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.



Gold Edges Up as Investors Seek Fed Clues from US Data

FILE PHOTO: A woman picks a gold earring at a jewelry shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman picks a gold earring at a jewelry shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo
TT

Gold Edges Up as Investors Seek Fed Clues from US Data

FILE PHOTO: A woman picks a gold earring at a jewelry shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman picks a gold earring at a jewelry shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo

Gold prices edged higher on Tuesday, supported by US rate cut bets and geopolitical concerns, while the focus shifted to economic data due this week for clues into the Federal Reserve's interest rate path.
Spot gold was up 0.1% at $2,640.65 per ounce, as of 0810 GMT, after falling by as much as 1% on Monday. US gold futures were 0.2% higher at $2,663.40, Reuters reported.
US data this week includes the job openings due later on Tuesday, the ADP employment report on Wednesday, and the payrolls report on Friday.
"The next big thing is going to be the payrolls on Friday night because it'll tell us whether the Fed is essentially going to green-light the interest rate cut in a couple of weeks," said Kyle Rodda, financial market analyst at Capital.com.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller on Monday said, with inflation still forecast to fall to 2%, he is inclined "at present" to support another rate cut later this month.
The comments boosted expectations of a rate cut at the Fed's Dec. 17-18 meeting to nearly 75% compared from 66% a day before.
"It seems we're just oscillating in one place until a new trigger emerges," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.
Non-yielding gold tends to thrive in a low-interest-rate environment and during periods of geopolitical turmoil.
Driving tensions in the Middle East, the Israeli military targeted dozens of Hezbollah positions across Lebanon on Monday.
Elsewhere, spot silver gained 1.3% to $30.89 per ounce, platinum added 0.6% to $952.18 and palladium rose 1% to $991.21.