Now part of the AD Ports Group, there is no looking back for the long-established logistics services provider.
With a complete line-up of AWD and PWD versions and the the 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, the IVECO T-WAY features a host of functionalities such as Rocking Mode, Off-road Mode, Creeping Mode and 4 reverse gears to tackle with ease the toughest off-road conditions. The new architecture of the EBS system, combined with disc brakes on all wheels, greatly improves the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s safety in the most demanding applications.
The new IVECO S-WAY, with a completely redesigned and reinforced cab, offers a wide choice of Euro III/V diesel engines, a delivering class-leading power from 360 HP to 560 HP Euro III / 570 HP Euro V and superior fuel-saving devices, such as anti-idling feature, Ecoswitch, Ecoroll and Smart Alternator. 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated transmission with the most advanced technology in its category, electronic clutch and best-in-class torque-to-weight ratio.
SIGNATURE MEDIA FZ LLE
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Email: info@signaturemediame.com
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P.O. Box 49784, Dubai, UAE
Publisher: Jason Verhoven jason@signaturemediame.com
Editor: Malcolm Dias malcolm@signaturemediame.com
Art Director: Johnson Machado johnson@signaturemediame.com
Production Manager: Roy Varghese roy@signaturemediame.com
The current March 2023 edition of Global Supply Chain you are holding or reading the digital edition marks a defining moment, a major milestone as we commemorate our turning point 100th Edition!
The first edition of Global Supply Chain was published in February 2014 and there has been no looking back since. It was the vision of our Founder-Publisher Jason Verhoven to become the premier niche media publication and portal encapsulating developments in the industry, keeping our burgeoning readership constantly updated, highlighting accomplishments and a total commitment to representing, serving and promoting the interests of the proliferating logistics and supply chain businesses and the community in the Middle East.
To this end I would like to congratulate our Publisher for his foresight and the team at Global Supply Chain for bringing those ideas to fruition and making our publication a formidable name in the industry. We have since matured and come a long way since our inception nine years ago and our growth story continues.
Printed by United Printing Press (UPP) – Abu Dhabi
Distributed by Tawseel Distribution & Logistics – Dubai
Very importantly, we would also like to thank profusely and express our deep appreciation to our advertisers, our corporate clients and other stakeholders in the business. Above all, for the providential blessings from the Almighty we have and continue to receive. This edition is densely packed with stimulating editorial content.
The Cover Feature for this issue is MICCO, and by extension the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, the pivotal vertically integrated logistics services provider. The company has come a long way since it was founded in 1978. We conducted an exclusive one-on-one interview with Clifford D’Souza, Executive Vice President & COO, MICCO Logistics, Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports Group (ADPG), on the sidelines of the just concluded Breakbulk Middle East 2023.
Elsewhere, we also highlight MedSupply-International SOS in another exclusive, expansive interview with Guillaume Akbaraly, Operations Director, MedSupply Government Services, International SOS, specialists in healthcare and medical logistics and supply chain operations, based in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA).
We also spoke exclusively to Karel Kucera, Managing Director, Continental Middle East on the German tyre giant’s performance in the region.
Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by them for errors or omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Signature Media FZ LLE & SIGNATURE MEDIA LLC and cannot be reproduced in any
One highlight of this edition is the inclusion of a series of one-page reports on some of the latest highlights and critical developments in the regional logistics and supply chain landscape.
Add to this our regular repertoire of the latest news, topical features, profiles, business analyses, OpEds and useful content all of which are well encapsulated and curated to make for stimulating reading!
Happy reading!
Malcolm Dias Editor, malcolm@signaturemediame.com06 MICCO This ADPG company provides total freight forwarding solutions.
12 Qatar Airways Cargo Carrier partners with iNOMAD, an all-in-one air cargo platform.
14 Five Oceans Ship Repairing & Maritime Services Long established Sharjah shipyard to provide key maritime services.
16 OpEd Supply chains: A critical need in real estate industry— Sobha Realty.
17 Starlinks Launches US$ 26.65mn hybrid logistics facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
18 Etihad Cargo Flies high surpassing operational performance targets in 2022.
20 Al Tayer Motors -Ford Trucks Agency inaugurates the first Ford Trucks 3S facility in Dubai.
22 MedSupplyInternational SOS
Providing healthcare logistics with a human touch.
27 DHL-Audi Partnership
Audi Volkswagen Middle East announces collaboration with DHL.
28 SAP-Al Futtaim Deal Group partners with SAP to enable complete digital transformation.
30 Continental Middle East
Continental Tyres on a roll in the region.
36 JAFZA-Food Security
JAFZA facilitates over a fifth of Dubai’s F&B trade value.
38 GWC News Roundup.
39 Saudia Cargo
Carrier awards multi-station contract to Worldwide Flight Services.
40 Savoye ME
Partners with New East General Trading.
42 Pace Spedition
The 3PL Services Provider’s Aerospace Division is its distinguishing feature.
44 Emirates SAF
Carrier operates demonstration flight powered with 100% SAF.
46 News
Up to date news of the Global Suppy Chain industry
57AquaChemie
Expands JAFZA operations.
58 LEAP 2023 Riyadh
Post event review.
59 KEZAD-Food Hub
Enhancing UAE Vision for Food Security via largest integrated hub.
60 FAMCO-Eicher
Introduces new generation commercial trucks.
The Company’s growth has been meteoric following its acquisition by the AD Ports Group (ADPG) in 2020
MICCO was positioned well to be part of Abu Dhabi’s growth story, and it can be safely asserted that MICCO’s DNA and imprint can be found within the development of the wider Emirate.
MICCO was founded in 1978 in Abu Dhabi and boasts a rich corporate legacy. Coincidentally, it came into existence at a time when the Emirate, with its rich history of trade with its hinterland, the wider Middle East and the subcontinent, was expanding into oil exploration by building plants, refineries and other vital infrastructure.
MICCO has witnessed the wave of growth within this sector early on and spent the initial years exploring opportunities and capturing them as they came available. Additionally, MICCO was also involved in the development of the city itself as more people moved in, supporting the construction of civic infrastructure, including water pipelines that supported the burgeoning construction boom that took place over the next number of decades.
MICCO’s founding fathers had a great vision for the company, and they prudently reinvested back in the company, purchasing assets, attracting people, building offices, and investing in technology.
MICCO was positioned well to be part of Abu Dhabi’s growth story, and it can be safely asserted that MICCO’s DNA and imprint can be found within the development of the city and the wider Emirate.
Global Supply Chain exclusively interviewed CLIFFORD D’SOUZA, Executive Vice President & COO, MICCO Logistics, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group (ADPG), a 35-year company veteran, on the sidelines of the just concluded Breakbulk Middle East 2023 where the Group participated for a number of consecutive years.
The following are transcripts of that expansive interview that covered a wide range of subjects.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): Briefly share your thoughts as you review your track record and legacy over the past four and half decades?
Clifford D’Souza (CD): As we look back over the past 45 years, our growth as a company has been astonishing. This has been especially the case over the past 10 years where we have seen growth multiple times backed by business diversification, asset development, and most importantly, having talented people joining our ranks.
The growth has allowed us to develop a highly integrated value chain of logistics services that puts us not only in a leading position in Abu Dhabi, but also in a highly competitive position in the broader UAE and
ADNOC has been, and continues to be, one of the major catalysts for our business and as it develops new subsidiaries and large-scale projects and developments, especially those in the oil & gas, industrial, petrochemical, and sustainable energy sectors, MICCO will be there to support ADNOC and be an enabling part of that story of growth and success.
The leadership of the UAE has a very clear vision and direction for the country, and we will continue aligning ourselves with that vision as we have done throughout our history and be ready for the opportunities that the future brings.
GSC: Currently, MICCO is part of the AD Ports Group. Walk us through MICCO’s acquisition and its equation with ADPG. CD: 2016 was a major turning point for our organisation as it was a year when the company landed a 4PL contract with Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) which was managing the Borouge operations at Khalifa Port.
It was a personal milestone for me as there was significant personal involvement on my part, with support of our entire organisation, in securing this landmark deal.
Upon securing the contract with ADT, which opened up a new industry sector for us, MICCO’s prominence within the market rose further due to the sheer scale of the contract scope.
The transition to the new line of business was not without its challenges, but it allowed us to grow into one of the biggest 4PL service providers in Abu Dhabi. AD Ports Group was keen on developing the logistics side of their service portfolio and in 2020, made the decision to acquire MICCO thanks to our position as the leading private company within Abu Dhabi’s logistics supply chain ecosystem, whose reputation was further elevated with the award of the biggest 4PL contract in the UAE.
GSC: What does MICCO bring to AD Ports Group, and conversely, what does to be part of the AD Ports Group family mean for MICCO?
CD: Bringing MICCO into the AD Ports Group’s family was a strategic move as it allowed the Group to extend its capabilities into the area of logistics and becoming an integrated end-to-end supply chain logistics provider.
In addition, the Group was acquiring a successful organisation with strong business fundamentals, backed by our work with ADNOC, Etihad and large industrial players, strong asset portfolio and excellent brand name and market reputation.
Conversely, being part of the broader AD Ports Group family meant for MICCO that continued growth was assured.
Prior to being acquired, MICCO was a 100% private organisation, which meant that the speed of its organic growth was limited by the inherent scalability of private business. However, as we transitioned into the larger Group, the boundaries of MICCO’s growth have broadened significantly.
GSC: To what do you attribute the growth of MICCO to its current position as a leading provider of 4PL services?
CD: The number one attribute of MICCO’s growth have been its people, both leadership and operational teams alike.
I have been in management roles in this company for a number of decades and one of our major successes has been the retention of highly talented and qualified people within our organisation.
The fact that there are numerous team
members who have been with us for the long term, is a testament that our people believe in our organisation and our mission – as ultimately, it is people that make companies, rather than the other way around.
Our second greatest asset has been our reputation, which was developed from
recognition among companies that may have not engaged with us before.
Ultimately, we feel that letting our services speak for themselves and staying one step ahead is the most effective form of marketing.
GSC: What is the range and scope of services offered by MICCO as an integrated Logistics Services Provider?
CD: Our scope extends into offering complete logistics supply chain services, which includes, freight forwarding, warehousing, commercial logistics, road feeder services and surface transport, land, sea and air chartering, distribution logistics, port services, and manpower services.
our time in serving the market and having customers experience the quality of our services. Our reputation, in turn, created a trusted brand within our marketspace, which allowed us to attract new customers and grow our business.
An example of this is MICCO becoming the logistics partner of ADNEC and having the opportunity to handle such global exhibitions like IDEX 2023. This opportunity has allowed us to not only extend our capabilities into event logistics, but also broaden our awareness and brand
We offer 3PL services where we have our own facilities from where we manage cargo storage, distribution and inventory management, and 4PL services where we manage our clients’ assets with our own manpower and equipment.
Our services are backed by an advanced fleet of over 400 vehicles and a team of over 1500 logistics professionals, which move 4.9 million tonnes of goods across 42.7 million kilometres each year, thanks to a network of renowned global partners.
