Business Development Mission to Saudi Arabia: Global Logistics Hub by 2030

Join this UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY to meet Saudi public entities driving the development of the logistics and supply chain ecosystem and find potential business partners.

Saudi Arabia is the only country to have three major maritime straits, with approximately 30 percent of global seaborne trade passing its boundaries. It ranks sixth in the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2022 Survey. The country has earmarked milestones for the rail, road, maritime, and aviation sectors, launched strategies, programs, special economic zones (SEZs), and regulatory and incentive packages to take advantage of the Kingdom’s position at the center of Asia-Africa/Europe-Asia trade and transform it into a global logistics hub.

· By 2030, the logistics sector is anticipated to include six port zones, four air cargo centers, 10 dry port zones, 10 land border crossings, 18 industrial logistics zones, 50 in-country distriparks, 10 SEZs, and eight international distriparks. An estimated 21 logistics zones and 5 SEZs are currently active.

· Digitization enhancements have already driven state-led and private-sector logistics innovation in licensing, registration, passenger and cargo flow, import and export financing, and Internet of Things (IoT) technology that has boosted the sector’s operational efficiency. 

An estimated $147 billion in investments into the sector are expected with the private sector accounting for 65 percent of that amount while 35 percent will be funded by the government through attracting growing shares of FDI, sale of state-owned assets, and joint venture partnerships with domestic entities.

MISSION ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS

Riyadh, the Capital of Saudi Arabia

· Home of Riyadh Air Cargo Village and the Riyadh Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ), one of the region’s largest, recently launched at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The facilities will prioritize consumer electronics, computer products, pharmaceuticals, nutritional & medical supplies, aerospace spare parts, luxury goods, jewelry, and precious metals. A reported 20 additional multinationals have shown interest in operating alongside Apple, Inc which has committed to developing a regional distribution center at the SILZ

· Home to the recently launched Saudi Cloud Computing Economic Zone

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s Second Largest City

· Serves as headquarters of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the nation’s air carrier.

· Jeddah Islamic Port, with two container terminals operated by DP World and Red Sea Gateway Terminal, it is the busiest commercial port in Saudi Arabia, handling about 43 percent of the Saudi sea imports. It serves as a strategic hub connecting global East-West cargo trade. Plans are underway to improve and modernize the terminals.

· The Saudi Ports Authority is developing an integrated logistics area consisting of shared modular warehouses, single warehouses, large yards, and on-demand warehouses for re-export as well as subsidiary services.

· The Industrial Cities Authority recently announced its intention to build 14 new high-tech smart warehouses in Jeddah that will be operated based on a public-private partnership model.

· Active industrial cities include Jeddah 3rd Industrial City and Jeddah Air Cargo Village.

KAEC, an SEZ, and Home to the World’s Most Efficient Port

· Unique geostrategic location, at the heart of the Red Sea and close to European and African markets

· Home to Industrial Valley, the main industrial and logistics hub on the Red Sea; its advanced infrastructure, connection to regional/international markets via highspeed railway, highway network, road, and sea have attracted 115 companies in electronic light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, MedTech and Logistics to establish a presence. They include Pfizer, Mars, Toys “R” Us, Johnson Controls, Alstom, Sanofi, and Safeway.

· Home to the region’s first end-to-end EV and automotive cluster (Volvo, Lucid, Renault Trucks)

· King Abdullah Port, launched in 2014, is the first Middle East port owned, developed, and operated by the private sector. Once completed, the port will be equipped to handle 25 million TEU, up from 15 million TEU and 25 million tons of bulk cargo annually.

WHO SHOULD JOIN THE MISSION?

The Kingdom is looking for partners to invest in warehousing and fulfillment centers, manufacturing and assembly centers, staging and testing centers, and maintenance, repair, and re-export centers. Opportunities for the private sector include the development of ports, airports, rail, and road infrastructure projects, as well as the construction of new facilities including cargo terminals, customs bonded zones, industrial clusters, new shipping lanes, and expanded airport and seaport capacity and related technologies and services.

· Digital solutions for supply chain planning, transportation and warehouse management, security/cybersecurity

· Technologies related to green logistics/green warehouses, circular and sustainable supply chains, feeder vessel connectivity, cold chain logistics

· Smart logistics solution based on IoT and next-generation robotics for future supply chain design

· AI, IoT, blockchain applications for operational efficiency, optimization of inventory management, streamlining of transportation processes, automation of ports and logistics centers

· Robotics for B2C facilities (warehousing, transportation)

· Infrastructure development for ports, airports/air cargo, e-commerce

· Innovative cold-chain packaging and optimized infrastructure

· Freight tech (fleet management; freight procurement; digital freight forwarding)

· Warehousing tech (augmented reality; sustainable packaging; warehouse automation; fulfilment)

· Last mile delivery (autonomous delivery; ultrafast delivery services; reverse logistics; drones)

MISSION FEE

· $2,000 per company representative (Council members); $1,000 for second mission participant

· $3,000 per company representative (Council non-members); $1,500 for second mission participant

The Mission Fee Includes:

· Private briefing in Riyadh on doing business in the logistics sector (legal aspects, perspectives from U.S. companies doing business in the Kingdom)

· 1-on-1 meetings with potential Saudi business partners, end users

· Group visits to relevant Saudi Government agencies

· Group ground transportation to meetings in all locations

· Saudi business visa facilitation service

· Assistance with follow-ups for 3 months post-mission without charge

Expenses for air travel, lodging, incidentals, and meals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.

Mission Application Deadline: September 1, 2023

For questions, please contact Ana Carmen Neboisa, Vice President, [email protected]