¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ

RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority, MAWANI, has achieved an increase in the volume of handling containers during the current year by 14 percent to reach 212 million tons.

The head of the Public Transport Authority, Rumaih Al-Rumaih, said at the Saudi Maritime Conference the King Abdulaziz Port now stands 14th in the world for container volume — up from 88th.

The Kingdom’s strategic location and its view of the most important waterways for world trade contributed to the transit of 70 percent of the Kingdom’s imports and 90 percent of its exports, Al-Rumaih added. 

Meanwhile, MAWANI signed agreements to establish five logistic zones in Jeddah Islamic Port with an investment value of nearly SR2 billion ($531 million), the head of Saudi Ports Authority, Omar Al-Hariri said. 

The Kingdom has all the ingredients for success, and through the national transport strategy, we will reach a bright future, Al-Rumaih added.

During the maritime congress, MAWANI signed seven contracts and memorandum of understandings with public and private entities worth SR900 million.

The scope of the contracts includes establishing a new integrated logistics park at Jeddah Islamic Port, developing the infrastructure according to the latest global standards, as well as developing a new ports’ management system, according to a statement.

Through these agreements, MAWANI aims to fulfill the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, targeted at making the Kingdom a global logistics hub.

The first contract was signed with Globe Group to build an integrated logistics park and a re-export zone at Jeddah Islamic Port over an area of 135,000 sq.m.

The second contract was signed with PC Marine Services with a total of SR458 million to cooperate in strengthening food security through Jeddah Islamic Port.

MAWANI also signed another contract worth SR184 million with Modern Building Leaders, in cooperation with Huta Hegerfeld Saudia Ltd, to implement the project of deepening the approach channels, turning basins, waterways, and the southern terminal basin at Jeddah Islamic Port which will facilitate receiving large vessels with a capacity of 24,000 TEUs.

Another agreement was signed with Giza Arabia to implement the security system project at King Fahad Industrial Port in Yanbu with a total value exceeding SR61 million.

During the maritime congress, MAWANI also signed MoUs with King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Accreditation Center, and Tabadul.