.
DSV bid
DSV’s approach to Panalpina comes just months after it failed in an attempt to buy Switzerland’s CEVA Logistics. DSV’s Jens Bjorn Andersen, Chief Executive, said that he remains in pursuit of a deal, and has faced hurdles in Switzerland as he seeks to grow DSV’s footprint, having failed last year in US$ 1.55bn bid for CEVA.
According to its fiduciary duties, the Board of Directors of Panalpina continues to review the approach by DSV in conjunction with its professional advisers, the company affirmed in a press communiqué.
According to the data obtained by WACD, the international air cargo market information provider, in 2018; Turkish Cargo, the global air cargo brand providing service to 124 countries around the world, attained an increase of 21.7 percent in the rate of sold cargo, and grew substantially across the industry with the growth rate of 2.2 achieved in the global air cargo market.
Operating direct cargo flights to 85 destinations by means of its fleet of freighters in addition to the cargo carrying capacity of the flag-carrier Turkish Airlines, the accomplished brand attained a total cargo carrying capacity of 1 million 414 thousand tons in 2018, maintaining its 8th rank across the global air cargo market.
As the fastest-growing air cargo brand all around the world, Turkish Cargo launched new lines in 2018, continuing to expand its flight network. Turkish Cargo extended its cargo flights network upon initiation of new lines to Zaragoza (Spain), Vilnius (Lithuania), Liege, Brussels (Belgium), Miami (USA), Toronto (Canada), Houston (USA), Bogota (Colombia), Mexico City (Mexico), Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Taipei (Taiwan), Navoi (Uzbekistan) and Muscat (Oman).
Achieving a sustainable growth with its newly-launched destinations, current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo keeps enhancing its capacity in more than 300 destinations included in its current flight network.
The outstanding air cargo brand combines its wide range of services and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of Turkey, and keeps setting the bar higher.
New US$58.5 Million Air Cargo Area at Bahrain International Airport Set to Welcome Its First Tenant FedEx Express
The new US$58.5 Million Air Cargo Area at Bahrain International Airport is set to welcome its first tenant as US-based FedEx Express recently signed a deal to move to the expanded freight complex at the Bahrain International Airport, further strengthening its operations as a GCC logistics hub.
The multinational courier delivery services company will be occupying a total of 9,000sqm out of the 25,000sqm available space in the new Air Cargo Area, of which 5,000sqm will be warehousing and the rest will be manoeuvring area.
His Excellency the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, said: “BAC has a comprehensive plan to attract prominent cargo companies to the Kingdom, which will strengthen Bahrain’s strategic position as a leading provider of efficient logistics services in the region. We are currently negotiating with two other companies wishing to operate warehouses at the new Cargo Area, which further demonstrates the Kingdom’s strong reputation as a regional hub for logistical services in the GCC and wider Middle East.”
His Exellency added: “The new Air Cargo Area that BAC is constructing north of the runway is an important part of the overall growth strategy adopted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and a key component in the Airport Modernization Program (AMP), which is due to be completed by Q3 2019. It also reflects the important steps that the company is taking to enhance the airport’s infrastructure and increase its ability to accommodate rising local and regional demand. The new Cargo Area will create more job opportunities and enable the airport to handle larger volumes. This is in line with government-led initiatives aimed at expanding the Kingdom’s logistics sector, which began in 2015 via the Bahrain Logistics Board chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.”
The Minister also noted that the continuous cooperation and coordination between BAC, Customs, and the EDB played a major role in the fruition of this agreement.
President of the FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (MEISA) region James R. Muhs, said: “The GCC is an important region for FedEx Express, where enhanced collaboration between public and private sectors is fueling growth across industries. The logistics market forms a fundamental part of the GCC economy, and we remain committed to serving our customers across Bahrain and connecting them with people and possibilities around the world.”
His Excellency Khalid Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), said: “This Letter of Intent further highlights the strength of Bahrain’s transport and logistics sector and supports our strategic focus on e-commerce and regional distribution. There are a number of opportunities for companies like FedEx Express in the GCC’s US$1.5 trillion market, and Bahrain is an ideal location from which to access those markets due to our fast and direct transport links, some of the regions lowest operating costs, and a highly skilled, bilingual workforce.”
BAC signed an agreement in November with French engineering firm, Egis for design and supervision for the new 25,000-square metre Cargo Area, which comprises warehouses, aircraft parking, and associated infrastructure aimed at handling air cargo traffic and e-commerce. The Cargo Area is also equipped with the latest technologies, making it one of the most attractive locations for investment in the Middle East.
Project adds 60 percent more water to local distribution system
Global trade enabler DP World has recently launched a new water distribution center that increased the water supply in Berbera, Somaliland, by 6o percent.
The $1 million project started in 2018 and includes four water wells, two shallow pools, two water troughs, a concrete reservoir tank and 7.0 km pipeline connected to the main water supply.
The project, powered by a hybrid solar system and a main generator, also included the construction of a mosque near the water distribution center.
It is designed to lessen water shortages in Berbera and to provide clean drinking water to local people and rural communities in the area. The project is part of DP World’s strategy for the sustainable development in Somaliland as the increased water capacity will be required due to the growth of Berbera catalyzed by DP World’s investment in the port and Special Economic Zone.
Three wells have been handed over to Berbera Municipality with the fourth well and two shallow pools allocated for free drinking water for the local community and their animals.
Since 2017 DP World have improved Berbera Port’s performance by 70% and increased the port capacity by 50%. Currently DP World Berbera is developing local talents and has trained over 2700 Somalilanders in 2018 locally and overseas.
Suhail Al Banna, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DP World Middle East and Africa, said: “This support for Berbera is part of our commitment to help develop the areas in which we operate, and we are confident this project will have important benefits for many people across the region. We are committed to ensuring everything we do leaves long term benefit for people in Somaliland and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the Somaliland authorities and people to help improve the quality of life through key infrastructure and sustainability projects.”
DP World’s initiatives in Somaliland include the sponsorship of 11 schools, a maritime education academy, two hospitals, and a clinic. DP World provided 4.5 million liters of water to the drought committee in Berbera in 2017 to support 15,000 families.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has signed a joint agreement with King Abdullah Port, at King Abdullah Economic City, 90 kilometers north of Jeddah, to enhance collaboration opportunities & establish a secure logistical operations zone.
The agreement, which comes shortly after inaugurating King Abdullah Port will establish an Air-Sea-Air cargo corridor with the surrounding airports to ensure the smooth flow of cargo to the port and re-export it by the air in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 aiming to turn the Kingdom into an international logistics hub.
Saudia Cargo CEO Omar Hariri signed the agreement with King Abdullah Economic Port CEO Rayan Qutub covering numerous aspects including transportation, logistics operations, supply and information exchange.
“The agreement plays a pivotal role in the flow and the transportation of cargoes from the port to Saudia Cargo station at King Abdulaziz International Airport and vice versa. We recognize the importance of King Abdullah Port’s contribution to strengthening and enhancing the Kingdom’s regional and international role in logistical, & supply chain services. We will work side by side with our partners to ensure optimum coordination and productivity,” said Hariri.
King Abdullah Port is one of the massive infrastructure projects that is implemented by the private sector in the Middle East. Saudia Cargo aspires to contribute to the development of logistics operations at this gigantic port that acts as a significant hub in which the estimated number of cargo consumers in the Middle East market is more than 400 million, noted Hariri.
Saudia Cargo provides various logistic services and manages a large network of global destinations through a dedicated state-of-the-art freighter fleet, in addition to charter services & the belly-capacity on Saudia passenger flights to deliver efficient and cost-effective solutions for cargo services around the world.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand that provides service to 124 countries around the world, carried flowers to all four sides with its charter flights departing from Nairobi (Kenia) and Quito (Ecuador) to meet the need for the Valentine’s Day, in addition to its heavily-operated special cargo transportations.
The accomplished air cargo brand carried nearly 4 thousand tons of flowers between January 1 – February 10, 2019 with its flights to many global destinations from Nairobi to Stansted, Narita, Maastricht and Riyadh, and from Quito to Amsterdam, Beijing, Manila, Jakarta and Taiwan, in addition to its charter flights.
Providing its services by means of the air-conditioned aircraft for maximum freshness and shelf-life with cold chain solutions, Turkish Cargo enables to carry the flowers of Africa, an important center to grow flowers, to the entire world with its air cargo services provided to 36 countries across the Africa Region, and a total of 54 destinations.
Carrying 20 thousand tons of flowers in 2018, Turkish Cargo continues providing high-quality and well-preserved air cargo service enriched with temperature-controlled containers at different temperature ranges in a total of 43 special cargo rooms available on board the aircraft.
While reaching more than 300 global destinations in 2018, Turkish Cargo also carried a total of 1.4 million tons of cargo.
Ability to move up the value chain and enabling environments for public private partnerships can help drive growth
A new study on how post-conflict trade opportunities can be developed by emerging countries was published on the concluding day of the World Government Summit attended by thousands of government and business leaders.
“Post-Conflict Trade: Case studies and lessons for Ethiopia and Eritrea” was launched by the Economist Intelligence Unit after being commissioned to conduct the research by global trade enabler DP World. Identifying sensible opportunities for moving up the value chain; being wary of white elephant infrastructure projects; focusing on incremental infrastructure projects and creating an enabling environment for public private partnerships to take root were key conclusions.
Case studies on Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Columbia with insights into how each has tackled their development during times of peace form the backbone of the study with lessons for other nations such as Ethiopia and Eritrea following recent peace accords also underlined.
Rwanda’s development of existing industries such as specialty coffee; Sri Lanka’s efforts to position itself in niche links in global supply chains and Columbia’s moves to increase foreign investment, promote more PPPs and ensure transparency in government regulations and governance are outlined.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Developing nations need a solid foundation on which to place the building blocks of their economies. Both soft and hard infrastructure is needed, which will determine how quickly physical assets are built and how quickly trade develops.
“Our experience in 40 locations around the world shows no one size fits all but we can all learn from history to plan the present and the future with our partners for the benefit of those that come after us. Africa, for example, has shown strong growth over the last 10 years with steps to diversification. If nations were better connected market sizes would increase and encourage greater foreign investment.”
“We also know that PPPs are an increasingly popular model to fund projects and the regulatory frameworks supporting them are improving. But good governance is key and the conditions for companies and investors must be backed by firm trust and agreement to observe international law if these agreements are to work. Failure to observe these practices results in a reputational damage to developing nations and can scare investors away from projects that are sorely needed.”
Providing services to 124 countries worldwide with the title of the fastest growing air cargo brand in the world, Turkish Cargo carried out the first air cargo transportations from Istanbul Airport to Ankara and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
The first ever commercial domestic air cargo transportation from Istanbul Airport was performed with an A 321 Airbus that landed in Ankara on February 4.
The first international transportation was carried out to Lefkoşa (Nicosia) on the same day with a Boeing 737 aircraft that left Istanbul Airport, which will transform Turkey into the world’s logistics hub with a cargo capacity of 6 million tons.
With its investments and ever-developing fleet, Turkish Cargo takes concrete steps towards its targets set on the way to become one of the top-five brands of the air cargo industry.
In 1999, the ambitious journey of LogiPoint began as it built the Kingdom’s first and the largest Bonded and Re-Export Zone (BRZ) in Jeddah Islamic Port comprising an area of 1 million sqm of reclaimed land. Initially, it was merely an idea to facilitate, streamline and accelerate the import and export through Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP).
Over the next 20 years, LogiPoint transformed the Saudi Maritime and Supply Chain landscape into a world class integrated logistics infrastructure as it introduced bonded warehousing and storage, faster customs clearance, dependability, transparency and accountability in operations, and logistics parks and zones beyond JIP to the mix.
These additions enabled the industry to introduce new services and solutions to the market, while making it possible to lower costs and reduce inventories. This empowerment enabled LogiPoint clients to offer modern solutions and reliable services at a competitive price to their areas of operations and thus able to achieve and exceed their own growth objectives.
LogiPoint is the brainchild and a subsidiary of two established industry leaders, SISCO (Saudi Industrial Services Company) and the Xenel Group; and is a sister company of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT). Farooq Ahmed Sheikh, CEO, LogiPoint believes that the company has the right mix of experience, market understanding and strategic assets to play an even greater role in the future as the Kingdom embarks on its pursuit of the Crown Prince’s grand ‘Vision 2030’.
20th Anniversary commemorations
“This year, we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary,” commented Sheikh. “We have come a long way since our birth in 1999, when we introduced the concept of a Bonded and Re-export Zone (BRZ) to the Saudi Arabian regulatory authorities, while laying out its benefits to the national economy. Over the years, we have worked as enablers and logistics partners with our customers from across all the major industry segments,” he continued.
“We have helped them avoid unplanned and variable expenses in terms of demurrage and penalties as well as in lost opportunities, while also helping them achieve greater turn-around and ROI on their investments. LogiPoint delivers comprehensive, safe and convenient Logistics solutions by leveraging our strategic assets,” he added.
Those strategic assets make for an impressive reading: A total land area of 1.78 million sqm; 347,600 sqm of warehouse area; 70,000 sqm of truck parking area; 6,400 sqm of residential area; 747,000 sqm of total open yard; 38,800 sqm of commercial area and 11,800 sqm of truck service area. An ever-expanding team of industry experts and specialists all supported by a world class IT infrastructure, and all under-pinned by a commitment to growth and innovation.
Way forward
Sheikh is both clear and optimistic about the way forward for the organisation. According to him, combining strategically located logistics zones and the company’s logistics support services, have positioned LogiPoint ideally to lead the drive for efficient logistics solutions in the industry.
“We do this through building capacities and enhancing capabilities and by offering transactional, tactical and strategic benefits to all our stakeholders. We are committed to expanding our current investment base by developing both green-field and brown-field integrated logistics facilities across Saudi Arabia while focusing on attracting international investors into the Kingdom,” he explained.
“We have been at the forefront of bringing international concepts in logistics efficiency to KSA over the last two decades, and with the Kingdom’s drive towards achieving Vision 2030 objectives, we see a greater role for LogiPoint as enablers of trade and development through innovative logistics solutions,” he affirmed.
DP World handled 71.4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the full year of 2018, with gross container volumes growing by 1.9% year-on-year on a reported basis and 2.9% on a like-for-like[1] basis
Gross volumes were stable in 4Q2018 despite softer volumes in the UAE and the tough year-on-year comparables (4Q2017 grew by 10.3%). The UAE handled 15.0 million TEU in 2018 down 2.7% year-on-year.
At a consolidated[2] level, our terminals handled 36.8 million TEU in 2018, a 0.8% improvement in performance on a reported basis and up 1.4% year-on-year on a like-for-like[3] basis
Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem commented:
“We are pleased to see that our global portfolio has delivered growth on top of our strong prior year performance and despite the uncertainty with global trade. Our Europe and Americas portfolio saw strong growth with continued ramp-up in London Gateway (UK), Yarimca (Turkey) and Prince Rupert (Canada), while performance in Africa remains robust driven by Dakar (Senegal) and Sokhna (Egypt). In the UAE, the softer volumes were due to the loss of low-margin throughput, where we remain focused on high margin cargo and maintaining profitability.
“In 2018, we have made good progress in strengthening our product offering which will enable us to participate in a wider part of the supply chain and offer smarter long-term solutions to cargo owners. Looking ahead to 2019, we expect our portfolio to continue to deliver growth and our focus remains on delivering operational excellence, managing costs and disciplined investment to remain the trade partner of choice. Given the steady volume performance of our portfolio, we are well placed to meet full year 2018 market expectations.”
Further Information
Gross Volume
‘000 TEU
4Q
2017
4Q
2018
4Q % Growth
(like for like)
12M
2017
12M
2018
12M % Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
8,043
8,283
+3.0%
(+3.0%)
31,924
32,904
+3.1%
(+3.2%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
7,441
7,181
-3.5%
(-1.0%)
29,358
29,475
+0.4%
(+3.1%)
Americas & Australia
2,316
2,316
+0.0%
(-3.7%)
8,798
9,040
+2.8%
(+0.9%)
Total Group
17,800
17,781
-0.1%
(+0.4%)
70,079
71,419
+1.9%
(+2.9%)
*UAE Volumes included in Middle East, Africa and Europe region
3,790
3,615
-4.6%
(-4.6%)
15,368
14,954
-2.7%
(-2.7%)
Consolidated Volume
‘000 TEU
4Q
2017
4Q
2018
4Q % Growth
(like for like)
12M
2017
12M
2018
12M % Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
2,475
2,496
+0.8%
(+0.8%)
10,020
10,019
+0.0%
(+0.5%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
5,780
5,495
-4.9%
(-1.8%)
22,889
22,585
-1.3%
(+2.1%)
Americas & Australia
965
1,086
+12.6%
(+0.6%)
3,567
4,156
+16.5%
(-0.1%)
Total Group
9,221
9,077
-1.5%
(-0.8%)
36,476
36,760
+0.8%
(+1.4%)
[1] Like for like gross container volume does not include volumes from Berbera (Somaliland), Limassol (Cyprus), Paita (Peru), Doraleh (Djibouti), Saigon (Vietnam)
[2] Consolidated terminals are those where we have control as defined under IFRS.
[3] Like for like consolidated container volume does not include volumes at Berbera (Somaliland), Limassol (Cyprus), Doraleh (Djibouti), Saigon (Vietnam) and normalizes for the consolidation of Santos (Brazil).
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company prepares to participate in the fifth edition of the international event Air Cargo Africa 2019, in Johannesburg, South Africa from 19-21 February 2019.
Saudia Cargo’s Chief Executive Officer Omar Hariri will be a speaker at the event where the company will display a distinctive pavilion offering networking opportunities, & different information regarding the company’s latest developments, commercial activities, various products, logistical services such as Fly Pharma, Fly Express, handling sensitive cargoes & other freighter services.
Saudia Cargo stated that this event is a promising global assembly that provides excellent opportunities, engaging global air cargo & logistics firms, plus it’s a hub for exploring & establishing partnerships & agreements through networking meetings between the different participating firms where many executives, leaders & experts of Air Cargo will be attending the event.
Saudia Cargo participated in the previous edition of the event, Air Cargo Africa 2017, where the company has been awarded the International Cargo Airline of the year, demonstrating the important role played by the firm in the global air cargo market, & highlighting Saudia Cargo’s accomplishments throughout the years.
Saudia Cargo always strives to participate in the different conferences & exhibitions engaging various industries, hence last year the company participated in many Air Cargo events the last was the Flower Logistics Africa 2018, Perishable Logistics Africa 2018, & the Africa Air Cargo Summit 2018 in Kenya, where many key Air Cargo & logistics topics were discussed.
Providing services to 124 countries worldwide with the title of the fastest growing air cargo brand in the world, Turkish Cargo will now also be offering its high quality services from Istanbul Airport, thus carrying out its operations simultaneously on both Istanbul Airport and Ataturk Airport as of March 2, 2019.
As of the date in, the transportation’s to be performed by utilizing the cargo capacity on passenger aircraft will be operated from the new Istanbul Airport. On the other hand; Turkish Cargo will be continuing its operations to be performed by means of freighters, from Ataturk Airport.
The air cargo carrier, which will be carrying out its operations on an area of 165 thousand m2 at Istanbul Airport during the first phase, will have a cargo handling capacity of 4 million tons once all phases are completed.
Following the commissioning of the Mega Cargo Hub at the new Istanbul Airport, the global air cargo brand will be moving all its operations to Istanbul Airport. With its investments and ever-developing fleet, Turkish Cargo takes concrete steps towards its targets set on the way to become one of the top-five brands of the air cargo industry.
Shipping agents for general cargo to be honoured for electronic services adoption
Dubai Trade, the smart trade solution provider in Dubai and a subsidiary of DP World, announced that its 11th E-Services Excellence Award (ESEA) will feature three new categories including two for re-exporters announced by Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai, in partnership with Dubai Trade.
The new categories include Electronic Services Award to Shipping Agent for General Cargo Service, the Emerging Re-exporter of the Year and Champion Re-Exporter of the Year.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the ESEA ceremony will be held in February to appreciate e-transformation in trade and logistics and to recognise the companies using the Dubai Trade portal with the best smart services adoption rates. The winners are nominated on the basis of the number of mobile and online transactions conducted by them on the Dubai Trade Portal throughout 2018.
Six winners will be acknowledged under the following categories: Smart Services Award for M-Token Services; Smart Services Award for Free Zone Services; Smart Services Award for Clearance Services – Customs Broker; Smart Services Award for Clearance Services – Trader; Smart Services Award Payment Services; and Electronic Services Award to Shipping Agent for General Cargo Service.
In addition, Dubai Exports, will present four special awards to Dubai based exporters (manufacturers) and re-exporters. The awards are for The New Exporter of the Year; The Innovative Exporter of the Year; Emerging Re-Exporter of the Year; and Champion Re-Exporter of the Year.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP world, UAE Region, said: “The E-Services Excellence Award celebrates the success of smart transformation in trade and logistics, one of the frontline growth engines of Dubai and the UAE. In the period since Dubai Trade instituted the awards over a decade ago we’ve witnessed rapid growth in the adoption of electronic transactions across a wide range of activities associated with trade. The growth in e-services and the rapid adoption of smart transactions underlines Dubai’s success as a global leader in maritime trade and logistics driven by technology. As the single window online platform connecting all our services, Dubai Trade is a major enabler of this achievement.”
“Importers, exporters and all the companies and organisations using Dubai Trade are the real driving force behind our continued success as enablers of e-trade. The ESEA is our way of acknowledging the contributions of our customers and to reward the excellence in e-adoption by them, including mobile transaction adoption, which signifies the ease of access of the services offered by Dubai Trade. Our aim is to provide real-time transactions, reduce cost and time, secure payment options, and grant peace of mind to the customer.”
ESEA is the first award platform of its kind in the region to recognise organisations for adopting smart services in trade, shipping and logistics who are judged on the basis of their actual adoption rates of electronic transactions.
Dubai Trade, which offers a single window for cross-border trade and smart trading solutions, constantly expands its award categories to encourage increased adoption of smart services in support of Dubai’s smart government initiatives, which reflect positively on the emirate’s trade sector.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company sponsored the Saudi International golf tournament as a formal logistics partner held in Saudi Arabia for the first time with the participation of world-class golfers, taking place in King Abdullah Economic City (KEAC) at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 , Omar Talal Hariri Chief Executive Officer stated.
The anticipated golf tournament is the first European Tour golf event to be held in the Kingdom with the participation of elite global golf champions such as the world number one Justin Rose, world number two Brooks Koepka, world number three Dustin Johnson and the world number five Bryson Dechambeau, also joining them the four-time major champion and the 71-time worldwide winner, Ernie Els, who will make his second trip to King Abdullah Economic City after he was a part of the grand opening of the Royal Greens Golf Club in April 2018.
It should be noted that Saudia Cargo always support national, cultural & sports events in the kingdom, lately the firm carried the equipment for the 33rd National Festival for Heritage and Culture (Janadriyah – 33) & it carried the cars, spares, and gadgets of the FIA Formula E Championship that occurred in the 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix festival, plus the firm transported the WWE championship to Jeddah.
Dubai Maritime City Authority participates at Middle East Bunkering Convention 2019
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) participated at the Middle East Bunkering Convention 2019 held recently in Dubai, attended by leading regional and international organizations discussing current and future trends of ship chandlers as a vital component in the maritime sector. Being part of the event is in line with DMCA’s commitment to regularly partake in leading international maritime forums that boost knowledge exchange and best practices, which is essential in making Dubai’s maritime sector globally competitive in the 21st century.
Eng. Mohammed Ali Al Bastaki, Director of Maritime Operations, DMCA, noted in his speech that the event reaffirms Dubai’s increasing role in driving growth for the global maritime sector by leveraging its competitive advantages such as its strategic location, modern economic policies, and world-class infrastructure, including ports known to be among the best in the world. Al Bastaki highlighted the growing reputation of the emirate as a leading global hub for bunkering convention given its accessibility to both Asia and Europe.
Al Bastaki further emphasized that Dubai supports important initiatives that implement the highest standards in professional safety, best practices as well as local and international decisions in line with the maritime sector strategy aimed at making Dubai a leading global maritime hub. He added that the strategy has successfully accomplished major developments such as the creation of an integrated logistics program, upgrading of infrastructure and improvement in maritime operations through various initiatives, which has positively enhanced the confidence of regional and international investors. The Dubai maritime sector’s competitiveness particularly its strong capabilities in marine ports and services, operation, maintenance of giant maritime vessels has placed the emirate among the world’s most important maritime hubs in the world on par with Singapore, London, Oslo, Shanghai, Hamburg and Hong Kong.
Al Bastaki cited DMCA’s range of initiatives such as the Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster, Innovation Quay, Maritime Dubai and Maritime Advisory Council, which have significantly contributed in building a safe, sustainable and sustainable maritime sector. He said: “The Middle East Bunkering Convention 2019 takes place at a very important time when the ship supply sector is on a steady path for growth. It provides an important venue for the industry to explore effective ways to face current and future challenges, as well as identify emerging trends and assess key developments within the dynamic and sustainable bunkering market.”
Al Bastaki urged local and international maritime leaders to combine their efforts to take advantage of the major trading opportunities in Dubai’s maritime cluster and boost the growth of ship chandlers, and its promising prospects. The agenda of the “Middle East Bunkering Convention 2019” discussed a series of topics affecting the maritime sector.
Vision 2030 to transform the economy, shipping and logistics sectors of the country under ambitious new platform
Saudi Arabia’s maritime and logistics sector is set to provide a host of fresh investment opportunities that will enable the Kingdom’s integration into the regional and global economies as a hub connecting three continents – Asia, Europe and Africa, and positioning the country as a global logistics hub.
In fact, the country is on an aggressive growth and diversification path, seeking completely to transform its economy and reduce dependency on oil exports in line with ‘Vision 2030’. This growth and diversification will be achieved through a range of measures and an integral part of the plan is to seek greater contribution from the private sector to the national economy and to attract foreign direct investment opportunities.
The 2nd Saudi Maritime Congress held on March 11th and 12th at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will bring together leading figures from the shipping industry to discuss the effect the ambitious Vision 2030 programme will have on the Saudi economy and how shipping and logistics sectors will contribute to this project.
Held under the patronage of Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) andin partnership with Bahri, Saudi Maritime Congress will bring together leaders from the Kingdom’s shipping, ports, ship construction and offshore marine companies, as well as their international partners, to learn, network and explore new opportunities.
Abdullah Aldubaikhi, CEO of Bahri, said: “Bahri is proud to be working in partnership with the 2nd Saudi Maritime Congress – a strategic meeting point of the region’s leading logistics and shipping industry decision-makers and experts.
We would like to emphasize the importance of this event to us, which has established itself as one of the most important highlights of the maritime industry calendar. The Congress offers a valuable platform to discuss the latest developments and trends in the shipping industry and highlights Saudi Arabia’s milestones in its evolution as a leading maritime hub in the world.
At Bahri, we are delighted to be reinforcing our commitment to connecting economies and future-proofing the maritime industry through our partnership with Saudi Maritime Congress and look forward to you joining us in March to drive forward the goals of Vision 2030.”
Providing service to 124 countries globally with the title of the fastest growing air cargo brand of the world, Turkish Cargo performed two different special cargo operations on January, 14th , successfully and safely carrying 17 horses to Istanbul and Dubai.
Initially based in the U.S, a total of 15 foals and horses were brought from Chicago to Istanbul with the assurance of Turkish Cargo in order to contribute to horse breeding in Turkey. The horses were carried in five stalls, specially designed for a comfortable journey with a nonslip ground and oval edges and were safely brought to their new home with the help of special loading doors, enabling easy movement.
Likewise, two purebreds named “Good Curry” and “Peri Lina” were transported from Istanbul, Turkey to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in order to attend the Dubai World Cup, an annual event organized since 1996 and one of the world’s most important horse racing festivals.
The air cargo sector’s dynamic brand once again proved its experience and reliability in live animal transportation with these two separate operations.
The accomplished air cargo brand Turkish Cargo not only became a member to the Animal Transportation Association, but also abides by the IATA LAR (IATA Live Animals Regulations) in all its acceptance, storage and transportation processes for the live animal transportation service it provides to its customers. Turkish Cargo is committed to implementing any and all rules to ensure documentation, packaging, labeling and marking, specified under the said regulations, strictly during live animal transportation processes.
Live animals are hosted in Turkish Cargo’s live animal accommodation and care rooms which embody shelters equipped with remote-controlled temperature and humidity monitoring systems.
Global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo continues carrying out successful operations with Turkish Airlines’ broad flight network, reaching more than 300 destinations around the world in addition to its 86 direct cargo flight destinations.
DP WORLD CHAIRMAN & CEO SAYS PARTNERSHIPS KEY IN AFRICA
The key to African economic emergence lies in removal of barriers, increased connectivity between nations and infrastructure development, DP World’s Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, told African leaders and top executives in Dakar Senegal.
“We be believe in the viability of Africa, we believe in investing in the continent during our investment in Senegal we improved efficiency and volumes 135 percent in 10 years,” Mr Bin Sulayem told the audience at the Africa Emergence Conference 2019 in Dakar Senegal.
Addressing a panel on how private institutions can help support emergence in Africa with President Macky Sall of Senegal and Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammed of Malaysia Mr Bin Sulayem explained how economic emergence is dependant on increasing inter African trade and infrastructure development.
“The Removal of trade barriers is very important. In Africa tariffs are 50% higher in than in Latin America and Asia,” he said. “Intra regional trade in Africa is only 12% while in Europe, Asia and Latin America is over 50%, we need to improve this to prosper,” he added.
Mr Bin Sulayem reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the economic growth of Senegal and developing Dakar into a major logistics hub and gateway for West Africa during the panel with President Macky Sall.
He stressed that as a smart trade enabler, DP World has the extensive expertise and know-how that can help African countries realise their trade and infrastructure goals, while assisting countries to address national ports and logistics infrastructure challenges. He highlighted the importance of developing a logistics infrastructure reflecting DP World’s activities in Rwanda and Mali.
“We believe in connecting landlocked nations to the world and international markets. Our logistics park in Rwanda will reduce costs across the country and region,” he said. “The Price of container moving from Shanghai to an East African port is anywhere between USD $500 to USD$1000, the price of same container from the port to Kigali is USD$5000,” he added
President Macky Sall of Senegal said to the Audience that DP World helped in the development of Senegal. “What the CEO said is the truth, in Senegal we have experienced a change because DP World was present before I became President with a concession of 25 years at the Port of Dakar,” he said.
President Sall added that the government, has a consolidation of DP World’s presence and are working together finalise new port investments by DP World in Senegal. “Country stability is essential but also the stability of the contracts between the a state and the private sector to develop foreign investment. It is evident that the public investment cannot satisfy the basic needs of the population so we need to work with private sector,” he added.
DP World has operations in Senegal, Egypt, Mozambique, Somaliland, Rwanda and Algeria and has recently signed an agreement with the Republic Mali to develop a logistics platform and the Democratic Republic of Congo for the countries first deep-sea port.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest growing air cargo brand around the world, has become a member to the Animal Transportation Association, one of the international organizations which aims to transport live animals at secure and ideal conditions.
Including many various members such as airlines, freight forwarders, marine companies, public institutions, universities, research agencies, animal breeders and veterinarians, the organization supports regulations on the international transportation requirements for live animals, as well as any and all initiatives taken to that end.
This non-profit organization offers the below-listed opportunities to its members:
-More than 200 requests for transportation on annual basis;
-Assistance in finding reliable and reputable animal carriers;
-Sending weekly and current news, besides electronic delivery of migration;
-Sharing Best Practices Manual;
-Making the ultimate care, taken in live animal transportation operations, public;
-Opportunity to establish contact with the institutions and organizations such as CITES, OIE, the concerned Ministries and customs offices.
Turkish Airlines adopted the`United for Wildlife Buckingham Palace Declaration (UFW)` in 2017, showing the importance it attaches to prevention of illegal wildlife trade, and animal rights to raise the level of awareness.
The accomplished air cargo brand Turkish Cargo not only became a member to the Animal Transportation Association, but also takes the IATA LAR (IATA Live Animals Regulations) in all its acceptance, storage and transportation processes for the live animal transportation service it provides to its customers in 124 countries around the world. Turkish Cargo ise committed to implement any and all rules to ensure documentation, packaging, labeling and marking, specified under the said regulations, strictly during the live animal transportation process.
DP WORLD ACQUIRES LEADING PORTS IN PUERTO CENTRAL (SAN ANTONIO) AND PUERTO LIRQUEN (REGION VIII) IN CHILE
Key multi-purpose gateway terminals for Chile’s global trade: Global trade enabler DP World today announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 71.3% stake in Puertos y Logistica S.A. (“Pulogsa”) from Minera Valparaiso and other shareholders associated with the Matte Group. Pulogsa is listed on the Santiago stock exchange, and the acquisition will be effected via a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of the business. Under the tender process DP World will offer US$502mn[1] in consideration for 100% equity ownership. As of 30 September 2018, Pulogsa had net financial debt of $226m. The acquisition is expected to be earnings accretive in the first full year of consolidation and it will be financed from existing balance sheet resources. The transaction is subject to relevant third party consents and is expected to close in the first half of 2019.
Pulogsa operates a long-term concession for Puerto Central (PCE) in San Antonio, in Chile’s Central Region V as well as owning and operating Puerto Lirquen (PLQ) in Chile’s Southern Region VIII.
PCE is a multipurpose terminal located in San Antonio, which is a gateway to the Chilean capital Santiago and to leading industrial, commercial and agricultural businesses. PCE is one of the country’s largest container ports (over 1MN TEU capacity) with recent infrastructure investments, making it the most modern terminal in Chile. PCE has the potential for further capacity expansion for both container and non-container operations.
PLQ is a multipurpose terminal incorporating long term maritime concessions with freehold land ownership, which handles containers, break-bulk and dry bulk. The port is strategically positioned to benefit from the well-established pulp and lumber industry in Southern Chile, next to the country’s second largest city and industrial hub Concepción.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “We are delighted to extend our global footprint with a major entry into Chile, Latin America’s most developed economy, with attractive growth prospects and a dynamic business environment. These new assets will allow DP World to serve cargo owners and shipping lines at five key gateways on the west coast of South America in Posorja (Ecuador), Callao and Paita (Peru) and San Antonio and Lirquen (Chile). PCE and PLQ are both ‘best in class’ terminals in their respective markets, with long-term operating rights, strong cargo diversification and significant capability for expansion. The overall value proposition for these terminals is compelling and the addition of capacity to our portfolio will help drive long-term value to all our stakeholders.
Scotiabank is acting as exclusive financial advisor to DP World.
In line with the strategic plan of Saudia Cargo that strives to enhance its facilities and sales outlets improving its working environment thus offering quality services to its clients, Saudia Cargo inaugurated its newest sales office at Cairo Cargo City inside Cairo International Airport on December 20 after eight weeks of renovation works.
Saudia Cargo stated that the Cairo sales office is one of the most prominent outlets due to the number of flights between the two countries, on a yearly basis between Cairo Airport and the kingdom, Saudia Cargo offers a cargo capacity of more than 55 Million tons from different loads such as perishables, pharmaceutical, and other general cargo, moreover, the firm offers a variety of freighter services for its clients such as charter flights and ground handling.
It must be noted that the sales office runs during the work days of the week from 8 AM till 12 AM, the firm’s clients can contact the company through the following E-mails: cai-sls-team@saudiacargo.com or the following numbers: +201030733370 & +20222670739.
With Bahri as strategic partner, Saudi Maritime Congress forum to catalyze country’s ‘Vision 2030’ goals
Saudi Arabia’s maritime sector is set to receive a much-needed boost with a generous allocation of SAR 33 billion (USD 8.8 billion) for the energy, industry, mining and logistics sectors in its recently announced budget for 2019. In fact, the country is on an aggressive growth and diversification path, with substantial government spending expected to catalyze its ‘Vision 2030’ goals and drive sustainable growth and development. On the back of strong growth, revenues in the Kingdom are also projected to increase this year to SAR 975 billion, setting an optimistic blueprint for exponential growth and progress.
The 2nd Saudi Maritime Congress, to be held on March 11th and 12th at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, Kingdom Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will closely examine these budgetary implications on this sector, focus on the growth of intra-regional trade and the booming north-south network, analyse the changing regulatory environment and study existing project opportunities. Held under the patronage of the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and in partnership with Bahri, the event is also expected to set new trends in the shipping and logistics industry, providing extraordinary insights into the country’s ambitious growth agenda and consolidate Saudi Arabia’s position as a global trading hub and a strategic gateway to Asia, Africa and Europe. For two days, international experts, influential maritime leaders and professionals from the shipping, ports and offshore marine companies will do business, forge new partnerships and discuss key market and sectoral insights, to fast track growth and development in this vital industry.
Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, said: “We are pleased to organise the Saudi Maritime Congress for the second time, following the great success of the first edition in 2014. Against the background of global change, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan is set to transform the Saudi economy, with massive consequences for its maritime and logistics sectors. This event will provide a unique opportunity to see at first hand the scale and nature of the developments which are now unfolding in the Kingdom, as it consolidates its role as a major industry player and as a global logistics hub.”
The Saudi Maritime Congress will provide an ideal platform for discussing with key players the future direction of maritime and logistics policy in the Kingdom and for showcasing the commercial and investment opportunities which this ambitious pathway towards sustainable development represents.
US $3 billion invested in acquisitions and expansions tailored to widen global footprint with an eye on future trade solutions
Global trade enabler DP World deepened its engagement with revolutionary new technologies, diversified its global business portfolio through investments and acquisitions worth US $3 billion and extended meaningful support to environmental initiatives around the world during 2018; achieving strategic growth in diverse fields.
The headline projects were the launch of DP World Cargospeed with Virgin Hyperloop One and taking over leadership of the technology company, digital transformation of business operations across the global portfolio, the game changing high bay storage system for containers at Jebel Ali, the successful launch of a $3 billion investment platform in India, acquisition of complementary businesses in Europe, India and Peru, and container port development projects in Africa. DP World also successfully closed the 100% acquisition of Drydocks World LLC (Drydocks).
People development was the other key area of focus through association with the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, to develop a strategic skills development programme and the 20Xel programme to recruit the brightest of the UAE nationals for future leadership roles.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “2018 was a successful year and a period of strategic growth for DP World in diverse fields. We made major strides in our evolution into a company that focuses on smarter trade to make lives better through data driven logistics. Innovation, with an eye on future trade solutions and acquisitions designed to expand our global business footprint were key.
Our sustained interest in tomorrow’s trade enabling technologies saw us taking a leadership role in Virgin Hyperloop One, our partners in developing DP World Cargospeed, the high speed transport system that will revolutionise the way we do trade. Simultaneously, we ended the year by embracing an existing technology to deliver a quantum leap in container stacking and storage in our flagship Jebel Ali Port. On its successful completion, we plan to adopt it across our other terminals.”
Mr. Bin Sulayem added: “Our partnerships and acquisitions too gathered pace in a wide range of locations and sectors. The $3 billion investment platform in India with the government’s National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF) saw us acquire Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd. Complementary businesses were also added to our global portfolio in Peru and in Europe with the Unifeeder Group.
“Our activity in Africa gathered pace as we signed an agreement with the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) to implement the first phase of an integrated industrial and residential zone in Sokhna, Egypt. We will also soon build and operate a 1,000-hectare modern logistics hub outside of Bamako in the Republic of Mali. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we announced a new concession for the management and development of a greenfield multi-purpose port at Banana, the first deep-sea port in the country along its small coastline of 37 kilometres.
Last but not least, Ethiopia became a shareholder of the Port of Berbera as we invest in infrastructure to develop the Berbera Corridor as a trade gateway for the landlocked nation, which is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Construction began on the expansion works in Berbera and we look forward to helping the region develop its economic potential.
Elsewhere, our activities in Kazakhstan developed as we signed two framework agreements to run Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Aktau and Khorgos which act as primary transit points for trans-Eurasian cargo trains. DP World acquired a 51% stake in the Khorgos SEZ and 49% in the Aktau SEZ, with both facilities playing an important role in enhancing trade connectivity along the New Silk Route.
In the Americas, we have agreed on terms for the next phase of expansion for the DP World Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal on the Pacific Coast of Canada. In Europe, a new cruise passenger terminal at DP World Limassol opened providing world-class facilities and services for passengers.
The Chairman& CEO of DP World Group concluded: “Despite the challenging global economic uncertainties, we have experienced continued revenue growth by focusing on high value cargo, operational efficiencies and consistently delivering value to our customers through smart solutions. We are committed to continue to build on the gains of the past year as we enter 2019.”
Some of DP World’s headlines in 2018 included:
January:
Global trade enabler DP World and the National Investment And Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) partner to create a $3 billion platform for investments in ports, transportation and logistics sector in India. The equity will invest in acquiring assets and develop projects beyond seaports such as river logistics, freight corridors, ICDs and cold storage.
DP World embarked on a programme to drive digital transformation across its business operations worldwide using Oracle Cloud Applications (SaaS). The digital transformation programme supports the company’s strategy to develop complementary sectors in the global supply chain such as industrial parks, free zones and logistics to add value for all its stakeholders. The move supports its vision to become a digitised global trade enabler. As part of this new platform it will also incorporate technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet Of Things (IOT) and Block Chain, to deliver smarter operations and create intelligent logistics to benefit customers.
February:
As part of its growing India story, DP World signs agreement with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to explore opportunities to develop trade infrastructure in the Indian state. Projects under discussion include warehouses and specialised storage solutions that will encourage inter-modal transfer of containers, bulk and break-bulk cargo. Opening up the Indian hinterland through new infrastructure and facilities is one of the ways that the Indian economy will continue to grow.
DP World commenced arbitration proceedings against the Government of Djibouti at the London Court of International Arbitration following the illegal seizure of the Doraleh Container Terminal S.A. The Terminal was designed, built and successfully operated by DP World under a concession awarded in 2006. The state-of-the-art Terminal is the largest employer and biggest source of revenue in the country. It has operated at a profit every year since it opened.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World and Admiral Mohab Mamish, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority and the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), signed an agreement to implement the first phase of development of an integrated industrial and residential zone in Sokhna. The joint venture between SCZone (51%) and DP World (49%) with DP World managing the zone, will result in the development a comprehensive industrial zone in Sokhna spanning 75 square kilometres, as well as increasing the capacity of Sokhna port and linking it to the industrial zone to fuel foreign investment and trade growth.
March:
March was a busy month for the global trade enabler, with acquisitions and concessions from Asia to Latin America and Africa.
Ethiopia became a shareholder of the Port of Berbera following the signing of an agreement with global trade enabler DP World and the Somaliland Port Authority. DP World will hold a 51% stake in the project, Somaliland 30% and Ethiopia the remaining 19%. The government of Ethiopia will also invest in infrastructure to develop the Berbera Corridor as a trade gateway for the inland country, which is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
DP World and the Somaliland Government signed in Dubai the final agreement to develop a greenfield economic free zone in Somaliland to complement the growth of the Port of Berbera signed between DP World and its government in Dubai.
Just two months after its launch, Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture between global trade enabler DP World and India’s National Investment And Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), announced the acquisition of a 90% stake in Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Seva) Ltd (CWCNSL), an integrated multimodal logistics player in India. CWCNSL’s founders, the Reddy family, will retain the remaining 10% shareholding and will remain involved in the business operations. It is the first investment of HIPL, the investment vehicle created to invest up to US$ 3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors. CWCNSL’s logistics network is spread across key strategic locations in India, including Warehousing, Container Freight Stations (CFS), Inland Container Depots (ICD), Private Freight Terminals (PFT) and integrated logistics solutions.
DP World extended its footprint in Latin America with the acquisition of Peruvian logistics provider Cosmos Agencia Maritima S.A.C. (CAM) for $315.7 million. CAM owns a fully integrated logistics service business (Neptunia S.A and Triton Transport S.A) that offers end-to-end solutions to its customers. The logistics division offers an integrated platform of solutions in activities related to foreign trade, product storage and distribution, as well as freight services that facilitate development and implementation of industry specific projects. In addition to the maritime and logistics services offered by Cosmos Group, DP World also has a 50% stake in Terminales Portuários Euroandinos S. A., in the Port of Paita, the second largest container terminal in Peru.
DP World and the Government of Kazakhstan signed two framework agreements in Abu Dhabi relating to the acquisition, governance and management of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in Aktau and Khorgos. DP World has been providing management services to the Port of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s main cargo and bulk terminal on the Caspian Sea, and Khorgos SEZ, which is strategically situated on the China-Kazakhstan border and has been acting as the primary transit point for trans-Eurasian cargo trains. DP World will now acquire a 51% stake in the Khorgos SEZ and 49% in the Aktau SEZ, with both facilities playing an important role in enhancing trade connectivity along the New Silk Route.
DP World’s African presence expanded following a new 30-year concession, with an option of a further 20-year extension, for the management and development of a greenfield multi-purpose port at Banana, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Port of Banana will be the first deep-sea port in the country along its small coastline of 37 kilometres. DP World will set up a joint venture with 70% control, and the government of DRC holding a 30% share, to manage and invest in the facility. The initial investment of $350 million will be spread over 24 months and the total project cost of more than $1 billion over four phases will be dependent on market demand for the port, industrial and logistics zone infrastructure.
April:
DP World unveiled a new partnership with Virgin Hyperloop One to build an ultra high speed cargo delivery system. The joint venture, named DP World Cargospeed, will design a hyperloop system to deliver freight from point to point. The announcement was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in addition to Richard Branson, the Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. The revolutionary new transport network is designed to move goods anywhere in the world and will provide deliveries at air speed at the price of transport by land. The proposed network would serve both passengers and freight, connecting ports to the supply chain. Time sensitive goods would be packed in special pods that would replace the traditional shipping containers and could be loaded directly into hyperloop pods.
DP World staged the first ever live virtual Annual General Meeting for shareholders at its headquarters in Jebel Ali. Shareholders were connected by a live webcast and telephone conference facility across the region and the world in order to cast their votes on the re-election of Board members and to be briefed on the company’s recent performance and growth strategy. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said it’s “a very useful way of keeping the key up to date with what is happening across our business and global network.”
