Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated in Riyadh on Sunday the Global Logistics Forum 2024.
Held under the theme "Reshaping the Global Map of Logistics," the event was attended by several ministers, senior officials, leaders of international organizations and industrial unions, experts, academics, and analysts.
The inaugural forum, running on October 12 and 14, includes the participation of 130 speakers and 80 exhibitors from 30 countries.
Al-Jasser expressed his gratitude to King Salman for his esteemed patronage of this forum. He thanked Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who has given an "inspiring character to the logistics sector, turning it into a comprehensive, strong, and ambitious vision."
"The present moment is ideal for convening this forum, as the global logistics sector is at a pivotal juncture." he added. "Current global challenges underscore the need for safeguarding supply chains and maintaining the operational continuity of logistics services, which are fundamental to global trade."
"The Global Logistics Forum presents an opportunity to enhance, innovate, and secure the global logistics networks that unite us, fostering economic prosperity and ensuring the timely delivery of goods," he stressed.
Al-Jasser emphasized the need to expedite the transformation of the transport and logistics sector and to establish it as a global hub for trade and logistics. The Kingdom is persistently advancing its logistics infrastructure in line with Vision 2030, bolstered by substantial government investments aimed at improving supply chain efficiency and linking global markets.
The minister explained that the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, launched by the Crown Prince in mid-2021, aims to invest more than SAR1 trillion by 2030. He added that SAR200 billion of this amount has already been allocated, enabling the Saudi logistics sector to advance significantly and contributing to improving the Kingdom's global rankings.
Al-Jasser pointed out that Saudi Arabia — which for centuries has been at the crossroads of some of the most important trade routes in history, such as the Incense and Spice Routes and the maritime route of the Silk Road — now seeks to shape its logistic future.
This is being achieved through advanced infrastructure like King Salman International Airport, modern seaports, and an expanded railway network, he said, noting that these facilities are crucial to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, as they continue to drive the Kingdom towards becoming a global logistics powerhouse.
Moreover, Al-Jasser highlighted the achievements of the transport and logistics system, which have resulted in the Kingdom advancing 17 ranks in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index and 14 in the International Air Transport Association's global connectivity index.
He also pointed out that last year, the Saudi railway network helped reduce the equivalent of one million truck trips in the country, significantly contributing to reducing carbon emissions.
He stressed the importance of joint efforts over the next two days to address the challenges "we face and strive to shape a sustainable future that fosters prosperity for all."
The forum includes broad participation representing leaders in the logistics sector from the public and private sectors, along with experts, top executives, and industry pioneers from various countries. It is holding panel discussions aimed at boosting international cooperation and stimulating joint efforts to advance logistics services and enhance their development role in the global economy.
The forum is also discussing key topics in the transport and logistics sector, such as empowering global markets, investing in logistics infrastructure, and the resilience of logistics services in the face of disruptions in the Red Sea area, in addition to discussions on the new era of energy ports and empowering talents to transform the future industries.
