GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN JANUARY 2022

January 2022 Issue 87

ENHANCING THE BUSINESS OF LOGISTICS

: Driving a New

Heavyweight Truck Paradigm

SAP

Making Profitability Sustainable

DP World

Uzbekistan signs Key Deal

AUH

A Major Vaccine Hub

ADD SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY TO YOUR E-COMMERCE SHIPMENTS WITH TK COURIER! Visit to learn more: turkishcargo.com.tr

DRIVE THE NEW WAY

NEW IVECO T-WAY: HIGH PRODUCTIVITY AND SAFETY ON OFF-ROAD TERRAINS With a complete line-up of AWD and PWD versions and the the 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, the IVECO T-WAY features a host of functionalities such as Rocking Mode, Off-road Mode, Creeping Mode and 4 reverse gears to tackle with ease the toughest off-road conditions.

The new architecture of the EBS system, combined with disc brakes on all wheels, greatly improves the vehicle’s performance and the driver’s safety in the most demanding applications.

NEW IVECO S-WAY: HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENCY FOR ON-ROAD MISSIONS The new IVECO S-WAY, with a completely redesigned and reinforced cab, offers a wide choice of Euro III/V diesel engines, a delivering class-leading power from 360 HP to 560 HP Euro III / 570 HP Euro V and superior fuel-saving devices, such as anti-idling feature, Ecoswitch, Ecoroll and Smart Alternator. 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated transmission with the most advanced technology in its category, electronic clutch and best-in-class torque-to-weight ratio.

Volatile times for the logistics and supply chain industry

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.

It is abundantly clear that the global logistics and supply chain industry is currently at the cross roads.

Challenges and upheavals continue to ravage the sector. Just when there seemed to be a faint ray of hope that the situation is just beginning to limp back to normalcy and recovery, we witnessed the outbreak of the nasty Omicron variant that set the clock back and down the slippery slope we all went.

For now, I realistically think we can let go of any expectation that the supply chain landscape will ever return to ‘normal’. By that, I mean that extreme uncertainty on both the demand and the supply sides will continue for the foreseeable future.

Raw materials and component shortages, labour shortfalls, port closures, rising fuel costs and other forces will continue to exert enormous pressures on global supply chains in 2022. Then, once again, it will be incumbent on logistics teams to deliver better, faster service, at a lower cost, to get products to market in the face of these continuing issues.

As I write this editorial at the year-end, there’s just no telling what the New Year will bring in terms of emerging logistics challenges. Things still appear unsettled for now and who knows what 2022 has in store? Only time will reveal I guess—it’s very hard to make predictions.

Our Cover Story for this edition focuses on IVECO, one of the most formidable international truck manufacturers with a rock solid reputation. At a recent lavish ceremony at the Dubai Autodrome, IVECO unfurled the well-regarded T-WAY, the offroad truck and the S-WAY, the long haul behemoth. We bring you a full report.

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is carving quite a niche for itself as a major vaccine hub and we present a detailed report to vindicate that claim.

This is the first edition of 2022, so I take this opportunity to wish you our readers a happy, successful and rewarding New Year. May all that we aspire for become a reality this year—a turnaround from the rather tumultuous and uncertain past two years. Let’s hope for the best.

Warm wishes and happy reading!

Malcolm Dias Editor malcolm@signaturemediame.com JANUARY 2022 3

January 2022 Issue 87

06 NEWS

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Up to date news of the Global Suppy Chain industry.

IVECO - On Fast Track Truck Manufacturer’s T-WAY and S-WAY Models rule the road.

OBG Report The Oxford Business Group examines Emerging Market Trends in 2021 / 2022.

Frost & Sullivan Report F&S examines the Distributed Energy and Circular Economy sectors.

SAP OpEd SAP’s Claudio Muruzabal on profitability and sustainability.

Thought Leadership Regular contributor Tom Craig surveys the 2022 Supply Chain Management & Logistics Landscape.

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DP World-Uzbekistan Deal Port Operator and CIS nation ink key deal.

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Infor OpEd Infor’s Brad Revell and Bobby Charlton share their five top tips for optimising value in any organisation.

AD Ports-Aqaba MoU AD Ports and Jordan’s Port of Aqaba have signed a wide ranging comprehensive deal.

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AUH Vaccine Hub AUH is aspiring to become a major vaccine hub.

UPS Vaccine Delivery

UPS has surpassed the 1bn Covid-19 vaccine delivery landmark.

AUH Evusheld Abu Dhabi receives the first global shipment of the New AstraZeneca medication.

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Maersk Group Roundup AP Moller-Maersk has entered a strategic partnership with Unilever on international logistics.

2021

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DP World and DRC sign final agreement to develop Banana Port n DP World and the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently signed the Collaboration Agreement for the development of the deep-sea port in Banana.

In the presence of Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the DRC, the agreement was signed in Kinshasa by Cherubin Okende Senga, Minister of Transport and Communication; Adele Kahinda Mayima, Minister of State for Portfoli; Nicolas Kazadi, Minister of Finance, Aime Boji, Minister of State for Budget, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, and Suhail Al Banna, CEO and MD, Middle East and Africa Region.

This now paves the way for DP World to begin construction within 12 months of the DRC’s first deep-sea port, which will be located at Banana along the country’s 37km coastline on the Atlantic Ocean.

The development of the Banana Port will bring significant cost and time savings for the country’s trade, as it will attract more direct calls from larger vessels from Asia and Europe.

It will also directly benefit the Kongo Central province in terms of economic development, as the port will attract foreign direct investment to the surrounding area, and stimulate local trade and the economy.

“This port will transform the DRC into a trade hub in the region, and in particular, will benefit Kongo Central, a province which already has a port facility, with the creation of jobs, in addition

to generating economic benefits and growth for our country,” commented President Tshisekedi.

“The port will enhance the country’s export capabilities and give it affordable access to international markets,” stated Bin Sulayem.

DP World will develop an initial 600m quay with an 18m draft, capable of handling the largest vessels in operation. It will have a container handling capacity of about 450000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) per year, and a 30-hectare yard to store containers. The port will feature the latest technology and equipment.

Dubai Maritime City’s Industrial District to undergo infrastructure The AED 13.4mn (US$ 3.65mn) upgrade enhancement project will meet the increasing demand n DP World’s purpose-built maritime centre, Dubai Maritime City (DMC) has announced 20% completion of the upgrade for the wastewater management network in the industrial precinct.

The network will connect DMC, Mina Rashid and P&O Marinas to the existing Dubai Municipality main infrastructure.

DMC features varied facilities including workshops, warehouses, showrooms, shops, office spaces, yacht manufacturing workshops and more that are ideal for major businesses in marine services.

Currently, their customer base includes companies primarily dealing with ship lifts, ship repair and yacht manufacturing.

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Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer, DMC.

within the industrial hub creating an uptick in the number of occupants.

“Currently, the occupancy rate in the district has reached 82 per cent with 299 business partners. The rapidly increasing number of occupants prompted us to initiate the upgrade of the existing effluent treatment systems to offer firstgrade services for the businesses here,” commented Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chief Operating Officer, DMC. Currently, the team has achieved 98 per cent of the design work and 36 per cent of the engineering and placement of contracts related to the upgrade project that commenced in October 2020 and is scheduled for completion in Q2-2022.

ADQ and Etihad unveil plans to stimulate Abu Dhabi’s Aviation Ecosystem

n Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and ADQ recently announced a proposed transaction that will support the ongoing transformation of Etihad Airways and the future growth of the civil aviation sector in Abu Dhabi.

As part of the proposed transaction, a number of Etihad’s businesses providing airline support services will become part of a new ADQ aviation company.

Once the transaction is complete, the airline support services businesses will benefit from being part of ADQ’s broad mobility and logistics portfolio, which includes Abu Dhabi Airports and AD Ports

Group, a press communiqué stated. .

The businesses included in the proposed transaction are Etihad Engineering, Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Airport Services Ground, Etihad Aviation Training, Etihad Secure Logistics and Etihad Technical Training.

Additionally, the proposed transaction will see two Etihad businesses join Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC).

Etihad Airport Services Catering will combine with ADNEC’s catering business Capital Hospitality, and Etihad Holidays will join ADNEC’s tourism promotion business,

Emirates SkyCargo helps UAE company export premium oysters to Moscow n Every day, Emirates SkyCargo transports between 500 and 700 tonnes of food items ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to gourmet ice creams and cheeses on its flights around the world.

Dibba Bay Oysters, a UAE start-up based in the Emirate of Fujairah, has been growing premium oysters in Dibba Bay since 2016.

Around 50% of Dibba Bay’s oyster produce is exported and Emirates SkyCargo has been facilitating the exports of these delectable oysters from the UAE to Russia, currently the most important export market for Dibba Bay Oysters.

“With our network, capacity and expertise in handling premium food products, we look forward to supporting Dibba Bay Oysters as well as other UAE based and international SMEs in their international expansion plans over the years to come,”commented Nabil

Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

“Emirates Sky Cargo has truly enabled us to become the world’s oyster,”remarked Ramie Murray, Founder and CEO, Dibba Bay Oysters.

To support premium food exporters from around the world catering to an international audience, Emirates SkyCargo

Tourism 365.

“ADQ is primed to develop an integrated aviation platform that is driven by performance and a robust financial foundation through its new company.

We see potential to capitalise on growth opportunities, attract a wider client base of airlines and drive the future expansion of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector,” asserted Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, CEO, ADQ. “This agreement will allow us to place 100% of our focus on Etihad Airways to capitalise on recovering travel demand and will benefit our staff, the millions of guests who fly with Etihad Airways,” remarked Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group.

“Our focus remains on achieving milestones and continuing to work to enhance competitiveness at the regional and international levels, as well as increase contributions to the economy of Abu Dhabi and support sustainable development,” commented Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO, ADNEC.

has introduced Emirates Fresh, a three-tiered product to help maintain freshness during transportation by air.

Emirates SkyCargo also has a fleet of cool dollys in Dubai to transport food under temperature-controlled conditions.

The air cargo carrier operates a weekly freighter flight on its Boeing 777 freighter offering 100 tonnes of cargo capacity to Domodedovo Moscow Airport (DME). In addition, the carrier also transports cargo every day in the bellyhold of its passenger flights to the city.

JANUARY 2022 7

Savoye partners with INCUBE as ODATio Middle East distributor

n SAVOYE has expanded its international reach by signing an agreement with the recognized software solution provider, INCUBE. INCUBE, one of the Middle East and North Africa’s premier supply chain mobility solutions provider now becomes the first distributor and integrator for Savoye software solutions in the region.

According to the agreement, INCUBE will distribute and integrate ODATiO, cloud native software for the supply chain, combining Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Transport Management System (TMS), developed by Savoye.

Besides establishing itself in various countries in Europe, USA, Asian region and more recently in Dubai to enter the Middle East and Saudi Arabia markets, this recently formed partnership is also part of the international development program of SAVOYE to boost the sales of its ODATiO software and ensure that it will be available to a broader customer base across the MENA region, a press statement indicated.

ODATIO is one of Savoye’s significant software solutions in the logistics and supply chain sectors which is based on comprehensive functional coverage and flexible configuration options. The software solution is designed to increase productivity, enhance service quality, and optimize warehouse and transport resources.

“With INCUBE as a partner, we are confident that our solution will create more impact on the supply chain and logistics sectors as they play vital roles in the region’s economic development,” remarked Alain Kaddoum, Managing Director, Savoye Middle East.

“As INCUBE continues to expand its products portfolio, we see that the addition of the Savoye products allows INCUBE to complete its offering of top-notch Supply Chain solutions,” stated Sari Kaylani, CEO, INCUBE. “A successful digital transformation in supply chain and logistics requires more investments in redesign, new technologies and software. This is where partnerships like the one between Savoye and INCUBE come into play; to fully support the region’s digital transformation with innovative, flexible and costeffective solutions,” concluded Bruno Lacoste, Director, Software Partnerships, Savoye.

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dnata expands into Africa n dnata recently signed a concession agreement with the Government of Zanzibar, along with Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP, a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialists Egis, and private equity fund manager AIIM. Under the partnership, dnata will oversee the operations of Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport’s (ZNZ) newly-built international terminal (T3), with SEGAP supporting the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) in a management capacity. dnata will provide its globally renowned, quality ground and passenger handling services to airline customers at ZNZ, ensuring safe and timely operations of flights and an excellent travel experience for passengers. dnata expects to handle over 4,000 flights annually at the airport. dnata will also invest in a state-of-the-art cargo centre to establish cargo operations at the airport, supporting local trade and businesses. dnata’s expansion into Zanzibar represents an investment of over US$ 7mn and will create up to 400 direct local jobs with the company.

“We are confident that our investment in the local aviation industry will stimulate tourism and trade, delivering significant benefits for Zanzibar businesses and the local community,” noted Steve Allen, EVP dnata and Chairman, Emirates Leisure Retail and MMI.

“We look forward to expanding our global footprint in facilitating trade and investment via our increased handling capacity for both passenger and air cargo operations,” remarked Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council.

“This is an important step that opens great partnership possibilities with Zanzibar, where we are prepared to consider further investment in airport infrastructure development,” commented Christian Laugier, CEO-Sales, Egis.

Tristar’s concern for seafarers recognized by Maritime Industry n Tristar Group’s ongoing ‘Safety at Sea’ initiatives looking after the health and well-being of seafarers were recognized by the Maritime Industry in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa during the latest Seatrade Maritime Awards in mid-December 2021.

This comes after the Maritime Logistics division of the company conducted its 3rd annual ‘Safety at Sea’ conference at the Indian Pavilion in the Expo 2020 on December 8.

Group CEO Eugene Mayne, received the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award from Andy Bowerman, Regional

Director, The Mission to Seafarers, Middle East & South Asia, who was one of the main speakers at the event where he spoke about seafarers as victims of circumstances.

“Tristar will continue to maintain a leadership position in addressing issues related to the plight of seafarers as this is a global issue which needs all stakeholders to come together to improve the health and well-being of our seagoing colleagues,” explained Mayne right after the 3rd conference.

The company has been consistent in its concern for workers at sea. Earlier,

Mayne called for a broader recognition of seafarers as key workers. He was already echoing the Neptune Declaration at that time even before the company became a signatory to it.

Signed by more than 850 companies and organizations, the declaration recognizes the shared responsibility of stakeholders to prioritize health and well-being of seafarers and ensure a resilient supply chain.

“We intend to create a robust platform to discuss and implement an ecosystem that will enable seafarers to seek counselling or professional advice,” concluded Mayne.