May:
DP World signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic skills development programme, which will focus on leadership and business management with the renowned Erasmus University, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The joint initiative called “Evolve”, will develop aspiring business unit and regional heads across DP World’s global portfolio in 40 countries.
The President of Cyprus, His Excellency Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, inaugurated the new cruise passenger terminal at DP World Limassol at a ceremony attended by DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and 300 guests. The terminal will enable the largest cruise ships in the world to visit the country for the first time. It provides world-class facilities and services for passengers and features seven pods with a total floor area of 8,205 m2. At DP World Limassol, the terminal is separated into three principal areas: Cruise, Oil and Gas logistics zone, and Domestic/transit trade area. This allows DP World Limassol to offer additional services and operations that support the Cyprus economy.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed by DP World, Egypt’s Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport and the Suez Canal Authority is aiming to develop a new Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Egypt’s 6th of October City, a satellite town in the Giza Governorate and part of the urban area of Cairo. The proposed ICD will increase the flow of cargo between ships and major land transportation networks in the country, creating a central distribution point.
Global trade enabler DP World successful closed the acquisition of 100% shares of Cosmos Agencia Marítima S.A.C. (CAM) in Peru signed in March. CAM is a leading fully integrated logistics provider in Peru and deal was valued at $315.7 million. This also includes 100% of the shares in Triton Transports and Neptunia, and 50% in Terminales Portuarios Euroandinos S.A., in the Port of Paita, which is the second largest container terminal in Peru. This transaction expands DP World’s footprint in Peru by adding another container terminal to the existing terminal at Callao as well as integrated logistics services.
June:
Marking World Environment Day, DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) launched the UAE’s first green storage and warehouse facilities in Dubai, helping business to reduce their carbon footprint. The global trade enabler’s sustainable, long term growth is aligned with the United Nation’s ninth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
Elsewhere, global trade enabler DP World has become the first company in its sector to join the World Ocean Council (WOC) as part of its leadership journey to actively engage in the protection of the world’s oceans. By becoming a member of the growing international multi-industry alliance on “Corporate Ocean Responsibility” DP World will advance its role as a responsible leadership company.
The Port of Prince Rupert and DP World have agreed on terms of a project development plan that outlines the next phase of expansion for the DP World Prince Rupert Fairview Container Terminal on the Pacific Coast of Canada. The Phase 2B expansion will increase annual throughput capacity at Canada’s second largest container terminal to 1.8 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) when complete in 2022. The project follows the 2017 completion of Fairview Phase 2A, which increased the terminal capacity by 500,000 TEUs to its current capacity of 1.35 million TEUs. Construction on Phase 2B will begin in mid-2019.
July:
A new electronic trade portal that will enable trade and make life easier for business has been launched in the Dominican Republic by Dubai Trade World (DT World). As a subsidiary of DP World, DT World will provide its ‘Mawani’ system that connects logistics services onto one platform, as well as management and consultancy services to DR Trade – a new joint venture company formed by DP World Caucedo and the Haina International Terminal.
A range of food donation drives were organised during this year’s Holy Month of Ramadan by global trade enabler DP World across its network to benefit more than 120,000 people in the UAE, Senegal, Indonesia, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Mozambique and Republic of Somaliland.
Michael Johnson Performance (MJP), an internationally recognised leader in athletic development and improvement, joins forces with DP World to launch MJP Dubai, a first of its kind world class sports facility in the Middle East. The 38,750 square feet facility located in the heart of Dubai offers members the ultimate fitness experience with individual personal training sessions, group fitness classes, sports medicine and nutrition, and athletic development programs for young athletes, and high performance training programs for professional athletes, all under one roof.
Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture between DP World and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), announced that the transaction to acquire 90% stake in Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Seva) Ltd in India has now closed.
Global trade enabler DP World has signed a 20- year concession with the Republic of Mali to build and operate a 1,000-hectare modern logistics hub outside of Bamako. The multimodal logistics platform, Mali Logistics Hub (MLH), will have inland container depots (ICD) and Container Freight Stations (CFS) that will facilitate the import and export of goods. The MLH will be located on the main road corridor from Dakar, Senegal to Bamako and will be capable of handling 300,000 TEU (twentyfoot equivalent unit), 4 million tons of bulk and general cargo. The first phase of the project, with an estimated initial investment of $50 million, will include an inland container depot and container freight station. DP World will also provide the Republic of Mali with three locomotive trains to boost cargo and passenger traffic along the Bamako-Dakar rail system.
August:
An Arbitral Tribunal of the London Court of International Arbitration (“LCIA”) today confirmed the illegitimacy of the Government of Djibouti’s action of seizing control of the Doraleh Container Terminal from DP World. The LCIA Tribunal has ruled that Doraleh Container Terminal’s Concession Agreement “remains valid and binding notwithstanding Law 202 and the 2018 Decrees”. Law 202 and the referenced decrees were devices enacted by Djibouti to seek to evade Djibouti’s contractual obligations, and these have been found to be ineffective in law. DP World will now reflect on the ruling and review its options.
DP World announced the acquisition of 100% of the Unifeeder Group (“Unifeeder”) for €660 million from Nordic Capital Fund VIII and certain minority shareholders. Based in Aarhus (Denmark), Unifeeder operates the largest and most densely connected common user container feeder and an important and growing shortsea network in Europe, serving both deep-sea container hubs and the intra-Europe container freight market.
September:
A new order from the High Court of Justice in London has ruled that the Djibouti government cannot treat the joint venture agreement with global trade enabler DP World as terminated and cannot remove directors of the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) joint venture company without DP World’s consent.
The move followed notification of an extraordinary meeting on 9 September called by the Djibouti government to replace directors of the Doraleh Container terminal (DCT) joint venture company. The Djibouti government hold 66% of the shares in DCT and DP World 33%.
October:
Construction work on the multi-purpose Port of Berbera in Somaliland has started. H.E. President of the Republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi and DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem launched the first phase of work. The first phase will consist of building a 400-metre quay and 250,000 square metre yard extension as well as the development of a free zone to create a new regional trading hub. DP World Berbera, the joint venture company, will also serve land locked countries in the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia which has a 19% stake in the project as a shareholder. Long term DP World partner
Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture between DP World (65%) and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) (35%), has won the bid to develop and operate the Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) at India’s largest container gateway – Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for $78mn. This is the second investment for HIPL, following the acquisition of a 90% stake in multimodal logistics company Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd. The FTWZ comes with a long-term concession of 60 years and will be developed across 18 hectares at JNPT’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The facility is expected to be operational by 2020.
November:
DP World joined four other leading global container port operators to undertake a week-long initiative to promote sustainable resource usage in their respective port and facility networks. During the fifth annual Go Green Initiative, 8,332 employees of DP World, Hutchison Ports, PSA International, Port of Rotterdam and Shanghai International Port Group collected a total of 1,966 kg of aluminium cans and 2,227 mobile phones for recycling
Virgin Hyperloop One, the only company that has developed a full scale hyperloop system, announced that Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, has been elected as its new Chairman. Jay Walder, who is one of the world’s leading mass transportation and technology executives, has been appointed as its new CEO. Walder will also join the company’s Board of Directors.
December:
Global trade enabler DP World has successfully closed the acquisition of 100% of the Unifeeder Group, an integrated logistics company with the largest and best-connected feeder and growing shortsea network in Northern Europe with connectivity to approximately 100 ports. Unifeeder’s current operations, which offer a unique platform for independent logistics solutions, are complementary to DP World’s existing business and offer future growth opportunities. The transaction valued at €660 million will enhance DP World’s presence in the global supply chain and broaden its services to customers with a view to ultimately reduce inefficiencies and improve the competitiveness of global trade.
A revolutionary new container storage and stacking project was launched in Jebel Ali Port by DP World and industrial engineering specialists SMS Group. The High Bay Storage, an intelligent storing system, will be applied for the first time ever at Jebel Ali Terminal 4, in time for the Dubai Expo 2020 world fair. The system was originally developed by SMS group subsidiary AMOVA for round the clock handling of metal coils that weigh as much as 50 tons each in racks as high as 50 metres. Containers are stored in an eleven-story rack, creating 200 percent more capacity than a conventional container terminal. Each container can be accessed without having to move another one, enabling 100 percent utilization in a terminal yard.
Following the successful roll out of its 20Xel leadership programme for UAE national graduates, DP World is seeking a new batch of applicants to join the next intake. The programme provides participants with management opportunities with a range of focus areas involving leadership training and contact with senior management, developing business skills and experiencing coaching and networking opportunities to build successful leadership habits while learning about DP World’s global business.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company contributed to the 33rd National Festival for Heritage and Culture (Janadriyah – 33) by transporting the equipment of the inauguration ceremony that occurred on the 20th of DEC, organized by the Ministry of National Guard.
Saudia Cargo shipped 60 tons of equipment, tools, screens, and cables from Châlons Vatry International Airport, France to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh by a B747-400F Aircraft on Dec 8, then the whole load was carried back to Vatry by the 24th on the same month.
Saudia Cargo stated that throughout the past years, the company stands by Janadriyah festival deploying all its resources, logistic services and freighter capabilities for the success of this national heritage and cultural great event which comes as part of its continual national role.
Saudia Cargo provides an extensive global network spanning four continents, with different international and domestic destinations, it operates a dedicated freighter fleet and offers ample capacity for its clients with a comprehensive range of Air Cargo and ground handling services.
Providing service to 124 countries around the world as one of the fastest growing air cargo brands, Turkish Cargo organized a special event titled ‘Turkish Cargo & IATA CEIV Pharma Workshop’ for the leading pharmaceutical companies, officials from IATA, agents and business partners.
Addressing the dedicated solutions and organized with the aim of developing new perspectives to add value to the industry, the event started with the presentation titled “Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) in Pharmaceutical Handling” by Francisco Rizzuto, Cargo Specialist Manager for Europe at IATA, and the presentation titled ‘Turkish Cargo CEIV Pharma Project’ by Abdullah Bahadır Büyükkaymaz, Special Cargo Manager at Turkish Cargo.
During the event attended by Cem Kolak, Managing Director of BL – Biopharma, Cem Selcuk, Office Manager at World Courier, Emre Gollu, Supply Chain Manager at UCB Pharma, and Leyla Koc, Product Development Director at Horoz Bollore Airfreight, as panelists; Ahmet Kaya, Vice President of Cargo (Customer Relations) at Turkish Cargo delivered a speech during which he exchanged opinions with the leading decision-makers across the industry.
Embracing more than 50 attendants and providing the opportunity to express and raise the awareness on the services of Turkish Cargo, the event ended upon the closing speech by Turhan Ozen, Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Airlines, following the cargo facility tour.
Acting with the aim of becoming one of the top five global air cargo brands by 2023, Turkish Cargo continues to provide contribution to the exports volume of Turkey with its services offered to more than 300 destinations, as well as each and every accomplished pharmaceuticals transport operation.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company transported 400 tons of equipment and supplies for the international event Cirque du soleil by four B747-400 freighter flights recently, from Zagreb, Croatia to the Saudi Capital Riyadh, where the event is taking place from Dec 17-29.
Saudia Cargo’s CEO, Omar Talal Hariri, said that the moment the company received the request from the client, we exerted every possible effort, considering all measures to ensure the safe transportation of shipment on time.”
Hariri added, “Saudi Cargo is proud to be a part of this entertainment event, providing all its logistical capabilities, and always keen to extend cooperation and join efforts with all stakeholders to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
Hariri concluded: “During the year, Saudia Cargo has contributed to many events, and festivals, due to its logistical capabilities in terms of its freighter fleet, charter services or ground handling services.”
It should be noted that Saudia Cargo carried the cars, spares, and the equipment of the FIA Formula E Championship that occurred in the 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix festival sponsored by Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Saudia Cargo extends its services to Calicut International Airport
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company ( SACC ) has extended its services to its customers offering a cargo capacity of 60 tons a week to Calicut International Airport (CCJ) in the Indian state of Kerala on the daily operation of Saudi Arabian Airlines passenger Airbus A330 flights, four flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) and other three operating from King Khalid International Airport (KKIA), aiming to meet the significant increase of demand for cargo services to the Indian Subcontinent enhancing the company’s operations and logistics.
Commenting on the new destination, Saudia Cargo CEO Omar Hariri stressed that the inauguration of the new route will support and bolster the firm’s presence in one of the most important sectors in Asia, moreover it will strengthen trade ties in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 as well as Saudia Cargo Strategy 2020.
Hariri added that Saudia Cargo is doing its best to support the agricultural products and general cargo of Kerala region exploring every way possible to increase the export from the neighboring cities of Calicut.
Saudia Cargo offers scheduled and charter services in a network covering Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Africa, Far East, and North America. It operates a fleet of different freighter aircraft (B747-8F, B747-400, and B777F) operating to many worldwide destinations in addition to ground handling and different logistical services.
New 2,500 km transport corridor from Jebel Ali to Naseeb border opens new intra-region opportunities.
Global trade enabler DP World has helped establish a 2,500 km long transport corridor from Jebel Ali to the Naseeb-Jaber border crossing between Jordan and Syria.
Trucks loaded with goods at its flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in the UAE have travelled through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in close collaboration with all customs authorities and customers.
The Naseeb-Jaber crossing was once one of the busiest checkpoints on the Damascus-Amman international highway and is the main crossing for Syrian exports to Jordan and Gulf countries.
The first convoy of three Dubai-registered trucks set off from Jafza loaded with dry and reefer cargo from Green Cedar Company, DP World’s partner in the transnational humanitarian operation and a Jafza-based logistics provider.
Their transit time of six days was just a fourth of the 24 days it used to take during the height of the political conflict that had shut down the border. On their return leg the trucks brought back fruits and vegetables to Dubai.
As many as 350 commercial trucks carrying electronics, detergent, chocolate, other foodstuffs and cars used to enter Syria and pass through to other countries daily before the closer of the border in the last three years.
The Naseeb border is the lifeline of the Jordanian economy as 70 per cent of its imports and exports pass through Syria under normal circumstances. The closing of the border in 2015 dealt a severe blow to the Jordanian economy, with the loss to Jordan’s logistics and transport sector alone estimated at around half a billion US dollars. Jordanian businesses also prefer the land route since exporting goods through the Naseeb crossing is three times cheaper than exporting through the Gulf of Aqaba.
Connecting Lebanon to this focussed and purposeful supply chain route was highly significant because its trade with the GCC region had suffered due to the regional upheavals in recent years. Lebanon’s trade deficit widened in the first 6 months of the year to reach $8.04B, compared to $7.94B, during the same period in 2017. Lebanese exports to Gulf markets decreased by half since the Naseeb crossing was closed by rebels in 2015.
Strategic partnership: ALS Logistic Solutions & Goldhofer have opened a joint Representative Office and Regional Logistics Center in Dubai
Based on the long-term relationship and in response to the recent increases in demand for internal airport logistics in the Middle East & Africa region, the world market leader Goldhofer Airport Technology opened a sales and service center in collaboration with Als Logistic Solutions on 11 December 2018 in Dubai.
Being well established and recognized on the local market, ALS Logistic Solutions expands partnership portfolio by strong strategic tie-up in aviation and logistics fields.
Goldhofer has decided to commit additional resources to the region. In cooperation with ALS as its longstanding partner, Goldhofer is set to significantly strengthen its presence in the Middle East & Africa region and marketing activities for its portfolio of GSE vehicles and services. The new sales and service center will be located in Jumeirah Lake Towers in Dubai.
The new facility will be managed by Roger Saadé, a long-standing Area Sales Manager for the region, who says: “Our new representative office will enable us to provide customers with more intensive local support and also to recruit new business partners for Goldhofer.” The sales team will be additionally strengthened by the appointment of Jouliana Abou Manneh as Support Engineer. Management of Customer Service and the creation and organization of a dedicated Goldhofer parts store has been entrusted to an experienced industry insider Philipp Berger who has been working for Goldhofer worldwide for many years now as an expert for ground support equipment (GSE).
“ALS is one of the leading Automation Solution Provider in the world with headquarter in Dubai. Our vision is mutual market growth with the help of latest technology and world-class equipment. Understanding the market need in prompt service supported by recently established logistics warehouse that allows attending GCC clients at the maximum speed.” – says Walid Khoury, Managing Director, ALS Logistic Solutions. “On behalf of ALS Team, we welcome Goldhofer members and look forward to fruitful cooperation”.
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently highlighted the outstanding achievements of the maritime sector before a high-level delegation composed of senior managers and employees of 11 leading French maritime companies. Headlining the achievements was the recent honour naming Dubai as one of the top five cities in International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD). During the meeting, DMCA officials discussed the competitive advantages of the local maritime sector, which currently hosts more than 7,400 companies and at least 13,000 maritime and investment activities.
Attendees took the opportunity to exchange best practices and experiences, with the French delegation praising Dubai for its pioneering achievements and global influence. The DMCA team, for its part, learned about the common business frameworks of the French companies looking to explore the prospects of entering the local maritime community to capitalize on its investment incentives, advanced infrastructure, and maritime and logistics capabilities.
The Dubai Maritime Virtual Cluster (DMVC) also presented its role as an effective tool in promoting positive interaction and active participation among maritime sector leaders given its flexibility, efficiency, and quality in providing a comprehensive and integrated portfolio of services. Moreover, the DMCA stressed on the importance of DMVC in the fields of research, development and innovation—emphasizing on the significant role it plays in the move to enhance maritime safety, reduce carbon footprint and achieve sustainability, in line with the goals of Dubai Maritime Vision to build a secure and sustainable maritime sector capable of supporting the Dubai’s economic diversification efforts.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA said: “the visit was another proof of the international community’s strong confidence in the capabilities of Dubai’s maritime industry, one of the world’s leading maritime capitals. The meeting was another means to strengthen communication between local and French maritime industry leaders, paving the way for Dubai to showcase numerous local investment opportunities and its achievements towards leadership under the guidance of its wise leadership and through the effective partnerships between government and private sectors, regional and global organisations with a focus on highlighting the promising prospects for regional and international investors within the local maritime sector in support of the emirate’s economic diversification strategy.
Ali added: “We had fruitful discussions about future collaborative efforts between Dubai and France, especially in the context of our quality focused initiatives that encourage the involvement of the global maritime community in the activities of the local maritime segment, led by the DMVC, which is based on a mechanism that covers the development of the maritime cluster, empowerment, education and participation, providing an ideal platform for promoting innovation, research and development, the adoption of best maritime practices and the facilitation of access of maritime leaders to world-class maritime services in Dubai. We look forward to working together with French and international companies to ensure the transfer, dissemination, and enrichment of maritime knowledge, successful experiences and best practices with the maritime pioneers, which will reflect positively on the reality and future of the local and global maritime industry.”
The high-level French delegation included officials and representatives from leading maritime companies including Advanced Aerodynamics Vessels, Ecole Nationale des scaphadriers, Ecole Navale de Brest, Ecoslops, HGH Systemes Infrarouges, Naval Group Far East, Perfect Mooring, and Planitec, among others.
World’s first high bay container storing system to be ready for 2020 World Expo in Dubai
An international joint-venture formed by global trade enabler DP World and industrial engineering specialists SMS group will revolutionize the way that containers are handled in ports. A new and intelligent storing system will be applied for the first time ever at Jebel Ali Terminal 4, in time for the Dubai Expo 2020 world fair.
The High Bay Storage system was originally developed by SMS group subsidiary AMOVA for round the clock handling of metal coils that weigh as much as 50 tons each in racks as high as 50 metres. AMOVA is the first company to transfer this proven technology to the port industry.
Instead of stacking containers directly on top of each other, which has been global standard practice for decades, the system places each container in an individual rack compartment. Containers are stored in an eleven-story rack, creating 200 percent more capacity than a conventional container terminal, or creating the same capacity in less than a third of the space.
Thanks to the rack’s design each container can be accessed without having to move another one, enabling 100 percent utilization in a terminal yard. The system brings big gains in speed, energy efficiency, better safety and a major reduction in costs. Costs are further cut by the ability to shorten the time taken to load and unload mega-ships by as much as 30 percent.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO, said: “DP World’s experience and expertise in moving cargo coupled with the technology of AMOVA will ensure the system is remarkably efficient and relevant for present and future operations. As a world first in our industry we are tremendously excited by its potential and groundbreaking features. Our engagement in new technologies is a major priority and we have become known for seeking ways that transform the way goods are moved across the world. Innovation is part of our DNA and at the heart of our success.”
Burkhard Dahmen, CEO of SMS Group, said: “Our subsidiary AMOVA has optimized this technology in industrial applications for the metals industry over several decades. The application for container terminals is a direct result of our “New Horizon” strategy, in which SMS transfers technology from the metallurgical sector to other industries.”
Dr. Mathias Dobner, CEO of the joint venture, said: “This new container handling technology allows cities to use their expensive and sensitive land and waterfront areas more effectively. Our system will significantly increase the productivity of handling ships on the quay. This means that quay walls can be shortened by a third. This disruptive innovation will greatly improve the financial performance of container ports, and well as their overall appearance.”
Saudia Cargo helped bring the Saudia Airlines sponsored FIA’s Formula-E championship to Riyadh. Saudia, for the first time, is sponsoring the season opening race for the ABB FIA Formula E Championship that will be held, also for the first time, in the historic city of Ad Diriyah, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, from 13-15 of December.
The cars, spares and the various equipment were carried from several European destinations into King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, a total of 58 cars aboard several aircraft with a combined load exceeding 220 tons!
These heavy loads were carried for the 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix. The Saudi Arabian Airlines sponsored event will take place in Ad Diriyah, a UNESCO world heritage site and the historical capital of the Kingdom, serving as the host for the E-Prix, one of the biggest annual global sporting events.
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, is a class of auto racing that uses only electric-powered cars. Inspired by innovation, this race utilizes eco-friendly electric energy, moreover, it offers the amazing excitement of track racing. The inaugural championship started in Beijing in September 2014, and it tours the most iconic cities around the world, such as New York, Paris, Hong Kong and now the series fifth season opening race is starting in Ad Diriyah.
Coming in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the three-day festival provides a wide variety of entertainment activities, from the Formula-E races to live musical live performances to the Allianz E-Village, an area full of innovative electric cars and gaming platforms, providing an excellent opportunity for fans and families to discover the world of Formula E.
Earlier in the year, Saudia Cargo carried all the equipment of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event to the Kingdom for the ‘Crown Jewel’ tournament and transported two satellites from Riyadh to Shanghai. Further, ground handling took a special care facilitating the delivery of the valuable authentic Russian portrait by Wassily Kandinsky which was displayed in the future investment initiative in Riyadh.
HIGH-TECH CHINESE POLYMER PRODUCTION MANUFACTURER EXPANDS IN JAFZA
China XD plant raises Jafza’s profile as destination of choice for global technology industries
China XD, one of China’s leading specialty chemical companies and one of the top 500 non-stated owned enterprises has opened a new facility under its subsidiary – Al Composites Materials FZE in JAFZA.
The company is involved in the development, manufacture and sale of polymer composite materials for automotive applications worldwide.
The opening marks a new phase in Jafza’s evolution as the destination of choice for international high-tech industries in the UAE and across the region.
Products developed and sold by China XD include 3-D printable filament; 3-D printable powder; bio-based composite materials, including biomass composites; petroleum-based long-chain nylon alloys and high-end engineering.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said: “We welcome China XD’s decision to expand their operations in Jafza with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for high technology products. It marks another landmark occasion for DP World and Jafza as we continue our growth as economic contributors in line with Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030. We thank China XD for the confidence they’ve place in our ability to support their growth and expansion plans.”
“Our strategic direction has been to focus on a phased growth journey across our business divisions. In today’s changing world we’re delivering future-ready infrastructure and capabilities that offer a competitive and business environment to our customers. We’re committed to establishing a trade corridor by attracting, retaining, and developing customers through high-quality logistics and industrial solutions enhanced by innovative, differentiated services.”
Jie Han, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officerof China XD said: “As the first new material manufacturer rooted from China building a production facility in the Middle East, Dubai Xinda （Al Composites Materials FZE）will play a vital role as a logistic and manufacturing hub for the company with a focus on top end polymer composite materials, including long chain nylon alloy and other specialty engineering plastics for our product development, quality assurance, marketing and distribution in the Middle East and EU. Dubai Xinda will also provide support to our international clientele in customer support, logistics and delivery.”
The new facility was inaugurated by Ahmed Al Haddad, Chief Operating Officer, Jafza, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.
China XD was founded in 1985 and is a pioneer of polymer composite materials in China. It has been a Jafza customer since 2014 when it established Al Composites Materials FZE. The new plant will include 45 fully customised and automated production lines and 11,250 metric tons of annual capacity by 2019.
Products are used in the exteriors and interiors of 31 automobile brands manufactured in China, including Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Toyota, Buick, Chevrolet, Mazda, Volvo, Ford, Citroen, VW Passat, Golf, Jetta.
Corporate website of Turkish Cargo is now globally accessible with its updated interface.
Corporate website of Turkish Cargo, the fastest-growing brand across the global air cargo industry, is updated and now accessible all around the world. Designed to be less complicated but more functional, the new interface will enable all users to reach any kind of information about the exclusive world of Turkish Cargo.
On the newly-released website, users will be able to not only perform all frequently-used processes such as flight schedule, cargo tracking, terminal charges, flight network, fleet and station details inquiry, but also reach any kind of up-to-date information about the products, contents and services provided by Turkish Cargo to its clients in 123 countries around the world.
Designed with the previous user experiences in mind, the new interface is compatible with laptops and desktops, besides various mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones, and aims to carry the user experience level up to the top point in functionality.
Turkish Cargo, a global air cargo brand, keeps taking firm and substantial steps in digitalization processes in line with its aim of becoming one of the top-five global air cargo brands in 2023.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
DP WORLD, UAE REGION NAMED BEST PORT OPERATOR AT LLOYD’S LIST AWARDS
DP World, UAE Region was awarded the prestigious Port Operator award at this year’s Lloyd’s List South Asia, Middle East & Africa Awards ceremony that was held at the Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai. Shahab Al Jassmi, Commercial Director, Ports & Terminals of DP World, UAE Region received the award on behalf of the global trade enabler.
Lloyd’s List South Asia, Middle East & Africa Awards are among the most prestigious recognitions for companies in the logistics and maritime trade sectors, with awardees being recognised as leaders in setting best practices and standards for the industry.
The judges emphasised DP World’s scope of work, well-documented and measured Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and its commitment to innovation, safety and the environment.
Mohammed Al Muallem, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said: “We’re honoured to have won this award, which reaffirms our efforts to enable trade through industry leading innovation and creating a customer-centric business model.
Our flagship Jebel Ali Port has become a key part of the global supply chain, reaching out to over three billion people across the Middle East, North and East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
“Through the unique ecosystem created between Jebel Ali Port and Jafza, we have created one of the most modern and efficient supply chains in the region that caters to the new era of on-demand logistics. Through the use of cutting edge technologies and industry leading benchmarks, we allow trade to happen in a seamless and efficient manner that supports the diversification of the UAE’s economy.”
DP World also sponsored this year’s Lloyd’s List Intelligence Innovation Award that recognised leading innovators in the maritime sector.
Swisslog a global leader in robotic, data-driven and flexible automated solutions.
The event is expected to draw hundreds of attendees as well as industry professionals and decisions makers. At the trade show, representatives at Swisslog will meet with business leaders to discuss material handling issues and answer questions related to fast, high-quality distribution and logistical processes.
Alain Kaddoum, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East said Materials Handling Saudi Arabia is an important expo for Swisslog to be present given that the company has been active in the region for more than five years. Some of the company’s recent customer wins include Almarai and Mai Dubai amongst others, including the recently secured new projects in Saudi Arabia.
According to a research study conducted by YouGov, retailers in the KSA state that the Internet of Things (38 percent) and Big Data (34 percent) will have the biggest impact in shaping the industry, furthermore, 87 percent of retailers in the UAE and 89 percent in Saudi Arabia who have adopted new automation technologies said they have seen a positive impact on productivity. Overall process automation in the Middle East and Africa market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.15% between 2018 and 2023.
At the expo, Alain Kaddoum will conduct a session on November, 28th at 1pm presenting intelligent automation in warehousing and distribution with insights into achieving the highest productivity and accuracy. He will also participate in a panel discussion conducted on the same day to discuss the latest technologies available in the sector as well as address the key pain points faced by businesses in the region.
“Future-ready warehousing and distribution solutions will enable companies to stay ahead of the competition. At Swisslog, we are constantly innovating our competitive technology to meet the demands of today’s omni-channel storage and distribution. We are extremely proud to demonstrate the power of big data with Industry 4.0 while laying the foundations for artificial intelligence to achieve new levels of warehouse automation dynamics,” commented Alain Kaddoum, General Manager at Swisslog Middle East.
Since inception, the Middle East team at Swisslog has grown steadily in size year-on-year and plays a critical role in supporting the company’s Logistics Automation continual global growth strategy and in driving its leadership position in automated intralogistics solutions throughout the region. As a growing global company, Swisslog has a presence in more than 25 countries; in partnership with KUKA, the company covers the entire automation value chain with robotic and data-driven automated solutions that create additional value for businesses.
Most recently, the company added to its strength by appointing Anis El Shaar as Sales Manager specifically for the UAE and KSA markets, whose role will be to support new clients through the complete sales cycle and manage relationships with existing accounts. Anis El Shaar brings vast experience working with companies that design, manufacture and deploy advanced robotics systems for automation in warehouses, distribution and fulfillment centers.
Turkish Cargo’s growth trend continues without slowing down.
Turkish Cargo, providing service to 122 countries around the world as one of the fastest growing air cargo brands, has shown a very good performance in the first nine months of 2018. According to WACD (World Air Cargo Data), which provides information about the international air cargo market, Turkish Cargo has achieved a 29 percent rise in revenue and 25 percent rise in transported cargos between January and September in 2018 compared to the same period last year.
WACD data also displayed that the global air cargo market has shown the lowest growth average of the past five years considering the first nine months of 2018.
The market expansion average in the period between January and September, was at 2.8 percent globally while Turkish Cargo reached an increase of 29 and 25 percent in revenue and transported cargos, respectively. As the world’s fastest growing air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo successfully kept its place ranking 8th in the WACD list of top global air cargo service providers.
Achieving a sustainable growth with its newly-launched destinations, current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo keeps enhancing its capacity in more than 300 destinations included in its current flight network.
Authority highlights importance of maritime licensing policies for future of luxury yachts
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has joined the Middle East Yacht Conference 2018 to explore the future of luxury yachts alongside the requirements of the 21st century. The DMCA representatives, together with a group of decision makers, regional and international experts, and industry leaders, looked into key emerging trends and future prospects for the luxury yacht industry at the local and regional levels. Apart from highlighting trends over the past decade, the 12th edition gave the attendees a platform to discuss ways to enhance confidence in the Middle East’s luxury yacht industry through relevant marketing strategies.
Hamed Hassan, Director, DMCA’s Registration and Licensing, said: “The luxury yacht sector has proved to be a key contributor to Dubai’s achievements as one of the five most competitive and attractive maritime clusters in the world, thereby boosting the growth of the local maritime sector. The local maritime segment currently hosts more than 7,400 companies and at least 13,000 maritime and investment activities, contributing to the creation of over 76,000 jobs. Expectations are high that the sector’s share in the emirate’s gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 25 per cent over the next few years. Overall, the total value of the maritime sector in the UAE is expected to hit the USD 66-billion target by the end of 2018 and the value of the leisure boat industry will range between USD 1.3 billion and USD 1.5 billion. The UAE ranked ninth worldwide in the number of luxury yachts manufactured so far this year, solidifying further its leading position in the leisure maritime sector. To date, we have locally implemented 14 new luxury yacht projects with a combined length of 611 meters.”
Hassan added: “Our participation in the Middle East Yachting Conference 2018 aimed to help enhance the confidence of regional and international investors’ in the luxury yacht market in Dubai, which is at the forefront of building one of the world’s most exclusive, comprehensive, and attractive maritime communities based on the pillars of creativity, innovation, excellence, and technology. We are looking forward to supporting national and regional efforts to accelerate the growth of the yacht market. We are closely developing a leisure maritime tourism plan concerning luxury yachts in collaboration with Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). One of the strategies that we are looking at is introducing a package of incentives, including investment and legislative initiatives, designed to increase Dubai’s share in the global yacht sector to USD 74.7 billion by 2022. The event had paved the way for a meaningful exchange of experiences and best practices among regional and international maritime sector leaders, as well as led to the identification of modern mechanisms to drive Dubai and the Middle East’s leisure industries.”
Hamed joined a panel of industry experts in a forum titled “GCC Superyacht Charter business opportunities from the Government Perspective.’ During the session, he gave a detailed presentation of the DMCA’s outstanding progress in upgrading the licensing mechanism for maritime leisure facilities and luxury yachts in the emirate. He also discussed effective measures enhancing maritime safety and operational efficiency to ensure safe navigation in Dubai waters and increased investors’ confidence in the local maritime leisure sector. All these efforts are aligned with the ongoing efforts to increase the industry’s economic contribution to AED 300 billion as envisioned by the Dubai Tourism Vision 2020.
Hasan concluded: “The conference served as an ideal platform for us to highlight Dubai as an important center for maritime leisure tourism, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and up-to-date policies, regulatory frameworks, and licensing procedures that cater to the needs of owners and operators of luxury yachts and boats. We are looking forward to exploring opportunities in the luxury yacht sector in the GCC and the Middle East, bearing in mind the need for strong cooperation among maritime leaders to drive the growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of the yacht industry.”
GEFCO Group and Almajdouie Logistics create a joint venture in Saudi Arabia
The relationship between the two powerhouse companies began in January 2018 when they partnered to provide finished vehicle logistics services to Almajdouie Auto (MMC), the importer of Hyundai in Saudi Arabia. In its second phase, the joint venture plans to offer a full range of finished vehicle services to the Saudi Arabian market and will officially launch operations in the first half of 2019.
“We are very pleased to announce a 50-50 JV agreement with Almajdouie Logistics,” commented Luc Nadal, CEO of GEFCO Group. “The new JV will benefit from MLC’s strong position in the market and GEFCO’s experience in providing smart and flexible supply chain solutions to customers around the world. With 69 years of expertise in automotive logistics and leadership in finished vehicles, we look forward to contributing our unique know-how, high standards and cost-effective solutions to the JV company. This partnership also complements GEFCO’s growing presence in the Gulf, a region in which we have been delivering supply chain excellence for a number of years.”
“We are delighted to partner with GEFCO Group to serve the automotive logistics needs of the Saudi Arabian market,” said Baheej Al Biqawi, CEO of Almajdouie Logistics. “We are very excited about this joint venture, which is part of our development strategy to tap into new market opportunities. Through this partnership, our two groups will be able to leverage each other’s competitive strengths, enabling us to provide new options and cost-efficient solutions to our customers in the region. We are confident that our shared commitment to professionalism, quality, and innovation will cement this new venture’s reputation for service excellence.”
Dubai-based Tristar Group has acquired a 300 thousand barrel crude oil terminal that feeds into the deep water port of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. This positions the company well for forays in the US’ shale oil sector.
The Canal Crude Oil Terminal is within the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) which is a deep-water port in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.
The terminal acquired by Tristar, which is spread across 50 acres with 18 tanks, is capable of storing almost 350,000 BBLs. It has a loading capability of 3,000 to 4,000 BBLs per hour.
“This is a strategic investment that will not only complement Tristar‘s fuel farm business but also positions Tristar for an entry into the lucrative shale oil Industry in the US,” affirmed Eugene Mayne, CEO, Tristar Group.
In 2009, Tristar bought Shell Guam Agat Fuel Facility which is spread across 237 acres on the Pacific Island of Guam, making it one of the largest fuel storage terminals in the Pacific with a storage capacity of 4.2 million barrels.
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has revealed its successful participation at this year’s Dubai Marine Insurance Conference. The conference recently gathered decision makers, experts, and pioneers in the marine insurance, trade and shipping sectors at the Queen Elizabeth II Hotel in Port Rashid, Dubai to discuss new industry trends that are currently affecting the local and global trade and shipping sectors. Its participation formed part of its continuous commitment to the development of the marine insurance industry, drawing on the experience of Dubai and the UAE as a leading global center for shipping cargo and export and re-export goods.
Khalid Meftah, Director of Business Development, DMCA, said: “The Dubai Marine Insurance Conference gave stakeholders an opportunity to tackle emerging trends and sustainable solutions that will bring the sector to a new level of growth driven by innovation and technology in line with the 21st century requirements. As a sponsor, the DMCA, aimed to highlight Dubai’s pioneering experience in the development of marine insurance policies in its bid to raise its global competitiveness and increase the attractiveness of its maritime clusters. Today, Dubai ranked fifth among the best international shipping centers in the world.”
He also stressed the importance of combining local and international efforts to improve marine insurance, which provides a reliable mechanism to accelerate the growth of the local shipping segment that now accounts for 80 per cent of the total volume of the global shipping sector. He pointed out that Dubai and the UAE are now an influential force on the global maritime insurance map. Total marine insurance premiums in the UAE insurance market reached AED1.1 billion in 2017, up by 10 per cent compared to 2016. During the same period, the country saw a 3.5 per cent increase in in total property and liability insurance premiums.
Meftah added: “National companies are a major contributor to the development of the local marine insurance sector, taking a 71 per cent market share in 2017 while 29 per cent was occupied by foreign insurance subsidiaries. The growth of the marine insurance reflects the success of the national polices supporting the overall development of the maritime industry, an important sector in the emirate’s economic diversification and post-oil strategies.
Meftah further stated: “Dubai and the UAE are world leaders in marine insurance industry, which is critical to the maritime sector’s competitiveness and attractiveness. Due in part to its robust marine insurance sector and the support of its wise leaders, Dubai won the Category B membership of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Public and private institutions are collaborating closely together to build an integrated maritime community, taking advantage of its competitive elements such as an advanced infrastructure, legislative and logistics systems and strategic location linking East and West. Today’s urgent need for developed marine insurance policies is growing amid the rising confidence of the international maritime community in the UAE. The country now hosts 20 international ports, many of which are among the top 10 ports worldwide in terms of advanced transport and shipping infrastructure.”
“The DMCA is fully committed to continue to share its successful experiences with the world in the hope of strengthening local and international partnerships with the government and private sectors. We will continuously strive to find new and innovative ways to promote marine insurance, in line with our aspirations to build a safe, renewable and sustainable maritime sector that supports the overall development process of Dubai,” Meftah concluded.
More than 130 projects sold worldwide, making the company the number one AutoStore integrator
As customer demand is quickly growing, so too is the need for flexible, robotic solutions. The global explosion in the growth of e-commerce in both the business-to-consumer and business-to-business segments has led to increased demand for more scalable, modular solutions to meet rapidly changing customer demands.
As one of the most flexible and space efficient goods-to-person solutions available today, AutoStore, a cube-based system, has revolutionized e-commerce fulfillment and small item order picking. The scalable system can be deployed relatively quickly in almost any warehouse environment, providing dramatic improvements in space utilization and productivity compared to traditional shelf-based storage. In the UAE, three companies have deployed this solution till date, with more in the pipeline.
Alain Kaddoum, General Manager of Swisslog Middle East said, “I am proud we have such a strong relationship with AutoStore and have the freedom to develop our own solutions to increase efficiency for our customers even further. We believe that AutoStore provides exceptional customer value, and we are looking forward to continuing to deliver exciting automated projects based on this scalable, modular solution.”
Swisslog AutoStore integrator since 2009
Swisslog was one of the first AutoStore integrators, with the partnership beginning in 2009. The first installation went live in Munich, Germany at a new logistics center for AVNET, a distributor of electrical components. More customers like Competec Group decided to implement AutoStore and expanded the system as they were growing.
Today, Swisslog has sold more than 130 AutoStore projects in 19 countries. Almost 124 of these systems have already been implemented. After nearly 10 years of successfully implementing the AutoStore solution, Swisslog has gained invaluable experience in designing, developing and implementing the system. In fact, Swisslog has implemented both the world’s largest AutoStore system with 361,000 storage bins and the world’s smallest, with only 1,000 bins.
Strengthening AutoStore capabilities to meet future challenges
As consumer expectations for rapid fulfillment increase, companies are becoming more aware of how software and robotics can give them a huge advantage in the future. Swisslog’s intelligent automated item picking application ItemPiQ will allow companies to increase their picking capacity and acurancy within no time. With the development of flexible software solutions, Swisslog can offer AutoStore customers the intelligent tools to prepare their warehouse for future challenges. Developments like this are allowing new design capabilities for AutoStore, improving the efficiency of the concept even further, building on the vision of demand-driven, self-learning warehouses.
Kanoo Logistics has launched its brand new, sophisticated logistics facility near the King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern province.
The new distribution centre features a 100,000sqm. yard and a 10,000sqm. warehouse. The multipurpose facility contains 500sqm. of elevated staging area and 5,000sqft. of parking space.
“Kanoo Logistics chose this strategically situated venue with close proximity to the port to build the new warehouse since it is an ideal location to store both imported and exported goods,” said Fawzi Ahmed Kanoo, YBA Kanoo’s acting CEO.
Kanoo Logistics’ network includes both dedicated and multipurpose warehouses in Saudi Arabia (Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh), and in the UAE Oman and Bahrain, which have a combined capacity exceeding 40,000sqm. of storage space. It also holds open yard storage facilities in Saudi Arabia, comprising over 325,000sqm.
The network provides storage for a variety of products including the petrochemicals and automotive industries, as well as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and has a specialised hazardous chemicals facility in Dammam.
Offering service to 122 countries and being one of the fastest-growing air cargo brands around the world, Turkish Cargo continues to increase the number of QEP (Qualified Envirotainer Provider) accredited stations that demonstrates their commitment to providing quality services for the transportation of pharmaceutical products.
Having received the QEP accreditation for 15 new stations, including Helsinki Taipei, Vienna, Kuwait, Maastricht, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid, Cairo, Roma, Dusseldorf , Budapest, San Francisco.
Envirotainer, a company providing pharma-protective technological solutions, increased the number of its accredited stations to 38. The flag carrier air cargo brand has just presented its reliability in terms of handling of the Envirotainer containers and cold chain shipments, once more.
The containers of Envirotainer, which is an active temperature-controlled containers, demonstrate the achievement and reliability of Turkish Cargo in cold chain shipments. The successful air cargo brand, which has been granted with the IATA (CEIV) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (achievement of excellence in air cargo pharmaceuticals transportation cold chain) award in Istanbul Hub in 2016, has previously received the QEP accreditation for the most notable stations of the aviation market such as Frankfurt, Mumbai, Istanbul, Brussels and Atlanta.
By acting with its tailored products, it has generated for the consignments containing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, Turkish Cargo offers air cargo service to more than 300 destinations around the world, thanks to its extensive flight network. Turkish Cargo continues to provide the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world with the shipment quality of the Envirotrainer containers it has been using since 2015.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Exhibition supported by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports & Dubai South
International and regional exhibitors present latest innovations in helicopter, security & defence technologies
Ideal platform to highlight latest developments in helicopter technology
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai International Marine Club, inaugurated the 7th Dubai HeliShow, which is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Royal Pavilion at Al Maktoum International Airport, in the Dubai South area. The event features companies operating in the domestic and international aviation sectors and will continue until November 8.
Leading government and international organizations, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Police, and Dubai South are participating in Dubai HeliShow 2018. The event provides a unique platform for both regional and international players in military and civil helicopter technology and operations to showcase their latest products and innovations in commercial helicopter sector, security, and defence technologies.
Ahmad Abulhoul, Managing Director, Domus Group, organizers of Dubai HeliShow 2018: “The seventh edition of Dubai HeliShow will provide a direct gateway to emerging opportunities and will explore the available prospects, by bringing together leaders from the field of helicopter technology.”
Dubai HeliShow 2018 brings together industry leaders and experts to explore the future of helicopter industry as an integral part of the region’s aviation industry, in addition to highlighting the latest developments in the sector and exploring the future of the aerospace industry.
Two exclusive conferences are among the highlights of the three-day exhibition. The conferences titled ‘Helicopter Technology and Operations’ and ‘Military and Homeland Security’ will discuss a wide range of topics, including how to empower police forces with Internet of Things (IoT) tools; the role of women in homeland security; application of robotics in policing and helicopter; tackling new patterns in narco-terrorism by integrating intelligence, forensics and response operations; best practices to boost joint inter-agency cooperation between armed forces and homeland security agencies among many others. The increasing investments by government and private authorities around the world in the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as IoT, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and self-driving vehicles, and the use of advanced helicopters for various operations, will also be discussed.
Furthermore, the helicopter aviation sector awards ceremony will be held on the sidelines of the 7th Dubai HeliShow, with an aim to recognize the achievements and innovations shown by visionary organizations that are pushing boundaries in the sector. The event will serve as an ideal platform to compare the sector’s best projects and to benchmark the industry’s progress at the regional level.
Middle East’s leading free zone focused on helping build Dubai’s food and agriculture industries
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), the GCC’s leading free zone showcased its range of services at this year’s Agriscape 2018, the Middle East’s leading trade show for the agribusiness sector.
Jafza has become the preferred destination for agribusiness-related trade in the Middle East, including leading industry players such as Mars, Nestle, and Mondelez among others.
Foodstuff, animal and agricultural products are one of Jafza’s top five sectors with trade volumes of 3.5 million metric tonnes in 2017, and over 4,900 port customers. Fruits and vegetables, animal feed, grains and by-products and beverages are top traded commodities.
Over 500 companies from 64 countries in the sector have set up operations in Jafza with 6,550 employees. Over 39 per cent of the companies are from the Middle East, 22 per cent from Asia, 19 per cent from Europe and eight per cent from North America.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region said: “Helping build the UAE’s food security is a primary goal for DP World, UAE Region, and we are focusing on the supply chain to enhance the movement and long-term safe storage of foodstuffs and related products. Food consumption in the UAE is expected to reach 59.2 million tonnes by 2025, and rising incomes and consumer awareness over health and wellness will help drive industry growth over the coming years, making it the most promising agricultural market in the GCC. By building on our existing world class services and solutions, we are creating improved growth opportunities for our customers in the agribusiness sector and providing incentives for investors looking to tap into the UAE.”
