08/11/2021
The Deputy Prince of Eastern Province sponsors the opening ceremony of the Logistics Forum in the Asharqia Chamber
His Royal Highness Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of the Eastern Province, inaugurated the activities of the Logistics Forum, which was organized by the Asharqia Chamber today, Sunday, and discussed opportunities to establish a full-service logistics zone in the Eastern Province, and witnessed a large presence of government officials and elite From local and international businessmen and academics, and experienced professionals and those interested in the field of logistics.
Forum topic
His Royal Highness, Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, was briefed on the accompanying exhibition, and noted the importance of the topics on the forum’s agenda, expressing his aspirations to keep pace with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its aspirations for the Kingdom to be a global logistics platform. His Highness expressed his happiness with the economic movement Which the Eastern Province is witnessing, and the size of the attendance witnessed by the Forum, pointing out that the Eastern Province is one of the areas that qualify to become one of the most important logistic areas in the Kingdom due to its distinguished geographical location and the comparative advantage of investment activity in various sectors
Ambitious path
For his part, His Excellency the Mayor of the Eastern Region, Eng. Fahd bin Muhammad Al-Jubeir, said during his speech at the forum, that the Kingdom began working rapidly to diversify its non-oil economy, as it launched an ambitious path and accelerated to become a leading logistical center in the Gulf region and its surroundings, and that in April of In 2016, it launched Vision 2030, one of the most important pillars of which is to transform the Kingdom into a logistical hub capable of effectively linking trade routes between three continents.
real transformation
He went on to say that, since its launch, the vision has yielded a real shift towards sustainable development with well-studied efforts, plans, and practical programs. It has transformed from a dream into a tangible reality, taking advantage of our country's position as a global logistics center linking the three continents, which was announced by His Highness, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz - may God protect him, when he launched the National Industrial Development and Logistics Services Program, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a power A leading industrial and global logistics platform, based on improving capabilities that contribute to raising the level of private sector participation and activating its role in promoting the program sectors.
Kingdom Gate
He pointed out that because the Eastern Province, is characterized by its geographical location, which is directly linked to six countries, and its international and regional links, which makes it the most qualified region of the Kingdom to become a logistical center and the Kingdom's gateway to industrial exports and imports.
Multimedia Transfer
Al-Jubeir indicated that the Municipality of the region is working in several directions to develop the transportation system to become an integrated multimodal transportation system that keeps pace with the future demand for transportation and logistics services, and includes preparing a comprehensive transportation strategy, and developing a transportation and traffic model, stressing that the comprehensive transportation strategy is a roadmap that covers three decades of (2014 AD to 2044 AD), which included 215 projects scheduled in three phases, and it is a comprehensive strategy that covers the areas of goods transport and truck transport, policies supporting the transport system, in addition to traffic safety, smart transport, and others.
digital copy
He explained that, in the translation of this strategy, a digital version of the transportation system, traffic, land uses, demographic and social characteristics in the cities of the region was built and updated, which is known as the (transport model), which is an important tool for predicting, improving and controlling future demand for transport and logistics and evaluating the cost and return of the new infrastructure. and reduce investment risks for stakeholders.
improve the performance
To strengthen the transportation and logistics system in the Eastern Province, Al-Jubeir said that the Municipality worked with its partners in the Ministry of Transport branch in the Eastern Province, the Public Transport Authority, King Abdulaziz Port, the Eastern Region Traffic, and the Special Forces for Road Security in several areas intending to establish and improve the performance of logistic centers. And improving the local, regional and international connectivity of trade and transport networks, as it was agreed on a site for the construction of the dry port, which is characterized by its proximity to important regional roads (Riyadh, Abqaiq, and Abu Hadriyah Roads, and the railway track), in addition to its proximity to the second industrial area and King Fahd Airport.
The dry port
According to Al-Jubeir, the dry port is of paramount importance for its role in reducing the entry of trucks into the center of cities, thus reducing traffic congestion and improving the level of traffic safety in the cities of Dammam, in addition to reducing the wear of pavement layers due to truck weights. Specific sites will contribute to the speed of goods transportation and reduce the waiting time for trucks at city entrances. Sites have also been identified at city entrances to be used to stop and wait for trucks instead of stopping on roadsides to get rid of the appearance of trucks waiting on roadsides that pose a danger to drivers and vehicles.