Brambles and CHEP pave the way to a regenerative supply chain at COP26 n Brambles, the leading supply chain logistics company operating through the CHEP brand, was an inaugural recipient of the Terra Carta Seal at the recently concluded 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Launched by HRH The Prince of Wales, the Award recognises global companies which are driving innovation and demonstrating their commitment to, and momentum towards, the creation of genuinely sustainable markets.

“Our sustainability approach aligns with the principles set out in Terra Carta to move towards a climate and nature positive future, so we’re delighted to

be recognised in this way,” affirmed Graham Chipchase, CEO, Brambles.

The company also joined in the conversation at the Sustainable Innovation Forum, hosted during COP 26, where its senior representatives shared their knowledge and vision of regenerative supply chains, and how supply chain players can help meet the Paris Agreement.

Juan Jose Freijo, Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability and EMEA Government Affairs, Brambles, joined speakers from Coca-Cola, E.ON, WWF and the Schmidt Ocean Institute on a panel looking at the importance of biodiversity and nature to address the

climate emergency.

Matt Quinn, Vice President Northern Europe, CHEP, was a key speaker at the panel ‘Supply Chains and Circular Manufacturing - Driving Emissions Reduction’, together with experts from BMW Group, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Johnson Controls and Roland Berger.

JANUARY 2022 9

Bridgestone CEO visits GWC Regional Hub n Michael Codron, CEO, Bridgestone, was in Qatar recently to meet the GWC leadership and visit their Ras Bufontas Free Zone Regional Logistics Hub..

This visit comes at a time when Qatar’s dynamic US$ 7.5bn logistics sector is expanding with the country’s determination to become a global trading hub and also to attract the type of foreign direct investment that will take its logistical capabilities to the next level, a press communiqué stated.

Preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has further raised Qatar’s logistics profile with massive investments in infrastructure, development of free zones and simplification of customs procedures and regulations.

GWC, the leading logistics provider and the Regional Supporter and Official Host Nation Logistics Provider for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is playing a significant role in building the logistics landscape in Qatar, which was discussed during Codron’s visit.

Codron was welcomed by Ranjeev Menon, GWC’s Group CEO, who updated

him on his company’s performance and Bridgestone operations.

He was then given a tour of GWC’s logistics hub in Qatar’s Ras Bufontas Free Zone, which offers world class facilities, including temperature-controlled warehouses and frozen storage chambers, unmatched logistical and last mile delivery options to the aviation, pharmaceutical and events industries including FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

“With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, the logistics sector is determined to expand and grow making Qatar a global trading hub, a journey that

GWC well positioned to lead, paving the way for international companies to take Qatar as a distribution hub in the region,” commented Codron.

“Partnerships like the one we have with Bridgestone provide us with the opportunity to further build on our suite of specialised logistics services,” remarked Menon.

GWC signed an agreement with Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Europe, last year, entrusting GWC with the mandate to handle the supply chain management requirements for Bridgestone Aircraft Tires in Qatar for a period of five years.

Al-Futtaim Trading Enterprises launch first Volvo Electric Car in the region n Al-Futtaim’s Trading Enterprises, the official distributor of Volvo Cars in the UAE, has unveiled its first fully electric car to the Middle East, the XC40 BEV, a compact SUV designed for modern urban living.

The launch comes as another milestone in Volvo’s journey to a zero-emission future and as part of its overarching commitment to sustainability by only selling electric vehicles by 2030.

Increasing the use of sustainable materials is just one way the XC40 Recharge helps reduce its environmental impact. For example, the interior carpeting is made entirely from recycled plastic. Over 200,000km, an XC40 Recharge twin has a lower carbon impact

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than a petrol-powered XC40 T5, irrespective of the charging electricity mix (global, EU or wind).

The battery has a nominal capacity of 78 kwh. A fully charged battery gives drivers a projected range of up to 418km in mixed driving before it needs a recharge.

“We will continue to support and promote Volvo’s electrification strategy and its overarching commitment to sustainability by selling only electric vehicles by 2030,” observed Oscar Rivoli, Managing Director, Trading Enterprises.

A subsidiary of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, Trading Enterprises, was established in 1970s in Dubai and is the exclusive authorized distributor for Volvo in the UAE.

York signs agreement with King Abdullah Port n Saudi Arabia’s Ports Development Company (PDC), the owner and developer of King Abdullah Port, has signed an agreement with Al Salem Johnson Controls (York), a leader in HVAC-R, fire, safety and security and building management systems.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at in King Abdullah Economic City sets out the general principles and modalities of cooperation between the two parties to develop the capabilities of marine services at King Abdullah Port in line with Vision 2030.

The main objectives of the memorandum are to support the development of local content and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and provide technical support for establishing a marine office and the required facilities to offer vessel maintenance and repair services at King Abdullah Port.

The agreement also includes the provision to strengthen the cooperation

between both parties to provide the necessary solutions to facilitate the comprehensive diversification of the services at King Abdullah Port.

The MoU was signed

by Jay New, CEO, King Abdullah Port, representing PDC and Dr Mohanad Al Shaikh, CEO, Al Salem Johnson Controls (York).

“The agreement aims to leverage Saudi Arabia’s unique geographical location on the Red Sea through which 13% of world trade passes, and develop the Kingdom as a major center of international trade and a hub connecting three continents,” affirmed Jay New. “It aims to further develop the commercial capacity of King Abdullah Port by establishing facilities for vessel maintenance and repair services. The

Jay New, CEO, King Abdulla Port, Saudi Arabia.

agreement is particularly significant as King Abdullah Port is the first commercial port in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East owned and financed entirely by the private sector,” stressed Dr Al Shaikh.

Aramex partners with Virtuzone to provide logistics and shipping solutions to AMP n Aramex recently announced that it has partnered with Virtuzone, the leading company formation specialists in the UAE, to launch AMP, the first e-commerce-focused accelerator programme in the UAE and the MENA region.

As an official partner of Virtuzone for AMP, Aramex will provide AMP members with preferential rates on deliveries, flexible payment terms and complimentary Aramex SMART credits.

Introduced by Aramex in 2020 to boost e-commerce growth in the region, Aramex SMART is the

industry’s first comprehensive delivery, payment and returns solution for e-tailers.

“The combination of Aramex’s expertise, and the disruptive solutions provided by AMP will provide long-term and sustainable benefits not just to those joining the programme, but to the country’s overall SME and e-commerce sector,” commented Ahmed Marie, General Manager, Aramex, UAE. “Together, we aspire to amplify the e-commerce revolution in the region and bolster the UAE’s digital economy,” remarked George Hojeige, CEO, Virtuzone.

JANUARY 2022 11

UAE showcases its maritime industry’s competencies during the IMO Council elections n The UAE is currently regarded as one of the most significant maritime hubs across the globe. Capitalizing on its strategic location, beneficial practices, decisions, and legislations, the nation is now considered to have one of the most developed maritime infrastructures, safety standards, and marine environments globally.

As a result of these progressive steps, the UAE was able to quickly enhance its reputation in the global maritime spectrum, enabling it to be elected to the IMO Executive Council under Category B in 2017, and then get re-elected for the same in 2019.

As part of the Executive Council, the UAE aims to continue its active role in strengthening maritime legislation and regulations to serve the shipping sector and international trade, while also strengthening the global maritime sector for a sustainable future.

“Currently, we host more than 27,000 maritime companies in the nation, and our ports are ranked as one of the best across the globe, thus cementing our position as a leading maritime hub globally,” remarked HE Hassan Mohamed Juma Al-Mansoori, Undersecretary for the Infrastructure and Transport Sector at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

“The UAE has been at the forefront of ensuring the welfare of the seafarers’ community through initiatives such as ‘Supporting our Blue Army’ to recognise and appreciate marine crew as a part of the priority category of workers,” remarked HE Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

“In line with our aim of achieving net-zero targets, we are helping the shipping sector adhere to the IMO legislation of reducing sulphur oxide emissions by providing new, low-sulphur fuels at an affordable price,” observed Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the IMO.

UAE’s TRBA provides compliance and conformity certificates for maritime and food industries n As part of its efforts to promote best practices in the industry and business sector in the UAE, TASNEEF-RINA Business Assurance (TRBA), the leading provider of compliance certificates, and a subsidiary of the Emirates Classification Society (TASNEEF), recently presented food safety and halal product compliance certification services at the SIAL Middle East exhibition, held in December 2021.

The participation of TRBA in this edition of SIAL Middle East is of strategic significance, as global economies recover from the pandemic, causing massive changes in the supply chain sector, and forcing governments to take necessary steps to ensure the uninterrupted flow of food supplies.

“The UAE has been a major contributor to the sector regionally,

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thanks to its integrated logistics and shipping facilities, which include world-class seaports and airports, in addition to a robust network of roads, enabling the country to play a vital role in the industry,” commented Engineer Saeed Al Maskari, CEO, The Emirates Classification Society (TASNEEF).

“Halal food specifications are not limited to the Sharia-compliant process of slaughter, but extends to the entire food supply chain,” observed Khalfan Al-Saadi, General Manager, TASNEEF-RINA Business Assurance (TRBA).

TRBA’s offerings integrate with the other services provided by TASNEEF’s subsidiaries, including ‘TASNEEF Maritime’, which issues classification certificates for vessels and maritime facilities.

Khalfan Al-Saadi, General Manager, TASNEEF-RINA Business Assurance (TRBA).

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Expansion of Jubail Commercial Port to facilitate sustainability and cost-efficiency n Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), part of the Gulftainer group of companies, has announced enhancements to Jubail Commercial Port. With the completed upgrades, the port now has the capacity to process 1.8mn twenty-foot containers (TEU’s) per year.

By increasing export volumes in Jubail, Saudi Arabian exporters will have the ability to directly reduce carbon emissions.

According to the World Economic Forum, moving cargo by truck accounts for approximately 25 percent of global transport emissions.

Although 60 percent of containers processed by cargo operators in the Jubail region are currently moved via the port, the remaining 40 percent is transported

via the Dammam highway. Exporters with ambitious carbon neutrality goals can take an average of 101 km off the road with each container moved over Jubail.

Congestion and traffic accidents on the highway frequently delay access to the Eastern Province and congest the surrounding hinterland. By upgrading Jubail’s throughput capabilities, cargo owners will be able to directly improve road safety and ensure the integrity of KSA’s critical oil and gas supply chain.

SAFEEN Feeders bolsters UAE-Coastal Feeder Service Fleet with addition of SAFEEN Pearl n SAFEEN Feeders, a leading container feeder operator of AD Ports Group, recently announced the acquisition of a container ship that will join its feeder service fleet in the Arabian Gulf.

The SAFEEN Pearl, formerly called Vega Virgo, will be deployed in its UAE Coastal Service (UCO) providing seamless connection to UAE coastal ports via its hub at Khalifa Port.

The UAE-Coastal Feeder Service provides shipping customers with a perfect

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connectivity solution that accelerates last leg deliveries between the Group’s flagship, Khalifa Port, and the coastal ports of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Fujairah, while supporting movement of goods and optimising local logistic chains.

“As part of the UAE-Coastal Feeder Service, SAFEEN Pearl will greatly improve our ability to provide customers with a flexible, agile, sustainable, and cost-effective solution that meets their

“As we upgrade the Jubail Commercial Port, we continue to work with the Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani, and other key stakeholders, including SABIC and Sadara, to divert the transportation of containers to the port,” asserted Jason French, Managing Director, GSCCO. Strategically located, this multipurpose port can handle container, bulk, and general cargo and is critical to the economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

demand of a coastal service in the UAE from our hub at Khalifa Port,” said Captain Maktoum Al Houqani, Chief Corporate Authority Officer and Acting Head of Maritime Cluster - AD Ports Group, Managing Director – Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy.

SAFEEN Pearl has a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 10,000T and a nominal handling capacity of 966 TEU. It has a LOA of 139m, breadth of 22.6m and a draft of 8.8m. It was built in South Korea in 2012.

“Registering the ship, which carries the UAE flag confirms that it fulfils all the requirements set by international organisations regarding the Flag State in accordance with regulations and procedures that ensure safety, protecting the environment and maritime security,” remarked Capt. Abdulla Darwish Al Hayyas, Director of Maritime Transport Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Launched in 2020, SAFEEN Feeders was created to deliver premium feeder services linking Abu Dhabi to other crucial ports across the UAE, the widerGulf region, and the Indian subcontinent.

Saudia Cargo sponsors the first Saudi female Rally Driver n Saudia Cargo recently signed a sponsorship agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first female, accredited rally driver at Rally Dakar, Mashael AlObaidan, as part of the company’s continuous contributions to the Kingdom’s various entertainment and sporting events.

The 33-year-old ambitious driver is ready to take part in Rally Dakar in 2022, as the first Saudi and Arab female participant, in the prominent worldwide race event. The event will kick off next year in Saudi Arabia for the third time in a row with drivers of 70 nationalities participating in Rally Dakar’s five different categories.

The rally track will start from the City of Hail ending in Jeddah and is famous for being the world’s longest and hardest rally track where drivers cross multiple cities facing different weather conditions and challenging complex topographies.

She is the first Saudi and Arab female to obtain a rally license in Saudi Arabia. Soon after becoming the first female licensed rally driver in KSA, Mashael placed 1st in the T3 category at Sharqiyah Rally and 5th overall out of 19 racers.

The sponsorship of Mashael was welcomed by Teddy Zebitz, CEO, Saudia Cargo who asserted that this step will support Saudis and enhance their performance in worldwide sporting tournaments while presenting the image of the empowered Saudi woman who proudly achieves successful national milestones with remarkable outcomes.

“This is an exciting time for me on several levels, primarily as having the opportunity to represent my country, and to honor the tenets of Vision 2030 in progressing the Kingdom forward,” asserted Mashael.

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics launches extension of SAL New Jeddah Station Facility covers 61,000sqm with 800,000 tons of annual capacity n SAL Saudi Logistics Services, a member of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, recently launched the extension of its new Jeddah Station under the honorable patronage of HE Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport & Logistics.

Fawaz AlFawaz, Chairman of the SAL Board, pointed out that the launch of the new extension comes in tandem with the National Industrial Development Programme (NIDLP), one of Vision 2030’s most prominent programs, aiming at transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub, contributing to a robust and diversified economy, sustaining the growth of the sector, and creating highly competitive investment opportunities.

