Egypt + the GCC’s non-oil private sector and supply chain performance show promising signs in June

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: Stalled negotiations are keeping USD 19 bn worth of trade stuck in Canadian ports + Iraq could transport gas to Europe via Grand Faw Port

Good morning, friends — and welcome to the busiest issue we’ve had in a while. We have everything from updates on private sector activity in the GCC and Egypt, to speculations that a Turkish port could be on the docket for sale to Gulf investors.

HAPPENING TODAY-

StalledCanada port labor negotiations halt USD 19 bn worth of trade: Strikes at Canada’s western ports have halted vessel servicing since 30 June, with some 29 ports on the country’s west coast coming to a standstill as negotiations stall, CNBC reports, citing sources from the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA).

What’s the beef? Members of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) are on strike over differences with employers about wage increases, concerns over automation, and contracting out, the Globe and Mail writes. After negotiating that took place over four days, talks have been put on hold pending further discussion with federal mediators, the BCMEA told CNBC.

The strike “could have a significant impact on transpacific cargo flows, with the ports typically accepting a combined average of 34 container vessels or 289.7k TEU capacity per month,” a senior trade analyst at VesselsValue told the outlet. The value of the 289.7k containers is USD 19 bn, according to Canadian customs data cited by the outlet. Some of the products held at a standstill include autoparts, manufacturing parts, and consumer goods.

DATA POINT- Customs declarations handled by Dubai Customs rose 10%y-o-y to 12.3 mn in 1H 2023, Emirati news agency Wamreports, citing Dubai Customs Director General Ahmed Mahboob Musabih. Dubai Customs saw an average of 48 declarations per minute, and users of its “smart services” have reported a satisfaction rate of 98%.

WATCH THIS SPACE- Iraq could use its under-construction Faw Port to transport gas to Turkey and Europe, head of the country’s House Transport and Communication Committee Zahra Al Bajari said, according to Zawya. Once the multi-bn-USD port is completed in 2025, Qatar and other regional gas producers can use it to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to Al Bajari. Iraq has reportedly tapped a consultancy firm to assess the feasibility of a gas transport project that involves Faw Port and the 1.2k km Development Road rail link connecting Iraq to Turkey.

ENTERPRISE IS LOOKING FOR SMART, TALENTED PEOPLE of all backgrounds to help us build some very cool new things. Enterprise — the essential morning read on all the important news shaping business and the economy in Egypt and the region — is looking for writers, reporters and editors to help us build out new publications. Today, we run four daily Egypt and MENA-focused publications, five weekly industry verticals, and a weekend lifestyle edition designed to make our readers feel just a bit smarter.

We have tons more in the pipeline — come help us build new publications. We offer the chance to work in a fast-paced newsroom on a broad range of topics and in a variety of formats. Our goal is simple: To create value for our growing community of >250k daily readers by telling stories that matter.

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Not an internship program — a career: The three-month program will see full-time, paid participants take part in workshops and lectures from veteran business journalists on subject matter knowledge, while also working on constructing and filing Enterprise stories that will run on any of our publications. Those who have successfully completed the program, will then be given long-term job offers.

Apply directly to jobs@enterprisemea.com and mention “writing development program” in your subject line.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- The Enterprise Finance Forum is taking place on 18-19 September at the St. Regis Hotel in Cairo. This flagship forum is the latest in our must-attend series of invitation-only, C-suite-level gatherings that allow senior members of our community to openly and frankly discuss critical issues in key sectors of the economy.

Day one is our Banking Forum, where we’ll dive deep into topics of interest to commercial and investment bankers, from an outlook on the 12 months to come in M&A, IPO, and debt capital markets to the national, regional, and global trends that are (re)shaping our industry.

Day two is all about Fintech and Non-Banking Financial Services. We’ll take a deep dive into everything from the magic of client acquisition to the prospects of consolidation and the coming of challenger banks.

** NEW: MORE NETWORKING TIME- Our agenda includes expanded networking time, including an expanded coffee break and a post-event networking room for you to interact with your peers and speak one-on-one with the team at Enterprise.

TAP OR CLICK HERE if you want to express interest in attending. We’ll be sending out the first batch of invitations just after the 30 June holiday.

Do you want to become a commercial partner? Ping a note to Moustafa Taalab, our head of commercial, or fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.

STAY TUNED for more detail about our agenda in the weeks to come.

MISSED THE ENTERPRISE EXPORTS AND FDI FORUM? Tune in to the Enterprise Podcast to hear what went down: The Enterprise Podcast is back with another installment of our forum series, where we bring you audio recordings of what was said on stage at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum,which took place last May.

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE- We looked at how Egyptian companies can identify and pitch foreign partners and how they can identify them. We asked how do companies figure out what they’re looking for — and whether that dovetails with what they want or need. We were joined on that panel by Hossam Abou Moussa, partner at PE firm Apis, Cheick-Oumar Sylla, director for North Africa and Horn of Africa at the International Finance Corporation, and Hassan Massoud, associate director and head of private equity (Southern Mediterranean) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Expect us to drop an episode every Sunday morning. You can listen to the Enterprise Podcast where ever you get your podcasts including: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast | Anghami.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment ProtectionCommittee session kicked off earlier this week and is running until tomorrow at the IMO HQ in London, with in person and hybrid participation. The session’s main agenda is to adopt an upgraded IMO greenhouse gas strategy and reduction targets for the marine sector. The session will also look at ballast water and biofouling management, marine litter, guidelines for underwater noise, a global shipping tax, and the environmental risks of ship-to-ship transfers.

