GWC-Qatar

GWC braces for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM

The Qatar logistics colossus is taking on the onus of one of the world’s biggest and acclaimed sporting events in its stride

GWC is the first regional supporter and official logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. As the leading provider of logistics and supply chain solutions in the State of Qatar, GWC occupies a place of pride in the country’s logistics landscape. It also has its work ahead clearly cut out.

GWC was established as a Qatari shareholding company and listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange in 2004; the company began operating in 2005 with a single small warehouse and a handful of vehicles.

GWC has since grown exponentially and now offers the full spectrum of highquality solutions to a variety of industry verticals in the country.

The company is backed by a team of committed and innovative experts in the field and supported by state-of-the-art IT systems and logistical infrastructure, including the largest self-contained logistics hub in the State of Qatar, the Logistics Village Qatar.

Now, new logistics trends are beginning to take shape in the Qatari business world, pioneered by Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC).

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM

Now as the Official Logistics Provider for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM , GWC offers 3.84mn sqm logistics footprint in Qatar, and expanding, with over 250,000 pallet locations. The company provides a wide range of logistics and ancillary services, utilizing a global freight network.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off on Monday, November 21 and the 28-day excitement and fanfare will climax with the nail-biting final is scheduled for Sunday 18 December at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.

As the countdown begins to an exciting era, Global Supply Chain conducted an exclusive interview with Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC on wide range of subjects both FIFA and non-FIFA related.

Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us the extent and scope of GWC’s logistics services offerings for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and where does the company see itself after this mega event? Ranjeev Menon (RM): Let me start by saying that we, at GWC, are very excited and honoured to be the Official Regional Supporter and Logistics Provider for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM .

We began our sports logistics journey in 2006 and have come a long way in short period of time. We started conceptualizing the logistics for the World Cup years ago and our ambit of services range from venue management, broadcasting, and cold chain logistics, to shipping, customs clearance, warehousing, and distribution, down to the logistics management of merchandise, souvenirs, food, and beverage.

GWC will be managing all details, large and small, and will provide end-to-end planning, tracking and execution, from point of origin to point of use, in addition to highly coordinated reverse logistics.

We offer this breadth of services with near to 4 million square meters of owned integrated logistics infrastructure, a global freight forwarding network, more than 1,600 specialised transportation vehicles, best in class IT solutions, comprehensive tracking systems, and highly competent team of professionals.

GSC: As a premier provider of logistics services, GWC has a long & successful track record of developing and managing bespoke logistics hubs in country including Logistics Village Qatar, Ras Laffan Logistics Hub. How significant are these projects and how do these empower GWC? RM: These projects are the backbone of our organisation and give us the tools to deliver the best to our customers and serve different industries and verticals.

For instance, Ras Laffan and Messaieed, caters to the logistics requirements of oil and gas industry. The 380,000 sq m infrastructure contains the first ISO-certified and government approved warehouse for third-party storage of hazardous materials.

On the other hand, LVQ is the region’s largest and most modern privatelyowned and self-contained full-service logistics center which plays a major role in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM .

GSC: What is the range of storage solutions on offer to potential renters of the warehousing units? RM: A whole range of options is offered to our tenants starting with flexible scalability opportunities within GWC’s 3.84 million sq meter of logistics parks presence in Qatar and across the GCC, which include end-to-end supply chain

GWC Supply Base at Ras Laffan West Side Services Area

solutions ranging from contract logistics, relocation, sports, fine art to freight forwarding and consulting services.

GSC: GWC is also big in equine / equestrian logistics……please elaborate. RM: We have managed to make a mark very swiftly in equestrian logistics by providing end-to-end solutions for the transport of horses and related assets by land and air and partnering with the best grooms and veterinarians during the transport and quarantine.

GWC has been instrumental in supporting several international equestrian events held in Qatar, such as the CHI AL SHAQAB presented by Longines 2022 held earlier this year. We had first handled the logistics for this event in 2015 where GWC received horses from 20 European countries, who first travelled to Amsterdam, which was the central hub and then to Doha.

GWC had full on-the-ground teams in origin and destination, handling the export and import into and out of Qatar, providing a veterinarian and a professional air groom per flight to accompany horses all the way.

In addition to the transport of the horses, GWC also has the expertise to transport and install temporary stables in which the horses lodge. This requires the cooperation of the company’s freight and relocations teams as they ensure the proper handling of the various equestrian equipment on both legs of the trip.

GWC Al Wukair Logistics Park master plan

GSC: These and other iconic projects constitute a big leap for the company; how do these projects line up with the Qatar National Vision 2030? RM: GWC is committed to promoting and help deliver the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 by supporting MSMEs towards the diversification of the economy. Through our logistics parks we offer MSMEs, which play a critical role in innovation and development, a one-stopshop to thrive and compete in today’s markets.

