The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has held several meetings with leading local and international shipping lines, aiming to increase the handling container volume, improve operational processes and drive business to the ports in Saudi Arabia.
This initiative constitutes a part of MAWANI’s strategy to promote effective collaboration throughout Saudi Arabia’s import and export operations ecosystem and support economic and commercial growth by facilitating smoother trade.
President of MAWANI, H.E. Omar Hariri held a meeting with 15 national and global shipping lines to discuss the latest developments in the maritime transport sector, shape strategic plans for the growth of the country’s seaports, enhance operational processes, and promote the port’s services.
Objectives include enhancing operational processes, increasing communication, and supporting key business partners, in addition to activating collaborations that bring added value to global shipping lines, according to MAWANI.
Through its regular meetings, the council which seeks to attract more international business, will also discuss the latest improvements in the maritime transport sector, develop strategic plans for the growth of the Kingdom’s seaports, and promote the benefits of their services to an international audience.
In this line, Saudi Arabia has sharpened its focus on further developing its ports and transportation infrastructure under the supervision of MAWANI, to meet the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
The authority has been promoting and supporting logistical and operational capacity-building efforts in the country’s nine ports. Over the past two years, MAWANI launched five new shipping routes, including the IO3 line that was launched in January to link Jeddah Islamic Port with the Indian Ocean and northern European ports.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has improved its performance on the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Liner Shipping Connectivity Index for the third quarter of 2021.
Recording the highest increase in the region on the index, the country’s rating increased to 70.68 from 70.13 in the corresponding quarter last year as a result of its efforts to strengthen its logistics competitiveness and bolster its position in international maritime transport networks.
The meetings consist of representatives from some of the world’s leading shipping lines, including Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, CMA-CGM, Evergreen Marine, Ocean Network Express (ONE), COSCO Shipping Lines, Pacific International Lines (PIL), Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), Wan Hai Lines and Nippon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line).
