As the size and value of the logistics industry grow faster, Qatar is well-positioned to emerge as a key global player in the industry. The country’s geographical location, encouraging investment laws, stable exchange rate, abundant energy supply and its continuous development of the logistics sector help Qatar allow to take a leading position in this industry, HE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, said yesterday.
Delivering the opening speech at the first Qatar Supply Chains Management Conference, the Minister said Qatar’s newly-developed integrated and efficient transportation system will serve all sectors and connect Qatar to the regional and global economy.
“We have the resources and a wise leadership committed to realizing our dreams on the ground…the support provided by the State to the private sector to be a strategic partner will further leverage Qatar’s capabilities in the logistics industry,” the Minister added.
Currently, Qatar has one of the largest commercial ports in the world and the largest airport in the Middle East. The country is developing Doha Port as Qatar’s gateway to marine tourism. Qatar is also expanding the port of Ruwais to serve as Qatar’s northern maritime gateway. The ongoing highway program is linking all of Qatar’s facilities to each other.
The Minister urged all the stakeholders to work with the Ministry and other Qatari business partners who are active in the industry, to strengthen cooperation in the supply chain and connect the world and thus enhance Qatar’s position as a logistics hub.
The importance of the logistics and logistics sector in the twenty-first century has increased in terms of its size and financial value, which is estimated at billions of dollars in the global economy.
Participating in the panel discussion, QTerminals CEO Neville Bisset said Hamad Port will emerge as one of the top ports in the world, in terms of handling containers, with the completion of its Phase II. The volume of delivery of goods and cargos will increase at a significant rate by 2022, Bisset said.
The QTerminals CEO was speaking after Captain Abdulaziz Al Yafei, Director of Hamad Port, formally announced in the previous session that QTerminals will develop and operate Phase II of Hamad Port. Recently, the Terminal operating company had announced in a tweet that it had received an approval to design, develop and operate Phase II of Hamad Port.
At the panel discussion, Bisset said, currently, Qatar has delivery from all over the world. Last year, the QTerminals handled over 1.3m TEUs. The volume would considerably go up in the run-up to the next big-ticket event, FIFA 2022 and beyond, he said.
“We are working to develop new trade lines, new partnership. We are increasing our footprints across the region and beyond..”
Hamad Port, currently the 5th in the region in terms of capacity, will emerge as one of the top three and notch up a high rank among the world ports with the completion of Phase II, he said.
QTerminals is a company set up by Qatar Navigation (Milaha) and Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) to provide the container, general cargo, RORO, livestock and offshore supply services in Phase I of Hamad Port.
The Peninsula
27/03/2019