AlFawaz also highlighted that this launch realizes the true ground handling potential of SAL where the company utilizes its logistics expertise to provide more developed services and solutions in and out of airports and expertly serve the international markets to strengthen the connectivity of KSA ports with those of the entire globe.

Hesham Alhussayen, CEO, SAL, noted that the new extension spans over 61,000 square meters adding more highquality services to its existing wide range of ground handling services and including different state-of-the-art cargo facilities according to the industry’s highest international standards.

He also added the new extension perfectly provides comprehensive import and export services, medical and food cold chain services, dangerous cargo services, and valuable cargo services under world-class security measures and ultramodern automated ground handling systems.

The new extension also features effective cold chain facilities and new spacious storage facilities with an impeccable infrastructure for the special and highly sensitive cargo. The Jeddah station extension is expected to increase SAL’s annual cargo capacity to over 800K tons in 2030 while providing retailers and companies new premium cargo services at King AbdulAziz International Airport (KAIA), Jeddah.

JANUARY 2022 15

Trella cements its position as MENAP regional market leader n Trella, the fastest growing digital freight marketplace in MENAP (Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan), is nearing the conclusion of a stellar year.

In 2021, Trella cemented its position as regional market leader, and a direct contributor to the region’s economic growth and prosperity, the company reported in a press communiqué.

The MENAP Road Freight market is a significant one, worth US$ 50bn.

The pandemic-induced e-commerce boom and expansion of free trade agreements have contributed to this growth, and demand for digital freight services is expected to accelerate as the world recovers from the pandemic.

In 2022 Trella anticipates the first quarter to include multiple new market entries in the GCC, and M&A, as Trella seeks to consolidate the wider value chain, the press statement continued.

In June 2021, Trella completed a US$ 42mn funding round, comprising US$ 30mn new equity and US$ 12mn debt facilities.

Fundraise proceeds are being invested in tech capacity and product development to fuel growth, accelerate the Company’s

journey to reduce the costs of moving goods, and continue being the regional market leader.

In July 2021, Trella announced a partnership with ExxonMobil Egypt to expand and empower its network of trucks across Egypt. The partnership was ExxonMobil’s first direct investment and collaboration with a tech start-up in the MENA region.

In October 2021, Trella announced its expansion into the UAE. This extended the Company’s ability to seamlessly support trade and trucking across the GCC, especially between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Trella currently has operations in four countries—its home market in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the UAE. “We are excited for Trella in 2022 with multiple new market entries and some M&A planned for the first quarter, all of which paves the way for the next frontier of efficiency of trucking in the MENA region,” affirmed Omar Hagrass, CEO and Co-Founder, Trella.

Drydocks World completes Alpha Platform Topside for HKZ Offshore Wind Project n Drydocks World (DDW) recently completed the fabrication of the Alpha topside, which has successfully sailed away from the fabrication yard in Dubai to the Netherlands.

The 700 MW Alpha topside is one of two topsides that will form part of the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) grid connection that will connect the HKZ offshore wind farm zone with the Dutch mainland.

With its installed capacity of 1,500 MW the wind farm zone will have a renewable electricity output equivalent to the annual consumption of over two million households, when fully operational in 2023.

“Our focus will now be geared towards completing and handing over the HKZ Beta topside in the first quarter of 2022. We are committed

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to enable renewable energy, and will continue to play an active role in creating a more environmentally conscious future,” affirmed Capt.

Rado Antolovic Phd, CEO of Drydocks World.

“Collaboration has been key and together with Drydocks World, our focus remains firmly on the delivery of the second topside for its departure next year,” noted Elie Lahoud, COO, Engineering & Construction, Petrofac.

“Our collaboration in the UAE has laid a solid foundation for the teamwork that is required for the upcoming offshore stage of the project to connect the wind farm in a safe manner,” asserted Marco Kuijpers, Director, Large Project Offshore, TenneT.

Capt. Rado Antolovic Phd, CEO, Drydocks.

The HKZ project is a collaboration between Drydocks World, Petrofac and TenneT. Mammoet, a heavy lift and transport specialist was commissioned to perform the weighing, transport and the load-out of the 3,830 tonnes topside onto a specialized transport vessel.

ADNOC and GE to develop decarbonisation roadmap for power generation in downstream operations n Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and GE Gas Power (GE) recently announced a joint cooperation initiative to develop a decarbonisation roadmap that includes reducing carbon emissions from gas turbines used to power ADNOC’s downstream and industry operations, it was revealed in a press communiqué.

This initiative further supports the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and strengthens ADNOC’s position as one of the world’s least carbon-intensive oil and gas producers.

“Working together with GE to develop sustainable solutions for power generation also furthers our ambitions to progress hydrogen as a future fuel and will leverage our industry-leading capabilities in carbon capture and storage,” noted Ahmed Omar Abdulla, Senior Vice President, Refining & Petrochemical Asset Management, ADNOC. Under the terms of the initiative,

ADNOC and GE will explore using hydrogen and hydrogen-blended fuels for lower-carbon power generation; evaluating introducing ammonia as a fuel to power ADNOC’s GE gas turbines and integrating carbon capture solutions at ADNOC’s power generation facilities.

“Energy-intensive industries such as oil and gas, smelters, petrochemicals, aviation, and others, will play an important

role in the UAE’s energy transition,” remarked Joseph Anis, President and CEO, GE Gas Power Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

GE has contributed to the development of the energy sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for over 80 years. Currently, GE-built power generation technologies are installed in up to 350 sites across the region, generating up to half of the GCC’s power.

E-commerce aggregator Opontia raises US$ 42mn Series A investment n Opontia, a start-up that acquires and grows e-commerce brands since its launch in March 2021, recently announced it has raised US$ 42mn, the company revealed in a press statement.

The Series A investment follows nine months of sustainable, fast-paced growth since Opontia launched, during which it has expanded from Dubai to launch offices in the three other largest e-commerce markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), in Poland, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

In the coming months, Opontia is to incorporate offices in more high-potential growth markets including Egypt, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

“Through Opontia’s support,

entrepreneurs can achieve scale and development as we lead on daily operations while we enable them to continue to benefit from the growth in their brands,” commented Philip Johnston, CEO, Opontia.

“The e-commerce market is rapidly augmenting across Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa markets.

As such, entrepreneurs are increasingly seeking support in scaling-up brands and that is where Opontia has a pivotal role to play,” remarked Manfred Meyer, co-CEO, Opontia.

“With its disruptive business model and vision, Opontia really is in the right market at the right time,” noted Ahmad

Alshammari, General Partner, STV. “We’re excited to be following on our initial investment with them as they take the company to the next level,” Saed Nashef, Founding Partner, Raed Ventures.

Launched in March 2021, Opontia enables e-commerce entrepreneurs to realise the full potential of their brands, both in terms of getting an exit as well as profiting from future growth.

JANUARY 2022 17

UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure signs MoU with Panama Maritime Authority n The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) at IMO premises in London for a period of five years, in order to ensure improved training for seafarers, recognition of certificates at the end of both the parties, and better watchkeeping for seafarers on an international level.

As part of the MoU, the UAE Ministry and AMP will enable seafarers who hold the certificates of competency and proficiency to serve onboard vessels registered under the flag of either parties.

The agreement aims to establish measures to ensure that seafarers are educated with appropriate knowledge of the maritime legislation, and are given training about the maritime laws and regulations to ensure that they acquire the required capabilities for the functions they are permitted to

perform.

“As agreed with the Panama Maritime Authority, not only will the certificates of our seafarers issued by either of us be recognized for nearcostal voyages, we will also work towards strengthening the technical and administrative capabilities,”observed Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

“The UAE has always been at the

forefront of ensuring the progress of the maritime sector while also ensuring the welfare of our seafarers,”noted Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the IMO. “Our aim through such agreements is to recognise and appreciate marine crews, and put them on an equal footing with priority categories,”asserted Capt. Abdulla Darwish Al Hayyas, Director of Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

RAKEZ and CBD to support businesses with a host of banking solutions

n Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has entered into a strategic alliance with Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) to provide RAKEZ clients with quick and convenient access to the bank’s products and services.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was recently signed by Ramy Jallad, Group CEO, RAKEZ, and Dr. Bernd van Linder, CEO, CBD. Through this partnership, RAKEZ clients will be able to conveniently and quickly open business bank accounts and get access to innovative financing solutions with personalised services through dedicated CBD relationship managers.

“We aim to make everything quick and easy at every aspect, and adding CBD to our growing list of strategic partners is another leap towards this objective,” remarked Jallad.

“We are proud to partner with RAKEZ and to back the ambitions of RAKEZ’s clients, by providing these businesses with the financial support they need to accelerate their growth,” commented van Linder.

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RSGT cited for ‘Deal of the Year’ 2021 share sales

Tradeling, DIT Partnership to enable Cross-Border Trade between UAE and the UK n Seatrade Maritime Awards cited the 20% equity share sales to Saudi Arabia’s PIF and COSCO Shipping Ports as ‘the most significant deal in the maritime industry over the past 12 months’ in the Maritime Industry, in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa, it was recently announced.

Dubai, UAE- Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) was honored for the 2021 ‘Regional Deal of the Year’, at the annual Seatrade Maritime Awards ceremony, in Dubai, for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa.

It may be recalled that in July of 2021, RSGT announced the formal approvals and completions of 20% equity share sales to both the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Hong Kong-based COSCO Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL).

With the deal’s successful conclusion, RSGT’s founding shareholders reduced their combined majority and controlling shareholding to 60%. The deal implied an enterprise value of US$ 880mn for RSGT. ”This past year RSGT welcomed as new investors one of the world’s largest container shipping and terminal operating companies, as well as one of the world’s largest sovereign investment funds,” affirmed Jens Floe, CEO. Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), located at Jeddah Islamic Port, is a world-class terminal spearheaded by the Saudi Industrial Services group SISCO, is the first privately funded BOT (Build Operate and Transfer) development project in Saudi Arabia.

RSGT began operations in December 2009, and currently handles approximately 3mn TEU annually. Annual container throughput capacity at RSGT will have grown to 5.2mn TEU by the end of 2023, with plans underway to expand to 9mn TEU by 2030.

The facility can currently accommodate next-generation container ships of up to 23,000+ TEU-class capacity, making it the only terminal at JIP designed for the next generation of Ultra-Large Container Ships.

n Tradeling, the fast-growing eMarketplace focused on business-to-business (B2B) transactions in the Middle East & North Africa region has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of International Trade (DIT) to further enable cross-border trade between UAE and the UK. The collaboration will create an increased visibility of the digital platform among a larger cross-section of business enterprises in the UK and the UAE, strong networking opportunities and global sourcing of products and services that will lend more dynamism to the regional B2B digital ecosystem, according to a press communiqué.

Tradeling will foster business ties between UK sellers and MENA based buyers to help DIT’s members engage effectively with their core audience and reach a wider base of buyers in the region. The B2B platform is focused on opening new opportunities for businesses in the region to scale up their geographic reach and explore potential partnerships with UK based enterprises.

“We see strong synergies to be gained through partnerships with UK based enterprises that will enhance the digital supply chain we have created in a short span of time,” remarked Marius Ciavola, CEO, Tradeling.

“A trade agreement with the bloc is a huge opportunity to liberalise trade with a growing market for British business, and to deepen ties with a region that is vital to our strategic interests,” commented Mike Freer, UK Minister for Sports.

Led by a team of experienced technology startup builders, Tradeling ensures a reliable and smooth trade process in addition to providing logistics and financing solutions. Currently, Tradeling has over 100,000 registered buyers and sellers from over 55 countries.

JANUARY 2022 19

Emirates SkyCargo transports 600mn doses of Covid-19 vaccines n Emirates SkyCargo has announced that it has crossed a major milestone in the global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines with 600mn doses flown on its flights. Since October 2020, the carrier has transported more than 2.8mn kilograms (2800T) of vaccines from 35 origins to over 80 destinations.

“Emirates SkyCargo will continue to be a reliable partner for the distribution of the vaccines in the months to come,” stated Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

With the increasing roll-out of vaccination and booster campaigns across global markets, Emirates SkyCargo witnessed a steady increase

in the demand for transportation of the vaccines in the second half of 2021.

In October and November 2021 alone, Emirates SkyCargo moved more than 200mn doses of vaccines, almost one third of the total number transported by the carrier since the start of the pandemic.

Emirates SkyCargo has been a key global player in the air distribution of vaccines and other relief materials and essential commodities during the pandemic. The air cargo carrier offers sophisticated cool chain solutions for pharmaceutical cargo with Emirates

Pharma-a specialised three-tiered air transportation product designed for temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals and backed by Emirates’ state of the art GDP certified pharma infrastructure at its cargo hub in Dubai.

In June 2021, Emirates SkyCargo expanded its pharma cool chain infrastructure at Dubai International Airport, allowing it to store an additional estimated 60-90mn doses of the vaccines.

SOHAR Port and Freezone maintains growth momentum despite pandemic challenge n SOHAR Port and Freezone continued to make solid progress in the first nine months of 2021 despite a global downturn in trade and supply chain disruption.

The Port’s handling of goods in and out of the Sultanate (throughput) performance saw an overall increase of 6.1%, while Ship-to-Ship Cargo saw an impressive growth of 59%, as Container Handling decreased by 3.9%. At the same time, Liquid Bulk increased by 7%, Dry Bulk increased by 4.3% and Break Bulk remained the same.

The Freezone’s performance has been stellar with a 16% increase in the land occupancy and a 14% increase in throughput compared with the same period last year. The complex also saw an 8% increase in exports. SOHAR Port and Freezone remains on course for a strong end to the year.

“The Port and Freezone has remained open at full capacity throughout the pandemic, operating safely and efficiently to serve the industrial and economic sectors,” remarked Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO, SOHAR Port and Freezone.

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“Over 70% of all goods entering the Sultanate pass through SOHAR, as well as more than 40% of exported goods. We are grateful to the entire SOHAR team, both at the Port and Freezone and offshore, for their hard work and commitment throughout the year to date,” commented Omar Mahmood Al Mahrizi, Deputy CEO, SOHAR Port and CEO of SOHAR Freezone.

SOHAR Port and Freezone has attracted close to US$ 30bn in total investment as part of a long-term commitment to developing the national economy in line with the objectives of the national ‘Oman Vision 2040’.

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IVECO

Driving a New Heavyweight Truck Paradigm IVECO newest sturdy, heavy line truck series, offers a complete, renewed line-up for both off and on-road missions.

