GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN NOVEMBER ISSUE 2022 by GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN

November 2022 Issue 96

ENHANCING THE BUSINESS OF LOGISTICS

GWC Forum 2022

Let the Games Begin! NAFL

35th AGM

Fives Group

Advanced Sorter Technologies

LogisEye

Making its Mark

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Let the FIFA World Cup™ 2022 Games begin!

SIGNATURE MEDIA FZ LLE P. O. Box 49784, Dubai, UAE Tel: 04 3795678 Email: info@signaturemediame.com Exclusive Sales Agent Signature Media LLC 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

Printed by United Printing Press (UPP) – Abu Dhabi Distributed by Tawseel Distribution & Logistics – Dubai

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 form without written permission.

There is perceptible and palpable excitement and enthusiasm in the air around the world and notably in host nation Qatar in the run-up to the upcoming FIFA World Cup™ 2022 games to be held from 20 November to 18 December. As the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Qatar’s leading Logistics Services Provider, GWC played a major role in tournament preparations. Now, the company is helping to deliver an economic legacy and reap a financial dividend by enabling Qatar’s blossoming and burgeoning MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) take advantage of this newly generated FIFA spin-off ecosystem to harness new opportunities and leverage gains. It is with perspective ion mind that the company hosted the just concluded GWC Forum 2022 with a rich repertoire of subjects and eminent industry professionals, academics, bankers, Government and FIFA officials who rallied round this issue. We carry a full report as our Cover Story for this edition. For the social side of our business, Global Supply Chain was invited to the recent milestone National & Freight Logistics (NAFL) 35th Anniversary commemorative celebrations held in the Dubai. In her keynote speech the long-serving President, Nadia Abdul Aziz, lauded the members for their display of unity and loyalty and for working cohesively to consolidate the Association and for growing it from strength to strength. She also chronicled the Association’s activities and accomplishment over the past year. The historic India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which was signed between the two nations on 18 February 2022, officially entered into force on 1 May 2022. As regards trade in services, Indian service providers will have enhanced access to around 111 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors. Global Supply Chain engaged in an exclusive, extensive interview with TJ Sivan, Senior Consultant, Supply Chain & Logistics Practice, Frost & Sullivan, for his expert take and the lowdown on the state of the Indian economy and its implications and ramifications for the logistics and supply chain sectors as part of our special India Focus Report. Add to this our regular repertoire of news, features, profiles, business analyses, and useful content all of which are well encapsulated and curated to make for stimulating reading! Happy reading! Malcolm Dias Editor malcolm@signaturemediame.com NOVEMBER 2022 3

November 2022 Issue 96

14 Etihad Rail

UAE’s rail operator has signed a flurry of deals with European and American companies.

India Focus Report

Frost & Sullivan’s senior consultant TJ Sivan on India’s rich pickings with the CEPA FTA Trade Deal with UAE.

23 24 Fives Group 28 DB Schenker-Dubai South LogisEye 30 MAWANI

Saudi Ports Authority is growing from strength to strength. The French Group unveils its latest sorter technology. DB Schenker has debuted and expanded into Dubai South.

A new working model is in the offing for LogisEye.

4 NOVEMBER 2022

06 GWC Forum 2022

A full report on the recently concluded Forum held in Doha Qatar.

FedEx

New FedEx research shows e-Commerce opportunities set to grow for SMEs.

32 NAFL 35th Anniversary 36 Celebrations

Slimstock Contribution

Sales and Operations Planning is now considered de rigueur in businesses.

A landmark anniversary is cause for celebrations.

42 Tyre Distribution Model

GCC tyre distributors are opting for operational digitization—the way forward

News

Up to date news of the Global Suppy Chain industry

Manama, Bahrain 1 - 3 November 2022

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GWC FORUM 2022—SECOND ANNUAL EDITION

GWC Forum 2022

highlights and sets the roadmap for the decisive role of MSMEs in powering Qatar’s economy Resounding Success: Hosting the FIFA World Cup™ will significantly boost enterprise and entrepreneurship in the country The recently concluded Second Annual GWC Forum 2022 in Doha has both doubled down on the mandate and reinforced its resolve from its inaugural 2021 edition to prepare, advocate, and energize the MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) in Qatar. The grand GWC-sponsored Forum featured multiple high-ranking industry-wide experts and professionals. The immediate dividend was the sharing of profound insights and the call to make the most and harness the emerging opportunities presented by the soon-to-be-staged FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ while outlining and manifesting the future growth masterplan and strategy in line with the nation’s National Vision 2030. 6 NOVEMBER 2022

“The Government of Qatar is mindful of the opportune time to encourage and foster MSMEs and provide resources to flourish in the glow of the FIFA World Cup 2022 infrastructural development.” Hamad Al Abdan Director of Business Development and Investment Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar

W “Qatar has been a hive of innovation in recent years, developing cooling technologies for stadiums and state-of-the-art public transport infrastructure, including the Doha Metro and light rail tram systems.” Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, Secretary General, FIFA

ith just little over a fortnight to go for the greatest show on earth, at the time of writing this report, the GWC Forum 2022 set the spirit of the soon-to-be-staged FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Games into motion. The second annual Forum, titled ‘Ready for the Game’, highlighted how Qatar’s economy will continue to flourish after the World Cup. The one-day, second annual GWC Forum 2022, concluded successfully on 1 November at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa in the Qatari capital. The event follows last year’s inaugural forum, titled ‘Getting you in the Game’, which attracted more than 800 delegates from 59 countries. This year’s forum focused on helping businesses capitalise on Qatar’s

hosting of the FIFA World Cup™, which will be held from 20 November to 18 December. Leading the charge in the logistics and supply chain solutions space was GWC Logistics, the organizer, convenor, and host of the event. As the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, GWC is playing a major role in tournament preparations. It is also helping to deliver an economic legacy by enabling Qatar’s blossoming and burgeoning MSMEs.

Empowering MSMEs in Qatar— GWC Tribute “Empowering Qatar’s MSMEs sector is one of our core goals and we look forward to sharing a range of insights from high-level local, regional and international participants during this year’s forum,” affirmed Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC ahead of the landmark event. “We believe MSMEs will supercharge Qatar’s economy in the coming decades as the country leverages hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet. The FIFA

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GWC FORUM 2022—SECOND ANNUAL EDITION

“Empowering Qatar’s MSMEs sector is one of our core goals and we look forward to sharing a range of insights from high-level local, regional and international participants during this year’s forum.” Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC 8 NOVEMBER 2022

World Cup is bringing new opportunities to Qatar and enabling economic growth across a range of sectors. As Qatar’s number one logistics and supply chain solutions company, we understand the significant role we play in capitalising on World Cup opportunities, and this is something we demonstrated and showcased during the forum,” he added. “GWC is proud to be at the forefront of MSME development, helping the current and next generation of businesses in Qatar as the country aims to deliver the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030,” affirmed Menon. “This year’s forum has illustrated the impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup and how Qatar is leveraging the numerous opportunities that hosting a sporting megaevent offers. We look forward to continuing our work with partners across various industries as we strive to power Qatar’s economy long into the future,” he observed. “I would like to thank all our valuable partners and stakeholders for taking part in another successful edition of the GWC Forum. We look forward to continuing the conversation as Qatar reaps the benefits of hosting the FIFA World Cup in legacy mode,” he emphasized.

Hybrid Forum The hybrid forum, also included international participation, aimed to foster, encourage and enable MSMEs in Qatar by giving them a platform to showcase and grow beyond 2022, in line with the ambitious Qatar National Vision 2030. It also served as an interface to unite the Government as the champion and advocate for their cause and other multiple stakeholders to unite in this endeavour The keynote address was delivered on behalf of FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, by Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, the Senegalese former diplomat and senior executive, appointed as the first female Secretary General of FIFA in May 2016. “Qatar has been a hive of innovation in recent years, developing cooling technologies for stadiums and state-of-theart public transport infrastructure, including the Doha Metro and light rail tram systems,” she asserted in her video address. Fatma Samoura lauded and thanked the Government of Qatar for taking the responsibility and delivering on the promise to develop the necessary infrastructure and

“It is an opportunity for Qatar and the whole Gulf region to present itself to the world in new light. It will definitely help to get more mutual understanding between people of different cultures and backgrounds, I am convinced of that.” Gianni Infantino FIFA President

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has transformed Qatar. I’m greatly excited about this mega event after working on it for the past 12 years of my life. Nasser Al Khater, CEO, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

“Qatar 2022 will leave a transformational image for our region. Over decades, hundreds of millions of ardent fans have watched history unfold in World Cups in every region of the world.” Hassan Al Thawadi Secretary General, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar.

NOVEMBER 2022 9

“As part of the academic world, the faculty members and the team at Hamad Bin Khalifa University are working and interfacing closely with the Government and other stakeholders to encourage MSMEs.” Prof. Laoucine Kerbache, Hamad Bin Khalifa University comprehensive amenities and facilities for this massively challenging world-class event. She was appreciative of the many engineering feats and marvels that constituted the demanding requirements and rigorous criteria expected of the Qatari Government. A host of senior level speakers represented the forum partners and other global brands during the event, which facilitated insightful discussions on the role of logistics at mega-events like the FIFA World Cup™. Panel sessions and workshops also offered a deeper dive into key subjects as delegates looked to glean knowledge from the biggest sporting event ever to be held in the region. In addition, two round table discussions and two workshops were held, focusing on business success and prosperity, occupational health and safety, design incubation and film entrepreneurship. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, FIFA, GWC, Scale7 and The Film House.

Panel 1: FIFA World Cup impact With just little over a fortnight to go for the commencement of games and at the time of writing this report, the GWC Forum 2022 set the spirit of the soon-to-be-staged FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Games into motion.

10 NOVEMBER 2022

The intent was to build on foundation from the previous year to prepare, champion, and empower the MSMEs of Qatar. It featured industry-wide experts who shared insights on making the most of opportunities presented by FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ while outlining the future growth roadmap in line with Vision 2030. The first panel session examined the direct and indirect impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup on MSMEs in various sectors of the resilient and booming Qatari economy. Speaking at this panel of the Forum, Jose Dhooma, Head of Event Logistics for FIFA asserted that despite many challenges, Qatar is ahead of its plans for the World Cup 2022. “Having won the bid in 2010, the State of Qatar has systematically and satisfactorily delivered at every stage and every year and with confidence I say they are well positioned,” he affirmed. He also added that with an attention to detail, the plans have been well accomplished, and deadlines adhered to. Dhooma said hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar had raised the bar for a vast number of businesses. “There is a better understanding of international requirements as a result of the World Cup,” he commented. “Many businesses now have FIFA on their CV.

This helps them to grow. You should also consider the people involved in the organising committee – they will be thinking how they can create companies and take their services around the world. Working on a World Cup gives people confidence,” he added. Panelist Syed Maaz, Chief Business Development Officer, GWC, stated that the MSME sector has grown phenomenally in the last 10 years and GWC has been constantly developing and nurturing their needs at every step of the way. Panelist Fatma Al Nuaimi, Communications & Media Executive Director, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, was also very upbeat about the advent and imminent holding of the FIFA World Cup Games. “Qatar will be a hard act to follow, and we have delivered on our promises and deliverables,” she underscored. Al Nuaimi said the Supreme Committee had worked closely with MSMEs in Qatar and the region on many infrastructure projects, including stadium developments. “We have been engaging MSMEs from the start, whether it is building stadiums or training sites. A number of businesses will be involved in the entertainment and fan experience activations during the World Cup, including event companies and food and beverage businesses. Whenever we

Empowerment and Recycling / Waste Management. “Under the directives of Coca Cola, we have been driving our market under these guidelines and empower women and also make sure we pay a careful attention to the recycling industry of our bottling plants across the world,” she asserted. Maaz outlined GWC’s contribution to the MSME sector, including the development of 4 million square meters of logistics infrastructure and an ever-expanding ecosystem for small enterprises. “The MSME sector has grown a lot in the last 10 years and is now a major driver for the economy,” said Maaz. “GWC has created an infrastructure to make it easy for MSMEs to set up in business. We are now

managing a huge amount of warehousing in the country, including Al Wukair Logistics Park, which was built specifically to support MSMEs,” he observed.

Panel 2: The Way Forward The second panel session, titled ‘The Way Forward,’ looked into the trends and challenges faced by MSMEs. Participants included Charles Nahas, Regional General Manager, Microsoft, Dr Manal Al Zaidan, Director of Pharmacy, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Dr Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor, HBKU, and Dr Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor, HBKU. The panellists discussed the impact of

have opportunities, we make sure to involve MSMEs – many businesses have been developed here since Qatar won the rights to host the World Cup,” she noted. Another panelist, Nazli Berberoglu, General Manager, The Coca Cola, felt the need for two main issues addressing the 21st century. Women Empowerment and Recycling and Waste Management. Berberoglu commented on Coca-Cola’s commitment to working with MSMEs. “We support a large number of businesses and help them take advantage of opportunities,” remarked Berberoglu. “We always try to take a long-term approach and build a sustainable ecosystem. One example came during Covid-19 when we helped small businesses create home delivery strategies and worked with them to digitise their businesses so they could better serve their customers,” she continued. She also spoke about two key issues addressing the 21st century. Women

NOVEMBER 2022 11

GWC FORUM 2022—SECOND ANNUAL EDITION

the FIFA World Cup on their various sectors and outlined the trends they expected to see after the tournament. The second panel session delved into the trends and challenges faced by MSMEs by taking the discussion to major enablers of business transformation. Charles Nahas, Regional General Manager, Microsoft, spoke briefly on three points related to MSME’s namely start-ups, home grown businesses, commercial and small shop owners. “We harness technology well and go out of our way to assist all three levels of MSME’s with innovative ideas to equip them for the current and future build of their company,” he emphasized. Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) observed that they have been doing research for the last 10 years and will continue to use this in the development not only for potential World Cup organizers, but also the MSME’s in their quest for market intelligence which will equip them on the global stage. “They will also help MSME’s to leverage their geographical location of Qatar to the region and Middle East to their advantage,” he noted. “Qatar will shine during the 29-day period of hosting the FIFA World Cup matches and we can be counted on to deliver results. All measures are now in place for the safe and successful conduction of the Games,” assured Dr. Manal Al Zaidan, Director of

12 NOVEMBER 2022

Pharmacy, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). Dr. Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, also weighed in asserting that with a newfound, business-friendly ecosystem in the aftermath of the FIFA World Cup Games, investors and MSMEs must take advantage of the momentum generated and harness the opportunities that come along.