“Through our Parks and Zones such as Jafza and the National Industries Park, we have opened opportunities for manufacturers of foodstuffs and animal and agricultural products to establish operations in Dubai. The connectivity between Jebel Ali Port, the 10th largest container port in the world, and Jafza allows us to link Dubai to a trade network that spans the Middle East, North and East Africa, and Indian subcontinent with access to over 2.5 billion people.”
The free zone offers 1.53 million sqm in combined facilities, including 1.5 million sqm for plots; 15,997 sqm for warehouses and 78 million sqm of land for investment. Customers also have access to a range of services such as three dedicated inspection sites operated by Dubai Municipality, quayside warehouses; cool and cold storage facilities and a Municipality Food Control Office that is open 24/7.
Agriscape is the GCC’s leading trade show dedicated to the agribusiness sector. It opened in 2008 and attracts leading industry companies and organisations from around the world to discuss sector opportunities and challenges as well as showcasing new innovations and technologies.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has once again helped bring World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event to the Kingdom by transporting all the equipment and supplies for the long-anticipated Crown Jewel tournament to Riyadh.
The WWE event, which millions of wrestling enthusiasts look forward to, will go ahead on time and as planned thanks to its highly-advanced logistics capabilities of the cargo company and its dedicated operations team.
Organized by the General Sports Authority, the Crown Jewel event will be held tomorrow (Friday) at King Saud University stadium in Riyadh with the participation of the best professional wrestlers in the world.
Saudia Cargo B747-8 transported the 100-ton equipment and machinery together with sound and lighting systems and other supplies from Maastricht, Netherlands, to Riyadh in mid-October.
Last April, the company transported the WWE heavy equipment and machinery including the parts of the wrestling ring from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Jeddah, where the WWE event took place.
Saudia Cargo boasts a state-of-the-art freighter fleet with large aircraft in addition to its capacity available on passenger airplanes. The company operate flights to various international destinations, offers charter services and delivers cost-effective solutions for myriad logistic services.
Clarksons Platou seminar discusses future of Middle East shipping & offshore operations during UAE Maritime Week 2018
Forum provides an ideal platform to share knowledge & expertise in areas that drive growth of maritime industry
The UAE Maritime Week 2018, organized by the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), hosted the Middle East Shipping & Offshore Seminar Seminar led by Clarksons Platou, the leading global in maritime brokerage and investment banking. The session witnessed participation from a wide range of local, regional and international maritime sector leaders. The seminar reviewed the current reality and the future of the operations of tankers, dry bulk carriers, offshore sectors and maritime projects in the region and presented an in-depth analysis by international experts from Clarksons Platou’s global network.
The Middle East Shipping and Offshore Seminar was held in the presence of Essam Bella, Managing Director of Clarksons Platou Dubai. The session included a series of panel discussions on issues affecting maritime shipping and offshore operations in the Middle East, including the development of the tanker market, the development of specialised products market and the future of dry bulk and offshore shipping markets, highlighting the success of the Suez Canal in attracting business despite the prevailing challenges in the international markets.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Maritime City Authority, said: “We are delighted to host the Clarksons Platou Seminar once again on the sidelines of the ongoing UAE Maritime Week 2018. The hosting of the event underscores the growing international confidence in Dubai as an incubator for international events that are capable of driving the growth of the maritime industry.” Ali highlighted the importance of the seminar as a forum that featured leading personalities within the maritime sector locally, regionally and globally to take advantage of the Clarksons Platou’s maritime analysis. The latest regional developments in maritime shipping and offshore sectors are indicative of the growth, sustainability and prosperity of maritime clusters in the world.”
Ali added: “We are glad to see Clarksons Platou’s active participation in the UAE Maritime Week 2018. It adds value to our growing portfolio of participating companies from the public and private sectors, through which, we look forward to providing the maritime community with the latest knowledge, expertise and best practices. This supports the development of a secure and sustainable maritime sector characterized by inclusiveness and renewal and the ability to support the economic diversification process pursued by the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE. “The success of the seminar will inspire us to continue our fruitful collaboration with leading entities in the global maritime landscape to host similar events in the coming years, with the aim to enrich knowledge and innovation, research and development and to enhance the competitiveness, comprehensiveness and attractiveness of Dubai as a world-class maritime capital.”
The Middle East Shipping and Offshore Seminar was held in the presence of Essam Bella, Managing Director of Clarksons Platou Dubai. The session included a series of panel discussions on issues affecting maritime shipping and offshore operations in the Middle East, including the development of the tanker market, the development of specialised products market and the future of dry bulk and offshore shipping markets, highlighting the success of the Suez Canal in attracting business despite the prevailing challenges in the international markets.
UAE Maritime Week 2018 will run until November 1, 2018, with the participation of a host of decision makers, policy makers, governmental figures, experts and maritime industry leaders in the world. They will discuss the latest developments and review the most important solutions and opportunities of the maritime sector in Dubai. The event’s agenda is packed with high-profile events, including the Dubai Maritime Summit, the Maritime Future Leaders’ Seminar, the evolution of maritime regulations and arbitration in the GCC, the Seatrade Maritime Middle East exhibition and conference (SMME), the largest maritime exhibition in the Middle East, Seatrade Maritime Middle East Awards.
Turkish Cargo introduces flights to Brazil’s second largest cargo terminal Viracopos International Airport
Turkish Cargo, providing service to 124 countries around the world as one of the fastest growing air cargo brands, moved its operations at the Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo, the capital of the identically-named Brazilian state and the most densely populated city in South America, to the Viracopos International Airport (VCP), located near the major trade and technology hub Campinas.
The city of Campinas, which is considered Brazil’s scientific, technological and industrial development center also drew the attention of Turkish Cargo with its good infrastructure.
Turkish Cargo flights to Sao Paulo’s Campinas are carried out by Boeing 747 and 777 freighters.
Sao Paulo is especially known for its exports of dried milk, vitamin pills, fruits and vegetables, poultry products, unprocessed leather, automobiles and spare parts to Asia and the Middle East.
The main imports of Sao Paulo consist of mobile phones and accessories, automobiles and accessories, mechanical and petrochemical products, and textile products among others. Having a strong cargo traffic of perishable goods with Europe and textile products with Asia and the Middle East, Sao Paulo has become an even more important destination for Turkish Cargo.
Achieving a sustainable growth with its newly-launched destinations, current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo keeps enhancing its capacity in more than 300 destinations included in its current flight network.
Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (HIPL), a joint venture between DP World (65%) and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) (35%), has won the bid to develop and operate the Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ)at India’s largest container gateway – Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) for $78 million. HIPL is the recently created investment vehicle between DP World and NIIF to invest up to USD 3 billion in ports, logistics and related sectors across the country. This is the second investment for HIPL; following the acquisition of a 90% stake in multi modal logistics company Continental Warehousing Corporation (Nhava Sheva) Ltd.
The FTWZ comes with a long-term concession of 60 years and will be developed across 18 hectares at JNPT’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ). JNPT is a key gateway hub handling approximately 5mn TEU’s per annum which equates to 33% of the India’s container traffic. The FTWZ’s strategic proximity to the port and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and western dedicated freight corridor, gives it direct access to global and domestic markets. This will offer long-term advantages to domestic/global traders and manufacturers by facilitating a reliable and swift flow of cargo and improving effectiveness of the supply chain.Importantly, it will position India as a global trading hub and further support the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. The facility is expected to be operational by 2020.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said, “We are delighted to have won this long-term concession to develop the Free Trade Warehousing Zone in such a strategic location. DP World has a proven track-record in developing trade-zones and HIPL will aim to leverage on our global expertise to build out this much needed-capacity to support India’s fast-growing export-import trade.”
“Furthermore, this asset strongly complements our port terminals in JNPT and our newly acquired inland Continental-Warehousing-Corporation business. Once operational, we will be able to offer a complete compelling one-stop solution to our customers.This investment is consistent with DP World’s strategy of extending its core business into other port-related, maritime, transportation and logistics sectors with the objective of diversifying revenues and enhancing returns.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has signed an agreement with Gallup Inc., the global management consulting company, for developing Saudia Cargo employee performance and studying its employee trends and performance levels. The agreement comes in line with the company’s Strategy 2020.
Saudia Cargo CEO Omar Talal Hariri said the company attaches great significance to the development of its human capital, which is its greatest asset, and also aims to turn the Kingdom into one of the major global logistics platforms in line with Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
“The agreement aims to create and implement clear strategy and vision to increase the company’s client base and launch an internal program speeding up the implementation of the transformation strategy and creating conducive environment that enhances culture of sharing. Gallup will provide consultations to executive officers and directors of departments to help them achieve and surpass the expectations of clients,” Hariri said.
The three-year agreement will help Saudia Cargo enhance its vision and values and meet the expectations of staff members while retaining capable staff members who can support the achievement of the company’s objectives. Gallup Inc. is a prestigious global management consulting company that conducts statistics, studies and surveys.
Saudia Cargo has taken earlier effective steps towards the accomplishment of its Strategy 2020 objectives and announced plans to improve the performance of staff and the quality of services with enhanced focus on clients. The company also announced plans to increase productivity and enter into more strategic partnerships to fortify its position in world-wide logistics and the global cargo map.
Leading experts, innovators & creative minds participate in UAE Maritime Week 2018
Positive outcomes for the first of its kind panel session attended by UAE maritime leaders
Scope of innovation & smart technologies in maritime industry’s growth discussed
The UAE Maritime Week 2018 today held the second edition of the Maritime Future Leaders Seminar with the participation of leading regional and international experts to explore the prospects of innovation and smart technology in the growth and development of the global maritime sector.The seminar was successful in defining a clear road map to explore the best ways to promote the international maritime sector in line with the evolving requirements, once again highlighting Dubai’s position as one of the most important maritime capitals in the world.
The Maritime Future Leaders Seminar 2018 provided a first of its kind platform for Emirati maritime leaders to explore the reality and future of the maritime sector from a new perspective of innovation, smart transformation and sustainability. The panel discussion was led by Nawfal Al-Jourani, Director of Dubai Maritime ClusterOffice with the participation of H.E. Eng. Hessa Bint Ahmed Al Malek, Executive Director of Maritime Transport, Federal Transport Authority (FTA)- Land & Maritime;H.E. Abdulla Bin Damithan, Chief Commercial Officer at DP World;H.E. Abeer Alshaali, Executive Management Officer of Gulf Craft,and H.E. Captain Taleb Al Yamahi, Deputy Harbour Master, Port of Fujairah.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: “The UAE Maritime Future Leaders Seminar 2018 has once again successfully hosted leading industry experts and innovators to redefine the future of the maritime economy, based on solid foundations of sustainability, innovation and smart transformation, keeping pace with the rapid changes brought about by the 21st century. The panel discussion that featured the leaders within the UAE maritime sector is a highlight of the second edition of the event. The session underscored the outstanding achievements of the UAE and the Emirate of Dubai on the international maritime landscape.”
He added: “We are honoured to host such extensive panel sessions about global issues, including smart shipping, fuel, cyber security, research, development and innovation, highlighting Dubai’s pioneering experience as a global model in developing one of the world’s most innovative, unique and competitive maritime communities. We look forward to further strengthening communication with strategic partners to drive the growth and development of the maritime industry in accordance with the requirements of the digital era.”
The seminar agenda included four other interactive sessions as well, which attracted a high-level of participation from the UAE, regional and global maritime leaders. The first session ledby Jorgen Strandberg, General Manager of New Technology at Wartsila Voyage Solutions, focused on smart shipping’s advantages compared to traditional shipping methods. The second session discussed the challenges of fuel shortages until 2020 and the best ways to address them, which was led by Timothy Wilson, Principal Marine Consultant Engineer, FOBAS at LIoyd’s Register. The third session focused on cyber security and protection systems and was led by Jason Stefanatos, Senior Research Engineer at DNV GL. The fourth and final session was led by KathrinaStanzel, Director General of Interteco, which discussed the prospects of building a sustainable maritime sector based on innovation, research, education and the creation of successful global systems—with a focus on the ambitious plans that Dubai and the UAE are adopting to enhance their strong presence as a leading world class maritime center.
The UAE Maritime Week 2018 will run until November 1, 2018,highlighting the latest developments and showcasing the most promising solutions and opportunities that the local and international maritime sectors have to offer. In conjunction with the Maritime Leaders Future Seminar, the UAE Maritime Week’s agenda features several other events including the evolution of maritime regulations and arbitration in the GCC, and Seatrade Maritime Middle East (SMME), the largest maritime exhibition in the Middle East. Seatrade Maritime Middle East Awards, the UAE Maritime Innovation Day organized by DMCA in collaboration with Det Norske Veritas GL company; and ClarksonsPlatou Middle East Shipping & Offshore Seminar organized by the world’s leading provider of integrated shipping services company Clarkson are also among the highlights.
Winners recognized for contributions in efforts to reinforceDubai’s leading position in the global maritime sector
The winners of the Dubai Maritime Innovation Award were revealed in a special awarding ceremony held at Dubai Maritime Summit 2018, a high-level gathering of experts being staged during the UAE Maritime Week 2018.The award recipients consisting of national, regional, and international companies were honored for their pioneering efforts to advance creativity and innovation in thelocal maritime sector. The attendees praisedDubai’s pioneering position as an incubator for innovation and creativity across all sectors, especially the maritime sector, which is an important and vital source of the global economy.
H.E. Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free zone Corporation and Chairman of DMCA,said: “We recognized the contributions of innovators and distinguished individuals to Dubai’s steady rise on the global stage.Creativity and innovation play a key role in the local maritime community’s comprehensive growth, attractiveness, and competitiveness. Promoting them in the maritime industry is in response to the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said, ‘The UAE has adopted innovation as an institutional approach and a community culture.’ We are pleased that the Dubai Maritime Summit hosted the Dubai Maritime Innovation Award once again. The contributions and initiatives of this year’s winnershave further driven the sector’s growth, development, and prosperity, using innovation and creativity as tools to achieve their objectives. We thank them for helping us steer Dubai and the UAE towards becoming the leading maritime centers in the world.”
H.E Bin Sulayem added: “We are proud of this year’s edition of the awards, particularly in the move to recognize the efforts and exemplary leadership of H.E. Dr. Eng. Abdullah Balheif Al Nuaimi, who has largely contributed to the continuing development of the UAE maritime industry. We are also grateful for the important role he played in the UAE’s winning of Category B Membership in the International Maritime Organization Council–a firstof-its-kind achievement in the Arab world.”
The ceremony included the distribution of awards of appreciation forcompanies that includedBahrifrom the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ClarksonsPlatou DMCC from the United Kingdom, Gulf Energy Maritime GEM from the UAE, LUKOIL Marine Lubricants (DMCC) from Russia, and Maersk from Denmark.
Amer Ali, Executive Director, DMCA, said: “We value the efforts directed towards promoting the sector’s growth, development, and prosperity using innovation and creativity, which is aligned with our relentless efforts to achieve the objectives of Dubai Innovation Strategy to make the emirate among the most innovative cities in the world.”
He added: “The Dubai Maritime Innovation Award reflects Dubai and its journey towards becoming an international center for excellence and maritime innovation. We thank all the winners for their commitment to foster innovation, promote research and development, and enhance the local maritime community’s competitiveness, comprehensiveness and attractiveness.”
The ongoingDubai Maritime Summit 2018will run until November 1, 2018. International Decision and policy makers, government officials, experts, and maritime leaders have gathered for the summit to discuss the latest industry developments and explore the most promising solutions and opportunities acrossDubai’s maritime sector. Besides the summit, other ongoing events are the Maritime Future Leaders Seminar; the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Conference;the Sea Trade Middle East Maritime Exhibition, the largest maritime exhibition in the Middle East; the Maritime Innovation Day organized by the DMCA in cooperation with Det Norske Veritas GL (DNV GL);and the Overseas Conference organized by ClarksonsPlatou.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company appointed Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak as Chief Ground Handling Officer for the company’s ground handling business unit.
This appointment comes as part of Saudia Cargo’s recognition of the important role its ground handling business unit has in achieving its Strategy 2020 transformation program. It reflects the company’s ongoing investments into its facilities projects, its cargo terminals and people.
Al-Mubarak joins Saudia Cargo with a decade of experience in commercial, cargo andlogistics, planning and strategic management. Prior to joining Saudia Cargo, Al-Mubarak held several executive positions including General Manager Cargo and Logistics at GACA and Executive Director Traffic and Logistics Development at Dammam Airports Company.
Turkish Cargo participated in Cargo IQ initiative by IATA for quality management.
Turkish Cargo, the fastest-growing air cargo brand around the world, executed an agreement with CHAMP Cargosystems, one of the leading suppliers providing integrated IT solutions to the air transport community, for Traxon CDMP quality management. CDMP quality management solution measures more than 40% of the global Cargo iQ airline shipments.
Developed with the current Cargo iQ specifications, this solution will manage more than 1 million cargo AWBs of Turkish Cargo on annual basis. Furthermore, Traxon CDMP was developed along with new functions and user-friendly features, and extended to serve to the additional quality measuring and monitoring needs going beyond Cargo iQ.
Mr.Turhan OZEN, Chief Cargo Officer, said; We are glad that it guides us in our experience to utilize Cargo iQ for quality management. We upgrade our quality standards, and take firm steps towards our target of being one of the top five global air cargo brands.”
Nicholas Xenocostas, Vice-President Commercial & Customer Engagement at CHAMP Cargosystems, said: “We’re glad so glad to see that CHAMP solutions are improved by Turkish Cargo. I’m sure that Turkish Cargo will take advantage of Cargo iQ, and reach a more effective quality management.”
Providing service to more than 300 destinations in 124 countries thanks to its advanced fleet, Turkish Cargo keeps increasing its successful operations and quality standards in air cargo transportation.
Kingdom’s geographic location will enhance its strength as a global logistics platform
Saudia Cargo is committed to developing cargo facilities
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company CEO Omar Talal Hariri reiterated the pivotal role the air cargo sector continues to play in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 aiming to turn the Kingdom into a global logistics hub for goods transport and cargo services. In his speech delivered at the Second Supply Chain and Logistics Conference held in Riyadh, Hariri spoke about the Kingdom’s strategic and geographic location which makes it a major transit station for goods and a crossroad for international cargo routes. This location will help the Kingdom become a pivotal logistics and cargo platform, let alone it will provide good opportunities for the country to increase its share of logistics operations, Hariri noted.
The local air cargo sector, he stressed, is committed to improving all handling facilities, and this is exactly what Saudia Cargo has done lately by launching new projects to develop and construct the infrastructure facilities of Jeddah and Riyadh cargo stations. Hariri lauded the efforts and plans that resulted in reducing import and export documentation and procedures by 75 %, an action which will surely enhance the efficiency of logistics services and speed up the accomplishment of the objectives of the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
Saudia Cargo, which is a strategic partner for the conference, set up a pavilion on the sidelines of the event. Minister of Transport Dr. Nabeel Muhammad Al-Amoudi visited the pavilion and spoke highly of the Saudia Cargo’s role in logistics services and cargo handling and transport. President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulhakim Al Tamimi and General Customs Authority Governor Ahmed Al-Hakbani visited the pavilion as well and was given a short introduction about the Saudia Cargo’s activities and services.
Organized by the Ministry of Transport, the conference was attended by supply chain and logistics services top officials, decision-makers and experts in addition to local and international representatives of major logistics companies. It is an important platform for exchanging insights and ideas while enhance partnerships with the business sector in order to keep up with the latest developments in the supply and logistics sector.
Istanbul New Airport which will make Turkey to become a global center of logistics, will be opening on October 29th, 2018 with a stunning ceremony.
The world’s fastest growing air cargo brand Turkish Cargo will continue all of its world-class cargo operations from Istanbul Atatürk Airport with the same standards and quality till December 31st, 2018. After December 31st 2018; all belly hold cargo will be shipped from the Istanbul New Airport and freighters flights will continue to be operated from Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
With the completion of the new airport, the Mega Hub will be the place that Turkish Cargo will continue its activities, with having an area of 165,000 m2. At the end of the first phase construction, 2 million tons will be available to handle per year and with the completion of second phase construction, capacity will have been 4 million tons per year in the Mega Hub.
The global Air Cargo brand, which services to more than 300 destinations in 124 countries, is also designing differentiated services, diversified special cargo areas and more quality and lean processes for the special product groups. The new Mega Hub will be the first Air cargo terminal which is to be integrated into the operational process of artificial intelligence with support of PCHS and ASRS systems. With reaching 85 direct cargo destinations around the world and aiming to service the 150 destinations with freighters in 2023, Turkish cargo is walking with strong steps to its goal, being one of the five biggest brands in the air cargo sector with its investments and developing fleet.
Innovative tech solutions are the way forward in this age of the Technological Revolution
Regional trade enabler DP World, UAE Region, continues to be the preferred destination for electronic goods entering or exiting the Middle East.
DP World UAE Region plays a central role in the growth of the sector across the country with consumer electronics one of five sectors that account for 76 per cent of the trade value generated by Jafza which amounted to USD 83.1 billion AED in 2017.
The regional trade enabler is also strengthening its supply chain by using innovative technologies to meet the need for on-demand logistics services created by increasing consumer consumption through online purchases.
As DP World’s flagships, Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone will be the focus for a major digitalisation project across the Group’s global network based on Oracle Cloud Applications (SaaS) in a move that could spur further digital technology adoption in the UAE.
DP World will include technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoT) and Block Chain, to deliver smarter operations and create intelligent logistics to benefit customers and follow the Smart City initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
DP World will be displaying its digital transformation supporting the diversification of its business in ports, industrial parks, free zones and logistics, at Gitex 2018, the region’s premier technology event started on 14 October.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said: “The UAE’s consumer electronics market is set to grow by 7.7 per cent to AED 14 billion this year. Combined with the online retailing boom and increasing consumer demand for faster delivery times, we are building a supply chain that can handle these changes. With innovative solutions the way forward. We’re also equipping ourselves with an effective platform to drive efficiencies at our quays and yards and to grow new sectors”.
DP World Cargospeed based on Hyperloop technology will be on show alongside other innovations at the group’s exhibition stand at Gitex 2018. Applications in Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone will also be exhibited.
In previous years the company has exhibited other technologies such as a Command and Control Centre, a smart solution designed to enhance productivity and ensure zero risk in terminal operations and Eagle Eye, a real time system that captures and showcases the activities taking place at the container terminal.
PCFC takes part in Gitex Technology Week 2018 with disruptive projects
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai inaugurated Dubai Customs’ smart iDeclare system during his visit to the stand of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) at Gitex 2018 which is taking part in the Gitex Technology Week 2018 under the theme “Future Transformations Gate”.
PCFC is participating in the big event, which sets the tone of the future of technology in the region and beyond, from 14 to 18 October at Dubai World Trade Center, and is showcasing 17 of its latest projects and most advanced innovations and Artificial Intelligence applications.
Sultan bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman & CEO and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation said: “Our projects at Gitex reflect our efforts in achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai to transform the city into the happiest and smartest city on earth.
“We are keeping abreast of technological advancements in order not only to survive but to thrive in today’s market. This motivates us to adopt leading projects like the Blockchain. We always aspire to introduce new things that dazzle the world and disrupt the trade and transport sectors in fulfilment of our ambitious UAE Centennial 2071 Project and in support of big world events like EXPO 2020. Representatives of PCFC’s entities (DP World and JAFZA, Dubai Trade, Dubai Customs, Customs World, Dubai Maritime City, Planning and Development Department “Trakhees”) will introduce the latest smart services and projects launched recently to the visitors.
“The current PCFC’s theme “Future Transformations Gate” reflects its vision and plans for the future and its efforts of turning innovation into a daily practice through supporting innovators in order to achieve sustainable economic development” bin Sulayem added.
DP World, JAFZA and Dubai Trade will present their latest services and innovations to the visitors of the event, including three major projects; Blockchain, ICCC and ITT (Inter Terminal Transfer) application, and Dubai Customs has 3 smart projects to present, which were developed in-house; Vessel Tracking System, Virtual World in 3D Service, and iDeclare. Dubai Customs will also present the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), and the Smart Risk Engine on Dubai smart government pavilion.
Customs World will present its programs and projects that help facilitate trade and customs procedures. Dubai Maritime City Authority has “Maritime Connect”, and “Smart Client Mobile Application” to show, and Dutech, PCFC’s technical arm, will introduce DRAAS, Mektabi and Nau System. Trakhees- Department of Planning and Development will present “Smart Inspection System”, “Trakhees Business Opportunity- stage2”, “Business Wallet”, and “Chat Bot”.
PCFC entities’ projects and initiatives in Gitex Technology 2018 vary to cover different aspects of their modern business in realization of leading programs and plans such as the Dubai 10X Initiative, which will see Dubai implement today what other cities around the world apply after 10 years.
PCFC targets a big audience to encourage clients and stakeholders to use its smart applications in order to reduce time, effort and cost. This is part of the entities’ collective efforts to prepare themselves for Dubai’s hosting of EXPO 2020 and help Dubai towards higher ranks and international recognition in leading the 4th industrial revolution.
Serco hosts 3rd ‘Road Safety Awareness Day’ with RoadSafetyUAE
Serco’s CSR initiative seeks to increase awareness of road safety & supports the UAE’s target to reduce road casualties to 3 per 100,000 population
Serco Middle East, a leading provider of essential public services, held its 3rd ‘Road Safety Awareness Day’ today (October 7th, 2018) in partnership with RoadSafetyUAE, the knowledge portal for road safety content in the UAE, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
The very well attended event highlighted the dangers of travelling on the UAE’s roads and raised awareness of safe driving behaviours including the importance of wearing seat belts. Research shows a high percentage of road fatalities come from not wearing seat belts and within the UAEreports have shown that 60 per cent of casualties of road accidents in the UAE are due to not wearing seat belts.
Speakers from the public and private sector including the Road and Transport Authority, RoadSafetyUAE and Serco noted the importance of such events in bringing together more than 180 delegates from local organisations committed to improving road safety. The event also enables open, broad and accessible networking platform to communicate and share ideas and best practice on road safety.
Dubai Police has reported that there was been a decrease in the number of road fatalities in 2017 with a total of 1,535 accidents from 1,787 the previous year due to speeding. The number of deaths also declined from 312 to 230, however, these numbers are still high as the UAE’s target is to reduce road casualty to three per 100,000 population by 2021 in line with the UAE Vision 2021.
David Greer, CEO of Serco Middle East, announced that the Road Safety Awareness Day was part of a week long focus on Safety in Serco with all Serco offices participating in their Zero Harm Week. He said: “I believe that all business leaders have a personal and moral responsibility to ensure that all of the people who work for their Company either directly as staff or indirectly as subcontractors or transport providers go back home in the same condition as started the day with. All of us work to try and improve our daily lives, to support our families and to give them a better life too. I believe that as a responsible corporate citizen, Road Safety is a shared responsibility, just as our roads are a shared space. None of us has the right to behave in a way that endangers others. But the tragic reality is that these actions could have serious and devastating consequences for others. We all know that a minority of reckless drivers are responsible for a large proportion of road accidents. There are no more excuses – we all need to improve how we all use the road.”
Serco Middle East exhibited its second road safety video produced in 2018 featuring Serco employees who were involved in road accidents. Laura Kelly, Assurance Director at Serco explained how Serco are involving their employees in the road safety campaign by asking them to share real life experiences as part of the initiative.
These employees have shared their experiences and feelings of the road traffic accidents they suffered and have become ambassadors for road safety. The video was produced in English and translated into 5 other languages including Arabic, Hindi, Malayalam, Sinhalese, and Tagalog.
Thomas Edelmann, RoadSafetyUAE, Founder & Managing Director, commented: “Serco Middle East’s 3rd Road Safety Awareness Day is testament to its commitment to educate road users on safety in the best way possible, share its best practices. We still have miles to cover as 60 per cent of traffic fatalities are caused by not adhering to the rules and regulations, which has already been firmly placed by the government under a law. Enforcement and consistent education on this through available platforms can make a huge difference. Serco sets an ideal example of commitment and how to communicate a strong message to public and private organizations about this highly important issue.”
Serco Middle East has been pioneering and promoting Road Safety for several years and promotes Road Safety all year round amongst staff and contractors with various initiatives that have contributed to the reduction in road accidents affecting employees. Working in partnership with RoadSafetyUAE, Serco Middle East has been recognised as a leader in road safety.
Turkish Cargo includes Stansted, the third busiest airport in England, to its cargo flights network.
With providing services to 122 countries worldwide and being the fastest growing air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo has launched air cargo flights to the Stansted Airport in London, the capital of England, on October 4.
It is expected that the flights from Stansted (STN), the third busiest airport in London, will feed the Middle East region, especially the Africa and Asia continents substantially.
London, the capital of England which is one of the most important export partners of Turkey, will be connected to the world via the extensive flight network of the flag-carrier air cargo brand covering more than 300 destinations across the 5 continents.
Export products of England, the fifth biggest economy and tenth top-exporter around the world, consist mainly of mechanical machines, with a highlighted spot on military supplies, automobiles, car parts, motors, machinery chemical substances. On the other hand, main import items of London are: precious stones, plastic products, automobiles, gold, crude oil, turbo-jets, smart phones and pharmaceuticals.
The flights will be performed by Airbus 330 type wide-body freighters three times a week (on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) on five different routes, ensuring a more reliable and stable service.
Covering the entire world thanks to its extensive flight network in more than 300 destinations across 122 countries, Turkish Cargo keeps being preferred in air cargo transportation with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and highly-competent personnel.
Details for the schedule of cargo lights, to be operated with the numbers TK6582-TK6583 on IST-JNB-NBO-ADB-STN-MST route, are as follows;
Al
FlNo
Start
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
A/C
TK
6582
04.Oct.2018
…4…
IST
05:30
15:05
JNB
A330
TK
6582
04.Oct.2018
…4…
JNB
17:20
21:30
NBO
A330
TK
6582
04.Oct.2018
…4…
NBO
23:30
5:15
+1
ADB
A330
TK
6583
05.Oct.2018
….5..
ADB
06:45
10:30
STN
A330
TK
6583
05.Oct.2018
….5..
STN
12:30
13:35
MST
A330
TK
6583
05.Oct.2018
….5..
MST
15:35
18:40
IST
A330
Details for the schedule of cargo lights, to be operated with the numbers TK6666- TK6667 on IST-RUH-NBO-ADB-STN-MST route, are as follows;
Al
FlNo
Start
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
A/C
TK
6666
02.Oct.2018
.2…..
IST
07:35
11:50
RUH
A330
TK
6666
02.Oct.2018
.2…..
RUH
13:50
18:50
NBO
A330
TK
6667
02.Oct.2018
.2…..
NBO
22:00
3:50
+1
ADB
A330
TK
6667
03.Oct.2018
..3….
ADB
05:15
9:00
STN
A330
TK
6667
03.Oct.2018
..3….
STN
11:00
11:55
MST
A330
TK
6667
03.Oct.2018
..3….
MST
13:55
17:00
IST
A330
Details for the schedule of cargo lights, to be operated with the numbers TK6603-TK6604 on IST-DMM-NBO-ADB-STN-MST route, are as follows;
Al
FlNo
Start
Pattern
Orig
STD
STA
Dest
A/C
TK
6603
06.Oct.2018
…..6.
IST
04:30
8:45
DMM
A330
TK
6603
06.Oct.2018
…..6.
DMM
10:45
16:00
NBO
A330
TK
6604
06.Oct.2018
…..6.
NBO
19:00
0:50
+1
ADB
A330
TK
6604
07.Oct.2018
……7
ADB
02:15
6:00
STN
A330
TK
6604
07.Oct.2018
……7
STN
08:00
9:00
MST
A330
TK
6604
07.Oct.2018
……7
MST
11:00
14:10
IST
A330
Details for the schedule of cargo lights, to be operated with the numbers TK6603-TK6604 on IST-KRT-NBO-ADB-STN-MST route, are as follows;
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company launched its newest product “Fly Express”, offering high priority express delivery for urgent international shipments.
Fly Express service is an added value service that offers customers high priority status for shipments that can be accepted 3 hours prior to the Scheduled Time of Departure, alongside quick handling procedures at arrival.
The new service offers early booking via the below email for a fast, efficient, and reliable airport-to-airport delivery of up to 300 kilograms per shipment, as well as a Money-Back Guarantee for the added cost of the service if it does not deliver on time. For more information and booking inquiries please contact: flyexpress@saudiacargo.com
Saudia Cargo clients will be able to benefit from Fly Express services in the following European cities: Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, London inbound to Saudi Arabia, with Hong Kong to be added in December 2018 and additional cities to be announced in the future.
The Fly Express service was officially announced during the annual commercial meeting of Saudia Cargo with representatives of freight agencies. At the meeting, Saudia Cargo CEO Omar Hariri said: “The launch of this service will meet the needs of our clients who transport urgent cargo requiring rapid handling and short delivery period, with efficiency and reliability. This service came as part of our determination to ensure the satisfaction of our clients.”
Saudia Cargo, recently launched the development project for its cargo facilities in King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, to enhance its operational capacity, as well as provide special warehousing for pharmaceutical goods, dangerous goods, and the various specialty shipments.
Saudia Cargo has a wide global network, supported by a dedicated freighter fleet. It also offers ample capacity on passenger flights and delivers efficient and cost-effective solutions for charter aircraft on international destinations.
Providing services to 122 countries and being the fastest growing air cargo brand worldwide, Turkish Cargo carried the wild animals, known as the most predatory species of the wildlife, over the clouds. 4 tigers, 3 lions, 3 cheetahs, 2 lynxes and 1 cougar were transported safely to Istanbul from Prague as part of the special cargo services.
Showing utmost care for live animal transportation service and creating real-like natural habitats on the skies, Turkish Cargo achieved to transport the live animals, taken from Biopark ŠTÍT wildlife support and breeding facility in Czechia, to Istanbul. The predators were accompanied by their keepers, specially-assigned veterinarians and IATA LAR (IATA Live Animals Regulations) certificated Turkish Cargo personnel during the flight.
By ratifying the “United For Wildlife (Buckingham Palace) Declaration (UFW)” in 2017 for the purpose of preventing illegal wildlife trade and increasing the industrial awareness thereto, Turkish Airlines has highlighted its cognizance of the live animal transportation processes and animal rights.
For the purpose of performance of the live animal transportation service, it offers to its customers, Turkish Cargo carries out its such operations as based on the IATA LAR during the course of its acceptance, storage and shipment processes, and it meticulously implements the documentation, encaging, labeling and marking guidelines as described under the said regulations.
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has completed its preparations for the ‘UAE Maritime Week 2018’” to be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. The DMCA event taking place from October 28 to November 1, 2018 will strengthen communication channels between international leaders as well as highlight international best practices and innovative solutions that will pave the way for a smart, innovative and knowledge-driven global maritime industry. The latest edition of the first-of-its-kind event in the region, which draws high international interest and participation, will also serve as an ideal venue to showcase the competitive advantages of Dubai and the UAE, which are ranked alongside the world’s leading maritime capitals.
This year’s ‘UAE Maritime Week’ is expected to attract decision makers, government officials, policy makers and top representatives of international maritime companies to share their experiences and views on the latest innovations in shipping and cargo handling technologies that are currently facilitating, promoting, and supporting the global maritime trade. Extensive discussions will be held on the future of alternative marine fuels for ships on top of the regulatory and legislative framework development process as the maritime industry takes the sustainable development road.
Under the umbrella of the biennial event are high-profile maritime gatherings. They include the Dubai Maritime Summit, which is scheduled to simultaneously take place on October 28; and the UAE Maritime Future Leaders Seminars, which will discuss the best ways to employ innovation and smart technology to drive maritime growth and development in line with the requirements of the 21st century. During the UAE Maritime Future Leaders Seminars, the participants will focus on Dubai’s successful experience in becoming one of the most important maritime capitals in the world, especially in light of the emirate entering the top five in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD). The Seatrade Maritime Middle East Exhibition will also be another key event during the UAE Maritime Week. The exhibition is the largest maritime trade show in the Middle East. The ‘Seatrade Maritime Middle East Awards’ will be staged as well on October 29, 2018 at the Atlantis Hotel to honor industry excellence, creativity, and maritime innovation. About 850 international pioneers are expected to attend the Awards.
The confirmed speakers this year are Claes Berglund, Vice President, European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and Director Public Affairs & Sustainability; Stena AB, Dr George D Pateras, President of Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and Hellenic Maritime Cluster; Esben Poulsson, Chairman of International Chamber of Shipping; Aaron Heslehurst, News Anchor and Presenter in BBC World News TV; Mohammed Al Muallem, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, UAE Region, DP World; Iqbal Alikhan, Program Director of Blockchains & Innovations at IBM Middle East & Africa; Dheeraj Bhatia, Senior Managing Director of Region Middle East of Hapag Lloyd Middle East; Ralph Leszczynski, Global Head of Research of Banchero Costa Group; Denis Petropoulos, Founding Partner of Braemar Shipping Services PLC; Capt Harihar Prasad, Managing Director McQuilling Shipping Services DMCC; Dr. Henriëtte Van Niekerk, Head of Dry Bulk Analysis at Clarksons Platou; Ross Thompson, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Abu Dhabi Ports; Khalid Hashim, Managing Director of Precious Shipping; Tim Power, Managing Director of Drewry; Rayan Qutub, Chief Executive Officer of King Abdullah Port; Bora Bariman, Head of Energy & Marine, Corporate and Institutional Banking of National Bank of Fujairah; Jacob Berman, Managing Director, Infrastructure and Transportation of Standard Chartered Bank; Adrian Economakis, Chief Operating Officer of Vessels Value; and Domenik Nizet, Senior Vice President Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific & Middle East of DVB Bank SE.
The UAE Maritime Week 2018 is expected to attract huge turnout, repeating the achievements of the 2016 edition. During the previous edition, more than 350 exhibitors from around the world and around 7,000 top local, regional, and international experts gathered under one single platform to discuss the latest developments in the maritime community and review the most important local and global solutions and opportunities.
DP World launches ‘the belt and road’ Dubai station in partnership with china’s ZPG
Trade enabling project to boost trade across continents
In another major step towards positioning the UAE and Dubai as a hub for east-west trade global trade enabler DP World has announced plans to build ‘The Belt and Road’ Dubai Station in partnership with Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group Co., Ltd (ZPG).
The Belt and Road Station will integrate logistics, warehousing, e-commerce, circulation processing and distribution display services through an electronic platform that enables trade and business transactions.
The announcement follows an initial agreement in March to work on a ‘Straight-through Warehouse’ project in Yiwu, China, and a letter of intent in June to develop this new project.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DP World, said:”‘The Belt and Road’ Dubai Station marks a milestone in the evolution of Dubai as an international trade and commercial hub. Our partnership with Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group will encourage a new era of business growth in the UAE and across the region and will play a pivotal role in the Dubai One Belt and One Road Trade Market (OBOR TM) to expand operations and create higher economic and social benefits.
“China is Dubai’s biggest trading partner, with Dh69 billion worth of trade in the first half of 2018. We have a long-standing trading history and it’s essential that we develop the movement of goods to meet the growing needs of consumers. As a major port operator, ZPG is an ideal partner for us to build on our role as a global trade enabler. When fully developed both ‘The Belt and Road’ Dubai Station and the ‘Straight-through Warehouse’ project in Yiwu will have the potential to create a new economic facility that will span three continents and benefit more than two billion people.”
Zhu Congjiu, Vice Governor, Zhejiang People’s Government, said:“ In today’s highly interconnected world, Dubai and Yiwu can work together closely as twin cities to bring economic development across vast regions through their strengths as logistics and trade. We look forward to the success of ‘The Belt and Road’ Dubai Station and the ‘Straight-through Warehouse’ project in Yiwu.”
ZPG is the main operator of Ningbo Zhoushan Port in China, a major international deep-water facility that is ranked the world’s largest for cargo throughput and fourth for container throughput.
Turkish Cargo, the accomplished air cargo brand, attended “Future of the Logistics Summit”, held by Utikad (Association of International Forwarding and Logistics Service Providers), one of the leading non-governmental organizations across the industry, as the gold sponsor.
During the summit attended by the officials of Turkish Cargo, and 14 panelist guests, the participants exchanged their ideas in adaption of future to logistics based on the concepts such as industry 4.0, sustainability, climate change, blockchain and innovation.
Information about the “investments in future by Turkish Cargo, process of relocation to Istanbul New Airport, features of the new cargo terminal, innovative investments, e-commerce, the innovations introduced by the comis project, the latest developments across the industry, and reflections on the future” was also provided at the summit.
The stand of Turkish Cargo drew a great deal of attention during the summit embracing 274 representatives from 141 companies and more than 2000 participants. Turkish Cargo, a critical solution partner for the logistics industry, keeps working towards the targets set for 2023.
“2019 International Truck of the Year Award” goes to the new Ford Trucks tractor F-MAX!
F-MAX, the new tractor that Ford Trucks launched at the IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018, has won the “2019 International Truck of the Year”. The competition was adjudicated by a panel of independent judges, comprising leading specialised journalists from 23 European countries.
The new Ford Trucks tractor F-MAX, which was launched at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 in Hanover, Germany, has won the “2019 International Truck of the Year” award. The prestigious award of the heavy commercial vehicles industry was presented by Gianenrico Griffini, chairman of the International Truck of the Year (IToY) jury, to Haydar Yenigün, Ford Otosan General Manager at the Ford Trucks stand at IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018.
Members of the International Truck of the Year (IToY) jury, which consists of leading trade journalists from 23 European countries, carried out a strict evaluation process to choose the 2019 International Truck of the Year. After being put through its paces in the road tests in different categories and static assessments, the F-MAX underwent a rigorous assessment covering key criteria such as technological innovation, comfort, safety, drivability, fuel economy, environmental footprint and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The F-Max scored the highest number of points, finishing ahead of its competitors and winning the “2019 International Truck of the Year” award.
Haydar Yenigün: “Winning the International Truck of the Year Award is a very important step toward our future”
Haydar Yenigün, Ford Otosan General Manager, maintains that the F-MAX, with its 2.5-meter full-width cab and 500 PS engine power, will become a major player in the international transport industry. “The all new Ford Trucks F-MAX, is a global player with its 13-liter, 500 PS and 2500 Nm Ecotorq engine. Our modern design language based on prestige and power combines professionalism and innovation, while superior aerodynamics, optimum calibration and technical specifications of powertrain and transmission, reduce fuel consumption by 6% compared to the current model. The new tractor also decreases maintenance costs by up to 7% and offers longer maintenance intervals, delivering lower total cost of ownership. The F-MAX also offers industry the revolutionary ConnecTruck technology, which means that the F-MAX is Ford’s first heavy commercial vehicle with connectivity features. Our new tractor is the product of five years of research and development. After successfully completing 5 million kilometers of road tests in 11 countries on four continents, the F-MAX will set a new benchmark in the international transport industry. The International Truck of the Year award is a very important step toward our future. I would like to thank all of our employees for their efforts in winning this prestigious award.”
Who will claim the title of the world’s best all-round truck driver? This was the question asked at the world final of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge 2018 that took place in Gothenburg on September 13-14th. The competition, which this year involved more challenges than ever before, attracted professional drivers from 33 countries. The winner was Piotr Krahel from Poland.
“The Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge brings together all the different challenges that truck drivers face every day. Their skills are often the decisive factor in the productivity and profitability of our customers. Drivers also make a major contribution to road safety. The final gave us the opportunity to see incredibly skilful drivers doing an impressive job of handling their trucks,” says Maria Bergving, SVP Brand, Marketing and Communication at Volvo Trucks. The competition took place for the sixth time and this year it focused on three areas: fuel efficiency, productivity and safety.
“The drivers competing for the title achieved excellent performances in each area. They showed that it is possible to have a highly fuel-efficient driving style, deliver a fragile load quickly in good condition and, at the same time, follow the road safety regulations to the letter.”
It was the first time that the drivers from United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia participated in the World Finals, after winning the local competitions in their respective countries.
The aim of the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is to draw attention to the important work done by truck drivers. It is also a way of attracting young people to the job, which offers good career opportunities. The logistics and transport industry is constantly growing and there is now a shortage of trained drivers all over the world.
“To help our customers to recruit and retain skilled drivers, we have been focusing for many years on the design of the driver’s environment and the drivability of our trucks.
Driver support systems, which make it easier for drivers to manoeuvre trucks safely, and driver training covering everything from handling trucks to a fuel-efficient driving style are other examples of how we help drivers to do a first-class job and to grow and develop,” says Lene Larsen, Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge Project Manager.
“Winning the Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge is a big achievement for me! The final was really tough and I was up against a lot of very experienced drivers. I’m impressed that Volvo Trucks stages this motivational event which attracts so many drivers from all over the world,” says Piotr Krahel.
Facts about Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge
• The competition has been held every two years since 2009
• This year’s competition involved more than 12 000 drivers. A total of 33 qualified to the world final.
• The final was held at the Volvo Trucks Experience Center in Gothenburg on September 13-14th.
• The competition aims to put the driver in focus and reinforce the importance of skilled and competent drivers.
• The main focus areas of the competition are: fuel efficiency, productivity and safety.
• The set up for the World Final was based on two truck models (FH and FMX) and two tracks (Fuel and Productivity) in a closed off area. The winner had the highest combined score from the two different driving stations measuring safety aspects, as well as fuel efficiency and productivity.
Gulftainer Signs 50-year, $600 million concession to Operate and Expand Port of Wilmington in Delaware, USA
US$600 million expected investment in expansion will turn Port into one of largest gateways on the US East Coast, including a new 1.2 million TEU container terminal at former DuPont Corp. facility
Port becomes the largest ever operation by a UAE company in the United States
The world’s largest privately-owned independent port operator and logistics company based in the UAE, finalised a 50-year concession with the State of Delaware in the USA to operate and develop the Port of Wilmington, significantly expanding the company’s global footprint and reach. The agreement, signed by Gulftainer’s subsidiary GT USA, will see an expected investment of up to $600 million in the port to upgrade and expand the terminal and to turn it into one of the largest facilities of its kind on the Eastern Seaboard.
The port deal represents the largest operation ever run by a UAE company in the United States, as well as the largest investment ever by a private UAE company in the country.
