Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today (June 30) launched the National Transport and Logistics Strategy mainly aimed at positioning the kingdom as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, and boosting all transport services in support of Saudi Vision 2030, reported SPA.
 
A host of game-changing projects are being planned to help achieve the strategy’s economic and social goals, along with improved governance to enhance the work of the organizations involved.
 
The new strategy has four main goals: to transform Saudi Arabia into a logistics hub; boost the quality of life across the country; enhance fiscal sustainability; and improve the performance of public entities, the report added.
 
"This strategy will strengthen human and technical capabilities in the transport and logistics sector in the kingdom," stated Crown Prince Mohammed.
 
"It will enhance the connection with the global economy and enable our country to invest its geographical position, in the middle of three continents, in diversifying our economy by establishing an advanced logistics-services industry, building high-quality systems of services, and applying competitive business models to enhance productivity and sustainability in the logistics sector," he added.
 
The new strategy will increase the total length of the rail network to an estimated 8,080km. It includes a land bridge project spanning over 1,300 km long and connecting the kingdom’s ports on the coast of the Arabian Gulf with those on the Red Sea coast.
 
It will also have the capacity to transport more than 3 million passengers and 50 million tonnes of freight annually, thus opening up new opportunities in the areas it passes through.
 
The comprehensive programme also reflects the renaming of the Ministry of Transport as the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services.
 
Crown Prince Mohammed pointed out that transport and logistics were a major focus of the programme of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and a vital enabling factor for economic sectors toward sustainable development.
 
"Areas covered by the strategy include the development of infrastructure, the launch of a number of platforms and logistics zones in the Kingdom, the implementation of advanced operating models and systems, and the building and enhancement of effective partnerships between the government and the private sector," he added.
 
Crown Prince Mohammed said that the strategy also aims to move Saudi Arabia into fifth place globally in terms of number of transit passengers, increase the number of international destinations served by the country to more than 250, and launch a new national air carrier. The successful implementation of these projects will help other sectors, such as Hajj, Umrah and tourism, to achieve their own goals for improvement and growth.
 
The new strategy also seeks to improve the capabilities of the air cargo sector by doubling its capacity to more than 4.5 million tonnes.
 
On the maritime transport plans, Crown Prince Mohammed said: "The strategy enables us to reach a capacity of more than 40 million containers annually."
 
"It includes associated investments in developing port infrastructure and enhancing integration with the logistics sector, as well as expanding connectivity with international shipping lines and improving integration with rail and road networks, which will contribute to improving the efficiency of the transport ecosystem and its economics," he added.

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