Workshops Hamad Al Abdan Director of Business Development and Investment Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar, also shared insights on the incentives and opportunities offered by the Government to enable and foster the growth of MSMEs in the country. Al Abdan earlier gave a presentation about the 1,000 Opportunities scheme, which invites businesses in the private sector to partner with global brands. He also discussed the business ecosystem in Qatar, describing the FIFA World Cup as a golden opportunity for the country’s economy to prosper in future. Ayesha Khalifa Al Rumaihi, Manager of Special Programs Incubation at Qatar Development Bank (QDB) spoke on specific projects and the customized Scale7 incentive to encourage MSMEs As the first Fashion & Design incubator

in Qatar, Scale 7 was founded by QDB in partnership with M7, to serve as a platform to promote, develop and foster the creative industry in the country. A final Round Table with two prominent academics Prof. Laoucine Kerbache and Dr. Adel Elomrim Assistant Professor, both from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, rounded the discussions. The two faculty members made the pitch and case for increased incentivisation and provision of resources to promote MSMEs into the wider business fold. The final workshop focused on the research undertaken to track the impact of Qatar’s FIFA World Cup and how the education sector can work with industry to support students and alumni. The discussions were anchored and moderated by Emily Angwin, Senior Presenter, Al Jazeera, based at the network’s headquarters in Doha. Qatar National Bank (QNB) was the Strategic Partner for the GWC Forum 2022 and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) was the Research Partner. Other Support Partners were FIFA; the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy; Ooredoo, the Qatari Telecommunications Company; Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Investments; Qatar Development Bank (QDB); Primary Health Care Corporation; Microsoft and Coca Cola Company. The Media Partner was beIN SPORTS and the Gift Sponsor was Floward.

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ETIHAD RAIL

Etihad Rail completes tracklaying works for the main line in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah The project involved 3,250 workers and 13mn workhours over 25 months

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has completed the main works of the UAE National Rail Network with the completion of the tracklaying works of the main line in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, as part of the last package of Stage Two of the project.

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ETIHAD RAIL

he main line of the pan UAE National Rail Network extends from Ghuweifat on the border of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and passes through the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Moving full steam ahead, Etihad Rail now continues the tracklaying works in the emirate of Fujairah within the upcoming weeks, bringing it closer towards the completion of the UAE National Rail Network as per the set schedule.

National Railways Programme This comes in line with the goals of the National Railways Programme, the biggest integrated sustainable transport system in the UAE, which seeks to connect the Emirates via rail and accelerate the country’s sustainable economic development. The line in Sharjah extends over 45 km and is part of the last package of the project, which is 145 km in length. Connecting the Emirate to the main line recorded more than 11.7mn work hours in 25 months. Around 2,900 workers and engineers took part in the project, which involved the track laying works and running quality checks for the new line. The line in Ras Al Khaimah, which extends over 5.7 km and connects the Emirate to the main line, recorded more than 1.3mn hours in 25 months, by around 350 workers and engineers. Engineer Khuloud Al Mazrouei, Deputy Project Manager at Etihad Rail, said: “This completion plays a key role in opening up new prospects in the logistics and transport industry, driving social development, and providing promising economic opportunities in the UAE and the region across a range of sectors.”

Last package of Etihad Rail project The last package of Stage Two of Etihad Rail project, which runs for 145 km from Sharjah to Fujairah port, passing through Ras Al Khaimah, saw important developments. In May 2022, Etihad Rail commenced track laying operations of the package, which coincided with the visit of HH Sheikh Theyab Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman, Etihad Rail, to inspect

Oman Rail and Etihad Rail JV Board of Directors hold inaugural meeting The development of the JV network will boost land transport system The Board of Directors of Oman RailEtihad Rail JV Company, a joint venture between Oman Rail, the developer and operator of the Oman National Rail Network, and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, held its inaugural meeting in Dubai, two days after signing an agreement to form the company. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the recent visit of the UAE President, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Oman. The Board of Directors includes HE Suhail Bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; HE Eng. Saeed Bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology in the Sultanate of Oman;; Sheikh Nasser Sulaiman Al Harthy, Acting Vice President of Operations Affairs, Oman Investment Authority and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asyad Group; HE Saeed Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Etihad Rail Mobility; Eng. Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, Group CEO, Asyad Group and Eng. Shadi Malak, CEO, Etihad Rail. During the meeting, the Board of

Directors discussed the implementation plans, including technical studies and architectural design, as well as environmental studies for routes, the business model and the commercial affairs of the joint venture. The Board of Directors also appointed Eng. Ahmed Al Hashemi as CEO of the company, and Eng. Mohammed bin Zahran Al Mahruqi as Deputy CEO. “The joint railway network will advance the land transport system between the two countries in line with the best-in-class criteria and standards, providing safe, dependable, and sustainable transportation,” HE Minister Al Mazrouie stated. “Through this partnership we will provide high-quality transport solutions that will contribute to establishing a connection between Sohar and the Omani free zone, with vital economic and industrial zones in the UAE,” HE Minister Al Maawali explained. The US$ 3bn railway network will contribute to the growth of the two countries’ national economies and improve the efficiency of supply chains whilst facilitating cross-border trade by linking commercial ports to the railway network.

NOVEMBER 2022 15

ETIHAD RAIL

the latest developments. The line in the last package of Stage Two has 54 bridges and 20 animal crossings. It also has 9 tunnels which extend over 6.9 km along Al Hajar Mountains, and include the longest tunnel in the GCC for heavy cargo, which extends over 1.8 km. This line passes through one of the most difficult geographical areas due to the mountainous terrain surrounding it. Etihad Rail completes tracklaying works for the main line in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah The project involved 3,250 workers and 13mn workhours over 25 months Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has completed the main works of the UAE National Rail Network with the completion of the tracklaying works of the main line in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, as part of the last package of Stage Two of the project. The main line of the UAE National Rail Network extends from Ghuweifat on the border of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and passes through the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Moving full steam ahead, Etihad Rail now continues the tracklaying works in the emirate of Fujairah within the upcoming weeks, bringing it closer towards the completion of the UAE National Rail Network as per the set schedule.

National Railways Programme This comes in line with the goals of the National Railways Programme, the biggest integrated sustainable transport system in the UAE, which seeks to connect the

16 NOVEMBER 2022

Emirates via rail and accelerate the country’s sustainable economic development. The line in Sharjah extends over 45 km and is part of the last package of the project, which is 145 km in length. Connecting the Emirate to the main line recorded more than 11.7mn work hours in 25 months. Around 2,900 workers and engineers took part in the project, which involved the track laying works and running quality checks for the new line. The line in Ras Al Khaimah, which extends over 5.7 km and connects the Emirate to the main line, recorded more than 1.3mn hours in 25 months, by around 350 workers and engineers. “This completion plays a key role in opening up new prospects in the logistics and transport industry, driving social development, and providing promising economic opportunities in the UAE and the region across a range of sectors,” stated Engineer Khuloud Al Mazrouei, Deputy Project Manager at Etihad Rail.

Last package of Etihad Rail project

The last package of Stage Two of Etihad Rail project, which runs for 145 km from Sharjah to Fujairah port, passing through Ras Al Khaimah, saw important developments. In May 2022, Etihad Rail commenced track laying operations of the package, which coincided with the visit of HH Sheikh Theyab Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman, Etihad Rail, to inspect the latest developments. The line in the last package of Stage Two has 54 bridges and 20 animal crossings. It also has 9 tunnels which extend over 6.9 km along Al Hajar Mountains, and include the longest tunnel in the GCC for heavy cargo, which extends over 1.8 km. This line passes through one of the most difficult geographical areas due to the mountainous terrain surrounding it.

ETIHAD RAIL

Etihad Rail signs four MoUs with leading international railway companies Etihad Rail signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with international companies SNCF International, France’s national state-owned railway company; Alstom, a global leader in the green and smart mobility sector; Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, and the Thales Group. The signing of the agreements took place at the recently concluded InnoTrans 2022, the leading international trade fair for transport technology, held in Berlin, Germany in September 2022. The agreements, which were signed by officials from both sides, aim to support the UAE’s economic development by driving the growth of the rail industry in the UAE and the region, and cover key areas which include rail operations and maintenance, service facilities, and cargo transportation, while ensuring the integration of the latest technologies. “Our partners play a key role in supporting us to achieve our mission of developing and operating a rail network that incorporates state-of-theart technologies, and provides safe, sustainable, and reliable solutions,” stated Ahmed Al Musawa, Executive Director, Passenger Sector, Etihad Rail. SNCF International Under the terms of the MoU between Etihad Rail and SNCF International, the two parties will collaborate and explore opportunities in different areas of mutual interest. These areas include railway operations; train maintenance; workshops and training sessions; design, development, and operations rail projects in the UAE; supply and maintenance of railway rolling stock, among others. “We believe rail transport is the foundation of a sustainable mobility. SNCF International salutes the commitment of Etihad Rail with their ambitious and major projects for rail transport. We are looking

Signs agreements with Alstom, SNCF, Progress Rail, and the Thales Group

forward to this cooperation,” affirmed Diego Diaz, President, SNCF International. Alstom The MoU between Etihad Rail and Alstom centres on the integration of advanced technologies and services in the railway industry. As part of the MoU, the two parties will collaborate in areas, which include: Railway innovations, from incubation to commercialization, including innovative sustainability in the field of train technology; mobility and integration solutions between various modes of transport. “Together, we will focus on the digitalization of the railway sector to optimize operations, maintenance, and enhance customer experience for the passenger service,” remarked Mama Sougoufara, Alstom’s Managing Director for the MENAT region (Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey). Thales The MoU with Thales also places a major focus on the digitization of Etihad Rail’s services. Under the terms of the MoU, the two parties will collaborate in various areas, which include new

generation rail control; European Train Control System (ETSC) Level 3; driver advisory system; intelligent traffic operation; asset management and real time passenger flow. “This new partnership demonstrates the key partner role played by Thales throughout the world to help its customers meet the challenges they must face. It also proves the high recognition of Thales expertise in rail domain,” observed Millar Crawford, Executive Vice-President, Ground Transportation Systems, Thales. Progress Rail In addition, the MoU with Progress Rail aims to discuss areas of cooperation to support sustainability in the railway industry through discussing potential opportunities for the development and deployment of an autonomous, zeroemissions port-to-port concept, which could serve as the foundation for future rail operations globally. “Progress Rail is committed to providing sustainable solutions for customers like Etihad Rail,” noted Marty Haycraft, President and CEO, Progress Rail.

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INDIA SPECIAL REPORT

CEPA takeoff opens the floodgates to Indo-UAE external trade

Officials from both countries foresee exponential growth in trade between the two nations Overall, as a result of the bilateral CEPA FTA Agreement signed between the leaders of both countries, India will benefit from preferential market access provided by the UAE on over 97% of its tariff lines which account for 99% of Indian exports to the UAE in value terms particularly from labour-intensive sectors.

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INDIA SPECIAL REPORT

he historic India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which was signed between the two nations on 18 February 2022, officially entered into force on 1 May

2022. As regards trade in services, Indian service providers will have enhanced access to around 111 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors. CEPA is expected to increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods to over US$ 100bn and trade in services to over US$ 15bn within five years. It is interesting to note that US$ 670bn of exports (goods and service) by India during last fiscal year constituted 22-23% of the GDP, and exports are an important engine of growth for the country’s economy. Global Supply Chain, in an exclusive, extensive interview with TJ Sivan, Senior Consultant, Supply Chain & Logistics Practice, Frost & Sullivan, for his expert take and the lowdown on the state of the Indian economy and its implications and ramifications for the logistics and supply chain sectors as part of our special India Focus Report. Global Supply Chain (GSC): How would you characterize the state of the current Indian economy—general comments, brief? TJ Sivan (TJS): The current highlights are as follows. There is a sharp fall in the economic growth of 4 % in FY2020 compared to historical standards due to covid related disruptions, followed by a strong rebound in the economic growth of 8.7 % in FY 2021 The manufacturing sector in India which grew on an average of 5 % between FY 2016-21, is expected to grow significantly, at a CAGR of 10% from FY2022-26 to reach US$ 742bn. The Government targets to achieve exports of US$ 2Trillion by 2030; therefore, the focus has shifted to the promotion of manufacturing and industrial goods by supporting conducive business, investment, and infrastructure development initiatives. In the medium term, manufacturing and export sectors are expected to play a key role in the economic transformation which requires better integration with the global value chain.

