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)
TT

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.



UN Predicts World Economic Growth to Remain at 2.8% in 2025

A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
TT

UN Predicts World Economic Growth to Remain at 2.8% in 2025

A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)
A vegetable vendor sits beside a bonfire on his handcart on a cold winter evening in New Delhi on January 6, 2025. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

Global economic growth is projected to remain at 2.8% in 2025, unchanged from 2024, held back by the top two economies, the US and China, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday.

The World Economic Situation and Prospects report said that "positive but somewhat slower growth forecasts for China and the United States" will be complemented by modest recoveries in the European Union, Japan, and Britain and robust performance in some large developing economies, notably India and Indonesia.

"Despite continued expansion, the global economy is projected to grow at a slower pace than the 2010–2019 (pre-pandemic) average of 3.2%," according to the report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

"This subdued performance reflects ongoing structural challenges such as weak investment, slow productivity growth, high debt levels, and demographic pressures," Reuters quoted it as saying.

The report said US growth was expected to moderate from 2.8% last year to 1.9% in 2025 as the labor market softens and consumer spending slows.

It said growth in China was estimated at 4.9% for 2024 and projected to be 4.8% this year with public sector investments and a strong export performance partly offset by subdued consumption growth and lingering property sector weakness.
Europe was expected to recover modestly with growth increasing from 0.9% in 2024 to 1.3% in 2025, "supported by easing inflation and resilient labor markets," the report said.

South Asia is expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing region, with regional GDP projected to expand by 5.7% in 2025 and 6% in 2026, supported by a strong performance by India and economic recoveries in Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the report said.

India, the largest economy in South Asia, is forecast to grow by 6.6% in 2025 and 6.8% in 2026, driven by robust private consumption and investment.
The report said major central banks are likely to further reduce interest rates in 2025 as inflationary pressures ease. Global inflation is projected to decline from 4% in 2024 to 3.4% in 2025, offering some relief to households and businesses.
It calls for bold multilateral action to tackle interconnected crises, including debt, inequality, and climate change.
"Monetary easing alone will not be sufficient to reinvigorate global growth or address widening disparities," the report added.