Unlike a vendor that provides a good or a product, logistics is essentially a service offering that is delivered by a combination of technical processes run by well-trained and motivated teams of specialized professionals.
In 2016, the company landed a 4PL contract with Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) which was managing the Borouge operations at Khalifa Port.
GSC: What industrial sectors does MICCO cover for its clientele?
CD: The sectors that we serve include Project Logistics, Industrials, Oil and Gas (Energy), Polymers, Healthcare, Food & Beverage, FMCG, port services, automotive, aviation, and now exhibitions as well. Just to give you a sense of scale of our industrial involvement, over the past four decades, we have handled contracts with leading EPC contractors for over a majority of projects in oil and gas, petrochemical, and heavy industries, and our team has handled some of the largest and heaviest modules and columns within the UAE as part of our project freight contracting services.
GSC: Talk to us about MICCO’s recent entry into event logistics by becoming a preferred logistics provider for ADNEC (and managing logistics for the IDEX2023 exhibitions)?
CD: Being the logistics partner of ADNEC in supporting IDEX2023 is exciting for MICCO as it is not only the first IDEX for our company, but is also the largest IDEX in its history.
With that in mind, success of such large scale exhibitions is down to making sure that
you have sufficient, efficient and right people in place to complete specific logistical tasks within a very narrow time window. Typically, cargo begins arriving within about a week to ten days in advance of the exhibition and it does so in very large quantities.
Therefore, having the necessary structure, equipment and manpower at various entry points across the country, with complete knowledge of entry protocols and capability to engage with multitude of exhibitors, regulators and important stakeholders is crucial to helping deliver a successful event.
Just to illustrate a point, we handled over 600 shipments within a week, which requires our team to work around the clock to make sure that we are doing our part to make IDEX2023 a resounding success that it has been.
GSC: How is MICCO supporting Abu Dhabi’s growth as a regional food hub by providing operations and logistics services for KLP21, AD Ports Group’s recently announced strategic Food Storage Centre located in KEZAD?
CD: In line with the Group’s diversification strategy, AD Ports Group’s Logistics Cluster, along with the EC &FZ Cluster,
recently launched the new advanced food warehousing centre, KEZAD Logistics Park 21 (KLP21).
Comprising four warehouses with over 80,000sqm of space and 100,000 pallets capacity, KLP21 is one of the largest and most advanced temperaturecontrolled logistics centres in the region designed to support the 3.3sqkm Abu Dhabi Food Hub.
The Logistics Cluster will operate one of the centre’s four 20,000sqm warehouses, which incorporates six multi-temperature chambers capable of accommodating 45,000 pallets at storage temperatures between -26°C to 25°C.
“The facility supports Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a global food trading and logistics hub, and MICCO is looking forward to supporting the operations at the facility and leveraging our diverse fleet assets to serve the needs of its clients”.
GSC: How did MICCO perform in 2022 and what is the outlook for 2023 going forward?
CD: 2022 was a great year for MICCO in terms of top-line growth. 2023 is looking very encouraging and we believe that it will beat expectations.
Our team has handled some of the largest and heaviest modules and columns within the UAE as part of our project freight contracting services.
Considering the health of our business and the general development within the sectors and markets that we serve, we are very optimistic about our performance looking forward.
With the expansion of the Etihad Rail project, there is a transformation in progress in terms of how transportation will be delivered within our region. We look forward to being part of that transformation as the growth of rail will lead to the creation of transport hubs, allowing rail to assume the role of long-haul transport, while trucking can focus on the last leg of the supply chain.
The project is good both for business due to increased volumes, and for environmental sustainability as it will rationalise the role of trucking. Furthermore, there will be a number of landmark projects in the Ruwais area which will be very positive for the market for years to come.
GSC: How would you characterize your participation in the recently concluded Breakbulk 2023? What did you highlight there?
CD: Breakbulk 2023 was a great success and was the largest of its kind to date. We have been participating at every Breakbulk thus far, and I was really encouraged to see people from our own industry participating in the event and a lot of customers coming to the event as well.
The fact that a lot of customers, be it suppliers, manufacturers or EPC companies, were present is an indication that they are looking at logistics as a significant part of their value chain and a major cost component as well, both of which they need to get right in order to deliver effective services to their own customers.
Unlike in the past, most of our large customers today have logistics departments that are staffed with logistics professionals that understand our industry very well.
I have seen many of my logistics industry colleagues start working for our customers. This has been a welcome development as from our point of view, having an educated customer helps make our industry better.
GSC: Tell us about MICCO’s CSR priorities (Corporate Social Responsibilities)?
CD: We take CSR very seriously at MICCO, and over the course of 2022, we have
maintained our efforts to both reduce our carbon footprint and maintenance costs by continuously refreshing our 400+ transport fleet with newer and more efficient models of trucks from all major manufacturers.
We are also exploring at the idea of bringing in EV units as well, once the technology matures, our customers become more comfortable with absorbing the additional costs, and as the regulatory environment develops.
As a matter of fact, we will be testing an electric truck from a major manufacturer next month to see how well it performs, and we are one of few freight forwarders in our market that is exploring this technology at the moment. Furthermore, we are testing the use of advanced fuel additives on a trial basis, which has shown to improve fuel efficiency of our fleet by up to 30%, and have introduced telematics for fleet management, which drives the fleet’s effectiveness by monitoring fuel consumption and drivers’ habits, while optimising delivery routes.
GSC: What are your growth plans for the short- and long-term futures?
CD: As our business grows in light of the large industrial projects that will be taking place in Abu Dhabi over the near and long
term, we will continue to attract new talent to MICCO as having the right manpower is very important to the sustained growth of our business.
Having the right talents in place will allow our management to focus on developing and diversifying our infrastructure, including warehousing and trucking, and service offerings in order to take advantage of opportunities as they come.
The sectors that we believe will see significant growth include oil and gas, and non-oil industrials, food, FMCG, and pharmaceuticals.
GSC: What is your vision for MICCO on your watch? Where do you hope to steer the company?
CD: As AD Ports Group’s leadership has already said, the goal of the Group is to become a Top-10 global logistics provider by establishing a significant presence in all major global markets.
While MICCO’s main focus will remain local and regional, we expect that our brand recognition, along with our business, will grow as the Group continues to expand its scope and global reach.
We are excited for what the future brings and as our motto says, we will continue to focus on remaining one step ahead.
With this partnership, customers in South Korea will have enhanced visibility of rates and capacity
The world’s leading air cargo carrier has partnered with iNOMAD, a Korea-based cutting-edge air cargo platform.
Qatar Airways Cargo’s partnership with iNOMAD will enable better connectivity for one of the airline’s major customers in South Korea, Woojung Air and 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, the carrier revealed in a press communique.
Woojung Air is a prominent consolidator in South Korea and one of the top customers of Qatar Airways Cargo.
“Digital transformation is high on our agenda as part of our Vision 2027 and Next Generation Strategy. The integration and partnership with iNOMAD bring 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,” observed Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo, Qatar Airways.
“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,” stressed Joon-suk Yim, CEO, iNOMAD.
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 programme 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 is now expecting the opening of a logistics centre of 20,000sqm in September 2023 as an air cargo platform terminal in Seoul’s 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 centre 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.
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, the press statement concluded.
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Long-established Five Oceans Ship Repairing & Marine is committed to meeting the technical needs for reliable and timely ship repairs and operations.
Five Oceans Ship Repairing & Marine Services is a pioneering ship repairs company founded in the Emirate of Sharjah in 1979 by OP Malik, a marine engineer turned entrepreneur to serve the dire and growing needs of merchant and container ships.
According to Malik, there are three subsidiary companies within the wider Group all catering to specific functions. The flagship company is dedicated to the demands of ship repairs and various needs of the shipping companies, whether it is steel renewal, engine room overhaul or fixing deck machinery while afloat and during the voyage.
The second associate company caters to the industrial needs of the region from manufacturing and production for various construction companies.
The third associate company is housed
one of the biggest industrial complexes with all kinds of machineries of latest types such as the reconditioning of the main engines and auxiliary engines, exhaust valves by plasma transferred ARC Process. Submerged arc welding, ID welding and other technical processes capabilities.
Five Oceans Ship Repairing & Repairs complies with the criteria, requirements and approvals of multiple classification bodies and regulators including the American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Lloyds Register of Shipping and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai among others.
Furthermore, according to Devrish Malik, Director of Operations and Marketing, another entity, an electrical workshop is fully equipped from rewinding of a small solenoid coil to the rewinding of generator up to 1500 KW capacity DC and AC motors of all types are rewound in shortest possible
time with high class of insulation. The motors are flash tested after rewinding. Additionally, a structural Workshop caters for all type of fabrication on offshore, industrial and steel renewal of the vessel. This company also carried out tank cleaning with all latest equipment and gadgets. The company is fully insured against oil pollution in accordance with the MARPOL (The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Convention. The company has also built large tanks for water, sludge and oil products and crude oil.
The company also provides sailing squads for various repairs on board in any part of the world as to ensure no loss of voyage time for the vessels.
Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with OP Malik, Technical Director, Marine Engineer and Founder, Five Oceans Ship Repairing and Marine Services,
on a wide range of subjects. The following are the transcripts of that interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): You had a long-established career at Shipping Corporation of India when in 1978, you chose to change tack and turn entrepreneur. Fill us in on what happened thereafter?
OP Malik (OPM): In early 1978 I came from Mumbai where I worked with Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to the UAE for a ship repair job in Sharjah Port. At that time the Sharjah Port had just been commissioned.
I was keen for SCI to open office in Sharjah as they had then bought big ships which would eventually need repairs. Though SCI was interested in opening an office in Sharjah and commencing operations, they wanted complete ownership, which under the regulations in 1978 was not the case.
I saw an opportunity here for myself to have my own firm and SCI could send their ships to me for repairs. I was confident I had the experience and was at the right age to start something of my own.
GSC: What prompted you to found Five Oceans Ship Repairing Company?
OPM: Whilst in the UAE I also 1978 saw the use of modern technology in cranes operations and streamlines business
regulations and less bureaucratic processes. One great advantage at that time was that ships could be completely repaired quickly alongside berthing. I knew then I just had to take the initiative and start my own.
GSC: Why did you pick on the Emirate of Sharjah as the base of your operations?
OPM: Sharjah Port had employees with whom I was acquainted with and just felt more comfortable. The working environment was good.
GSC: What is the scope of the services offered by Five Oceans Ship Repair Company?
OPM: The services we offer are expansive and comprehensive. These include ship surveys and the handling of hull and machinery repair, navigational repair, radio equipment repairs and a whole gamut of other associated and related functions.
GSC: How did you perform in 2022 and what is your outlook going forward in 2023?
OPM: The year 2022 was good and we had adequate business. Going by current trends, 2023 looks promising.
GSC: What are the challenges and opportunities for your business prospects as you look ahead?
OPM: There are opportunities as the market
is experiencing growth and country is very business friendly. Every new technology is embraced easily here. The big challenges are payment retrievals, intense competition, and a lack of skilled workers.
