As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to sail towards its Vision 2030 ambition, it is not just charting a new course for itself but is also establishing benchmarks for innovation and development on the global stage.
Showcasing investment opportunity in the maritime and logistics sectors, this year’s Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress will highlight how Saudi Arabia’s doors are now open even wider to the world, with investments pouring into sectors like renewable energy, maritime and logistics and other key industries.
According to Chris Morley, Group Director of Seatrade Maritime, organisers of the event: “2024 has already proved a phenomenal year of growth for the industry in Saudi. I can highlight several areas which indicate the scale of momentum within the industry which includes: the launch of Folk Maritime – offering feeder services and short sea shipping in the Middle East and supporting the Kingdom’s aspirations in the logistics sector; Mawani’s launch of the Ports Community System (PCS) – raising the efficiency of the operational performance of the Saudi port network; the new rail link connecting Al Jubail and Riyadh Dry Port; the announcement that Fincantieri has launched its new subsidiary – Fincantieri Arabia – to bringing its capabilities across cruise, defense and offshore and of course, the expansion of several law firms in the Kingdom.”
The two-day exhibition and conference takes place at Dhahran Expo, Dammam from 18-19th September 2024 and is held with Founding Strategic Partners, Bahri and Seatrade Maritime. With its main partners, The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Transport General Authority (TGA), and strategic partners, Saudi Aramco and IMI, this year’s event is set to break previous attendance records, helped by the necessity to add an extra hall to the exhibition to feature local and international exhibitors. Carrying forward its resounding success in 2023 - which witnessed a remarkable 95% YoY attendance increase - the 2024 edition of the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress will convene industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, serving as a pivotal platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, shaping the future of maritime and logistics in the region and beyond.
Strategic importance
In line with its economic diversification efforts, the Kingdom has been taking massive strides. One of these significant steps has been the launch of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy in 2021, aiming to position the Kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, and improve all transport services in support of Saudi Vision 2030. As a result, the nation handled over 10.43 million containers at its ports in 2022, helping it jump eight spots to claim the 16th position in the international ranking for container handling quantities. These efforts will continue as the country aims to increase the capacity of its ports to reach more than 40 million standard containers annually by 2030.
As the Kingdom’s most influential gathering of professionals from the maritime and logistics industry, the much-awaited exhibition and conference will play a significant role in making this vision a reality.
Speaking on this, Chris Morley, Group Director of Seatrade Maritime said, “The transport and logistics sectors are undoubtedly significant drivers of the Kingdom’s economy. The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress brings these vital sectors together at an unrivalled scale creating maximum value for attendees, exhibitors and the Kingdom alike.”
“This event has seen remarkable growth,” added Morley. “And, this year, we can expect to see over 10,000 attendees from across 70+ countries; a record 200+ exhibitors and a conference programme that brings together nearly 70 international speakers. Our ultimate aim is to facilitate fruitful cooperation between the public and private sector entities that catalyses growth for our industry.”