At a public signing ceremony held in Wilmington, Governor John Carney of Delaware signed the agreement with Badr Jafar, Chairman of the Executive Board of Gulftainer, in the presence of Delaware Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock and other state officials, as well as H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the US and other dignitaries.
The 50-year concession follows a year of negotiations and a thorough evaluation of Gulftainer’s capabilities globally, including in the USA, where it currently operates the Canaveral Cargo Terminal in Port Canaveral, Florida and provides services to the U.S. Armed Forces as well as the US Space Industry. The Delaware concession agreement completes a preliminary agreement between Gulftainer and the State of Delaware, as well as the completion of a formal review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), granting Gulftainer exclusive rights to manage the Port.
Gov. John Carney, Governor of the State of Delaware, said: “This historic agreement will result in significant new investment in the Port of Wilmington, which has long been one of Delaware’s most important industrial job centers. For decades, jobs at the Port have helped stabilize Delaware families and the communities where they live. I was proud to help make our partnership with Gulftainer official today, and I want to thank members of the General Assembly, the Diamond State Port Corporation, Gulftainer, and all of our partners who have helped make this agreement a reality.”
Gulftainer plans to invest up to US$600 million in the port, including $400 million on a new 1.2 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) container facility at DuPont’s former Edgemoor site, which was acquired by the Diamond State Port Corporation in 2016.
Badr Jafar, Chairman of Gulftainer’s Executive Board, said: “We are proud to be making this long-term commitment to the State of Delaware, its community and its economy. This landmark agreement builds on Gulftainer’s 43-year track record of delivering excellence and dependability in ports and logistics operations around the world, and we are confident that this public-private partnership will propel the Port of Wilmington towards becoming the principal gateway of the Eastern Seaboard.”
Mr Jafar added, “since Gulftainer’s entry into the US through our operations in Port Canaveral in 2015, we have discovered major untapped potential in this sector and we will continue to look for attractive investment opportunities in the region.”
H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the USA said, “The UAE and US have a strong, vibrant investment relationship that delivers meaningful and measurable benefits to businesses, and creates jobs in both countries. Gulftainer’s investment in the Port of Wilmington is a perfect example of this important economic partnership. This deal will create new jobs in Wilmington and generate additional economic benefits to other communities across Delaware.”
Plans for the Port also include development of all cargo terminal capabilities at the facility and enhancement of its overall productivity. Gulftainer will also establish a training facility at the development site specifically for the Ports and Logistics industries that is expected to train and upskill up to 1,000 people per year.
Peter Richards, Group CEO of Gulftainer, said: “Gulftainer has been fortunate to be at the forefront of transforming port and logistics operations in four continents around the world. This deal is a milestone in our operating history, and will provide us the platform to make a real difference to the sector on the US East Coast by working closely with the State of Delaware to achieve significant enhancements across the board.”
The Port of Wilmington opened in 1923, and is a fully serviced deep-water port and marine terminal strategically located on 308 acres at the confluence of the Delaware and Christina Rivers. It is the top North American port for fresh fruit imports into the USA and has the largest dockside cold storage facility in the Country.
The relationship between the US and UAE has long been underpinned by a shared commitment to promote strong trade and investment ties. In recent years total bilateral trade between the UAE and US has grown from approximately $5 billion in 2004 to over $24 billion in 2017. The US had a $15.7 billion trade surplus with the UAE, its third largest trade surplus globally.
Providing service to 122 countries around the world as one of the fastest growing air cargo brands, Turkish Cargo carried the Chester variety of Turkish Blackberry, standing out with its delicious taste, aroma, meaty structure and high-quality, by means of well-maintained and air-conditioned vehicles.
Blackberries are carried on board the passenger aircraft at 2°C in cold chain status, and arrive fresh in Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh and Hong Kong.
Growing in May, June, July and August in and around Batman, the major land for cultivation of blackberry across Turkey, this special variety of Blackberry is a special taste rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and aromas with a brix degree of 13.5.
Picked up and packed before sunrise as it is a fragile product which is highly affected from sunlight, blackberries are kept well-preserved in high-standard cold storages of Turkish Cargo without any loss of heat.
Mehmet Sabit CEYLAN, an exporter, said: “As part of the national development attempts; our mission is to ensure that the products, which can be cultivated in our region, are increased, and that the logistics and industrial infrastructure of them are created, and also that they are introduced to the international market. We currently achieve this mission with fresh fruits, frozen fruits, fruit juice concentrate and fruit juices produced by us.Standing out with its nutritional values rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, as well as its meaty structure and high-quality, these blackberries grow in our lands. We carry our rare blackberries, containing an intense sugar concentration and 20 shades of red, beyond our borders with Turkish Cargo.
One of the most important factors to enable us to succeed as a country is the high-quality service offered by Turkish Cargo to make us venture into the international market. The speed and capacity offered by Turkish Cargo is a great opportunity for us, the exporters.”
By virtue of these opportunities, Turkish Cargo makes a significant contribution in respect of extended shelf life of the Turkish blackberry as well as enabling it to reach new countries. Responding to the requests of exporters easily thanks to its extensive flight network, Turkish Cargo proved its contribution to the Turkish economy once again.
Turkish Cargo, being capable of conveniently responding to the import-export demands received from any country in the world, builds up trust for the special cargo by virtue of its aircraft fleet, operational diversity and cold storage consignments supply chain.
The Port of Salalah, Oman’s major regional gateway port and transshipment hub on the Arabian Sea, recently received four new rubber tire gantry cranes (RTGs) to stay ahead of the operational needs of customers. . The RTGs incorporate a number of features designed to be safer, more environmentally-friendly and reduce equipment down time. This procurement is part of the many ongoing initiatives under the terminal asset improvement program which also saw the port recently adding 33 new tractor trailers to its fleet.
Andrew Dawes, CEO of the Port of Salalah said “Adding these new RTGs is part of our ongoing fleet management program to ensure that we have the best operational fleet of equipment and capacity to serve the evolving needs of our customers. These new machines demonstrate our commitment to safety, operational leadership and to run an environmentally conscious business that reduces our carbon footprint. We are dedicated to the Government of Oman’s success and to deploy the best resources to ensure that Salalah continues to be a catalyst for growth, development and economic prosperity for Oman.”
The four RTGs are expected to be commissioned soon after completion of operational testing and safety certifications.
New cargo flights to Kigali and Muscat launched by Turkish Cargo
Turkish Cargo, one of the fastest growing air cargo brands among the global air cargo carriers, keeps extending its cargo flights network. Turkish Cargo included Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and Muscat, the capital of Oman, to its direct cargo flights network. Following launch of these new cargo flights, Turkish Cargo increased the number of its cargo flights destinations to 85.
Included to its flights network by the flag-carrier air cargo brand, Kigali stands out with its substantial potential of importation. The city enjoys its position as a substantial exports point for the destination of Johannesburg, the metropolitan city of the South Africa. It is planned to combine the flights to Kigali, to be operated by means of the A330-200F freighter by Turkish Cargo, with the Entebbe (Uganda) line*, and to launch a substantial exports – imports line across the region.
The cargo flight launched to be operated to Muscat, an important imports market for Turkey, Europe, the Far East and America, has been combined with the flights to the South Asia**, resulting in a more effective cargo flight line. The above-mentioned flights will be operated by means of the A330-200F freighter.
Reaching the entire world thanks to its extensive flight network covering 122 countries and more than 300 destinations, Turkish Cargo achieves a sustainable growth with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and team of leading experts, and keeps being preferred.
* İstanbul (IST)- Kigali (KGL)– Entebbe (EBB)- İstanbul (IST)
** İstanbul (IST)- Maskat (MCT)- Hanoi (HAN)- Yeni Delhi (DEL)- İstanbul (IST)
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
Reaching 307 destinations in 122 countries with the cargo transport capacity of Turkish Airlines, which flies to the most countries worldwide, and operating additional direct cargo flights to 83 destinations thanks to its fleet of freighters, Turkish Cargo achieved a 10.7% growth in China at January-May era, as reported by the WACD (World Air Cargo Data). Turkish Cargo continued its rising momentum, when there was a contraction in Chinese air cargo market.
Turkish Cargo, which aims to grow even further in the Chinese market with its strong collaboration initiatives as like with the Chinese cargo giant ZTO and Hong Kong based PAL Air Ltd. door to door service which targets on the global e-commerce market and aimed to service in global express transportation.
Prior to the opening of the Istanbul New Airport, this collaboration will move the stones in global express transportation sector; not only in Turkey but also aroused great repercussions in the world.
With achieving a sustainable growth thanks to its current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo is one of the fastest-growing air cargo companies of the world with these new routes. The outstanding air cargo brand combines its wide range of services and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of Turkey, and keeps setting the bar higher with each passing day.
Dubai Maritime City Authority reaffirms commitment to regulating maritime operations in Dubai waters
Reaffirming its commitment to promote, develop and regulate the maritime sector, the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) continues to oversee the improvement of the regulatory and operational procedures for berths in Dubai, in line with the strong efforts to accommodate the growing demand for marine, commercial, tourism, sports and recreational vehicles, while ensuring the maritime safety, safe navigation and operational efficiency along the coastlines. The follow-up of marine operations within Dubai’s territorial waters is part of the Authority’s commitment to improve maritime safety, which is a key element in enhancing the competitiveness of marine cluster components and the cornerstone for the realization of the objectives of the Maritime Sector Strategy by building a safe, integrated and sustainable maritime community.
Captain Khamis Weld Ghumail, Director of Maritime Traffic Management, DMCA said: “We continue to monitor the maritime operations closely in the framework of fruitful cooperation and continuous coordination with our strategic partners from both the public and private sectors, in order to ensure the safe navigation and the successful operation of all maritime vehicles within the territorial waters of the Emirate of Dubai. We are responsible for regulating the anchoring of marine vehicles, as well as compliance with federal and local legislation and international treaties of the International Maritime and Maritime Safety Organization, which is an important step forward in promoting the safety, competitiveness and attractiveness of the local maritime sector.”
DMCA’s continuing efforts ensure the implementation of marine decisions in the Emirate of Dubai, which include rigorous supervision and inspection of marine installations and projects, as well as coordination with the concerned parties in the maritime assistance sector in the Emirate of Dubai, including the free zones and private development zones and the owners and operators of marine projects in the territorial local waters.
Mohammed Al Falasi, Director of Waterway Control at DMCA, said: “We are moving at a steady pace towards improving the regulatory processes and operational procedures of the berths, keeping pace with the improvement of maritime and logistics services, modernization of infrastructure and improvement of maritime operations, excellence, quality, innovation and maritime safety. We are confident that our relentless efforts will contribute to the enhancement of local maritime activity, increasing the contribution of the maritime sector in supporting the economic diversification and realizing the goals of the Dubai 2021 Plan. We will continue to regulate the work of berths and facilitate the movement of maritime vehicles, ensuring compliance with local and international requirements and laws, leading to the creation of a competitive, world-class maritime sector.”
DP WORLD ACQUIRES LEADING PORT RELATED LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS PROVIDER IN EUROPE
DP World acquires 100% of Unifeeder, the largest container feeder and growing shortsea network operator in Europe
Global trade enabler, DP World today announces the signing of the acquisition of 100% of the Unifeeder Group (“Unifeeder”)[1] for €660 million[2] from Nordic Capital Fund VIII and certain minority shareholders. Based in Aarhus (Denmark), Unifeeder operates the largest and most densely connected common user container feeder and an important and growing shortsea network in Europe, serving both deep-sea container hubs and the intra-Europe container freight market. The Group reported revenue of €510 million in 2017 and EBIT margins in line with other asset-light logistics operators. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to be earnings accretive in the first full year after completion. It will be financed from existing balance sheet resources and is expected to close in 4Q 2018.
The acquisition of Unifeeder will further enhance DP World’s presence in the global supply chain and broaden our product offering to our customers – the shipping lines and cargo owners – with a view to ultimately reduce inefficiencies and improve the competitiveness of global trade. The current operations of Unifeeder are complementary to DP World’s existing business and provides future growth opportunities.
Unifeeder, founded in 1977, is an integrated logistics company with the largest and best-connected feeder and growing shortsea network in Northern Europe with connectivity to approximately 100 ports. The company provides efficient and sustainable transport solutions for international container shipping lines between international and regional ports and shortsea services to cargo owners with fully multimodal door-to-door solutions, combining seaborne transportation with road and/or rail. The business is cash generative and operates on a highly flexible cost base.
[1] The acquisition of the Unifeeder Group is through the acquisition of its holding company, Holdingselskabet af 10. januar 2013 II A/S, which is a Nordic Capital Fund VIII indirectly majority controlled holding company.
[2] This is the enterprise value (equity plus net debt), which equals US$762.8 million based on FX rate EUR/USD of 1.1557.
Shipping giant MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) has joined other mega-carriers in registering its global container fleet on the BIC’s BoxTech Global Container Database. As a result, the technical details of more than 10 million containers, or approximately 40 per cent of the global container fleet, are now available to database users, which include shippers, forwarders, terminals and software solution providers.
The MSC fleet upload occurs as BoxTech, the non-profit global container database operated by the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) approaches its two-year anniversary. MSC joins other leading global carriers, such as CMA-CGM and Maersk Line, in adopting the BoxTech solution in their businesses. Hundreds of other container owners and operators are also utilising the platform, including two of the top four container leasing companies.
Launched in July 2016, there are now more than 1500 BoxTech users who rely on the central data repository to efficiently obtain technical container details, such as tare weight, size and type, as well as utilising more recently added functions such as verifying ownership status and posting recovery alerts. Maersk Line and CMA-CGM were among the early adopters of these helpful features and have been registering their container sales on the platform since late 2017. The new features have also proved particularly helpful among users from container leasing companies, making the recovery of units following bankruptcy easier than ever.
The BoxTech user base has also grown thanks to the many APIs available for database queries, which enable companies to digitalise more of their operations and automatically integrate container details into their everyday systems. Automated API database queries also streamline processes by avoiding unnecessary searches and increasing accuracy by removing the inevitable errors cause by manual data re-keying.
Douglas Owen, Secretary General of the BIC says, “Organisations across the world are telling us that they want an open, impartial solution, and there is growing demand for more data from more container shipping companies to be added to the database. Our industry is keen to adopt this new digital and collaborative way of working, and we encourage the remaining carriers and container lessors to register their fleets on the platform now.”
Alstom conducts initial dynamic tests for Riyadh Metro
Alstom has, for the past few weeks, been conducting initial dynamic tests for the Riyadh Metro Project at the FAST consortium Line 4 Depot Test Track in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Metro Project, owned by Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), consists of 6 lines totalling 176 km and 85 metro stations.
The test campaign includes the demonstration of the performance of the railway system, from power supply to signalling systems, using the trains which have already been delivered.
Alstom, as part of FAST consortium is supplying a fully integrated metro system for lines 4, 5 and 6, which includes: 69 Metropolis-based Riyadh Metro trains, Urbalis signalling system, Hesop energy recovery station as well as tracks. The Metropolis-based train for Riyadh is composed of two cars per set and is 36 metres long. Each train features three classes: first class, family class and singles class. The trains will offer passengers a high level of comfort, ergonomic seating, LED lighting, air conditioning and passenger information system.
“This test run is a significant milestone for Alstom and for the project. We are proud to conduct the tests in Riyadh in order to deliver a state-of-the-art metro to our customer Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) and the inhabitants and the visitors of Riyadh“, said Didier Pfleger, Senior Vice President for Middle East and Africa.
The trains are driverless. The train movements are protected by a state of the art signalling system controlling the speed of the trains, ensuring smooth and safe operations including automatic opening of the train doors. The fully air-conditioned stations are equipped with platform screen doors also preventing people to access the track. The trains are also equipped with an advanced passenger information system delivering real time information to the passengers through screens and loudspeakers on board the train and on the station platforms.
Trukkin to receive pre-series funding led by Saudi Arabia’s BATIC
Trukkin announced that it will be receiving an undisclosed amount of funding led by Saudi Arabia’s Batic Investment and Logistics Co for a pre-series round. Trukkin was launched in 2017, and in a short period of time, has matched industry expectations with significant commercial transport capabilities, shipping over 5,000 heavy cargo truck movement across GCC.
Trukkin is committed to making pivotal investments in technology and operations to make the Middle East logistics and transport space more efficient and transparent, and to optimize commercial transport in the region. The company’s goals have received positive backing, support and investments from key captains of the industry, and its team, led by CEO Janardan Dalmia, is working closely with all backers and mentors to make Trukkin the de facto enabler of the industry.
BATIC is the only large publicly listed logistics and private security company in Saudi Arabia and has implemented a consolidation strategy focused on building a unique Saudi logistics national champion. The roadmap to build this national champion is focused on identifying accretive and unique acquisition targets and investments to achieve the required level of excellence that global clients expect. Batic is taking a comprehensive view on technology from both a traditional logistics model to the new asset light technology platforms that are destined to upend the current logistics’s paradigms.
The Middle East region carries huge potential in techno-logistics, but is still tied up with traditional operating processes. The market is fragmented, and is hampered by several inefficiencies. Trukkin has thus been founded to improve the entire operational framework of commercial logistics used by shippers, fleet owners and truck drivers and all stakeholders, who stand to benefit from increased efficiencies. Trukkin’s goal is to up the level of service and create industry benchmarks.
DP WORLD REPORTS 6.0% GROSS LIKE-FOR-LIKE VOLUME GROWTH IN FIRST HALF OF 2018
DP World Limited handled 35.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the first half of 2018, with gross container volumes growing by 4.8% year-on-year on a reported basis and 6.0% on a like-for-like[1] basis.
The first half of 2018 continues to see an upswing in global trade and all three DP World regions delivered growth, particularly our terminals in Europe and Australia. The UAE handled 7.7 million TEU in 1H2018, remaining broadly flat (+0.2%) year-on-year.
At a consolidated[2] level, our terminals handled 18.6 million TEU during the first half of 2018, a 4.0% improvement in performance on a reported basis and up 4.5% year-on-year on a like-for-like[3] basis.
Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, commented:
“Our portfolio has delivered an encouraging performance in the first half of 2018 with all regions continuing to deliver growth. However, as expected there has been a deceleration in the growth rate in 2Q2018 due the tougher year-on-year comparables, where 2Q2017 grew 10.7% year-on-year driven by market share gains from the new shipping alliances.
“Nevertheless, the robust performance across all regions continues to be an affirmation of our strategy to deploy relevant capacity in key markets and operate a diversified portfolio. We are pleased to see our terminals in Europe and Australia continue to deliver growth and still expect to see increased contributions from our new investments in the second half of the year.
“Whilst geopolitical headwinds and recent changes in trade policies continue to pose uncertainty to the container market, first half volume performance demonstrates that our portfolio is well positioned to deliver growth. We continue to focus on delivering operational excellence and disciplined investment to remain the port operator of choice as well as strengthening our product offering to play a wider role in the global supply chain as a trade enabler.”
Further Information
Gross Volume
‘000 TEU
2Q
2017
2Q
2018
% Growth
(like for like)
1H
2017
1H
2018
% Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
7,923
8,210
+3.6%
(+3.8%)
15,551
16,244
+4.5%
(+4.8%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
7,520
7,571
+0.7%
(+3.6%)
14,255
14,967
+5.0%
(+7.5%)
Americas & Australia
2,153
2,248
+4.4%
(+4.4%)
4,190
4,408
+5.2%
(+5.2%)
Total Group
17,596
18,029
+2.5%
(+3.8%)
33,997
35,620
+4.8%
(+6.0%)
*UAE Volumes included in Middle East, Africa and Europe region
4,004
3,913
-2.3%
(-2.3%)
7,720
7,738
+0.2%
(+0.2%)
Consolidated Volume
‘000 TEU
2Q
2017
2Q
2018
% Growth
(like for like)
1H
2017
1H
2018
% Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
2,487
2,505
+0.7%
(+1.2%)
5,000
5,048
+1.0%
(+2.1%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
5,853
5,826
-0.5%
(+3.7%)
11,183
11,535
+3.1%
(+6.6%)
Americas & Australia
871
1,018
+16.9%
(-2.1%)
1,687
1,994
+18.2%
(-0.3%)
Total Group
9,211
9,350
+1.5%
(+2.4%)
17,870
18,576
+4.0%
(+4.5%)
[1] Like for like gross container volume does not include volumes at Berbera (Somaliland), Limassol (Cyprus), Doraleh
(Djibouti), Saigon (Vietnam) and Paita (Peru).
[2] Consolidated throughput is throughput from all terminals where the group has control as per IFRS.
[3] Like for like consolidated container volume does not include volumes at Berbera (Somaliland), Limassol (Cyprus), Doraleh (Djibouti), Saigon (Vietnam) and normalizes for the consolidation of Embraport (Brazil).
REGION’S FIRST SPORTS PERFORMANCE TRAINING AND FITNESS CENTER TO LAUNCH IN DUBAI
Michael Johnson Performance Dubai led by US Olympic champion
Michael Johnson Performance (MJP), an internationally recognized leader in athletic development and improvement, today announced its launch in the Middle East. Founded by Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson, MJP Dubai will open its doors in October this year at Mina Rashid with a world-class sports facility for athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels,
The 38,750 square feet facility located in the heart of Dubai will offer members the ultimate fitness experience with individual personal training sessions, group fitness classes, sports medicine and nutrition, and athletic development programs for young athletes, and high-performance training programs for professional athletes, all under one roof. Coupled with world-class trainers, MJP Dubai will provide a range of programs for people of all ages to improve their fitness or athletic performance through a scientific and data driven approach.
Global trade enabler DP World and MJP Dubai are joint venture partners in the project, which is aligned with UAE’s Vision 2021 and aims to develop and sustain a healthy community.
DP World Group Planning and Project Management Senior Vice President, Adnan Al Abbar, said: “DP World develops trade solutions and programs that support both, business and Dubai’s national interests. The health and wellbeing of our people is key to enabling national growth ambitions and we’re proud to partake in activities that support the UAE’s vision.
“We will continue to deliver on the needs of residents and visitors of the Emirate, and are in the process of re-developing Mina Rashid from a commercial port into a world-class recreational area to reflect Dubai’s strong cultural heritage, further strengthening the city’s position as the leading regional cruise hub and integrating the Mina Rashid waterfront back in to the local community. MJP Dubai is integral to this exclusive offering.”
Expanding its global footprint, this will be MJP’s first physical presence outside the of the United States since its establishment in 2007.
Commenting on this occasion, 4-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Michael Johnson, said: “I’m extremely pleased for this opportunity, to partner with a global organization like DP World. The MJP brand is also a global one and it’s exciting to see another significant expansion in our growth journey. The state-of-the-art facility in Dubai is the region’s first sports performance training and fitness center and it will enable every athlete to achieve their potential, regardless of age, gender, limitation, sport or natural ability.
For exclusive updates on the UAE’s first athletic training centre, visit www.mjperformance.ae
Turkish Cargo and CSafe Global, Announce CSafe RAP Flight Approval.
Turkish Cargo, one of the fastest growing brands in the air cargo sector, has approved CSafe RAP, which was recently launched for use in aircraft with CSafe Global, a leading supplier of active and passive temperature controlled solutions for pharmaceutical products.
The CSafe RAP is the latest innovation in a full line of temperature control solutions, offering unmatched operational capabilities with the industry’s largest RAP payload capacity to ensure successful large-volume shipments of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals across the globe.
“The CSafe RAP will give Turkish Cargo the ability to continue to provide best-in-class services to our customers around the world, meeting their expectations in terms of volume, cargo integrity and safety, and on time transportation. Partnership with CSafe Global, the company that shares the same customer-centric values and business attitudes as we do, provides Turkish Cargo with confidence in the preservation and integrity of our shipments, every single time,” said Senior Vice President, Cargo Marketing, Mr. Fatih CIĞAL.
“Turkish Cargo have long been experts when it comes to transporting temperature-sensitive healthcare products globally,” said Brad Jennings, VP of Global Marketing and Partner Management for CSafe Global. “CEIV accreditation further demonstrates their commitment to providing our mutual life-science customers with precision cold-chain services that have been validated to exceptionally high standards.”
The new CSafe RAP delivers on a quality promise, ensuring the temperature integrity and safe delivery of temperature-sensitive, life-enhancing products for healthcare companies worldwide. The CSafe RAP active container system leverages the proven performance and capabilities of the well-established CSafe RKN to remove the operational and environmental challenges encountered with global temperature-controlled shipments. By utilizing CSafe’s proprietary ThermoCor VIP insulation together with a compressor-driven cooling and radiant heating system, the CSafe RAP precisely maintains the user-defined payload temperature set point through payload transport, regardless of ambient conditions.
By acting with its tailored products, it has generated for the consignments containing pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, Turkish Cargo offers air cargo service to 122 countries and more than 300 destinations around the world, thanks to its extensive flight network. Turkish Cargo continues to provide the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world with the shipment quality of the Envirotrainer containers it has been using since 2015.
dnata acquires majority stake in baggage storage and delivery service company, DUBZ
Passengers flying out from Dubai can now enjoy the convenience of checking in their baggage and getting their boarding passes from their home or hotel. dnata is launching these new services through baggage technology and logistics company – DUBZ, in which it recently acquired a majority stake.
DUBZ was started in 2016 by three entrepreneurs who saw the opportunity to provide a practical and technology-enabled service to travellers in Dubai – the collection of baggage from their homes or hotels before a flight, and delivery of bags to the home or hotel on arrival in Dubai. Available 24 hours a day, the service can be booked online at www.dubz.com.
DUBZ is a winner of Intelak, a travel, aviation and tourism incubator led by the Emirates Group in partnership with GE and Dubai Tourism to support the UAE’s ambitions in setting the highest global standards for services, systems, and experiences in aviation.
Since its launch, the company has seen strong demand for its services from customers who want a hassle-free journey to and from the airport, especially when travelling in groups.
From bag collection and delivery, to full home check-in service
At present, the company collects the baggage from the passenger’s home or hotel, seals and weighs the bags, securely transports them to Dubai International Airport and hands them over to the passenger for self-check in. Upon arrival into Dubai, passengers can also leave their bags with DUBZ after retrieving them from the baggage carousels.
With dnata taking a majority stake in DUBZ, the companies are now offering passengers a home check-in service where they will not only have their baggage collected at home or the hotel, but will also get their baggage checked-in on the spot, and collect their boarding passes from DUBZ. Passengers using this service can proceed straight to airport immigration, avoiding queues at the airline check-in counters with the assurance that their bags have already been checked in with the airline.
dnata and DUBZ are starting the new home check-in service for passengers flying with UAE carrier flydubai and KSA carriers Saudia and flynas. They have the capability to extend this to any carrier and are currently in discussions with other airlines to make it available to their passengers soon.
In addition, passengers on any airline arriving at Terminals 1 and 2 at Dubai International Airport and Al-Maktoum International Airport can appoint DUBZ to collect their baggage at the carousels, clear customs on their behalf and deliver the bags straight to their home or hotel.
Technology and tracking
DUBZ’s robust technology platform has been integrated with airport data to help customers select the most suitable pick-up times for their baggage. DUBZ also partnered with World Security to implement GPS tracking in all its vehicles, live CCTV screening at its facilities and smartphones for its drivers to manage paperless transactions, all the more to provide passengers with a seamless and hassle-free experience.
“At dnata, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the customer’s experience at every touch point of their journey. With DUBZ’s innovative idea to create convenience for travellers, we’re now able to extend our service beyond the airport to let them check in for their flights from home. It saves them time and provides peace of mind. With success in Dubai, we hope to roll this out as a dnata product around the world,” said Steve Allen, Divisional Senior Vice President – UAE Airport Operations, dnata.
The new luggage check-in services costs AED 110 each for the first and second bags or AED299 for the first three bags, and AED30 for every additional bag after that. For the baggage belt pick up service, it is AED 99 for the first bag and AED 40 for every additional bag.
Tristar Group’s Jebel Ali warehouses receive DMCC’s 5-star rating
Tristar Group’s two warehouses located in the Jebel Ali Industrial Area 1 and 2 were awarded a 5-star rating by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) for the second and third consecutive years, respectively.
Shivananda Baikady, General Manager-Road Transport and Warehousing, Tristar, said, “Our specialised warehousing facilities are designed to accommodate and handle dangerous and non-dangerous goods with stringent adherence to health, safety and environmental standards. We are proud to receive consecutive 5-star rating by DMCC for our warehouses in Industrial Area 1 and 2. It is a reflection of excellence in our day- to-day operations. The rating is also a sound testament to our best-in-class warehousing service for major oil companies.”
The focus areas of the audit include statutory compliance, physical infrastructure, HSE systems, security, fire control, dangerous goods handling, inventory management, risk coverage, IT infrastructure, housekeeping, facility management, certifications, administration and performance measurement.
Hormann introduces door type V3009 for integration in conveyor systems
Hormann has introduced door Type V3009, a high-speed roller door with a flexible curtain, designed for a high number of automated opening and closing cycles. It can be fitted between the operating sections and the storage areas within a conveyor system.
Due to the low lateral space requirements, this door is specifically designed for integration in conveyor systems and their frequent automated opening and closing cycles. The door control can be integrated in existing PLC systems. A volt-free contact reports the door position (open / closed) to the control.
According to Darius Khanloo, Managing Director, Hormann Middle East, “Hörmann high-speed doors are up to 20 times faster than conventional industrial doors, which is why the intelligent operator and control technology is designed for reliable continuous operation. Our new door Type V3009 is suitable for interior application, and it’s width and height are up to 3500 mm.”
The opening speed is 0.8 m/s and closing time is 0.8 m/s. The door uses aluminium curtains, available in a variety of colours including zinc yellow, pure orange, carmine red, gentian blue and agate grey.
BoxTech database exceeds 11m containers following HMM fleet upload
Container line HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine) is the latest global carrier to join the BoxTech Global Container Database, making details of more than 11 million units in total available to registered users.
HMM, the 12th largest global carrier, joins 2M carriers Maersk and MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), which have already uploaded their container fleets to the database, operated on a non-profit basis by the BIC (Bureau International des Containers). Other major carriers, including CMA-CGM and APL, have also registered their fleets, alongside hundreds of smaller owners and operators.
With the addition of HMM, Korea is now particularly well represented within the BoxTech Global Container Database, with SM Line, Pan Ocean and CK Line having previously uploaded their fleets.
With details of more than 11 million containers, the fast-growing database gives the shipping community instant access to the technical characteristics of around 45% of the global container fleet in a single location, using a standard API.
To sign up to the BoxTech Global Container Database, or for more information, visit www.bic-boxtech.org.
New market for traders with a build-up area of 3 million square metres in Jebel Ali Free Zone
An agreement to jointly construct a new ‘Traders Market’ at DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in Dubai on a total build up area of three million square metres has been signed between the global trade enabler and the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group, providing further impetus to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
DP World will be building the ‘Traders Market’ within the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area located in Jafza South next to the Dubai Expo 2020 site. The market will include clusters of traders from all over the world, offering a wide range of products at one site. They will be divided by sector, ranging from household goods, building materials and food and beverage, to cosmetics and healthcare, energy and power, and engineering and technology.
Apart from promoting the Chinese government’s Belt and Road initiative, the ‘Traders Market’ will help Chinese, local and international manufacturers benefit from Dubai’s strategic location as a business and trade hub. It will also enable trade within the GCC, MEA and India Subcontinent regions, widening market reach for goods and serving as a platform to trade at competitive prices.
The partnership complements an agreement that was signed earlier this year between DP World and the Zhejiang Seaport Investment and Operation Group (ZPG) for a ‘Straight-through Warehouse’ project in Yiwu, China – which is the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities – for a warehouse that will hold cargo destined for Dubai and the Middle East.
Both projects aim to boost trade between the UAE and China by offering Chinese businesses DP World’s integrated logistics and trading solutions, including cargo handling at their terminals in China and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, warehousing facilities in the neighbouring Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), one-stop customs clearance facilities and trade licenses.
Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone provides companies access to a local and regional market of more than 2 billion people, supplemented by DP World’s global network of 78 marine and inland terminals, which enable trade in countries that account for over 50% of the world’s GDP.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Dubai and China have a long-standing trading history and it’s essential that we develop the movement of goods in tandem with the growing needs of consumers. Today people expect to receive their products quickly and efficiently and initiatives such as these will create the trade hubs and seamless supply chain opportunities needed to capitalise on global economic growth.
“The new ‘Traders Market’ will provide an ideal platform for traders to showcase and sell goods in Dubai to local and international businesses. We look forward to working with the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group and will continue to support China’s Belt and Road initiative and innovate for mutually beneficial development.”
China was Dubai’s number one trading partner in 2017, with total trade between them amounting to AED 176.5 billion last year.
Rockwell Collins to support pilot training at Turkish Airlines with high-fidelity visual system
Contract includes 14 visual systems for new simulators
Airline will double the number of full flight simulators it has in service, all with Rockwell Collins supplied visual systems
Turkish Airlines has selected Rockwell Collins to provide its EP-8100Ⓡ image generators with JVC laser illuminated projectors for pilot training for the airline’s new and existing fleet of Boeing 737 MAX, 777-300 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, as well as its Airbus A320neo, A330 and A350 XWB aircraft. This new contract is for 14 new visual systems, nine firm with options for five more.
This latest order expands on the company’s strong relationship with Turkish Airlines – all 14 of Turkish Airlines’ existing full flight simulators already include Rockwell Collins visual systems. The airline recently inaugurated a new 18-bay simulator building and has to date installed four new simulators. The new contract doubles the number of operating simulators by 2020 as the airline continually works to meet its growth plans.
“Because of our commonality and Turkish Airlines’ familiarity with existing maintenance procedures, practices and operations, we will hit the ground running and ensure delivery of the first systems within the next six months,” said Nick Gibbs, vice president and general manager of Simulation & Training Solutions at Rockwell Collins. “Turkish Airlines will also benefit from the system’s open, scalable architecture that allows for the easy addition of new features and enhancements.”
The EP-8100 provides unmatched procurement cycles of five to eight years, and support in excess of 15 years. Through its industry-leading image quality and projector/display support, pilots view a high fidelity visual scene that significantly improves the training experience.
The systems will be manufactured at Rockwell Collins’ facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, with installation and final site work to be completed in Istanbul, Turkey. With the new Istanbul airport opening in October of this year, Rockwell Collins also will be providing a new airport model to support flight crew training.
Emirates SkyCargo signs milestone MoU with Cainiao Network to use Dubai as a hub
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates and the largest international cargo airline, has signed an MoU with Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Ltd. (“Cainiao”), the logistics arm of the Alibaba Group, to jointly facilitate the delivery of cross-border parcels as Cainiao looks to expand its global logistics infrastructure with Dubai as a hub.
The MoU was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo and Xiaodong Guan, General Manager of Cainiao Global Business at Cainiao’s global headquarters in Hangzhou. It is a landmark agreement for both Emirates SkyCargo and Cainiao to leverage each other’s strengths in cross-border e-commerce trade and airline cargo operation. It will also support Cainiao’s broader efforts to offer enhanced customer experience. Cainiao recently unveiled plans to develop six global hubs in six cities around the globe. Dubai is one of them.
Under the terms of the MoU, Emirates SkyCargo and Cainiao will work closely to manage e-Commerce shipments in the Middle East and other neighbouring regions through Dubai. Further details of the tie-up will be announced progressively as they are developed by the two parties.
E-commerce is one of the strongest growth areas for the air cargo industry globally. Emirates SkyCargo has been exploring opportunities to collaborate with players in order to offer value-added services over and above cargo capacity between airports, using the strategic advantages of Dubai as a hub.
“We are delighted to be entering into this agreement with Cainiao. The MoU that we have signed today is the first step in what will be a deep and fruitful relationship between Emirates SkyCargo and one of the biggest players in the global e-commerce supply chain,” said Mr. Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. “With Emirates SkyCargo’s network spread, frequency of flights including close to 50 weekly flights from China, our state-of-the-art hub facilities and the strategic location of Dubai which allows it to serve as an effective logistics hub for the region, we are confident that we will be a strong partner for Cainiao to bring an enhanced experience to their customers in the Middle East and neighbouring regions.”
“As a key gateway that links Asia and Europe, Dubai is well positioned to help us achieve our goal of 72-hour global delivery. The MoU with Emirates SkyCargo is another milestone to reach this goal,” said Xiaodong Guan, General Manager of Cainiao Global Business. “We have a strong commitment to Dubai and the neighbouring markets. This fits well with our broader strategy.”
Emirates SkyCargo offers cargo capacity to over 155 global destinations on a modern all-widebody fleet of 267 aircraft including 14 freighters- 13 Boeing 777-Fs and one B747 F. Emirates operates two state of the art Emirates SkyCentral cargo terminals in Dubai to manage cargo from passenger as well as freighter aircraft. Emirates SkyCargo has developed a number of transportation solutions targeted at specific industry verticals.
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development allocates AED67 million to Yemen
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) signed a MoU to manage the AED67million (US$18.3 million) UAE government grant aimed to support the healthcare sector in Hadhramaut Governorate in Yemen.
The grant aims to support three healthcare projects in Yemen’s Hadhramaut Governorate including rehabilitating hospitals, reconstructing the Maternity and Child Hospital, as well as purchasing medicines and medical equipment.
Aimed at providing quality medical attention to Hadhramaut’s population, the hospital rehabilitation project will overhaul and equip seven hospitals in the region. Encompassing maintenance, construction and electrical works, the second project will revamp the Maternity and Child Hospital through boosting its capacity with 150 additional beds, as well as through the provision of necessary medical supplies and equipment. As part of the third project, ADFD will purchase supplies of essential medicine for the Governorate.
ADFD to support sustainable development in Ethiopia
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) allocated an AED11 billion (US$3 billion) economic aid package to the Ethiopian government to support sustainable socio-economic development in that country.
The purpose of the funding is twofold. ADFD deposited an amount of AED3.7 billion (US$1 billion) in the National Bank of Ethiopia to bolster the country’s fiscal and monetary policy, as well as to enhance the liquidity and foreign exchange reserves of its central bank. The remaining AED7.3 billion (US$2 billion) seeks to stimulate the Ethiopian economy and encourage joint investments.
His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, and His Excellency Teklewold Atnafu, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) outlining the terms of the funding in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The signing ceremony was held on the side-lines of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, official visit to Ethiopia. Government officials and senior representatives of the two entities also attended the signing ceremony.
Roambee’s success till date is largely attributed to the fact that we picked and solved some of the hardest problems in the industry. Our focus on innovation helped create a real-time solution to monitor market hired vehicles, LTL, and multi-modal shipments at a granular package-level. It helped us forge global network connectivity for the Bee ecosystem, and build “BeeCentral,” a data-driven 24×7 Network Operations Center (NOC) for companies to get better ROI from IoT implementations by never failing to respond to a situation on time.
In recognition of these game changing developments, Compass Intelligence recently named Roambee the ‘IoT Sensor Company of the Year.’ Global giants like T-Mobile, Verizon, Intel, Cisco, Samsung and Apple were award recipients in other categories. Roambee was further named an IDC Market Intelligence “Innovator,” and spotlighted by ABI Research for “Multi-Connectivity Asset Tracking. In May, Roambee’s Honeycomb cloud platform also received SAP certification and now powers SAP’s “Leonardo” fleet monitoring application called “Vehicle Insights.”
This month, we highlight some of our recent innovations in visibility and real-time monitoring that are bound to make your logistics, supply chain, and your overall business more efficient and effective.
Roambee ETA (RETA): Prediction of arrival times of shipments moving across road, rail, air, or ocean with high accuracy by using a mix of on-trip data, past performance, and external data streams.
Bee Noise Optimizer (BNO): To enable you to locate assets in warehouses and yards within a customized readable zone around a Bee.
Tying Bee zones to your business:So you can create a business boundaries or tie together groups of zones to identify which segment of your warehousing or manufacturing process an asset is at.
Partner sub-accounts management: An easy to use UI for partners to manage their respective sub-accounts.
GENAVCO have delivered and commissioned the First VNA in the Emirates for Furniture Handling. Crown TSP 7000 Series machine with 13.5 m lift height customized for furniture operations has been delivered to its Fleet Customer Homes R Us a part of Lals Group.
With this new lot of machines including the upgraded Work Assist vehicles WAV 60 Series, the total Crown fleet size in Homes R Us is grown to 17 Machines. All the machines are under Crowns Comprehensive Service Program that ensures high up time to this busy operations.
Area 2071 and SAP collaborate on UAE public sector excellence
Area 2071, the physical embodiment of the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan, has announced that it will be collaborating with global technology company SAP on innovations to help inspire creative minds and fuel digital government.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ruler of Dubai, recently launched Area 2071, an initiative by the Dubai Future Foundation, as an interactive platform to develop creative solutions, implement ideas to serve humanity, and design a better future for next generations, and to make the UAE the world’s best country by 2071.
“Area 2071 is bringing together the UAE’s public sector resources and vision, and private sector experience, to enable our future government priorities,” said Abdulaziz Al Jaziri, Deputy CEO at Dubai Future Foundation. “Collaborating on the SAP Leonardo Center will catalyze public sector innovation, and train young talents on enabling a fully digital government.”
SAP is planning to establish its Leonardo Center at Area 2071, joining a global network in Bangalore, New York, Paris, and São Leopoldo. At the Leonardo Center, customers, partners, startups, and educational institutions can pilot solutions on the SAP Leonardo digital innovation system.
“Area 2071 will be a global lighthouse for public sector excellence, with world governments being inspired by the UAE vision and government’s co-collaboration and co-innovation with our SAP Leonardo Center,” said Steve Tzikakis, President South Europe, Middle East and Africa, SAP. “Our planned Leonardo Center will enable the private sector ambition and strength to explore how to run better, improve people’s daily lives, and transform citizen happiness. We are committed to training young Emirati talents to take the lead in driving future government innovation.”
Photo Caption: (right to left) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Steve Tzikakis, President South Europe, Middle East and Africa, SAP experience Smart City innovations at Area 2071
Turkey’s olive oil exports to the UAE rise by 79 per cent
Turkish Exporters Assembly revealed that its olive and olive oil product exports to the UAE are growing at a rapid pace. In 2018, Turkey’s UAE olive and olive oil exports grew from USD 1,607,260 to USD 2,870,800 signifying a growth of 79 per cent.
Olive oil represents the country’s fastest growing food exports sector. A majority of the olives produced in Turkey are pressed for oil, with only one-fourth of the production reserved for table olives.
Over the last three decades, olive oil production in Turkey, especially in Izmir, has grown immensely. The estimated volume of olive oil production for the year of 2016-2017 reached 177,000 tons and is projected to increase to 287,000 tons for the year of 2017-2018. In 2017, Turkey’s olive oil exports reached 53,627 tons, which represents an export value of USD 207,881,000.
Turkey is the second largest olive cultivator in the world and is also among the top five countries in olive oil production. Turkey strives to become the world leader in olive product exports with its objective to increase the export category to USD 3.8 billion by 2023. To achieve this, it aims to produce 1.2 million tonnes of olives and 650 thousand tonnes of olive oil.
Roambee, the Internet of Things (IoT) supply chain and enterprise asset visibility company, recently announced it has received US$2 million in funding from MDI Ventures, Telkom Indonesia’s corporate venture capital firm. With this, Roambee is nearing the completion of US$10M in funding and rapid expansion across seven countries in just 14 months. MDI’s investment will be used to fuel Roambee’s entry into Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s booming logistics market. Roambee’s first customer in the region will include Telkom Indonesia, the largest telecommunication services company in Indonesia.
“The opportunity in Indonesia is huge,” says Roambee CEO Sanjay Sharma. “It’s one of the largest in the world, with almost 24 per cent of the country’s GDP spent on logistics. With MDI’s investment, Roambee gains a significant advantage in quickly assuming a leadership position in driving the enterprise digital transformation of Indonesia across supply chain shipment and asset monitoring visibility.”
Global investment dynamics are changing with Asian VC funds, such as those from MDI, outpacing US VC investments for the first time. Related, recent research shows that Indonesia’s logistics market is expected to reach USD $240 billion by 2021.
Turkish Cargo grew more than 7 times higher from market
Reaching 307 destinations in 122 countries with the cargo transport capacity of Turkish Airlines, which flies to the most countries worldwide, and operating additional direct cargo flights to 85 destinations thanks to the fleet of freighters, Turkish Cargo performed 30% growth rate where market performed 4,3% growth according to World Air Cargo Market Data results at Jan-May era of 2018.
Besides, with performing a growth rate 20% at year over year basis in may results, where market performed 2,6% growth at the same period, world’s fastest growing air cargo brand Turkish Cargo was ranked 8th among world’s reputed air cargo carriers of WACD with its successful performance.
Achieving a sustainable growth thanks to its current infrastructure and investments, Turkish Cargo is one of the fastest-growing air cargo companies of the world with these new routes. The outstanding air cargo brand combines its wide range of services and operational capabilities with the unique geographical advantages of Turkey, and keeps setting the bar higher with each passing day.
As volumes continue to trend sideways, growth achieved in April has been better than previous months. This IATA report identifies the best performing regions and most popular routes
Year-on-year growth in industry-wide freight tonne kilometres (FTKs) recovered to 4.1 per cent in April, having fallen to a 23-month low of 1.8 per cent in March. We continue to expect FTKs to grow in the region of four per cent in 2018. However, with volumes now having trended sideways in seasonally adjusted (SA) terms for the past eight months, the risks appear to be more on the downside. Annual growth in freight capacity exceeded that of demand in April for just the second time in 21 months.
Annual FTK growth recovered somewhat in April
Having fallen to a 23-month low of 1.8 per cent in March, year-on-year growth in industry-wide FTKs recovered to 4.1 per cent in April. This outcome reflected a pick-up in freight volumes in seasonally adjusted month-on-month terms in April, and broadly reversed the corresponding decline seen in March.
Traffic trends sideways
Nonetheless, the mixed demand picture since the end of last year means that the increase in April was just the second rise on a month-on-month basis since December. Indeed, the bigger picture is that FTK volumes have now trended broadly sideways in SA terms since August last year. Unless we see a pick-up in the seasonally adjusted demand trend in the coming months, the implication is that the annual FTK growth rate will slow once again towards mid-2018.