The new IVECO T-WAY off-road and IVECO S-WAY long-haul truck has catapulted itself to the elite, top-of-the-league truck league with its formidable features, professionally re-engineered attributes and efficiencies and well-credentialed, proven performance under the most stressful, extreme conditions.

T

he IVECO T-WAY is the pioneering off-road vehicle designed and engineered for the toughest missions in the most extreme conditions, which derives and evolves over from the legendary TRAKKER. It introduced a new HI-TRONIX automated transmission with functions

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specifically developed for off-road mobility.

The new rear disc brakes, heavyduty rear suspension system for Tandem axles, lower kerb weight and a host of features such as the Off-Road mode, together with ESP, Hill Holder and high-comfort cab add up to outstanding efficiency and safety.

IVECO completes the signature IVECO WAY heavy range with the IVECO S-WAY the on-road truck developed to deliver a complete package of features focused on the driver, efficiency and business.

The IVECO S-WAY delivers a fuel efficiency increase of up to 4% with a new engine line-up, a redesigned

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cabin and advanced features, further reducing its Total Cost of Ownership and raising the stakes on business productivity.

IVECO WAY RANGE: A complete line-up for every heavy-duty mission

The recent launch presents the IVECO WAY Range, which offers an extensive heavy line-up of first-rate vehicles for every mission: T-WAY the toughest vehicle on the heavy market takes performance, reliability and versatility to the extreme.

After the European live virtual launch at the beginning of June, the brand recently presented the new off-road truck IVECO T-WAY and the on-road truck IVECO S-WAY to the Africa & Middle East market in a series of two dedicated days in early December 2021 at the Dubai Autodrome.

A new drive

IVECO, with the claim DRIVE THE NEW WAY, unveiled the new IVECO WAY range to its customers, dealer network and representatives of the automotive press in a launch event. A programme designed specifically to bring guests closer to the new IVECO world starting with a product presentation and following with

a dedicated test drive on an on-road and off-road track which allowed the driver to concretely appreciate the significant innovations in the IVECO vehicles.

More than 150 especially invited guests appreciated the new functionalities of the range, completely built around the driver, with particular attention to productivity, safety and a completely renewed and redesigned cabin, to improve the on-board comfort and vehicle performance.

The Global Supply Chain editorial team was present and a witness to this lavish ceremony to announce and demonstrate the product presentation with the unique and looked-forward to opportunity to drive and manoeuvre the mammoth vehicles and experience the momentous and noteworthy trademark innovations for the hallowed truck brand.

IVECO took a direct approach to the launch specially designed to touch and test the new IVECO range. It offered participants a unique experience, telling an immersive story made up of a mix of video content and live interactions. It took the guests on a discovery journey through IVECO’s world and unveiled the latest-born in its long lineage of legendary trucks.

JANUARY 2022 23

IVECO

Business-oriented product range

“With the launch of the new IVECO T-WAY and IVECO S-WAY, we now offer our customers the most complete, entirely renewed, business-oriented product range for off-road and on-road missions,” affirmed Carmelo Impelluso, IVECO Head of Commercial Operations EMEA. “The new IVECO WAY family enables us to cover the whole set of market demands with a coordinated offer of very differentiated products. Today, our customers see their trucks as a business tool. They look for a complete solution that will deliver the profitability they need. This is what makes our IVECO WAY range unique: it delivers everything our customers expect – and more,”he continued.

Speaking about the global truck manufacturer’s newest introductions, Fabio De Serafini, Africa & Middle East Business Director, was even more assertive and pointed.“Every detail of the new IVECO WAY Range has been developed in order to optimise all the Total Cost of Ownership elements: fuel consumption, price, residual value, maintenance and uptime costs, driver satisfaction and productivity,”he observed.

“With the new ‘WAY’ family, we cover the whole set of market demands with coordinated, but very differentiated products. The world is moving fast, and the world of transport must not only keep up, but anticipate and drive the change,”he further emphasized.

IVECO T-WAY-the toughest vehicle engineered for the most extreme off-road missions

The IVECO T-WAY builds on the heritage of robustness and reliability of the brand’s long lineage of champion off-roaders. It introduces state-of-the art technological solutions to exceed all expectations in productivity, payload capacity, safety and driver comfort,” stressed Marco Torta, the Dubai, UAE-based Area Manager, Gulf

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Area, Iraq and East Africa, IVECO. “These characteristics of extreme toughness, high performance and reliability are clearly expressed by the theme of the advertising launch campaign: ‘TREAT IT BAD’.

“T”FOR TOUGH: designed and engineered for robustness and reliability.

The IVECO T-WAY has been designed to offer best-in-class performance in every off-road mission, robustness and torsional rigidity,”he continued.

The IVECO WAY range carries over from its predecessors the legendary robustness of the high-resistance steel chassis with a 10mm thick frame, with a Rail Bending Moment at the top of the segment at 177 kNm. The front axle has a maximum capacity of up to 9 tonnes. Hub reduction on the rear axle is standard to maximize strength and performance.

The new heavy-duty rear suspension system for Tandem axles optimises vehicle weight and improves off-road performance with greater ground clearance and a better departure angle.

Power for traction

The IVECO T-WAY delivers all the power needed for traction and PTO with IVECO’s reliable and efficient Cursor 13 engine (13 litres) that develops up to 470/480 hp.

The engines are coupled with the proven 16-speed HI-TRONIX automated gearbox, which now also features new functions specifically intended for off-road mobility including a Hill Holder function to help departure on steep slopes.

Additionally there is the Rocking Mode to help recover traction in slippery conditions and Creep Mode for ultra-low speed when idling; for the on-road sections of the mission, the Ecoroll, function that uses the vehicle’s inertia when travelling downhill enhances the transmission’s efficiency.

HI-TRONIX represents the state-of-art in the automated transmission sector and delivers the perfect gearshift strategy for every application.

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Productivity and efficiency

The IVECO T-WAY has been designed for efficiency and productivity, with a host of features, a lower kerb weight, and new telematics features and digital services.

It offers a new fuel-saving solution for missions that require an occasional All Wheel Drive (AWD) capability: the Hi-Traction hydrostatic drive system for 6x4 rigid and articulated models. It operates at speeds of up to 25 km/h and is automatically activated to provide additional hydraulic front-wheel traction when needed. It delivers significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption and payload compared to the AWD solution.

The low kerb weight has been further reduced by 325 kg compared to the Trakker with the new design of the tandem support on the rear axles, which is now a single-piece casting component.

Extreme Flexibility, the most conversion-friendly off-road truck

The IVECO T-WAY is set to become a favourite of body builders for its extraordinary flexibility. With both rigid and articulated versions, it has the widest offering of driveline options on the market: Partial Wheel Drive on 6x4 rigid and articulated and 8x4 rigid models; as well as

All Wheel Drive on 4x4 and 6x6 rigid and articulated, and on 8x8 rigid versions.

The All Wheel Drive range has been extended with new 4-, 4.2- and 4.5-metre wheel base models, which can transport special loads with no modification to the chassis. The new HI-MUX electric and electronic architecture is fully compatible with the latest-generation control systems.

The new PTO line-up includes a new high-performance sandwich PTO that delivers up to 2,150 Nm torque. This extreme versatility, width and depth of range, and extensive choice of variants makes the IVECO T-WAY the perfect truck for all types of bodies and vocational missions.

IVECO T-WAY: Cab design centred on driver comfort and safety

The cab of the IVECO T-WAY shares the driver-friendly design of the IVECO WAY range, with its sleek, aerodynamic lines.

Available in two versions – AD short cab and AT long cab with standard or high roof – it is focused on functionality to facilitate the driver’s daily work.

The entire driver area has been created to provide a practical and easy-to-live-in environment. The comfortable and ergonomic driver’s seat, together with the new-concept multi-function steering wheel, ensures excellent driver comfort.

JANUARY 2022 25

IVECO

Driver safety is paramount in the harsh conditions typically faced by the IVECO T-WAY. The vehicle is designed to provide maximum protection, with safety features which far exceed the type-approval requirements.

The new braking system features EBS as standard, full disc brakes are available on PWD models, and new ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance Systems) are available across the range.

vehicle of the new IVECO WAY range, the ideal business solution for the fleet owner, and the perfect travel companion for the driver. It further increases its fuel efficiency, which was already among the best, with a new engine line-up and next generation rear axle, advanced technologies tailored to the customers’ needs.

It builds on the success this range has achieved since its European launch

IVECO S-WAY the driver-centric long-haul truck

in 2019 and has proved extremely popular with drivers for its high levels of comfort. Customers appreciate the improvements in performance and Total

The IVECO S-WAY is the new on-road

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Cost of Ownership (TCO) that come with high reliability of new trucks.

In the face of fierce competition, logistics operators need top-level uptime, efficiency and productivity from their fleets. The new IVECO S-WAY perfectly meets this requirement, providing a complete package of features without equal, developed with focus on driver centricity. It is more than a product: it offers a business model that covers the vehicle’s entire life cycle and helps IVECO’s customers to meet their own customers’ requirements.

IVECO

Designed to maximise fuel efficiency

In redesigning the cab from the ground up, IVECO has taken every opportunity to deliver cost savings and productivity gains to the benefit of the owner’s profitability. All the elements of the new design work and align together to achieve a superior aerodynamic performance and deliver fuel savings up to 4% on top of the outstanding fuel efficiency that is the hallmark of this product family.

Every detail of the cab exterior has been studied with care to minimise air resistance. The new roof is perfectly integrated into the front end of the vehicle, presenting a flat surface that minimises drag.

Even the retractable front step that provides easy access to the windshield completely disappears

when not in use. The front grille with high radius corners and side fins, the integrated headlights, the two new bumper design with integrated deflectors, together with the new design of the wheel arches, create flowing lines that optimise air flow–and make a statement with a distinctive style.

The vehicle’s aerodynamic performance is further enhanced by additional features that reduce drag by closing gaps. They include the optimised aerodynamic kit with rubber extensions to close up the space between tractor and semi-trailer.

New design

The new design of the door, which extends all the WAY down to the second step, creates a smooth surface on the sides of the cab, reducing turbulence at cruising speed.

A new cab designed around the driver to provide superior driving comfort on board. The IVECO S-WAY carries over all the advances introduced in the previous generations and adds a new cab entirely redesigned around the driver’s to provide the ultimate driving environment with outstanding ergonomics and controls layout.

The ergonomic layout of the controls ensures all the key functions are within easy reach of the driver.

The multi-functional steering wheel, with 22 switches, puts all the necessary functions, at the driver’s fingertips this set-up eliminates distractions for the driver who can operate without ever needing to move their hands from the steering wheel.

The dashboard and central stack have been redesigned to improve operating comfort and efficiency with a new layout and greatly increased functionalities.

Practical features and utilities

The new Start/Stop engine button and the slot for the electronic key with integrated remote control are conveniently placed on the dashboard near the DNR area.

The redesigned roof, lower tunnel and shaped upper shelf provide a comfortable standing height of 2.15 metres in the centre of the cabin, while the upper longitudinal usable space is 35 cm wider than in the previous model, providing easier access to the upper bed and compartments.

The night area combines functionality and comfort with its new symmetrical layout and wellplaced storage, USB connections and controls.

The air conditioning system, and integrated parking cooler and heater systems ensure an ideal internal climate within the cab in all weather conditions, when driving or during stops.

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JANUARY 2022 29

IVECO

Designed for driver safety

The IVECO S-WAY has been developed with a strong focus on the driver, and the new cab has been redesigned and reinforced to ensure high levels of passive safety, with mechanical resistance compliant with ECE R29.03 cab crash standards.

The new design also provides much improved direct visibility for the driver with the one-piece side windows and rear-view mirrors.

The IVECO S-WAY also offers full LED lights, which have a much sharper beam that carries further, improving visibility and obstacle perception by 15%, further enhancing safety in low-light conditions. In addition, the IVECO S-WAY features a complete array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems to help the driver operate the vehicle efficiently and safely while reducing fatigue on the road.

The cab also addresses security when the vehicle is parked with the new design of the door which now extends all the WAY down, leaving only the bottom step exposed, and includes an additional mechanical door lock inside the cab.

A renewed line-up for high business productivity and TCO performer

The new engine line-up meets Euro III/ V emissions standards. The Cursor 9 and 13 engines provide a wide range of power ratings starting from 360 hp to 560/570 hp.

The engine efficiency has been improved with introduction of Common Rail injection system.

The 9 and 13-litre engines have been coupled with new, high-efficiency HiTronix 12 speeds automated gearbox which enables substantial improvement in electronic clutch control, resulting in greater efficiency, enhanced durability and better performances.

These additional features contribute to the IVECO S-WAY’s fuel economy. They include the new Ecoroll function which automatically disengages driveline in smooth slope to exploit vehicle inertia, Ecoswitch which optimizes engine power/ torque output according to vehicle load and mission, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring system to keep under control the pressure of each tyre for increased safety and fuel efficiency.

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EMERGING MARKET TRENDS 2021

Global Cooperation and vaccine co-operation are driving up economies

Vaccine cooperation and financial assistance helped meet pandemic challenges

Following on from a year in which supply chains and international travel were severely disrupted, 2021 saw an increase in global cooperation, as institutions, businesses and governments alike sought to work together to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges, states a latest report from the Oxford Business Group.

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he onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 had a dramatic effect on global connectivity. The implementation of border restrictions greatly disrupted the provision of goods and made cross-border travel extremely difficult.

In order to adapt to these challenges, many governments, businesses and institutions moved towards a strategy of regionalisation.

Meanwhile major economies announced the launch or extension

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of global infrastructure plans such as US President Joe Biden’s ‘Build Back Better Mega Infrastructure Plan) whilst the COP26 (the 12-day 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland between 31 October to 12 November 2021) and the global tax rate were examples of successful global diplomacy For example, in April 20020 the foreign ministers of ASEAN’s 10 member states endorsed several collective initiatives to fight the pandemic, including the establishment of a common

Covid-19 fund to enable a rapid response to medical emergencies.

In the same month, the GCC agreed to establish a food supply network to safeguard the region from food insecurity.

Vaccine cooperation

However, while 2020 was marked by a trend towards regional solutions, 2021 has witnessed expanded global cooperation, as governments and international institutions collaborated on initiatives designed to help countries recover from the impacts

EMERGING MARKET TRENDS 2021

of Covid-19.

Foremost among these was the Covax initiative. A collaboration between Gavi, theVaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organisation, Covax is designed to coordinate international resources to ensure that developing countries have affordable access to Covid-19 tests, therapies and, above all, vaccines.

