Int’l, Local Companies Enter the Saudi Market for Logistics Services

Saudi Arabia is pushing for the growth of the logistics sector within the framework of the objectives of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is pushing for the growth of the logistics sector within the framework of the objectives of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Int’l, Local Companies Enter the Saudi Market for Logistics Services

Saudi Arabia is pushing for the growth of the logistics sector within the framework of the objectives of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is pushing for the growth of the logistics sector within the framework of the objectives of the Kingdom’s “Vision 2030” (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh bin al-Jasser has handed over the first 32 logistic licenses for several international and local companies. The small and medium enterprises have investments in the logistic services sector in Saudi Arabia.

This followed al-Jasser inaugurating of the “Logistics License” on Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh, which will simplify the procedure of obtaining a license for companies.

The launch of the license aims “to strengthen the Saudi economy in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which includes all transport sectors, air, sea, land and railways, ascending the Kingdom to the top 10 countries in the Logistics Performance Index by 2030.”

It also aims to develop more than 60 logistic zones to support exports, e-commerce and re-exports, and to also encourage trade through land ports, the growth of re-export revenues from 42 billion riyals ($11.2 billion) to 520 billion riyals ($138.65 billion), export growth from 185 billion riyals ($49.33 billion) to 507 billion riyals ($135.18 billion), and the expansion of the e-commerce sector from 6 percent to 23 percent.

The logistic license offers holders several advantages, including simplified procedures for companies obtaining the license in the sector.

The license also aims to develop and raise the logistic performance index through the services provided, improve work in the sector and take advantage of promising investment opportunities that enhance the local economy and its connection to the international market, and consolidating the Kingdom’s strategic position among the rest of the countries as a global logistical center for trade and economic movement.

The Ministry will “integrate a number of different activities into one activity with the unified license for logistics services, where the tasks of the license will be based on the brokerage of land, air, and sea freight.”



China to Focus on Stabilizing Housing Market in 2025, Housing Regulator Says

 A cleaner carrying a broom and a trash bin walks along a street in Beijing on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
A cleaner carrying a broom and a trash bin walks along a street in Beijing on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
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China to Focus on Stabilizing Housing Market in 2025, Housing Regulator Says

 A cleaner carrying a broom and a trash bin walks along a street in Beijing on December 24, 2024. (AFP)
A cleaner carrying a broom and a trash bin walks along a street in Beijing on December 24, 2024. (AFP)

Efforts will continue in 2025 to stabilize and prevent further declines in China's real estate market, China Construction News reported, citing a work conference held by the housing regulator on Tuesday and Wednesday.

China will vigorously promote the reform of the commercial housing sales system, and expand the scope of urban village renovation beyond the addition of 1 million units, the report said.

China will strictly control the supply of commercial housing, while increasing the supply of affordable housing to help solve the living problems of a large number of new citizens, young people and migrant workers, it said.

Policymakers have stepped up efforts to revive the real estate by introducing new measures to encourage home demand after a government-led campaign to rein in highly leveraged developers triggered a crisis in 2021.

Since September, measures aimed at encouraging homebuying have included cutting mortgage rates and minimum down-payments, as well as tax incentives to lower the cost of housing transactions.

The real estate market has shown some momentum of stabilizing, with home transactions in October and November seeing year-on-year and month-on-month growth for two consecutive months, said the conference.

China's home prices fell at the slowest pace in 17 months in November, supported by government efforts to revive the sector, official data showed.

An official of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission in December called for policy measures with direct impact on stabilizing the real estate market to be adopted as soon as possible, with local governments getting greater autonomy to buy housing stock.