Air freight demand drivers have softened
The current moderation in air freight demand momentum largely reflects the fact that the inventory re-stocking cycle, which helped to boost freight demand last year, looks to have now run its course. As we have noted before, having fallen between the start of 2016 and the end of 2017, the inventory-to-sales ratio in the US has risen so far in 2018. The moderation in air freight demand is also consistent with the latest signs from the new export orders component of the global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which has proven to be a very good leading indicator for air freight in the past. While the series remains above the 50-mark that is notionally consistent with rising export orders, it fell in April to its lowest level since October 2016, and is currently pointing to annual FTK growth remaining in low single digit territory in the coming months.
Wider weakness in world trade expected
The latest developments in the global PMI series reflect a broad-based moderation in export order books for manufacturing firms across the major exporting countries in the world. Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that growth in global containerized trade has also slowed in tandem with air freight in recent months. Taken together, both of these factors suggest that wider momentum in world trade growth may be weakening alongside the recent pick-up in protectionist measures and rhetoric. As we noted in a recent research note, the latest developments in air freight suggest that it is prudent to be cautious about the wider outlook for world trade.
Solid FTK growth still expected in 2018 as a whole
There is still a long way to go this year, and we continue to expect industry-wide FTKs to grow in the region of 4 per cent in 2018 as a whole. Following the very strong growth performance seen in 2017, this would still be a robust outcome for the air freight segment. Nonetheless, this would need air freight volumes to resume their upward SA trend in the coming months, and the risks to the outlook appear to be tilted to the downside.
Capacity is growing faster than demand
Available freight tonne kilometres (AFTKs) grew by 5.1 per cent year-on-year in April, down from 6.3 per cent in the previous month. The upward trend in SA FTKs has fallen below that of AFTKs over the past eight months or so. April was just the second time in 21 months in which the annual pace of capacity growth has exceeded that of demand. As a result, the industry wide freight load factor fell by 0.5 percentage points compared to April 2017. International FTK growth also recovered modestly Industry-wide international FTKs grew by 4.9 per cent year-on-year in April, up from 2.2 per cent in March.
Latin America topped the growth chart again
Annual growth in international FTKs flown by airlines based in Latin America fell to 10.8 per cent in April from 17.4 per cent in March, but the region still topped the annual growth chart for the second month in a row. Freight volumes have recovered over the past 18 months or so alongside an improvement in economic conditions in the continent’s largest economy, Brazil. In SA terms, volumes remain at levels last seen in the second half of 2014.
Middle East carriers came in a close second
Middle Eastern carriers posted the second fastest annual growth rate in April (7.3 per cent, up from 1.0 per cent in March). However, the acceleration in the annual growth rate mainly reflected developments a year ago rather than any substantial change in the near-term trend; in fact, international FTK volumes have trended upwards at just a modest annualized rate of just 1-2 per cent over the past six months. All told, this supports signs of a broader moderation in global trade conditions.
Asia Pacific and Europe present subdues picture
It is an even more subdued picture for the two largest freight-flying regions, Asia Pacific and Europe.
Admittedly, airlines based in these regions both reported accelerations in year-on-year growth in international FTKs in April relative to March (to 5.6 per cent from two per cent in the case of Asia Pacific, and to 2.4 per cent from 0.8 per cent for Europe). However, the bigger picture is that both regions have seen air freight volumes trend sideways in SA terms since mid-2017. As the largest freight-carrying region, Asia Pacific is most exposed to any risks of rising global protectionism or trade wars. Meanwhile, a stronger euro, combined with the softer new export order index for the region’s key exporting nation, Germany, pose downside risks for European carriers.
Downward trend in North American volumes
Airlines based in North America saw a deceleration in annual international FTK growth in April (to 4.0 per cent, from 5.3 per cent in March). A downward trend in traffic has emerged since the end of last year and is something we will continue to monitor closely. The weakening in the US dollar that we saw from the start of 2017 into the start of this year looks to have supported outbound air shipments; according to the US Census Bureau, export volumes from the US by air grew by 11.7 per cent year-on-year in Q1, compared to a corresponding 7.5 per cent increase in imports. (Note that the US dollar has been rising more recently.)
Africa growth jumps back into positive territory
Meanwhile, year-on-year growth in international FTKs flown by African airlines recovered into positive territory in April (+5.8 per cent, from -3.1 per cent in March). Recall that international FTK volumes flown by African airlines surged by 25 per cent last year. However, FTKs have trended down in SA terms since peaking in late-2017 and are currently at levels last seen in the middle of last year. IATA Economics economics@iata.org
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) recently announced that it is receiving considerable interest from potential partners, as it explores a range of new growth options and initiatives to accelerate the delivery of its recently announced downstream strategy
ADNOC’s transformation programme focuses on maximizing value by driving operational efficiency, enhancing performance, realigning management of its assets, and introducing an expanded partnership and investment model
ADNOC detailed plans to invest AED 165 billion (US $45 billion), to become a global downstream leader, enabling it to further stretch the value of every barrel it produces to the benefit of ADNOC, its partners and the UAE, creating a range of opportunities for new and existing partners and investors. This new downstream plan were outlined on May 13, at the ADNOC Downstream Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi.
The downstream strategy will build on the ADNOC transformation programme of the last two years, which focuses on maximizing value by driving operational efficiency, enhancing performance, realigning the management of its portfolio of assets, and introducing a new and expanded partnership and investment model.
H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and ADNOC Group CEO, says, “As we grow in the downstream, a central pillar of our strategy will be the creation of a global refining and petrochemical growth engine at Ruwais. We are exploring a range of options in Ruwais, including bringing in partners who share our vision to develop new businesses that will accelerate the growth of the complex.
“The expansion and enhancement of our refining capabilities in Ruwais, along with the development of Derivatives and Conversion Parks, are key initiatives aimed at significantly expanding ADNOC’s downstream operations. They will provide the UAE private sector, and international companies, the opportunity to partner with us to build and profit from the extended petrochemical value chain. The entire plan will support the development and diversification of the UAE’s economy, create highly skilled, specialized jobs and contribute to GDP growth.”
ADNOC is now accelerating this transformation by executing its downstream strategy that is aligned with ADNOC’s 2030 strategy of a more profitable upstream, more valuable downstream, more sustainable and economic gas supply, and more proactive, adaptive marketing and trading. ADNOC will look to create long term downstream partnerships, providing access to opportunities across the value chain for both investors and partners.
Bob Dudley, CEO of BP, who was in attendance at the Downstream Investment Forum, commented on ADNOC’s partnership model and the investment opportunities it provides, saying, “Abu Dhabi for us is a strategic partner, it’s a great place to invest. The UAE has great resources to produce, and it exports those, but now it can take them and add more value to every barrel of crude oil and natural gas it produces, turning them into other products, and sending them to the markets. This seems like a natural fit because Abu Dhabi is located at the crossroads of the world, and it’s a really ambitious idea that Abu Dhabi has experience of executing.”
John Flint, Group CEO of HSBC, paid tribute to the impact of the program and the prospects of the UAE, saying, “ADNOC’s transformation is capturing the attention of investors around the world. The UAE is a good place to invest now because it has economic ambition coupled with dynamic and clear leadership.”
Mark Garrett, CEO of Borealis, the Austria headquartered partner of ADNOC in their joint venture Borouge, said, “When we invest, we look for long term advantaged feedstock supply, ability to access markets, ability to leverage our technologies and the ability to fund. In regards to ADNOC and Abu Dhabi, we found these things.”
Central to the plan will be a major enhancement and expansion of refining, petrochemicals and manufacturing operations and capabilities in Ruwais, UAE. The plans will build on the existing strengths and competitive advantages of the Ruwais Industrial Complex, through a combined program of strategic partnerships and investment, and will see ADNOC increase the range and volume of high-value downstream products to meet rising global demand. An enhancement of refining capacity and capabilities will enable the creation of a manufacturing ecosystem in Ruwais in the form of Derivatives and Conversion Parks that will further stimulate In-Country Value creation, private sector growth and employment in the UAE. The plans will see crude oil refining capacity doubled, and petrochemicals production tripled by 2025. In addition, the plans will see the creation of more than 15,000 highly skilled, specialized jobs in the petrochemicals and refining fields added by 2025, along with a contribution of an additional one per cent to GDP per year.
With a refining capacity of 922,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude and condensate, ADNOC’s operations in Ruwais already make it the fourth largest refining complex globally, representing 10 per cent of refining capacity in the Middle East. ADNOC aims to increase and enhance the processing capacity and capabilities of the Ruwais refinery and petrochemicals complex through a range of new initiatives and investments, including:
A new refinery – a greenfield project to build a 600,000 barrel per day crude refinery.
A Crude Flexibility Project (CFP) – a new refinery upgrade to allow ADNOC to process heavier crudes. Developing this capability will allow ADNOC to export more of its high-value Murban, as well as further support its new asset-backed trading activities.
A Gasoline Aromatics Project (GAP) – the development of new processing units to upgrade the company’s light and heavy naphtha streams, which would allow ADNOC to increase its gasoline production and allow the development of another vertical in the ADNOC petrochemical value chain through the development of aromatics, leading to further downstream business and investment activities within the new Ruwais Derivatives and Conversion Parks, and the potential export to growth markets.
A new Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) project – the LAB manufacturing facility will be fully integrated within the ADNOC Refining complex, taking feedstocks of kerosene and benzene to produce the most common raw material in the manufacture of biodegradable household and industrial detergents and a number of other products.
A mixed feed cracker – ADNOC and Borealis are constructing the Borouge 4 complex, which moved to the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) stage in July 2017, and will encompass a world-scale, mixed feedstock cracker, that will be fully integrated with ADNOC’s Ruwais refineries.
An additional polypropylene plant – also in July 2017, it was announced that the new polypropylene plant (PP5) had moved into the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tendering phase. The plant will be based on Borealis’ proprietary Borstar® technology, and will be integrated with the existing Borouge 3 complex.
Carbon Black and Delayed Coker – an upgrade to improve product recoverability and maximize value from the bottom of the barrel.
Further to the above refining projects, the Ruwais Derivatives Park will enable partners to invest alongside ADNOC in assets that produce new primary chemical products from a broader range of feedstocks made available from the expanded Ruwais Refinery and the new Mixed Feed Cracker.
Beyond the Derivatives Park, the Ruwais Conversion Park will enable new businesses even further down the value chain, taking feedstock from ADNOC Refining, Borouge and the Derivatives Park, to manufacture higher value, converted end products, including packaging materials, coatings, high voltage insulation, pipes and automotive composites. In addition to supplying valuable feedstocks, ADNOC will also avail developed land, infrastructure, utilities and shared services at attractive rates to the potential tenants.
This announcement comes on the back of a number of significant recent announcements from ADNOC, including: an agreement with OCP Group of Morocco to explore the phased creation of a new global fertilizers joint venture; a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ravago Group, a leading service solutions provider in the global polymers and chemicals market, to explore opportunities for cooperation at the Ruwais Industrial Complex; and a project development agreement with Cepsa of Spain moving the above mentioned, new world-scale Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) facility, also in Ruwais, to the FEED stage.
In parallel to the developments at its domestic refining operations at Ruwais, ADNOC is actively pursuing international expansion by targeting select growth market opportunities to establish new refining and petrochemical footprints across the value chain and improve its market access and product placement capabilities.
For our people issue, what would be a better topic than tackling the ‘Women in Logistics’ theme? What we learnt from this exercise is that more needs to be done to highlight the many ladies working hard in logistics. So this is the first of many articles to highlight the hard work and fervour of our ladies. Munawar Shariff has more
Global Supply Chain has gained three very different perspectives about the role women are playing in different aspects of the industry. We start with Baljeet Nagi, Director SCM Strategy ECEMEA at Oracle, UAE, who is at the helm of an initiative at her firm to create better and more opportunities for women to be encouraged to enter and stay in this industry. We spoke to the management at MARA Xpress about their women-only team of delivery couriers and Saima Ghafar, Senior Supervisor, Neovia Logistics Services, on her hard work and how she has finally created a satisfying role for herself and is raring to move forward in her career.
Baljeet Nagi, Director SCM Strategy ECEMEA at Oracle, UAE
Soon after graduating in Biology with a BSc Hons from a university in the UK, Baljeet Nagi realised her academic specialisation wasn’t the career for her. “I had no choice but to find work to support myself,” she says. The company she was working in, however, encouraged her to study Accountancy which she did and became, in due time, Financial Controller at a blue chip firm in the heart of London.
“After that, very soon I was head hunted by a software company to lead with ERP applications. I excelled in this role leading to various senior positions and did a lot of traveling across EMEA. Today after more than 21 years in IT, I am now a Strategy Director for SCM for ECEMEA at Oracle in Dubai,” Nagi continues. “All I would like to emphasize is if you have aspirations and goals, go for them. Your gender or background does not matter!”
Nagi says a mentor at an early stage of her career would have probably helped her realise her potential. “I would have spent some time analyzing my skill set and market opportunities. Having said that, I wouldn’t change the experience since that was a great learning opportunity.”
“The world we live in today is rapidly changing around us. Today is all about the Digital Autonomous Economy. My advice to someone wanting to start off in this field would be to be flexible and prepared to learn new skills, to embrace the digital world of new technologies and challenges.”
Nagi feels the importance of logistics and supply chain management has grown significantly and she suggests: 1. If you are thinking about a career change, the field of logistics has much to offer. 2. Jobs are available in logistics for people of all education levels. As the global economy has expanded, logistics has become increasingly important. 3. Careers in logistics are paying more than ever.
Logistics, she opines, is a stepping stone into the field of international business. Many people who begin a career in logistics find that they quickly gain enough experience with international business to develop new skills or confidently take on new opportunities. Opportunities for women are expanding in logistics. Logistics careers have traditionally been held by men, but women are becoming increasingly involved at all levels. And today, many women hold top positions in logistics companies and logistics departments, such as Nagi herself.
So while supply chain management (SCM) is still perceived to be a ‘masculine’ role. That is the one aspect of the role – a physical job involving warehouses, trucks etc., the other side to the roles is when SCM actually plays an important strategic part that reaches across functions and regions and requires skill sets that align with human strengths (both male and female fall under the category!) “Women should be encouraged to pick up skills in stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths,” she adds.
New college graduates are in high demand for entry level positions in the industry. Recruiting from engineering and tech programmes is a good place to start. Offering paid internships or scholarships to students majoring in supply chain management might also garner interest for students to pursue careers in the industry. Another good idea presented by Nagi is sending guest speakers to campuses who can explain the benefits of being part of the high-tech supply chain and logistics family, and how the industry is moving fast toward a brilliant future, which is hence a great way to foster excitement for a supply chain career path. There is currently a need for a programme like this to inform young people of the possibilities that the supply chain and logistics industry holds.
Leadership
A leader needs a high level of cultural and emotional intelligence but above all an awareness of one’s own values and vulnerabilities. Women are perceived as great social risk takers better at reacting to situations with greater emotional intensities than men are. Nagi says, “When confronted with uncertainty, women report fear whereas men report anger!!! Women, therefore, are better managers and leaders!”
And Nagi drives the point home by adding, “As per DDI Global Leadership Forecast 2014/2015, an organization performs better financially when more women are in leadership roles!”
Oracle Women’s Leadership programme
“I am the leader for Oracle Women’s Leadership programme (OWL) at Oracle in Dubai. OWL is a global initiative, and its mission is to develop, engage, and empower current and future generations of Oracle women leaders to foster an inclusive and innovative workforce. OWL is an important part of Oracle’s overall inclusion strategy, which is vital to maintaining a productive, dynamic global workforce, which strengthens Oracles’ leadership capabilities,” she adds.
Oracle is hiring hundreds of millennial employees annually through their new college grad programmes; these millennials are actively involved in the running of communities at the company’s various hubs; OWL provides an opportunity for them to connect with cross-generations to see career opportunities front and center. OWL Communities have a development focus with their many development programs, various mentoring opportunities and networking events.
In the UAE – Delivering the Oracle Cloud Internship Programme seminar at “Employer on Campus” Day at HCT Women’s Campus Abu Dhabi
In Saudi Arabia – Launched “female only” Oracle HCM and Financials Cloud workforce training with Prince Sultan University for 40 Saudi females as part of King Salman Education for Employment Initiative which will place trainees in jobs upon successful completion of the programme and 10 certified Saudi women on the Oracle Financial Cloud Implementation
In Kenya – Holds regular mentoring sessions for girls at the Nairobotics Korogocho Hope Centre. Organised programme where career talk is delivered via Oracle’s female Tech expert @ ‘Girls with Grits Hackathon’ aiming to encourage young ladies to develop and work on hardware and software projects.
Mara Express
Mara Express is a two-year-old, UAE-based courier delivery firm with a 12 member women’s delivery team besides their regular couriers. The team of women couriers are dedicated to delivery of high end luxury fashion as well as retail, cosmetics, FMCG and electronics.
Jeremy Skyrme, CEO, Mara Express says, “We currently have 12 women delivery experts spread across the UAE. There were several considerations to our hiring female drivers: the cultural aspect of this region, having female drivers can promote a better customer experience as it creates comfort and confidence for a woman receiving a package from a female driver. Also it adds a different flavor to the entire customer experience and our business. It also breaks the stereotype of only men being ‘delivery agents’.”
Mara Xpress believes in diversity within the company as well as giving an equal opportunity to all employees. All drivers undergo a week of immersion to inculcate company values and culture. Coaching sessions are also provided and is one of the main tools that helps them become better at their jobs.
“Women are resilient and patient by nature,” continues Skyrme, “important attributes to the type of business as different types of customers are encountered with each shipment delivery. “Also, women are able to build a rapport with customers faster than men. The attention to detail is one of the advantages of women drivers over male couriers.”
The company suitably rewards their employees to keep the motivation flowing and the morale upbeat. Incentives are awarded for achieving the key performance indicators (KPI) which is roughly an average of 40 deliveries per day, special campaigns are run during peak seasons when there are a high volume of deliveries, they have initiatives like Employee of the month, the X-tra Miler award as well as monetary and gift items. “A company must be able to adopt diversification and gender equality,” concludes Skyrme.
Saima Ghafar is an industry veteran, she began her career in 2000 as a startup member at Caterpillar Logistics Services (now Neovia Logistics Services). She came on board fully after completing her BTech Computer Information systems the following year.
“My first job was in HR despite my efforts to get into the IT field. During those years, it was rare for women to get a real opportunity in IT in the region, almost like finding a needle in the haystack,” says Ghafar. So, after improving processes in HR for three years, she was able to get her break. Because the fact that she was able to improve processes in HR, enabled her to finish work a few hours earlier and she used her free time to create reports or do other admin roles for the warehouse. “This is how I entered the field of logistics. I had the opportunity to lead IT as well as Transportation (arranging trucks for outbound shipments etc),” she continues. Being Lean Six Sigma certified added to her superlative work and the maintenance of the requisite logistics standards
“Exposure to warehouse processes, inventory management, IT / SAP processes, project management and being a certified Green Belt gave me the edge to be given the opportunity to be a Senior Supervisor; with responsibility to handle warehouse operations including Transport and IT/IS departments,” she continues. “Another essential part of my job is to implement and sustain the Neovia Operating System in all Neovia facilities as this is an integral part of Neovia’ s culture,” says Ghafar.
Ghafar feels that the number of women has, very gradually, increased in the industry during the last 20 years. “In my 17 years of service, the number of women that I have met, in this field are just a handful,” she says.
The path is not so smooth for women in any part of the world. Despite the fact that most of multinational companies are strongly committed to gender diversity, it does take time for men to see and let women prove their capabilities; once that trust is established, however, there is no stopping them. Women remain underrepresented in all fields. Compared to men, fewer women are hired at entry level, despite women being about 60 per cent of the recent college graduates*.
The trend for women in this industry is upward but very slow. The rate of women leaving the workplace is less compared to men as they want to focus on family as well*. Dubai government has taken great initiatives for women in this field. An example is: at the opening of DP World’s Jebel Ali Container Terminal 3 in 2014, the demonstration of a remotely controlled quay crane during His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai’s, visit to the port was given by a woman crane operator. Out of 30 per cent of the new quay crane Emirati operators recruited, a third are women. In Europe and Americas, the number of women in this field is significant compared to Asian or Middle Eastern countries. Organizations must have a quota for women to be part of logistics and transport. This industry is growing rapidly and is one of the key contributors to a country’s economy. With women being a big part of the workforce, the opportunities are countless which any country or organization cannot ignore.
As per a survey conducted in 2015, women were only 10 per cent of the workforce in logistics and warehousing. “During my career, and being part of the recruiting activities, women were and still are always selected for HR and admin jobs. Women are always perceived to be carved only for jobs with soft skills. The slow but steady change is inevitable. The future will see a good number of women in transport & logistics but this is not possible without the support of men at senior levels. *2017 LeanIn.Org and McKinsey – Women in workplace study
Leadership
“I believe that women are hardworking and can excel in any field. Women generally have a very holistic approach towards any task they perform. People, safety, processes, company culture, all work in sync mentally for them. The natural maternal instincts of women makes them compassionate leaders. They do not just talk about bottom line, KPI’s or productivity but the Emotional Quotient plays heavily under their leadership. Empathy and understanding are a woman leader’s strength which make her more likeable and successful as a leader,” she says.
Stereotyping
Ghafar feels that the stereotyping – that women are not capable or suitable for the industry or for that matter any field, has to change. Women need as much support and trust to develop and grow as their male colleagues. “I am a great advocate of cross-functional training. This is a great tool that can be used by companies to bring out hidden talents. The idea that women cannot work in fields with physical hard work is already a proven myth but needs to be propagated. A change in perspective, skills and experiences is very important in organizational culture; these are the main factors that cause innovation and support creativity.
Organizational culture plays a big role, too. Bosses must be held accountable for the growth and development of their employees. This is imperative to fulfill organizational strategy. “I always say that if people have not grown / developed over a period of years or they have been doing the same work for years, their complete potential has not been realized OR that they have not been exposed to bigger challenges / additional responsibilities; which means that bosses have not acted or mentored their people as required. A boss is a first direct mentor to their people.
“My advice to anyone starting in this field is: keep an edge over the others by continuously learning and developing yourself. Your development is your priority. Make time to read and learn. Emotional Intelligence is one area that I would recommend which is not taught in any school or university. People are not machines, they are emotional and intellectual beings and they need to be respected and addressed in that manner,” Ghafar concludes.
Turkish Cargo relocated live animals safely up in the clouds.
Offering service to 122 countries and being the fastest-growing air cargo brand around the world, Turkish Cargo has just relocated 16 months-old 3 giraffes from Johannesburg to Tehran victoriously, by means of a connecting flight via Istanbul.
During the flight, the giraffes were accompanied by their keepers, veterinarians and IATA Live Animals Regulation (International Air Transport Association – Live Animals Regulations) certificated personnel of Turkish Cargo.
During the recent period of one month, Turkish Cargo, which provides conditions in the sky that are much of the conditions in the natural living environment by exercising maximum care for the live animal shipments, has victoriously relocated 10 lions, 7 of which were cubs, from Johannesburg to Pakistan, and 10 giraffes to Bangladesh, and 4 elephants to the United Arab Emirates, and 3 monkeys from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Ukraine, by means of a connecting flight via Istanbul.
For the purpose of performance of the live animal transportation service, it offers to its customers, Turkish Cargo carries out its such operations as based on the IATA LAR during the course of its acceptance, storage and shipment processes, and it meticulously implements the documentation, encaging, labeling and marking guidelines as described under the said regulations.
CIPS announces a more positive outlook for the UAE’s supply chain for the 4th consecutive quarter
The UAE remained in the ‘green category’ for positive supply chain environment in Q4 2017
Global supply chain risk fell for four consecutive quarters to 79.5, down from 80.3 in Q3 2017
Despite global challenges, risk came in at the lowest level since the beginning of 2016
Dubai, UAE, 19 June 2018: The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) has today launched its quarterly CIPS Risk Index, powered by Dun & Bradstreet, for Q4 2017. The latest results revealed that the UAE supply chain outlook remained positive for four quarters in a row.
According to the Index, the UAE continued to retain its position in the ‘green category’ for its positive supply chain environment. This follows a global trend of improving economic conditions, despite global challenges such as trade wars and protectionism on the horizon.
The UAE’s positive supply chain environment follows an acceleration in growth for the world’s major economies, contributing to reduced supply chain risk. In fact, the CIPS Risk Index score for Q4 2017 saw a decline in overall operational risks to global businesses for the fourth time in a row.
Sam Achampong, Head of CIPS MENA said: “This edition of the CIPS Risk Index shows the UAE as a driver of stability and positive economic conditions in the MENA region. As a strong economy with an overall safe environment, the UAE continues to enjoy its position as a ‘green category’ country, indicating its positive supply chain environment outlook. The UAE fosters innovation in technology and invests heavily in infrastructure in line with the country’s government agendas. Leading up to Vision 2021, the supply chain environment will no doubt continue to improve, further establishing the UAE as a leading economy on the world stage.”
Looking at the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, there were no high-level changes in the Index in 2017. In fact, the supply chain environment for countries facing some political uncertainty improved and, in turn, benefited cross-border supply routes. As oil prices continue to strengthen and business conditions improve in the region, a delicate balance remains between regional supply chain considerations and geopolitical challenges.
John Glen, CIPS Economist said: “Given the threats looming over the global economy, it was a surprise to see overall risk in supply chains improving again for another quarter and the fourth in a row at the end of 2017. The overall Index figure was at its lowest since the first quarter in 2016, as a period of stability descended over global supply chains, but the threat of trade wars between the US and China, also the UK and Europe may severely impact this trend for improvement.
Though the Index reported no change to risk in the US and Canada, the undercurrents are showing there are more expected improvements to come in 2018 with predictions for the strongest rebound in economic growth since the recession.
The drivers for this growth appear to be good labour conditions with more employment in more regions, consumer confidence resulting in strong spending patterns, and businesses benefitting from recent tax breaks as they re-invest their spare capital into business opportunities and higher wages.
Political threats, however, could create an unwelcome adjustment in this trajectory of strong global economic growth, resulting in an undesirable start to what was a promising 2018.”
The quarterly CIPS Risk Index, powered by Dun & Bradstreet, tracks the impact of economic and political developments on the stability of global supply chains. It analyses the business continuity factors contributing to supply chain risk across the world, weighing each score according to that country’s contribution to global exports.
DP World, UAE region including Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has reaffirmed its position as the region’s top trade and logistics hub by generating 29.4 million Metric Tonnes (MT) of trade, valued at $83.1 billion in 2017.
The figures contribute 23 per cent to the total value of trade in Dubai, 70 per cent of the value of all Dubai’s free zone trade combined and has increased four per cent year on year. The volume of trade amounts to 97 per cent of Dubai’s total free zone trade, 32 per cent of Dubai’s total trade and has seen a six per cent increase in trade year-on-year. The total traded volume of 29.4 million MT is the highest since 2013.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “This is a proud moment for Jafza as our free zone continues to lead Dubai’s trade sector maintaining its positions as a regional and global business and logistics hub of choice. Last year’s growth was achieved against the headwinds of an economic slowdown across the world. The sustained growth of Jafza since 2013 across diverse sectors demonstrates its ability to leverage key market dynamics to create growth opportunities for our customers. Most critically, it shows that the Dubai and the UAE’s economy continues to be healthy and flexible, capable of successfully weathering and adapting to the changing patterns of international trade and global economics.
Over 77 per centof Jafza’s total trade volume in 2017 was generated by three sectors: oil and gas; foodstuff, livestock and agricultural products; and metal, steel and construction material.
Meanwhile, 76 per cent of the trade value was derived from five sectors: electronics and electricals, vehicle and transport, retail and general trading, oil and gas, and machinery and equipment
Jafza’s top markets by region were the Middle East at 40 per cent, Asia at 31 per cent and Europe at 13 per cent.
China remains Jafza’s largest trade partner as Chinese firms continue to use the free zone as their regional base for exports and re-exports of goods. Saudi Arabia was the second largest trade partner, followed by USA, Vietnam and India.
Etihad Aviation Group to donate 150,000 meals to charity every year
Etihad Aviation Group has launched a community programme that will deliver 400 meals per day to charity. The initiative will be held throughout 2018 and beyond, with approximately 150,000 meals to be donated every year.
As part of its sustainability and corporate social responsibility efforts, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has teamed up with the Grace Conservation Programme of Emirates Red Crescent and Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority to donate inflight meals to labourer residences in the Mussaffah area of Abu Dhabi.
In line with the 2018 Year of Zayed, the initiative was announced in early Ramadan to promote a spirit of sharing during the Holy Month.
The project is aligned with the sustainability pillar of the Year of Zayed. The meals are initially prepared for the airline’s three on board cabins – First Class, Business Class and Economy Class – and are then transported in a purpose-designed truck to keep them fresh. Emirates Red Crescent will provide an equipped kitchen and trucks to collect and store meals for distribution.
Etihad Aviation Group operates to a comprehensive CSR agenda during Ramadan, with many other charity and community activities planned for the local community in the UAE as well as India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and other parts of the world.
Photo Caption (left to right):
Paul Christopher Haines, General Manager, Etihad Airport Services – Catering, Syed Jassim Mohamed, Senior Manager, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Sultan Al Shehhi, General Manager, Grace Conservation, Chris Youlten, Managing Director, Etihad Airport Services, Khaled AlMehairbi, Senior Vice President and General Manager Etihad Airport Services Ground – Abu Dhabi Hub and CSR Strategy, Mohamed Rashed Al Shehhi, Head Grace Conservation and Kristian James Ireson, Manager Health and Safety- Etihad Airport Services – Catering
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, continues to win international recognition for its commitment to develop air transportation solutions customised to the requirements of its customers across the globe. The air cargo carrier has recently garnered a number of prestigious awards at global industry forums.
Air Cargo Industry Achievement Award
Emirates SkyCargo was awarded the Air Cargo Industry Achievement Award at the World Air Cargo Awards 2018 organised by Air Cargo Week in Shanghai. Based on popular vote, the award reflects the opinions of stakeholders across the global cargo industry and is therefore an important achievement for Emirates SkyCargo. It is also a valuable recognition of the success of the innovative and industry-focused solutions that the air cargo carrier has recently introduced including Emirates Pharma- for the secure transportation of temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals; Emirates Fresh- for transporting fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, sea food and meat; Emirates Wheels for moving luxury and premium automobiles; and Emirates AOG for the rapid transportation of aircraft parts.
Best Carrier- ‘Flown as Booked’ and ‘Customer Satisfaction’
Emirates SkyCargo was also recognised with two awards at the ‘Quality A
wards Italy’, organised by ANAMA (Italy IATA Airfreight Forwarders Association), which recognises cargo carriers for their commitment to quality of service and customer focus. Emirates SkyCargo overcame strong competition to pick up two prizes for Best Carrier in the categories ‘Flown as booked’ and ‘Customer satisfaction’. The awards ceremony was held in Milan and was attended by over 400 air-cargo industry leaders, airlines and guests.
Best International Cargo Airline 2018
For the third time in a row, Emirates SkyCargo was also crowned ‘Best International Cargo Airline’ by BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited) at their annual BIAL Pinnacle Awards Ceremony. Emirates SkyCargo commenced operations to Bengaluru in 2006 and has since then been an important facilitator for international trade from the region. Emirates SkyCargo offers cargo capacity to Indian businesses through its network in India which also covers Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Emirates SkyCargo, the world’s largest international cargo airline measured by Freight Tonne Kilometres, posted a strong performance for the 2017/18 financial year reporting a total revenue of US$ 3.4 billion (AED 12.4 billion), an increase of 17 per cent from the previous year. The air cargo carrier offers customers cargo capacity on its modern, all wide-body fleet of over 265 aircraft including 14 freighters- 13 Boeing 777-Fs and one B747F.
Emirates SkyCargo appoints David Harman as new Cargo Manager Switzerland
Emirates SkyCargo has appointed David Harman to the key position of Cargo Manager for Switzerland. Based in Zurich, Harman will be responsible for overseeing all operational and commercial aspects for the freight division of Emirates in the country. With over 30 years of international aviation and cargo experience, David Harman brings valuable knowledge and skills to his new role. He has previously worked as Vice President for dnata Ground and Cargo Handling in Zurich and held various positions through the years at CHEP Aerospace Solutions Ltd, Unitpool AG, Swissport International Ltd. and Swiss Worldcargo. He succeeds Nathalie Picaud, who has taken over responsibility for Pharma Sales in Europe for Emirates SkyCargo.
Turkish Cargo wins Cargo Airline of the Year Award
Aiming to be one of the top five air cargo carriers in the world by 2023, Turkish Cargo continues its successful rise. The carrier has been awarded with the “Cargo Airline of the Year 2018” prize at Air Cargo China, World Cargo Awards 2018 ceremony; which is one of the most important fairs in the air cargo industry organized by Air Cargo Week Magazine.
The World Air Cargo Awards Ceremony, which takes place in celebration of excellence in the air cargo market, was held in Shanghai.
As the fastest growing air cargo brand with its outstanding performance in the global air cargo sector, Turkish Cargo continues its sustainable growth towards its goals for 2023, developing customized and practical solutions for logistical needs.
Jebel Ali Port wins Afla Award for 24th consecutive year
DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port has again won the “Best Seaport – Middle East” award at this year’s Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards in Shanghai, China.
This is the 24th consecutive year Jebel Ali Port has won the coveted honour, a record achievement in the history of AFLAS Awards.
The award was received by DP World Officials at a ceremony attended by leading businesses in the maritime transportation, supply chain and logistics and trade sectors.
As the flagship of global trade enabler DP World, Jebel Ali Port has cemented its position as a leader in maritime trade, ranking as the tenth largest container port in the world.
It has also been ranked as the best in productivity servicing a market of over two billion people.
Jebel Ali is also ranked among the most technologically advanced container ports globally and is one of the few in the Middle East that can berth new-age ULCV vessels with capacities of over 20,000 TEU.
The AFLAS Awards are organised by Asia Cargo News and are held annually. They honour top industry performers in the air and shipping transportation sector recognising businesses that set new standards in leadership and service quality over the past year.
Etihad Cargo operates its first ‘Year of Zayed’ humanitarian flight
Etihad Cargo recently launched its first humanitarian freighter missions. The initiatives are part of the group’s extensive Year of Zayed programme, which will take place throughout 2018.
The specially branded Year of Zayed Boeing 777 freighter aircraft departed Abu Dhabi – first to Almaty in Kazakhstan and then to Hyderabad in India – carrying special provisions to be distributed to those in need during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The humanitarian missions are taking place throughout the year in collaboration with the Khalifa Foundation, the Red Crescent, and His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian & Scientific Foundation. These missions represent the Year of Zayed theme of respect, one of the four key themes of Etihad’s Year of Zayed activation plan.
Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, General Manager of The Founder’s Office, says, “The late Sheikh Zayed initiated countless philanthropic and charitable endeavors throughout his lifetime. His spirit of altruism and generosity transcended borders, and laid the foundations for the UAE’s ongoing role as a leading provider of international aid.
Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO) has named the best truck driver in the UAE in the 2018 Volvo Trucks Driver Challenge.
The global competition, hosted by Volvo Trucks, is bold new initiative which sees truck drivers put their skills to the test in a challenge of fuel efficiency, safety and productivity. The UAE part of the Driver Challenge saw 35 drivers from across the Emirates participate over four days, showcasing their driving capabilities.
At the end of the Driver Challenge event one winner was crowned Volvo’s best truck driver in the UAE. Pakistani national, Mr Younis Khan, from a Ras Al Khaimah-based company, completed 50km. In second place was, Mr Khalil Hamza, from Sharjah and the third runner up was Mr Marcello Penamante from Fujairah.
FAMCO will be flying Mr. Khan to the live final of the global competition – which will be held at the Volvo Trucks Experience Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden in September – where he will compete alongside the top drivers from 42 countries for the world title.
Using Dynafleet, Volvo Trucks’ fleet management system, drivers can measure fuel efficiency accurately based on four key aspects – braking, speed adaptation, engine and gear utilisation and standstill.
DHL Express announces Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah as Brand Ambassador for MENA
DHL Express has signed a strategic partnership for the Egyptian football superstar Mohamed Salah to become its brand ambassador for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the next two years.
The new collaboration will see the parties working together on a series of marketing activities and CSR initiatives that reinforce the synergies between the core values of DHL Express as a business and Mohamed Salah.
It was announced on 23 May at a press conference held in England in the presence of senior DHL Express officials, distinguished guests and international media and comes just a few weeks before Mohamed Salah will lead the Egyptian football team at the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Under the terms of the new agreement, DHL Express will work closely with Mohamed Salah’s company to support CSR and charitable projects while joining forces to support broader initiatives that can impact communities across the wider MENA region.
Image 1: From left to right Elliott Santon, DHL Express Marketing Director MENA, Nour Suliman, CEO DHL Express MENA, Mohamed Salah, Ramy Abass Director MS Commercial
Image 2: From left to right Elliott Santon, DHL Express Marketing Director MENA, Nour Suliman, CEO DHL Express MENA , Mohamed Salah, Ramy Abass Director MS Commercial
Image 3: Nour Suliman, CEO DHL Express MENA and Mohamed Salah holding DHL’s courier shirt
Saudi Arabian Airlines expands network infrastructure
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has selected SITA to support its strategic expansion plans by introducing modern, world-class IT infrastructure across 200 of the airline’s offices located in 100 cities and airports in 60 countries.
The solution will support the airline’s global IT infrastructure which connects all Saudia outstations with its headquarters and various data centers worldwide.
Sita will introduce its unique ATI Cloud solution, which will allow Saudia to manage and distribute its business applications, information and business services on-demand, anywhere in the world. The agreement also includes infrastructure, IT support and round-the-clock service through a dedicated service center.
Saudia’s incremental growth and global expansion has seen the airline open new offices in key cities and in turn, has developed new IT requirements to support the demand for the carrier’s continued growth in passenger numbers in the Kingdom and beyond.
Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said, “Saudia has a critical role to play in the nation’s Vision 2030, and continues to grow both in the Kingdom and beyond.”
Hani El-Assaad, SITA President Middle East, India and Africa, said, “With the rapid progress of hosted applications and cloud-based environments, it is the right time for Saudia to adopt cloud solutions across its network.”
Tristar Group’s new facilities in Abu Dhabi and Oman
Tristar Group has opened two new facilities aimed at enhancing its integrated logistics services to the downstream petroleum industry in the GCC.
The new truck staging and workshop facility at Industrial City in Abu Dhabi 2 (ICAD 2) has 50,000 sq metres of area offering tailor-made logistics service options to customers for transport, warehousing, storage and distribution services. It is strategically located near Khalifa Port, and the main highway connecting UAE with Saudi Arabia.
The Oman facility is located in the Rusayl Industrial Estate which is situated 20 kilometers from Muscat International Airport. The Rusayl Estate hosts a wide spectrum of companies providing consumer as well as industrial-oriented products, ranging from chemicals, electrical and building materials, fiber optic cables, food products, textiles, paints, and others.
Abu Dhabi Airport reduces waiting times and increases capacity with smart IoT technology
Dubai Technology Partners LLC (DTP), announced recently that it has joined forces with Xovis, the leading provider of people flow monitoring solutions, to help improve operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).
Serving 24 million passengers per year, AUH is one of the fastest growing hubs in the world and it is anticipated that the annual passenger throughput will grow to 45 million passengers within the next 10 years. Integrated with DTP’s desk planner solution, the Xovis Passenger Tracking System (Xovis PTS) will allow Abu Dhabi Airports, the operators of Abu Dhabi International Airport, to improve passenger flow and reduce waiting-time in critical areas like check-in, security, immigration and baggage-claim, dynamically manage airport resources and ultimately increase capacity and passenger satisfaction.
Commenting on the decision to partner with DTP and Xovis, Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports said, “This project has been key in meeting the growing challenge of balancing the increased volume of passengers and operational efficiency. With the implementation of this smart technology solution provided by experts such as DTP and Xovis, the team will be able to anticipate and respond to traveller flows for better real time and planning decisions. The intelligence that the system is delivering has already proven its value by providing actionable information and real time inputs during recent low visibility operations.”
After a successful trial at a check-in area in Terminal 3, DTP, using Xovis’ Smart IoT Technology, has deployed 455 Xovis 3D sensors in 19 sites in T1, T1A and T3. “DTP was in charge of the turnkey project management, including sensors installation, provision of infrastructure and integration between the Passenger Flow Management solution and different airport and airline’s operational systems. We have designed and implemented a Desk Planner module, that enables the airport to forecast “desk demand” for security and immigration areas. Moreover, we analyze and layout the collected data and KPIs on interactive airport maps to allow the airport operations to react with necessary measures against any challenges in the passenger flow that might arise, in a timely manner. Finally, we have provided several business intelligence tools that empower airport managers to monitor SLAs and performance of different teams (Operations, Airport Services, Security and Immigration) that are involved with the passengers’ flow,” explained Abdul Razzak Mikati, managing director at DTP.
Dnata will provide Egypt Air with premium cargo handling services from its best-in-class facility at Dubai World Central (DWC). Egypt Air will initially operate one cargo flight a week between Dubai and Cairo using an Airbus A300F aircraft. Dnata has been providing ground handling services to Egypt Air at Dubai International Airport since 2005. The expansion of the partnership underlines the attraction of Dubai as an air cargo hub and the demand for Dnata’s reliable and quality services and dedicated team.
Including Egypt Air, Dnata’s cargo operations serve over 120 airlines at 43 airports handling over three million tonnes of cargo a year.
Bernd Struck, Senior Vice President, UAE Cargo and DWC Airline Services for Dnata, says, “Delivering service and operational excellence to our customers has been the core of our business for decades. DWC is designed to support logistics well into the future and we are excited to welcome Egypt Air to be part of this journey with us.”
DAE signs agreements to sell aircraft valued at US$900 million
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd.’s leasing division DAE Capital has recently signed three agreements to sell 16 aircraft with a total market value of approximately US$900 million.
The aircraft covered by these agreements include Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, A330, and A350 family aircraft, have an average age of two years and are currently on lease to 11 airlines in 11 countries.
Firoz Tarapore, CEO of DAE saya, “This divestment activity will help us optimize our portfolio composition and monetize some of our recent larger-scale investments. This transaction does not impact our total number of customers. Proceeds will be used to pay down debt and be reinvested to support our ambitious growth plans. Proactively managing our portfolio through active trading is a critical component of our long-term portfolio strategy and it is important for us to remain relevant in all segments of the secondary market for aircraft sales.”
These agreements are expected to close in the second half of 2018.
2018 Edition of Dubai HeliShow gears up with over 60 exhibitors and visitors from more than 30 countries
Top companies from Hungary, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, France, Switzerland and UAE to showcase latest products & technologies in the helicopter industry as well as the defence and security sectors
The 2018 edition of the Dubai HeliShow is all geared up for its run from November 6 to 8 at the Royal Pavilion, Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai South under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The show is expected to be participated in by over 60 exhibitors and visitors coming from more than 30 countries.
Now on its seventh edition, the exciting three-day event will feature leading global speakers and top companies from Hungary, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Lithuania, Egypt, Russia, Bahrain, Switzerland, Romania, Lebanon, France, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Korea, Colombia and UAE to showcase their products, services and technologies for defence, homeland security, commercial and military helicopter sectors and explore future partnerships. Dubai HeliShow 2018 will also host strategic networking opportunities for participating companies, which include meetings and interactions between the international helicopter industry, as well as the defence and security sectors and prospective buyers.”
Ahmad Abulhoul Managing Director, Domus Group, organizers of Dubai HeliShow 2018, said: “In addition to highlighting recent advancements in helicopter technology, this year’s edition of Dubai HeliShow is set to explore the segment’s regional growth potential by bringing industry leaders, pioneers and other industry stakeholders under one umbrella to discuss strategies and roadmaps to effectively improve defence and homeland security capabilities. The show will be marked with three exciting days of exhibitions, product demonstrations and networking opportunities—all designed to increase awareness on the major trends and developments that will impact the market’s future at both regional and global levels.”
Jalaal Abu Hassan, Regional Sales Manager, Instruments – ME, FLIR Systems said: “In the defence sector, thermal imaging is mostly associated with ‘seeing the enemy.’ The technology is now widely used by government test labs; military test range applications; and aerospace and astronomy applications to include tracking, target signature, laser designation and scoring, munitions testing, adaptive optics, technical surveillance and countermeasures. With the information provided by thermal imaging, researchers can characterize objects in the thermal spectrum to identify and improve their designs.”
“Visit us at the Dubai Helishow 2018 to learn more about thermal imaging and its wide variety of applications,” he added.
For his part Steve Ghaleb, Vice President of Commercial Operations at DART Aerospace said: “Attending this show as a networking exhibitor and sponsor is another great stepping-stone towards having a stronger presence in the region. Especially with the high demand for our AW139 Emergency Flotation System with Integrated Liferaft, we are glad to be offering aerospace mission-critical equipment of the highest value to aircraft OEM and operators within the UAE. Not only is it essential for DART Aerospace to support the industry, it is also part of our vision to help define the future of cost-effective equipment in this evolving aerospace industry.”
Dubai HeliShow 2018 aims to address the growing demand for helicopter services in the UAE and the region. The event, which has been dubbed as a biennial International Helicopter Technology and Operations Exhibition dedicated to the helicopter industry, is expected to draw in a larger crowd, mainly composed of leading international players in the industry.
An extensive visitor campaign ahead of the upcoming edition of the Dubai HeliShow will target senior-level buyers and specifiers in the region from sectors including academia; accessories, components and spare parts; air ambulance operators; armed forces; commercial operators; emergency services; government agencies; military; maintenance and overhaul agencies; police air wings; private buyers; and search and rescue. Dubai South, a master-planned city and the emirate’s flagship urban project, is the key partner and supporter of the event.
The highlights of Dubai HeliShow 2018 include two exclusive three-day conferences, titled ‘Helicopter Technology and Operations’ and ‘Military and Homeland Security,’ which will shed light on a vast range of topics, including how to empower police forces with Internet of Things (IoT) tools; the role of women in homeland security; application of robotics in policing and helicopter; tackling new patterns in narco-terrorism by integrating intelligence, forensics and response operations; best practices to boost joint inter-agency cooperation between armed forces and homeland security agencies among many others.