Since beginning to distribute vaccines in February, the programme has helped ship more than 610mn vaccine doses to 144 predominantly low and middleincome countries.

Despite such efforts, however, Covax has not been enough to bridge the vaccination gap between developed and emerging markets.

and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust, only four of the continent’s 54 countries are on track to meet a WHO target of fully vaccinating 40% of the population by the end of the year, according to a recent report from the Londonheadquartered Mo Ibrahim Foundation, founded in 2006.

This has led to calls for greater global coordination with regard to vaccine distribution, particularly in light of the discovery of the Omicron variant in southern Africa. Indeed, leading officials from the WHO, UN High Commission for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration recently called on G20 governments to provide greater assistance to lower-income countries.

90mn doses delivered

Providing financial assistance

To take an example, while more than 90mn doses have been delivered to Africa through Covax

While Covax has aimed to address the medical impact of the pandemic, other collaborative

measures have sought to provide financial assistance to offset the worst of the economic fallout.

One such was the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), a G20-run scheme that offers a moratorium on bilateral loan repayments owed to G20 members and their policy banks. Initially rolled out in June 2020, the DSSI, which is available to 73 low-income nations, was extended until the end of this year.

Complementing that initiative is the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments Beyond the DSSI. Established in November last year by the G20 and the Paris Club – a 22-strong informal group of mainly Western creditors – the Common Framework applies to the same 73 countries that are eligible for support under the DSSI. It differs from the former in that it provides relief on a case-by-case basis, with assistance ranging from complete debt restructuring or reduction to the longer-term deferral of debt payments.

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EMERGING MARKET TRENDS 2021

Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

Another move designed to ease fiscal concerns was the increased allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs). Managed by the IMF, SDRs are international reserve assets defined by a basket of five currencies – the US Dollar, Japanese Yen, Euro, UK Pound and Chinese Yuan, which are used by member countries to supplement their own reserves.

On August 2 (2021) the IMF’s Board of Governors approved the allocation of US$ 650bn worth of SDRs to bolster global economic recovery.This was the first new allocation since 2009 and by far the largest of its kind, doubling the US$ 318bn in SDRs previously released by the IMF. While not considered blanket solutions to Covid-19-related economic problems, these measures are expected

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to help emerging markets address any liquidity squeezes they may be facing, which in many cases have become more critical on the back of reduced bilateral aid last year.

Global infrastructure expansion

International institutions were not the only ones who took a global approach in 2021, with a number of the world’s largest economies reaffirming their commitment to globalisation over the course of the past year.

Following a fall in spending in 2020 across many of the projects tied to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China sketched a reformed vision for the programme’s future, focusing on three aspects: the Green Silk Road, the Health Silk Road and the Digital Silk Road.

As the names suggest, the

strategy will focus on developing environmentally sustainable projects, with a particular focus on those in the health and ICT sectors, across various emerging markets.

Meanwhile, in June the G7 announced the launch of its own global infrastructure development plan to rival the BRI, called Build Back Better World.

Gaping infrastructure gap

While specific details of the programme have not yet been released, G7 officials said the programme aims to close the US$ 40tn infrastructure gap in the developing world, thus strengthening some of the connections between high-income and emerging markets.

Elsewhere, on December 1 2021, the EU launched Global Gateway, its own international infrastructure

EMERGING MARKET TRENDS 2021

strategy, which aims to mobilise €300bn (US$ 340bn) in investments through to 2027 to help with the global recovery from the pandemic. eligible for support under the DSSI. The launch or continuation of these initiatives comes as a number of emerging markets are turning towards infrastructure projects to help stimulate their economic recoveries from the coronavirus, with many placing a focus on green or sustainable developments.

Aside from coronavirus recoveryrelated issues, there was also a higher degree of global cooperation with regard to some longer-term themes throughout 2021.

After a decade of talks and months of negotiation, 136 countries signed up to an agreement to implement a global corporate tax rate of 15%.

Landmark Deal

The landmark deal aims to limit aggressive tax competition, and could bring in an estimated $150bn in extra tax revenue each year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The agreement was seen as a triumph for global diplomacy, particularly given that a number of emerging markets use low tax rates as an incentive to attract foreign investment. However, some emerging markets – namely Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – have not yet signed up to the plan.

Meanwhile, perhaps the largest diplomatic event of the year was the UN Climate Change Convention (COP26). Representatives from more than 200 countries gathered at the event, held, to discuss ways in which they could reduce global emissions.

Global Methane Pledge

The outcomes included pledges to ‘phase down’ the use of coal-fired power and reduce deforestation, while more than 100 countries signed up to the US- and EUled Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

In addition, the parties also agreed on a landmark deal to reform global carbon markets and improve rules about carbon trading, seen as key tools in the transition towards decarbonisation.

However, COP26 was weakened by the absence of China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s PresidentVladimir Putin, the leaders of two of the world’s leading polluters. In addition, a number of emerging markets criticised some of the proposals put forward by developed nations.

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FROST & SULLIVAN REPORTS

GCC’s Distributed Energy Market is propelled by Rooftop Solar PV and Hybrid Power Systems’ expansion The UAE and Saudi Arabia will lead the sector, while Oman will emerge as the fastest-growing market, shares Frost & Sullivan in this special report

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rost & Sullivan’s recent analysis on the distributed energy market in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) finds that it is gathering momentum with declining technology costs, resource availability, and favorable policies.

This encourages customers to self-generate electricity through distributed renewable sources and sell excess electricity back to the grid, transforming customers into prosumers (an individual who

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consumes as well as produces goods or services).

The region’s total distributed energy market, which encompasses distributed solar photovoltaic (PV), distributed wind power, hybrid systems, diesel gensets, and gas gensets, is estimated to garner a revenue of US$ 602mn by the end of 2021 from US$ 480mn in 2020, registering strong double-digit growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4%. This will be driven

by the recovery in the diesel gensets market along with strong growth in rooftop solar PV and hybrid power systems. The UAE and Saudi Arabia will lead the market for distributed energy, with Oman set to emerge as the fastest-growing market in the region.

“As utility-scale and distributed renewable resources become a crucial aspect of the region’s decarbonization mandates, utilities will invest in grid modernization

FROST & SULLIVAN REPORTS

solutions, digital platforms, software solutions, and systems associated with asset performance, modeling, and predictive analysis,” affirmed Neeraj Sanjay Mense, Energy & Environment Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

“Additionally, distributed solar PV will drive the market for distributed energy resources (DERs) as an increasingly wider customer base is expected to adopt rooftop solutions, buoyed by the regulatory mechanisms supporting such installations,” he added.

“Business models have evolved, and customers would prefer operation and output-based operating expenses (OPEX) contracts that include maintenance, performance guarantees, and availability, especially across residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. Further, behind-the-meter energy storage is set to become a game-changer for DERs in the region as it enhances the value proposition of the DERs and enables revenue stacking,” he added.

The rise in prosumerism will present tremendous growth opportunities to the stakeholders, which include: - OEMs, System Integrators, and Service Providers: Project developers and installers should move up the value chain to offer complex energy solutions, such as solar storage or microgrid solutions based on DER aggregation, load management optimization, digital services, and aftermarket services. This will translate into diversification of revenue streams.

- Consumer to Prosumer: System integrators should leverage the end-user need for energy security, diversification, and cost optimization to provide packaged solar and battery storage solutions. Commercial & Industrial (C&I) companies should focus on hybrid systems with battery storage to improve system reliability and ensure optimal consumption of available renewable resources.

- Market Entry into DER: Utilities should actively pursue DER and storage, sharing their costs with

customers, so they can deploy assets that help manage peak demand and provide an additional revenue stream.

They should also adopt new business models and forge new partnerships to diversify service offerings in an evolving electricity landscape.

- Expanding Solution Offerings: Energy service companies (ESCOs) should focus on raising customer awareness about the types of contracts available for DER projects and acquiring distributed generation (DG) solutions either independently or through partnerships with installers.

- Mergers & Acquisitions: OEMs should tap into this opportunity of technological evolution and acquire companies or make partnerships to release new products to meet the evolving needs.

Distributed Energy Rejuvenating the Power Sector in the GCC through Innovation and Efficiency, 2021 is the latest addition to Frost & Sullivan’s Energy & Environment research and analyses available through the Frost & Sullivan Leadership Council, which helps organizations identify a continuous flow of growth opportunities to succeed in an unpredictable future.

Technology-powered Circular Economy to Propel Waste Management in the GCC Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Circular Economy Redefining the GCC Waste Management Market, 2021, finds that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member nations’ aspirations for sustainability are driving the replacement of linear waste management models with circular models, creating a new wave of opportunities.

Population growth and accelerated economic development are increasing total waste generation in the region (including construction and demolition (C&D) waste, municipal solid waste (MSW), plastic waste, and lead-acid battery waste).

If unchecked, this could result in an increase from 130.6 million metric tons in 2021 to 163.9 million metric tons by 2025.

A transition toward circular models is

already underway, as with the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 and the KSA’s Circular Carbon Economy.The policies reflect the region’s commitment to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) while enhancing the quality of life for residents.

“Existing environment service providers can be left behind if they do not embrace and contribute to the region’s drive to go circular,” said Nideshna Varatharajan, Senior Consultant, Industrial Practice, Frost & Sullivan.“The adoption of circular models and advanced recycling methods in the region, like those for plastics and food, will successfully result in new opportunities across the value chain and convert waste into valuegenerating secondary materials,” she added.

Frost & Sullivan forecasts some key trends that would define this transition, including: Plastic to fuel to enable a circular economy and reduce the environmental impact. Waste management companies should focus on developing waste collection networks and waste sorting facilities to divert plastic waste from landfills to recycling centers and eliminate illegal dumping.

Used lead-acid battery recycling solutions for environmentally safe disposal of hazardous waste. Lead smelting companies should leverage the market potential in the GCC by developing a strong technology understanding and garnering experience in operating secondary smelting plants.

Use of recycled products in the construction sector. C&D waste recycling companies should focus on developing new products for high-end applications such as bricks, tiles, and plastic waste for roads. This will give them a competitive edge in the market.

Waste-to-energy plants for treating non-recyclable solid waste. By investing in waste-to-energy projects, waste management companies can develop innovative business models and ensure a complete diversion of waste while producing clean, sustainable energy.

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP—SUSTAINABILITY

Making Profitability Sustainable and Sustainability Profitable Companies are now being challenged to ensure their ongoing relevance in a completely different world.

You can write this down and take it to the bank: the enterprises that will thrive in a post-pandemic world will be those that put the societal element of sustainability at the core of their business strategies, avers Claudio Muruzabal, President, SAP— Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, in this OpEd.

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or the past over 18 months, the business world has been so focused on Covid-19 that it’s taken its eye off the other C-word – CSR, or corporate social responsibility.

Before the pandemic, many companies could get away with an old-school approach to CSR and how they engaged and managed their people. They would bring out pretty reports and say smart things about being a socially responsible business.

They would put up posters proclaiming bold visions and values, but not live them every day. Now they’re being challenged to ensure their ongoing relevance in a completely different world.

What do I mean by that?

We know that the business world has changed irrevocably.

Companies that still want to be in business in the next 10 to 20 years will have to wake up to the fact that to create longterm value, they will have to align their goals with those of the communities in which they operate.

Beyond shareholders

They will have to get used to the

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idea of working not just for their shareholders, but also for employees and their communities, as well as the planet. The days of chasing shortterm gain at the expense of long-term value are rapidly receding in the rearview mirror.

However, here’s the thing; social responsibility doesn’t have to just tick compliance boxes. The fact is that working to address humanity’s greatest risks, especially inequality, offers real business opportunities to savvy enterprises with an eye on the future.

Note carefully that the businesses that are going to stand out over the next decade will be those who see market opportunities in social responsibility, and develop business models, products and services that have societal elements and sustainable practices baked in, as it were.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) In September 2015, world leaders adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – or the SDGs, as they’re commonly known. They talk directly to our responsibility to innovate with purpose to create a world without poverty, a healthier planet, and a just, peaceful society by 2030. At SAP, we stand for this higher purpose beyond

economic success.

We help countries, private and public sector organizations, and ordinary citizens control risk, achieve regulatory compliance, use resources efficiently, measure and reduce emissions and innovate new business models to thrive in the digital and experience economy. Our solutions help eradicate slavery from supply chains, propel a low-carbon, zero waste and circular economy, eliminate inequality, and educate people who never had the chance to enter a classroom.

What we’ve learned, though, is that meaningful contributions to the SDGs require tangible connections between an activity or tool and the intended social, environmental, and economic impact. There must be a material link between our own operational activities and the impact we can have as a company. Otherwise, the story becomes arbitrary.

Engagement

How do you make these links? For a start, you actively engage with issues like educating and upskilling your own employees as well as the youth. You find ways to promote and increase diversity in the workforce and ensure that every employee has access to the same development

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP—SUSTAINABILITY

progressive change.

Agility

Being sustainable also means leading with agility and a growth mindset. Your business continuity may depend on your ability to reskill and upskill your workforce for a digital age, but it’s more important than ever to include the human skills of empathy, flexibility and stress management in that upskilling.

Simply put, the more you focus on your people and your societal responsibilities, the more successful you become.

Claudio Muruzabal, President, SAP— Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

opportunities, because successful businesses better reflect the diversity of society and the customers they serve.

At SAP, for example, we are engaged in several initiatives to actively grow local talent pools in our business through intensive accelerator training programs for employees at various stages of their careers in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Turkey, Francophone Africa, Israel, Portugal and Spain, our ‘Women in Leadership’ programme is helping women improve their management skills. We’re also

collaborating with the Red Cross in Spain to deliver technological skills to women who are at risk of social and work exclusion.

In Italy, we have launched an initiative for women aimed at creating a series of debates on different themes (such as the gender gap, female leadership, empowerment and work-life balance) to develop concrete plans to drive transformation.

Last, but by no means least, in the Middle East, our Businesswomen’s Networks are acting as significant catalysts for

It almost goes without saying that the most resilient companies today are those who are embracing technology to transform their business processes. If Covid-19 showed us anything, it’s the urgent need for every company in the world to become an intelligent enterprise as soon as possible.

Technology is the glue that holds everything together and allows us to make smarter decisions that support a sustainable future with society at its heart.

Speaking at SAPPHIRE NOW earlier this year, SAP CEO Christian Klein painted a bold vision for the future, where connected intelligent enterprises will reinvent how businesses run: “We will jointly build networks with you that champion diversity, inclusion, and human rights.

