Saudi Investment Minister Emphasizes Role of Transportation, Logistics in Driving Global Development

Officials take part in the panel discussion at the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
Officials take part in the panel discussion at the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
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Saudi Investment Minister Emphasizes Role of Transportation, Logistics in Driving Global Development

Officials take part in the panel discussion at the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)
Officials take part in the panel discussion at the Global Logistics Forum 2024. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih emphasized on Sunday the crucial role of transportation and logistics in driving global development.

During the opening session of the Global Logistics Forum 2024, Al-Falih highlighted the strategic significance of the Middle East, which serves as a pivotal link between East and West due to its prime geographical location.

He acknowledged the rapid advancements in Saudi Arabia’s transportation and logistics sectors, underscoring their direct impact on investment and the national economy.

Speaking on the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Al-Falih pointed out that the development of the transportation and logistics sectors is key to achieving a qualitative transformation both locally and regionally, empowering the private sector to play a more significant role in these sectors.

The session, “Logistics Builds Nations, and Nations Build Logistics”, included participation from leading Arab ministers, including Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser; Egypt’s Minister of Transport Major General Kamel Al-Wazir; the UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al Mazrouei; and Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology Eng. Saeed Al-Maawali.

Al-Jasser emphasized that the logistics sector is crucial for realizing the objectives of Vision 2030 by prioritizing and enabling projects across various sectors, such as Hajj and Umrah, tourism, trade, industry, and quality of life. Aligning these priorities has significantly contributed to economic growth and development in the Kingdom.



UAE’s Mubadala Acquires Majority Stakes in Global Medical Supply Chain, Al Ittihad Drug

The acquisition enhances Mubadala's footprint in the healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution sectors. WAM
The acquisition enhances Mubadala's footprint in the healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution sectors. WAM
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UAE’s Mubadala Acquires Majority Stakes in Global Medical Supply Chain, Al Ittihad Drug

The acquisition enhances Mubadala's footprint in the healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution sectors. WAM
The acquisition enhances Mubadala's footprint in the healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution sectors. WAM

Mubadala Investment Company has acquired an 80% stake in Global Medical Supply Chain (GMSC) and Al Ittihad Drug Store (IDS) from GlobalOne Healthcare Holding (GHH), with GHH retaining a 20% stake, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Tuesday.

This strategic acquisition enhances Mubadala's footprint in the healthcare logistics and pharmaceutical distribution sectors, aligning with the UAE's vision to establish a robust life sciences infrastructure, WAM said.

Founded in 2015, GMSC provides comprehensive end-to-end supply chain services for medical products, including demand planning, procurement, logistics, inventory management, warehousing, and maintenance.

GMSC serves over 200 medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics across the UAE. With a dedicated team of medical supply chain specialists, GMSC sources a broad array of products from almost 400 suppliers, ensuring a reliable supply chain for all medical needs.

IDS, established in 1987, stands as one of the leading distributors of pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare products in the UAE. Distributing over 1,000 products from over 40 leading suppliers, IDS services every hospital, and all, or at least most pharmacies and supermarkets within the UAE. It boasts a vast portfolio that spans multiple therapeutic categories including anti-infectives, asthma, diabetes, and oncology.

"The expanding pharmaceutical market drives an increasing demand for specialized and efficient drug logistics solutions. By integrating GMSC and IDS into our portfolio, we are poised to create a vertically integrated life sciences sector in the UAE and enable its potential to encompass the entire value chain from logistics and distribution to specialized manufacturing,” said Executive Director of UAE Clusters at Mubadala's UAE Investments Platform Ismail Ali Abdulla.

As for Low Ping, Group CEO Yas Holding, she said that the transaction “continues Mubadala's strategic growth, following another significant acquisition by its new speciality pharmaceutical business, KELIX bio, which recently acquired a 100% stake in four pharma assets from GlobalOne Healthcare Holding's, the healthcare division of Yas Holding.”

“These concerted efforts underline Mubadala's commitment to strengthening the UAE's healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors as part of broader national ambitions for drug security and economic diversification."

GlobalOne Healthcare Holding LLC serves as the dedicated Healthcare Division of Yas Holding LLC, focusing on enhancing healthcare outcomes by investing in innovative solutions across various healthcare verticals.