Competitiveness of Indian goods in the international market is adversely affected by poor logistics infrastructure and an inefficient logistics ecosystem. Overall, a promising period of growth in the horizon for the Indian economy. GSC: How do you assess the logistics landscape in India? TJS: India’s logistics inefficiencies arise from market fragmentation, weak logistics infrastructures, lack of skilled workers, and regulatory hurdles. This causes the increase in its indirect logistics expenditure. The transportation cost in India from the total cost of logistics stands high due to poor road infrastructure, traffic congestion and regulatory delays. Since the country is heavily dependent on road freight, representing more than 70% of all freight, long-haul freight routes result in more logistics spending than rail freight. India’s logistics spending is on the higher end, with an estimated 13 % of its GDP, leading to a lower Logistics Performance compared to international standards. The logistics landscape has an opportunity to grow a higher share of warehousing and value-added services, in comparison to the transportation segment. GSC: Broadly, how is trade between India and the GCC and UAE in particular faring? TJS: Total trade with Saudi Arabia and UAE accounted for US$ 100bn; exports from India to these two GCC economies accounted for 30 % of the trade, while imports from these two countries to India accounted for 70 % of total trade. Major commodities of export from India to Saudi Arabia include engineering goods, rice, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, food products, and ceramic tiles. Major commodities of import for India from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, chemicals, plastic, and products thereof and more. Major Commodities exported to UAE from India include Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins, Electrical, electronic equipment, Iron and steel, Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, Industrial Machinery, Automotive products, Ready-made garments and apparel, food and beverages,

paper and paperboard, Organic chemicals GSC: Where are the new opportunities and challenges for India from a logistics perspective? TJS: India’s logistics inefficiencies arise from market fragmentation, weak logistics infrastructure, lack of skilled workers, regulatory hurdles, high reliance on road freight, lack of multimodal connectivity, cold chain facilities and complexity in administrative regulations. The opportunities will come in the form of Infrastructure development in seaports airports, cold chain infrastructure, supply chain and digitalization, warehouse modernization/automation solutions, e-commerce, healthcare, and food / perishable logistics. GSC: Recently, HE Narendra D. Modi, India’s Prime Minister announced a new National Logistics Policy. What broadly are the reforms and highlights of the Indian Government’s new logistics strategy? TJS: Government has given priority to

TJ Sivan has over 15 years of experience in economic, industrial, supply chain, and logistics research and consulting space. He has handson experience developing insights and actionable strategies for various strategic and operational challenges relating to supply chain and logistics.

NOVEMBER 2022 19

INDIA SPECIAL REPORT

reducing logistics costs and improving efficiency through key policy initiatives in line with the national infrastructure pipeline, PM Gati Shakti and national logistics policy. These initiatives are expected to improve regional and multimodal connectivity. National Master Plan for Multi Modal connectivity is a platform used to implement infrastructure projects in integrated planning among various ministries. Key Infrastructure projects relating to Bharatmala (road), Sagarmala (Sea), inland waterways, and dry/land ports are part of this initiative. Transformational changes in the logistics ecosystem are expected to lower logistics costs with the implementation of the recently approved ‘National logistics policy.’ The new logistics policy will be implemented through a Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP). CLAP comprises of four broad initiatives namely Integrated Digital Logistics System (IDS), Development of Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), Improving Ease of Logistics (E-logS), and Integrated Government Online Training (IGoT) platform to facilitate approvals Implementation of these initiatives is expected to improve the global competitiveness of exports, make domestic

20 NOVEMBER 2022

logistics services more efficient by making the supply chain more resilient, and reduce the operational cost of logistics services. GSC: What must happen, what are the recommendations for increased streamlining in logistics functionally? TJS: Streamline trade and investment processes, improve export competitiveness, and reduce overall inefficiency in freight transportation and warehousing operations Elimination of inefficiencies and reduce costs by removing bottlenecks in the logistics value chain by improving multimodal logistics infrastructure. Areas that require to be strengthened include multimodal connectivity, warehousing, and cold chain storage facilities in tier II and III cities and digitalization of the logistics process with trace and visibility solutions Interoperable systems to be in place to ensure data is exchanged and communicated between systems seamlessly for real-time visibility and decision-making. Allowing the removal of non-valueadding intermediaries in the logistics value chain will greatly improve the profitability, visibility, and efficiency of the logistics ecosystem. Digital platforms and tools

should be utilized to achieve this integration of the logistics value chain. GSC: The historic India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between the two nations on 18 February 2022. What implications does this mega deal have for bilateral trade between the two countries? TJS: India-UAE bilateral trade has steadily increased to US$ 68bn in FY 2019-20. UAE has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India for zero customs duties on 90% of the trade in value it exports to the nation. This is expected to increase non-oil trade two folds in the next five years to reach around US$ 100bn. UAE has committed US$ 75bn towards infrastructure development in India and the Government of Dubai signed an MoU for real estate development, industrial parks, IT towers, multipurpose towers, logistics, medical college, and super specialty hospital. Regional e-commerce hub and redistribution centre: Proximity to East Africa, South Asia, North Africa, and CIS makes UAE an ideal location for crossborder e-commerce and redistribution center agriculture, healthcare, consumer,

INDIA SPECIAL REPORT

and industrial products. Economic Diversification: UAE has earned the title of being one of the most open economies globally. Low tariffs and some non-tariff trade policies and businessfriendly free zones are expected to diversify and increase the contribution of the non-oil economy. GSC: How will the logistics sector be the beneficiary of increased trade between the two countries? TJS: Top exports from India to UAE includes medical appliances, pharmaceuticals, leather products, textile goods, agriculture goods and Industrial machinery and gems and jewelry. Sea and Air trade cargo volumes are expected to grow in line with commodities traded between UAE. Sea Freight: Less than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL) is expected to benefit as a significant part of exports are from Small and Medium Enterprises. Air freight companies like Emirates SkyCargo expect a rise in exports of perishables and pharmaceuticals from India in the next five years. Demand for storage and warehouse space is expected to increase in key ports and urban centers such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah

22 NOVEMBER 2022

Annual FDI inflow was estimated at US$ 83bn in FY 20; Computer Software Hardware (35%), Automobile Industry (20%) and Education Tech (12%) GSC: Based on current trends and economic indices, what is your / Frost & Sullivan’s prognosis for the Indian economy and the logistics and supply chain sector for 2022-2023? TJS: Number of policy initiatives are expected to increase investment and stimulate industrial growth. The Indian government launched the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) Schemes in early 2020 to localize production and manufacturing. Sectors introduced under the scheme are chosen for their capability to reach global scales and establish India in the global value chains. automobiles, appliances, electronics & IT, pharmaceuticals, solar modules, metals & mining, textiles & apparel, and drones are expected to benefit from this initiative. Self-Reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan): Sectors covered under the initiatives include Agriculture Supply Chain Reforms for Agriculture, tax Reforms, Human Resource Development, and Strengthening the Financial System. Economic growth is projected to increase to 6.5 % in FY 2023, despite the global uncertainties arising from inflation and

increase in interest rates by the monetary authorities, supply chain disruptions associated with the Ukraine war and volatile commodity prices. GSC: How significant is FDI and the free zones for India’s economy? TJS: FDI Inflow: India has emerged as a preferred investment destination amongst global investors due to FDI policies that removed restrictions across manufacturing, energy, and service sectors over the years. Annual FDI inflow was estimated at US$ 83bn in FY 20; Computer Software Hardware (35%), Automobile Industry (20%) and Education Tech (12%) are some of the sectors that benefited from the inflow. To attain a GDP of US$ 5Trillion, the government is likely to give priority to Investment promotion and improve FDI inflow in the coming years. Free zones and Industry Clusters: Industrial clusters and economic corridors are given priority as part of logistics infrastructure development - Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defense corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agro zones are likely to play

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FIVES GROUP—FRANCE

Serial Innovation – the genesis and evolution of GENI-Ant™ Chronicling the development, market-launch and first line applications Fives, the 200-year old Paris, France-headquartered industrial engineering group, provides global, customized value-added sorting, handling and automation solutions to increase speed, flexibility through precision intralogistics processes and production flow to deliver the right package, to the right place, at the right time. In this special feature, Global Supply Chain shines the spotlight on the GENI-Ant™ sorter, the company’s innovative sorting solution based on robotic technology, developed to meet the needs of all companies facing increasing complexity in logistics.

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FIVES GROUP—FRANCE

o meet the high expectations of the market, it was essential to develop a state-of-the-art, sophisticated, sorting system with the following characteristics—the ability to manage multiple types of parcels, even non-standard ones; scalability of the number of destinations; the flexibility to cope with fluctuations in sorting capacity and all this must be accomplished by combining the maximum

The advantages of GENI-Ant Enter the GENI-AntTM sorter, a system that can optimize footprint by up to 40% compared to other automatic solutions. Thanks to its dampers and sophisticated software, it can move along non-linear paths, adapting to the smallest of spaces. It is capable of carrying g a wide variety of parcels and sorting them on a large number of destinations with the utmost care and precision, thanks to its two belts that can be activated separately.

Fabio Sacchi

Fabio Sacchi started his career in 1993 as sales technical expert in flexible automation for the production process. After two years, he became Sales and Marketing Director at a manufacturing company focused on logistics automation and turnkey solutions for material handling automation, sorting, order fulfillment, intralogistics and lastmile operations. In 2016, he joined Fives Intralogistics Spa with the mission to develop the business of robotic solutions for the intralogistics industry. Since then, he is leading a team of expert engineers with the goal to build the next generation’s most flexible robotic sorters. Sacchi has achieved great success

with the development of the AMRbased GENI-AntTM sorter, that has been entirely designed and manufactured at Fives Intralogistics SPA in Italy.

Umer Saleem Umer Saleem has over 14 years experience in the intra-logistics (smart warehousing automation robotics, industrial conveyor systems & air cargo automation) field. Umer has a broad range of innovative experience in Design Engineering, Sales Market analysis & reporting for UK & European, Middle Eastern business strategies. Industry experience includes e-commerce, aviation, air cargo, MRO spare parts, pharma, general, retail and more.

NOVEMBER 2022 25

FIVES GROUP—FRANCE

The GENI-AntTM sorter has been developed with a scalable design, to meet the most aggressive growth plans in terms of increasing the number of destinations in a matter of weeks, up to the possibility of being relocated in case of change of sorting site. The GENI-AntTM sorter autonomously adjusts its acceleration according to the type of item it is transporting (paying particular attention to the most delicate ones), and the stages of the trajectory, from the loading position to transport, to the final destination. In conclusion, as consumer buying habits and needs have changed dramatically, making logistics for many companies extremely complex, our GENI-Ant™ sorter is the right solution to address investments that require flexibility and scalability in a small footprint. Global Supply Chain interviewed the high-power duo comprising Fabio Sacchi, New Applications Director, Fives Intralogistics SPA Italy and Umer Saleem, Lead, Business Development & Sales, Middle East, South-East Asia & Turkey. Global Supply Chain (GSC): Give us the 30-second corporate spiel / profile on the Fives Group. Fabbio Sacchi (FS): For over 200 years, Fives has been at the heart of industrial revolutions and has written the history of France including the first railway lines and even the iconic landmarks such as Eiffel Tower and elevators. Today, Fives with a strong international presence in over 25 countries, continues to design and provide innovative technologies and advanced solutions for the world’s largest industrial groups. The Group has three main activities including intralogistics, which accounts for a third of its turnover. As the world’s leading partner in supply chain performance, Fives, through its Intralogistics Business Unit, provides and integrates world-class solutions for sorting, warehousing, order picking, material handling and advanced automation. Fives’ Intralogistics Business Unit can count on the commitment of its 1,200 passionate and expert employees, in Europe, Asia, MENA (Middle East North Africa) and the Americas to serve a wide

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range of industries, from retail, distribution, e-commerce, postal & courier to manufacturing and airports. For over 60 years, Fives has been developing innovative products and technologies in close partnership with customers, some of which have become market standards. GSC: How critical is automation and the provision of advanced material handling solutions in today’s logistics landscape? Why? FS: The Covid-19 pandemic not only changed the world dramatically, but also had a major impact on consumer habits. Online sales have increased up to 50% in 2020, with a higher demand for click-andcollect, local delivery and better returns management.

As a result, the volumes of parcels to be distributed and delivered have increased significantly, creating an urgent need for major e-commerce and postal and courier players to transform their supply chain and improve their delivery network, especially in urban areas. They must now manage unpredictable, more fragmented, and smaller orders in their sorting centers and warehouses, as well as an increasing number of returns. GSC: Briefly explain the extent of automation-related products and solutions offered by the Fives Group? FS: We help our customers stay ahead in this demanding industry by automating their warehouses with smart, scalable, and futureproof solutions that can be easily and quickly adapted to ever-changing requirements.

FIVES GROUP—FRANCE

We provide our customers with tailormade, turnkey storage and material handling solutions bringing together advanced technologies, proprietary software and aftermarket services. Our state-of-the-art product range includes conveyors, diverters, sorters, singulators, AMRs, ASRS, and software systems. GSC: Talk to us specifically about GENIAnt? Where does it find applications? FS: The GENI-AntTM sorter is an AMRbased robotic system that provides highperformance parcel handling and sorting, scalable and flexible solutions that can be easily reconfigured and relocated due to its compact design and small footprint. The implementation of autonomous mobile sorters, capable of making decisions and speeding up processing, allows our customers to move to the next level of integrated automation to improve the efficiency and productivity in their facilities. Fives GENI-Ant TM sorter was developed only few years ago to meet the needs of all companies faced with increasing logistics complexity and labor shortages. This range of sortable products also includes extremely small and irregular items that are difficult to sort with other conventional systems, such as soft goods, oddly shaped and unstable packages. The GENI-AntTM sorter finds application wherever automated sortation equipment is needed to serve multiple destinations at high speed and efficiency, and where available space is at a premium. GSC: Briefly state GENI-Ant’s USPs (unique selling propositions) / distinctive attributes? FS: Our advantages comprise the following: Scalability and relocation: Fast system scalability according to destinations and relocation, thanks to its smart modular design. Flexible in capacity: Smooth adaptability to capacity fluctuations, by simply adjusting the number of robots up and down. One robot sorts all with care: Ability to sort any type of items (including fragile) on the same robot, thanks to its unique double-belt design. Compact space utilization: 20%+ reduced space vs other automations, regardless of any building constraints,

thanks to its ability to curve, enabled by dampers and software management GSC: How significant is the Middle East region for GENI-Ant? Cite one or two examples in the region where it is used? Umer Saleem (US): In this context of 2030% growth in e-commerce and maturing warehousing and sortation automation markets, the GENI-Ant TM sorter will be a revolution in the region. The GENI-Ant TM sorter is therefore an introduction to robotic automation, especially Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in small areas, for example idle areas in, for example, shopping malls, parking lots, general utility buildings, for localized regional shipping and/or fulfilment.