We will make carbon footprint tracking available in the business network so that you can go to true next zero. Together, we can reinvent how industries run by connecting intelligent enterprises into an industrywide business network….thus making profitability sustainable and sustainability profitable,” he affirmed.

Read that again: making profitability sustainable and sustainability profitable. That’s a mantra I can get behind as we look to a better future for all.

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

2022: Supply Chain Management & Logistics Landscape—Questions Versus Certainty The continuing pandemic and reemergence of new strains and variants has thrown much of the global Supply Chain mechanism and ecosystem into disruption and disarray.

The search is now to revert, change and transform writes Tom Craig President LTD Management, Pennsylvania, USA, a leading authority and professional consultant on logistics and supply chain management and regular contributor to Global Supply Chain—Editor.

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he year 2021, like the preceding 2020, was another unprecedented year for global supply chains and logistics. A lesson derived from the ensuing situation was the unpredictability of predictions for supply chains, logistics, transportation, ports, retail, manufacturing, and distributors.

Consequently, it created an impact.

The result here is a list of ideas and uncertainties for 2022. They are some of talking points and takeaways that have taken life during all this and what they may mean as things to watch for.

Overview The business story of the pandemic

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has been its direct and indirect impact on the logistics and supply chain management. The result— logistics bottlenecks and chaos, port jams, ocean shipping rates, inventory shortages, lockdowns, shipper workarounds both reshore and onshore.

There is a need for trade and supply chain synchronization. All of these are indicative of disruption and the potential for change, even transformation.

Status The pandemic validated that Supply Chain Management (SCM) is critical and strategic. This is now globally understood. It also made companies look at the end-to-end supply

chain, not just downstream with customer orders and stores.

Implicit and explicit is integrating the end-to-end supply chain. This may mean a new SCM structure than using logistics as the organization breakdown. That said there is still the challenge for firms to see the size, complexity, and nonlinearity of supply chains. What will all of it mean going forward?

Normal This interrogative has two parts.

One, when will logistics and supply chains achieve normalcy?

After the upcoming Chinese New Year around mid February 2022?

Perhaps in the second half of the Year?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Digitization Then go to digitization. Moving away from paper and other media is important as we have learned as a step for operational continuity and control. It also aids in data ‘creation’ for analytics.

The length of supply chains and all the participants means this is not a quick-fix programme. Clearly this is mandatory and needed.

Visibility

Tom Craig, LTD.

Two, what will normal be and look like? Will it basically the same as prepandemic except for a few changes?

Or will there be transformations across supply chains, logistics, and transportation?

Supply chains Stories about what happened and is happening treat supply chains as a monolith, one-size fits all—a cookie cutter approach. There is no differentiation by company, industry, market, or regions of the world. That is wrong and creates misdirection for change and what is, can be and should be.

Technology This is a high on the list issue. Covid has and will accelerate its use. The term, the single word, actually has multiple, different meanings. Start with the premise that there is no universal

technology for logistic and for supply chain management.

However, firstly there is the need for a disclaimer. Technology is not a silver bullet that fixes everything. It is a process enabler. Its success is directly proportional to how well your process works or does not.

Here are some sure technologies you should have:

Data Analytics Start with data analytics. There is an incredible amount of data in end-toend supply chains. No other part of the organization can rival its mass.

Tapping into it can provide insights and solutions for what is happening to your supply chain or logistics and possible ideas to improve it.

That can reap incredible benefits as to performance and cost. A trick is to understand what you are seeing—metrics, trends, or outliers. Or are they outliers?

Visibility was a topic before Covid. There are technologies that recognize it. However, this is more than track-and-trace from transportation-related firms. It is the same with inventory in warehouses. These constitute only a portion of activity.

What must be recognized are the internal and external gaps such approaches have as to players and processes that are hidden each from buyers and sellers. These holes are signs of loss of control of the process.

The starting point should be the process related to two key documents—your purchase order and the customer purchase order. Start with creating and issuing your PO and upstream processes where supply chains of supply chain management begin.

This is coupled with the visibility of the need to integrate it. Then you can use metrics to focus on events and not on all your activities.

Blockchain Blockchain offers the potential for supply chain visibility. Regrettably, so far, much of it remains hype. There are issues.

First, as with visibility and with its linear, transactional view, it misses participants in the supply chain. Those gaps can mean control lapses. Second, for climate change, green supply chain supporters, there is the high energy used to make bit-coins.

Robotics This is escalating in warehouses as companies deal with labour shortages and rising labour costs. Using this technology may be a deep-pocket question for firms.

That can mean using outside distribution centers that are technology centric. It may also, for some, mean process improvement to compensate for the inability to use robotics.

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THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Transportation Depending upon the transport mode, there have been varying degrees of sticker shock with rates. Then there are issues from contract to spot market.

How much of the higher prices will remain as things settle? How will you balance contract and spot rates in your shipping?

Second to the cost concern is the service quality and reliability provided by carriers. This may be the most important issue with its impact on production, sales, and customers.

Is all this just a matter of changing carriers? Or is there a need to reanalyze what you do and how to achieve reductions?

E-commerce It is well known that online sales surged during the pandemic. The question retailers with stores have is how much of that e-commerce volume will come back to them. Amazon has defined the customer experience with its order delivery velocity.

They have done it with supply chain management by redefining the process. Its supply chain includes logistics infrastructure—now the second largest delivery service in the US, warehouses, planes, freight forwarding, and trailers. They attacked the import logistics chaos by chartering ships to move products. Then there is also the rapid rise of cloud technology.

Last Mile All this positions them with operations performance and lower costs, including the Last Mile. How many e-commerce retailers can match it as they pay outside service delivery carriers?

These capabilities have placed many retailers in a competitive quandary. Does Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS) match the customer convenience of home delivery—for free? Will Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) offer a way to compete?

But the threat of Amazon also includes transportation, logistics, and 3PLs. The concern is that they would

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offer/sell their services to other shippers.

Besides their logistics capabilities and technology, Amazon also has a competitive advantage with its real-world supply chain management experience and expertise. That opens up 3PSCM and SCMaaS opportunities.

Resilience & Risk Mitigation These two go together and handin-hand. Creating resilience requires reducing supply chain risk, both external and internal. Technology is one tool to becoming resilient. But, as the pandemic showed, it is about more than technology. Achieving it is also about operations.

A key action is to assess risk spots.

How else can you build resilience and reduce risks without understanding your end-to-end supply chain?

These can be infrastructure, technology, participants, and process.

And for end-to-end supply chains, that can mean extensive analysis to identify all activities, especially upstream.

These include going deep into tiers for suppliers’ suppliers and mapping it.

Other Reflections

There are more contingencies to consider:

The shortage of warehouse space: This demand reflects e-commerce sales and an inventory buffer arising from the logistics chaos of the pandemic.

The future of lean: Lean has been blamed for inventory shortages. Given the length of the pandemic and its end-to-end supply chain impact, this blame is a bit odd. Lean may gain more importance, especially internationally, to remove excess

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time and smooth it. Value stream mapping is a viable tool for this.

Inventory: Will companies carry more inventories to limit exposure with a future challenge? Is this being resilient? With the need for more warehouse space, where will this additional inventory be stored?

Or, instead of storage, will it mean using lean to move inventory more quickly instead of placing products in storage?

Reshore / onshore: The inventory and supply chain disruptions have raised questions about reshoring away from certain countries and moving to others.

Furthermore, there is the onshore to move production back to destination countries. The latter has potential for products and their

materials that the pandemic deemed critical.

The analysis is the cost of reshore / stay the course, even with price increases, versus moving production onshore. Transportation, labour, understanding and defining the scope of products and materials are subjects at stake. Think also of Bills of Material, suppliers’ suppliers and the network diagram that it would resemble.

Net Carbon: Greenhouse gas / carbon reduction will gain more urgency. This will impact transportation, service providers, packaging, and more.

Capital investment: The question of ports increasing capacity leads to the need to invest in improvements.

A challenge to this is that much of

the volume surge is historic and may not be sustainable. As such, what would be the return on investment if volumes calm? This question applies to other areas of logistics. Invest or wait for the drop.

Next global challenge First, it looks like Covid and its variants are not going away. That can mean ongoing lockdowns, logistics, and supply chain issues. Stay alert.

Climate change is a current and escalating global problem.

It will have definite impact on supply chains and their underlying logistics, ports, warehouse networks and transportation. All as the world deals with rising sea levels and high temperatures and the effect. This challenge will require fresh thinking and may demand a redo of supply chains and logistics beyond Covid.

Conclusion All this is a lot to digest, let alone act on. Disruption will be continuous. That means supply chain management and logistics transformation will not be an option. It will be required.

The question for everything that has happened and may be happening is what are you doing?

Are you preparing or sitting and waiting?

Understand and assess your supply chain operation and its performance. Prepare a strategy and action plan. This will be your dynamic, working document. With everything, it will be an evolving strategy. Gain consensus for implementation.

Rank and prioritize what you do, how, and where you do it. That means your process, technology, and organization.

You are critical and strategic.

That is not going away. Take the lead.

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DP WORLD-UZBEKISTAN DEAL

Uzbekistan and DP World sign framework agreement for strategic trade and digital partnerships DP World to support developing e-commerce and fintech platforms

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P World recently signed a Framework Agreement that will enable it to expand its presence in Uzbekistan, boosting global trade flow and supporting the development of digital infrastructure.

The Framework Agreement was signed

by Shukhrat Vafaev, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, Republic of Uzbekistan; DP World’s Chairman, Sultan Bin Ahmed Sulayem, in the presence of Sardor Umurzakov, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade (MIFT), Republic of Uzbekistan.

The agreement covers a broad area of cooperation, all which will boost Uzbekistan’s trade networks, and position DP World as a strategic partner in boosting international trade. Prioritising the flow of trade in the country, the agreements include the establishment of a new inland logistics network, supporting the expansion of the Navoi Free Economic Zone (FEZ), and the cargo terminal at Navoi International Airport, launching new consumer e-commerce and fetch platforms in the country, and streamlining customs operations.

DP World will also deploy its advanced Port Community System by CARGOES, to provide stakeholders in trade and logistics with seamless, paperless access to services including dry ports, logistics parks, ICDs, railway stations and depots.

“DP World is committed to being a strategic partner for Uzbekistan enabling trade. Our agreements signed today will help design and shape a world-class trading ecosystem in the country,” stated Bin Slayer.

“Uzbekistan is keen to cooperate with DP World on facilitating the development of logistics sector of the country through implementation of a portfolio of projects in key regions of the country,” commented Umurzakov.

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Developing new trade infrastructure DP World will establish a state-of-theart, rail-linked and road-linked, inland logistics network offering customers efficient solutions across all major distribution and consumption centres in and around Tashkent. The company will develop a 100-hectare road-and-rail linked greenfield site in Uzbekistan’s recently established Special Economic Zones.

The agreement will see DP World becoming a strategic partner for the growing Navoi FEZ and the connectivity of the Navoi air cargo terminal linking it to major international hubs, leveraging the company’s expertise in developing, owning, and operating the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), the world’s largest free zone, in Dubai.

Additionally, DP World will advise and facilitate Uzbekistan Customs streamline processes with its proven expertise and next generation digital solutions to reform and modernize processes, supporting digital transformation of the overall trade facilitation.

New consumer e-commerce and fintech platforms

The MIFT and DP World also agreed for the company to facilitate the development of a consumer e-commerce platform, leveraging its experience from launching DUBUY.com, an e-commerce platform

empowering SMEs and micro-businesses to expand their business and penetrate new markets.

The new e-commerce platform will be complemented with a consumer fintech platform, giving consumers access to finance and banking solutions through their mobile phones. aims to be the payment option of choice for consumers, helping to facilitate faster, cheaper, and reliable P2P payment and lending opportunities.

World Logistics Passport Uzbekistan had previously joined the WLP as a Gateway earlier this year to boost global trade networks and partnerships. The WLP will bring increased traffic and revenues for Uzbekistani traders, will increase visibility of Uzbekistan to the WLP global network and will boost global connectivity. MIFT will also be on hand to facilitate and support traders in Uzbekistan to register as WLP members.

As a Gateway, Uzbekistan will be able to access the benefits of the WLP when trading via the UAE, where it joins a network of 24 Hub countries and many other Gateways that span Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Other countries that are part of the WLP network include India, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Brazil, Senegal, South Africa, the UAE, amongst others.

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INFOR

Five tips to optimise the value of digital transformation projects As lead consultants in Infor’s Digital Strategy & Value Engineering teams, Brad Revell and Bobby Charlton share their five top tips for optimising value in any organisation—Editor.

W

hether it’s a full-scale business transformation, system overhaul, or standard upgrade, technology projects shine a spotlight on potential inefficiencies and areas for improvement.However, because projects are typically focused on a series of finite goals, a wealth of untapped potential often sits outside of

the project scope.

Unearthing and addressing these inefficiencies is undoubtedly an enormous undertaking. More often than not, companies don’t know what they don’t know, and in focusing on specific problems or areas in need of improvement, it’s easy to fall into a trap of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

Abudawood underpins regional expansion with Infor and SNS Infor, the industry cloud company, recently announced that Abudawood Logistics, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Abudawood Group, the exclusive distributor for Proctor & Gamble, Ferrero, Quaker Oats, and other global brands in Saudi Arabia, has deployed Infor WMS (Warehouse Management System).

The project was completed by Infor’s Middle East partner SNS, a leading provider of supply chain consultancy and software implementation. Supporting warehouse operations for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brand partner, Infor WMS will help maximize the utilization of pick locations through expedited demand replenishment, while streamlining picking processes.

As a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, operating more than 130 facilities across six countries, Abudawood’s warehousing operations are vast. With complex shelf-life requirements based on order type, account type and brand, Abudawood relies on efficient and dynamic replenishment of full pallets into pick locations based on variable shelf-life windows.

Infor WMS was selected based on 46 JANUARY 2022

its vast capability to support third-party logistics (3PL) activities as well as demand replenishment capabilities that support the dynamic assignment of pick locations, and auto move functionality that supports the defrosting cycle of Ferrero products.

SNS was chosen based on its in-depth warehouse management experience and expertise, and understanding of Abudawood’s business nuances and challenges, a press communiqué stated.

“With ambitious growth plans, Abudawood is focused on organic growth, customer acquisition and geographic expansion, testament to which is its recent expansion into logistics services in Saudi and plans to cover the remaining five Abudawood markets,” commented Abdullah Talal AbuSido, Head of Supply Chain Technology, Abudawood.