GSC: What are your expansion plans for the UAE and the wider GCC for the foreseeable future?
OPM: We are very positive about organic expansion in the UAE and externally possibly Saudi Arabia.
GSC: Highlights some your key accomplishments such as during the IranIraq tanker wars and the Kuwait invasion.
OPM: During the Iran-Iraq tanker war, the resources in Iran were limited and war-hit ships would be repaired minimally for sea worthiness after which it would be sent to UAE for complete and over-all repairs.
During the Kuwait invasion, Passenger ships heading to the country had to be modified to increase accommodation as they were used to transport expatriate workers stuck in this Gulf state.
GSC: What are the USPs and distinctive competitive edge and advantages for Five Oceans Ship Repair Company?
OPM: We are one of the pioneer companies that continues to have a firm footing in the UAE. Adaptation is the key to success, and we embrace change and new technologies.
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 opines Francis Alfred, Managing Director, Sobha Realty in this contribution for Global Supply Chain.
Astrong 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.
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.
Located in Agility Logistics Park in the heart of Riyadh’s Sulay Industrial Zone and adding to Starlinks’ 18 fulfillment centres across the Kingdom, the newly established 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 industryleading know-how, the solution will provide market-leading flexibility, accuracy and agility. The facility will be fully operational by Q2-2023.
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.
“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.
“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 codeliver a world-class efficiency manual picking operation, thereby leading to an unrivalled solution for e-commerce fulfilment, a press communique concluded.
The carrier surpassed its 85 per cent DAP target, achieving 86.6 percent
Etihad Cargo exceeded its operational performance targets in 2022.
The carrier achieved 80.5 per cent on-time-performance (OTP) for freighter departures and 84.1 per cent OTP for freighter arrivals, ahead of its 80 per cent target.
The carrier has also maintained a delivered-as-promised (DAP) rate of 86.6 per cent, a 2.6 per cent improvement compared to the previous year and over its target of 85 per cent, according to a press statement issued by the carrier.
“Exceeding OTP and DAP targets, which measure the carrier’s ability to deliver cargo at the agreed time and the punctuality of its freighter fleet against schedule, demonstrates Etihad Cargo’s strong commitment to reliability, building
trust and being the air cargo partner of choice,” remarked Martin Drew, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.
2022 saw Etihad Cargo retire the last of its aircraft reconfigured to carry cargo-incabin. While a surge in passenger demand impacted capacity, Etihad Cargo maintained a strong belly-to-freighter load factor, recording a 58 per cent belly and 42 per cent freighter load mix at the end of 2022. The carrier has also achieved a load factor of 91 per cent and a freighter utilisation rate of 14.3 hours.
Etihad Cargo has also achieved growth across a number of its eight-strong premium products. The carrier’s award-
winning PharmaLife product, which is dedicated to the safe and reliable transportation of pharmaceuticals and life science products, has achieved continuous growth despite a decrease in the movement of Covid-19 vaccines.
Etihad Cargo achieved IATA CEIV Pharma recertification in 2022, demonstrating the carrier’s full compliance with specific pharmaceutical regulations in terms of Good Distribution Practices (GDP), a quality system for warehouses and distribution centres dedicated to medicines.
To further strengthen connections between Abu Dhabi and the rest of the world, Etihad Cargo has developed over 1,330 IATA CEIV Pharma and GDP-certified trade lanes,
which ensure the integrity of products during transportation.
The carrier also moved 6 per cent more horses via its SkyStables product in 2022 compared to the previous year. Contributing to this increase was a six-month peak season for east-to-west and then west-toeast travel to coincide with major equine events and the horse-racing season.
The expansion of Etihad Cargo’s global network was a priority for the carrier in 2022. The airline offered additional cargo capacity with the introduction of new routes and increased frequencies.
Etihad Cargo’s customers have benefited from increased belly capacity on widebody passenger flights to key destinations.
Carrier will offer additional cargo capacity to the continent via Copenhagen and Düsseldorf
Etihad Cargo will offer increased capacity to the European market via two new gateways with the introduction of two new routes from its Abu Dhabi hub to Copenhagen in Denmark and Düsseldorf in Germany. The carrier will also introduce additional services to Frankfurt.
The carrier currently operates seven passenger and four freighter flights per week to Frankfurt. From 1 May 2023, Etihad Cargo will increase weekly flights from eleven to 15 with the introduction of four new services, the carrier said in a press statement.
From 1 October 2023, Etihad Cargo will provide cargo capacity out of Denmark with the introduction of four weekly flights. The reinstatement of three weekly flights to Düsseldorf, in combination with
the airline’s widebody passenger and freighter flights to Frankfurt and Munich, will offer additional cargo capacity out of Germany. The flights will be operated via state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
“Via Etihad Cargo’s IATA CEIV Pharmacertified product, PharmaLife, the carrier will provide the reliable and robust transportation of Denmark’s packaged medicaments to markets around the world,” remarked Martin Drew, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Airways.
“The relaunch of flights to Düsseldorf and additional flights to Frankfurt will further expand the carrier’s operational footprint in Germany, reinforcing Etihad Cargo’s commitment to the European market,” he added.
Etihad Cargo has built depth into its network and operates services to 68 destinations around the world. Via its expansive road feeder services network, the carrier further connects 132 origin stations with 290 destination stations across the UAE, GCC, Europe, North America, Japan, India and Australia via a fleet of over 30,000 trucks. The carrier also reinforced its
commitment to customer service excellence in 2022, launching a new CRM system for its Customer Contact Centre to empower customer service agents with more customer-focused data.
Another core focus for Etihad Cargo during 2022 was sustainability, and the carrier launched several initiatives and programmes that will help its customers meet their sustainability targets and benefit the wider air cargo industry.
For example, Etihad Cargo partnered with IATA to co-develop and trial a cargo-specific carbon dioxide emission calculation tool, which will provide a valuable proof of concept for the cargo component of the IATA CO2 Connect carbon calculator. Etihad Cargo was also the first middle eastern carrier to join TIACA’s BlueSky sustainability verification programme.
This new facility is a significant investment in increasing operational efficiencies
Al Tayer Motors, the UAE’s official Ford Trucks importer-dealer, recently opened the first 3S, Sales, Service, and Spare Parts facility, for the brand in Dubai Investments Park, in the heart of the city’s transport and logistics hub.
more environmentally friendly operation.
“This new facility built for Ford Trucks is an important milestone and a significant investment in increasing operational efficiencies, with the Jebel Ali Port and the Al Maktoum International Airport in close proximity,” affirmed Bahattin Topçu, Managing Director Middle East & Africa, Ford Trucks.
“We are crowning our collaboration with Al Tayer Motors with this beautiful facility, which will enable us to provide highquality service to our valued customers. The opening of this new facility will be a milestone for us in the United Arab Emirates market, contributing to our regional presence,” stated Dave Johnston, Deputy General Manager, Ford Otosan.
The new sprawling 2700sqm facility exclusively dedicated to Ford Trucks includes a showroom with a twotruck display, a service area that includes a customer lounge, and a fully operational service center with six work bays. The facility is staffed with trained and experienced sales and service personnel to help customers with all their requirements.
“Our Ford Trucks business continues to grow, and we now have a strategically located all-new facility with service as well as sales operations and more, making it very convenient for our customers. It will help
to reduce downtime, increase operational efficiencies of their businesses, and help us to connect better with them,” asserted Ashok Khanna, CEO, Al Tayer Motors.
The Ford Trucks facility has been designed with an energy-saving Building Management System (BMS) to control the lighting, air conditioning, and natural skylights – to create a great working space for our customers and teams while reducing its carbon footprint. All oil filters and waste in the facility are recycled contributing to a
Senior members of the Al Tayer family and other senior officials from al Tayer Motors were present at the opening ceremony. Customers at the launch ceremony represented various industry segments including construction, waste management, transportation, cargo, and logistics displayed their vehicles at the event.
Al Tayer Motors signed the Ford Trucks brand in 2014 and has since successfully established and grown its market share in the UAE’s heavy commercial vehicles sector. The dealership retails the full range of commercial vehicles in the UAE including the awardwinning Ford Trucks F-MAX, Construction series, and Tractors & Road series.
Al Tayer Motors was established in 1982 and represents major European, American, and Chinese automobile manufacturers Ford, Ford Trucks, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Ferrari, and Foton across the UAE.
MedSupply International services are aimed at providing end to end medical and pharmaceutical solutions globally
MedSupply International serves as the business capability of the International SOS and is a leading provider of medical supplies. With more than three decades of experience and worldwide delivery capabilities, the company is uniquely positioned to provide its customers with high quality supplies and equipment.
Through its comprehensive global healthcare network, astringent quality assurance system and highly skilled logistics team, the company assists its partners in providing access to essential medicines, medical goods, and health programmes worldwide.
The right medical supplies, in the right place, at the right time’ in the medical and pharmaceutical services arena is the corporate motto at International SOS. The company operates globally alongside its clients and partners in the most challenging and remote environments.
Therefore, having a reliable and predictable medical supply chain in place across the range of functions such as acquisition, assembly and storage, distribution and through life support is a fundamental pre-requisite to delivering effective care on a consistent basis in these environments.
International SOS, established in 1985, is a leading provider of both medical supplies and services globally. It serve more than 500 national governments, INGOs and NGOs globally, all of whom operate within diverse and complex environments. MedSupply International is their in-house capability center to cater their complex projects.
MedSupply International comprises of seven medical supply wholesale distribution centres strategically located throughout the world. MedSupply International’s primary focus and expertise is on the timely
procurement and distribution of quality medical supplies, including customised kits, and modular health facilities, developed in accordance with our clients’ needs.
The company’s services are aimed at providing end to end medical and pharmaceutical solutions to a global client base, which covers the maritime and aviation industries, oil and gas companies, hospitals, clinics, humanitarian aid and non-profitable organizations and businesses with remote locations world-wide.
The services provider has the capability to assemble, manufacture and distribute customised medical kits and medical supplies (Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment/Device/Consumables) in accordance with in-country regulations and individual requirements.
According to company sources, over 13,000 multi-cultural medical, security and logistics experts provide support and assistance from over 1,000 locations in 90 countries on a continued basis.
Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with
Guillaume Akbaraly is a holder of a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and an MBA in International Business.
He has more than 15 years of hands-on experience in end-to-end Supply Chain Management across various industries such as Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Energy Management, Steel and across Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
He has a track record of leading full Supply Chain organization or setting up department from scratch. Guillaume is widely recognized to lead and implement Supply Chain strategy to maximize revenue by keeping customer satisfaction at its heart while optimizing cost with a real passion for innovation.
Guillaume Akbaraly, Operations Director, MedSupply Government Services, International SOS, based in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA). The following is the transcript of that interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): What is the mandate and scope of work and portfolio for International SOS?
Guillaume Akbaraly (GA): MedSupply International, an integral part of International SOS, is a leading provider of both medical supplies and services globally. We serve more than 500 national governments, inter-governmental organisations and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) globally, all of whom operate within diverse and complex environments. We have the capability to supply pharmaceuticals, vaccines, surgical and medical equipment, medical consumables, first aid supplies, medical infrastructure and medical kits worldwide.
