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Saudi Minister of Transport to Asharq Al-Awsat: Major Investments to Be Revealed Soon

Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Transport to Asharq Al-Awsat: Major Investments to Be Revealed Soon

Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)
Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Transport Dr. Nabil bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi said the Kingdom will reveal a number of major economic and investment projects related to the transportation and logistics sector.

Sitting down for an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, he highlighted Tuesday’s inauguration of hall no.1 in the King Abulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz will sponsor the event. The facility will service the Makkah region.

“Everyone knows that this project has been in the works for a long time. The inauguration will raise the quality of services at the airport and transform Jeddah into an air transport platform,” said Al-Amoudi.

“We acknowledge that the current airport in Jeddah is not up to national standards, but the new project will introduce a qualitative shift,” he added.

The project encompasses 46 gates and can accommodate 70 airplanes at a time.

The minister also spoke of logistic platforms that will soon be set up in the cities of al-Dammam and Jeddah in line with Vision 2030.

Logistic platforms take advantage of existing infrastructure, such as airports, railways, roads and ports. The private sector will be invested in developing the logistics services, including the packaging of products and preparation for distribution, and other shipping services, he explained.

He also spoke of the Special Economic Zone, which is a broader concept and that can be set up in any state-designated region.

Al-Amoudi noted the Special Economic Zone in the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The private sector will soon have opportunities to invest in these zones. These areas will enjoy special privileges, such as customs exemptions, he revealed.

Future projects, include establishing of a logistics platform in Al Khomrah region near the Jeddah Islamic Seaport within two months. The area would be leased to investors and companies for setting up warehouses and other services.

Another logistic platform, near the King Abdulaziz Seaport in al-Dammam, will be set up before the end of the year.

Moreover, he said Saudi ports have a capacity that exceeds the local demand by more than 50 percent. This encourages the establishment of logistics platforms and Special Economic Zones.

Turning to land transportation, Al-Amoudi revealed that the King Fahd Causeway Authority will appoint advisers to study the bridge project that will run parallel to the King Fahd Causeway that connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.

The private sector will tackle this project, revealed the minister.

Asked about the Kingdom’s implementation of road tolls, he said his ministry, in line with Vision 2030, is studying ideas and ways to raise the efficiency of roads in the country.

So far, preliminary studies have been made about the best way to impose tolls on some roads in the future. All roads that are taxable will have alternative roads that are not, he went on to say. Of course, the toll-free roads will be longer.

Imposing such fees will ultimately help improve the quality of these roads, he stressed.

Such a project will take time and requires more support from the government. Further studies are needed, as well as government decisions. The plan will not be implemented in the near future, Al-Amoudi said.

Commenting on railway projects, Al-Amoudi said the railway sector is one of the most important in the Kingdom.

Current systems cover 4,500 kilometers of the country.

He noted the inauguration last year of the Haramain High Speed Railway and highlighted the importance of trains in the mining sector where they are used in the delivery of phosphates and aluminum in the country.

Future train projects will aim to connect all the regions of the Kingdom to the railway system, he revealed. The “backbone” of this system is the line that connects the Red Sea ports to Riyadh and al-Dammam.

Al-Amoudi also underscored the efforts to connect Saudi Arabia to Gulf countries.

“We are currently in the first phase of creating a link with the United Arab Emirates,” he revealed.

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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Official: Gulf States Shielded Themselves from Major Shocks

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

David Laborde, Director of the Agrifood Economics Division at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Asharq al-Awsat that global hunger increased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the GCC countries were able to shield themselves from major shocks affecting food security.
Laborde added that global hunger affected over 152 million people, with no improvement in the past two years.
Today, 733 million people suffer from chronic hunger, and 2.3 billion face food insecurity, according to the UN annual report on “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

Laborde explained that the global economic crisis has worsened food insecurity, keeping hunger levels high.
Alongside this, climate shocks and conflicts are major causes of hunger. He also pointed out that food insecurity is closely tied to inequality, and the economic crisis, rising living costs, and high interest rates are deepening existing inequalities both within and between countries.
On whether economic diversification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is boosting food security, Laborde said: “A move towards a more diversified economy and enhancing the ability to rely on various sources of food supplies are key drivers of food security resilience and stability.”
“GCC countries have managed to shield themselves from major shocks, primarily due to their high income levels and ability to cover import costs without difficulty,” he explained.
Regarding the FAO’s outlook on reducing global hunger, Laborde insisted that ending hunger will require a significant increase in funding.
When asked for suggestions on how governments could enhance food security, Laborde said: “Despite global figures remaining stable, improvements are seen in Asia and Latin America, showing that the right policies and conditions can reduce numbers.”
“Hunger is not inevitable. Investing in social safety nets to protect the poor, along with making structural changes to food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and equitable, is the right path forward,” emphasized Laborde.
The annual State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report, published on Wednesday, said about 733 million people faced hunger in 2023 – one in 11 people globally and one in five in Africa.
Hunger and food insecurity present critical challenges affecting millions globally.
The annual report, released this year during the G20 Global Alliance for Hunger and Poverty Task Force ministerial meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is significantly lagging in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2—ending hunger by 2030.
It highlights that global progress has regressed by 15 years, with malnutrition levels comparable to those seen in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in areas like stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, a troubling number of people still face food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels rising.