Minister of Transport Dr. Nabeel Bin Mohamed Al-Amoudi announced the offering of the Al Khomra Logistics Zone Jeddah for investment to the private sector. Speaking during the opening of the Third Saudi Logistics Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, the minister said that Al Khomra is an umbrella for a number of logistics zones and platforms to be launched in the coming period through a prepared comprehensive strategy and plan. He noted that it would have a significant impact on supply chains and logistics sector in the Kingdom. It would be a modern logistics zone that offers commercial facilities, customs Bonded Zone re-exports zones. Al Khomra logistics zone is expected to host 10 business areas from four vital sectors — electronic, vehicles, electrical equipment and food and beverages. The zone will include primary manufacturing facilities, secondary manufacturing facilities, storage and cooling facilities and food distribution centers. The zone features: Strengthening strategic partnerships with the private sector; opening new horizons for promising investment and commercial opportunities and providing integrated and advanced logistics services. Al Khomra seeks to provide an advanced infrastructure and added-value services that will actively contribute towards positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub while raising its competitiveness on investment and services fronts as outlined within Saudi Vision 2030. Commenting on this remarkable milestone, President of Mawani Eng. Saad Bin Abdulaziz Al Khalb described Al Khomra as a major leap for the logistics sector in Saudi Arabia. He added that the new logistics zone is expected to open up new investment and business opportunities and promote strategic partnerships with the private sector that will further contribute towards the development of the maritime trade and enhance the quality of operational and logistics procedures and services. He also reiterated the significance of Al Khomra Logistics Zone due to its proximity to international trade routes, its strategic location in the southern governorate of Jeddah and close to Jeddah Islamic Port making it a global logistics platform and a major hub connecting the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Al Khalb added that Al Khomra is characterized by its highly efficient roads network connecting Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz International Airport and the upcoming Saudi Landbridge Project, along other various main roads in the Kingdom. Al Khomra's location along the Red Sea coast, a major passageway for more than 13% of global maritime trade, will make it a vital hub on the Silk Road maritime trade route launched within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Moreover, Saudi Arabia's strategic location as a hub connecting Middle East with Europe and Africa alongside its robust economy form major pillars for transforming the Kingdom into a pioneering global logistics hub. These factors offer an attractive package for investors interested in capitalizing on the lands owned by Mawani and building partnerships with the authority to develop fully-fledged logistics zones, including the newly announced Al Khomra Logistics Zone. Mawani had launched a strategic plan to optimize the massive potential and capacity of Saudi Arabia's ports which outperforms the local demand by 50% through offering integrated logistics services, advanced bonded and re-export zones and competitive world-class services to the private sector in aims to facilitate global trade exchange. — SG/SPA
