Minister of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, inaugurated today the Supply Chain and Logistics Conference, taking place in Riyadh from 16-17 October. Eng. Al-Jasser explained in his opening speech that the conference emanates from the Kingdom's pivotal role as an integral part of the business system for all industrial, commercial and economic sectors, adding that HRH the Crown Prince's launch of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy contributed to unifying the destination and charting the path towards a better future for the Kingdom, which would enable it to become a global logistics center linking the three continents and a model for sustainable transport, especially since an integrative strategic partnership links the transport and industry sectors. The minister indicated that the Ministry of Transport and Logistics is working to establish 59 logistic zones in the Kingdom that will support the boom in the movement and growth of supply chains and logistic services, and enable the Kingdom to play a regional and global role, including the selection of 18 industrial zones to expand their scope of work to become an industrial logistic zone that serves the arrival of the products of these factories across the Kingdom or export outlets with high efficiency. For his part, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Eng. Osama Al-Zamil reiterated that the ministry is working in cooperation with partner government agencies and the private sector to ensure the development of local supply chains and activate the role of small and medium enterprises and their integration with large strategic industries to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, to increase industrial sector's contribution in the domestic product and maximize the proportion of local content in national products. Al-Zamil added that the key element in supply chain development enables the investment in the human capital necessary to manage supply chains with the required efficiency, effectiveness, and reliability, noting that agreements to localize supply chains in the local industry will be signed with a value of more than SR1 billion, to stimulate the private sector to invest in domestic and global supply chains, thus raising the level of industrial and economic growth. He announced the launch of the Local Supply Chain Development Initiative, under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, which aims to achieve clarity in industrial supply chains and develop industrial value chains for products, which will be supported by information on supply chains for beneficiaries in the public and private sectors, to increase investment in the integration of local supply chains and their connection with regional and global supply chains as a primary output, in a way that ensures inclusiveness and with the participation of all stakeholders. The Supply Chain and Logistics Conference aims to shed light on a set of essential topics, such as the Kingdom's future projects related to supply chains and logistical facilities, building global and local partnerships, activating advanced tools and methodologies, and supporting and enabling technologies for the growth, continuity, and sustainability of supply chains and their development, and contributing to preparing its competitive environment per the best models and international standards. The conference is being held with the participation of a group of international experts and specialists who will be exchanging visions, ideas, and experiences on the best methods and latest practices to improve the performance of supply chains, raise their efficiency, and develop the target sectors associated with them to meet one of the most important objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which is to consolidate its position as a global logistics hub.