The GENI-AntTM sorter is an introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots in small areas, for example, shopping malls, parking lots, general utility buildings, for localized regional shipping and fulfilment. In addition, depending on market changes, business requirements, seasonal peaks and fluctuations, the GENI-AntTM sorter spacing can be reconfigured or redesigned to meet the needs. Although new, Fives’ GENI-AntTM sorter has already been selected by major players in various intralogistics sectors, such as the fashion industry, express parcel and postal shipments. GSC: How is the exponential growth of E-commerce impacting your fortunes and what future growth potential does it hold for you? US: E-commerce continues to grow and is having a significant impact on the parcel industry: 3PLs and retailers, postal and courier companies are faced with everincreasing parcel volumes and must all

adapt by changing the way they work. The answer to this e-commerce challenge is automation and Fives is one of the world’s most preferred partners for transforming supply chain facilities. Its expertise and innovation capacity are at the service of its customers’ industrial performance. As in the past 200 years, Fives will rise to the challenge of this new industrial revolution and make it a success. GSC: What are the opportunities and challenges for GENI-Ant going forward? US: To continue to provide fast and accurate service worldwide, companies are expanding their delivery network, opening new logistics centers or renovating exiting depots in urban areas to reduce the distance to the end consumer. These are opportunities for our GENIAntTM sorter, which can be easily moved from one sorting center to another. Its flexibility and modularity allow the system’s layout to be adapted to new environments and intralogistics challenges. GSC: What are your expansion plans for the region? US: Fives looked at the Middle East region from a strategic perspective since well before 2018, hence the start of business development activities at this time. We have seen our partners (clients and suppliers) understand the importance of automation more compared to previous years, which is a very good sign. With the support of other Fives subsidiaries in the region, a diversification program has started to ensure our intralogistics business activity is well supported locally to help our partners boost their industrial performance. GSC: What is your vision for GENI-Ant going forward? US: For over 60 years, Fives has been committed to providing the market with solutions that meet customers’ current needs. Fives has been developing innovative products and technologies in close partnership with customers, some of which have become market standards, such as the GENI-AntTM sorter. Fives will continue to invest in R&D programmes and to design forwardthinking solutions that respond to the challenges of tomorrow.

NOVEMBER 2022 27

DUBAI SOUTH-DB SCHENKER

Dubai South unveils the opening of DB Schenker’s third mega logistics facility This temperature-controlled facility offers a total space of 90,000 Euro pallets

ubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate, recently announced that DB Schenker launched its third mega logistics centre in the Logistics District, which marks its continued success story of growth in the MENA region. The inauguration was attended by Mohsen Ahmad, CEO, Logistics District Dubai South; Christian Drenthen, Board Member – Land Transport/Contract Logistics of DB Schenker; Christopher Smith, CEO, Middle East Africa, DB Schenker; and Ako Djaf, Vice President - Contract Logistics, SCM Middle East and Africa - DB Schenker; among other senior executives from both companies. The solar system placed on the roof of both facilities will produce the full energy demand of the 74,000sqm of warehouse space and 5,000sqm of office buildings, saving 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of planting over 400,000 trees.

Green logistics hub The green logistics hub will provide a sustainable ecosystem for bonded and non-bonded operations and an end-to-end integrated suite of goods and customised services for customers. The third facility, which is also temperature-controlled, offers a total space of 90,000 Euro pallets providing warehousing solutions for different industries, including dangerous-goods storage and B2C e-commerce delivery services, leveraging its ideal connectivity to land, sea, and air freight transportation modes. The facility also has a 5,000sqm mezzanine floor exclusively designed for various value-added service activities. “DB Schenker’s new facility will strengthen the entire ecosystem of the Logistics District, thanks to its innovative solutions and best sustainable practices, all

28 NOVEMBER 2022

The solar system will produce the full energy demand of the 74,000sqm of warehouse space and 5,000sqm of office buildings, saving 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of planting over 400,000 trees. of which are a testament to its progressive business strategy. As part of boosting Dubai’s global position, we are committed to establish a progressive ecosystem to build a global logistics and e-commerce hub that caters to the evolving demands of our existing and potential clients,” stressed Mohsen Ahmad.

Commitment to sustainability “As with the second facility, the new centre will further cement our sustainability commitment and agenda, and the construction of this expansive green logistics centre will elevate our capacity and network,” observed Djaf.

By designing models comprising catalysts anchored in sustainable best practices, DB Schenker aspires to facilitate the industry by leapfrogging the barriers toward net-zero targets.” DB Schenker in the Middle East and Africa region facilitated the market entry of many international companies to expand their footprints across the globe in this highpotential market. This has made the company one of the fastest-growing logistics service providers in the region expanding the total area of its operated logistics centres from 40,000 to 325,000sqm in the past seven years, a press statement concluded.

GENERATION by

LOGISEYE: LICENSE MODEL

LogisEye launches unique license model for its Freight Sourcing Solutions Freight procurement solutions made faster, easier and cost effective

ncreased complexities in the supply chain process due to fast growing international trade and ecommerce demand the need for freight procurement solutions. “Freight sourcing is mostly a long and complex manual process, which includes obtaining rates from multiple freight forwarders or carriers by email, comparing the rates that are mostly non-comparable, selecting best options offering the best prices, and analyzing the quality services along with the time required for freight delivery,” asserted C M Mathew, Founder and CEO of the DAFZA-based LogisEye. “Other challenges include limited tracking and visibility, and lack of transparency. Manual freight audit, billing errors, double billing, and double payment increase shipping and administrative costs. These problems are exiting since several decades and LogisEye aims to solve most of these problems through a series of digital freight procurement and payment solutions,” he further affirmed. LogisEye freight procurement solutions ensure best supply chain and logistics partners with substantial cost and time savings, accelerate procurement and payment with enhanced transparency and visibility. “Based on the requirements from several customers and logistics service providers, LogisEye now launches its license models for its freight procurement solutions. LogisEye license models are priced to meet the requirements of all categories of customers based on their number of shipments and users, and data interface requirements where it starts at as low as US$ 33 per user per month. We want the customers and service providers to experience the ease of managing freight procurement through digital adoption. It is faster, easier, and cost effective,” observed Mathew.

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Customers worldwide can use LogieBid to procure the freight rates through reverse auction for their airfreight, ocean (FCL/ LCL) and Road (FTL/LTL) shipments from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world. Users can either invite their existing or new approved logistics service providers and get all rates under one platform or even invite additional service providers from LogisEye marketplace. Customers can settle the freight bills directly with service providers based on their credit terms. Alternatively, customers can opt for freight settlement through LogisEye where an additional transaction fee will be charged to recover the administrative costs. “LogiQuote is our marketplace for airfreight shipments for instant rates connecting major airports in UAE with over 50 countries for imports and exports. Users can search, compare, select, pay, route, and track their shipments,” noted Mathew. LogisEye acts as a sales channel to logistics companies where they can register

with LogisEye as service providers and gain more business from our registered customers. They can simultaneously register as customer in our platform and use our freight procurement solutions where they can procure the rates from different subcontractors, co-loaders and agents, stated Mathew.

Launching International Courier Marketplace:

LogisEye will shortly launch its international courier marketplace that will connect UAE with over 200 countries on launch for imports and exports for B2B and B2C shipments. Customers can search most competitive international courier rates in seconds from different international carriers through LogisEye registered wholesalers. “We will connect our marketplace with e-commerce companies to provide instant courier rates through API during next phase,” concluded Mathew.

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DEMYSTIFYING SALES AND OPERATIONS PLANNING: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

S&OP IN DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAINS

Your strategy needs a strategy and S&OP can help S&OP OBJECTIVES • • • •

X-Functional Alignment Planning Horizon, Granularity Decision Making Governance.

Sales and Operations Planning is now considered de rigueur in businesses TRANSFORM

GROW

STABALIZE

GLOBAL IMPACTS

HEALTH&WEALTH

E2E ALIGNMENT

• Geo-Political • Economic • Technological • Health • Energy • Competition • Consumer Expectations

DELIVER

SUPPLY CHAIN RESPONSE

• NPS & CX • Top & Bottom Line • Profitability • Working Capital • Cost Optimization • Stakeholder Value • Eco-Responsibility • Talent Mgmt.

• Sales, Marketing and Financial Plans • Demand Signals and Supply Response • Inventor y Optimization • Capacity and Resource Planning • Customer Ser vice

• ATP/ATS • Fill Rates • OTIF • Costs • Inventor y Levels • Logistics Performance • WH Mgmt. • CO2 Footprint

TACTICAL

OPERATIONAL

EXECUTIONAL

STRATEGIC

Formulating a vision and strategy to sustain profitability is one of the most important expectations from the C-Suite. However, executing that strategy and taking it from top floor to shop floor also requires a strategy affirms Sandeep Walia, Chief Transformation Officer—CTO, Slimstock Middle East Africa (MEA).

n all competitive businesses, strategy execution is as important as strategy formulation. Organisations that derive greater value-add from their strategies are ones that have an effective way of putting them into action on the tactical and operational level, which is where S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), on top of S&OE (Sales & Operations Execution), plays an essential role. Since it originated in 1980s, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) has become a business management process of choice for thousands of organizations all over the world. S&OP is a structured process that aligns all functional areas of a Business (Commercial, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and others) under an aligned set of assumptions to achieve goals set in the Strategic and Operating Plans. What is S&OP? S&OP aims to be a decision-making forum

32 NOVEMBER 2022

where plans are reviewed and validated, key business issues are identified, and different organizational functions come together to align on strategic, tactical, and operational objectives. The key input for any monthly S&OP review is the annual Strategy / Operating Plan that aims to ensure strong alignment between Business and Supply Chain Strategy. Supply chain strategy ultimately comes down to making choices. Businesses evaluate the needs of their customers and consumers, and the unique CVP (Customer Value Proposition) that can be offered. It becomes important at this stage to ensure that Supply Chain design is in line with CVP that a business is trying to deliver. If the focus of the business is on NPS (Net Promoter Score), CX (Customer Experience), Customer Service but Supply Chain is focusing only on costs / working capital, there will be lost opportunities surely. The

main deliverables of Strategy Review are: l A plan to deliver Sustainable profitability l Ensure risks are identified, and mitigation plans are in place l Cost and working capital efficiency At the heart of S&OP is a four-step monthly planning cycle, comprising a series of scheduled review meetings: Product portfolio review: What changes are taking place (and when) over the horizon to ensure an attractive product portfolio, that will deliver market share and profitability objectives? Which products will be introduced, discontinued, or changed; what will be the effect of marketing-led promotional activity and what is the timephased product plan? Demand review: Assess forecasting capability and sales planning performance, and to use this information to generate the latest view from marketing and sales, under-pinned with volume and revenue projections. The sales

DEMYSTIFYING SALES AND OPERATIONS PLANNING: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

views reconciled to gain consensus on a ‘most likely’ demand plan Supply review: What is the impact on the supply chain of changes in demand and the timing of product development? Are there material constraints in supporting the new demand plan and is there sufficient resource? What are the options and opportunities? General Management Business review: Review of key performance indicators and analyses of trends in operational & financial performance Highlighting gaps vs business and strategic plans Validating Action Plans The objective at each step of the scheduled review is to sign-off the ‘plan’. Sign-off implies: l The plan is realistic and can be achieved with existing resources available l The plan meets the business requirements

‘What if’ scenarios? l Is the plan sensitive to “upside and downsides? l Is the management aware of alternative scenarios? l Do we have contingency plans? Which resources are required? Do we have all bases covered? l Any additional capital or resources needed to execute the above agreed plan? l Which decisions need to be made? l

Why is S&OP important? S&OP helps the organization align on single version and source of truth so that decisions are taken from holistic standpoint. The five-step approach below, if followed with discipline can add value to top / bottom line ambitions of organizations: How are we performing now? l Have we met our stated objectives YTD (year to date)?

If not, how does it impact our YTG (you’re the greatest) assumptions? What do we need to get back on track?

Is the agreed plan valid? Are the assumptions sound, wellunderstood, agreed upon and likely to produce the expected result? l Is the plan realistic? l

Is the plan sufficient? Does it help us achieve our monthly, quarterly, yearly AOPs (Annual Operations Planning)?

What are the key challenges S&OP aims to resolve? The consequences and pitfalls of siloplanning are common knowledge and very well documented. Moving from a silo-based culture to a cross-functional collaborative planning is a transformational journey that takes time. If done properly, S&OP helps to align sales, marketing, finance, operations on a realistic achievable plan to satisfy the business growth and ambitions. S&OP ensures demand signals reflect the state of the market and customer expectations and there is an adequate supply response for it. S&OP process aligns the organisation on corporate health and wealth related KPIs and helps to evaluate ways to improve:

X-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION MARKET CHANNELS

P/E

SALES / MARKETING 1. GOAL – Increase Revenue, Profit Margins & Market Share through optimum customer & retail experience 2. NEEDS – Product Availability 3. FORECAST – Unconstrained Demand 4. PURPOSE – Sales / Marketing / Merchandising Plan

FINANCE 1. GOAL – Increase Profitability & Stakeholder Value 2. NEEDS – Access to Business Plans & SC Cost structure 3. FORECAST – Final / Validated top-down FCST 4. PURPOSE – AOP/Financial Plan

DEMAND

SUPPLY ADD VALUE TO BUSINESS

SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING 1. GOAL – Provide optimum OSA to satisfy AOP/Business Plans 2. NEEDS – Reduced forecast and business plan variability and manage supply disruptions 3. FORECAST – Constrained bottom-up FCST 4. PURPOSE – Feasible Demand & Supply Plan

COST CONTROL

SUPPLY CHAIN EXECUTION 1. 2. 3. 4.