Streamlined logistics, highly trained experts, the right digital tools, cloud solutions and advanced analytics with data visualization, enable us to provide smarter and more efficient solutions to clients. Streamlined logistics, highly trained experts, the right digital tools, cloud solutions and advanced analytics with data visualization, enable us to provide smarter and more efficient solutions to clients.
To this end we deliver an end-to-end solution that is designed to augment our partners’ existing capability and have an extensive team of clinical, operational and supply chain experts globally.
Furthermore, we have in-depth local knowledge to source cost-effective and quality medical supplies from our network of pre-credentialed suppliers. We understand local regulatory requirements around the importation of medical supplies, and work to ensure compliance.
Additionally, on the logistics and operations front, we arrange the most efficient and eco-friendly modes of transport and packaging in pursuit of sustainable business. We provide stable cold chain even in extremely remote locations and given our capabilities we ensure minimal supply chain disruption.
GSC: What specific (medical) services and products do you offer?
GA: We provide a range of product and services from the provision of ambulance and service vehicles’ pharmaceutical supplies, consumables and disposables, medical kits and equipment, laboratory supplies and mobile solutions.
Our approach entails the assurance of cost-effective pricing by sustainable sourcing from a global network of appointed suppliers and the provision of reliable medical supplies with the support of a stringent Quality Management System to avoid sub-standard or counterfeit products.
We also extensively follow up on all logistics processes through reliable digital solutions to bring the highest visibility and achieve customer satisfaction and recommendation of medical inventory
levels according to client operational requirements and local regulations.
GSC: How significant is the logistics trade in your business?
GA: It is highly important as it is one of our key competencies. Our projects don`t have any geographical boundaries, as well as our services. Therefore, the logistic trade plays a center role to ensure that our projects are deliver on time as it is directly impacting the population.
We closely monitor all the different event happening around the globe to adjust our plan of actions and to have always different scenario planned to keep our commitment to our customers. It is essential to develop a risk-based approach especially in a postpandemic world.
Funded by the European Union in Tunisia in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Essaha Aziza Programme aims to expand universal coverage of essential front-line care to all citizens across 13 governorates in the country. The programme started in 2017 and continues through 2025.
Challenge:
The remote nature of the locations, movement restrictions due to Covid-19, and the associated infrastructure, communication and transportation challenges required thoughtful planning.
Our response was to establish robust communication between all key contractual players including the EU delegation, Ministry of Health in Tunisia and end-user sites, as well as maintaining on-the-ground presence, to engage with key stakeholders directly.
Delivery of Customized Covid-19 Medical Kits
Overview:
In 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan was looking for support to provide customised Covid-19 medical kits to socially vulnerable people during the pandemic as a means of preventing the further spread during the pandemic.
The initiative was under the joint Covid-19 emergency response project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Kazakhstan.
Challenge:
Solution:
We were contracted to supply, install and commission 36 lines of medical equipment as well as provide enduser training. The programme covered over 200 locations in the country. The product line is wide-ranging and includes laboratory, imaging, dental and endoscopy equipment.
Impact:
Despite the size and complexity of the programme, we successfully delivered the required medical equipment, on time and to budget. This included mammography equipment in three key regions and full dental clinic delivery with dental X-Ray in all the 13 governorates.
All equipment passed the required compliance and conformity checks and met EU quality standards. For the technical and funding partners, this represents a major milestone in the project lifecycle and sets the foundation for the next phase of the program.
The medical kits needed to contain items that were in high demand globally including thermometers, masks, disinfectants, and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs. It was during a time when source countries were highly challenged by lockdowns, product scarcity and flight cancellations.
Solution:
We successfully sourced, qualified, and consolidated high-demand items to create a customized medical kit that was more compact than prior solutions. A strategically placed control tower provided detailed live tracking and day-to-day updates to allow for full visibility during the 60 days project execution cycle.
Furthermore, customised solutions with detailed labelling to address cultural and linguistic sensitivities were created for better product acceptance.
Impact:
International SOS supplied and delivered 250,000 customised medical kits in support of the programme, offering optimized packaging and reducing cargo volumes by 65% without compromising product quality.
GSC: What is your interface with the pharma and cold supply chain?
GA: Cold chain supply is our important responsibility as we deal with medicines, vaccines but also other type of product like lab reagent which needs to move under the cold chain conditions.
We deal with all types of different temperature (ambient, 2 to 8 degree C, -20 degree etc.…) and we manage the endto-end solutions which requires that we provide a solution on the freight movement including the last mile which can be challenging depending on the region of the world that we are supplying.
Cold chain capacities are unfortunately not well balanced around the world which makes us design tailor made solution.
GSC: Do you perform or oversee your logistics and supply chain services or is it outsourced?
GA: Our key expertise is in the solutions we provide for our customers related to medical product and services. We build delivery and execution solution thanks to our experienced team of supply chain professional and then proceed with the execution of the project.
Depending on the solutions, we worked with network of freight forwarders and 3PLs partner across the continent to enable us, consolidation, assembly, last mile delivery, and other logistics considerations.
GSC: Provide us briefly an outline and road map of how systems and processes work?
GA: We have different layers of working, namely operational, tactical, and strategic. Our operational process occurs through our ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) which is linked to a data warehouse and a control tower to have a view on our tactical level.
Automating those two levels allows us to focus on the strategic level to design the best solution for each project we must deliver. Form the moment we get a PO (Purchase Order) from our customer, all the different steps (supplier follow up, assembly, stock management and final delivery) toward the delivery are optimized to have systematic ways of working including automation whenever possible.
The status is available through different dashboard link to our ERP and for the delivery we have a control tower which allows to track all the movement.
GSC: What is your outlook for 2023?
GA: We have been focusing on the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) for several years now, and 2023 will be the year where will emphasize on this. It is well aligned with the Year of Sustainability in the UAE.
GSC: What are the opportunities and challenges going forward?
GA: Having a global footprint, the constant change in local regulations poses a key challenge. Striving for more automation bring the challenges of data privacy which crucial in our industry.
Last but not the least, the turbulences faced by the global supply chain is also the proverbial ‘Sword of Damocles’ which puts the spotlight on risk management and visibility in the supply chain. By building strong partnership with the different players and ‘glocalizing’ our sourcing, we hope to be less dependent on freight availability and price fluctuations.
The challenges open opportunities, though. Thanks to our extremely professional team, we are able to tailormake all our executions solutions which match exactly our customer requirements in term of product quality, delivery commitment and cost management.
Having gone through a digital transformation, we are also able to provide live and real-time information to our customers which enhances collaboration. We are also presently going through a transformation to provide full traceability to our customer, following the model of serialization and aggregation of the pharma industry.
Automotive company selects DHL as its exclusive partner for car part warehousing. Audi Volkswagen Middle East (AVME) announced DHL Global Forwarding as its new warehousing partner for the entire spare parts supply chain in the Middle East, for the Volkswagen and Audi brands.
Danzas AEI Emirates, the joint venture between DHL Global Forwarding and Al Tayer Group, will collaborate on a new entity for car part warehousing and will support with operations and management, the stakeholders announced in a press communique.
The collaboration has resulted in the establishment of a new AVME Parts Distribution Centre at Dubai World Central. It serves as a dedicated warehouse for eight markets in the region, providing Volkswagen and Audi customers with more flexibility and shorter turnaround times. The Parts Distribution centre will serve UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Lebanon.
“A strong and fast supply chain is a key element of the automotive business. It allows our dealer network to ensure the
best aftersales service to our customers. This collaboration will definitely support the growth of Volkswagen and Audi in the Middle East,” commented Benoit Tiers, CEO, Audi Volkswagen Middle East.
“As the world’s leading logistics company, we combine our proven track record in providing the best logistics solutions with exceptional leadership qualities that a fast -paced industry like ours requires to maintain our strong position in the market. An example of this is our recent progress towards a sustainable future,” commented Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East & Africa.
The new Centre is part of the region’s first-ever Electric Vehicle and battery logistics hub known as the DHL EV Centre of Excellence. This was built by DHL Global Forwarding and developed in close cooperation with the team EV of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation.
“The new Centre is very valuable to us and ensures that our logistics departments are future ready. It is the first warehouse in the region with battery storage, ensuring that our brands are well-prepared for a sustainable future, shaped by electric batteries,” stressed Stephen Samples, Group After-Sales Business & Homologation Director, Audi Volkswagen Middle East.
The new AVME Parts Distribution Centre is a eco-friendly facility, using completely solar-generated power and includes the following facilities--6,800sqm dedicated area located inside the Dubai World Central Logistics Area; closed chambers and operational area of 23,478sqm and 5,000sqm interlocked open yard storage; 24 loading doors for large, and small trucks and 15m high ceiling and max storage height of 13m.
The UAE’s prominent Al-Futtaim Group, has committed to a full digital transformation, powered by its long-term partner SAP, and supported by Microsoft Azure as intelligent cloud platform, to maintain its competitive edge and realise multiple benefits for its customers, partners and employees.
At a recent signing ceremony attended by Omar Al Futtaim. Vice Chairman and CEO, Al-Futtaim Group, and Christian Klein, Global CEO, SAP, the Al-Futtaim Group officially adopted RISE with SAP, a customised solution to ensure a quick and seamless transition of mission-critical systems to the cloud, it was announced in a press communique.
Once implemented, all of Al-Futtaim Group’s business systems will be fully integrated in the cloud, with upgrades enabling the company to leverage the benefits of new technologies and the efficiencies arising from automated and streamlined business processes.
“In line with our continued pursuit of excellence, the comprehensive SAP solution we are implementing incorporates sustainability metrics, industry best practices, extensibility, analytics and business process intelligence,” asserted Himanshu Shrivastava, Chief Technology Officer, Al-Futtaim Group, at the signing ceremony.
Among the new SAP cloud solutions Al-Futtaim Group will implement is SAP S/4HANA, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that enables automation of business processes, reduces total cost of ownership, provides 360-degree visibility over all operations, and is adaptable for multiple industry needs to ensure accurate reporting and compliance, the press statement continued.
Benefits include end-to-end, integrated finance capabilities, as well as enhanced procurement, supply chain and inventory management; seamless and personalised customer journeys; and self-service capabilities.
Other existing SAP solutions, such as SAP SuccessFactors for human resource management, are being upgraded in the cloud to be used across all areas of AlFuttaim Group’s business.
“With this partnership, Al-Futtaim Group is positioning itself as a transformational leader in adopting new technologies to deliver better value to its customers, employees and partners. Leveraging
SAP’s expertise in regional automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and health markets, and with Microsoft Azure’s comprehensive cloud infrastructure, we are confident this partnership will enable Al-Futtaim Group to achieve operational excellence and drive continued success for the company,” affirmed Zakaria Haltout, Managing Director, SAP UAE.
“By leveraging the expertise and cuttingedge technology offered by SAP and the trusted cloud infrastructure of Microsoft Azure, Al-Futtaim Group is ensuring it has the clear execution roadmap for the next level of business transformation and further driving value through the interoperability benefits,” commented Yvonne Chebib, Global Partner Solutions Lead, Microsoft UAE.
