Kuwait’s Agility Begins Major Expansion at Logistics Complex in Riyadh

Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait’s Agility Begins Major Expansion at Logistics Complex in Riyadh

Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Agility signed a new MoU to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kuwaiti company Agility has announced plans to expand its logistics complex in Riyadh by adding 100,000 square meters of modern warehouses, bringing the total storage space to approximately 551,000 square meters.

The project, valued at SAR 250 million (around $66.58 million), aims to create 300 new job opportunities for Saudi citizens, with the first phase of the expansion set to be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during the Global Logistics Forum in Riyadh, Agility CEO Tarek Sultan noted that the company had signed a new memorandum of understanding to explore and develop logistics zones connected to railway projects in Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen the country’s logistical infrastructure.

Sultan emphasized Agility’s key role in improving services and linking railway networks to its foreign client base, which has shown growing interest in investing in the Kingdom. This comes as Saudi Arabia aims to become a global logistics hub by 2030.

Sultan also highlighted Agility’s commitment to developing the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector in Saudi Arabia, stating that the company, which is listed on both the Kuwait Stock Exchange and Dubai Financial Market, is looking to maximize opportunities for these businesses through investments in storage and logistics services.

On Sunday, during the Global Logistics Forum, the company announced major expansion plans for its logistics complex in Riyadh, expected to be completed within a year and a half. Sultan noted that there are additional projects currently under study and planning.

The CEO noted that Agility’s investments in Saudi Arabia amount to several billion riyals and are steadily increasing. It is noteworthy that the company’s profits decreased by 16% in the first half of 2024, totaling 24.70 million Kuwaiti dinars, due to a 24% rise in general and administrative expenses.



Egypt's Net Foreign Assets Slid in October

A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt's Net Foreign Assets Slid in October

A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A general view shows Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt July 13, 2020. (Reuters)

Egypt's net foreign assets (NFAs) dropped by $1.12 billion in October after a rise in September, central bank data shows.

NFAs declined to the equivalent of $9.21 billion at the end of October from $10.33 billion at the end of September, according to Reuters calculations based on the official central bank currency rates. The decline followed a $591 million gain in September.

Egypt had been using NFAs, which include foreign assets at both the central bank and commercial banks, to help to prop up its currency since as long ago as September 2021.

NFAs turned negative in February 2022 and only returned to positive territory in May this year.

Foreign assets rose at the central bank in October but dipped at commercial banks while foreign liabilities climbed at both commercial banks and the central bank.