The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has signed an agreement with CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, to build an integrated logistics platform at Jeddah Islamic Port. The new facility will be established on 130,000 sq. meters of land leased by the port administration to develop an efficient sector-wide logistics mechanism and boost the Kingdom’s profile as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
The deal was signed by HE Omar Talal Hariri, President of Mawani, and Xavier Eiglier, CMA CGM Group’s Regional Director for the Middle East Gulf, Indian Subcontinent, Indian Ocean Islands, and Southern and Eastern Africa, in the presence of senior officials from both sides and a host of leading industry executives.
Mawani’s President commented on this occasion: “The logistics platform represents an important milestone in the Authority’s constant endeavour to fulfil the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) in creating specialized logistics zones within the precincts of Saudi ports and beyond in the pursuit of positioning the Kingdom as a global logistics hub. Moreover, it adds further momentum to our aspirations to build a booming and sustainable maritime sector, achieve the socioeconomic ambitions listed out in Vision 2030, and offer world-class logistics services that can stimulate economic growth and enable strategic integration with the transportation ecosystem.”
Xavier Eiglier, Regional Director, Middle East Gulf, ISC, Indian Ocean Islands, Southern and Eastern Africa, of the CMA CGM Group, said: “ Today’s ceremony confirms our strong partnership with MAWANI and affirms our commitment to contribute to the development of the logistics sector in the Kingdom. This project marks the Group’s first integrated logistics platform in the Middle East. It will help expand our service offering to our Saudi and global customers to use Jeddah as a transit hub for trading across the wider region. It will also enable our Group to expand its regional shipping and logistics network, where we see a lot of growth potential.”
Jeddah Islamic Port is Saudi Arabia’s top import and export destination, receiving 75% of the nation’s total inbound maritime trade and transhipments. With an annual capacity of 130 million tons, the Red Sea’s leading re-export hub features 62 berths and four terminals.
The port regulator’s recently launched strategy is well set to realize the goals conceived by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to develop a competitive and productive maritime sector that keeps pace with global trends and promotes economic prosperity.
A new venture to accompany CMA CGM’s development in the region
The CMA CGM Group pursues its development in logistics within the region with the launch of a 130,000 sq. meters facility of specialized container depots and warehouses in one of Saudi Arabia’s major ports. CMA CGM INLAND SERVICES (CCIS), the Group’s entity dedicated to inland transportation solutions development, and its logistics subsidiary CEVA collaborated closely on this project which includes a USD 130 000 000 investment over 20 years to strengthen the CMA CGM Group’s presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the whole region.
The project aims to offer a unified logistics ecosystem leveraging CMA CGM’s ocean network with CCIS inland solutions and CEVA’s logistics services to provide customers with seamless end-to-end logistics solutions. The agreement will create more than 150 direct jobs and hundreds of indirect ones within the logistics sector. In addition, it will be providing a trusted logistics hub on one of the busiest trading routes serving as an instrumental part of the global maritime trade connecting Saudi Arabia to the rest of the world.
CMA CGM subsidiaries, CCIS and CEVA, will be offering unique logistics solutions, including an advanced hub, export hub, value-added services, temperature-controlled bonded storage and multimodal transport solutions to cater for all customer needs.
CMA CGM pursues its expansion in the Saudi Market
With this significant investment, the new project will strengthen Jeddah Port’s position as the hub of choice for gateway and cross border trade in the Red Sea. In addition, it will support Jeddah Islamic Port’s growth strategy in its aim to become one of the top ten ports globally as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. As a result, the CMA CGM Group continues moving forward with its regional expansion strategy as a global leader in shipping and logistics.
Present in KSA since 1984, CMA CGM has offices across the entire Kingdom. The Group employs 209 staff members across KSA, of which 35% of the local workforce are women. The Group connects the Kingdom to the world with 32 services and 24 weekly calls to provide customers with the best maritime and logistics service solutions. The Group is committed to offering the Saudi market a complete maritime and logistics offering combined with agility, professionalism, and efficiency.
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