Continental is constantly innovating and has a broad portfolio of tyres to suit a multitude of car brands stay safely on the roads.
Founded and headquartered in Hanover, Germany, in 1871, Continental is a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company specializing in tyres, brake systems and other parts for the automotive and transportation industries.
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. The tyres group sector has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tyre manufacturers with posted sales of €11.8bn (US$ 12.48bn) in 2021 in this group sector.
Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tyre production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers.
To bring us to current on the company’s regional operations, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive, wide-ranging, one-on-one interview with Karel Kucera, Managing Director, Continental Middle East. The following is the transcript of the interview.
Global Supply Chain (GSC): How significant is the Middle East for Continental and which are among the top three countries in terms of sales?
Karel Kucera (KK): The Middle East is an important market for Continental. The population is growing; individual economies are rapidly developing and customer purchasing behaviour is changing as well. The Middle East region offers significant opportunities for Continental products,
services, and solutions. It’s very diverse, so it is also a very important area where we can test various services and solutions.
The volume of sales is usually driven by size of population and size of the car, and number of cars in the market. With these parameters in mind, our top countries in terms of sales being the most populated countries in the region and alphabetical order are Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the UAE.
One of our strategic pillars for the Middle East is to build our sustainable future on strong cooperative relationships with our partners in the region. Together with them we develop our market presence in order to be able to anticipate market trends, develop innovative and local solutions and to reply to customer needs.
That is why, in addition to the market’s potential, we view the ability and willingness of our partners to develop the business together as key when it comes to importance of countries. Our approach is to build cooperative relationships with our partners and to be close to our customers.
GSC: How has Continental Tyres ME currently fared in 2022; how does that compare with 2021 and what is your outlook for 2023?
KK: 2022 was a turbulent year for Continental. Covid was still impacting the world, mainly within the supply chain area. Geopolitical uncertainties, availability of raw materials and related price increases, along with surging energy and logistics costs; and these were heavily affecting our business and that of our partners. On top of that, we were facing changes in import legislations
in Egypt, continuous forex shortages in Lebanon and Iraq.
On the other hand, despite the challenging environment, we also have many positive stories. We launched ContiSportContact 7 for the Middle East region. This is our flagship, state-of-theart, ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre, which was engineered to give the driver confidence to be able to push the limits further and further.
The ContiSportContact 7 is not only a great performing tyre, confirming its top performance in many recognised tests, its good looks have earned it the worldrenowned design prize, an iF Design Award.
Together with our UAE partner, Emirates for Universal Tyres, we have seen the launch of the BestDrive retail network brand
in the Middle East and inaugurated the first BestDrive tyre and service centres in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain. BestDrive by Continental marks a new era for Continental in the Middle East. It enables us to access to customers who experience our products and reinforces our market footprint in the UAE.
We also extended our Middle East footprint by signing a partnership agreement with YK Almoayyed & Sons (YKA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In addition, Continental is launching more and more sustainability components, with tyres containing polyester from recycled PET bottles now available to all dealers in Europe. Continental introduced its ContiRe.Tex technology, which makes it possible to completely replace the polyester conventionally used in the tyre casing, into
volume production in April 2022.
We currently offer three models featuring polyester from recycled PET bottles, each available in five sizes: the PremiumContact 6, the EcoContact 6 and the AllSeasonContact year-round tyre.
So, all in all it was an amazing year, and I would like to share my appreciation and thanks to our partners as well as our Continental team in Dubai, for their incredible dedication, resilience, flexibility and strong cooperation.
We all know that Middle East is well known for unpredictable surprises. 2023 will definitely be a challenging year again. But I believe we are going to witness various developments based on the country clusters. Gulf countries will continue to enjoy quite a strong year. End consumer
Karel Kucera is a Continental veteran of over 20 years, taking the role of Middle East Managing Director in early 2019, to oversee more than 19 markets across the region. Under his leadership, Continental expanded the BestDrive brand across the UAE.
Prior to his Middle East role, Kucera held a variety of roles at Continental, serving as Managing Director of ContiTrade Central & East, Northwest Europe; and several roles within the sales and marketing divisions, across both the Passenger & Light Truck Tyres (PLT) and Commercial Vehicles Tyres (CVT) Business Units.
sentiment seems to stay positive. Diversification of economies and oil price level will support the growing trend. On top of this, the UAE is going to host COP 28 this year, which will be a great event and a clear demonstration of the direction and seriousness of the approach in terms of sustainability and green economy. Meanwhile, a high inflationary environment will be a challenge for other countries in the region.
GSC: Tell us more about your corporate partnerships with your peers and particularly the governments in the region?
KK: We are always very keen to establish collaborations with private and public organisations around the ecosystem of the automotive industry, particularly on the topic of Road safety. This aligns with our strategic pillar of ‘Vision Zero’, which refers to zero accidents, zero injuries, and zero fatalities – this mirrors the UAE’s vision 2030 for road safety.
We have several collaborations with the RTA, organising road safety awareness campaigns. Recently, alongside Dubai
Police, we organised a roundtable discussing “AI Driving Technology”, with our partners, AV Living Lab, and Location Solutions.
Hosted at the AI Driving Hub, based at Dubai Police, General Department of Traffic, the event brought together major executives from a range of sectors such as transportation, logistics, and mobility services to discuss how AI technology and the Metaverse can be used to tackle road safety by correcting driver behaviour through a personalised data-scientific approach.
GSC: Going forward, what are the opportunities and challenges for Continental Tyres in the region?
KK: We are constantly innovating and have a broad portfolio of tyres to suit a multitude of car brands stay safely on the roads. We plan to partner with more esteemed brands on a product level but also as part of our mission to continue on our journey towards achieving ‘Vision Zero’, our ambitious goal to be reached in three successive stages: evolving from best in braking to zero fatalities, zero injuries and zero crashes.
With the ongoing rise of the intelligent car, tyre technology and increased connectivity there is more potential than ever to reach Vision Zero in the region.
The Middle East is a region with growing populations and individual economies, which we see as an opportunity for increase in demand for automotive products. Growing demand for electric vehicles, especially in Gulf countries, or in Jordan, is bringing opportunities as tyres for electric vehicles needs to be fulfilled following higher demand.
When it comes to electric vehicles, Continental tyres are particularly popular. We have received original-equipment approvals for more than 300 different vehicle models already, and seven of the 10 most successful manufacturers of electric vehicles worldwide rely on Continental tyres for their original equipment. Overall, the company’s market share in the electric vehicle segment is higher than for cars with combustion engines.
Another trend which we are observing and see as an opportunity is the change in customer behaviour. Customers are looking more for convenience once it comes (not
only) to mobility. Online ordering, mobility solutions, one stop shopping, peace of mind, professional service, and a branded retail network are the most decisive factors of the customer journey.
GSC: Why is Sustainability important for Continental as part of your CSR indicators?
KK: The footprint of Continental tyres is significant – almost every third car in Europe is delivered with our tyres. And with every set, our responsibility for people and the planet grows. The topic of sustainable transportation is not only high on our agenda right now, it is deeply anchored in the foundation of our values.
We are convinced that sustainable and responsible business increases our ability to innovate and be prepared for the future and that it is our task to stay ahead of the technology to contribute to a decarbonised tomorrow.
Our sustainability focus is not only about the product itself – we look after the whole value chain, from material sourcing right
through to end of the life of our products. It’s not just about corporate social responsibility – it’s everyone’s duty to make the effort to be considerate of the environment – as a business, we also share that obligation. Sustainability underpins our ‘Vision 2030’ growth strategy. We have adopted a comprehensive framework to drive our ongoing transformation, starting from our strive for a 100% carbon neutral value chain to our longer-term goal of a 100% emission-free mobility.
For example, as of 2022, we have enabled the use of reprocessed polyester obtained from recycled plastic bottles in our tyre production. With the global increasing demand for natural rubber, we are constantly looking at viable and responsible alternative sources. Our dandelion-derived rubber is a sustainable alternative to natural rubber and we have plans in place to begin manufacturing consumer road tyres made from dandelion-derived rubber in five to 10 years.
Our efforts in the sustainable direction
have again been recognised by the global non-profit organization, CDP, for working to mitigate climate change and ensure water security. By improving climate change mitigation score from B to A-, we have been awarded leadership status in this category for the first time.
GSC: Are you considering the possibility of setting up manufacturing facilities in the region?
KK: We strongly believe in the Middle East region. We see it as a region with lots of opportunities to invest and grow our Continental presence. That is why we have recently set up our entities in Dubai, Jeddah and Casablanca (Morocco). We invest in our product portfolio as well as services and solutions for our partners, fleets and end consumers.
In addition, with the latest investments in new production sites. in Thailand, and the U.S., we currently have sufficient manufacturing capacities for the coming years.
The preeminent free zone is enhancing the local agrifood sector’s development in line with the country’s National Food Security Strategy 2051
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-ofthe-art infrastructure and unmatched digital trade solutions.
Abdulla Al Hashmi, Chief Operations Officer, Parks & Zones, DP World UAE, recently explained the key role the company plays in securing the food supply chain, against the backdrop of the ongoing Gulfood 2023.
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,” he affirmed.
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 continued.
NIP comprises 21sqkm 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.
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,” noted Al Hashmi.
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.
“Since our earliest years, we have developed food-grade facilities to house processing, storage, and distribution activities. We have also attracted global food technology and sustainable production companies to enable agricultural irrigation, vertical farming, and energy efficiency,” Al Hashmi expressed.
“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 sqm 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,” Al Hashmi observed.
One F&B company in Jafza, Fish Farm, 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 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 15.9bn (US$ 4.33bn). Despite current economic headwinds, industry experts forecast a yearly increase of 6.8 percent 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.
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.
Reports US$ 65.81mn in net profits for the calendar year
GWC recently announced its results for the financial year ending 31 December 2022 achieving net profits of US$ 65.81mn (QAR 239.6mn), with gross revenues reaching US$ 417.2mn (QAR 1.519bn) at the end of 2022.
“2022 was a milestone year for GWC. Our expertise, coupled with our determination and dedication to excel and go the extra mile placed us in good stead as we delivered seamless and timely logistical services to make FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM a roaring success,” remarked Sheikh Abdulla Bin Fahad Bin Jassem Bin Jaber Al Thani, Chairman, GWC.
He also praised the GWC team over the last decade for innovating new benchmarks in the logistics industry.
Qatar’s 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, the company said in a press statement.
The formal commencement of the GCC AEO Program on 1 January 2023, enables 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 is able to offer its diverse range of services, given its capabilities.
“Obtaining the GCC AEO Programme 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,” stated Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.
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 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, the press note concluded.
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.
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.
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™.
WFS to handle 160,000 tonnes of cargo annually for Saudia Cargo Contract will enable Saudia Cargo to utilize WFS’ services across its network in Europe and the USA, thereby strengthening the partnership and logistics ecosystem for both stakeholders involved.