International praises for Dubai’s experience as one of world’s best maritime capitals
Greek Prime Minister praises UAE’s global maritime feats during visit to DMCA pavilion at ‘Posidonia 2018’
Greek and other global maritime leaders show strong interest in Dubai’s quality initiatives and pioneering achievements
UAE & Greece explore joint efforts to accelerate growth of international maritime trade
DMCA celebrates ‘Zayed Humanitarian Day’ to commemorate legacy and noble values of UAE’s founding father
Successful participation reflects confidence of regional and international investors in local maritime community’s competitiveness
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras recently gained deeper insights into Dubai’s pioneering experience in building one of the world’s most competitive, attractive, and comprehensive maritime cluster. The top Greek official praised the world-class achievements and competitive edge of Dubai, making it at par with the world’s most important maritime and logistics centers. This took place during his visit to the pavilion of Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) on the opening day of ‘2018 Posidonia Exhibition’ which held recently at the Athens Metropolitan Expo. Senior DMCA officials headed by Executive Director for Operations Ali Al Daboos and Nawfal Al Jourani, Chief Officer of Dubai Maritime Cluster Office, welcomed the visit, saying it reflects the high confidence placed by the international maritime community in Dubai as a leading global maritime center. DMCA’s participation at ‘Posidonia 2018’ is a continuation of its success in representing the UAE in the most important international maritime forums and in seeking ways to enhance maritime cooperation between the UAE and Greece as a major hub on the maritime trade map.
The Emirati officials highlighted before the Greek Prime Minister and local maritime leaders the UAE’s competitive maritime cluster fundamentals, which offer promising investment opportunities for Greek and international shipowners as one of the most competitive and sustainable capitals in the world. In addition, they showcased the UAE’s accomplishments and qualitative initiatives launched to attract international investors and open up new horizons for concerned businesses to benefit from the local economic and investment opportunities. DMCA focused on creating the optimal environment to promote maritime activities based on modern infrastructure and legislations to meet the 21st century requirements and anticipate future needs.
The Greek Prime Minister also listened to the detailed explanation of Ali Al Daboos and Al- Jourani about ‘Zayed Humanitarian Day’, which marks the death anniversary of the late founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who laid the foundation for making humanitarian work and civilized behavior a well-established culture and norm in the Arab state. The DMCA officials said the ‘Zayed Humanitarian Day’ is a milestone and an important platform to recall the inspiring heritage and noble values of the UAE’s founding father as evidenced by the country’s continuing humanitarian efforts benefiting people from around the world.
International visitors have been flocking to the DMCA’s pavilion to explore the strengths of the local maritime components, particularly shipping, ports, engineering, and maritime support, which are reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the top 2017 maritime capitals in the world. Dubai also made it to the top five in terms of maritime attractiveness and competitiveness and among the top ten in all aspects of the maritime sector. It was also recognized for its advanced and attractive maritime business environments. Visitors expressed interest in DMCA’s achievements and initiatives, particularly in the promotion of innovation and the use of smart technology to drive growth and sustainability in the maritime sector. Some of these initiatives include the Dubai Virtual Cluster, Innovation Quay and Maritime Dubai, which is strategically important as the first plan in Dubai focused on organizing, developing and enhancing the maritime sector in a holistic manner in accordance with the highest standards of excellence, creativity, innovation, human investment and environmental protection, aiming at creating a renewable and secure maritime sector capable of driving sustainable economic development.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said the Authority’s presence in ‘Posidonia’ and other similar international maritime forums open up new horizons to build strong ties between the UAE and Greece, both of which are known for their competitive advantages and prestigious global positions. He praised the role of the strategic ’Posidonia’ in introducing international maritime community leaders to the qualitative achievements, ambitious strategies, and competitive factors that make the UAE and Dubai the destination of Greek and other international ship owners and operators seeking to capitalize on the region’s promising opportunities.
Ali added: “The ‘Posidonia’ exhibition is an ideal opportunity to showcase our successful experience in the advancement of the maritime sector based on innovation, knowledge, and smart transformation. This is part of our bid to establish a vibrant and sustainable economy based on innovation and knowledge in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership in pushing towards economic diversification and post-oil economy and supported by ‘Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS)’ which plays a key role in this endeavor. We are also moving towards meeting the aspirations of Greek and other international investors as we remain committed to modernizingour infrastructure, developing key policies, integrating regulatory frameworks, and enhancing maritime efficiencies. All these will form a solid pillar to catapult Dubai into the ranks of leading global maritime communities such as Singapore, Athens, Hamburg, Oslo, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and London,”
He concluded: “We reaffirm our absolute commitment to launch quality initiatives that will increase the confidence of regional and international investors in the competitive capabilities of the maritime community and improve the components of the local maritime sectorin line with Dubai Plan 2021. These include offshore services and the operation and maintenance of giant marine vessels.As we aim to become one of the world’s leading business and investment centers, we look forward to exploring ways to enhance maritime cooperation between the UAE and Greece to optimize opportunities in both countries.”
Stakeholders from Greece and other international maritime countries have shown strong interest in DMCA’s numerous initiatives such as the Dubai Virtual Cluster, which aims to build cooperation among and positive participation of maritime sector leaders in terms of research and development, innovation, and training through its virtual presence mechanism. Offering high-level interactive features, it serves as a promotional platform, a comprehensive information and knowledge portal, and a virtual center for innovation, research, development and training.
Another DMCA-led initiative is Innovation Quay launched to harness creative ideas and technological innovations in the development of maritime sector components. Through the provision of integrated services and exceptional opportunities, the initiative enables developers, innovators, and researchers to transform their proposals into actual projects to help strengthen Dubai’s leadership on the global maritime scene.
The ‘Dubai Maritime’ is another DMCA-led initiative provides an integrated framework for the development of maritime policies and the activation of coordination between government agencies and local, regional and international organizations concerned with maritime affairs, free zones, ports, among others. It promotes activities related to the local maritime sector, which is home to more than 5,500 companies operating 13,000 maritime activities that are fuel the national economy by creating over 76,000 jobs.
The biennial and interactive ‘Posidonia’ exhibition enhances direct communication among decision makers, government dignitaries, experts, ship owners, ship operators, international and legal investors, and representatives of major shipping companies from around the world.
Mr. Bin Sulayem: Building green infrastructure reduces supply chain’s carbon footprint.
Marking World Environment Day, DP World’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) has launched the UAE’s first green storage and warehouse facilities in Dubai, helping business to reduce their carbon footprint.
The global trade enabler’s sustainable, long term growth is aligned with the United Nation’s ninth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
While some cool storage facilities are now running entirely on solar energy, an increasing number of other JAFZA warehouses will become more energy efficient as DP World’s Solar Programme is rolled out over the coming years.
The project supports the UAE Vision 2021 for a sustainable environment and includes construction of the largest distributed solar rooftop project in the Middle East, with the installation of 88,000 rooftop solar panels on DP World’s Dubai facilities. It is estimated that the panels will produce enough clean power for 3,000 homes a year.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Corporate citizenship is part of the fabric of society today and it will play a major part in our future. Building green infrastructure allows us to reduce carbon footprint in our facilities. By investing in these projects, we also encourage the development of new skills, driving economic growth and job creation.
“Our experience and studies have shown that a mindset to conserve and the development of sustainable business practices enables efficient operation. This streamlines effort and saves resources, which enhances employee productivity and reduces cost. It a win-win for all.” DP World’s Solar Programme also contributes to energy diversification in the region as part of Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, which seeks to reduce energy demand by 30% by 2030.
In 2010, the company was the first international trade enabler to join the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which runs the global system that enables companies, cities, nations and regions to measure and manage their environmental impact. DP World has been reporting results across its portfolio in 40 countries, monitoring energy use, making terminal operations more efficient, embracing renewable energy projects and investing in low-carbon technologies.
For the third consecutive year in 2017, DP World’s CDP report received the ‘leadership’ score of A-, highlighting the company’s role in implementing best practice in greenhouse gas emissions and improving environmental performance within its industry.
Saudia Cargo launches state-of-the-art pharmaceutical cold storage facility at KAIA
Saudia Cargo has recently inaugurated one of the Region’s newest and most modern cold storage facilities of pharmaceuticals and medicines at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) to meet the surged demand on highly-sensitive and temperature-controlled shipments.
The refrigerated warehouse was opened in conjunction with launching FlyPharma, an innovative product designed specifically to meet the growing demand for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.
“The new facility boasts a 1010M2 pharmaceutical handling space with double operational capacity and conforms to the international standards of World Health Organization, the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use as well as the local standards of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority,” said Omar Hariri, CEO, Saudia Cargo.
The center ships and stores pharmaceuticals using the most advanced technologies along with sophisticated active temperature control containers, which require advanced passive solution technology, especially for products needing transportation between +2oC to + 8oC or +15oC to + 25oC.
“We have listened, as always, to our customers, their feedback and expectations during face-to-face meetings and analyzed the results of food and drug shipment surveys. We built on the feedback and results and came up with a good perception that helped us launch the new project, which is the first step taken in line with the Saudia Cargo new Transformation Strategy 2020,” Hariri explained.
Saudia Cargo aims to open more similar facilities Kingdom-wide in line with its vision and is currently planning to launch an 800M2 specialist pharmaceutical handling facility in Riyadh offering FlyPharma services.
The opening event was attended by Mohammed Abunayyan, member of Board of Directors and Chairman of Executive Committee, Saudia Cargo; Abdullah Al-Ruwaiteh, Executive Director of the Branches, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority; representatives from KAIA, Customs, airport government agencies and a number of Saudia Cargo pharmaceuticals clients.
Fancy freight: Turkish Cargo transports ‘world’s fastest car’ from Dubai to Toronto
Turkish Cargo, a brand of Turkey’s national flag-carrier Turkish Airlines, has transported “world’s fastest car” from the Gulf emirate of Dubai to Toronto, Canada.
Turkish Cargo completed a successful private cargo operation by carrying the $2.2 million Devel Sixteen luxury car with its expert team using special cargo transportation rules.
The vehicle, produced by Dubai-based Devel, has a 123-liter, 16-cylinder engine which can reach dizzying speeds of 563 kilometers per hour.
Currently offers air freight services to 121 countries and as the fastest growing air cargo brand with its outstanding performance in the global air cargo sector, Turkish Cargo continues its sustainable growth towards its goals for 2023, developing customized and practical solutions for logistical needs.
Almajdouie De Rijke Ltd with first ever “Responsible Care Award”
Almajdouie De Rijke Ltd proudly received the first ever “Responsible Care Award” for logistics Service providers during the 2nd GPCA Responsible Care Conference, which was held in Dubai.
File GPCA RC award – Pictured: Senior SSHEQ Manager, Amador Brinkman; Sadara Project Manager, Bart Darcis; and Yansab Project Manager Imtiaz Masoud accept the award from Khaled Al-Kharboush.
Almajdouie Logistics is the proud recipient of the Frost and Sullivan “2018, KSA Logistics Service Provider of the Year Award ” for the third year in a row.
We would like to thank all our stakeholders and employees for the hard work and dedication, which makes this achievement possible, and we are inspired to work hard to sale ever greater heights of success
CEO Almajdouie Logistics Baheej Al Biqawi Receiving the award
New Sign From Above as UPS Unveils New Look for 747 Jet Ahead of Expo 2020 Dubai
One of UPS’s 747 jumbo jets dedicated for long-haul international use is sporting a modified paint scheme highlighting the company’s role as official logistics partner for Expo 2020 Dubai. UPS has only modified the livery of an aircraft four other times in the airline’s 30-year history.
Each of those times signifies a major news event – this time, it’s to mark UPS’s unique role in delivering one of the world’s most complex logistics challenges at the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai. Millions of visitors from around the world are expected to attend the Expo in the United Arab Emirates. During the event’s six month run, UPS will manage all of the logistics of the event, using a team of nearly 1,000 employees and a dedicated 290,000 square-foot warehouse.
Logistics giant Geodis is re-organising its business into four key regions to improve client’s access to services.
“As GEODIS’ strategy is to be the growth partner of its clients, the group is creating a new organization to serve this ambition. This new organization aims at providing the group’s clients easy and full access to its unique portfolio of intercontinental transportation, customs clearance, road freight transportation, warehousing and last mile distribution in each country of the world either through its own assets or selected partners,” the company statement read.
Alongside the group’s existing lines of business, four new regions have been established under one leadership responsible for the full GEODIS service offer. These regions are Western Europe, Middle East and Africa, Northern and Continental Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific. In addition, the group is enhancing two central departments: business development & marketing with the mission to design and build end-to-end logistics solutions and innovation and business excellence to embed innovative ideas in its business processes.
The board of management led by Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS, reflects this new organization:
Regions:
• Western Europe, Middle East and Africa, Laurent Parat
• Northern and Central Europe, Thomas Kraus
• Americas, Randy Tucker
• Asia Pacific, Onno Boots
Lines of Business:
• Distribution and Express, Olivier Mélot
• Road transport, Olivier Royer
• Global Freight Forwarding, Eric Martin-Neuville
• Supply Chain Optimization, Boris Pernet
Group functional executives:
• Chief Financial Officer, Amaury Valicon
• Corporate Secretary, Stéphane Cassagne
• Group Information Technology, Henri Linière
• Group Human Resources, Mario Ceccon
• Business Development & Marketing, Kim Pedersen
• Innovation & Business Excellence, Philippe de Carné
The lines of business remain the cornerstone of the Group’s comprehensive expertise:
• Contract Logistics: Order management, pick and pack, value-added services and outbound transport management, with more than 7 million square metres of warehousing around the world.
• Distribution & Express: Day Definite Delivery of parcels (24h-48h) and Next Day Delivery in France, as well as cross-border countries, carried out via 150 Distribution & Express facilities.
• Freight Forwarding: International multi-modal ocean, air and rail transportation, as well as customs brokerage in 120 countries. The Industrial Projects division designs complex out-of-gauge operations for companies in sectors such as oil & gas, mining, and renewable energy.
• Road Transport: Full Truck Load transport for general cargo and special commodities (chemical, steel, etc.) with a fleet of 2,300 own trucks and an extensive sub-contractor network across Europe.
• Supply Chain Optimization: Advisory services such as supply chain diagnosis and network design, supply chain management.
Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS, commented, “We believe that this new organization will make it easier for our customers to access our services through a stronger local presence. It will also offer more opportunities to develop end-to-end logistics solutions to optimize our clients’ supply chains.”
Beginning March 31, Bosch connected vehicles with eCall will automatically call for help in an accident. Thanks to the automatic eCall, emergency responders can arrive at the scene of an accident up to twice as fast. Regional specifications for the UAE and KSA are also underway
On March 31, 2018, the automatic “emergency call” system – eCall, for short – will become mandatory in the European Union. This requirement means that a digital first responder who automatically calls for help in an accident, will be riding along in the car, each and every time. “Connecting cars makes a great deal possible. Through the automatic eCall system, connected vehicles are now going to become lifesavers as well,” says Dr. Dirk Hoheisel, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH. All new passenger vehicle models that hit the EU market after March 31, 2018, will come with eCall as standard. These vehicles will feature a standardised eCall box that automatically alerts the local emergency services via the number 112, which is the same across Europe. As a result, lifesaving assistance will be able to arrive with greater speed and precision at the scene of an accident.
These developments assume more importance, considering regional initiatives and campaigns currently underway, including countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to combat road accidents. The EU expects that eCall will save 2,500 lives each year and reduce the number of people who are seriously injured by 15 percent. The first automakers are already providing their customers with the digital lifesaver as part of the navigation system without being required to do so by law. Bosch offers an extensive eCall range featuring telematics solutions and services. Thanks to the telematic eCall plug, even older cars can benefit from the solution.
Rapid assistance as standard
There are many things to think of in an emergency, and every second matters. However, many people fall into a state of shock following an accident. In an even more terrifying scenario, the people in a vehicle end up unconscious or trapped after an accident, unable to call for help themselves. These are precisely the situations in which the automatic eCall system springs to action as an indispensable lifesaver. It knows exactly where the accident has occurred – regardless if it happens at night on a deserted road or on the freeway – and automatically sends that information to the rescue services. “eCall places the emergency call faster than a person could and initiates the lifesaving rescue chain,” Hoheisel says. An SOS button is also installed on the vehicle’s dash, which the vehicle’s occupants can use to manually place the emergency call. In both cases, an audio connection is first established between the vehicle and the local emergency services team to communicate further details about the accident. If the driver does not respond, emergency responders go directly to the scene of the accident. Thanks to precise information about the location based on GPS coordinates, the emergency responders even know in which direction of travel the accident occurred. As a result, the automatic eCall enables emergency responders to arrive at the scene of the accident 40 per cent faster in a city, while in rural areas, they can cut the usual response time in half.
A connectivity box that saves lives
The first automakers are already offering their customers eCall as part of a vehicle’s navigation or infotainment system for a number of years. In such a set-up, what is installed in the car is not a standard eCall box, but rather an additional control unit that a connected vehicle uses to communicate with the outside world. At Bosch, this control unit is called the connectivity control unit, or CCU. It is the heart of connected mobility and the communication hub for eCall and other functions and services. The CCU registers a crash when the car’s airbags or seat-belt pretensioners are triggered. It then alerts rescue services or the Bosch emergency call center within a matter of seconds. The CCU is also connected with additional sensors in the vehicle and knows, for example, how many seat belts are in use − and therefore how many people are in the car. As a result, emergency responders not only arrive faster, but also better prepared at the scene of an accident.
eCall also speaks French
Knowing the challenge of communicating with local emergency services in a foreign country, the eCall service from Bosch speaks 16 languages fluently, among them French, Swedish, and Turkish. Unlike standard eCall, which directly notifies the local emergency services via 112, Bosch eCall first alerts Bosch’s own emergency call center, which is manned 24/7, 365 days a year. Based on the navigation system’s language settings, the associates on the eCall team know which language the driver speaks, which enables them to quickly and directly inquire how the driver is doing and learn what has happened. This way, there are no communication problems, especially during a critical situation like an accident. The Bosch emergency team then coordinates all rescue operations with the local emergency services in the respective national language. Bosch offers its eCall service in more than 50 countries worldwide, including in Japan, Brazil, and North America. A number of automakers, such as Daimler AG, are already opting for Bosch’s multilingual eCall service.
From cigarette lighter to lifesaver
The eCall requirement applies to new vehicle models that go through the EU’s approval process for the first time beginning March 31, 2018, before hitting the market. Vehicle models with an earlier type approval may continue to be manufactured and sold without eCall. “For Bosch, no car is too old to be a lifesaver, which is why we have developed an eCall retrofit solution in the form of the telematics eCall plug,” Hoheisel says. The retrofit digital first responder for any car is simply inserted into a vehicle’s 12-volt socket (cigarette lighter). No appointment at a garage is necessary. Thanks to an integrated acceleration sensor, it registers collisions and accident severity. It uses Bluetooth to send this information to the corresponding app on the driver’s smartphone, which in turn alerts the service center of the vehicle insurers’ accident switchboard. Even with the retrofit solution, an audio connection is first established with the driver. If the driver does not respond, emergency responders are immediately dispatched to the scene of the accident.
For motorcycles as well
For motorcyclists, the risk of being killed in an accident is 18 times higher than for drivers. In light of this, Bosch is developing eCall not only for cars, but also for two-wheelers. A special CCU for motorcycles captures the bike’s operating data, which it uses to detect accidents. Thanks to an integrated GPS module, the exact location of the accident is transmitted to the emergency services call centre.
Seatrade Maritime Awards celebrates 15th year with introduction of new awards & category
Largest & longest-running maritime event to include regional achievements in Indian subcontinent & Africa
Best shipyards, maritime services and women’s leading role in industry to be recognized
Free entry submission set on July 20
The Seatrade Maritime Awards, the largest and longest awards body for the maritime sector in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and African regions, recently announced the introduction of several new award categories to showcase the outstanding achievements within the maritime and shipping industries and across regions.The new awards include Shipyard of the Year and Maritime Services Award under the ‘Industry’ category and the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector Award under the ‘Personality and Community’ category. The premier award also introduces a new category, ‘Regional Focus’, which recognises the best regional performers through the Africa Maritime Award and the Indian Subcontinent Maritime Award.
Under the patronage of H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Chairman of Dubai Maritime City Authority, the Seatrade Maritime Awards attracts over 700 industry leaders and government officials in a gala event held as part of the UAE Maritime Week 2018.
Organisers urge maritime industry players from the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa to participate to 21 different awards distributed in four categories including Technical and Operational, Industry, Regional Focus, and Personality & Community.
Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, which is under the umbrella of UBM EMEA, said: “As Seatrade Maritime Awards celebrates its 15th year, it is exciting to witness the massive maritime development taking place in the Middle East, the subcontinent and African regions. It is indeed significant to continue recognising and celebrating the achievements of the sector in various segments as they bring to the fore the best practices within the maritime and shipping industry. It is notable that the Middle East and neighbouring regions of Africa and the Indian subcontinent remains proactive in making a significant contribution in the global maritime sector, which also rightfully deserves recognition.”
Submission to entries are free of cost and can be done through the official Seatrade Maritime Awards entry system at www.seatrademiddleeastawards.com on or before July 20, 2018.Winners will be honoured in a gala ceremony at the Atlantis, The Palm on Sunday, October 28, 2018.
GENAVCO handed over 12,674 pallet locations of VNA Racking & Crown TSP 6500 SERIES VNA equipment’s at Access World Logistics LLC
GENAVCO has recently completed the Stow Pallet Racking System with Crown TSP Series VNA Equipment’s at Access World Logistics Newly Opened 15,650 square metre facility located in JAFZA South Zone.
Moving into their new distribution centre, AWL needed a solution to adapt and enable product and SKU flexibility for now and into the future. Genavco’s design team worked closely with AWL to meet and exceed the requirements though the integration of both Racking and Material Handling Solutions. The installed solution includes 12,674 Pallet Locations along with a fleet of Crown Material Handling Equipment’s including VNA, Forklifts, Powered Pallet Trucks ,Battery Transfer System etc.
Jean-Francois Condamine named President of Growth and Emerging Markets
Rami Suleiman succeeds Condamine as President of the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa district (ISMEA)
Helping customers seize opportunities in high growth and emerging markets
UPS today announced the appointment of Jean-Francois Condamine as the President of Growth and Emerging Markets. As part of his new role, Condamine remains in Dubai to oversee expansion and enhancement of the company’s market reach and global capabilities to better serve customers doing business in emerging and developing markets.
“I am pleased to expand Jean-Francois Condamine’s responsibilities to continue generating performance gains and helping UPS advance an expansion strategy based on helping customers meet their local, regional and global ambitions,” commented Nando Cesarone, UPS International President. “His unique ability to manage distinct market challenges and opportunities across several markets, as well as his depth of knowledge regarding business culture across those markets are vital for helping our customers grow across borders with our smart global logistics network. High growth and emerging markets offer businesses great opportunities.”
The contribution of the seven largest emerging market economies to global output has climbed substantially over the last quarter century. Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia and Turkey accounted for 24 percent of global economic output over 2010-2016, up from 14 percent in the 1990s[1]. Moving 3% of the world’s GDP every day, UPS’s human network of logistics and supply chain experts connects customers to the global network needed to the satisfy cross-border needs in high growth and emerging markets.
“UPS is in an excellent position to seize a host of opportunities presented as emerging markets continue to grow. I look forward to building on the great work the team has put in to get us where we are today,” said Condamine. “But global trade waits for no one, as our customers know. The combination of our growth and expansion strategy, the partnerships and investments we’ve made over the last three-and-a-half years are aimed at getting ahead of customer demand. Time matters in this fast-moving market which is why we see a need to continuously improve speed to market with better time in transit between growing trade lanes that connect the U.S., the Middle East and China. Widely, we will continue helping customers increase their reach by enhancing our smart global logistics network.”
Condamine has served as president of ISMEA district since its creation in 2013. During his tenure, he successfully capitalized on UPS’s investments in its network, technology and partnerships to continuously increase UPS’s footprint in the ISMEA district, positioning UPS as a trade enabler within the Middle East from/to China, Africa, Europe and the U.S. In 2017, under his leadership, UPS was chosen to handle the logistics operations for World Expo 2020 Dubai, a growth catalyst for UPS’s network in a region of the world poised for growth.
In an additional strategic move, Rami Suleiman has been named President of ISMEA to oversee market opportunities in the district that represents more than 70 high growth markets for the company.
“The ISMEA district holds immense importance in UPS’s transformation growth strategy and is a market where the company is helping customers realize important growth opportunities,” said Suleiman. “I am honored by the opportunity provided in a role that will continue connecting businesses to UPS’s ever-evolving smart global logistics network. The markets in this part of the world are poised for further growth across borders – this is certainly helped with the adoption of business-friendly policies which we continue to see.”
Suleiman joined UPS in 1992 as an Analyst in Treasury and Cash Management in Atlanta, USA, and since then continued expanding his expertise across the business in various roles that involved him relocating to Los Angeles, USA, followed by London, UK, until he accepted the position of Vice President of Finance and Strategy in 2013, a role based in Dubai, UAE.
Shipa Freight (online forwarding platform) allows users to get rate quotes, book, pay, track ocean and air shipments globally. It’s simple, easy to use and accessible through the desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile app
Agility recently announced Shipa Freight, the first fully integrated online freight service that allows users to get rate quotes and book, pay and track ocean and air shipments around the world. Shipa Freight provides instant, no-obligation rate quotes from the countries that account for 95 per cent of global trade and allows users to manage their international shipments with a simple, easy-to-use tool accessible by desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile app.
“Shipa Freight is a simple, technology-driven answer for small and medium-size businesses trying to take the complexity out of their international shipping,” said Agility CEO Tarek Sultan. “It gives them the transparency, flexibility, competitive pricing and customer service that the industry offers only to multi-nationals and high-volume customers.” Shipa Freight is backed by Agility’s global network of more than 22,000 experienced employees in 500 branches and over 100 countries. It gives customers the support of a trusted global network and allows small and medium-size companies to access the world’s growing markets. Agility customer support is available 24/7 to help them book and manage their shipments, or to get rates for routes not quoted online.
“Shipa Freight’s digital platform allows users to complete a shipment completely online,” said Toby Edwards, CEO of Shipa Freight. “This includes shipment booking, a range of payment options, and online tracking, which have not been widely available for small and medium-size businesses until now.” In a recent Agility survey of 800 SMEs, small and medium-size companies said they needed the complexity taken out of compliance, customs requirements and cross-border bureaucracy if they were to do more international trade. Shipa Freight helps customers overcome these issues by providing a compliance database with information on documents required on all trade lanes, helping them navigate the legal and regulatory requirements that are obstacles for many small businesses.
“Shipa Freight is unique among online freight services,” Sultan said. “It offers both air and ocean, including Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) options. It provides users with the ability to manage their freight from start to finish via quote-book-pay-track features and 24/7 customer service. And it makes use of Agility’s existing global network and scale, which means it’s got built-in flexibility, expertise, and deep understanding of how to move freight around the world.” Shipa Freight is one of several technology-led innovations that Agility is using to make logistics more efficient and drive down costs for customers.
The hyperloop system is coming to the UAE very soon. An agreement recently signed by Aldar Properties PJSC and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies allows the latter to begin construction of the hyperloop system
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) revealed recently the signing of an agreement with Aldar Properties PJSC, the leading real estate developer in Abu Dhabi, which will allow HyperloopTT to start construction of a Hyperloop system as well as HyperloopTT’s XO Square Innovation Center, and a Hyperloop Visitor Centre. The construction site is located in Aldar’s Seih Al Sdeirah landbank in Abu Dhabi and in close proximity to the residential development Alghadeer. It is conveniently located on the border of the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, close to the Expo 2020 site and Al Maktoum International Airport.
HyperloopTT plans construction of the line in several phases starting within the 10 kilometre allocation, with further development aimed at creating a commercial Hyperloop network across the Emirates and beyond. Earlier last month HyperloopTT began construction of the first full-scale passenger and freight prototype system in Toulouse, France, and expects delivery of the first passenger capsule later this year. The capsule will be assembled and optimised in Toulouse, France, prior to use in the Emirates.
“This agreement creates the basis for the first commercial Hyperloop system in the world here in the Emirates, with the goal of eventually connecting Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, Dubai, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” said Bibop Gresta, Chairman of HyperloopTT. “With regulatory support, we hope the first section will be operational in time for Expo 2020.” “We are delighted to be working with HyperloopTT as they look to bring one of the world’s most revolutionary transportation technologies to Abu Dhabi,” said Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Properties. “Alghadeer sits at such a strategic point within the UAE – close to major growth areas of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, that it makes sense to pair it with rapid transport opportunities. We believe that Hyperloop technology can have a major positive impact on the lives of all of those living within our communities, and we look forward to this possibility becoming a reality.”
“A forward-thinking nation like the UAE is ideal for building the most revolutionary, most efficient, and fastest transportation system in the world,” said Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of HyperloopTT. “With this historic agreement in Abu Dhabi, we take a big step towards the world’s first commercial system.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged aviation stakeholders to follow global standards and make greater use of operational data in order to safely accommodate an additional 3.8 billion air travelers by 2036
De Juniac noted that 2017 was a very strong year for safety. There were no fatal accidents involving jet passenger aircraft and the fatal accident rate was 0.14 per million flights – the equivalent of one fatal accident for every 6.7 million flights. Digital transformation also will enable more seamless interaction on industry safety initiatives, standards and operational practices, as well as benchmarking.
Speaking at the Safety and Flight Operations Conference, IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said, “Over the next 20 years, we expect to see a near doubling of passengers from the approximately four billion who traveled in 2017. Managing this growth, while making aviation even safer than it already is, will be a massive undertaking.” De Juniac noted that 2017 was a very strong year for safety. There were no fatal accidents involving jet passenger aircraft and the fatal accident rate was 0.14 per million flights – the equivalent of one fatal accident for every 6.7 million flights – according, to IATA’s just released 2017 Safety Report.
“If we look at it another way – using fatality risk – on average, a person would have to travel by air every day for 6,033 years before experiencing an accident in which at least one passenger was killed. Yet we still have accidents, so we know there is room for improvement. Each fatality is a tragedy. And that rededicates everyone in the aviation industry to our common goal of having every flight take-off and land safely,” said de Juniac.
Global standards
Global standards and best practices are vital to sustaining safety improvements. This is demonstrated by the performance of airlines on the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry. “Now in its fifteenth year, IOSA is the recognized global standard for operational safety. Over the last five years, the accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry has been nearly three times better than for non-IOSA airlines,” said de Juniac.
To ensure that IOSA delivers even greater value in the future, it is undergoing a digital transformation. Introducing automated advanced business analytics to the IOSA process will enable better management of resources, the ability to measure the effectiveness of standards, and an enhanced level of quality assurance. Digital transformation also will enable more seamless interaction on industry safety initiatives, standards and operational practices, as well as benchmarking.
Greater use of operational data
“As the number of accidents declines, future safety advances primarily will lie in achieving a better understanding of what happens in the more than 100,000 flights operating safely every day, through analysis of flight information and other data resources. IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management initiative is a crucial part of this effort. The GADM program now includes information from over 470 different organisations. Over 90 per cent of IATA members are contributing to at least one of the GADM databases,” said de Juniac.
In a related initiative, IATA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) recently signed a Memorandum of Collaboration to establish a Safety Predictive Analytics Research Center in Singapore (SPARC). SPARC will leverage operational safety information from GADM to assess potential hazards and identify safety risks. End users across the aviation community can then work collaboratively at the system level to address and implement appropriate safety measures to mitigate the risks, or even to prevent the occurrences of safety hazards.
De Juniac also said that IATA is developing a global database of turbulence reports to provide airlines with an enhanced situational awareness tool. “When our innovative turbulence data repository is operational early next year we expect to see a significant decrease in turbulence-related injuries.”
To diversify its domestic energy mix, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing in developing its natural gas resources. If the Kingdom is to make the most of the cost opportunity granted to it by oil, it must reduce the amount of oil used to generate power for factories and petrochemicals plants. Oxford Business Group has this report
According to its analysis of the role natural gas will play in the Saudi Vision 2030 development plan, Jadwa Investment has calculated that gas output will have to rise by as much as 6.6 per cent on average each year in the decade to 2030. More than two-thirds of sales gas produced in Saudi Arabia comes from the Ghawar field in the Eastern Province, which is tapped for both associated and non-associated gas. Electricity use expanded by 85 per cent in Saudi Arabia between 2005 and 2015. The National Energy Efficiency Programme was launched in 2002 to promote best practices in the economic consumption of electricity. Saudi peak electricity demand is expected to reach 120 GW by 2030, according to Jadwa, and the company calculates that this means the Kingdom will need 135 GW of installed capacity by that time – nearly double the capacity it had in 2015
Most of the gas due to come on-stream between 2017 and 2020 is conventional non-associated gas. While the weather conditions of the region certainly presented difficulties during construction, it also gave way to opportunity. Plans for a 400-MW wind farm are in the works, a first for the Kingdom’s renewable energy strategy. To maximise its use of natural gas resources, Saudi Aramco is also developing an unconventional, or tight gas, facility in Turaif in the north-west of the country
Petro-dollars earned from oil exports comprise the majority of Saudi Arabia’s revenues, yet gas is seen as key to diversifying the economy. The medium-term National Transformation Programme (NTP) calls for a 48 per cent increase in dry gas production by 2020 – from 12bn standard cu feet per day (scfd) in 2016 to 17.8bn scfd. The country is also seeking to make optimal use of the associated gas alongside oil recovery, as well as develop non-associated gas fields.
According to its analysis of the role natural gas will play in the Saudi Vision 2030 development plan, Jadwa Investment has calculated that gas output will have to rise by as much as 6.6 per cent on average each year in the decade to 2030 to meet the demands of a growing population and industrial development.
Gas expansion
Jadwa Investment’s paper on Natural Gas and Vision 2030, published in October 2016, notes that the target in the NTP is in keeping with the last decade’s expansion of gas production, which it said grew by 47 per cent between 2005 and 2015 when it reached 11.6bn scfd. The report notes that over that period, the country’s power, water and petrochemicals plants have consistently used all the gas produced in the Kingdom. Domestic demand peaks in the summer months when electricity is used to power air conditioning, and it is at this time of year that the country’s power producers directly burn crude to meet any shortfalls.
Economists have long since warned that burning this valuable commodity rather than refining or exporting it is a costly action. With production costs of US$5 per barrel, the country was losing approximately US$31 with each barrel of oil burned in the low-price environment of the first half of 2016, when the average sales price of Saudi crude was just US$36 per barrel. Jadwa estimates that by 2030 lost earnings could reach US$71 for every barrel of oil used to generate electricity domestically.
More than two-thirds of sales gas produced in Saudi Arabia comes from the Ghawar field in the Eastern Province, which is tapped for both associated and non-associated gas. The Kingdom has invested in exploration and development of non-associated gas because production from these fields is unaffected by fluctuations in oil production, such as the reductions Saudi Arabia made in 2017 as part of the supply-cut pact between members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers, including Russia. By 2015 associated gas accounted for one-third of the country’s sales gas, down from 42 per cent in 2005, thanks to the development of non-associated fields.
Consumption
Electricity use expanded by 85 per cent in Saudi Arabia between 2005 and 2015. The National Energy Efficiency Programme was launched in 2002 to promote best practices in the economic consumption of electricity, and was followed by the establishment of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre. However, reducing wasteful use patterns was a difficult task, as individual and industrial consumers alike have benefitted from highly subsidised electricity.
In 2016 the government began to reduce subsidies as part of its fiscal consolidation programme, but also to encourage more moderate use of electricity. At the start of 2016 the price of natural gas and its derivative – the primary source of feedstock for petrochemicals – cost US$0.75 per million British thermal units (Btu). After subsidies were reduced, customers were expected to pay US$1.75 per million Btu for propane and US$1.25 per million Btu for gas. Even at these prices, gas in Saudi Arabia is 50 per cent cheaper than in the US and 400 per cent below prices in Asia.
Saudi peak electricity demand is expected to reach 120 GW by 2030, according to Jadwa, and the company calculates that this means the Kingdom will need 135 GW of installed capacity by that time – nearly double the capacity it had in 2015. The report points out that for gas to power a high proportion of this generation capacity, significant investment will be required for exploration and production activity in the country’s gas fields. If gas is used for 70 per cent of generation, for example, the nation must produce 32bn scfd, significantly more than the 17.8bn scfd target for 2020 outlined in the NTP.
New developments
Most of the gas due to come on-stream between 2017 and 2020 is conventional non-associated gas. Saudi Aramco, the country’s state-owned oil company, is developing three new gas complexes at Wasit, Fadhili and Midyan which will have a combined non-associated gas processing capacity of more than 5bn scfd, according to the company. The Wasit Gas Plant (WGP) near Jubail is supplied by two new fields at Arabiyah and Hasbah, which began production in 2016. Hasbah has seven single-well platforms and Arabiyah has six wells, with each field capable of feeding the WGP with up to 1.3bn scfd of non-associated gas.
The WGP was the first Saudi Aramco facility designed to process non-associated gas. The plant processes 2.5bn scfd of non-associated gas and supplies 1.7bn scfd of sales gas or methane to the master gas system, while also producing 4800 tonnes per day of molten sulphur. Furthermore, the WGP also processes 250,000 bpd of gas to make feedstock – including ethane, propane, butane and natural gasoline – for the petrochemicals industry.
Heat waste of the WGP is turned into steam at its on-site co-generation plant that is capable of generating 750 MW of power, 600 MW of which is distributed to other Saudi Aramco facilities through its own supply network. Approximately 40 per cent of the materials used to construct Wasit were sourced in Saudi Arabia, and more than 1800 Saudis, including technicians, engineers and managers, were employed as contractors on the project.
Fadhili Project
The Fadhili complex is being developed 85 km north-west of Jubail at a cost of SR50bn (US$13.3bn). The facility at Fadhili will process 2.5bn scfd of non-associated gas including 2bn scfd from the Hasbah offshore field and 500m scfd from the onshore Khursaniyah field. Fadhili is expected to produce 1.5bn scfd of sales gas and 4000 tonnes of sulphur. It will supply 470m scfd of gas to a co-generation plant that will provide Fadhili with steam and power while also feeding 1100 MW into the domestic electricity grid. “Saudi Aramco’s multibillion-dollar investment in Fadhili will considerably increase the share of gas in the Kingdom’s energy mix and fits in with our long-term strategy to lower emissions,” said Amin Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, when he announced the Fadhili project in June 2016. “Gas will be of vital importance to the Kingdom’s ongoing industrial diversification and economic development, while enabling better energy efficiency in the utility sector.”
In July 2016 Saudi Aramco awarded 10 contracts for the project, including an offshore facility award for Mumbai-based conglomerate Larsen & Tubro, a downstream contract for Saudi KAD, and a combined heat and power generation contract to Saudi Electricity Company and France’s Engie. Then in December 2016 South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction announced it had been jointly awarded a contract with Engie worth US$900m for the co-generation facility at Fadhili.
Upon completion, the power plant will be jointly owned by Saudi Aramco Power Holding Company and Saudi Electricity Company, each with a 30 per cent stake, and Engie with 40 per cent. Doosan Heavy Industries will be in charge of the engineering, procurement and construction of the co-generation plant, which is due to be completed in November 2019.
The Fadhili complex is expected to create 4500 jobs for Saudis, and a dedicated training centre is to be established in collaboration with government agencies to ensure citizens receive skills training and work experience as part of the project. Education and employment drives are important to spur diversification in the energy sector, and lead the country away from a reliance on oil and the jobs that it supplies. Local oil players recognise the need for this, and the exciting opportunities new energy sources and solutions will bring. “Diversification is key to job creation, not only because it increases the number of jobs, but also because it creates possibilities for more high-tech jobs that young Saudis would be interested in taking,” Salaheddine Dardeer, CEO of oil refinery Luberef, told OBG.
Midyan
While output from the Midyan field in the north-west of Saudi Arabia near Tabuk may be more modest at 75m scfd and 4500 bpd of condensates, it is an example of innovative, cleaner power generation. Midyan is fed by seven non-associated wells producing sweet gas, i.e., low in sulphur. It supplies Al Muwaylih power plant near Duba, which will generate 520 MW per day using Midyan’s gas, and a further 50 MW per day through Saudi Electricity Company’s solar thermal power plant.
During construction from 2013 to 2016 the teams who worked on building Midyan often had to contend with winds of up to 70 km per hour, which made it impossible to work with cranes. While the weather conditions of the region certainly presented difficulties during construction, it also gave way to opportunity. Plans for a 400-MW wind farm are in the works, a first for the Kingdom’s renewable energy strategy. The farm was initially conceived to be at Midyan, but in mid-2017 the location was moved to Dumat Al Jandal.
New energy sources In Turaif
To maximise its use of natural gas resources, Saudi Aramco is also developing an unconventional, or tight gas, facility in Turaif in the north-west of the country. It aims to generate 50m scfd that will be used to power the Saudi Arabian Mining Company’s (Ma’aden) phosphate mine at Waad Al Shamal industrial city. According to Jadwa Investment, this project may be comparatively modest in scope to others in the sector, but it has greater long-term significance, as it marks Saudi Aramco’s first step in unlocking the Kingdom’s reserves of unconventional gas.
An experiment in wind energy also took place in Turaif, with the completion of the Kingdom’s first individual turbine there in February 2017. Wind Turbine No. 1 provides power to the bulk plant and thus reduces the amount of electricity Saudi Aramco has to buy from the Saudi Electricity Company. The wind turbine project was developed by specialists from Saudi Aramco’s Power Systems team, with GE selected to design, supply and construct the turbine.
To what extent has OPEC’s decision to adjust production achieved its intended target?
Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC): Thus far, the results are encouraging. From January 1, 2017 OPEC and a group of 11 leading non-OPEC oil producers began the implementation of production adjustments totalling 1.8m barrels per day (bpd). We have seen a steady rise in conformity. In January 2017, conformity levels were 86 per cent, while in February this improved even further, rising to 94 per cent. In March and April conformity reached 98 per cent and 102 per cent, respectively. Inventory levels are decreasing, investor sentiment has improved and industry investment is starting to pick up. This high level of conformity is bearing fruit, especially when you consider how far the oil market has evolved since the market rebalancing process began. These are all signs of a renewed sense of positive momentum and stability in the global oil market.
What can be done to improve coordination on production between OPEC and non-OPEC members?
Barkindo: We are making every effort to achieve our common goal of lasting stability in the global oil market. The decisions taken at a recent meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC states in May 2017 have provided a renewed sense of forward momentum to this collaborative process, and are a testament to the determination of the 24 participating countries to achieve healthy oil market growth. This is the only way forward for our industry.
How will unconventional production affect OPEC member states moving forward?
Barkindo: The future energy environment will certainly have an adequate number of challenges, but it will also offer many opportunities. In the coming years the world will need more energy to fuel a rapidly growing global economy, which is expected to more than double by 2040. It must also meet the increasing needs of the world’s massively expanding population, which is forecast to reach a staggering 9bn people by 2040.
To meet this demand, all forms of energy will be required, including renewables such as wind and solar, which are expected to continue increasing. In terms of non-OPEC supply, we have seen a decline in recent times due to the low oil price environment. However, there has been an uptick of late, mainly due to the resurgence in US tight oil production. In the long term we expect non-OPEC supply to continue to rise steadily, reaching a high of 61.4m bpd in 2027, before dropping to 58.9m bpd in 2040. This all boils down to the fact that OPEC will be needed to fulfil most of the additional long-term oil demand. For crude oil this means an estimated 8.9m bpd between 2015 and 2040, and 12.6m bpd for liquids.
How will the global oil trade evolve in the future?
Barkindo: Trends in long-term global oil trade point to an increase in crude imports being delivered to the Asia-Pacific region from the Middle East. Our “World Oil Outlook” estimates that imports to the Asia-Pacific region will grow by 9m bpd between 2015 and 2040. Of that, we forecast that 6.5m bpd will come from exports originating in the Middle East.
By contrast, product demand and crude runs are expected to decline in developed nations, along with their crude oil imports. This can be seen with imports to the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australasia, which are forecast to drop by 3m bpd during the same timeframe. There could be a gradual increase in flows from Russia and the Caspian region via the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline; however, we expect the Middle East to Asia-Pacific link to dominate trade growth.
As far as Africa is concerned, we foresee export volumes decreasing in the long term, due to increasing domestic demand and rising domestic refining capacity, along with additional declines in ageing production areas. Other contributing factors relate to decreasing African exports to the US and Europe, caused by the recovery in US tight oil production growth and progressive declines in European refinery runs, respectively.
What advantages have the development of industrial zones provided to manufacturers?
Mohammed Al Badr, Managing Director, Saudi Chemical: The main advantage of having a factory established in an industrial zone, such as Sudair, Al-Kharj and Jeddah, is having to deal with one counterpart for logistics and operations, rather than different government entities. However, industrial zones in major cities are currently congested and have limited land available, while those located in remote areas require a lot of work. In addition, companies cannot develop permanent bases in such areas, as the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs has the right to reallocate the land originally devoted to warehouses to residential use at any time. The establishment of a stronger logistics authority and permanent land allocation to factories with appropriate cargo and ports logistics would allow for longer term industrial planning and growth. The country is currently developing logistics hubs across different regions with free zone incentives and Customs and handling facilities. This will help promote economic growth and regional diversification.
In what manufacturing areas do you see potential for public-private partnerships (PPPs)?
Al Badr: The potential is usually greater in industries such as defence where the government is the only client and contracts have to be long term to incentivise investors. At the moment, however, there is no unified regulatory framework for PPPs, which restricts their wider use. Pharmaceuticals are another sector in which PPPs could play a greater role in the future. One form of partnership the Ministry of Health is looking at relates to the outsourcing of medical or pharmaceutical supply to the private sector, rather than buying and storing large numbers of items at the ministry’s facilities. This links local pharmacies to primary or secondary care hospitals so that patients can collect prescriptions from any pharmacy using their national ID numbers. The pharmacy then collects the money directly from the government, which saves around SR4bn (US$1.1bn) in logistics costs and eliminates the sale of counterfeits.