GOAL – Optimise inventory & supply chain costs NEEDS – Validated stable forecasts FORECAST – Constrained Demand Forecast PURPOSE – Supply, Replenishment, Allocation

NOVEMBER 2022 33

DEMYSTIFYING SALES AND OPERATIONS PLANNING: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

PERCENT OF COMPANIES SURVEYED REPORTING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Increased Revenue 31%

Improvements in the perfect order and customer service

31%

Better supply planning and scheduled adherence

31% 28%

Improved new product launch Reduction of inventory

27%

improved translation of demand into procurement requirements or buy-side contract needs

21%

Development and execution demand-shaping programs

20% 19%

Improved logistic planning Improved asset utilization

l l l l l

OTIF (on time in full) / Customer Satisfaction / Gross Margins Working Capital Utilization Asset utilisation / ROA (Return on Assets) Inventory turns Productivity / efficiency Demand accuracy

What are the main benefits of S&OP? Apart from the organisational, cultural, and other intangible benefits, there are some key benefits of implementing a X-Functional S&OP. (See Chart above) How to get S&OP right? The key to ensure that S&OP adds value to the Business relies on few fundamentals: S&OP requires the hands-on participation of executive management, up to and including the leader of the business (President, CEO, COO, General Manager, Managing Director, and other key appointments) because: l S&OP needs to occur at the level where bottom-line responsibility resides l S&OP contributes to decision making around policy, strategy, and risk l Demand side dynamics and Supply side constraints need effective steering l SLT (Senior leadership team) participation ensures consistent behaviors across organization

34 NOVEMBER 2022

60% 52%

Improved forecast accuracy

50%

17%

S&OP is cross-functional and collaborative. It involves, at a minimum, Sales / Marketing, Operations/Supply Chain, Product Development, Finance, and General Management because: l It allows to raise potential problems and conflicts in a proactive manner before they become crises. l All business problems are most effectively solved cross-functionally, not in a silo. Making S&OP work in a company is largely a matter of managing change. It is not in the data; it is not in the software; it’s not in the process charts – it is in the people. S&OP is a decision-making process that balances demand and supply at the aggregate level, aligns operational planning with financial planning, links strategic planning with day-to-day sales and operational activities, and sets the tactical direction of the business. Executive Management rarely has the time or the desire to deal with large amounts of detail, nor should it be necessary It is extremely important to split the decisions that we need the senior leadership team to take during S&OP into two categories

Review and Respond – Operational Horizon

Plan and Align –Tactical / Strategic Horizon at aggregated levels of product and location hierarchy

The most critical part to get right is to set the FOCUS of the Organisation when implementing or running S&OP across strategic, tactical, and operational horizons. On the Strategic horizon, the business leaders need to have visibility on what are the different risks to their sustainable profitability goals and accordingly initiate transformational initiatives to mitigate those risks. Disruptions can come from anywhere, FOCUS on strategic horizon allows leaders to ensure that businesses are resilient and ready to deliver when needed On the Tactical horizon, the goal of the business leaders is to ensure that Corporate Health &Wealth is in safe waters and all the GROWTH assumptions are agreed and aligned cross-functionally On the Operational horizon, the aim for the business leaders is to manage the volatility and gaps between demand and supply, capacity, and resources available versus the need to achieve a high degree of proficiency in AOPs and more.

NAFL holds its commemorative 35th General Assembly Meeting with panache, pomp, and pageantry Celebrations, camaraderie and a collegial ambience were clearly evident at the 35th NAFL GAM meeting held on the evening of Thursday, 27 November 2022 in the plush environment of the InterContinental Dubai Festival City with stunning waterfront and skyline views.

36 NOVEMBER 2022

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREIGHT & LOGISTICS (NAFL)

ver 300 senior logistics and supply chain professionals drawn from the upper echelons and a cross section of the industry attended the 35th NAFL (National Association of Freight & Logistics) General Assembly Meeting in a resplendent ambience amid hope, confidence and optimism of a revival and momentum for a resurgent logistics and supply chain sector in the Middle East. Following welcome remarks by Nadia Abdul Aziz, President NAFL (FIATA), the assembly was given the brief lowdown on the activities of the Association over the last calendar year.

Encouraging reports Nadia Abdul Aziz was appreciative of the resilience and perseverance of both the professional community and the industry at large that had withstood the test of time and endurance and the troughs the industry had witnessed during the Covid-19 era spanning almost 30 months. Nadia also lauded the NAFL for its current robust, healthy fiscal and figures and extolled

the Association for its financial prudence and reporting a surplus despite the odds. The accounting has stood the test of stringent scrutiny that meet and confirm the rigorous IFIS (International Financial Reporting Standards) criteria, Nadia asserted. The advocacy and representational initiatives of the Association and benefits of membership were also highlighted as were the reforms and protection of the interests of member-companies and the generic interest at large at the national level.

Top brass present Among the Association Board Member present were Ahmad Abdul Razeq, Vice President; Praveen Chandrasen, Board member and Chairperson of the Air Freight Sub-Committee; Majid Barzanji, Board Member and chairperson of the courier Subcommittee, Sudesh Chaturvedi, Chairperson, Sea Freight Sub-Committee and Ibrahim Abu Zayed, Chairperson, Land Freight Sub-Committee; Mathew Chacko, Treasurer; Madhu Madathil, Board Member / Head of Legal Affairs.

ERAL

E SS

ETI

Elections A highlight of the event was the election of Dubai-based Christina Struller, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, UPS, for the ISMEA—India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa region, the company’s largest geographical region. Christina Struller was elected and gained the highest votes by eligible NAFL voting members. Tejin Thomas a young dynamic member followed for the second open position with second highest votes out of the four outstanding main contestants. A true mix making the board more diverse. Revellery, networking and a sumptuous dinner followed the speeches and presentation where members had the opportunity to mingle and bond with peers and other industry officials. Guests had the chance to hear on the new Labor Law, Corporate Tax and cooperation between DP World and NAFL presented by Ms Isra from DP World I.T department. Truly an evening to remember as attendees soaked in business and heaps of good-natured fun!

NOVEMBER 2022 37

38 NOVEMBER 2022

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NOVEMBER 2022 39

MARITIME—SAUDI ARABIA

Mawani signs seven agreements during the Saudi Maritime Congress 2022 Mawani aims to transform operations and logistical processes at Saudi ports Investments in the Kingdom’s maritime and shipping sectors is robust and on overdrive increasing the number of berths from 26 to 31 in the multi-purpose terminal to accommodate large dry bulk vessels. Whereas Mawani also signed a contract with Modern Building Leaders (MBL) in cooperation with Huta Hegerfeld Saudia to implement the project of deepening the approach channels, turning basins, waterways, and the southern terminal basin at Jeddah Islamic Port with a total of SAR 184mn, which will facilitate receiving large vessels with a capacity of 24,000 TEUs.

Security

he Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recently signed seven contracts and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with partners from the public and private sectors with a total exceeding SAR 900mn (US$ 240mn), which included establishing a new integrated logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, developing the infrastructure according to the latest global standards, as well as developing the new ports’ management system. The signing took place at the recently concluded Saudi Maritime Congress hosted in Dammam in September 2022, with the patronage of HRH Prince Ahmed Bin Fahd Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province. By signing the contracts and MoUs, Mawani aims to achieve complete

40 NOVEMBER 2022

transformation in the process of operations and logistical support at Saudi ports, to fulfill the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub.

Integrated Logistics Park As the first contract signed with Globe Group to build an integrated logistics park and a re-export zone at Jeddah Islamic Port over an area of 135,000sqm, to provide and employment opportunities and enable national companies specialized in the logistics industry. While the second contract was signed with PC Marine Services with a total of SAR 458mn to cooperate in strengthening food security through Jeddah Islamic Port, by constructing new berths with a design depth of 16m and a length of 1100m, while

Mawani also signed another contract with Giza Arabia to implement the security system project at King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu with a total exceeding SAR 61mn, which will increase the efficiency of facilities and managing security vulnerabilities by developing the port’s security system according to best global practices. Meanwhile, Mawani signed a MoU with King Abdulaziz University to implement the best practices in the fields of research, training, and academic affairs related to ports as well as the maritime transport and planning sector. In addition, Mawani signed a MoU with the Saudi Accreditation Centre to provide accreditation services to the conformity assessment bodies contracting with Mawani and strengthen the cooperation in the fields of research and exchanging expertise. As Mawani also signed a MoU with Tabadul to develop the ports’ new management systems and implement the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in Saudi ports, in line with the Smart Ports initiative to expand the services provided at the ports and to achieve the objectives of the digital transformation in the logistics sector.

Join Join NAFL & FIATA FIATA Get Get connected connected Networking Networking & & Business Opportunities Opportunities MOST MOSTELABORATE ELABORATE NETWORK NETWORK IN IN THE THEWORLD WORLD FOR FORFREIGHT FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS LOGISTICS

NAFL NAFL

FIATA FIATA

COURSES COURSES IN IN FREIGHT FREIGHT FORWARDING FORWARDING & & LOGISTICS LOGISTICS

G G ININININ L TRA L TRA NAF NAF

LEGAL LEGAL ADVOCACY ADVOCACY

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP

SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOR DESERVING DESERVING UAE UAE NATIONALS NATIONALS

NETWORKING NETWORKING&& EVENTS EVENTS

DGR-CAT1-6 DGR-CAT1-6 / IMDG / IMDG

Here’s Here’swhy whyyou youshould should consider consider being beingaamember: member:

International InternationalBenefits: Benefits:

National National Benefits: Benefits:

+ The + The FIATA FIATA member membercertificate certificate + Use + Use of of the the FIATA FIATA logo logo + Entry + Entry in in the the FIATA FIATAmembers members directory directory & networking & networkingevents events + Advertising + Advertising inin the theFIATA FIATAmembers membersdirectory, directory, review review and and information information(FIATA (FIATAe-Flash) e-Flash) + Special + Special Rates Rates forfor FIATA FIATApublication publicationand andarticles articles + Access + Access toto secretariate secretariateassistance assistance + FIATA + FIATA arbitration arbitration support support + Use + Use of of FIATA FIATA documents(FIATA documents(FIATABills Billsof ofLading) Lading) + FIATA + FIATA worldwide worldwide member memberconnectivity connectivity + Talent + Talent Connect Connect Worldwide, Worldwide,E-Learning E-Learning

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

The NAFL NAFL member membercertificate certificate Use of of the theNAFL NAFLlogo logo Free access accessto tonetworking networkingevents events Discounted Discounted rates ratesfor forparticipating participatingininglobal global and regional regionalconferences conferences Asssistance Asssistance in incase caseofoflegal legaladvocacy advocacy Discounts Discounts for forcargo/logistic cargo/logisticevents eventsand and exhibition exhibition stands stands Discounted Discountedtraining trainingrates ratesfor forNAFL NAFLmembers members Training/Certification Training/Certification for forregional/international regional/international courses courses Insurance Insurance at atdiscounted discountedrates rates(cargo/liability/medical) (cargo/liability/medical) Complimentary Complimentary internship internship&&Skills Skillsupgrade upgrade Mentoring Mentoring &&Innovation Innovationideas ideas Discounted Discounted supplier supplierrates ratesfor forindustry industryproducts products

BeBe the the Industry Industryvoice, voice,protect protectyourself yourselfby by STC, STC, Insurance Insurance and andmaritime maritimeadvice, advice,Network Network B2B, B2B, B2C B2C ACCREDITATIONS ACCREDITATIONS

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NAFL NAFL: :National NationalAssociation Association of of Freight Freight&&Logistics Logistics

P.O. P.O. Box Box 60944 60944Dubai, Dubai,United UnitedArab ArabEmirates Emirates Tel: +971 +971 443431112, 3431112,Mobile: Mobile:+971 +9715050 7802631 7802631 www.nafl.ae Register Registerat atinfo@nafl.ae info@nafl.ae / shankar@nafl.ae, shankar@nafl.ae, www.nafl.ae

FIATA FIATA LEARNING LEARNING ACADEMY ACADEMY

ANALYSES: TYRE DISTRIBUTOR

Tyre distributors opting for operational digitization – the way forward There is no stopping supply chain digitization – it is indispensable

Most companies know the need to digitize their supply chain to remain competitive. However, achieving digitalization is challenging, asserts Dr. Muddassir Ahmed, Founder & CEO, SCMDOJO, Dubai, UAE.

he importance of Supply Chain Digitalization cannot be denied. It brings reliability, product and information traceability, automation (automatic synchronization equals information flows and physical flows, for example and collection of forecast information for senior management in particular.

Furthermore, sales forecasting and inventory management use our sales forecasting software. The advantages of digitalization are many. Ultimately, supply chains that go digital can reduce their operating costs by 20% on average. So how can you define Digital Supply Chain?