For instance, our Al Wukair Logistics Park, which is strategically located in south-central Doha, between Hamad international airport, Hamad seaport, and Al Majd road is designed to cater to the needs of micro, small, and mediumsized businesses in various industries. It allows new businesses to take advantage of the park by setting up a business there, or by using its services to support their existing business. The park is also equipped with all the necessary facilities, including storage units, office space, and workshops, which allows businesses to operate from the Park without having to set up their infrastructure.

GSC: How healthy is the logistics sector in Qatar and what is the growth potential? RM: I believe it is doing well. We did have to face many challenges over the last two years, but the sector has been steadily getting back on track.

With massive investment in infrastructure, numerous new projects, and an e-commerce boom, Qatar’s logistics sector has been expanding rapidly, a development that GWC is committed to support as a leading logistics provider and the Authorized Service Contractor of UPS in Qatar.

The country’s logistics market has been growing steadily over the past five years – it is estimated to be valued at more than USD 7.5 billion and is estimated to register a CAGR of more than 7% during 2021-2026.

GSC: How significant was GWC’s role in the Pharma chain related to distribution of Covid-19 vaccines? RM: GWC, played an essential role in ensuring timely and sufficient delivery of Covid-19 vaccine in Qatar, thanks to our relationship with UPS as their Authorized Service Contractor in the State of Qatar, we were entrusted with this task to deliver these life-saving vaccines.

GWC has its own pharmaceutical facility, offering 25,000 square meters of storage space and equipped with temperature controlled, refrigerated, and frozen chambers built to the latest specifications. This facility was also the first in Qatar to be licensed to offer 3PL

Nawaf Al Emadi receives the Qatar MoL Award.

GWC recognised by the Ministry of Labour for its commitment towards occupational health and safety

GWC was recognised for its persistent and pioneering work towards safeguarding the health and safety of its employees, at the Occupational Safety and Health Conference, with the theme ‘Occupational Safety and Health - Commitments and Responsibilities’.

“GWC is committed towards ensuring the protection of workers’ health and preventing accidents, injuries and illnesses arising out of, or occurring due to work, by eliminating or minimising the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment. Through our various initiatives we diligently and regularly ensure that the health and safety of our employees remains our top priority,” asserted Nawaf AlEmadi, Executive Director, GWC.

This Conference was held as part of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which falls on April 28 annually and was organised by the Qatar Ministry of Labour (MoL), in cooperation with the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (BWI).

As part of this conference, top performing distinguished companies in the field of occupational health and safety were recognised for their efforts with regard to educating workers at all levels about the standards and requirements for occupational safety and health, in addition to their continuous keenness to apply the best standards to maintain health and safety.

Training

“Whether it is preparing and organising periodic emergency drills, training employees by promoting a HSE culture or conducting safety inspections, GWC ensures that all measures possible are taken to empower, educate and protect our employees, and contractors working with GWC,” remarked Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC.

He further added that GWC recently celebrated the World Safety Day at its facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC) and Logistics Village Qatar (LVQ). The celebration was communicated via safety awareness video, poster drawing competition, and much more.

GWC Hazmat (oil and gas solutions) recently achieved four years of no ‘Lost Time Injury (LTI)’ with one of its customers in Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC), a major feat in GWC’s impressive track record of HSE achievements. The Company also issued over 894 work permits without any incident in 2021.

Logistics Village Qatar

services for the pharmaceutical market in the nation. Our expertise in this sector has never been more needed than during the Covid-19 pandemic.

GSC: What new technological trends in the workplace has GWC espoused in the recent past? RM: GWC is strongly driven by technology and is committed to creating innovative solutions that govern every business process, and driving decisions through data and analytics

We have also partnered with Gaussin and Gam Qatar to test Gaussin’s zeroemission electric tractors and yard automation solutions in several GWC warehouses, including GWC Al Wukair Logistic Park in Qatar.

We firmly believe in the power of digitalisation and have put in place various initiatives to ensure that we are able to provide holistic and innovative solutions to our client while keeping sustainability, cost and efficacy at the heart of it.

As a testament to that, we were recently recognised at the Forbes Digital Qatar Symposium & Awards 2021 which are aimed at honoring the digital transformation journey of the public and private sector.

GWC-Equestrian Logistics.

GSC: GWC recently initiated a major promotion campaign with CNN. Tell us more? RM: We are collaborating with CNN on a new multiplatform campaign across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to highlight our global logistics services and our role as the official host nation logistics provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ to our core target audience including key business decision makers, investors and high net worth individuals.

As part of this collaboration, through our campaign titled, ‘Life, Delivered’ we aim to showcase GWC’s unique role in providing intricate planning and robust infrastructure for logistics spanning various sectors including cold chain, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, fine art and mega events such as the FIFA World CupTM.