Logistics (MENA) 
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DATA-
Qatar Airways getting advanced cloud services from Ooredoo: Qatari telecommunications company Ooredoo is joining forces with Microsoft to enhance Qatar Airways ’ operational agility, security, and competitiveness through advanced cloud solutions, QNA reports. The airline will boost centralized data management and operational efficiency by coupling the scalability of Microsoft Azure with Ooredoo's custom private cloud setup.
Riyadh Air partners with Artefact: Riyadh Air will partner with AI consultancy Artefact to build “Riyadh Air’s data analytics platform and develop AI solutions across its [the airline] main business and corporate functions,” according to a joint statement. These AI solutions include guest experience personalization, real time data on flight and ground operations, and selling air and non-air product offerings. The kingdom’s flagship carrier’s first flight is slated for 2025. No further information was provided.
RAIL-
DP World launches new India rail service: DP World has launched a new rail freight service in India linking Sachana-Ahmedabad Inland Container Depot (ICD) to Mundra in Gujarat, the Hindu Business Line reports, citing a DP World statement. The service will operate twice a week on Tuesday and Friday, ensuring 24-hour transit and cost efficient and sustainable cargo movement for its users. The project is set to slash some 65% in CO2 emissions, the newswire reports. The service also expands connectivity to Mundra port, provides a more predictable supply chain, and supports business communities exploring new export markets, the newswire quotes DP World Vice President of Rail and Inland Terminals Adhendru Jain as saying.
CUSTOMS-
Iraq’s Customs Authority is on an automation kick: Iraq’s Customs Authority is implementing the ASYCUDA system workshop at four key ports to streamline customs procedures and provide accurate data for economic planning, INA reports, citing head of the authority Hassan Al-Ugaili. Iraq plans to implement the system at 50% of its ports by the end of the year and to achieve full automation by mid-2025.
What’s ASYCUDA?ASYCUDA is an international computerized customs management system that covers foreign trade procedures and handles customs declarations, accounting, transit and suspense procedures, and generates trade data, according to its website. The system can be adapted to be compatible with the national characteristics of customs regimes, national legislation, and tariffs, according to the website. It also uses international codes and standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization, World Customs Organization, and the UN, the website states.
TRADE-
Egypt-EU investment conference set to boost trade: Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with the Executive President of the General Authority for Investment and Freezones (GAFI) to discuss plans for the upcoming Egypt-EU investment conference to be held in Brussels in cooperation with the European Union, according to a statement. The conference, scheduled for 29 June, will shed light on priority sectors including energy, green technology, agriculture, and food security. The event aims to streamline trade and boost confidence for countries eyeing investments in Egypt, the statement said.
Saudi eyes truck exports: South Korean automaker Tata Daewoo plans to build a truck assembly plant in Saudi under a freshly-inked MoU with its local distributor Saudi Diesel Equipment (SDEC) and homegrown producer Perfect Arabia Factory (PAF), Korea Economic Daily reported earlier this week. The truckmaker will provide local technology support, while the SDEC and PAF will work together to co-assemble the new trucks. It aims to export 1k trucks per year as well as serve domestic demand from “ major construction projects such as Neom City and Amiral Petrochemical Complex.”
ZONES-
Consultancy tender awarded for infrastructure development in EZAD: Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones has awarded an Omani-Saudi consortium a consultancy tender to design and supervise infrastructural facilities for the first phase of the integrated economic zone at Al Dhahirah governorate (EZAD), according to a statement. The first phase of the zone will cover 20k kilometers and is expected to boost regional trade with Saudi Arabia. Omani logistics player Asyad Group is set to oversee the land port plan covering 6.5 square kilometers.
OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING THIS MORNING-
- Japan Airlines flies to Doha: Japan Airlines has launched a direct, non-stop flight service to Qatar’s Hamad International Airport from Japan’s Tokyo Haneda International Airport. (Statement)
- Jordan Aviation flies to Russia: Jordan Aviation has resumed flights from Amman to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport. (Al Arabiya)
- Kuwait Municipality + Commercial Bank sign deal to develop tunnel: KuwaitMunicipality has signed an agreement with the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to develop and restore the Derwaza of Al-Abd-Al-Razzaq tunnel in Kuwait city. (KUNA)
- Kenya Airways to operate new freighter plane to Middle East: Kenya Airways has received a Boeing 737-800 Freighter — bringing its total cargo fleet to four planes — that will be used to fly cargo to and from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The plane — which provides 20 tons of cargo capacity with a range of up to seven hours — will fly on the UAE’s Sharjah and Dubai World Central, and KSA’s Riyadh and Jeddah routes. (Statement)