Gulcin Buyukozkan, Department of Industrial Engineering, Galatasaray University, Istanbul, Turkey, and Fethullah Gocer, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey, have defined the Digital Supply Chain as follows: “Smart, value-driven, efficient process to generate new forms of revenue and business value for organizations and to

Tyre Distributor Operational Digitalization

End-to-end supply chain digitalization system architecture Extended Enterprise Digital Order Management System § §

Digital Logistics by Logibee.ai

MVP: Start with a basic version of B2B SaaS with Magento at Launch Order Management system for selected dealers of Tyre Distributor to manage: o Oder collection to shipment data o Dealer access for B2B Portal to see relevant data/products o Drive internal operational efficiency

Week 1

Week 6

Week 2

ERP & Demand Planning Integration § Integrate between Distributor ERP and Magento § Resolve Business Inefficiency and data accuracy problems both for Distributor and for Partners o Demand Forecasting & Supply Planning o Performance Metrics Driven Operational Structure o Documentation /SOPs o Data History

Technology Platform to manage end-to-end Tyre DistributorLogistics o Route Optimization – To Safe Time o Real Time Visibility – For Better Control of Delivery o Capacity Consolidation – For Cost Optimization o E Proof of Deliveries (EPOD) – To Get Paid on Time o Smart ETA Engine - Display accurate delivery ETAs

Week 10

Distribution and Transportation Assessment & Improvement Full integration of WMS, Tyre Distributor ERP and Logibee.ai o Logistics Subject Matter Expert act as strategic expertise o Provide support for growth o Customer service excellence to give a competitive advantage o Drive Logistics Cost Efficiency - Productivity/Cost o Drive Innovation and responsiveness o Ease of doing business o Analysis & optimization of transportation partners o Manage Quality, Safety and Accuracy of Data

Integrated Enterprise

42 NOVEMBER 2022

•

ANALYSES: TYRE DISTRIBUTOR

Tyre Distributor Operational Digitalization

End-to-end supply chain digitalization & enhanced visibility CHALLENGE +400 Partners

SOLUTION

Order collection and shipment data reporting is out-of-date and unorganized:

Digital Order Management System to manage from order collection to shipment tracking for Partners

§ Manual and high risk for human error § Inefficiency and timely availability of information both for Distributor and for Partners; § Lack of visibility of supply chain information between partner Distributor

PHASE I

n+1 Business Cycle

Distributor

Dealers

PHASE 2

www. app.distributor.com

Launch and rollout MVP with selected customers

Extended dealer network roll out

No integration with ERP or any other system.

Integration with ERP and /or WMS System of Distributor

Key Features:

+4300 xlsx/pdf files Dealers shared via e-mails Supply Chain & Sales

er o n tion Ord llecti rma Co dit info e Cr Shipment Docs Invoic e

Order Collection Shipment & Documents Account Status Pricing & Promotion

MVP: Start with Minimum features, and develop further based on customer feedback findings

2022 – Pilot

• Order Collection • Shipment Information • Shipping Documentation Availability • Order & Shipment Data History & Reporting • Notification

2023 – integration with ERP and digital logistics logibee.ai the platform for end-to-end visibility 2023 – Deployment of advanced features like promotions, campaigns, bonuses, contract targets, warranty, claims management

Training of the internal core teams for further deployment

“We use Smart, value-driven, efficient process to generate new forms of revenue and business value for organizations and to leverage new approaches with novel technological and analytical methods.”

Current Customer Journey & Interaction Customer

Sales Team 1 Day

Order Collection Sales Team

1 Day

Shipment & Documents Account Status Pricing & Promotion

Customer

1 Day

Tyre Distributor office

Sales Team 3 Days

Sales Team 1 Day

1 Day

Tyre Distributor office

Sales Team

Customer 1 Day

1 Day

Customer 1 Day

Sales Team 2 Days

Customer 1 Day

Customer

Sales Team 1 Day

Tyre Distributor office

1 Day

NOVEMBER 2022 43

ANALYSES: TYRE DISTRIBUTOR

Tyre Distributor PLATFORM FOR ORDER MANAGEMENT AND DATA SHARING # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Elements Customer Interaction Order Collection Order Confirmation Stock Visibility Price Visibility Credit Status Visibility Shipment confirmation Shipping Documents Notifications/Alerts Promotion/Offers Visibility Bonus/Contracts Targets Customer information updates Announcements Dashboard New Customer Creation Route Optimization – To Safe Time Real Time Visibility – For Better Control of Delivery Capacity Consolidation – For Cost Optimization E-Proof of Deliveries (EPOD) – To Get Paid on Time Smart ETA Engine - Display accurate delivery ETAs

Current State Through sales team Through sales team Through sales team No visibility Manual Manual Manual Manual Do not happen Through sales team Through sales team Through sales team Manual Non existent Manual Do not happen Do not happen Do not happen Do not happen Do not happen

B2B State

Phase

B2B Portal & sales team B2B Portal B2B Portal B2B Portal B2B Portal B2B Portal B2B Portal B2B Portal Push notifications B2B Portal B2B Portal Customers can updated certain fields Push notifications B2B Dashboard (Order History and Documents) B2B B2B Portal & App B2B Portal & App B2B Portal & App B2B Portal & App B2B Portal & App

The tyre distributors, serving more than 300 dealers have adopted a ‘Minimum Viable Product Approach’ to incorporate customer feedback. With this solution, they have achieved 30% reduction in cost, improvement in communication with customer and 5% increase in sales.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

leverage new approaches with novel technological and analytical methods.” In this article, I have presented a brief case study on how SCMDOJO has helped tyre distributors in the Middle East to achieve operational excellence, achieving the above digitalization benefits.

Customer Supply Chain Challenge The tyre distributors, serving more than 300 dealers, faced problems mentioned below

Customer Journey & Interaction B2B State www.app.distributor.com

Solutions Implementation

Rather than deploying a ‘mass scale’ solution, we have adopted a ‘Minimum Viable Product Approach’ to incorporate customer feedback.

Order Collection Shipment & Documents

Solution Benefits & Results

Account Status Customer

44 NOVEMBER 2022

Pricing & Promotion

Current Customer Journey

Distributor

With this solution, distributor has achieved 30% reduction in cost, improvement in communication with customer and 5% increase in sales.

FEDEX

New FedEx research shows e-Commerce opportunities set to grow for SMEs The FedEx survey focused on key markets across Asia

The latest e-Commerce trends from research commissioned by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. in some of the most prominent markets in its Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region shows that both small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and consumers agree that there’s room for further growth in the already booming e-Commerce sector.

recent e-Commerce trends related research and survey commissioned by FedEx Express on the theme ‘What’s Next in E-Commerce’ polled SMEs and consumers in 11 AMEA markets in July 2022 to explore the continuing evolution of e-Commerce in the region and identify the trends that could fuel their future growth. The survey reveals that consumers are looking for innovations in personalization, shoppertainment, and payment options that enhance their experience and at the same time, make it easier to discover new brands and make purchasing convenient. “The pandemic has accelerated our lifestyles to a pivot point where shopping online has been normalized across all

demographics. E-commerce is set to take a growing proportion of total consumer spend,” observed Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA), FedEx Express.

E-Commerce sector matures with further growth ahead

Asia Pacific which includes the world’s biggest e-Commerce markets like India, Mainland China, Japan, and Korea, will witness revenue from e-Commerce sales to reach US$ 2.09trillion this year, as 57% of the region’s population shops online. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, e-Commerce is catching up fast with these global powerhouses, where the sector is growing slightly ahead of the global average at 25% and is expected to

reach a value of US$ 8bn by 2025. With the rapid growth of the e-Commerce sector within the MENA region, and Dubai being placed at the centre of trade relations between the East and the West, earlier this year, FedEx Express broke ground on a new regional air and ground hub near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) at Dubai South’s Logistics District, a press communique indicated. With a completion earmarked for 2023, the new FedEx Express regional hub will support improved efficiencies across both its regional and global networks and expand the company’s commercial and operational footprint to support the growth of e-Commerce and trade, a press statement concluded.

NOVEMBER 2022 45

AD Ports Group welcomes first international shipment at Mugharraq Port n Abu Dhabi (AD) Ports Group recently announced the arrival of the first international shipment at Mugharraq Port, one of the high-performing ports located within the Western Al Dhafra Region. This is the first shipment since Mugharraq Port was recognised as an international port facility under the provision of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code) by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. International recognition was achieved after a series of major upgrades at the port, including the extension of the quay wall up to 480m with additional berths, deepening of the facility’s depth to 8m, as well as the development of additional Ro-Ro ramps. Mugharraq Port’s enhancements, coupled with its strategic proximity to Ruwais, Hail, Ghasha, and other key upstream oil and gas projects in the region, further solidify its position as an ISPS port well-equipped to meet the evolving need of international operations. “The arrival of our first international

NEWS

shipment is a significant milestone for the expansion of new international business opportunities and will enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as a global trade hub,” remarked Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO, Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group. “Our international certification will support the development of Mugharraq

News

DIC announces the opening of the Al Damani electric vehicle manufacturing factory

NEWS

n M Glory Holding Group and Dubai Industrial City (DIC) have announced the opening of Al Damani’s new 45,000sqft factory, which represents a major milestone in the manufacturing of electric cars to meet a rising demand for green mobility to reduce global carbon emissions. The new plant houses the temporary assembly line, which has a maximum production capacity of 10,000 cars per year. The factory’s groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by Dr. Majida Al-Azazi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, M Glory Holding Group, and Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Executive Vice President-Industrial Leasing, TECOM Group, along with other top business leaders and media representatives. “The opening of M Glory in our community illustrates our dedication to boosting the manufacturing sector and our belief in providing a comprehensive ecosystem that enables regional manufacturers like M Glory to establish businesses and further the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative,” remarked Al-Shawareb. “This temporary plant for the production of electric vehicles is located on the million square feet oasis and will be used until the sustainable and comprehensive facility in Dubai Industrial City is completed; it will be operational in the next two years and have a production capacity of 55,000 electric cars yearly,” commented Dr. Majida Al-Azazi.

46 NOVEMBER 2022

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Port’s logistical capabilities, especially in the global energy market, while supporting AD Ports Group’s aspirations to position the port as a key player in global trade,” noted Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Acting Managing Director, Mussafah Port and Al Dhafra Region, AD Ports Group.

NEWS

Egypt taps Agility to modernize Suez Canal Economic Zone operations n The Suez Canal Economic Zone recently announced that it has signed a contract with Agility to develop and operate a customs and logistics center in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. The agreement with Agility was signed during the Egyptian-Kuwaiti Economic Forum in the presence of Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman, Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), and Tarek Sultan, Vice Chairman, Agility. Agility will work with SCZone to implement its strategic vision in the areas of services, logistics, and industrial zone support by establishing a technical and logistical arm that will automate customs processes and operations in the SCZone. The project, intended to turn the zone into a global logistics hub, will improve the flow of goods and commodities and bring efficiency and lower costs to international companies and investors operating there. Agility invest US$ 60mn to build a 100,000sqm customs and logistics centre in the industrial zone in Ein Sokhna, as well as another 100,000sqm customs and logistics centre in East Port Said. The project will be implemented during the second half of 2023. “This agreement will enable the Suez Canal Authority to improve visibility over inbound materials and finished goods and enhance efficiency through a single-window customs platform. The result will be increased commercial

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activity, quicker release of cargo and better overall operations,” observed Gamal. “Companies with a presence in the Suez Canal Economic Zone will have access to the world’s best logistics infrastructure and services. They will be situated at the trade crossroads of the world, amid the fastest-growing markets,” commented Sultan.

NEWS

Volvo to supply 20 heavy-duty electric trucks to Amazon n Twenty Volvo FH Electric are expected to drive more than one million road kilometres annually, fuelled with electricity instead of diesel. Heavy goods vehicles and other commercial vehicles make up around 36% of Germany’s domestic transport emissions, which makes road transport decarbonization a critical issue to address. “Big actors in the transport business play a key role in leading the industry’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint. Therefore I´m glad that Amazon is working with us to help reduce their emissions in longer and heavier transport assignments,” stressed Jessica Sandström, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Volvo Trucks. Volvo Trucks started the series production of heavy-duty electric trucks in September this year and the availability of electric trucks for intercity and regional haulage marks an important milestone for decarbonizing

road transport. “Globally we now have six electric truck models ready to order and in series production to meet the increasing demand for decarbonizing goods transports. This is an encouraging step forward for reducing climate change impacts,” continued Sandström. For Amazon, the trucks will replace their

NEWS

diesel counterparts and play a key role in electrification initiatives through its transportation chain. “Amazon is committed to decarbonizing its fleet, and the middle mile has been a notoriously hardto-abate sector,” explained Andreas Marschner, Vice President Transportation Services Europe, Amazon.

NOVEMBER 2022 47

AP Moller-Maersk continues green transformation n AP Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has announced that it has ordered a further six large ocean-going vessels that can sail on green methanol. The six vessels, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will have a nominal capacity of approximately 17,000 containers (TEU). They will replace existing capacity in the Maersk fleet. “Our customers are looking to us to

decarbonise their supply chains, and these six vessels able to operate on green methanol will further accelerate the efforts to offer our customers climate neutral transport,“explained Henriette Hallberg Thygesen, CEO, Fleet & Strategic Brands, Maersk. Maersk has set a net-zero emissions target for 2040 across the entire business and has also set tangible near-term

News NEWS NEWS

targets for 2030 to ensure significant progress, a press statement indicated. With the order, Maersk has in total ordered 19 vessels with dual-fuel engines able to operate on green methanol. “Green methanol is the best scalable green fuel solution for this decade. It adds further momentum to the rapid scaling of availability needed to bring down the premium on green methanol and accelerate the evolution of climate neutral shipping,” noted Palle Laursen, Chief Fleet & Technical Officer, Maersk. The six 17,000 TEU vessels are all to be delivered in 2025 and will sail under the flag of Denmark. They all come as part of Maersk’s ongoing fleet renewal program and their capacity will replace an equal amount of capacity reaching end-of-life and leaving the Maersk managed fleet. When all 19 vessels on order are deployed and have replaced older vessels, they will generate annual carbon dioxide emissions savings of around 2.3mn tonnes.

