The Saudi Ports Authority says it aims to reduce container time at its ports to three days by 2020 while simultaneously pushing for more than double handling by 2030, according to the Saudi Press Agency and other reports.
The goals fit into the kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic and social reform drive which prioritizes the generation of efficiencies in the economy. The push for greater efficiency at Saudi Arabia’s ports is a result of Saudi Arabia leveraging its physical location advantage at the crossroads of important international trade routes, between three continents: Asia, Europe and Africa.
H.E. Eng. Saad Bin Abdulaziz Alkhalb
“What’s more, the share of Saudi ports handling transshipment containers will be increased, the production capacity within the terminals will be optimized, and new horizons will be opened for promising investment and commercial partnerships,” Ports Authority president Saad bin Abdulaziz AlKhalb said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency and republished in The National.
The Saudi Ports Authority, also called Mawani, manages nine ports in Saudi Arabia.
“We are now are focusing… heavily on efficiencies, especially in import-export processes, digitalisation, and ensuring that the infrastructure that we’ve already installed is being utilised properly,” Minister of Transportation Nabil Al Amoudi said this month in comments to Seatrade Maritime News.
“Besides maritime, we’re working on land transport as well and are going to be expanding our rail network as well. And in the near future we will announce major projects.”
