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RAIL-
Etihad Rail signs seven agreements at Middle East Rail 2023:Etihad Rail inked seven agreements with local and global partners at the closing of Middle East Rail 2023,according to company statements. The most important of these wasa 20-year partnership with DHL Global Forwarding that will see the establishment of a JV enabling DHL to employ the UAE’s national railway for its main freight operations in the country. The company also signed MoUs with:
- Italy-based Arsenale Group to establish a luxury train route;
- Morocco’s National Railway Office (ONCF) to exchange knowledge and best practices;
- Uber to broaden the reach and accessibility of transport solutions across the UAE;
- AD Ports Group logistics subsidiary MICCO to establish intermodal freight solutions;
- SkyGo to use drones to inspect and monitor railway freight operations;
- Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, a government watchdog that oversees mining operations in the Emirate of Fujairah, according to the International Railway Journal, though it’s not clear what the MoU involves.
PORTS-
AD Ports and Pakistan’s Karachi Port Trust are looking into developing advanced port and terminal infrastructure in Pakistan,according to a press release. The two sides inked an MoU to enhance bilateral cooperation and conduct feasibility studies to develop, expand, and digitize ports in Pakistan.
AVIATION-
Royal Jordanian’s fleet is expanding: Brazilian plane makerEmbraer and commercial aviation lessorAzorra will supply eight aircraft to Royal Jordanian for USD 635 mn, according to a statement by Embraer. The Jordanian airline will acquire four E190-E2 — which can seat 92 passengers — and four E195-E2 jets, which can seat 120. The E2 models were chosen for their “superior performance and operational efficiency,” the statement said. The E2 “reduces the investment cost of pilot training and spare parts provisioning significantly, whilst also lowering crew scheduling and maintenance costs,” the airline’s Vice Chairman Samer Majali said. The aircraft also provide 25% fuel savings compared to the airline's current aircraft, which will save in operating costs and reduce carbon emissions, Majali added.
IndiGoexpands its reach to the Middle East: Indian airline IndiGo is launching direct flights between Indian and Middle Eastern cities, according to a statement. Flights between Bengaluru and Dubai, Kochi, and Bahrain, and Lucknow and Dammam will operate starting 1 June, while flights between Ahmedabad and Jeddah will start on 11 August. IndiGo will be the first Indian airline to provide direct Bengaluru-Dubai and Kochi-Bahrain flights. It will also be the only airline to provide daily flights connecting Dammam to Khochi, Lucknow, and Chennai.
E-COMMERCE-
Dubai-based e-commerce startup WEEMarketplace has launched its last-mile logistics platform in the UAE, according to a press release. The company aims to have over 500 retailers and sellers on its platform by the end of the year, with plans to increase its fulfillment services to stock over 500k products by the end of the year. The startup currently has a network of 50k riders and local partners.
TAXATION-
Egypt enacts tax breaks on importing industrial equipment: Companies in Egypt will be given a temporary VAT exemption on the import of equipment used in the production of goods, the country’s Finance Ministry said. The move aims to encourage local industry and attract investment, the ministry said.
ALSO WORTH KNOWING-
- TheDubai Maritime Authority has reported a 12% y-o-y growth rate in the number of maritime companies in 1Q 2023. (Zawya)
- Egyptair Cargo resumed flights to Libya’s Mitiga International Airport last week after an eight year absence. The flights will operate once a week. (Ahram Online)