SAFEEN Group signs fuel oil agreement with leading Iraqi company n AD Ports Group’s SAFEEN Group and Amaan Baghdad Company have signed an agreement to support a new project relating to fuel oil transport and storage in Iraq. Under the terms of the agreement, SAFEEN Feeders, a subsidiary of SAFEEN Group, will manage the entire project, providing three Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and one Medium Range (MR) tanker. Working with Amaan Baghdad Company, SAFEEN Feeders will transport fuel oil from terminals in Port of Khor Al Zubair and Umm Qasr South Port to Iraqi territorial waters using the MR tanker. The fuel oil will then be transferred and stored on the VLCCs, which will serve as floating fuel tanks with monthly delivery capacity of 750,000 tonnes. “The energy sector is an important growth market for SAFEEN Group, and

48 NOVEMBER 2022

this project demonstrates our expertise in this area as well as the extent and sophistication of our fleet,” affirmed Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, Acting CEO, Maritime Cluster and SAFEEN Group, AD Ports Group. “The global fuel oil market has been volatile in 2022, and this additional storage

capacity will support Iraq’s competitive offering,” commented Fadie Fouad, CEO, Amaan Baghdad Company. In addition to this new agreement, SAFEEN Feeders supports a weekly container service that connects Iraq with global markets.

Bahri signs MoU with GASCO to establish a logistics company n Bahri recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Gas and Industrialization Co. (GASCO), a leading provider of Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) services which include transportation and filling of both butane and propane gases. Under the new agreement, both parties will explore cooperative means to establish a company that provides land transportation and logistics services that would help enhance the distribution network of LPG within the Kingdom. “Leveraging the expertise of both of our companies, we are delighted to begin forming a company that will provide industry-leading services and embodies operational excellence,” explained Eng. Soror Basalom, President, Bahri Logistics. Public Investment Fund (PIF), the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, is a major shareholder in the MoU between Bahri and GASCO. Established in 1978, Bahri Group is one of the world’s foremost logistics and transportation companies, playing a leading role in the transformation and growth of the global transportation industry, a press communique concluded.

NEWS

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Aramex successfully tests drone delivery in Oman n Aramex recently announced that it has successfully completed the pilot phase of its “Future Delivery Program” in Muscat, Oman. The test flights were conducted in partnership with USA-based UVL Robotics, a technological leader offering cutting-edge drone-based solutions with AI for logistics. The drone testing is part of Aramex’s ‘Future Delivery Programme’ aimed at leveraging the next generation of last-mile delivery solutions including drones and autonomous vehicles to boost delivery efficiencies, improve customer satisfaction, and generate cost savings in last-mile delivery. This test is the first of a multi-phase program as Aramex embarks on its vision to fully transition its fleet to emission-free electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The pilot focused primarily on testing a fully autonomous drone to deliver parcels safely and efficiently across various terrains, distances, and weather conditions in Muscat. “Through the successful drone delivery

testing with UVL Robotics, we have proven that these automated modes of delivery will enable us to further enhance the speed, accessibility, and reliability of package deliveries, especially to remote areas with hard-to-reach terrain,” stressed Alaa Saoudi, COO– Express, Aramex. “The success of the pilot drone delivery is a remarkable milestone of our Future Delivery Program which is a key program in

our innovation and sustainability roadmap,” remarked Angad Singh, Global DirectorInnovation, Aramex. “We are looking forward to scaling up our collaboration with Aramex as a recognized industry leader – increasing the number of routes and the share of drone delivery in the total number of shipments,” stated Moosa Al Balushi, Regional Director, UVL, MENA Region.

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UAE tackles the challenges and opportunities of the international maritime sector

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KEZAD Group to welcome US$ 150mn on an Advanced Recycling Facility atNews Polymers Park

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n Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) Group recently signed an agreement with Renov8 Polymer Industries Ltd, part of leading manufacturer Just Right, for the establishment of an advanced recycling facility at KEZAD’s Polymers Park. The move will boost Abu Dhabi’s transition towards a circular economy. With business activities in over 47 countries, Just Right is a global leader in the manufacturing of high-quality cladding solutions and printing media. Through its subsidiary, Renov8 Polymer Industries, the group is expected to bring its bestin-class practices to Abu Dhabi to deliver one of the region’s most sustainable polymer projects. Under the agreement, Renov8 Polymer Industries will invest AED 552mn (US$150.3mn), to develop a 30,000sqm plot in KEZAD’s Polymers Park, as well as an expansion plot of 38,000sqm adjacent to the primary facility, for the recycling of mixed plastic waste. The facility will also benefit from Abu Dhabi’s upcoming carbon trading exchange platform, set to be the world’s first fully regulated carbon trading exchange and carbon clearing house. “The new facility will be a pioneering showcase of innovation and sustainability in plastic production and the remanufacturing of plastic waste,” asserted Mohamad Al Khadar Al Ahmed, CEO, KEZAD Group. “Renov8 will greatly benefit from the integrated platform that KEZAD offers, with proximity to Khalifa Port providing greater access to global consumer markets,” commented Nilesh Jain, Founder & CMD, Renov8 Inc.

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n The UAE has always been one of the most influential countries in developing the maritime sector; occupying a competitive status among the best maritime hubs worldwide. With the presence of its permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization HE Mohamed Khamis AlKaabi along with Capt.Saif Al Mheiri, Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Maritime, an official delegation participated in The World Maritime Day Parallel Event (WMDPE) which was hosted by the Government of South Africa in the port city of Durban under the theme of ‘New Technologies, Greener Shipping’. “The 2022 World Maritime Day Parallel Event. It was instituted to provide an opportunity to take the World Maritime theme ‘on the road’ and it is undoubtedly one of the most important maritime events, worldwide,” asserted Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO. “The UAE has played an effective role in introducing fundamental amendments to many resolutions that contribute to developing and improving work systems to keep pace with global changes and latest technological developments, especially with regards to green shipping,” stressed AlKaabi. “The technologies and infrastructure for new fuels must be ready for wide market uptake in shipping by 2030 for the sector to meet the IMO’s 2050 target. This will require major collaboration with energy companies, ports, shipping companies and cargo owners,” added Al Kaabi.

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Firestone gears up to expand customer base in Tunisia n Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is set to launch their second pneumatic centre in Soliman Tunis, Tunisia, in association with TotalEnergies, a multinational integrated energy and petroleum company. Firestone, one of the pioneers in the production of tyres, now fully owned by Bridgestone, is launching its latest centre in Tunisia as part of TotalEnergies’ network in accordance with the company’s expansion strategy, which also focuses on improving customer relations and enhancing customer satisfaction. As part of the partnership, Firestone and TotalEnergies will work together to provide customers with industry-leading tools and tyre solutions, including customised services. The latest

centre will offer assistance in oil change, battery replacements, tire related services, technical advice services, as well as a spare parts counter. “Firestone has a strong presence in the EMEA markets, and we have been gathering and analysing data to effectively improve the customer experience at all steps. We want to share this expertise with the larger markets in the region to offer our exceptional,” stated Stefano Sanchini, Regional Managing Director, Bridgestone Middle East, and Africa. With the addition of the newest facility in Tunisia, Firestone is confident that the ongoing alliance will yield fantastic results for the brand, a press release concluded.

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Thales and Dubai’s RTA save 15% energy of Dubai metro n In service since 2009, the Dubai Metro is the longest driverless metro in the world, offering optimal lifecycle costs due to low maintenance overheads and operating costs. It is equipped with an entire package of Thales solutions including SelTrac CBTC signalling solution. Thales ATC system (Automatic Train Control) has smart algorithms on how an automatic driverless train is driven following optimized running curves to achieve energy savings results with minimum negligible impact on the travel time. It is using coasting techniques in predefined locations between the stations, which are carefully selected and optimized. The topography of the lines and the train speed at various locations of the metro lines are fully integrated in the

software getting maximum use of train coasting mode. In July 2022, Thales demonstrated in partnership with RTA, significant energy savings on Dubai Metro lines. The function is flexible and configurable. The Operator can decide to enable it or disable it. The percentage of Energy saving achieved in real Dubai Metro operation conditions has reached 15%, press communique stated. “The operation of the metro requires

meticulous plans and processes in line with the top global standards of the industry to ensure the highest rates of quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) and enhance the sustainability of operations,” noted Abdul Mohsin Kalbat, CEO, RTA’s Rail Agency. “At Thales UAE, we are working hard to contribute to Thales Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy through three pillars: making the world safer, greener and more inclusive,” commented Bernard Roux, CEO, Thales, UAE.

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JAFZA electronics hub reports healthy trading n The Gulf’s electronics and electrical sector has grown sharply in the last few years, driven by rising disposable income, tourism, and deep internet penetration rates, making the region one of the most connected globally. Due to its strategic location, Dubai is one of the key suppliers of electronic

products to the Middle East, and the rest of the world. In 2021, 2.7mn MT of electronic products worth over AED 347bn (US$ 94.5mn) were traded via the Emirate. Its trade capabilities are further complemented by the robust local and regional e-commerce fulfilment infrastructure and the re-export markets

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Etihad Airways targets net zero aviation

n Etihad Airways has partnered with World Energy, a carbon-net-zero solutions provider, to operate the first NetZero flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Book & Claim, delivering delegates to COP27 with zero net emissions. The airline will operate its Washington Dulles to Abu Dhabi service, routed via COP27 venue Sharm-El-Sheik to demonstrate the only feasible path to net-zero commercial aviation using current technology, while showcasing the challenges and opportunities of SAF. “This initiative is about proving NetZero commercial aviation is possible, but equally facing up to the significant logistical challenges the industry faces to turn the possible into the routine,” stated Mariam Alqubaisi, Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence, Etihad Airways. “The course correction will come from the fuel tank rather than the cockpit. Together, we can efficiently change the fuel we fly on so we can change the impact of flying,” remarked Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy. Enabling delegates to travel 10,000km emission-free to COP27, Etihad will buy (or book) SAF for the flight provided by fueling partner World Energy. However, the flight will use conventional Jet-A1 fuel, and the physical SAF that Etihad has purchased will be delivered into the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) fuel system and used on flights by other airlines out of that The NetZero flight will be the latest in a series of ‘EcoFlight’ tests since Etihad launched its Greenliner programme in 2020, each one testing and proving a series of concepts.

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that connect to countries worldwide. Set in the heart of Dubai, the free zone alone traded 1.4mn MT of electronic products worth over AED 147bn (US$ 40mn) in 2021. That is more than 50 per cent of Dubai’s total traded volume and over 40 per cent in value. One of the key unique selling points of Jafza’s electronics hub is that over 26 per cent of the companies are from the UAE, fostering localisation and creating a demand for local products and services globally. Regarding regional representation, 50 percent of the companies are from the Middle East. Another 26 per cent are from Asia, and 9 percent are from Europe. Jafza continues to support its customers by introducing a range of new facilities. The state-of-the-art and high-quality, thermal insulated, purposebuilt Light Industrial Units (LUIs) and warehouses can be used for storage, distribution or as a space for assembly, helping partners ensure reduced manufacturing lead time.

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Going the Extra Mile

Sharjah Airport welcomes Nile Air’s inaugural flight n Sharjah Airport recently welcomed the inaugural flight of Nile Air, the largest private airline in Egypt, which flew in from Cairo International Airport. The carrier will operate two flights a week between Sharjah and Cairo on Friday and Sunday. The welcoming ceremony organized by Sharjah Airport was attended by several department heads, stakeholders, and strategic partners from the authority, alongside Ahmed Oraby, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer, Nile Air. “We are committed to constantly expanding the network of global destinations available to travelers and attracting new international carriers to Sharjah Airport, in line with the Authority’s aspirations to support tourism movement between the two destinations,”stated HE Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman, Sharjah Airport Authority. “We are pleased to have launched operations connecting Sharjah and Cairo international airports, especially at a time

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News when Sharjah is witnessing an accelerated pace of development,”commented Oraby. Nile Air, which entered the UAE market in 2016, is the first and largest private airline in Egypt. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircrafts in Egypt and offers both the economy and

business class options to its customers, providing them with easy and comfortable choices to choose from, a press communique concluded.

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Amazon inaugurates its new offices in Saudi Arabia n Amazon.sa has unveiled its new office in Riyadh that houses employees from various sectors of the company’s operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including e-commerce, smart devices, Amazon Payments Services, Amazon Internet Services, and Amazon Advertising. “We will continue to develop our investments in the Kingdom across various sectors, including e-commerce, smart devices, and Amazon Payment Services, among others,” remarked Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President, Amazon Middle East, and North Africa (MENA). Since the launch of Amazon.sa in 2020, the company has recruited more than 1,400 talents in its various sectors, and the new office paving the way for attracting more local talent to join the company and to help Amazon innovate on behalf of customers. “At Amazon, we talk about hiring builders who will help us invent and innovate on behalf of our customers.

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This means investing in the right talent and people who are equipped to be customer obsessed and to continuously improve the customer experience,” commented Abdo Chlala, Director, GCC. Last March, Amazon.sa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises General

Authority (Monsha’at). The MoU will enhance Amazon’s presence in the local market, enable tens of thousands of small and medium enterprises to sell their products to millions of customers across the Kingdom, and help scores of entrepreneurs set up their logistics businesses, a press communique concluded.