Saudia Cargo has officially awarded a landmark multi-station contract to Worldwide Flight Service (WFS), which significantly extends cargo handling services across major key airport gateways in Europe and the United States of America.
The contract was recently formally signed by Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Saudi Cargo, and John Batten, Executive Vice President-EMEAA, WFS, at a ceremony held in Saudia Cargo’s Jeddah Headquarters to sign-off the new agreement.
WFS will now be handling over 160,000 tonnes of cargo annually for Saudia Cargo, in addition to providing ramp handling services for air cargo shipments onboard over 5,000 passenger and freighter flights per year.
“WFS is a global leader in providing cargo handling services and by awarding this contract to them, we are certain that our operations in pivotal stations on the European and American continent that are part of WFS’ network, will considerably benefit from their highly reliable expertise,” affirmed Zebitz.
“Saudia Cargo is dedicated to delivering the highest standard of customer satisfaction and a seamless experience to consumers. WFS will productively contribute towards this. We will continue to form strategic partnerships with other logistics providers, both in the public and private sectors, supporting the creation of a more cohesive and efficient logistics ecosystem in the Kingdom and beyond,” he added.
“Together, we will combine our efforts to provide the very best service experience for the airline’s customers. Our strategic
operations in the Eastern hemisphere are exceptionally advanced and well-equipped to meet the needs of Saudia Cargo’s services and we look forward to achieving many new milestones together over the course of our partnership,” asserted Batten.
The contract with WFS covers its services at several important stations including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Manchester, Brussels, New York, and Washington. As part of its rigorous tender process, Saudia Cargo carried out essential technical visits to each WFS station to ensure the quality of each facility met the company’s standards.
Key meetings were also held with integral local WFS staff responsible for managing the airline’s cargo operations to streamline communication and connectivity. The responsibilities, contractually agreed upon, will commence from the 1st of February
2023 onwards, a press statement indicated.
“Both signatory companies are also exploring future opportunities for furthering their partnership by expanding to new destinations where WFS possesses cargo handling capabilities,” noted Mohanned Badri, Vice President, Operations, Saudia Cargo.
With its ‘human first’ and customer centric mindset, Saudi Cargo continues to collaborate with its customers and partners, providing innovative and customized solutions to help them achieve their goals.
Saudi Cargo has grown quickly to become a major international liner, spearheading Saudi Arabia’s mission to become a crucial regional and global logistics hub that is geared towards customer centricity and upholding practices that always put customers first, the press note concluded.
Warehouse automation integrator will automate New East’s Distribution Centre
Savoye recently signed a contract with New East General Trading, a leading automotive parts distributor in the region, to provide the company’s Dubai Distribution Centre with automated solutions.
Accordingly, Savoye will automate New East’s Distribution Centre by integrating its highly efficient Autonomous Casehandling Robots (ACR) solution, which is the first-of-its-kind to be employed in the Middle East region, it was revealed in a press communique.
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.
“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,” stated Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director, Savoye Middle East.
“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,” he added.
“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,” noted Ahmed Ahli, CEO, New East General Trading.
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, the press note continued.
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, the communique concluded.
Our SynQ software delivers data-driven intelligence that empowers your business by synchronizing the performance of your people, processes and machines. The result is a level of efficiency and performance you never thought possible.
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As a business owner, you know how critical it is to have a reliable logistics and supply chain process. In today’s interconnected world, the need for efficient transportation of goods has never been more important. “At Pace Spedition, we understand the challenges that come with transporting high-value, time sensitive and oversized Aerospace cargo,” avers Warren Jacob, the company’s Founder, CEO and Executive Director.
“Aerospace forwarding is highly specialized and requires a high degree of domain expertise and knowledge as shipments get managed vide air, sea, and land. Aerospace forwarding is critical because it allows businesses to transport cargo that is too heavy, too large, or too valuable to be transported by traditional means,” he affirms.
“Our experienced team of experienced logistics professionals who understand the unique challenges that come with transporting high-value and oversized cargo. We offer end-to-end logistics solutions, including planning, coordinating, and managing the movement of goods, ensuring that your cargo arrives at its destination safely and on time,” assures Warren. Our company’s capabilities extend beyond standard freight forwarding services. We have a team of experts who can manage every aspect of your shipment, from customs clearance to final delivery. We specialize in offering bespoke logistics solutions, tailoring our services to meet your specific needs.
DMCC Free Zone Dubai, UAE based Pace Spedition offers a full, comprehensive portfolio of services ranging from Air,
Ocean, Air-Sea, Aerospace Logistics, Arts, Transportation, Third Party Logistics, e-Commerce and Projects and Heavy Lift Logistics, giving it a competitive edge in a fast-paced business.
The company’s global network of partners and service providers, coupled with its Smart ERP system and trained and experienced professional team allows it to provide seamless transportation solutions to almost every part of the world with complete visibility, according to Warren.
Pace Spedition’s Aerospace Division is the company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Aamir Khan heads the Division and shares the passion and commitment of Warren Jacob. “Aerospace services are our forte and we have had multiple accomplishments on this front working with key, demanding customers for whom we have successfully fulfilled challenging assignments,” he asserted.
Conducted in partnership with GE Aerospace, Boeing, Honeywell, Neste and Virent
Emirates has recently operated its first milestone demonstration flight on a Boeing 777-300ER, powering one of its engines with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The first Emirates SAF-powered flight recently took off from Dubai International Airport (DXB), and was commanded by Captain Fali Vajifdar and Captain Khalid Nasser Akram, flying for more than one hour over the Dubai coastline. The flight deck crew were accompanied by Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ CEO, and Captain Hassan Hammadi, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates Flight Operations.
Emirates’ demonstration flight, the first in the Middle East and North Africa to be powered by 100% SAF, supports broader efforts to reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions as the industry looks to scale up its use of SAF. The flights will also help to refine the playbook for future SAF demonstrations, and support future certification where 100% drop-in SAF fuel is approved for aircraft, the carrier stated in a press statement.
Emirates worked alongside partners GE Aerospace, Boeing, Honeywell, Neste and Virent to procure and develop a blend of SAF that closely replicates the properties of conventional jet fuel. At each blend ratio, a host of chemical and physical fuel property measurements were carried out.
The test flight further demonstrates the compatibility of the specially blended SAF as a safe and reliable fuel source. The promising outcome of this initiative also adds to the body of industry data and research around SAF blends in higher proportions.
“We hope that landmark demonstrations flights like this one, will help open the door to scale up the SAF supply chain and make it more available and accessible across geographies, and most importantly, affordable for broader industry adoption in the future,” commented Adel Al Redha, CEO, Emirates Airlines.
“All GE Aerospace engines can operate on approved SAF blends today and we are helping support the approval and adoption of 100% SAF,” remarked Aziz Koleilat, VP, Global Sales and Marketing, Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Turkey, GE Aerospace.
SAF will play a critical role in the aviation industry’s commitment to be net zero by 2050, requiring strong industry collaboration,” said Omar Arekat, VP, Commercial Sales and Marketing, Middle East, The Boeing Company.
“The 331-500 auxiliary power unit or APU is an integral part of the Boeing 777 aircraft system. The APU provides main engine starting, environmental control and emergency back-up systems for the aircraft on the ground and in-flight. It uses the same fuel as the main propulsion engines,” explained Mosab Alkubaisy, Director of Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace Middle East.
“Test flights like this Emirates flight with Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel are an important step towards 100% SAF certification,” noted Jonathan Wood, Vice President EMEA, Renewable Aviation, Neste.
“Virent’s technology converts widely available, plant-based sugars into the compounds that make 100% sustainable aviation fuel possible, without the need to blend with traditional jet fuel,” said Dave Kettner, President and General Counsel of Virent.
“At ENOC, we prioritize working closely with our strategic partners to implement a national roadmap for sustainable aviation fuel,” stressed Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC.
n In the wake of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Emirates has set up an airbridge with the International Humanitarian City (IHC), to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support onground 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.
“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.
n 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.
n AD Ports Logistics (ADPL) recently announced the addition of a new distribution business line that will see the company secure exclusive distribution rights for a range of healthcare products.
The new business line targets the GCC’s fast-growing healthcare and life sciences sector, whose market size is projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.9% to AED 365.7bn (US $99.6bn) in 2023 from AED 316.6bn (US $86.2bn) in 2020.
As a distributor licensed by the UAE Ministry of Health and Abu Dhabi Department of Health, ADPL will procure high-in-demand healthcare products, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices, baby products and nutraceuticals from leading manufacturers seeking to access the UAE and GCC markets, a press notification stated.
“Our healthcare & life sciences team has a proven track-record of successfully managing logistics for all types of healthcare products, and we look forward to our next phase of growth as the new
distributor of choice serving the local and regional marketplace,” remarked Farook Al Zeer, Chairman, Logistics Cluster, AD Ports Group.
With multimodal connectivity facilitating access to global markets via the UAE’s main ports, including Khalifa Port, Zayed Port and Jebel Ali Port, as well as two international airports, E311 cargo corridor and the future Etihad Rail link; ADPL’s fully-integrated one-stop supply chain offering is set to boost the availability of healthcare products across
the region.
The offering combines 24/7 3PL and 4PL logistics services, 31,000sqm of state-ofthe-art storage capacity, and cold-chain management, supported by a fleet of over 400 vehicles.
ADPL’s capabilities proved their effectiveness in service of the HOPE Consortium, an Abu Dhabi-led publicprivate partnership established to combat the global pandemic, by helping deliver over 260 million vaccine doses across 60 countries around the world.
n 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 tenmonth 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.
n The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recently announced the addition of King Abdulaziz Port to a new freight service operated by Swiss-based container group MSC.
The latest connection is set to bolster the Dammam based port as a focal point for regional and global trade while strengthening the Kingdom’s hub credentials in fulfilment of the ambitions of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
The capital of the Kingdom’s Eastern Province will enjoy weekly sailings to eight maritime destinations spanning the Arabian Gulf, South Asia, and Southern Africa. They include the ports of Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain, Khalifa in UAE, Qasim in Pakistan, Mundra and Hazira in India, Port Louis in Mauritius, and Durban and Coega in South Africa.
The service, which started on 21 January 2023, will feature five vessels with an average carrying capacity exceeding 6000 TEUs.
As a world-class logistics center boasting top-tier infrastructure and capabilities, King Abdulaziz Port was an obvious choice for shipping liners looking to expand their routes in 2022. Notable examples include SeaLead Shipping’s Far East to Middle East (FAM) service, Emirates Shipping Line’s Jebel Ali Bahrain Shuwaikh (JBS) service, Gulf-India Express 2 (GIX2) service by Aladin Express, and Maersk’s Shaheen Express service, the press release concluded.
n AJEX Logistics Services has launched several new services for customers in the UAE in line with its strategic growth plans.
New services available include domestic and e-commerce express solutions, which offers same day and next day delivery services across all seven emirates for B2B and B2C customers; International Road Express, connecting the UAE to Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia; International Road Services to the GCC, Egypt and Jordan; in addition to worldwide freight forwarding and cold chain solutions, the company said in a recent press communique.