Huge initiatives
For his part, Chairman of the Public Transport Authority, Dr. Rumaih bin Muhammad Al-Rumaih, emphasized that the transport and logistics sector is witnessing great acceleration and unlimited support from our wise leadership, pointing to the huge initiatives, qualitative projects, and ambitious targets included in the national strategy for transport and logistics. Opportunities, saying that they serve as a roadmap for the sector and a tool for its integration and interdependence, and it is the starting point for the future through which we aspire to consolidate the Kingdom's position as a global logistics center linking the three continents and to improve the local, regional and international linkage of trade and transport networks.
Historical era
Al-Rumaih said that we live today in a distinguished historical era in which we are racing against time, with great leaps and ambitions that embrace the sky, to build a bright future for future generations in various fields. The strategy aims to increase what the transport and logistics sector pumps into the GDP by about 10%. It also aims to expand the establishment of several logistic platforms, including 7 regions in the Eastern Region, and to raise the capacity of air freight to more than 4.5 million tons and increase the capacity of containers. To reach more than 40 million containers annually by 2030.
Legislation system
He explained that the Public Transport Authority worked on developing the legislative system, improving the business environment, facilitating and shortening procedures through automating systems and integrating with the relevant authorities, with the aim of the level of competitiveness among our partners in the private sector and improving the quality of services provided to achieve the aspirations of the beneficiaries. It was also keen to adopt modern transport technologies and study The requirements of its application to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions by up to 25%.
The main goals of the vision
For his part, Chairman of Asharqia Chamber Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Deputy Governor of the Eastern Region, His Royal Highness, Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, for sponsoring and honoring the (logistical) forum, and stressed that the forum is a platform to shed light on a sector that comes on top. The objectives of the 2030 vision are to transform the Kingdom into a distinguished global logistics platform, through which global trade flows.
Indicators of development and development
Al-Khalidi said that raising the level of the logistic sector is one of the indicators of development and development in countries, following its complementary role with all other development sectors. Logistics projects had the greatest impact in facilitating the movement of goods and products and increasing investment and job opportunities among the national workforce.
Our logistical goals
Al-Khalidi explained that the national strategy for transport and logistics services that was presented in the middle of this year, and the several development projects included in this strategy, indicate that our logistical goals have been reached ahead of schedule, and opens broad prospects for the private sector to partner in these projects, considering the strategy a qualitative leap. To advance the logistics sector in the Kingdom, which will be reflected in improving the quality of life in all regions and cities of the Kingdom.
investment prospects
While the head of the Logistics Committee in the Asharqia Chamber, Rakan bin Abdul Rahman Al-Otaishan, said that the forum monitors and analyzes the repercussions of developing the logistics sector on the national economy, and searches for ways to benefit from the relative advantages of the eastern region, which qualifies it to be a leading logistical hub on the banks of the Arabian Gulf, stressing the importance of The logistics sector, which is one of the most important economic sectors supporting all other sectors, saying: The investment and operational prospects offered by the logistics industry for companies, institutions and individuals do not stop at a specific limit.
force equation
Al-Otaishan pointed out that the logistics industry is the main pillar upon which all our ongoing development programs are based, given its importance, great role, and clear impact on all economic and social fields, pointing out that the logistics industry has become, with the launch of the 2030 vision, one of the elements of the equation of the future economic strength of the Kingdom. on the global map.
national projects
Al-Otaishan said that the state has reinforced its logistical goals during the past few months by launching the national strategy for transport and logistics, which embodies the extent of the wise leadership’s interest in the logistics industry by placing it within the framework of huge national projects that raise the Kingdom’s competitiveness and place it in the ranks of the most effective countries in the movement Global trade, with its contents and availability of projects and solutions for investors based on a distinguished strategic location in the middle of the world.
Logistics features
Al-Otaishan indicated that the forum came to shed light on the logistical potentials that the eastern region possesses and how to benefit from them. Through it, we are trying to review the relative advantages of the region, which represents the Gulf industrial capital and on its land many primary and secondary petrochemical industry complexes, as well as the industrial cities in Dammam, Jubail, and Khafji.