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AP Moller-Maersk launches US-Korea air freight service n AP Moller-Maersk (Maersk) recently announced the inaugural flight of Maersk Air Cargo´s new air freight service with scheduled flights between Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP) and Incheon, Korea (ICN) stretching the wings of its newly introduced cargo airline for the first time. The scheduled transpacific operation will commence 31 October with two weekly flights introducing the first of three newly built Boeing 767-300 freighters that have recently been purchased by Maersk Air Cargo. All U.S.-Korea flights will be operated by Miami-headquartered cargo airline Amerijet International. Maersk Air Cargo is the cargo airline arm of AP Moller–

Maersk and is on a journey to provide customers with unique end-to-end air freight services through own controlled capacity and a global network of scheduled flights. “With the introduction of this new service between the US and Korea, we have taken the next step in securing logistics solutions for our customers with our own aircrafts,” stated Michel Pozas Lucic, Global Head, Air & LCL, AP MollerMaersk. Maersk also recently opened a new Chicago Air Freight Gateway facility to add more supply chain integration opportunities for customers using Chicago O’Hare International and Rockford International.

Emirates Post launches new kiosks in major shopping centres in Dubai n As part of Emirates Post’s ongoing network expansion strategy aimed at increasing the number of locations and channels for customers, the official postal operator and leading express provider in the UAE, has launched new ‘Emirates Post Kiosks’ in some of Dubai’s leading shopping centres including The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Al Waha Mall, and Madina Mall. Considering its location in major malls frequented by shoppers, these ‘Emirates Post Kiosks’ will provide customers with a more convenient and seamless experience in accessing Emirates Post’s key services. Customers can now avail of a variety of services such as PO Box registration and collecting or sending domestic and international shipments. “We launched our new kiosks in major shopping centres in the emirate to be even closer to our customers and ensure that they can reach us easily as they go about their daily errands during mall visits,” stated Rashed Huraiz Alfalasi, Acting Chief Retail

Officer, Emirates Post. Emirates Post is on track in its plans to strengthen its local network and facilitate access to services and innovative solutions.

This is in line with current efforts to expand strategic partnerships to improve the efficiency and quality of postal and express services and eCommerce delivery solutions.

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Cebu Pacific commemorates 9th Anniversary of Dubai flights n The Philippines’ largest carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) recently celebrated its landmark 9th Anniversary of commencement of direct flights from Manila to Dubai. A commemorative press conference held at the Rove Hotel in Deira City Centre, Dubai, was addressed by Carmina Romero, Corporate Communications Director, Cebu Pacific, who led the highlevel delegation. Accompanying her was Romina Yasmin Aguirre, the Airlines’ Corporate Communications Manager, and a large media delegation from the Philippines. Furthermore, to celebrate this milestone, CEB, the only low-cost carrier

(LCC) from the Philippines that flies directly to Dubai, also announced a flash sale for the five-month travel period from November 2022 to March 2023. Romero also announced that the airline will also add more flights to the route. Starting October 30, 2022, CEB will be operating twice daily—14 times weekly between Manila and Dubai. As part of the celebrations, CEB hosted a ‘Homecoming’ community event headlined by celebrity blogger and digital influencer Kyle ‘Kulas’ Jennerman of ‘Becoming Filipino’. Philippines Consul General to the Dubai and Northern

Emirates, HE Renato N. Dueñas, Jr. attended the event, together with community leaders, industry partners, and members of the League of Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs under the Philippine Business Council – Dubai and Northern Emirates. Romero also confirmed that CEB is eyeing expansion across other geographies notably China subject to regulatory approvals and easing of covidrelated health protocols. From its maiden flight on 7 October 2013 to September 2022, CEB has flown over 1.6 million passengers between Manila and Dubai.

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Shipsy to demonstrate how AI is paving the way for Sustainable Logistics n As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) continues to make strides to become a global logistics hub, the focus at this year’s Seamless KSA 2022 will primarily be on how disruptive technologies like AI, ML, and Predictive Intelligence, Automation and Big Analytics are empowering business across industries to balance sustainability, cost, and customer experience. At the event Shipsy, a leading smart logistics management technology provider, will showcase how its platform enables businesses in the region to deliver on skyrocketing online delivery demands and expedite digital transformation goals by scaling and optimizing end-to-end logistics operations. “KSA remains a crucial market for Shipsy.

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The region accounts for over 40% of logistical activity in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, due to the current supply chain challenges, there’s a growing need for businesses to embrace mission-critical logistics solutions. This is where Shipsy comes in,” stated Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-founder, Shipsy. A smart logistics management platform empowers businesses to eliminate RTO instances by 18%, boost deliveries per rider by 14%, shrink last-mile delivery costs by 14%, reduce customer complaints by 28%, curb distance traveled by 5%, boost vehicle capacity utilization by 31% and decrease trip volumes by 6%., a press statement concluded.

YBA Kanoo Group goes live with SAP enterprise resource planning solutions n Bahrain-headquartered Yusuf Bin Ahmed (YBA) Kanoo Group, a large independent family-owned multinationals in the Middle East, recently announced its successful deployment of a cutting-edge enterprise resource planning (ERP) private cloud solution, Rise with SAP, delivered by SAP in conjunction with channel partner Kaar Technologies. With the deployment of the SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition, the YBA Kanoo Group has reached a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey aimed at aligning its businesses with regional strategic visions and enhancing services to its customers. YBA Kanoo Group has an extensive portfolio of businesses in shipping, logistics, travel, industrial and energy, capital, and real estate across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. “Our digital transformation program is driving sustainable excellence to optimize services to our customers and is aligned with the economic strategies of the

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markets in which we operate,” affirmed YBA Kanoo Group Chairman Khalid Mohamed Kanoo at an event held to celebrate the go-live announcement. “The result is increased efficiencies, reduced total cost of ownership, streamlined IT functions and greater control over all areas of operations,”remarked Fawzi Ahmed Kanoo, Deputy Group Chairman. “The implementation of S/4HANA offers real-time insights and ensures

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all of the group’s operations are scalable when needed, and yet the system is flexible enough to enable continuous enhancements to meet the changing expectations of customers and employees,” reiterated Ahmed AlFaifi, SVP and Managing Director, SAP ME North.

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Bahrain’s nogaholding Appoints BCG to support National Energy Strategy Development n The Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding) Bahrain has appointed the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world’s leading management consulting firms, to assist in the development of a National Energy Strategy for the Kingdom of Bahrain and build a supporting Operating Strategy for nogaholding and its portfolio companies. This announcement comes as nogaholding undergoes a strategic transformation in line with the vision of HM King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the sector. To develop the National Energy Strategy, a Steering Committee will be appointed and will include senior officials from various ministries and other key stakeholders. “By working closely with BCG, we aim to deliver energy security, maximize the value of Bahrain’s natural resources, while also decarbonizing and moving to alternative energy sources over the next decade,” affirmed Mark Thomas, Group CEO, nogaholding.

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Yellow Door Energy raises $ 400mn to develop sustainable energy projects in MEA

n Yellow Door Energy (YDE), the leading sustainable energy partner for businesses, recently announced the closing of a new equity raise to continue its development of sustainable energy projects in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. The funding is substantially provided by YDE’s newest and now controlling shareholder, Actis, with existing shareholders International Finance Corporation (IFC), Mitsui & Co., and

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APICORP also increasing their equity commitments. With the closure of this landmark transaction, YDE’s business plan is fully funded and the management team is now focused on executing sustainable energy solutions over the next five years, with a portfolio value expected to exceed US $ 1bn, a press communique stated. “This substantial investment will enable Yellow Door Energy to rapidly

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ABS convenes regional maritime industry leaders to discuss technology advances n Maritime industry leaders recently came together to discuss the latest advances in sustainability and digital classification, regulatory developments, and market trends at the annual ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) Middle East Regional Committee Meeting. “As a leader in classification in the Middle East, our committee includes the diverse expertise of many knowledgeable stakeholders, which is a powerful resource to focus on regulatory and technological challenges,” noted Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Vice President, Global Business Development. Kroustallis delivered a strong report card of ABS fleet safety performance underscoring ABS’ focus on safety and its mission. The members also heard how the ABS-classed fleet had grown to 277mn gross tons and secured the number one position in global orderbook share. “ABS and ADNOC Logistics and Services

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have been developing their partnership in both new construction projects and decarbonization, with the recent delivery of the ABS-classed VLGC ‘Al Ain’ from Jiangnan Shipyard, China, and the award of ADNOC L&S Fleet Decarbonization Strategy project,” stated Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, ADNOC L&S CEO and Chairman, ABS Middle

expand into new countries and deploy over US$ 1bn in projects across the region,” affirmed Jeremy Crane, CEO and Founder, Yellow Door Energy. “With over US$ 400mn in equity expected, Yellow Door Energy is fully funded and well positioned for the next phase of the company’s growth. We look forward to leveraging our shareholders’ expertise and benefiting from their continued synergies to add value to our business and customers,” asserted Nalin Nayyar, CFO, Yellow Door Energy. “We see a clear opportunity to help Yellow Door Energy continue its growth journey and to build the region’s distributed solar sustainability leader,” commented Lucy Heintz, Partner, and Head of Energy Infrastructure, Actis.

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East Regional Committee. The Committee meetings are a forum for ABS members, including owners, operators, charterers, and industry representatives from flag Administrations, owner associations, and the shipbuilding and insurance sectors, to come together with ABS leaders and discuss industry issues and developments.

G42 and Kazakhstan sign MoU to collaborate on digital adoption n G42, the leading UAE-based AI and cloud computing company, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on government use of big data analytics, cloud, AI and other digital technologies. Under the MOU, G42 will work with the Ministry to explore the use of big data analytics and digital use cases in government, with a focus on healthcare, finance, safety & security, and developing digital twin technologies for Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. The two parties will also consider areas for cooperation including sovereign government cloud to securely host government applications in-country and to provide a backbone for future services; development of AI capabilities; and the potential for Kazakhstan to become a data and cloud hub for Central Asia. The agreement was signed by Zhaslan Madiyev, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and

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Aerospace industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Mansoor AlMansoori, Group Chief Operating Officer, G42. “We look forward to exploring new use cases for digital solutions and to aiding Kazakhstan to build its own capabilities in critical areas including cloud, AI and big data analytics,” commented Mansoor AlMansoori, Group Chief Operating Officer, G42.

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The MoU was formalized following meetings between the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the President Timur Suleimenov; HE Bagdat Mussin, Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace industry, and HE Mohamed Saeed Al Ariqi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Kazakhstan, with senior executives from G42.

Digital technology will transform food production in the Middle East n An increased use of innovative digital technologies could help to solve the world’s ongoing food security crisis, according to policymakers and business leaders who met recently in Abu Dhabi. From big data usage to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on food systems and improve logistics to geospatial systems that predict locust feeding patterns, the upcoming World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference in Abu Dhabi examined a range of new innovations that could bring game-changing tools to global food markets. The fresh food sector is among the less penetrated sectors in terms of digitalisation and application of digital technology. Nevertheless, many studies have shown that

technology can help transform the global food production system and mitigate its impact on the climate and environment. A special innovation panel addressed how technology can help address challenges in the sector. By bringing together experts from a range of key organisations, including start-ups deploying artificial intelligence to manage food supply chains, such as SILAL, a leading UAE agritech company; EAT, a science-based global platform for food system transformation; and moderated by economic consultant Roland Berger Middle East, the panel examined the potential of emerging technologies seen for developing more efficient and reliable food supply systems. “We truly believe that food is the most powerful opportunity to improve

the health of both people and planet, and to transform our food systems, to help accelerate the pace to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” commented Javad Mushtaq, Deputy CEO, EAT Foundation.

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GPCA

Collaboration will be the key to solving food security challenges – GPCA Meet Speakers agree on enhanced co-operation at the 12th GPCA Agri-Nutrients Conference

nly through greater collaboration and coordination between the public and private sector will current and future food security challenges be resolved in the run up to 2030, agreed speakers at the recently concluded 12th annual two-day edition of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Agri-Nutrients Conference, held in late September in Dubai. Held under the theme ‘Resolving Global Food Challenges with Agri-Nutrients’, the conference kicked off on Day One with welcome remarks from Abdulrahman Al-Suwaidi, CEO, QAFCO and Chairman, Agri-Nutrients Committee, GPCA, who called on the industry to engage in better collaboration, to include innovation and develop new business models as the solution to global food challenges. The GCC agri-nutrients has already placed

sustainability as a priority, Al-Suwaidi said. Improving agricultural productivity and enhancing food supply for all is another key driver in the industry’s vision for the future, he added.

Inaugural address HE Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector, Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, UAE, presented the inaugural address in which he highlighted that accessibility, affordability, and sustainability are at the core of food security efforts. To help support these efforts, he called on the agri-technology industry to innovate, find practical solutions and share them with the government to work more efficiently together towards achieving food security. In her keynote address, Alzbeta Klein, Director General, International Fertilizer

Association (IFA), described coalition and cooperation as the only way to feed the world and ensure food security through agri-nutrients. She touched upon the steep increase in gas prices and their impact on food security and agri-nutrients, calling upon industry leaders in the audience to collaborate and work with legislators to prevent another catastrophic food crisis in the world.

Global industry trends Abdulrahman Shamsaddin, CEO, SABIC Agri-Nutrients and Vice-Chair, AgriNutrients Committee, GPCA, welcomed delegates for the second and final day of the event. He was followed on stage by strategy experts from the industry, who discussed global industry M&A trends and regional consolidation trends in a fireside conversation.

Tremendous challenges “The agri-nutrient industry in the region and globally is facing tremendous challenges as well as opportunities to supply vital raw materials to new and existing markets and support food security globally. At the same time, the industry is coming face to face with a formidable task – to lower its environmental footprint and transition towards greener, more sustainable products that align with the decarbonization goals of regional and global economies,” affirmed Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA. “The twin challenge of ensuring food security and meeting the world’s sustainability challenges will continue to occupy the minds of business and government leaders for the next decades to come, but I am confident that the industry is well positioned to support this transition and contribute to global food security as well as net zero targets,” he concluded.

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