STORAGE + WAREHOUSES-

USD 29 mn cold storage hub coming to 6th of October: DP World and Elsewedy Industrial Development will set up a USD 29 mn cold storage facility in Egypt’s 6th of October city, according to a statement seen by EnterpriseAM. The 16.2k sqm site will house eight temperature-controlled chambers with 25k pallet positions for chilled and frozen goods, designed to meet international standards with an ammonia refrigeration system to cut energy use.

Tying Egypt’s exporters to an integrated cold chain: DP World said the facility will plug into its Sokhna Port and freight-forwarding network, giving food exporters and manufacturers lower supply chain costs and direct access to Greater Cairo and export corridors. Elsewedy Industrial Development added the project is part of its plan to transform its industrial parks into fully integrated production-and-logistics hubs, boosting Egyptian exports’ competitiveness.

REFRESHER- Cold storage is a smart investment in Egypt: Rising demand for coldstorage and the sector’s fewer competitors allow developers to charge suitable rent premiums, sufficiently offsetting the prodigious costs involved as well as yielding attractive bottom lines. The country’s tenant pool is more than sufficient to reward investment in cold storage, engineer Ibrahim Bakir told EnterpriseAM.

AVIATION-

#1- SolitAir to add two Boeing 737-800s to fleet: Dubai-based cargo carrier SolitAir has acquired a Boeing 737-800 earlier this month from aircraft leasing outfit World Star Aviation, according to a press release. A second freighter aircraft is expected to join SolitAir’s fleet in October. SolitAir agreed to lease both jets as part of an agreement signed in June, according to World Star Aviation’s website.

On SolitAir’s fleet: By late October, SolitAir’s fleet is expected to comprise seven Boeing 737-800 freighters, all operating from the carrier’s 220k sqm hub at Al Maktoum International Airport. The airline is targeting a 20-jet fleet by 2027, the press release said.

#2- Onyxes to revamp Iraq’s aviation infrastructure: IT solutions provider Onyxes Technologies has signed a contract with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority to revamp the country’s aviation infrastructure and streamline its operations, in line with the standards of the International Air Transport Association, according to a statement. Onyxes is expected to help Iraq comply with international standards in a bid to restore direct flights to the European Union, which was suspended over ten years ago over regulatory and safety issues, Iraq News reports.

On Onyxes: Founded in 2011, Onyxes Technologies is a Baghdad-based IT solutions outfit active in several industries in the private and public sectors, namely oil and gas, telecommunications, banking, healthcare, and retail, according to its website.

ZONES-

Opaz, GOIC partner to improve freezones: Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and FreeZones (Opaz) has inked an MoU with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) to provide consultations for new specialized industrial areas within Opaz, according to a statement. The MoU also aims to help SMEs adopt new production tech and services, while streamlining the exchange of information on existing businesses in freezones and industrial cities.

E-COMMERCE-

Keeta lands in Kuwait: International food delivery platform Keeta — a subsidiary of Chinese tech firm Meituan — has launched its services in Kuwait, according to a statement. The firm will be providing no-charge delivery through its app and a 50% markdown on first orders for new local users.

ICYMI- Keeta launched in Saudi Arabia in October 2024, with plans for a SAR 1 bn investment in the Saudi market. The company is also operational in Qatar.

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