“We’re delighted to be working with Abudawood, helping the team to refine their operations and put the building blocks in place from which to pursue its ambitious expansion plans in the coming years,” commented Mario Ghosn, General Manager, SNS.

INFOR

1. Ensure the right audience While many projects are led by the IT director or department head, an organisation-wide deep-dive and analysis relies upon access to the C-Suite in order to gain a full perspective of every area within an organisation.

In doing this, not only can wider challenges which might otherwise have been overlooked in the quest to solve more pressing, or visible problems, be understood, but department and process interdependencies, and perceived value of improvements can be fully mapped and contextualised.

2. Adopt the right methodology

In embarking upon a design workshop, having the right methodology is absolutely crucial. Structured conversations, and a clear, proven, step by step approach to workshops, with feedback mechanisms built in, is pivotal in being able to capture and process accurate, in-depth insights in a way they can be processed.

The best manufacturing projects typically draw upon Six Sigma or Lean methodologies and value engineering applies similar principles in getting the most out of the process. Having pre-set questions, asked in a set order, with signposts to explore additional fields where relevant, is imperative in ensuring nothing is missed, and that the knowledge of each executive involved is fully captured.

3. Focus on facilitation

Facilitation skills are crucial in developing a rapport, building confidence and trust, and ultimately getting the best information from an organisation. Through a combination of experience of comparable projects from which to draw upon, and emotional intelligence to pick up on cues which might prompt the right questions and lead to higher quality conversations, the very best information can be extracted, which inevitably leads to the best outcomes.

4. Try every possible course of action

It goes without saying that in undertaking a deep dive into an organisation’s potential inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement, no stone must be left unturned.

The definition of value in all of its forms must be outlined from the outset, encompassing not only operational and capital expenditure, but areas such as skills and resource maximisation; decision-making; reporting; and overall goodwill and motivation.

A typical exercise might see the design workshop look at, say, ten process improvements per area. For performance management for example, it might span a number of processes from reduced time to collate company reports, to find issues and to generate action lists; to Improved margin analysis, looking at management of ingredient, ingredient attribute, labour and equipment utilization, while supply chain findings could include scope for advanced warning of bottlenecks and increased control over lead times, to transport cost visibility and expedited freight.

A strong design thinking workshop will garner an in-depth understanding of these pain points and replicate a similar approach across every department, from finance to talent management. Through navigating the numerous layers and getting to the bottom of the far-reaching challenges an organisation really has, even the smallest improvements in a given area, scaled across the organisation, can equate to huge amounts of value.

5. Pay attention to the details

There is no typical organisation when it comes to addressing inefficiencies and promoting value, but there are of course a number of pain points and areas subject to unfulfilled potential which are common across many companies.

A strategy and outcome exercise undertaken in conjunction with a food and beverage organisation for example could quite reasonably identify potential in maintenance for example, spanning a number of processes from increased overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reduced contamination risk to extended asset lifetime and reduced energy costs, while quality might focus on bi-directional ingredient source and usage traceability and faster, more targeted recalls, While the task might seem insurmountable and is by no means straightforward, through drawing upon experience, adopting the right approach, with the right people, and in a clear structured way, insights which stand to transform can be applied to project briefs, mapped against best-in-class software solutions, and used to drive enormous scope for improvement across the organisation.

JANUARY 2022 47

AD PORTS & AQABA

AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation sign multiple agreements Strategic Partnerships designed to boost tourism and provide Multimodal transport, logistics and digital solutions for Jordan

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D Ports Group has strengthened its regional footprint by signing a number of four strategic agreements and a Head of Terms Agreement (HoT) with Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation that will see AD Ports Group support the development of tourism, logistics, transport, and digital infrastructure within Aqaba.

The signing ceremony recently took place in Aqaba in Jordan in the presence of Nasser Shraideh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, representing Dr. Bisher Al Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan; Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Baloushi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom and Eng. Nayef Ahmad Bakheet, Chief Commissioner, Aqaba

48 JANUARY 2022

Special Economic Zone Authority, Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation, along with a number of officials from both sides.

The four strategic agreements and a Head of Terms Agreement were signed by Hussein Ali Alsafadi, CEO, Aqaba Development Corporation; and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group.

The strategic partnerships concern the development of Marsa Zayed, a cruise terminal, and the development of an advanced digital Port Community System, in addition to Head of Terms agreements to explore the development and modernisation of a multipurpose port and King Hussein International Airport.

Marsa Zayed Land Agreement

The agreement is in relation to the

development of a land area of 1.2mn sqm in phase 1 of the development of the 3.2mn Marsa Zayed area by AD Ports Group, which will include a cruise terminal, tourism, leisure, residential and other projects.

Cruise Terminal Agreement

Under this Agreement, which builds upon a Head of Terms Agreement announced earlier in the year, AD Ports Group will develop, manage and operate a new cruise terminal in Aqaba, which will serve as a gateway for passengers visiting the Red Sea.

Maqta Ayla, New Joint Venture

Maqta Gateway, the digital arm of AD Ports Group, has signed a joint venture Agreement with Aqaba Development Corporation establishing “Maqta Ayla” to develop and operate

AD PORTS & AQABA

an advanced Ports Community System (PCS). The system will oversee the communication between the Port of Aqaba and terminal operators, as well as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), Aqaba Development Corporation, Jordan Maritime Commission and other stakeholders within the Port’s ecosystem.

The system is expected to complete around two million digital transactions per year, generate considerable cost and time savings for stakeholders and customers, reduce CO2 emissions and streamline services.

offerings of Wadi Rum, Aqaba and the ancient city of Petra,” stated Engr.

Bakheet.

“Collectively, these mega-projects represent one of the most significant integrated transport, logistics and tourism development programmes announced in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in recent years,” commented Capt. Al Shamisi.

“Working with our partners in the Aqaba Development Corporation, these ambitious projects will significantly expand the facilities available to travellers and businesses via sea, land and air,” he added.

HoT on the Development and Modernisation of a Multi-Purpose Port

Strategic partnership

The HoT sees the Aqaba Development Corporation and AD Ports Group cooperating on exploring the development and modernisation of a multi-purpose port with world-class facilities including Ro-Ro, general cargo, grain and livestock handling.

Development of King Hussein International Airport Agreement

The agreement will see AD Ports Group collaborate with Aqaba Development Corporation on the development of King Hussein International Airport – Aqaba, to enable increasing volumes of international and domestic tourism, ensuring a seamless journey for passengers moving between the airport and the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, while enhancing air logistics and expanding Aqaba’s air network connectivity.

“The agreements and HoT on the development of Marsa Zayed and a cruise terminal, exploring the modernisation of a multipurpose port, the development of King Hussein International Airport, and the establishment of Maqta Ayla for digital systems, represent a significant addition to our efforts that aim to develop Aqaba region, and enable rising volumes of visitors to come and experience the Golden Triangle of Jordan, with our unique tourism

Alsafadi stressed the importance of this collaboration and strategic partnership which will help in creating investment and job opportunities, as well as foster the role of Aqaba as a key regional hub in trade, logistics, and maritime and air transportation.

“We are excited to partner with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority for the development of a land area of 1.2mn sqm comprising real estate development projects, tourist residential complexes, hotels, chalets, commercial centres and theme parks. This significant project contributes towards positioning Aqaba as a major tourism and business destination in the region,” remarked Abdulla Al Hameli, Head of Industrial Cities & Free Zone

Cluster, AD Ports Group.

“We are confident that this cooperation will prove beneficial for both sides, as it combines Aqaba’s significant growth potential as a cruise destination and a regional hub on the Red Sea with AD Ports Group’s leadership in providing advanced services and infrastructure for cruise passengers and cargo ships,” stressed Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group.

“As a result of these partnership agreements, Aqaba’s cruise, logistics and shipping sectors will have to access a broad range of innovative technologies that support optimised services across land, sea and air. Digitalisation will introduce important efficiencies and eliminate risks from the supply chain, with a fully integrated platform that delivers the best possible customer experience,” noted Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Maqta Gateway, Head of the Digital Cluster- AD Ports Group.

“This strategic partnership will promote Aqaba as a major player in the region’s supply chain. The digital transformation resulting from this partnership will also create a new ecosystem that will enhance the resilience of the maritime sector in Aqaba,” concluded Eng. Mohammad Al-Sakran, Executive Director, Transport & Logistics, Aqaba Development Corporation.

JANUARY 2022 49

ABU DHABI PORTS

AD Ports Group celebrates Khalifa Port’s nine years of growth 12/12 Anniversary marked by highest-ever position on Lloyd’s List Top 100 Ranking

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D Ports Group is celebrating the ninth anniversary of Khalifa Port with the announcement that it has reached its highest-ever position at number 56 in the 2021 Lloyd’s List Top 100 ranking, the global record of the world’s container port facilities.

Strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Khalifa Port was officially inaugurated on 12.12.12

by President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Lloyds List highlights that Khalifa Port was one of only a handful of ports in the world to achieve doubledigit volume growth over the past year, despite the impact on shipping and the global supply chain due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

50 JANUARY 2022

This impressive volume growth is driven in part by its standing as a regional hub for some of the world’s top shipping companies, such as COSCO Shipping Ports and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

This growth is set to continue thanks to the recent agreement signed in September 2021, between AD Ports Group and CMA CGM Group, to build a new terminal in Khalifa Port with an initial capacity of 1.8mn TEUs. The terminal will provide CMA CGM with a new regional focal point, making Khalifa Port a hub for three of the world’s top four shipping companies.

Port-KIZAD proximity

Growth has also been driven

by Khalifa Port’s proximity to

KIZAD, Abu Dhabi’s integrated trade, logistics and industrial hub.

The access to global markets and convenience provided by the joint port and industrial zone value proposition is a great advantage to the region’s manufacturing and industry sectors.

“Khalifa Port continues to expand in response to the ongoing market demand and at the direction of the leadership of Abu Dhabi, which has prioritised diversification and economic growth,” commented Capt.

Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, AD Ports Group.

“The port has cemented itself as a premier hub for container transhipment services in the Middle East and is on the cusp of

ABU DHABI PORTS

facility.

Work is continuing apace on the dedicated Khalifa Port Etihad Rail Terminal, which will connect the port to the national rail network. In November, Etihad Rail announced that it had completed 50 percent of the marine rail bridge construction to connect Khalifa Port with the network.

becoming a top 50 box hub in terms of annual TEUs volumes. This is a remarkable achievement given how Khalifa Port has attained this status in such a short timeframe,” noted Linton Nightingale, Deputy Editor, Lloyd’s List.

Khalifa Port was developed from a stretch of reclaimed land four kilometres out to sea and is now a major hub serving more than 25 shipping lines with direct links to 70 international destinations.

All round development Development continues across all service areas to create a truly multipurpose port, in response to ongoing and exponential business demand. For general and bulk cargo South Quay is now operational, and great progress has been made on the South Quay Wall, with the majority of landside works completed.

In addition, work on Khalifa Port Logistics continues, with landslide works progressing well and infrastructure in place for the new Arabian Chemical Terminals commercial liquid and gas storage

Other recent achievements include the announcement that CSP Abu Dhabi terminal is the first container terminal in the Middle East to implement an autonomous port truck system. A total of six electric Q-Trucks have been commissioned to support mother vessel loading and unloading activities within the facility’s container yard.

AD Ports Group’s Mugharraq Port recognised as an International Port facility Port’s Certification Issued under the provisions stated under the ISPS Code AD Ports Group recently announced that Mugharraq Port, a strategic port located in the Al Dhafra Region, has been recognised as an international port facility.

Issued under the provisions of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities (ISPS Code) by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the port has long served as a leading maritime facility that provides a host of offshore, project/oil and gas, general cargo, logistics support, bulk and break-bulk handling services.

With the new certification, Mugharraq Port can now receive international and local vessels including container feeders, bulk and break-bulk carriers, mobile offshore drilling units, tugboats, chemical tankers, offshore support vessels,

passenger ships and high-speed cargo crafts.

Accelerating port potential

“This achievement will greatly accelerate the port’s potential in securing interest from the world leaders of industry, particularly those involved in the global energy market, while simultaneously opening up new opportunities in other industries and segments for us to target,” remarked Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group.

AD Ports Group is close to completing an extensive expansion project aimed at enhancing Mugharraq Port’s infrastructure and service capabilities to ensure it is better positioned to support offshore and mega projects related to the oil and gas field.

JANUARY 2022 51

PARTNERSHIP

Emirates Group Security and University of Arizona ink cooperation deal Agreement to foster mutual academic collaboration and research

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mirates Group Security (EGS), one of the leading aviation security practitioners and learning and development providers in the region, recently signed an agreement with the University of Arizona (UA) located in Tucson, Arizona, USA, to promote collaboration in tertiary education and research on general and security-specific subjects from certificate to postgraduate courses.

This new dimension comes in the Customized Degree Paths Programme (CDP). The World Campus Experience Programme is delivered online by UA with supplemental on-site services and courses provided by EGS.

Through the agreement, UA and EGS will jointly offer 60 programmes, to be delivered entirely online in English by appointed and qualified faculty members at the University of Arizona.

Students will have access to the course materials and virtual lectures through the EGS Centre of Aviation Security Studies’ (CASS) campus in Dubai (UAE).

They will be able to use the facilities and services of the campus to experience a unique in-person college experience with the convenience of online education.

Mutual collaboration

Mutual collaboration between the two organisations enables incoming students to earn up to two years of direct, undergraduate credits from the University of Arizona through a mix of in-person and online courses offered through EGS and on EGS’s campus in collaboration with the University of Arizona.

The programme includes

52 JANUARY 2022

multiple academic pathways which will enable students to take courses that will satisfy University of Arizona degree requirements or transfer to other US universities.

“This agreement marks another step forward towards our vision of strengthening the global aviation community by providing AVSEC industry professionals with comprehensive, cutting-edge education, research opportunities and training,” observed Dr Abdulla Al Hashimi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates Group Security.

“This new agreement creates a University of Arizona global location that will provide opportunities for EGS employees and citizens and residents of the UAE to pursue higher education and we are pleased to be a part of this initiative,”affirmed Liesl Folks, University of Arizona’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

Continuing cooperation

“We look forward to continuing the collaboration we began with EGS in 2016 as we develop these new customized degree programmes that will benefit students in the UAE and positively impact industry standards,” asserted JP Jones, Dean of the College of Social and

Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona.