Since the start of its operations in the UAE in July 2022, AJEX has hired 40 local staff members, opened three new facilities, and launched a fleet of vehicles, each with a
varying capacity of between one to 20 tons, to support its expansion.
Its current facilities include its UAE-based headquarters located in Jebel Ali industrial zone, offices in Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZA), and a warehouse in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), which combined total area of 11,000sqfr.
AJEX’s expansion plans for 2023 in the UAE include opening a fourth facility located in close proximity to Dubai International Airport to support its operations. By the year’s end, AJEX plans to expand its fleet to reach 100 vehicles and 140 staff members.
“AJEX has demonstrated the strength of its operations and logistical expertise, successfully securing a client base that includes diverse sectors including E-commerce, fashion retail, electronics, cosmetics, automotive and construction,” remarked Nabeel Alkharabsheh, General Manager at AJEX Logistics Services, UAE.
n Turkish Airlines’ air cargo brand, Turkish Cargo, is now live on CargoAi’s marketplace solution (CargoMART), for users in four countries, the carrier stated in a press communique.
In the pilot phase, CargoMART users in France, Spain, Netherlands and Singapore will have access to booking Turkish Cargo’s new services TK SMART (general cargo service), TK PREMIUM and TK URGENT (express cargo service) instantaneously on all Turkish Cargo routes.
In keeping with its philosophy to provide full visibility to its users for informed and actionable business decisions, CargoAi’s integration with Turkish Cargo is unique in that it displays non-bookable options to its users.
Where other platforms filter out such options, forwarders on CargoMART are instantly in the know and can quickly make an offline booking (via call for example) for such shipments.
“ By providing full visibility throughout the airfreight procurement process, we continue our mission to bring the best digital booking experience
that CargoMART offers to our joint customers,” remarked Matt Petot, CEO, CargoAi.
Users of CargoMART benefit from searching for real-time schedules, bulk quoting, e-booking, the ability to track and trace each shipment, as well CargoAi’s Cargo2ZERO sustainable features to support the air cargo industry’s
decarbonization mission.
Following the successful pilot launch, Turkish Cargo will expand its offering on CargoAi worldwide. The worldwide rollout will allow the full visibility and booking of all its routes to more than 6,000 freight forwarders across 63 countries who regularly use CargoAi’s marketplace, CargoMART.
n Sharjah Airport experienced a remarkable growth in the previous year achieving the Authority’s primary objectives of revamping the Emirate’s tourism sector as well as elevating the airport’s status as one of the top five airports in the region.
Passenger traffic witnessed a growth rate of 84.73 per cent, increasing the numbers to nearly 13 million passengers in 2022, as opposed to 7 million passengers in 2021.
Meanwhile, aircraft movement experienced an increase of 51.69 per cent to 87,495 flights in 2022, as compared to 57,679
by the end of 2021. Moreover, around 170,544 tonnes of freight were handled through the Sharjah Airport in 2022, indicating an increase of 21.20 percent from around 140,717 tonnes in 2021, according to a press communique.
“The remarkable results resonate our strategic goals of reviving the travel industry in the Emirate of Sharjah, together with our ambitions to offer elevated levels of services,” remarked Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority.
“The growth further represents the Authority’s successes in improving travel
experiences of customers and offering them industry-leading services,” commented HE Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director, Sharjah Airport Authority.
Sharjah Airport’s network includes more than 100 tourism destinations across the globe. In 2022, the airport added two more destinations via Air Arabia – Osh, Kyrgyzstan, and Milan, Italy. To improve connectivity between these destinations, Sharjah Airport welcomed the inaugural flights of several airlines, including Nile Air (Egypt), Tarco Aviation (Sudan) and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
n Premier Motors, the official Ford Trucks dealer in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, recently handed over 11 Ford Trucks 4142M mixers to the Tristar Group, one of the UAE’s fully integrated Energy Logistics business serving the downstream oil and gas industry.
The vehicles were handover to Tristar Group at its Industrial City Abu Dhabi facility.
“Ford Trucks products provide a compelling total cost of ownership of the vehicles with very minimal downtime, which is particularly important in our lines of business,” remarked Shivananda Baikady, General Manager, Road Transport & Warehousing, Tristar Group.
This handover of Ford Trucks vehicles by Premier Motors in Abu Dhabi marks a great beginning to 2023 as the dealership makes strong inroads into the various business segments it serves through the brand and its facilities in the Emirate.
“Premier Motors continues to expand and grow in the various segments of Abu
Dhabi’s commercial vehicle market. It has been most satisfying to gain the trust of the major players in the construction, waste management, transportation, the cargo and logistics sectors and we look to continue this momentum into the future,” commented Helal Hanei Omar, Senior Vice President, Ford & Lincoln, Al Tayer Motors.
n Saudi Arabi’s ports have ended December in the gains territory with a string of spectacular results across various indicators, chief among them the 13.63% year-on-year spike in container throughput from 841,055 TEUs to 955,731 TEUs.
The operational footprint of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) during 2022 was driven by the tenets of sustainable development, customer centricity, competitive superiority, and digital transformation. Statistics show a growth across container categories with a 7.15% growth in exported containers to 214,789 TEUs in comparison to 200,460 TEUs in 2021. Similarly, imported containers were up 24.41% to 246,023 TEUs from 197,709 TEUs a year earlier.
Transshipments, too, maintained the upward trend by soaring at 11.76% to 494,919 TEUs as opposed to the previous year’s tally of 442,850 TEUs.
On the other hand, cargo volumes inched up by 14.06% from the 2021 levels of 25,962,471 tons to total 29,612,588 tons in December. Furthermore, numbers under this classification remained in the green with general cargo increasing by 35.27% from 612,303 tons to 828,247 tons.
Likewise, dry bulk cargo jumped 12.99% to 4,427,370 tons versus 3,958,212 tons in the prior period while liquid bulk cargo was 14.28% higher at 16,197,188 tons when measured against 2021’s count of 14,173,355 tons. December also saw the Kingdom’s ports collectively process 1,723,177 tons of food commodities and 310,160 cattle heads across its state-ofthe-art facilities.
Car imports in the concluding month of 2022 shot up by 22.74% to hit 80,146 units relative to 2021’s volume of 65,297 vehicles. In addition, the inflow of vessels accelerated by 18.83% to 1,407 compared to 1,184 in the preceding year.
Ford Trucks was introduced by Al Tayer Motors into the UAE in 2014 and has since successfully established and grown its presence in the commercial vehicles sector. Ford Trucks is represented in Abu Dhabi through Premier Motors and in Dubai and the Northern Emirates through Al Tayer Motors.
n The KEZAD Group, recently announced that it has signed an agreement with Emerging World FZC, the sole importer of PRAN-RFL Group’s products in the Middle East region, to establish a PRAN manufacturing plant to cater to local and regional markets.
PRAN’s AED 110mn (US$ 30mn) facility, being developed in multiple phases, will spread across more than 42,000sqm in KEZAD with direct access to AD Ports Group’s flagship Khalifa Port. The land lease agreement with KEZAD Group has been signed for a period of 30 years.
With almost a third of PRAN’s production capacity from the facility catering to the local market, and 70 percent to be exported to the regional markets, PRAN will play a vital role to ensure food security in the region through Abu Dhabi.
“Emerging World FZC shares our mission on the importance of securing national and regional supply chains, in line with the vision of our wise leadership to improve access to affordable healthy diets for people across communities,” remarked Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, KEZAD.
“Our agreement with KEZAD Group aims to boost our export to
Middle Eastern countries and the establishment of the Emerging World FZC’s manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi is a significant milestone to expand our business,” Hasan Mahbub, Managing Director, Emerging World.
Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, PRAN (Programme for Rural Advancement Nationally) PRAN-RFL Group has become one of the largest food and beverage, agribusiness and plastics manufacturers and exporters in South Asia.
n International public services company, Serco has announced the launch of an Advisory with Purpose division, which will focus on driving Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals and empowering governments to accelerate their national visions.
With the UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announcing 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’ and measures also featuring heavily in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030 ambitions, Serco Middle East has already taken proactive steps to support organisations and governments to achieve their environmental and sustainability targets through an advisory service that spans from concept to implementation.
In a year where COP28 is shining a spotlight on the Middle East, the launch
of the Advisory with Purpose division will further cement Serco’s continued commitment to embed the latest global best practices into local organisations and government entities, a press statement said.
Through Advisory with Purpose, Serco will support clients with an endto-end service, as it looks to enable regional governments to meet their ESG commitments. Additionally, companies will be able to show their commitments in a way that also enables them to reduce operational costs through digital asset management, impact a better future for citizens and residents.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to ensuring a better future, and as a peopledriven business, we need to act as a catalyst to help accelerate these goals,” stated Phil Malem, CEO, Serco Middle East.
n SAIF Maritime UAE (a subsidiary of SAIF Powertec, Bangladesh) announced its foray into Breakbulk Middle East 2023, the region’s largest exhibition for the cargo and breakbulk industry, as a bronze sponsor of the event.
The group operates major port terminals, the only ICD in the capital city of Dhaka, and the only multimodal (road/rail) inland container depot in Bangladesh. It is a listed public limited company with a paid-up capital of 40 million and an annual turnover of approximately US$ 200mn.
It is among the top 100 companies in Bangladesh. It was the vision of the founder and Managing Director, Tarafdar Mohammed Ruhul Amin, that powered the expansion of their operations into the UAE, according to a press communique.
“Recognising AD Ports Group today serves as one of the world’s leading facilitators of logistics, industry, and trade, as well as a bridge linking Abu Dhabi and the UAE to the world. That aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting the world,” remarked Ruhul Amin.
“We are excited about and committed to providing one-stop solutions for all
supply chain and logistics requirements, connecting the world with our range of solutions and services,” he added.
With a staff of over 5,500 employees, SAIF Maritime engages in bulk ship owning and chartering businesses with Abu Dhabi Ports Group; with whom it has
signed agreements for 8 Supramax class vessels and 3 Bangkokmax class container vessels, both for a period of 15 years.
According to Ruhul Amin, through these contracts, the company expects to further enhance its presence in the shipping and logistics industry.
n Al Amir Food Industries’ (AAFI) has set up a 13,500sqm processing unit for healthy pulses and spices in the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ).
With an investment of US$ 9.53mn (AED 35mn) on its new factory in the Al Ghail Industrial Zone, the Indian company will be importing products from Canada, Australia and Russia and exporting to GCC, MENA and East African markets, while wholesaling locally in the UAE. Furthermore, AAFI aims to create 50 new jobs in Ras Al Khaimah over the next three years.
Yasin Abdul Majid Ranani, Managing Director, AAFI,
and Ramy Jallad, Group CEO, RAKEZ, inked the deal during a signing ceremony held between the two parties at RAKEZ Compass Coworking Centre.
“Our aim is to enhance the culinary experiences of consumers by introducing an array of flavours, aromas and exotic variations that stimulate taste buds and delight the senses,” commented Ranani.