How is the government seeking to increase the local output of pharmaceutical products?
Al Badr: The government is increasingly giving preference to local production and procurement. In the pharmaceutical industry one way of doing this is to facilitate product registration by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. It used to take two years to register a drug locally, compared to six months in Europe. With the new rules now being implemented, a drug that has already been registered in advanced economies will automatically also be available in the Kingdom. This improved ease of doing business will incentivise manufacturers to localise production. As a result of the government’s strategy to increase local content, we have also signed agreements with a number of international companies to localise the production of pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia.
What role can research and development (R&D) play in expanding product manufacturing?
Al Badr: Deepening local manufacturing of generic drugs constitutes the low hanging fruit, but partnerships with international companies and the transfer of specialised technology can yield greater results in the long term. The priority is for products that tackle diabetes and other lifestyle-related diseases. Despite high demand, we do not produce such products locally. However, there are universities and pharmaceutical colleges – including King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology – which are starting to collaborate with international companies in this field. R&D is a long-term investment with a minimum nine-year return prospect. Having international companies manufacturing specialised, patented products in local factories would contribute to the quality of manufacturing and provide positive branding for Saudi Arabian pharmaceuticals.
Director of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih held a meeting with His Excellency Gunter Rauer, Consul General of Germany in Dubai. The two discussed means of boosting cooperation between Germany and Dubai especially in bilateral trade and customs business. The meeting was also attended by Khalil Saqer bin Gharib, Director of Corporate Communication Department.
“It’s very important for us to boost ties of partnership with German diplomatic missions and business councils. We have priorities which include delivering a leading customs expertise to the world” said Musabih. “Germany is an important trade partner to Dubai. The total value of mutual non-oil trade in 2017 was AED 40b”.
He added:” enhancing trade ties with our partners will help them receive the best customs facilitations which will add great value to their business. There are many active German companies in the UAE, and we help them benefit from our product and service offerings”.
On his part, His Excellency Gunter Rauer, Consul General of Germany in Dubai applauded Dubai Customs’ efforts in supporting national economy and developing tourism and trade stating that Dubai is a world class trade and tourism hub and a central link between the east and west.
JAFZA and South Korea explore business opportunities
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) is partnering with the Small & Medium Business Corporation (SBC) of South Korea to support investment opportunities and industrial cooperation for small businesses. The two organisations have agreed to work together to support SME business development programmes and to foster closer trade ties between the two countries
As part of a memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Jafza and SBC will exchange information on investment between industries in both countries in an effort to attract and assist more South Korean SMEs to set up in the UAE. The MoU was signed by Mohammed Al Muallem CEO & MD of DP World UAE Region CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Lee, Sang-Jik, President Small & Medium Business Corporation.
As part of the agreement, Jafza’s role extends beyond free zone facilities to helping investors identify potential business partners, nurture technology transfer, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Trade between the two countries reached was USD 5.435 billion (AED 19.963 billion) in 2016. Jafza accounted for 47.48 per cent (USD 2.581 billion (AED 9.48 billion).
Jafza been an attractive hub for larger South Korean companies looking to establish offices in the MENA region, especially in the automotive, electronics and chemicals sectors. 58 major South Korean companies have regional offices in the free zone including Fortune 500 firms such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.
Photo Caption: Mohammed Al Muallem CEO & MD of DP World UAE Region CEO of Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Lee, Sang-Jik, President Small & Medium Business Corporation signing the MoU
SITA has been named Service Provider of the Year in the prestigious annual Air Transport Awards held in Dubai. The winners are voted for by the readers of Air Transport News and a jury of international aviation experts, chaired by Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission.
The Service Provider of the Year award was given to SITA in recognition of its role in providing IT and communication solutions globally to the air transport industry. SITA’s unique role as the community provider – being owned by the industry – means it has an unprecedented understanding of the industry’s requirements, combined with dedicated teams around the world which deliver services needed to keep people flying.
In recent months, SITA has taken the lead in the development of biometric solutions. This has included innovation solutions for airlines and airports as well as looking to the future uses of biometrics as the technology develops. A key innovation is SITA’s Smart PathTM solution which allows passengers to use their biometric identity every step of the way.
Etihad Airways successfully eliminated around 195,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, thanks to a wide range of fuel-saving initiatives across its network.
Following a number of improvements aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies, Etihad was able to reduce the amount of fuel consumed by its aircraft by over 62,000 tonnes. The result represents a 3.3 per cent improvement from the year before, and is the equivalent of 850 flights between Abu Dhabi and London.
For instance, flight plan adjustments across the network reduced approximately 900 hours of flying time, leading to a saving of 5,400 tonnes of fuel and eliminating approximately 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Last year, Etihad Airways also retired several older aircraft in favour of the Boeing 787, one of the most fuel efficient commercial aircraft in operation due to its lightweight composite structure. Etihad currently operates 19 Boeing 787s in its 115-strong fleet of passenger and cargo aircraft, which is one of the youngest in the skies at an average age of 5.4 years.
Etihad also strengthened its collaboration with air traffic control providers at many of the major airports to which it operates, in particular in Abu Dhabi, in order to improve the efficiency of many of the descent and approach profiles. The most fuel efficient descent manoeuvre is known as a ‘continuous descent approach’, whereby the aircraft reduces height gradually, rather than in a stepped manner. Thanks to an increase in the number of continuous decent approaches in 2017, a total of 980 tonnes of fuel was saved over the course of the year.
By combining key fuel saving projects with operational improvements, the efficiency per passenger kilometre improved by as much as 36 per cent on some of Etihad’s routes.
Energy Recovery, Inc recently announced it had signed contracts totalling US$10.1 million to supply its PX®Pressure Exchanger®, and pump technologies for water projects in Saudi Arabia. The orders are expected to ship in the second and third quarters of 2018.
Energy Recovery will supply its PX-Q300 Pressure Exchangers, VPXPTMcirculation pumps and AquaBoldTM high pressure pumps for multiple desalination facilities, which will produce up to 470,000 cubic meters of water per day. Energy Recovery estimates the PX devices will reduce the facilities’ power consumption for all projects by 50 MW, saving over 431 GWh of energy per year, and helping the facilities avoid over 258,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Energy Recovery’s President and CEO Chris Gannon stated, “Megaprojects and the Middle East remain key indicators as to the health of the overall water market, and we see continued strength throughout 2018 and into 2019. Rodney Clemente, Energy Recovery’s Vice President, Water, added, “Historically, the Saudi Arabian market was difficult for membrane desalination technologies to penetrate as low-cost, local power enabled technologies such as thermal desalination to initially gain majority market share. Due to advancements in seawater reverse osmosis technologies and increased awareness in energy preservation, there has been a shift from thermal desalination to seawater reverse osmosis solutions. We first deployed our PX Pressure Exchanger Technology into Saudi Arabia in 2013, and over the past 5 years we have captured 8 mega project references. Energy Recovery is positioned to unlock emerging market opportunities and remains focused on maintaining market position in critical countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Etihad Cargo and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), one of the world’s leading conservation programmes, recently transported a large shipment of vulnerable Houbara bustards for release into their natural habitats.
In 2017, more than 2,000 birds were transported safely to countries in Asia and North Africa. The Houbara are bred in centres in Abu Dhabi managed by IFHC and then released into their natural habitat in countries across the world. “The range of the Houbara stretches from Morocco to Mongolia, so it is critical that we
are able to move the birds from Abu Dhabi to countries across the species’ range safely and securely.” -Mohammed Saleh Al Baidani, Director-General of IFHC. Abu Dhabi’s Houbara programme was initiated over 40 years ago by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
In the past three years, the partnership between the two organisations – Etihad Cargo and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) – has led to the successful relocation and integration into the wild of more than 3,000 Houbara across the world. This particular shipment done recently transported 100 Houbara for release into their natural habitat.
The venture, which is part of the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Reintroduction Programme, began in 2014, when the two organisations signed a partnership agreement. In 2017, more than 2,000 birds were transported safely to countries in Asia and North Africa, which have more hospitable environments, thereby increasing the birds’ long-term survival.
The Houbara are bred in centres in Abu Dhabi managed by IFHC and then released into their natural habitat in countries across the world. IFHC has developed protocols based on ground breaking ecology on the breeding and release of the Houbara, and every release site is studied to ensure the birds have the optimal chance of survival.
Justin Carr, Vice President of Etihad Cargo, said, “Our motto is ‘From Abu Dhabi to the world’ and it is literally the case with our partnership with IFHC. It is an honour to be able to safely transport the Houbara to countries where they can thrive, and play a small part in Abu Dhabi’s project of restoring this iconic species in the wild.”
Commenting on the partnership, Mohammed Saleh Al Baidani, Director-General of IFHC, said, “The range of the Houbara stretches from Morocco to Mongolia, so it is critical that we
are able to move the birds from Abu Dhabi to countries across the species’ range safely and securely.”
Abu Dhabi’s Houbara programme was initiated over 40 years ago by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, to restore sustainable wild populations of the species to the areas of the world where they were under threat of extinction. In that time, it has developed into the world’s leading Houbara conservation programme. Etihad Cargo receives the Houbara at the Live Animals facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The climate in the aircraft hold is adjusted to the ideal level to ensure the birds’ comfort during the flight. As is standard when transporting live animals, the Houbara are the last to be loaded onto the aircraft and the first to be offloaded.
In 2016, Etihad Airways signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration, as a demonstration of support for the prevention of trade in illegal wildlife. The UAE is signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the airline provides the necessary support to help ensure that wildlife controlled under CITES is not carried unless the necessary paperwork is in order. While the transport of Houbara is usually prohibited under CITES, permission is granted on this occasion in support of an official conservation programme.
Houbara Release Jordan 2018 – An Houbara bustard, which was bred in Abu Dhabi, is released into the wild in Jordan.
Cargo 777 – Etihad Cargo and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) have worked together to safely relocate more than 3,000 Houbara bustards to their natural habitat.
Year of Zayed
Etihad Aviation Group’s initiatives for the Year of Zayed are based on the four themes, which are wisdom, respect, sustainability, and human development. The company’s initiatives are:
1) Humanitarian freighter
2) Zayed A380 & Abu Dhabi Experience
3) Abu Dhabi Birdathon
4) Zayed Campus and Young Aviators
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said, “More than half a century ago, Sheikh Zayed envisioned Abu Dhabi having a world class aviation industry and infrastructure that is on par with the major cities of the world.”
Under the theme of respect, Etihad Airways will launch a specially branded freighter aircraft which will conduct humanitarian flights for charitable organisations throughout 2018. The first humanitarian freighter mission will take off in May. Etihad Airways will partner with Emirates Red Crescent, Khalifa Foundation, and His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian and Scientific Foundation to conduct these philanthropic missions across the globe.
To celebrate this vision and wisdom amongst the global audience, guests travelling on a specific A380 Etihad Airways aircraft will enjoy a host of content and services inspired by the late Sheikh Zayed, including themed inflight entertainment, kids packs and a photo gallery of his life.
Another exciting initiative will be the launch of an Abu Dhabi cultural experience. During the course of 2018, Etihad Airways will fly-in 1,000 guests from around the world to experience the capital’s vibrant culture scene, including visits to the Founder’s Memorial, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat al Karama, and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Combining the themes of flying and sustainability, Etihad Airways and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) will host the Abu Dhabi Birdathon, a community event featuring the flamingos.
Several tagged flamingos, each one nominated to an Abu Dhabi partner entity, will be tracked online as they fly off during the breeding season at the end of the year. This initiative aims to drive awareness of environmental conservation, which the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was passionate about.
The final component of Etihad’s Year of Zayed campaign, focusing on human development, has two elements. Etihad will dedicate its training facility buildings to Sheikh Zayed. The Etihad Training Academy building adjacent to the Corporate Headquarters will be renamed Zayed Campus – Abu Dhabi, and the Etihad Aviation Training facility in Al Ain will become Zayed Campus – Al Ain.
In addition, Etihad will launch the Young Aviators programme for school children in the UAE. This initiative, which aims to inspire children, will involve guided tours of the Etihad headquarters and Training Academy in Abu Dhabi, including sessions in the full flight simulators.
Photo caption:
(Left to right): Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial, Etihad Airways; Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways; Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group; Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways Engineering; Khaled Al Mehairbi, Senior Vice President Abu Dhabi Airport, and General Manager of Etihad Airport Ground Services; Abdulla Shadid, Managing Director, Cargo and Logistics, Etihad Airways.
With guests invited from all around the world, Ireland’s forklift manufacturer, Combilift opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility worth more than AED 220 million. Munawar Shariff was present at the opening and has this report.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the company also announced that it will be significantly expanding its workforce with the creation of 200 new jobs in the next three years. “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the state of the art production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years“. Combilift invests seven per cent of its annual turnover in research and development to enhance its customisation capability and to maximise ROI for its customers.
Forklift manufacturer and material handling solutions provider Combilift has officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the company also announced that it will be significantly expanding its workforce with the creation of 200 new jobs in the next three years.
The opening ceremony was attended by Irish Prime Minister An Taoiseach Leo
Varadkar TD. He said, “Combilift is an incredible home-grown Monaghan success story. When the company was founded 20 years ago, it had three employees, a brilliant concept, and the ambition to make it a reality. Combilift is playing a significant role in Monaghan’s success, and I would like to congratulate Robert Moffett and Martin McVicar and everyone at Combilift on their achievements to date and wish them every success for the future.”
Built at a cost of €50 million, the investment in the new 46,500 sq. m. (500,000 sq. ft) facility will allow Combilift to realise its ambitious growth plans. Martin McVicar, Managing Director said, “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the combination of this state of the art production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years.”
Combilift currently exports 98 per cent of its products to 85 countries through its 250-strong international dealer network. The current workforce stands at 550 people and the new employment opportunities will be for skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills.
Mass customisation
Martin McVicar attributes the company’s impressive growth and its status as an acknowledged world leader in the material handling sector to mass customisation. “Combilift has set the benchmark for the mass production of customised innovative products. Mass customisation is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer as customers are increasingly expecting products to be tailored to their requirements. We listen to and take feedback on board from our customers and dealers to identify solutions that best match their individual specific needs.”
Combilift invests seven per cent of its annual turnover in research and development to enhance its customisation capability and to maximise ROI for its customers. “The flexibility in our new facility means that we can continue to accommodate any request for a customised material handling solution. We also see ourselves as much more than a forklift manufacturer and are transforming the transport and logistics sector with our innovative, space-spacing products and our services.”
Combilift offers a free logistic and warehouse design service which enables customers to see the benefit that its products will bring to their business. “Our engineers proactively design, plan and produce material flow analysis and 3D animations – 150 to 200 per day for our worldwide customers – which clearly illustrate the capacity potential as well as the optimum flow of materials on their site.” said McVicar.
Growth of Combilift
Established by Martin McVicar, Managing Director and Robert in Moffett, Technical Director, in 1998, Combilift is a privately held and fully capitalised company. It developed the world’s first multidirectional all-wheel drive IC engine powered forklift in 1998. In the first year of operation it produced 18 units,17 of which were exported. The company has more than doubled in the last 5 years and now has 40,000 units in operation in over 85 countries.
Combilift’s product portfolio has expanded way beyond its first multidirectional model according to McVicar, “Combilift has always focused on a number of niche market segments and has a proven track record of launching one or two new products annually. In the first 10 years we focussed on the long load material handling sector with the multidirectional range which revolutionised the handling of long materials, allowing customers to handle long products in less space more safely.”
Between 2008 and 2018 Combilift diversified its product ranged by developing a number of innovative space saving warehouse and heavy load handling products; the Aisle Master articulated truck and the Straddle Carrier (Combi-SC) respectively. Pedestrian products were introduced into the range in the last five years, enabling Combilift to gain a foothold in this growing market. The Combi-WR, Combi-WR4 and the Combi-CS all incorporate Combilift’s unique patented multi-positional tiller arm technology. “There is a growing demand for pedestrian trucks, driven by safety concerns where customers and/or employees are in the vicinity of operating forklifts,” said McVicar. “It is our intention to significantly expand this range, as can be seen with the launch of the new high lift capacity Combilift Powered Pallet Truck (Combi-HC-PPT).”
New factory
The new 46,500 sq. m purpose–built factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for future expansion when required. With 11 acres of roof space, it is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland.
Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the new factory will enable Combilift to double its output in a single shift across all production lines. Four 90 metre moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes. There are 60 welding bays, two plasma cutting machines, three paint lines which use sustainable water-based paints and three automatic shot blasters to cater for different sized products. 12,000 pallet locations ensure ample storage space for parts and components. The facility also includes a 50-seat cinema training room, 5,000 m² of office space and a dedicated R&D Development and Testing Centre.
Twenty three per cent of roof space is covered in skylights, enabling staff to work in natural daylight without the assistance of artificial lighting. Other lighting is provided through 1100 LED light with individual PIR sensors. Solar panels supply 185 kW of energy with a one MW Biomass plant fuelled by recycled wood (pallets etc.) to heat the spraying booths and assembly area. 110,000 litres of rain water are harvested for jet washing and bathroom facilities.
More than 50 truckloads of finished products are dispatched from the factory each week, and spare parts are shipped across the world to the dealer network. Certified to international quality and safety management standards, the new headquarters and manufacturing facility has been awarded ISO 9001 international quality management system, ISO 14001 Environment Management and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series.
Alain Kaddoum, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East speaks to Munawar Shariff and shares lots of insights into the current trends in the materials handling industry. Automation, he says, is not as expensive as is the general assumption in the market. Though many businesses understand that automation is the answer, not many invest in it. Reports show that a lot of companies are still afraid of using latest technologies in their business operations as they assume they are too expensive. Agile and future-oriented software is the critical key for companies to adapt to market changes today and in the future and keep their warehouse operations optimised at all times.
Many businesses seek an effective automated storage and retrieval system. Limited space, an awkward warehouse building, increasing inventory or turnover in unusual shapes or sizes can all make it difficult to find the right solution. The future for intralogistics isn’t in a single technology like robotics, or sensors, or even Big Data, but rather how these elements can be tied together. Flexible robotics and data-driven solutions is the direction we see.
As per current market conditions, a lot of businesses are experiencing changing consumer habits, increased operating expenses and other challenges. Though many businesses understand that automation is the answer, not many invest in it. Reports show that a lot of companies are still afraid of using latest technologies in their business operations as they assume they are too expensive. “I’d say this is one of the biggest challenge in this market. Businesses that are not going to implement any changes to the way they operate risk being left behind and the cost of inaction in this case can easily exceed the price of a modernisation project,” says Alain Kaddoum, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East.
Today, warehouses can be better equipped in numerous ways: agile and future-oriented software is the critical key for companies to adapt to market changes today and in the future and keep their warehouse operations optimised at all times. Businesses require a software solution that enables companies to optimise not only warehouse performance, but also their entire value chain. Many businesses seek an effective automated storage and retrieval system. Limited space, an awkward warehouse building, increasing inventory or turnover in unusual shapes or sizes can all make it difficult to find the right solution. Not only that, automated storage solutions need to be scalable while maximising space and performance. Staying flexible enough to respond to changing market requirements is also essential, as when new products launch, demand increases and regulations change. Picking and palletising is another critical requirement for warehouses and these functions make up to 60 per cent of warehouse operational costs. The demand today is for effective and flexible solutions and respond to changing business conditions, by adjusting capacity.
Trends
The supply chain is being impacted by a number of trends resulting both from the broader changes in society and advances in technology. Some of these are:
Robotics that enhance inbound and outbound logistics for shippers
Omnichannel logistics that facilitate smarter deliveries and address changing consumer habits
The entrance of digital technologies (blockchain, drones, 3D printing, autonomous mobile robots, IoT connectivity, Big Data and VR amongst others)
Customer-centric production and personalisation
“These are just a few examples. The future for intralogistics isn’t in a single technology like robotics, or sensors, or even Big Data, but rather how these elements can be tied together. Flexible robotics and data-driven solutions is the direction we see, with the end goals being cost-competitiveness for operations and a higher level of responsiveness and product availability for end customers,” continues Kaddoum.
E-commerce is another major trend to watch out for. Kaddoum says it is only going to grow larger in the coming years. “Traditional techniques of warehouse management are slowly becoming obsolete, and omnichannel orders mean your organisation needs to be ready with the right product on-hand, at the right time and ship it almost simultaneously with the customer’s ‘checkout’,” says Kaddoum. Keeping that in mind, some of the warehouse e-commerce best practices that Swisslog supports with their automated solutions are:
Target Two-Day Shipping – Most major online retailers now offer their consumers the option of two-day delivery, if not same day shipping or pickup. Our solutions cater to this quick pace of business
Combine Traditional and E-Commerce Warehouse Locations – E-commerce warehouses do not necessarily require a different location or warehouse. Many companies today house traditional retail, B2B and e-commerce warehousing operations under one roof. However, different sections of the facility may be used for specific e-commerce or traditional fulfilment purposes. The automated solution should be intelligent enough to work around this.
Batch picking – The demand created by e-commerce requires quick and efficient picking of many different orders. Businesses recognise that best practices in picking mean fulfilling orders faster.
Flexibility – A smart warehouse is one that is flexible. Operations should be adjustable and scalable depending on market conditions and demand. All plans and strategies need to adapt to real-time data regarding demand fluctuations, forecasts and changes in how consumers are ordering.
Trends that are impacting local retailers supply chains are:
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics – While automated picking and packing have been around for a while now, the next wave of change is being brought about by artificial intelligence or AI. A warehouse that deploys robots reduces costs significantly while boosting efficiency.
Focus on Supply Chain Visibility and Orchestration – Increasingly businesses in the Middle East are focussing on the better visibility of supply chains. This is only natural, given that the Middle East is a retail-strong economy. Greater visibility will mean an improved ability to orchestrate the supply chain for efficiency, service and lower costs.
Smart Last Mile Fulfilment – Last mile fulfilment is always a big expense for companies. Therefore, there is a clear need to look for efficient and economic solutions. It is becoming increasingly popular in the Middle East to use telematics and route planning software to achieve smart last-mile fulfilment.
3D Printing – 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular in the Middle East. Customers with 3D printing capabilities only have to download patterns and create their own parts on site. The aerospace industry is an example of one such sector that has adopted this technique. If this trend continues, it is not an exaggeration to say that distribution centres may become printer farms in the future rather than the warehouses of today.
Blockchain and Smart Contracts – Blockchain and smart contracts are very popular in the financial services industry. While it is still a relatively new concept in warehousing and logistics, the current trend indicates that this will be a way of life in the future. Blockchain enables “smart contracts“, which is the ideal solution for quality issues, late payments, delivery disputes etc. that are daily issues for logistics companies.
Solutions for local clients
For Mai Dubai, Swisslog is working on delivering a fully automated storage solution for two warehouses: one for raw materials and one for finished goods, standing 14m and 25m tall. Both warehouses are operated by pallet-stacking robots. Alongside the two facilities themselves, Swisslog has also delivered a 1km-long monorail system – the largest such system in the Middle East – that connects to and from the production area. The monorail uses 44 autonomous carts designed by Swisslog specifically for Mai Dubai. Each cart will carry two pallets. Overall, the project will more than double the current production capacity of Mai Dubai and will significantly increase its efficiency through the implementation of a fully automated storage and transport systems. Automation will also allow the racking systems to be packed closely together, allowing for greater storage density than with a manual warehouse. The project is scheduled to be delivered in the near future. The order value of the project amounts to UD$21 million.
Another brand that has been automated by Swisslog is Almarai in Saudi Arabia. The goal was to have processes run more quickly, increase transit quantities and reduce costs. To achieve this goal, Swisslog provided Almarai with several warehouses for palletised finished goods and a fully automated picking and goods distribution centre. Swisslog is also managing five sub-projects which implement the internal logistics systems within the various factories; step by step so that the company can continue to operate at the same time. The multi-million euro project included supply and installation of the following components: storage and retrieval machines, conveyors, refrigerated trucks (Automatic Reefer Loading System, ARLS), systems for automatic loading of HGVs, automatic picking modules supplied by KUKA, electric monorail suspension systems and SAP’s warehouse management system to control the material flows and data intelligently and efficiently.
Robots
“Robotic warehousing is no longer something out of science fiction,” says Kaddoum. “It is happening right now, and there are many advantages to this. The most obvious advantage is productivity goes up. Robots can work much longer hours and do not require as much rest. If deployed in shifts, robots can work 24/7, so your warehouse won’t ever need to close. They can also lift much heavier loads than human beings can. As a natural consequence of this, it means you won’t need as many pieces of heavy equipment – no more forklifts, for example, and the number of accidents in the warehouse will drop dramatically. Most of these robots have been designed with safety in mind and are programmed with a number of different safety routines to protect themselves, the products, and the people who work with them. On the same note, warehouses using robots require far less oxygen, which significantly reduces fire hazards. Space saving is another advantage of using robots. As robots are much smaller in size than forklifts, it means that the aisles between the shelves can be made narrower and this will improve the amount of space used to store things. With the space saving, more storage can either be added or rented out.”
A data-driven warehouse is one that effectively utilises operational software specifically designed for effective warehouse management. The advantages of this are many. Firstly, data can be used intelligently to analyse and optimise your warehouse, resulting in many critical insights. It also enables agility. With the help of data analysis, it is possible to future proof operations and stay flexible with IT solutions. Last but not least, intralogistics processes can be orchestrated to your needs, and you can keep your peak performance when needed.
Ecommerce and the retail supply chain
E-commerce has fundamentally changed the nature of the retail supply chain. Fast and accurate delivery of orders is critical to ensure customer satisfaction and make a profit. Some developments in robotics and automation technology in this sector are many.
Online shoppers require greater personalization. Therefore, warehouse managers must now consider automated solutions for split case picking, multiline item sorting and fast turnaround times. Further software should include functionalities such as returns handling, promotions and other value-add services.
The massive surge in e-commerce has prompted businesses to look for smarter and efficient ways to fulfil orders. Robots are the answer. In this sector, robots are now being used to assist with loading, unloading, sorting, picking, transportation, storage, delivery and audits. Robots helping with these tasks come in all shapes and sizes. They also use different forms of navigation tools such as rail, wire-guided, labels, magnet tape, laser, vision, geo-guidance and others. As time passes, robots will continue to become more intelligent and take over even more tasks than they currently do.
Use of robots has a number of advantages, all of which result in increased warehouse productivity.
Mark Geilenkirchen, Chief Executive Officer, Sohar Port and Freezone, gives Munawar Shariff an update on the current growth in business for Sohar Port and what challenges it faces in the year ahead in making a better profit than ever before
Additionally, our upcoming Sohar Port South expansion is fundamental to Oman’s national focus on growing the logistics and industry sectors as part of its ongoing economic diversification efforts
One of our primary goals is to capture a larger portion of the food cargo trade in the region, and the new state-of-the-art Agro Cluster is an important component of the Oman government’s long-term food security strategy
The Sohar Port South expansion, which is at its final stages, is one of our major projects in 2018. We are reclaiming around 200 hectares from the sea (adding to the port’s existing 2,000 hectare capacity)
Despite volatility in the global maritime sector, Sohar maintained steady growth over the course of 2017 and successfully handled an average of over one million tonnes of cargo every week in the same year. The port’s container traffic increased by 36 per cent as compared to 2016 and dry bulk output saw a rise of 25 per cent. Sohar Port has received 3,075 vessel calls in 2017, which marked a significant increase of 17 per cent, despite the fact that the global trend leaned more towards consolidation and larger ships.
“We expect this number to increase further this year, due to the new bunkering facilities that we will be introducing in 2018 alongside the new Sohar Port South expansion and the completion of the new Food and Agro Cluster,” says Mark Geilenkirchen, Chief Executive Officer, Sohar Port and Freezone.
Oman is also experiencing solid growth in the food logistics sector and e-commerce. Rapid development of transportation infrastructure and demand for modern warehouses equipped with IT, are the key drivers behind influencing the growth of the industry. “We aim to prepare ourselves to adapt to these changes and establish ourselves as a leader in the region,” continues Geilenkirchen.
“Additionally, our upcoming Sohar Port South expansion is fundamental to Oman’s national focus on growing the logistics and industry sectors as part of its ongoing economic diversification efforts,” he says. This expansion will aid the steady growth in aggregate cargo volumes and investments at the port by delivering additional cargo capacity and attracting more business to Sohar.
Food logistics
“One of our primary goals is to capture a larger portion of the food cargo trade in the region, and the new state-of-the-art Agro Cluster is an important component of the Oman government’s long-term food security strategy,” says Geilenkirchen. The dedicated terminal features remote-controlled quay cranes, 450 reefer plugs and is equipped for an initial throughput of 1.6 million tonnes/year.
The sugar refinery is privately owned by the Oman Sugar Refinery Company; a governmental strategic food reserve facility regulated by the Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve. The sugar refinery will boast a production capacity of one-million tonnes per annum. The grain milling plant is owned and operated by Sohar Flour Mills and will have a capacity of 500 tonnes per day.
This combination of food storage resources such as packaging materials from a plastics facility for PET due to open by 2020, alongside available steel and aluminum feed stock, and world-class logistics, makes Sohar an attractive option for investors looking for the perfect Middle East hub for food production. The new Food Cluster is set to play a major part in Oman’s plans to expand its food-processing sector.
Expansion plans
“The Sohar Port South expansion, which is at its final stages, is one of our major projects in 2018. We are reclaiming around 200 hectares from the sea (adding to the port’s existing 2,000 hectare capacity) starting with approximately 50 hectares in the initial phase and adding more land area in later phases,” says Geilenkirchen. The second phase will be focused on hosting new industries that require deep water berths. “Trescorp, a Singapore-based oil and petroleum products trading firm, is one of the first investors to benefit from our new deep water project,” he says. Other investors are also being lined up to take advantage of the additional 150 hectares being offered as part of the Sohar Port South expansion.
Due to its close proximity to the bustling petrochemicals cluster, including the Liquid Berth and Tank Terminal, this expansion will be assigned almost exclusively for oil and gas-based investment.
Overseeing the Sohar Port South expansion is Sohar International Development Company (SIDC), which is a 50-50 joint venture between the Omani government and the Port of Rotterdam.
Metals and minerals cluster
“Gulf Mining, one of the industries within the port, are constructing five ferrochrome smelters to boost metals output. Investment in the smelter will provide an essential boost to the growth of our metals cluster and will complement and support the iron and aluminium industries at Sohar,” says Geilenkirchen. The metals cluster is one of the fastest growing divisions at the Port and have a high economic yield. Research indicates iron industries and their by-products experience significant growth as long as they continue to strive to meet demand. Another major project was the production of antimony, a mineral which is primarily used as a fire-retardant.
“Additionally, we have signed a US$ 60 million deal with a UK-led consortium which will see Sohar house the largest rare earth metal plant of its kind outside of China,” he says.
“We are characterising 2018 as the year of ‘Smarter Thinking’. The main feature of this concept is one that encourages the sharing of innovative ideas to modernise and simplify operations, and at the same time become more efficient,” says Geilenkirchen. For example, the steam produced by the oil refinery at Sohar is a by-product of their operations but has significant energy potential. “To tap and utilise that energy, we are planning to build a pipeline to carry steam to other industries. The heat from the steam can be used as an energy source to produce subsequent products, and will therefore reduce energy loads and costs. To reduce operating costs, we’re also conducting a study to convert our port vehicles to run on hydrogen; another underutilised by-product from the industry. Additionally, we are installing PV solar cells around our head office, which will reduce the amount electricity drawn from the power grid,” Geilenkirchen says.
One of the most significant projects was the signing with India’s Pittie Group, which is one of the biggest cotton yarn manufacturers in the world, for a US$ 300 million cotton yarn project. The project, when completed, will produce 100,000 tonnes of cotton yarn per year and generate over 1,500 sustainable jobs in the Freezone.
With the establishment of Oman’s first bitumen refinery, the new plant will significantly reduce the reliance on imports of bitumen and asphalt for road paving and industrial applications. Due to the growing local and global market for asphalt and bitumen, the project will create new business opportunities and employment in the Sultanate, with 34 direct jobs for citizens generated in the first phase of operations
In total around 26 companies are already reaping the benefits of unrivalled access to land, low-cost energy, and skilled workforce in the region
China’s belt and road initiative
The Middle East plays a critical role in the Chinese ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. The development of modern land and maritime silk routes will stretch from Shanghai all the way to Hamburg. “Due to the prime location of Sohar outside the Strait of Hormuz, we are ideally located as an important connecting hub on these maritime routes, and can direct cargo through the Suez Canal or around the Cape, depending on the vessel size and its final destination,” says Geilenkirchen.
“In 2016, we signed a sister port agreement with the Port of Shenzen in the People’s Republic of China. The agreement covers the development of mutually beneficial trade and shipping businesses and helps increase trade relations between China and Oman. Our relationship with the Port of Shenzen is proving highly effective in areas such as port planning and construction, management and operations, environmental protection, information technology, personnel training and port security,” concludes Geilenkirchen.
FedEx Express announced that, for the eighth consecutive year, it is officially ranked amongst the ‘Best Workplaces in the UAE’ for 2017-2018, by Great Place to Work®.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Great Place to Work® Institute, and a confirmation that by investing in our team members, we build a positive and successful workplace environment and culture. FedEx is committed to putting our people first. We want to see our colleagues achieve their full potential, and we provide them with the means to do so – through education support, mentoring, and more. Their accomplishments are our success,” said Jack Muhs, regional president of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
The FedEx “People-Service-Profit” philosophy is based on the belief that by taking care of our people, they will provide an outstanding level of service to customers, which leads to profit, that in turn can be invested back into the business and its people.
FedEx believes that team member development and growth are central to making this philosophy a reality. They work closely with their managers on individual development plans and are provided with tools to facilitate their growth. Through the FedEx Virtual Academy, everyone working for FedEx Express can access a variety of training materials and courses to further their own skills. Additionally, FedEx Express team members can apply for the company’s Tuition Assistance program, which provides financial support to enable any team member to pursue further education.
Turkish Cargo has been awarded the 2017 Schiphol Aviation Award.
In 2017, Turkish Cargo was chosen as the second best air cargo brand in Europe by the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) authority, one of the busiest airports in Europe and in the world in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.
Turkish Cargo has achieved significant success throughout the year in terms of its increase in fleet capacity, its redesigned operational processes, its innovative developments in products and services, its ability to produce and implement new digital solutions, and its secured, fast and reliable transportation chain.
This significant award, which is an important indicator of Turkish Cargo’s sustainable success in the air cargo sector, was presented by the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Chief Operations Officer Birgit Otto and Chief Commercial Officer Andre van den Berg.
Al-Futtaim Logistics, a leading integrated logistics and supply chain solutions provider, has announced the expansion of its services with the opening of a state-of-the-art cold storage warehousing facility in Dubai.
Located at Jebel Ali South Free Zone, the multi-temperature facility has space for more than 1,600 pallets with full temperature control ranging from +18°C to -22°C. The facility incorporates world-class warehouse management technology including capturing all the attributes of the products combined with double-deep storage which optimises space and enables high throughput. The new facility has been designed for piece and pallet picking for speed-to-market orders.
Customers utilizing the cold storage facility can also take advantage of Al-Futtaim Logistics’ value-added services such as barcoding, labelling, date coding which are compliant with local and regional GCC regulations and are in line with international standards of food safety storage.
The facility also offers a dedicated onsite office for local authorities thereby enabling fast-track inspections to ensure the products stored meet stringent standards.
Al-Futtaim Logistics has expanded its primary services into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman and is set to extend the new warehouse facilities to its regional F&B customers.
Volvo Buses and FAMCO have received an order from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to supply 143 Volvo luxury intercity coaches over the next two years, in what is FAMCO’s largest deal with the RTA to date.
Volvo’s B11R is the first bus in the Middle East to meet the strict Euro 6 standards of fuel efficiency and emissions; aiding the successful signing of the deal which was evaluated against the RTA’s rigorous 10-year total cost of ownership requirements, including fuel and operational costs.
Commenting on the significant new signing, Akash Passey, Senior Vice President for Volvo Buses Region International said, “Being the first bus manufacturer to introduce Euro 6-standards to the Middle East has enabled us to deliver the most fuel efficient, cost effective and environmentally conscious public transport solution, helping the RTA to continue to lead the way in safety and sustainability. These buses mark the beginning of a new breed of modern buses focused on delivering clean, safe and efficient public transport.”
All 143 Volvo coaches delivered to the RTA will be fitted with the Sunsundegui SC5 bodies. These buses will have future-ready ITS systems which provide the most modern levels of fleet tracking, allowing the RTA to deliver an enhanced level of service to its passengers. Each bus will have premium interiors, fitted with 55 luxury ISRI lightweight ergonomic seats, and all of the comfort and accessories required by a modern commuter like USB charging capabilities for all passengers, foot rests, cup-holders and plush wooden finish flooring.
Front row (R-L) Mr Ahmed Bahrozyan the Chief Executive Officer of RTA and Mr Nigel Johnson the Senior Managing Director of FAMCO.
Back row (R-L) H.E Mattar Al Tayer Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, Mr Yousuf AlRaeesi the Director of Government Affairs and HSSE-Automotive of Al Futtaim Group Company, Akash Passey the Senior Vice President of Volvo Bus Corporation.
TS&S Signs Maintenance Agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S), engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider for gas turbines and driven equipment that is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, today signed its first maintenance agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd, a globally recognised aerospace corporation and one of the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world.
Announced during the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi, the contract will enable TS&S to service various engine types within DAE’s substantial portfolio, including the Trent 700, GEnx and the V2500 engine — one of which has already been repaired in the Abu Dhabi facility.
TS&S decided to become an overhaul facility for the V2500 engine in 2010, following substantial negotiations with IAE. TS&S has since been rapidly increasing its capability and capacity with the engine.
The agreement represents a breakthrough for TS&S, as it marks the company’s first major deal covering multiple engine types with a market leading leasing company.
The engine repair and overhaul operations will continue to take place at TS&S’ state-of-the-art facilities in Abu Dhabi, which has been recognized by major engine OEM’s as a quality approved overhaul base. TS&S works with OEMs and airlines around the world, including Rolls Royce, GE, Pratt & Whitney, Etihad Airways, Indigo, Sri Lankan and Onur Air.
Strata spreads its wings through new partnership with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd
Strata Manufacturing PJSC (Strata), composite aero-structures manufacturing facility wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC, has signed an agreement to manufacture Belly Fairings for the PC-24, a twin-engine business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft Ltd of Switzerland.
The announcement was made at the Global Aerospace Summit being held in Abu Dhabi from the 30th April to 2nd May. The manufacturing of the PC-24 Belly Fairings is the first step of a long-term agreement between Pilatus and Strata targeting the production of the complete PC-24 composite shipset requirement in the UAE.
Strata has partnerships with the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. This latest agreement reinforces Strata’s credentials as a UAE success story with ambitions to be a global frontrunner in its field.
Advanced aircraft manufacturing is a key area of focus at the 2018 edition of the Global Aerospace Summit, where leading local and international experts are gathering to discuss the future of the industry.
Based at Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park and employing more than 700 people of 30 different nationalities – with 51 per cent of its workforce being Emirati nationals and 41 per cent of employees being female – Strata has partnerships with Airbus, Boeing, and Leonardo Aero-structures Division, and is a supplier to FACC AG, SAAB, and S.A.B.C.A. The company is part of Mubadala’s Aerospace, Renewables and ICT platform, which aims to advance the development of a leading aerospace hub in the emirate.
Strata also awarded Boeing 777X Composite Aero-structures Contract
Strata recently also announced a new contract award with Boeing, to manufacture composite empennage ribs for Boeing’s new 777X airplane.
The agreement, announced at the Global Aerospace Summit, is Strata’s first contracted statement of work for the 777X program, enabling the company to expand its role as a direct composite aero structures supplier to Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Strata will manufacture 777X empennage ribs at its state-of-the-art facility in the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This is the fourth work package that Boeing has awarded to Strata since 2013. Strata already manufactures empennage ribs for the 777 and vertical fin ribs for the 787 Dreamliner. In the future, Strata will be a supplier of the 787-vertical fin.
DMCC hosted the first day of its two day Global Dubai Tea Forum at The Address Dubai Marina, under the theme of “Brewing the Future of Trade” recently.
Representing all segments of the tea supply chain, more than 450 international delegates, a 39 per cent increase in attendance from the previous event, descended on Dubai for the event’s seventh edition, and to take part in expert analysis on the current state of the global tea industry, as well as debate the challenges set to define its future.
“DMCC is a market-maker, facilitator of trade, and a hub for the flow of commodities around the world, and through Dubai. The DMCC Tea Centre is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for the industry and has helped secure the position of the United Arab Emirates as a valuable export route for the majority of the tea producing nations,” said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman, DMCC.
“Our state-of-the-art Tea Centre handles 53 million kilos of tea annually, and we are confident our market share will remain consistent for the foreseeable future,” he added.
According to Euromonitor International, the Middle East and Africa region will account for 11 per cent of the total global retail value by 2022, growing at a five per cent rate over the same period of time. In the UAE alone, Euromonitor International estimates that the tea market will be worth US$ 70 million in 2018.
Saudi Aramco partners with Pearl Initiative to promote corporate governance
World markets are rapidly evolving, and the Gulf region’s private sector has an increasingly global impact on this evolution. At the same time, global expectations of corporate governance standards have been rising, which in turn is having an impact on how companies in the Gulf region conduct business and plan for the future. This means that it is now essential to drive growth through competitive and sustainable business practices. Ninety two per cent of CEOs surveyed by the Pearl Initiative believe that working towards sustainable development goals will have a positive impact on their business, and 89 per cent say that it can create concrete business opportunities.
To this end, Saudi Aramco and the Pearl Initiative, the leading Gulf-based non-profit organization promoting a corporate culture of accountability as a key driver of competitiveness across the region, have announced their strategic partnership. These new partners share a deep commitment to promoting corporate governance within the region’s business landscape.
As a part of the partnership, Saudi Aramco and the Pearl Initiative will host a high-level forum, Governance in Focus: Boosting Competitiveness in a New Business Paradigm, held under the patronage of His Excellency Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia. More than 300 global business leaders, ministers, senior government officials and members of corporate and civil society are expected to attend the forum, which will be held on Wednesday, 25 April 2018, at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh.
“Effective governance is vital for maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and for promoting best practices in effective oversight, leadership, and reporting,” said Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. “With that in mind, we are glad to partner with the Pearl Initiative to deliver the Governance in Focus forum which will focus on the important role of corporate governance in enhancing business resilience and the investment ecosystem.”
Badr Jafar, Founder of the Pearl Initiative said: “The strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with one of the world’s most influential companies at a time when strong leadership to promote corporate accountability and governance is so important. Through this partnership, we look forward to bringing the global discussion about the fundamentally changing landscape for business to the region and debate the role for corporate governance in supporting growth, investment and innovation in the Gulf Region and globally.”
Hellmann UAE creates joint venture – Hellmann Indu Chemical
Hellmann UAE has successfully launched its third vertical joint venture, Hellmann Indu Chemical (HIC), after having already created a leadership position in both automotive and healthcare verticals within the Middle East. The strategic joint venture is formed together with the asset based, local logistics firm Indu Maritime Group. Indu Maritime Group, also a family owned business, has more than a million sq. ft. of its own warehousing space in the Jafza.
The Joint Venture is an umbrella to three facilities, accounting for a total of 15,000 pallet positions, with a planned expansion of 5,000 more pallet positions. Equipped with a range of operational local knowhow, dedicated QHSE officers and many other services, HIC is a one stop destination to chemical supply chain solutions. The natural synergy of the two family-owned companies form the basis for providing a host of high quality services pertaining to warehousing and outbound freight operations for the chemical industry in the Middle East.
The chemical industry is the second largest industry sector in the GCC region worth US$108 billion. The growth of this industry has been almost organic due to the local capacity expansion. Taking the high tide, globalization of GCC’s petrochemical industry has been a success due to the development of several joint ventures in key Asian markets. Hellmann is one of the leading international logistics provider to create such a niche chemical warehousing solution in the Middle East.
Image: From right,
Simon Reah, Chief Operating Officer – Contract Logistics Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Middle East and South Asia (MESA);
Madhav Kurup CEO – Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Middle East and South Asia (MESA);
Kishore Lakhani, Chairman, Indu Maritime Group;
Kush Lakhani, Managing Partner, Indu Maritime & Logistics;
Aijaz Mohammad, Partner, Indu Maritime & Logistics
DMCA adopts ‘Dubai Maritime Innovation Quattro Helix Partnerships’ to promote local maritime sector
Dubai Maritime Sector includes important sub-sectors such as maritime services, shipping, marinas engineering, ports and leisure.
In line with Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a leading hub in the global economy and in support of the Dubai Industry Strategy, the Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) has held recently the important and exclusive “Dubai Maritime Innovation Quattro Helix Partnerships” workshop to reinforce its coordination with Government, Academicians, private sectors and research and development (R&D) institutions in Dubai to build a leading and pioneering maritime cluster, help diversify the economy, and meet the needs of the future.
Amer Ali, Executive Director of DMCA, said: “The adoption of the ‘Dubai Maritime Innovation Quattro Helix Partnerships’ model is intended to strengthen our collaboration with Government, Academicians, private sectors and research and development (R&D) institutions. This is a significant move meant to promote R&D and innovation in building integrated logistics programs, preparing suitable infrastructure, and developing an advanced maritime regulations and legislations that will ensure efficient management of maritime operations according to the highest standards of occupational safety, best practices, and local and international conventions. All these efforts will enhance Dubai’s position as a world-class maritime center.”
He pointed out that DMCA is fully committed to the directives of the wise leadership to establish the foundation for a vital and sustainable economy based on research, development and knowledge; build a unique investment environment in Dubai by adopting the best practices and latest concepts that promote the maritime sector; and activate the maritime community’s role in diversifying the economy towards a post-oil future.