“Through this agreement with EGS we continue to build our worldwide network, and to prepare graduates to excel globally and provide strong leadership in the 21st century,” noted Arizona’s Daniel Palm, associate vice president for global affairs.

The agreement is aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO’s ‘Year of Security Culture’ initiative that encourages industry stakeholders to support and promote a securityconscious environment.

Robust partnership

This collaboration aims to create a robust international partnership that will benefit many aviation professionals. By working together and sharing best practices, the organisations will draw strengths to develop a widespread network of welleducated aviation professionals.

The agreement also aligns with the vision and strategy of the UAE leadership and its commitment to further improve its already top global safest city rankings by ensuring the highest safety and security benchmarks, especially in areas of education.

Well-established in the aviation security industry for over three decades, EGS provides a comprehensive curriculum of aviation and security-related programmes affiliated with leading local and international certification bodies and educational institutions. The organisation delivers over 30 courses and two diploma programmes in its training institute and has become a beacon for specialised security studies and education in the region.

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PHARMA CHAIN

Abu Dhabi to strengthen its capabilities as a Life Sciences Hub The Pharma collaboration with Belgium will establish a fully compliant origin-to-destination pharma air corridor

Led by the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company have collaborated to strengthen the Emirate’s positioning as a life science hub.

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bu Dhabi has set its sights on Belgium, as a leading global pharmaceutical hub, to establish a global distribution corridor to serve the world in vaccine delivery and future life science needs.

The collaboration builds on the capabilities of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector as a leading life sciences hub and the efforts of the HOPE Consortium in providing vaccine solutions for the world.

This initiative entailed a delegation visit from Belgium to Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH). The visit saw the signing of two declarations of collaboration between Belgium and Abu Dhabi, witnessed by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH (Department of Health) and Peter Claes, Ambassador of Belgium in the UAE. The first agreement was between the HOPE Consortium, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Brussels Airport Company and Pharma.Aero. Led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate,

54 JANUARY 2022

the collaboration aims to establish a fully compliant origin-todestination pharma air corridor between Abu Dhabi and Brussels Airports.

The dedicated pharma trade lane will unite key compliant and sector certified supply chain stakeholders, including forwarders and ground handling agents.

World-class pharma logistics hub “Our goal is to enhance Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a worldclass pharma logistics hub and a destination focused on global welfare by investing in strategic public and private sector collaborations, and the allocation of expertise and resources,” commented Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this year, a delegation from the HOPE Consortium met with pharmaceutical industry stakeholders in Brussels to showcase Abu Dhabi’s global vaccine distribution success.

Thanks to its network of partners, the HOPE Consortium has handled over 200 million

doses of Covid-19 vaccines, contributing to vaccination programmes in over 40 global destinations.

Western Europe currently ranks as the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical export market with a total export value of nearly EUR 42bn (US$ 47.57bn) in 2020.“Brussels Airport is the leading hub serving the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry in Europe with over 750 million vaccines handled at the airport, serving 60 destinations worldwide,” stated Nathan De Valck, Head of Cargo, Brussels Airport.

Knowledge sharing Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the HOPE Consortium Executive Committee and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, added that the proactive sharing of knowledge and expertise among stakeholders remains vital to the partnership’s ongoing success.“The HOPE Consortium, along with our partners, has developed one of the most extensive end-to-end vaccine supply chains, capable of

PHARMA CHAIN

delivering millions of Covid-19 vaccines anywhere around the globe,” he noted.

“Working together, we have successfully resolved some of the major challenges associated with vaccine logistics, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our capabilities and pass on our studies to students attending the Masterclass. At the same time, we look forward to further strengthening the relationship between Abu Dhabi and Belgium through the establishment of a future pharma corridor, benefiting the region and the world,” continued Capt. Al Shamsi.

The development of the dedicated Pharma Air Corridor will leverage API-IoT deviceswebforms-internet shared with all relevant stakeholders to monitor pharma shipments closely.“Our relationship with Etihad Cargo and the HOPE Consortium sharing best practices makes us confident that the corridor will promote commitment for transparency with customers and stakeholders,” observed Nathan De Valck who also serves as Chairman of Pharma.Aero.

Collaboration The other declaration of collaboration was signed by the HOPE Consortium, Pharma.

Aero, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the University of Antwerp to host the second edition of the ‘Pharma Logistics Masterclass’, a course focused on critical challenges and developments in pharma supply chains and logistics, by Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi from in early September 2022.

“We are excited to bring the second Masterclass to Abu Dhabi.

The HOPE Consortium partners and Khalifa University have extended great support and offer a unique platform to be shared with the participants of the next Masterclass,” remarked Prof. Dr. Roel Gevaers, University of Antwerp and Chair of the Organizing Committee.

“Pharma.Aero’s vision and mission underline fostering collaboration. By continuously giving insights and sharing the latest changes between pharmaceutical companies, industry stakeholders and the academic world, the overall knowledge and the quality of the pharma and

MedTec supply chain improves,” said Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General, Pharma.Aero and Co-chair, the ‘Pharma Logistics Masterclass’.

Abu Dhabi Masterclass “We believe the Masterclass in Abu Dhabi will further affirm our strong commitment to delivering top quality academic and professional programs that benefit students and youth interested in charting their future career in this area,” stressed Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive VicePresident, Khalifa University.

The agreement was welcomed

by Dr. Ghalia Ali Al Humaidan, Chargé D’Affaires of the UAE Mission to Belgium.“This commitment between the UAE and Belgium further expands the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to addressing pharmaceutical demand flows between the two regions,” she added.

“Abu Dhabi has developed into a world hub for the distribution of pharmaceuticals. The emirate has done so in close cooperation and synergy with Brussels Airport,” concluded Ambassador Claes.

JANUARY 2022 55

PHARMA CHAIN

UPS surpasses 1bn Covid-19 vaccine delivery landmark

Covid-19 vaccines delivered with 99.9 percent on-time performance to more than 110 countries

U

PS recently announced that it surpassed the one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses delivered mark with near-perfect on-time accuracy. Just one year after the first vaccine was delivered by UPS, this milestone was made possible through UPS’s innovative approaches, signature UPS Premier tracking technologies, industry-leading cold chain solutions, and an expansive, sophisticated, global network providing UPS Healthcare services to customers and communities around the world.

“UPSers have been essential in the fight against Covid-19, delivering equitable access to critical healthcare services,’” affirmed Kate Gutmannn, Chief Sales and Solutions Officer and Executive Vice President, UPS Global Healthcare.

The global UPS network and dedicated UPS employees not only supported healthcare customers and global organizations, but also joined in public-private partnerships to provide vaccines and cold chain expertise to countries with hard-to-reach populations, ensuring delivery to as many people as possible.

Mapping trade lanes To achieve this, UPS Healthcare mapped roughly 500 trade lanes to enable

56 JANUARY 2022

seamless worldwide vaccine shipments and used more than 1.35 million kilos of dry ice to help safely move vaccines.“UPS Healthcare has set the global pace for Covid-19 vaccine delivery, supported by the unmatched dedication of UPSers and the company’s global logistics capabilities and expertise,” asserted Wes Wheeler, President, UPS Healthcare.

UPS coordinated the distribution of millions of vaccines in the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa (ISMEA) by leveraging its smart global logistics network. Over the last 12 months, UPS has strengthened its commitment towards equitable vaccine delivery including delivering vaccines to rural areas across Africa.

“The Middle East was one of the first regions where we began delivering lifesaving vaccines, and with the dedication of our UPSers and partners, I am proud to mark this significant milestone,” noted Rachid Fergati, Managing Director— Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, UPS. Unique examples of these global efforts include: - Ultra-cold freezer donations and in-kind vaccine deliveries to facilitate equitable distribution to remote and rural areas throughout Africa, South America, Asia, North America, and Europe, made

possible by The UPS Foundation.

- Three Regional 24/7 UPS Healthcare Command Centres, dedicated to predicting and managing the global vaccine movement to ensure ontime delivery, with contingency plans and solutions to mitigate the risks of extreme weather and other obstacles.

- Partnering with Gavi and other organizations to train and manage ultra-cold vaccine movement in Covax countries, supporting Covid relief and healthcare infrastructure moving forward.

- Embedded UPS logistic experts in countries including Indonesia and Malawi to fully and safely manage vaccine distribution logistics.

Real-time visibility into the location of vaccines through UPS Premier technology, which provides precise visibility into every single vaccine package–down to within 10 feet of its location anywhere in the UPS global network.

“Service is in our DNA. We will continue to provide life-saving supplies, vaccines and other therapies with a constant eye on equitable distribution in every country we serve,” observed Laura Lane, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, UPS, who also has responsibility for global social impact and sustainability.

PHARMA CHAIN

Abu Dhabi receives the first global shipment of the New AstraZeneca medication

Storage and distribution of the ‘Evusheld’ medication will be facilitated through the Rafed Distribution Centre

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bu Dhabi received the first global shipment of AstraZeneca’s Evusheld, long-acting antibody medication, after gaining Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention. The long-acting antibody medication is designed to prevent severe infection and death amongst immune-compromised patients.

This medication will be in addition to the existing Covid-19 medications that are already available within Abu Dhabi and the UAE to ensure the continuity of world-class care in the country.

Under the authority of the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi (DoH), the first doses of Evusheld arrived in Abu Dhabi on 20 December 2021.

Collaboration This followed a collaboration of key partners including Rafed, the UAE’S Primary Group Purchasing Organization and the procurement arm of the UAE, along with Etihad Cargo and AstraZeneca, the BritishSwedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

The breakthrough medication will be stored at Rafed’s Distribution Centre, the region’s largest cold-chain storage facility,

and then distributed from there to various destinations.

The collaboration is another important milestone for healthcare, logistics and supply chain entities that continue to contribute to the evolution of Abu Dhabi’s medical sector. It reflects the directives of the UAE’s leadership and DoH’s efforts to focus on innovation, clinical research, real-world evidence generation, digital health and the global positioning of Abu Dhabi as a life science hub.

Abu Dhabi continues to top the world’s rankings for its response to the pandemic, topping a list of 50 leading world cities issued by London-based Deep Knowledge Group, confirming the emirate’s pioneering healthcare sector.

Key milestone “Our collaboration with leading global organisations is a key milestone for Abu Dhabi as it enforces our mission that is focused on safeguarding the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors in the emirate,”affirmed Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

“Through our strategic logistics partner network, Rafed is establishing an infrastructure to ensure a streamlined distribution across the UAE and

potentially the Middle East & Africa,” asserted Rashed Al Qubaisi, CEO, Rafed.

“Etihad Cargo is proud to have played such an integral role facilitating the transportation of the first Evusheld delivery with its specialist PharmaLife logistics solution,” stressed Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo and Etihad Aviation Group.

Among the first recipients “The UAE is one of the first countries globally to procure and receive doses of Evusheld,” observed Sameh Elfangary, AstraZeneca’s Country President, GCC and Pakistan.

This Emergency Use Authorization further elevates Abu Dhabi’s standing as a regional life science hub which has been augmented through the emirate’s effective, human centred, Covid-19 response based on collaboration with leading local and international pharmaceutical companies.

“It is always our pleasure to collaborate with the different partners in Abu Dhabi and support our wise leadership towards ensuring the health and wellbeing of our beloved community,” concluded Mohamed Hussein, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

JANUARY 2022 57

MAERSK GROUP

Maersk Training partners with Saudi Electric Services Polytechnic Deal for upskilling of Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy sector’s workforce

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ollowing a recently inked deal, over the next 6 years 3,000 Saudi Arabian trainees will undergo capability building programme that aims to support the Kingdom’s ambition of increasing renewable energy production in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a part of Vision 2030.

Maersk Training has collaborated with Saudi Electric Services Polytechnic to create a technical training programme that will aid Saudi Arabia’s future workforce in the renewable energy sector.

The agreement to create the Kingdom’s first-of-itskind workforce development programme was signed between Vijay Rangachari, Regional Managing Director, Eastern Hemisphere, Maersk Training and Dr. Khalid Al Somaili, Managing Director, Saudi Electric Services Polytechnic, in the presence of dignitaries at the Danish Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a strategic initiative called ‘The National Renewable Energy Program’ (NREP) as a part of Vision 2030 which aims to increase the Kingdom’s share of renewable energy production, achieve a balance in the mix of local energy sources, and fulfil the Kingdom’s obligations towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Diverse energy mix Through the programme, the Ministry of Energy in Saudi

58 JANUARY 2022

Arabia is working to diversify the national energy mix used in electricity production, increasing the share of natural gas and renewable energy sources to approximately 50% by 2030 while reducing the use of liquid fuel.

The expansion of renewable energy in the Kingdom presents the need to upskill the workforce of the future.

Maersk Training, with its extensive expertise in training organisations, crew and individuals in the Oil & Gas, Maritime and Wind industry and building competencies, therefore entered into a deal with Saudi Electric Services Polytechnic (SESP) to achieve the required workforce capability development for renewable energy sector in the Kingdom.

“SESP is pleased to sign this agreement which presents an opportunity for Maersk Training and SESP to jointly support the Renewable Energy industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia along with supporting the workforce capability development in line with the Kingdom vision 2030,”commented Dr. Al Somaili.

Enhancing safety “At Maersk Training, our focus has been on enhancing safety and driving performance through capability and competency building.

We are delighted to collaborate with SESP and play a role in developing the building blocks of Saudi Arabia’s diversified energy mix of tomorrow,” remarked Vijay Rangachari.

“AP Moller–Maersk lays great importance in decarbonisation as a part of its sustainability strategy and we are happy to contribute in developing a workforce that will

enable reduction of emissions from other sectors too,” affirmed David Skov, CEO, Maersk Training.

The collaboration between Maersk Training and Saudi Electric Services Polytechnic will lead to the creation of multiple long term training modules as per industry needs and varying durations and will run over at least the next six years. The programme expects to train a workforce of more than 3,000 trainees in the coming years to upskill them to enter into the wind renewable industry.

MAERSK GROUP

AP Moller-Maersk enters strategic partnership with Unilever on international logistics NeoNav offers actionable insights on how to optimize the supply chain

JANUARY 2022 59

MAERSK GROUP

TezMedz and Tabiyat.pk sign contract with Maersk for Integrated Cold Chain Solutions Two dedicated cold chain warehousing & distribution (W&D) facilities will cater to B2B and B2C requirements

AP Moller-Maersk to acquire LF Logistics, a premium omni-channel fulfillment company Acquisition to add critical capabilities for Maersk in the Asia-Pacific region

60 JANUARY 2022

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