LONDON – Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides in the maritime sector, said Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, during a high-profile reception organized by the Saudi Transport General Authority in London.
The noteworthy achievements include substantial developments in logistics services, fostering a closer relationship with the International Maritime Organization, and supporting marine environmental conservation, marking a significant phase in Saudi Arabia’s journey towards its ambitious goals, said Prince Khalid and credited the progress to the Kingdom’s commitment towards achieving its Vision 2030.
Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, Saudi Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Acting Chairman of the Transport General Authority, several ambassadors and delegates, members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and various stakeholders of the maritime sector were present at the event.
Dr Al-Rumaih, on his part, underscored the national strategy for transport and logistics that has outlined clear objectives in all maritime development areas.
“By 2030, the Kingdom aims to rank among the top ten countries on the Logistics Performance (LPI) index, which includes establishing 59 logistics zones and boosting port capacities to over 40 million containers,” he said while appreciating the Kingdom’s efforts in supporting the marine environment as a significant leap forward.
“We are pleased to actively pursue tracks of cooperation with IMO and its member states regarding initiatives that promote climate, cooperation, and seafarers.” He took the opportunity to announce the upcoming Maritime Industry Sustainability Conference, set to take place from 4 to 6 September 2023, under the theme “Innovation for a Greener Future,” Dr. Al-Rumaih added.
The reception also featured an exhibition organized by the Transport General Authority, with contributions from various government and private agencies.
Participants included the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Saudi Border Guard, ZATCA, the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), and the Saudi Red Sea Authority. NEOM, Bahri companies, and the National Maritime Academy also attended the event.
The exhibition highlighted qualitative initiatives in the maritime sector, such as comprehensive electronic platforms offering a wide array of services to beneficiaries in the maritime transport sector.
Additionally, the establishment and approval of specialized maritime institutions were demonstrated, aimed at contributing specialized marine cadres in line with the highest international standards.