This Partnership is seen to pave the way for a new phase of excellence in the development and regulation of the maritime sector according to Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS) to enhance regional and global investors’ confidence in the local maritime cluster’s competitive strengths, which has become a strong competitor for the leading international maritime centers like Singapore, London, Oslo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
The DMCA-led workshop was held to give maritime industry leaders and academic institutions a platform to develop a framework and a comprehensive plan to support R&D, innovation, maritime education and training programs. The forum’s objectives were to help enhance the competitiveness of the maritime sector and promote Dubai as an important player on the global maritime map. The discussions also included the development of a clear vision on how to enhance collaboration among maritime stakeholders to discuss and identify solutions to challenges in maritime education, training, and innovation.
Ali added: “As an important strategic platform, the workshop sought to reinforce the fruitful cooperation among government, academic, research, and maritime entities to find innovative solutions to the current and emerging challenges and strengthen Dubai’s leadership as one of the top 10 global pioneers in terms of competitiveness and attractiveness across components of the maritime cluster. We look forward with confidence to a successful Quattro partnership, which sets a clear and solid framework to upgrade maritime and logistics services; update legislations, regulations, and infrastructure; and improving operational processes in accordance with the highest standards of excellence, quality, innovation and maritime safety.”
“We also look forward to implementing the ambitious programs and initiatives aimed at investing in R&D, training, and maritime innovation in line with the objectives of MSS to transform Dubai into one of the world’s most competitive maritime centers and among the globe’s most sustainable cities with steady economic growth according to Dubai Plan 2021,” he concluded.
Emirates named ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards
Emirates Airline has been named ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards. Emirates won the prestigious accolade based the evaluation from a jury comprised of executives and experts from different sectors within the aviation industry.
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates received the award on behalf of the airline. Commenting on the win, Mr Antinori said, “We are honoured to be recognised by the Air Transport Awards for our commitment to excellence. We have a strong customer-centric focus across the airline to deliver the best possible experience both in the air and on the ground by continually investing in a modern fleet, product innovations and service enhancements. We are also embracing technology across our operations to meet and exceed evolving consumer preferences. This award is a testament to the hard work and efforts of staff across the airline that make a difference everyday by taking care of our customers and keeping our service levels high.”
With a network that spans 159 destinations in 85 countries, operating one of the world’s youngest wide-body fleets made up of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, Emirates is the world’s largest international airline.
PHOTO CAPTION –
Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates received the ‘Airline of the Year’ award at the 2018 Air Transport Awards on behalf of Emirates
Lampros Demertzis, Managing Editor of Air Transport News with Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates at the 2018 Air Transport Awards
Update on the progress of UAE’s first nuclear energy plant
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) is building the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant at Barakah in the Dhafrah Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
To verify that Unit 1 at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant meets the highest international standards of quality and safety, ENEC is conducting a comprehensive testing program known collectively as the Initial Test Program (ITP). ENEC will also conduct these tests on the remaining three units at Barakah as they near completion.
The ITP takes Barakah Unit 1 on a journey of testing and confirming that the Unit’s systems are able to operate in accordance with the highest industry standards. The ITP testing is inspected by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s independent regulatory body.
Phase 1:
The first phase of the ITP is pre-operational testing designed to evaluate the plant’s systems and ensure they operate as designed before loading nuclear fuel assemblies. Each test represents an important milestone in Unit 1’s journey toward achieving its mission of delivering safe, clean, efficient and reliable electricity to the UAE.
Phase 2
The second phase of the ITP can only be initiated once Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the subsidiary of ENEC that will operate and maintain the Barakah Plant, has obtained the Operating License from the independent regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) to operate Unit 1. When FANR issues the Operating License, Nawah may begin loading nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor, which takes several days.
Phase 3:
The third phase of the ITP is the initial reactor startup and low-power physics testing.
Phase 4:
The fourth phase of the ITP is Power Ascension Testing (PAT).
Once personnel successfully complete power ascension testing, operators will conduct a complete shutdown and restart of the reactor. Once the reactor returns to full power, it will operate for a number of days, and is then declared as ’substantially complete’.
Dubai HeliShow 2018 Announces Partnership with Dubai South
Commercial helicopters gaining traction in Middle East market
Dubai South primed as regional hub for helicopter operations & maintenance
Leading players in civil & military aviation to showcase latest trends
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai HeliShow, the biennial international helicopter technology and operations exhibition dedicated to the helicopter industry, will showcase for the first time the latest trends in helicopters at the Royal Pavilion at the Al Maktoum International Airport as part of Dubai South’s strategic move to become a world-class regional hub for helicopter operations and maintenance.
Dubai South, a master-planned city and the emirate’s flagship urban project, is the key partner and supporter of this year’s Dubai HeliShow, which will take place from November 6 to 8, 2018. The partnership positions Dubai South as the latest aviation district in the Middle East capable of enhancing the growing demands in the aviation sector in the UAE and across the region.
Tahnoon Saif, Vice President Aviation, Dubai South, said: “Dubai HeliShow 2018 will serve as a premier platform for us to achieve our goal of becoming the center of key helicopter operations and maintenance activities in the region. We at Dubai South seek to play an active role in the event’s success this year as we recognize its importance in the growth of the global commercial helicopter market in particular and the entire aviation industry in general. Dubai South is excited to welcome all delegates attending Dubai HeliShow in November. We cannot wait to showcase Dubai’s relevant achievements and engage with brilliant minds from the industry.”
The Middle East region, where demand for commercial helicopters is climbing, is expected to help drive growth in the international market in the coming years. Globally, the market for commercial helicopter systems is predicted to reach USD 11.6 billion by 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.49 per cent from 2017 to 2027, according to a report titled ‘Global Commercial Market 2017-2027’. The region will remain a key hotspot for offshore helicopter industry in the next five years and is seen to have the highest average utilization for medium and large helicopter fleets over the 2018-2022 period, a forecast released by market research firm Douglas-Westwood shows.
Ahmad Abulhoul, Managing Director, Domus Group, organizers of Dubai HeliShow 2018, said: “Various major industries – including tourism, offshore oil and gas, medical emergency services, law enforcement, VIP, and corporate transportation – are utilizing helicopters for their operations, resulting in a faster expansion rate for the industry worldwide. The Middle East is specifically showing great growth potential as the demand in this part of the world continues to go up. These opportunities will be showcased during the seventh edition of Dubai HeliShow, where industry leaders, pioneers and all stakeholders will gather to share their expertise and insights on the major trends and developments that will reshape the market’s future at the regional and global levels.”
The show will also host two exclusive conferences titled ‘Helicopter Technology and Operations’ and ‘Military and Homeland Security.’ The forums will focus on police empowerment using the Internet of Things (IoT) tools; the role of women in homeland security; application of robotics in policing and helicopter; new patterns in narco-terrorism; and joint inter-agency cooperation between armed forces and homeland security agencies, among others.
Dubai Helishow 2018 is also supported by leading government authorities including the Ministry of Defence, UAE Airforce, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Airports.
Famco introduces Euro 5 emission standard Volvo Trucks in the UAE
Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (Famco), exclusive distributor of Volvo Trucks in the UAE, recently announced the launch of the Volvo Trucks that meets Euro 5 emission standards.
The introduction of the new Euro 5 engines supports the UAE Government’s Vision 2021 to provide a safer environment and to work towards providing a sustainable future.
As part of the Government’s efforts, Emirates Authority For Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) recently mandated that all trucks imported starting this year must meet Euro 4 emission standards. Famco and Volvo Trucks Middle East have taken a step further and introduced the Euro 5-compliant trucks.
Vladimir Knezevic, Managing Director of Famco UAE, said, “As the whole industry is shifting its focus to decreased fuel consumption and increased fleet efficiency, Volvo Trucks with its advanced safety features and Euro 5 emission standards is in a class of its own. The new trucks in addition to supporting the government’s efforts to lower pollution levels also ensure our customers drive environment-friendly trucks that are more fuel-efficient and provides greater productivity and returns.”
The new Volvo Trucks are equipped with On-Board Diagnostics (OBD), which helps monitor the level of AdBlue liquid that together with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology helps lower emission levels. The OBD also easily provides authorities with information regarding the emission levels of the trucks during inspection.
Alongside the launch of the Euro 5 models, Famco also launched the Globetrotter cab for the Volvo FH. In addition to being more advanced than existing sleeper cabins in its class, the Globetrotter cabs provide a very high level of safety and comfort for drivers and a newer driving experience which directly reciprocates into better productivity.
DP WORLD, EGYPT GOVERNMENT AND SUEZ CANAL AUTHORITY PARTNER TO DEVELOP TRADE INFRASTRUCTURE
MoU signed to collaborate on development of new inland container terminal, promoting Egypt’s sustainable economic growth
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed by DP World, Egypt’s Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport and the Suez Canal Authority is aiming to develop a new Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Egypt’s 6th of October City, a satellite town in the Giza Governorate and part of the urban area of Cairo.
The three partners will bid for the government contract for the project later this year. The proposed ICD will increase the flow of cargo between ships and major land transportation networks in the country, creating a central distribution point. Under the MoU, DP World will lead and represent the alliance in the bidding process and become the ICD operator if the tender is won.
The MoU was signed by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DP World Group Chairman and CEO; Admiral Mohab Mamish, Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone; and Rear Admiral Mohamed Ahmad Ibrahim Youssef, Chairman of the Holding Company of Maritime and Land Transport.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Developing trade infrastructure to improve hinterland access for goods bound for Africa’s growing economic needs is essential. This collaboration builds on our strategic partnership with Egypt and we look forward to working with the SCZone and the government’s Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport to make it happen. The partnership is aligned with the UAE leadership’s directive to share with neighbouring nations the global experiences that our country has gained over the years. We are proud to support the Egyptian government’s drive for economic growth, led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the collaboration further builds on our historical ties with the country where we have been operating Sokhna Port for 10 years and have become an integral part of the social and economic fabric.”
Saudi Arabian Airlines expands network infrastructure
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has selected SITA to support its strategic expansion plans by introducing modern, world-class IT infrastructure across 200 of the airline’s offices located in 100 cities and airports in 60 countries.
The solution will support the airline’s global IT infrastructure which connects all Saudia outstations with its headquarters and various data centers worldwide.
Sita will introduce its unique ATI Cloud solution, which will allow Saudia to manage and distribute its business applications, information and business services on-demand, anywhere in the world. The agreement also includes infrastructure, IT support and round-the-clock service through a dedicated service center.
Saudia’s incremental growth and global expansion has seen the airline open new offices in key cities and in turn, has developed new IT requirements to support the demand for the carrier’s continued growth in passenger numbers in the Kingdom and beyond.
Director General of Saudi Arabian Airlines, His Excellency Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said, “Saudia has a critical role to play in the nation’s Vision 2030, and continues to grow both in the Kingdom and beyond.”
Hani El-Assaad, SITA President Middle East, India and Africa, said, “With the rapid progress of hosted applications and cloud-based environments, it is the right time for Saudia to adopt cloud solutions across its network.”
Al Islami Foods recently announced that Mitsubishi Corporation has acquired a minority stake in the UAE-based halal food manufacturer.
The decision to partner with Mitsubishi Corporation followed a thorough study by the company into the strategic options for new product development that will help increase the frozen food market share in the GCC and wider global markets. Furthermore, it is expected the collaboration will help Al Islami Foods to grow their footprint in the HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant and Catering) and food service segment within the UAE. The strategic investment will enable the local superbrand to capitalise on Mitsubishi’s well-established distribution in key international markets particularly in Asia.
Al Islami Foods enjoys the second largest market share in the frozen meat products in the UAE and has embarked on an ambitious plan to expand its operations. Prospects look bright for the brand, due to the company’s proven market expertise and the booming global halal food industry which is projected to be worth more than US$ 1.7 trillion by 2020 with consistent double-digit growth year on year.
While the company has already established its footprint in the HORECA segment through effectively marketing high quality poultry products, Al Islami Foods is poised to write a new chapter in its growth, by inviting brands such as Mitsubishi to invest with the promise of strong return on investment into one of the fastest growing sectors in the GCC- frozen halal food.
PwC acted as lead advisor to Al Islami Foods on the deal.
DP WORLD SIGNS TOP DUTCH EDUCATORS TO PREPARE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS
MoU signed with three subsidiaries of Erasmus University, Rotterdam
Developing the next generation of business leaders, is key to the sustainable success of any company. DP World signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic skills development programme, which will focus on leadership and business management with the renowned Erasmus University, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The joint initiative called “Evolve”, will develop aspiring business unit and regional heads across DP World’s global portfolio of 78 ports in 40 countries. The partnership is with three subsidiaries of the Erasmus University Rotterdam: the Centre for Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL), the Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (Erasmus UPT) and the Executive Education department of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM).
The MoU was signed in Dubai between DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and RSM Executive Education Dean, Prof. Frank Hartmann. The event was also attended by the Deputy Consul-General of The Netherlands in Dubai, Ester van Someren, MEL Academic Director and Erasmus UPT Director, Dr. Larissa van der Lugt, RSM Programme Director for Evolve, Malou Kroezen, DP World Senior Vice President of Human Capital, Maha Al Qattan and senior company officials.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, said: “Our industry is advancing at unprecedented speeds and as our business strategy develops to include elements of the wider supply chain, the expertise of our people also needs to grow and ‘Evolve’. Our future leaders need to know how to integrate new technologies into our business model and be equipped with the right tools and confidence to think outside the box – to conceptualise innovative new ideas to help us lead the future of world trade.”
DP World Senior Vice President of Human Capital, Maha Al Qattan, said: “The Evolve programme is a perfect blend of the latest research and insight of industry specific topics combined with leadership and change development. MEL and Erasmus UPT bring a deep understanding of the complexity and dynamics of global supply chains and combining this with the top-level experience of RSM in executive leadership education creates a unique environment for the development of our future business leaders.”
Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) Executive Education Dean, Prof. Frank Hartmann, said: “DP World’s inspiring vision to remain at the leading edge of trade innovation perfectly matches RSM’s strategy on academic thought leadership in logistics management.”
Centre for Maritime Economics and Logistics (MEL) Academic Director and Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics (Erasmus UPT) Director, Dr. Larissa van der Lugt, said: “MEL and Erasmus UPT have vast experience in educating tomorrow’s business leaders in the complex, highly interconnected and dynamic industry of maritime trade and transport, logistics and ports, in which DP World has a key position.”
Leadership development, business management and enabling industry growth are key components of the Evolve learning journey that will be facilitated with international modules in countries that are critical to DP World’s business performance and success. Throughout the 1.5 year-long programme participants will work on strategic group projects, enabling cross-functional collaboration and company-wide innovation.
Evolve has been designed considering DP World’s business needs as it diversifies into new areas of the global supply chain, including logistics and free trade zones. The programme will provide participants with a wide range of active learning opportunities and feedback, combined with personal coaching to take an in-depth look at individual leadership strengths and weaknesses.
ADNOC Logistics and Services to Handle Ruwais Container Terminal Operations
Five-year contract confirms commitment to facilitating and improving shipping of Borouge’s high value products at Ruwais terminal
ADNOC Logistics and Services fully prepared to expand operations in Ruwais to handle up to 800,000 TEUs per annum
ADNOC Logistics and Services, the shipping and services arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has signed a contract with Borouge, a leading provider of value creating plastics solutions, to handle its Ruwais container terminal operations.
The five-year contract, awarded through a competitive bidding process, is the first deal signed between Borouge and ADNOC Logistics and Services as a new integrated entity, following the integration of IRSHAD, ESNAAD and ADNATCO into a single ADNOC operating company.
Under the terms of the contract, ADNOC Logistics and Services will carry out all handling operations of Borouge’s packed and palletized products and bulk loaded containers.
ADNOC Logistics and Services will handle up to 800,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per annum with skilled labour and management expertise and operational excellence in compliance with the highest HSE standards. ADNOC Logistics and Services is fully equipped to meet the increased production planned at Borouge’s plants in the next five years to meet the forecasted growing demand, especially in China and South East Asia, for high value polymers.
Senior Vice President of the Services unit, at ADNOC Logistics and Services, Abdul Aziz Mohamed Al Zaabi said: “This five-year contract with Borouge is a robust vote of confidence in our plans to create added value by establishing a world class, integrated, logistics and services business in Ruwais.
“Following the unification of our shipping and marine services operations our focus continues to be on servicing the ADNOC business and international clients to the highest standard, without compromising our HSE commitments. Looking ahead, as part of ADNOC’s 2030 strategy, we are expanding our powerful offering to customers outside of the ADNOC network, first regionally and then globally.”
ADNOC is making significant investments in new downstream projects to grow its refining capabilities and expand its petrochemical production. As a result of the planned expansions in ADNOC Downstream business, Ruwais will become one of the largest integrated refining and petrochemical complexes in the world.
Turkish Cargo continues to grow in the European market.
Turkish Cargo ranks 7th among the air cargo carriers of the world, rising 5 places. Turkish Cargo has achieved significant growth in the European market compared to February 2018 data from global air cargo transport data service provider World Air Cargo Data.
According to the published data, Turkish Cargo;
* In Romania, with a large share of half of the market,
* In 1st place among foreign air cargo brands located in Israel,
* In Austria and Eastern Europe, in the second place,
* 3rd in Finland and 4th in Poland.
Turkish Cargo; is the fastest growing and growing air cargo brand in the world with its infrastructure, new destinations added to its flight network and its fleet capacity.
Turkish Cargo as a successful air cargo brand, which achieved a steep rise in the European market by achieving sustainable growth with its investments; combining with the wide range of services and operational capabilities of Turkey’s unique geographical advantages continues to raise the success bar every day.
Turkish Cargo has been awarded the 2017 Schiphol Aviation Award.
In 2017, Turkish Cargo was chosen as the second best air cargo brand in Europe by the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) authority, one of the busiest airports in Europe and in the world in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.
Turkish Cargo has achieved significant success throughout the year in terms of its increase in the fleet capacity, its redesigned operational processes, its innovative developments in the products and services, its ability to produce and implement new digital solutions, and its secured fast and reliable transportation chain.
This significant award, which is an important indicator of Turkish Cargo’s sustainable success in the air cargo sector , was presented by the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Chief Operations Officer Birgit Otto and Chief Commercial Officer Andre van den Berg.
The Schiphol Aviation Awards night ended with an evening dinner celebrating the successes of the airport community members and the airline representatives.
To view the flight schedules and details please visit www.turkishcargo.com.tr, or contact with the call center at +90 850 333 0 777.
DP WORLD REPORTS 7.3% GROSS VOLUME GROWTH IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2018
DP World Limited handled 17.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) across its global portfolio of container terminals in the first quarter of 2018, with gross container volumes growing by 7.3% year-on-year on a reported basis, and 8.4% on a like-for-like[1] basis, well ahead of Drewry Maritime’s industry estimate of 4.6% global throughput growth for 1Q2018[2].
The first quarter witnessed a continuation of the recovery in global trade and all three regions delivered growth, especially our terminals in Europe, Middle East & Africa and Australia. UAE continues to deliver stable growth and handled 3.8 million TEU, growing 2.9% year-on-year in 1Q2018.
At a consolidated[3] level, our terminals handled 9.2 million TEU during the first quarter of 2018, a 6.6% improvement in performance on a reported basis and up 6.8% year-on-year on a like-for-like[4] basis.
Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem commented:
“Following a strong year for the global container market in 2017 with peak levels since 2011, our portfolio has had an encouraging start to 2018 delivering ahead-of-market growth. The robust performance was delivered across all three regions, which once again demonstrates that we have the relevant capacity in the right markets.
“We are pleased to see volumes recover in Australia while our terminals in Europe, Middle East and Africa continue to deliver strong growth and UAE continues to stabilize. While the trade environment may appear more benign, geopolitical headwinds in some regions continue to pose uncertainty. Nevertheless, we still expect to grow ahead of the market and see increased contributions from our new investments.
“The first quarter volume performance demonstrates that our portfolio is well positioned to deliver growth, and our continued focus on delivering operational excellence as well as disciplined investment should ensure that we remain the port operator of choice across geographies.”
Further Information
Gross Volume
‘000 TEU
1Q
2017
1Q
2018
% Growth
(like for like)
Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
7,628
8,034
+5.3%
(+5.9%)
Europe, Middle East and Africa*
6,736
7,396
+9.8%
(+11.9%)
Americas & Australia
2,037
2,161
+6.1%
(+6.1%)
Total Group
16,401
17,591
+7.3%
(+8.4%)
*UAE Volumes included in Middle East, Africa and Europe region
Turkish Cargo participated in the Eurasia Airshow, Turkey’s largest aviation organization.
Flag carrier of its country and global air freight brand, Turkish Cargo participated in Eurasia Airshow, the first aviation organization that includes acrobatic flight demonstrations also. Turkish Cargo had located in the show with its new 777F type cargo aircraft which has 102 tonnes of freight capacity.
As the fastest growing air cargo brand of world, Turkish Cargo has demonstrated its wide service capacity and operational capabilities and also shared its experiences with performing a simulation of its cargo operation.
Turkish Cargo, which shares its experiences and provides collaboration by participating in international fairs and aviation organizations, also continuing to being preferred with its extensive flight network between 121 countries and more than 300 destinations.
Omar Hariri has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Airlines Cargo Co, Hariri has extensive management experience and various achievements in many of the leadership positions he has held over the past years in the fields of transportation, supply and logistics.
The new CEO will lead the company and strengthen its current position in accordance with the transformation strategy which took into account, the development of all services provided, the promotion of performance and production, in addition strengthen the aspects of security and safety in all stations and facilities to meet the international quality standards.
Saudia Cargo currently is going through important stages of its transformation 2020 program launched early 2017 in line with the Saudi 2030 vision, aiming to upgrade the various services and sectors and all of its working cadres.
Global Supply Chain has partnered with Brian Cartwright, Managing Director, Top Management Resources Group (TMR), to run a series of exclusive interviews with industry leaders to provide real time insight on the regional supply chain and logistics sector. Here, Cartwright talks to Julian Benscher, President, Skyship Services, about this new cargo transporting channel, the potential market in the country and region and the future.
Both Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Air Vehicles have made huge strides in this space and expect to have certified cargo airships operational within the next few years. Initial use of airships in the Middle East will be focused around surveillance, tourism and advertising, but more importantly the operation will provide valuable airship experience to the Airships Arabia team and the regional certification authorities. Airships are coming back in a big way and will certainly be a major disruptor to the traditional modes of air, sea, and land transport. Julian Benscher, President, Skyship Services, who is one of the world’s leading lighter-than-air businessmen, the son of a former European tycoon, he’s a man of many talents and who was one of the main investors and creators of boy band the Backstreet Boys.
Benscher has been involved in airships for over 30 years, he is the President of Skyship Services a US based company which owns and operates a fleet of Skyship 600’s, the world’s largest conventional Airship containing 666,000 cubic metre of helium and a 61-metre-long Airship. As Benscher is one of the key people in the world of airships across the globe, it made sense to pick his brains about airship technology in general and in particular its application for the logistics sector. Here is an excerpt from the conversation:
What would be the main advantage for using airships in logistics over other modes of transporting cargo?
When we talk about airships in logistics a major advantage is the ability to be able to take off and land without the need for an airstrip which is a potential game changer for delivering cargo to remote locations.
Is the ability to lift heavy cargo in an airship as simple as it appears to be?
Airships are deceptively complicated; their structure and physical attributes conceal some extraordinary complexities which must be considered. Most of the volume of the airship envelope consists of helium which is inert and therefore safe and the second lightest lifting gas which is available, hydrogen being the first with its inherent problems. Consequently, one has to consider the changes in atmospheric pressure that cause the helium to expand and contract. The envelope has a ballonet fitted in the front and rear of it. These ballonets enable air to be drawn within them and released from them to counter the expansion and contraction of helium.
A second but related issue, when considering cargo is how one compensates for the weight of the load that would be added and removed from the airship. These issues are simple to articulate but a solution for a commercially viable airship has taken huge investment and scientific innovation and endeavour to become a realisable possibility. Both Lockheed Martin and Hybrid Air Vehicles have made huge strides in this space and expect to have certified cargo airships operational within the next few years.
How do you see the airships industry developing in the Middle East?
Airships are coming to the region far sooner than many people think. One of our very own Skyship 600’s will be operational in the UAE in the second half of 2018 and will be operated by Skyship Services in conjunction with Airships Arabia. Initial use of airships in the Middle East will be focused around surveillance, tourism and advertising, but more importantly the operation will provide valuable airship experience to the Airships Arabia team and the regional certification authorities.
The hybrids are expected to be operating in the region by 2021 and will be suited to carrying high volumes of cargo. The initial Lockheed Martin model is forecast to have a payload of 20 tonnes and Airlander is working on a 12-tonne unit with future versions expected to carry 75 tonnes.
What do you think are the main obstacles the airships industry will need to overcome in this region?
The Skyship 600 is the largest twin engine certified non-rigid airship in the world today, by bringing this airship to the UAE with Airships Arabia now it is hoped that we will overcome any regulatory obstacles by familiarising the regional authorities with what we do. The current absence of specific regulations pertaining to airships is because there have never been manned airships in the Middle East. The Skyship had to undergo the same rigorous certification process as any twin-engine aircraft, and the cargo airships will have to comply with the same rigorous certification process. Once certification is achieved the remaining hurdles are to ensure that the airships and their operators follow local rules and regulations in much the same way as any certified aircraft and its operator that wishes to operate in the region.
How will airships compare in terms of time and cost versus cargo planes?
The time and cost resulting from the ability to operate to and from unprepared sites, including water, will be significant and is a game changer. They are also significantly more efficient in terms of cost to operate for example the Airlander 10 hybrid airship has a fuel burn rate of less than 500kg per flight hour, compared to say a 737 which burns 2,300kg of fuel per flight hour. Even the fuel per km comparison shows the Airlander 10 at less than quarter of the fuel burn of a 737.
For those who don’t already know can you explain the difference between conventional airships and hybrid airships?
Conventional airships such as the Skyship 600 only derive lift from the helium gas inside the envelope whereas hybrids derive lift from a combination of helium gas, forward motion generating lift from the hybrid airship’s lifting body hull shape and from vectored engine thrust.
The new Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs trucks launched in the Middle East and Africa in magnificent style
Mercedes-Benz is taking the legacy of premium heavy-duty trucks in the Middle East and Africa into the future
Spectacular regional launch and VIP Event with stunning light and laser show off the coast of Dubai
The all-new Actros: the reliable and efficient truck for long-distance and distribution haulage
The all-new Arocs: the reliable and robust truck for Construction & Off-Road applications
Mercedes-Benz Actros & Arocs coming with efficient in-line 6-cylinder engines, new aerodynamic cabs and latest generation Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission as standard
Wide portfolio of region-specific variants available, combinable with Service Contracts and Extended Warranty Packages
Extreme endurance testing of trucks with more than 6 Mio kilometers in the region prior to market launch
Stefan Buchner, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “Our Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs have proved that they can be relied on – as our customers do day in, day out, in many markets around the world. A truck has to help a customer do the best job possible. That is as true in the Middle East and Africa as anywhere else. We are now taking our latest Actros and Arocs models to those markets, with the aim of leveraging the momentum experienced across those regions.”
The regional launch of the new generation of heavy-duty trucks – the new Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs – was celebrated in an evening of extraordinary style in the sea, just off the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residences on 7th March, followed by a day of driving experience and engaging workshops. The event shone a spotlight on the efficiency, reliability, sophistication and design defining the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz Trucks launched in the Middle East and Africa.
Attended by more than 300 VIP customers and media from the Middle East and Africa, and hosted by Daimler’s Commercial Vehicles Regional Offices MENA and Africa based in Dubai, the dramatic reveal of the new models included a stunning off-shore light and laser show display in proximity to Dubai’s new iconic Ain Dubai Eye Ferris wheel.
Earlier in the day, media enjoyed an exclusive launch preview of the new models, exploring the trucks’ capabilities on Dubai’s Autodrome Racetrack – and off-road at a Desert Camp – and gaining additional insight from senior members of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks global team.
Commenting on the launch, Stefan Buchner, Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks globally said: “Our Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs have proved that they can be relied on – as our customers do day in, day out, in many markets around the world. A truck has to help a customer do the best job possible. And that is as true in the Middle East and Africa as anywhere. We are now taking our latest Actros and Arocs models to the markets there, with the aim of leveraging the momentum being experienced across these regions.”
New versions specifically developed for overseas markets
The all-new Actros and Arocs offer a further enhanced level of reliability, efficiency and robustness to the Mercedes-Benz Truck offering. Assembled at the world’s largest truck plant in Woerth, Germany, the trucks come in specifically developed variants for the Middle East and Africa – designed and built to withstand the harshest operating conditions.
Tested extensively around the world, on both surfaced roads and in the most challenging terrain, these vehicles are a perfect platform for heavy-duty applications. Testing included a total of more than 6 million kilometres of endurance runs performed by the Mercedes-Benz Trucks Testing Center based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Distinctive new cabs boast high material quality and perfect ergonomics, while operation is easy and comfortable. Both Actros and Arocs impress with their highly sophisticated and reliable single source drive train. New resilient, powerful and efficient engines are available in Euro III, IV and V emission norms, offering a wide range of power outputs from 240 kW (326 hp) up to 460 kW (625 hp). Combined with the latest generation of the Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated gearbox equipped as standard, the Actros and Arocs achieve highest levels of fuel-efficiency, contributing to the profitability of the fleet operators.
The all-new Actros is made for long-distance haulage as well as heavy-duty distribution haulage. It is available with up to 22 different cab variants and comes in steel or air-suspended versions. For tough operations, the Actros is available with a heavy-duty 15.6l engine and the 16-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated gearbox.
The impressive new Arocs is there for when exceptional robustness is required – be it on construction sites or away from surfaced roads. The extremely resilient Arocs can work under the toughest off-road conditions, far from any highway. The Arocs is available as Chassis-, Mixer-, Tipper- and all-wheel-drive variants – from 4×2 to 8×8 configurations with Gross Combination Weights (GCW) of up to 250 tons.
As a highlight, the new Actros and Arocs set a new benchmark when it comes to safety and assistance systems, supporting the driver and saving lives.
The most impressive safety feature is the optional available Active Brake Assist 4: this radar-based emergency braking system initiates maximum full-stop braking ahead of moving and stationary obstacles if necessary and can therefore save lives. It also warns the driver of any potential collision with pedestrians, triggering partial braking at the same time. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs models are available at Authorized General Distributors and Dealers across the Middle East and Africa from as of now.
Globe Express Services (GES) has announced its further expansion into Latin America with the opening of its new office in Peru recently as part of a strategic move to meet the growing demand for logistics services in the one of the region’s fastest growing economies. The opening of GES’ branch in Peru paves way for the company to pursue long-term plans in the region by leveraging on its cost-efficient express services which involves door-to-door services at highly competitive prices.
Strategically located in the commercial county area of Miraflores–20 km from the Port of Callao and 18 km from the Lima Airport–the new GES office offers convenient port and airport access while also serving as an operational hub in the Latin American region.
GES will be highlighting its logistics services at the new facility–marking stronger regional presence and an opportunity to sell the new territory. Liliana Portillo has been assigned as the office’s Operations Manager and she brings extensive experience in the industry, which includes customs brokerage and Foreign Trade.
GES sees its range of services will bring in a game-changing portfolio to Peru and the region’s logistics needs, which remains one of the key market challenges in the country bidding to become a hub in the Southern American region and serve as well the Asia Pacific rim markets.
Mustapha Kawam, President and CEO, GES, said: “It is a bold and strategic move for Globe Express Services to setup our office in Peru at this time and we are confident this is in line with our global expansion initiatives to conquer new markets. At the same time, it is an exciting opportunity as Peru economic expansion is highly visible and we see this to be growing even further in the future. We are in a strong position to provide end-to-end global supply chain solutions, highly competitive prices and global coverage capable of meeting Peru’s market needs.”
Peru is a vital economic gateway for business expansion across South America as the country experiences unprecedented progress in recent years with steady economic growth, low inflation and increasing integration to the world economy following export-driven and open market policies. The country’s economy has grown by an average of 6.4 per cent since 2002 and is seen to continue growing in the coming years, owing to its active role in consolidating free trade agreements with influential markets, which removed trade barriers and tariffs. Nearly 95 per cent of Peru’s exports are covered by FTAs, which makes it conducive for manufacturing and trade sectors to flourish.
“Peru proves to be a strong location for us, which is expected to help GES mark a strong presence in the West Coast area of South America while also giving us the advantage to drive in business opportunities from different countries of our offices with Peru. It will also definitely increase and strengthen our relations with several customers that have operations in Chile and in Peru–allowing us the ability to offer a combined set of solutions for all these operations,” concluded Kawam.
GES has established 67 corporate offices in 21 countries since the beginning of its operation in 1974.
- Smart Sensor Solutions zum Anfassen sind eines der Highlights, die SICK gemeinsam mit Siemens auf der diesjährigen Interpack präsentiert. Hierzu haben beide Unternehmen eine Verpackungsmaschine mit IO-Link-fähiger Sensor- und Steuerungstechnik ausgerüstet und die Durchgängigkeit vom Sensor in die SPS optimiert. Gezeigt wird, wie Smart Sensor Solutions zu einem deutlichen Mehr an Flexibilität, Zuverlässigkeit, Verfügbarkeit, Bedienerfreundlichkeit und Effizienz führen können bei gleichzeitiger Kostenoptimierung der einzelnen Prozesse in der Maschine.
Hands-on Smart Sensor Solutions are one of the highlights that SICK is jointly presenting with Siemens at this years Interpack. The two companies have equipped a packaging machine with IO-Link-enabled sensor and control technology, and optimized sensor consistency in the PLC. This will demonstrate how Smart Sensor Solutions can lead to considerably greater flexibility, reliability, availability, user-friendliness and efficiency whilst optimizing the costs of the individual machine processes.
2018 will be about continued chaos, disruption, change and transformation across supply chains and logistics providers among other developments warns Tom Craig, President, LTD Management, in this outline. Brace for turbulence in 2018. There will be snags, disturbances, interruptions and even confusion across the global supply chain and logistics platforms and industry as a whole. This year will also be marked by expansion and growth of e-commerce across international markets, industries and countries also in part because of the fluid geo-political situations. What does it means to supply chains and logistics?
Here are a few takeaways:
There will be a trend towards mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by retailers and manufacturers to support their supply chain capabilities, especially for e-commerce.
A new breed of service providers will emerge to meet the demands of the e-commerce supply chain.
M&A by logistics providers will fill the need for new capabilities and deal with new market realities.
Logistics providers, retailers, and manufacturers will increasingly be ‘Amazoned’
There will be even faster supply chain velocity demands—velocity square
New terminologies and nomenclatures are also emerging. Related developments include and I am going to enumerate these as follows:
Digitisation—the new normal
Blockchain
Cryptocurrency
Disintermediation (reduction in the use of intermediaries between producers and consumers)
Platform businesses
Artificial Intelligence and its underlying requirement for speed of responses
Internet of Things (IoT)
Data analytics
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Driverless vehicles
Robotics—warehouse and delivery
Drones
3D printing
Transforming supply chain for e-Commerce success—The What and How to Start
The essentials for the new Supply Chain that deliver e-commerce success in line with customer expectations are:
End to end (comprehensive)
Velocity (speed)
Order delivery
Inventory
Warehouse Network Alignment
Upstream Supply Chain
Technology
Integration of systems
Processes, especially internal
Metrics and quantifiables
Velocity—inventory
Perfect Order—includes order-delivery velocity
These above are among other parameters will be the defining forces for the new supply chain landscape
Some things to remember for transforming your supply chain–
Your current supply chain, with its design and operating issues, did not happen overnight. So, transforming will not happen overnight. There is no quick, easy answer. Avoid signs along the way that say e-fulfillment answers, last mile solutions and other optimistic terms. Watch out with the ‘low cost’ or cheap ideas, from both internal and external sources. They are part of the ‘easy answer’ cadre of providers and programmes that can take you down the wrong paths. Avoid ‘agile’ which is a code for trying to do more with your supply chain than it is designed to do.
How to start: Hint—remember it is about velocity
Assess, define, measure and identify gaps. For example, how well do you perform at delivering customer expectations? This will establish where you are and how you are doing. Know your segment products and suppliers. Know what is important, why and where. Use lean value stream mapping, especially for international supply chain and compress time.
Remember, this is about your end-to-end supply chain and not just the logistics components in the supply chain. So always stay focused.
-www.ltdmgmt.com. Tom Craig can be contacted on tomc@ltdmgmt.com
DP WORLD BUILDS ITS DIGITAL CAPABILITY THROUGH ORACLE CLOUD APPLICATIONS
Supporting growth of complementary businesses
Global trade enabler DP World has embarked on a programme to drive digital transformation across its business operations worldwide using Oracle Cloud Applications (SaaS).
The digital transformation programme supports the company’s strategy to develop complementary sectors in the global supply chain such as industrial parks, free zones and logistics to add value for all its stakeholders and the move supports its vision to become a digitised global trade enabler – employing cloud applications that can increase efficiency, create new services and support diversification.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Oracle Business Applications Senior Vice President (ECEMEA) Arun Khehar, signed today the agreement to develop a modern and integrated technology platform. Oracle’s Cloud applications will enable the standardisation of key core processes including finance, operations, procurement and human resources. As part of this new platform it will also incorporate technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet Of Things (IOT) and Block Chain, to deliver smarter operations and create intelligent logistics to benefit customers.
DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: “Our decision to partner with Oracle is driven by our vision for global connectivity through intelligent logistics, reducing costs and creating value for all our stakeholders. Innovative tech solutions are the way forward in the 21st century and we’re equipping ourselves with an effective platform to grow into new sectors where technology can maximise efficiencies and enable us to deliver transformational products and services. This is all part of our innovative culture that complements the smart initiative of Dubai and the example set by our leaders to expand our horizons in the digital world. We are continuing our leadership role in transforming global logistics through digitalisation.”
Oracle Business Applications Senior Vice President (ECEMEA) Arun Khehar, said: “We are extremely proud of DP World’s strategic decision to drive its large scale digital transformation on Oracle’s cloud solutions. We are confident that the deployment of this new digital core will bring the next level of business value and differentiation needed to help DP World achieve its growth goals.”
Tianjin Globe Express Services collaborates with V4 Advisors on Greenhouse Gas audit
GES continues pioneering implementation of sustainability practices in sector
Tianjin Globe Express Services (GES), a leading provider of supply chain solutions, recently collaborated with V4 Advisors DMCC, a consulting, advisory and project development company specializing in the environment, to conduct a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) audit at its Chinese facility. The initiative highlights GES’s commitment to regular GHG auditing and reporting from its facilities worldwide as part of its sustainability measures. The project successfully engaged the team in implementing and expanding on the company’s environmental strategy with an emphasis on GHG auditing and reporting. V4 Advisors commended GES’s efforts and commitments to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 13 which focuses on Climate Action.
Goal No 13 on Climate Action – one of the UN’s 17 SDGs, urges member states to take immediate action to tackle climate change and its impacts. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are driving climate change and continue to rise. The recent Greenhouse Gas audit conducted by GES as part of its ongoing efforts towards the achievement of sustainability goals aimed to monitor and reduce emissions and boost adaptive efforts to combat climate change. GES is among pioneering companies in implementing sustainability practices in the sector and strongly promotes eco-friendly behaviors and other conscious choices that help create a clean and safe environment to live and work.
Mustapha Kawam, President and CEO, Globe Express Services said: “GES regularly audits and reports emissions from its facilities worldwide and the practice has set us apart from our competitors in the industry. The recent GHG audit held as part of GES’s continuous efforts to enhance sustainability measures to combat the effects of climate change once again underscores our commitment to a sustainable future and to improving environmental quality for our community.”
“Constant monitoring and management of emissions play an important role in efforts to combat climate change. The recent audit conducted at GES’s Chinese facility was comprehensive and successfully engaged the team in enforcing and enhancing the company’s environmental strategy with emphasis on GHG auditing and reporting. GES’s level of commitment to such practices for achieving sustainability targets is laudable,” said Rawad Massoud, Managing Director, V4 Advisors.
Company’s advanced fleet management solution leverages AWS’s Roborunner services 
After Turkiye, Most Vaccines Were Carried to Brazil
Under this new leadership, SOHAR will continue to be one of the fastest-growing Port and Freezone complexes in the world. To date, the company has attracted close to US$ 30 billion in investments by serving diverse industries including metals, raw materials, and plastics to name a few. As a future-ready port capable of welcoming the world’s largest container vessels, SOHAR will take a leading role in achieving the national economic priorities within the Oman 2040 Vision.
Detailed information about TK LIVE, the product which has been developed specifically for live animal shipments by Turkish Cargo, can be found through the “products and services – special cargo” tab on its website, namely 
The Logitrans fair has hosted approximately 120 firms composed of the representatives of cargo agencies, automotive producers, air cargo firms, airport and harbor authorities, IT service providers, customs authorities, logistical associations, logistical schools, the representatives of international logistical publications, and over 10 thousand visitors. 
The global integrated logistics solutions provider, Asyad Group, in partnership with Hypermotion Dubai, the German-originated exhibition addressing the transformation and future of the transport, logistics and mobility sectors, is giving innovation-driven entrepreneurs a platform to shine and compete for a life-changing prize of US$50,000.
The pandemic has thrown much of the Supply Chain mechanism and ecosystem into disruption and disarray. That is a given. In a changing landscape resilience and flexibility are important attributes for supply chain professionals writes Tom Craig President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, a leading authority and professional consultant on logistics and supply chain management and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain—Editor.
EPG (Ehrhardt Partner Group) is establishing itself among the elite in the global logistics software sector with the news that it has been recognized in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant. The Germany-based global provider has been included in the Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) with its versatile and fully comprehensive EPG ONE™ Supply Chain Execution Suite – one of only a very small number of European providers listed in this segment.
The 
Girteka Logistics, one of Europe’s leading logistics companies, has decided to invest in no less than 2,000 of the latest generation 
Free Zones across the GCC are increasingly becoming magnets and star attractions for Investors, FDIs
A host of issues and developments—globalization, pandemic-related business disruptions, rapidly evolving customer expectations and the quick shift into e-commerce have reinforced the need for SME’s in the region to be more agile, accurate and economic in the way they handle intralogistics and order fulfillments. The immediate need therefore for efficient, automated warehouse and distribution solutions has never been so critical or dire.
Brian Cartwright, Client Partner, Supply Chain and Logistics for Pedersen & Partners, and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain, meets exclusively with Hussein Wehbe, CEO, Fetchr to discuss a wide spectrum of issues from the current state of his company’s business, priorities, his vision for the future and how technology is altering and eforming the industry landscape.
Kazan Helicopters of the Russian Helicopters holding company (part of Rostec State Corporation) has received positive qualification of Ansat helicopter training simulator’s compatibility to international standards. The evaluation was carried out by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after N.E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI).
A strong international unity was emerging at the ICAO Council meeting that took place on Thursday 09 April 2020. The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) along with high-level representatives from ACI, CANSO, ICCAIA and IATA
“Drivers who handle their truck safely and efficiently are an invaluable asset to any transport company. Responsible driving behaviour can help reduce CO2 emissions and fuel costs, as well as helping reduce the risk of accidents, injury and unplanned downtime. Our new trucks will help drivers work even more safely and productively and give our customers stronger arguments when competing to attract the best drivers,” continues Roger Alm.
The renewable materials company, Stora Enso tests autonomous trucks – the Nokian Tyres Intuitu solution makes sure the tires perform their best at all times
UD Trucks continues its growth journey of growth across the Middle East and East Africa region in 2019
New low profile, all-weather tires – Nokian Hakka Truck tire family expands to 60-series
Tristar Group joins the Middle East Gases Association (MEGA) to help promote safety and environmental care 
New dans training facility to offer a diverse range of courses to address technical, operational and theoretical matters in air traffic management 
Completing the gradual transition process to Istanbul Airport, one of the largest airports of the world, the global air cargo brand Turkish Cargo maintains its dual-terminal operations with full capacity on 7/24 basis without any sales restriction.
The increasing Renault Trucks market share; with the reveal of new Renault Trucks ranges D,C, and K
Middle East’s primary manufacturer of prefabricated steel structures produces up to eight different Cold Rolled Steel profiles in its plants in the region
With the participation of many international Airlines, aviation companies & governmental firms, Saudi Airlines Cargo Company participated under the umbrella of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) alongside the other subsidiaries in the first Saudi International Airshow, taking place in Al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh, during the period March 12-14, 2019.
Vision 2030 to transform the economy, shipping and logistics sectors of the country under ambitious new platform
DP World, UAE Region was awarded the prestigious Port Operator award at this year’s Lloyd’s List South Asia, Middle East & Africa Awards ceremony that was held at the Palazzo Versace Hotel in Dubai. Shahab Al Jassmi, Commercial Director, Ports & Terminals of DP World, UAE Region received the award on behalf of the global trade enabler.
Swisslog a global leader in robotic, data-driven and flexible automated solutions.
Saudi Airlines Cargo Company has signed an agreement with Gallup Inc., the global management consulting company, for developing Saudia Cargo employee performance and studying its employee trends and performance levels. The agreement comes in line with the company’s Strategy 2020.
Innovative tech solutions are the way forward in this age of the Technological Revolution
The MSC fleet upload occurs as BoxTech, the non-profit global container database operated by the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) approaches its two-year anniversary. MSC joins other leading global carriers, such as CMA-CGM and Maersk Line, in adopting the BoxTech solution in their businesses. Hundreds of other container owners and operators are also utilising the platform, including two of the top four container leasing companies.
ture across 200 of the airline’s offices located in 100 cities and airports in 60 countries.
ADNOC Logistics and Services, the shipping and services arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has signed a contract with Borouge, a leading provider of value creating plastics solutions, to handle its Ruwais container terminal operations.
Tianjin Globe Express Services (GES), a leading provider of supply chain solutions, recently collaborated with V4 Advisors DMCC, a consulting, advisory and project development company specializing in the environment, to conduct a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) audit at its Chinese facility. The initiative highlights GES’s commitment to regular GHG auditing and reporting from its facilities worldwide as part of its sustainability measures. The project successfully engaged the team in implementing and expanding on the company’s environmental strategy with an emphasis on GHG auditing and reporting. V4 Advisors commended GES’s efforts and commitments to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 13 which focuses on Climate Action.