“Currently we are home to hundreds of F&B companies engaged in agri-tech, manufacturing, packaging and trading, and we will continue enhancing our industrial ecosystem,” remarked Jallad.
n Star Soda, the UAE-based topselling soda brand manufactured by International Beverage and Filling Industries (IBFI) has taken a significant step forward in reaching out to customers and further expanding its market share in KSA by appointing Binzagr Company as the exclusive distributor in the Kingdom.
This partnership between the IBFI, a subsidiary of Albatha Holding—one of the UAE’s oldest and largest business holdings—and Saudi Arabia’s leading distributors with a rich heritage of 142 years, is expected to make boost sales growth for both companies, it was announced in a press communique.
Star Drinks and Binzagr Company commemorated the exclusive partnership during an intimate launch ceremony last month. Ahmed Binzagr, President, Binzagr Company, and Moy Eladawy, General Manager, IBFI, inaugurated the newfound partnership with an official signing during the launch.
n ADNOC recently announced it has signed agreements with 23 UAE and international companies for local manufacturing opportunities across a wide range of critical industrial products worth AED17 billion (US$ 4.63bn).
The private sector encouraged to capitalize on commercial opportunities across ADNOC’s value chain through its ICV (InCountry Value) programme.
The agreements outline the intention of the companies to manufacture these products in the UAE, supporting the
“The growing market trend for such products will only result in further elevating the brand’s market share, and both our businesses to greater heights,” affirmed Binzagr.
Launched in 1992, IBFI is a subsidiary of the largest and oldest business holdings in the UAE, the Albatha Group, a well-established conglomerate with a portfolio of business interests in
‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative and the ‘Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy’. The products are part of the AED 70bn (US$19bn) worth of products in ADNOC’s procurement pipeline that the company identified for domestic manufacturing in July 2022.
ADNOC continues to encourage the private sector to capitalize on the commercial opportunities for domestic manufacturing across its value chain through its In-Country Value (ICV) program, as it expands and decarbonizes its operations.
FMCG manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceutical, automobile, and real estate among other sectors.
“We are confident that through Binzagr Company’s expertise and long heritage, we will achieve our aspirations to further reach out to its consumers and remain as the number one soda brand in the hearts and minds of every consumer in KSA,” asserted Eladawy.
“We look forward to working with these companies to deliver on these important agreements and drive more sustainable value to the UAE,” remarked Dr. Saleh Al Hashimi, ADNOC Director, Commercial & In-Country Value Directorate. Last year, ADNOC signed agreements for local manufacturing commitments worth over AED 25bn (US$ 6.8bn) with UAE and international companies. The company continues to take a transparent approach to showcasing its product outlook as part of its ICV programme.
ADNOC signs agreements with 23 companies for local manufacturing opportunities worth US$ 4.63bn
n Cathay has announced 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, the carrier revealed in a press communique.
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.
“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,” remarked Ronald Lam, Group CEO.
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.
“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,” commented Tom Owen, Director Cargo.
n The Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), a strategic partner of Jeddah Islamic Port and the operator of its North Container Terminal, recently procured three cutting-edge Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes in its pursuit to supercharge operational efficiency at the world-class hub.
While this addition falls under the wider ambitions of the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) to transform the country’s maritime sector into a global logistics powerhouse that boasts high productivity and boosts international trade in tandem with the vision set forth by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
The North Container Terminal is now home to 24 sophisticated cranes with the addition of the latest batch of heavy-duty equipment, thus fulfilling a critical component in the SAR 6billionl concession agreement between the terminal operator and the national maritime regulator that seeks to upgrade the installed capacity of the facility to 8.8 million TEUs.
The deployment of modern cranes demonstrates RSGT’s long-standing commitment to upscale the terminal’s operations and modernize its logistics infrastructure besides upskilling its workforce in support of the Kingdom’s growing influence in the global logistics landscape.
Featuring 62 berths, four terminals, and an annual throughput of 130 million tons, the 12.5 sq. km. port is the Kingdom’s busiest
and the Red Sea’s leading hub for maritime trade, transshipments, and re-exports, with an eye on occupying a top-ten spot among the world’s best by 2030.
n Hyundai Motor Company has announced the appointment of DH Park as its new Head of Hyundai Motor Company Middle East and Africa Regional HQ.
He will oversee operations across the Middle East Africa region.
“Thanks to the growing number of satisfied and loyal customers, we will work with our team to maintain our strong performance in this important region despite global challenges,” commented Park on his appointment.
DH Park brings over 27 years of automobile experience with global leadership roles in various positions at Hyundai Motor Company, a press communique concluded.
n Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group recently signed a preliminary agreement with Dana Steel, the flagship manufacturing unit of industrial conglomerate Dana Group, for the establishment of its first hot and cold rolling steel complex in Abu Dhabi.
Under the terms of the agreement, Dana Steel will invest to develop a 50,000sqm facility in KEZAD. The new complex will facilitate backward integration of the company’s continuous galvanising and
continuous colour coating lines and will have 500,000 Metric Tonnes Rolling Capacity.
By providing a base for Dana Steel first facility in Abu Dhabi, KEZAD Group is extending its support for the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which looks to more than double the size of the emirate’s manufacturing sector to AED 172bn (US$ 46.83bn) by 2031 through a series of transformational programmes.
“By enabling vertical integration of their
manufacturing supply chain, we look forward to supporting Dana Steel on its journey to serve customers and expand its international reach,” remarked Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, KEZAD Group.
“With worldwide demand for quality steel products set to grow, we are quite excited to start this milestone project in KEZAD, which builds upon our efforts to enhance value for our customers across continents,” commented Dr Ankur Dana, CEO, Dana Steel Industry.
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 worldclass Petrochemical Terminal in DP World’s Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.
The advanced, newly opened US$ 50mn (AED 184mn) terminal for AquaChemie ME in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port 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, a press release indicated.
The facility was recently officially inaugurated on by the chief guest, Abdullah Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World UAE & JAFZA. Also present on the occasion were Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India, Dubai & Northern Emirates together with Subrato Saha, Managing Director, AquaChemie and Anand Kumar, Managing Director, AquaChemie, alongside other officials.
The Chemical Terminal covers an area of 20,000sqm and is located some 500m 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.
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.
“AquaChemie group’s revenue target for the new terminal over the next three years is US$ 300mn 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,” commented Subrato Saha.
Petrochemical manufacturers and endusers 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 press statement continued.
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.
“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,” explained Anand Kumar.
“Our new facility now enables the storage of several new products with improved pricing and availability for endusers,” noted Snehal Karia, VP Business Development, AquaChemie.
“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,” remarked Vishal Patel, GM, AquaChemie.
Year-on-year visitor growth and more than US$ 10bn in on-show announcements see this pivotal Saudi technology event rewrite history books.
After setting numerous new industry records during its 2022 debut, LEAP23 has shattered benchmarks once again after confirming 172,000 attendees this year, making it the world’s largest technology event by attendance.
Organisers of Saudi Arabia’s LEAP, the world’s most visionary, and now most attended, technology event, have now revealed next year’s edition, which will run from March 4-7 (2024), and move to a new home to ensure the pioneering platform continues to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
After two game-changing outings, LEAP24 will transition to a 120,000sqm capacity venue next year, enabling the third event to double in floor size and cater for even more innovative future technologies, digital entrepreneurs, tech startups, and high-profile guest speakers.
Powered by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in conjunction with Tahaluf, a strategic joint venture co-owned by Informa and SAFCSP (Saudi Federation for Cyber Security and Programming), LEAP’s expanded new venue will further enhance the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s position as the largest digital market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
“Momentum continues to go into orbit. In its first edition, LEAP22 enjoyed the largest debut of any technology event in history. In its second year, LEAP23 has rewritten the rule book once more to become the world’s largest technology sector event by attendance,” asserted Michael Champion, Head, Tahaluf, Organisers of LEAP.
A core enabler in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030, the four-day LEAP23 saw
an unprecedented 300,000-plus visitor registrations from more than 200 countries and welcomed a high-profile faculty of 1,000 global investors, up from 350 last year.
Comprising major investor groups, sovereign wealth funds, private family groups, as well as major venture capital and private equity funds focused on technology, LEAP23’s investor faculty boasted assets under management totalling US$ 2tn.
With on-event transactions exceeding US$ 10bn, a 50 per cent year-on-year increase on the US$ 6.8bn in deals announced in 2022, LEAP23 has injected fresh foreign direct investment impetus into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystems and startup economy.
Major announcements this year have included mega infrastructure investments and multiple new data centres nationwide, a raft of billion-dollar-plus public-private partnerships, and new academies to foster and upskill homegrown talent.
“There are 380,000 technology professionals currently working in Silicon Valley, the world’s tech capital, and there are 340,000 employed in Saudi’s technology industry. We are still only seeing the tip of the iceberg and when we consider that technology investment, adoption, innovation, and entrepreneurship are key pillars in the Kingdom’s ambitious economic diversification strategy, the potential for LEAP to power Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and galvanise growth across the international technology arena is unlimited,” concluded Champion.
By
KEZAD’s food sector ecosystem is currently spread over more than 7mn sqm (7.3sqkm) including 3.3sqkm dedicated for the Abu Dhabi Food Hub – KEZAD, and more than 40 global, regional, and local companies currently operating in the ecosystem.
“The UAE has taken bold steps since the formation of the country in line with the vision of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder of the Nation, with moves towards building a sustainable farming ecosystem to achieve ultimate food security. At KEZAD, we are fully aligned with this vision and have made great strides in supporting its realisation, as we move to secure food sources today and in the future,” stressed Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group.
“We continue to monitor the latest trends and bring innovation and best in market
solutions to Abu Dhabi to overcome any challenges in achieving our goals,” he continued.
“In light of the vision and promise of the wise leadership, KEZAD Group has taken several measures to enhance its food ecosystem through local and international collaborations and dialogue. We have also attracted investments and clients in new technologies to make Abu Dhabi the regional hub for food,” affirmed Mohamed Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi–KEZAD Group.
“Our Abu Dhabi Food Hub, in collaboration with France’s Rungis International (second largest wholesale food market in the world) and our hosting of the World Union of Wholesale markets conference in Abu Dhabi are examples of
how we are leading the industry in thought and action,” he further added.
KEZAD Group’s food ecosystem includes some of the world’s largest brands, including Sadia, Pinar, Oasis, Nestle, Lacnor, Al Kabeer and AlDahra Kohinoor.
Upcoming projects in KEZAD include an AED 110mn (US$ 30mn) facility by PRAN foods spread across more than 42,000sqm, to locally produce and export throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, and a 2mn sqm facility with expansion plan by another 3mn sqm for the establishment of an Al Rawabi dairy production facility.
The dairy farm, with an investment of AED 650mn (US$ 177mn) will be home to 10,000 Al Rawabi cows and increase their export efforts across the wider GCC region, a press communique concluded.
enhancing its integrated ecosystem and strengthening the food supply chain, Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, KEZAD Group is working to realise the UAE’s vision of becoming the world’s best on the Global Food Security Index by 2051.
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 intracity 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.
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,” affirmed Vinod 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,” asserted Ramez Hamdan, Managing Director, FAMCO.
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.
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