Postal operator Emirates Post Group (EPG) is launching its annual robotics competition, Logistics Unleashed, which will be running from September to November in the UAE. The event, conducted as an educational program, comes as an effort to promote logistics and “bridge the gap between academia and industry,” according to the statement.

Details: The competition will select three teams of 2-4 students with at least one Emirati national, to build a robot as a solution to the competition’s case study. Each group will receive AED 5k to purchase the materials required, and upon completion will receive a monetary reward. Registration for the competition ends on 28 August.

Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.

Non-oil private sector activity in GCC + Egypt shows further positive signs

Output + new order hikes boosted non-oil private sectors in UAE + KSA + Qatar, while an uplift in Egypt brought the country closer to recovery: Purchasing Manager Indices (PMI) tracking non-energy sectors in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, and Egypt in June showed overall positive signs. The UAE, KSA, and Qatar saw continued gains to their performance on the back of robust demand despite lingering inflation. Improvements to the performance of Egypt’s non-oil sector meant that despite still being in contraction, the country was barely below recovery territory.

Non-oil private sector activity in the UAE in June continued to boom on the back of the fastest expansion to new orders in four years, according to S&P Global’s UAE PMI (pdf). The PMI readings came in at 56.9, slightly above May’s 55.5, and signaling the most pronounced improvement to business conditions since June 2019.

Remember: The all-important 50.0 mark is the threshold separating contraction from growth.

Robust consumer demand and an increase in orders from abroad buoyed the reading, while promotions and competitive pricing also helped secure further sales, the report said. Inflation remained strong, as purchase prices rose on the back of higher costs for raw materials and an increase in wages.

A strong orders pipeline and in-progress projects meant that business output accelerated to its fastest since August of last year, with some panelists also attributing the growth in output to advertising and promotions. Backlogs continued to rise despite higher workloads pushing employment to rise for a 14th consecutive month.

Strong demand and a solid sales pipeline meant that firms in the UAE bumped up purchasing activity in order to shore up inventories, the survey showed. Stocks in June continued to grow and at a quicker pace than that registered in May. Stronger supply chains also meant that firms could amass inventories at a quicker pace due to more timely deliveries from suppliers. Respondents were optimistic for the year-ahead and were confident that orders will continue to grow, though sentiment dipped slightly from May and was below the series’ trend.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector sang a similar tune as boosting domestic and export sales buoyed the country’s PMI in June. PMI figures for the month came in at 59.6, a notch above May’s 58.5, and above the series’ trend, according to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI (pdf).

Record figures all around: Output hit an eight year record, while sales hit a nine year all time high, as tourism and construction accelerated business growth. Purchasing activity also grew at its fastest rate in the survey’s history, while inventories were accumulated at the highest rate in ten months to keep up with explosive sales.

Supply chains were also stronger than ever as average lead times from suppliers came close to breaking survey records, improving at the sharpest rate in 13 years.

Rampant hiring and the need to bump salaries to retain existing workers meant that wage inflation in the Kingdom remained at a historically high rate, the survey showed, adding that the boost in employment helped backlogs decline for the thirteenth straight month. There was also an uptick in purchasing costs although inflation settled at its lowest level since January. Although firms tried to forward increasing costs to clients wherever possible, competitive pressure meant that output charges rose at their slowest rate in 16 months.

Much the same as the UAE and KSA, Qatar’s non-energy sector continued to boom in June on the back of rising output and new orders, with secondary contributions from employment and inventories, according to the survey. PMI readings for the month posted at 53.8, slightly below May’s 55.6, but still above the index’ long-run trend of 52.3, according to Qatar Financial Center’s (QFC) PMI (pdf) for June.

Behind business growth: Firms attributed the boost in orders to tourism, competitive pricing, marketing drives, and brand reputation. Employment continued to grow, helping firms put a dent in their backlogs. Despite growing demand for inputs, supplier’s delivery times improved at the fastest rate so far this year. Accordingly, stronger supply chains also helped firms reduce backlogs. Despite persistent inflation, prices charged to customers for goods and services fell at their fastest rate in more than a year.

Despite remaining in contractionary territory, Egypt saw its best performance in 22 months: Activity in Egypt’s non-oil private sector contracted at its slowest rate in nearly two years in June, in a sign that demand is beginning to recover, according to S&P Global’s Egypt PMI (pdf). The PMI reading for the month came in at 49.1, higher than May’s 47.8, and only fractionally below the all-important 50 mark cut off separating growth from recession.

Lingering inflation, liquidity problems, and sluggish demand continued to weigh on output and sales, according to the report. Nevertheless, output fell at its slowest rate in 21 months, while sales fell at their slowest rates in 30 months. The softer downturns are further signs that Egypt’s non-oil sector has finally rounded the bend and could be poised for growth in the coming months. Some firms have already registered an uplift in certain sectors. Improvements were thanks to domestic orders, as new export orders declined at their fastest rate in 9 months.

Employment remained low and dropped for its seventh consecutive month in June,according to survey results for June. Purchasing and inventories also fell, but at softer rates than May. The spare capacity meant that firms continued to clear backlogs for the fifth consecutive month.

Despite lingering inflation, price hikes were more moderate than previous periods, the survey showed. Input cost inflation fell to its lowest in 16 months, while output prices also rose at a slower pace than May, which respondents attributed to higher production and purchasing costs and measures to hedge against FX changes.

Could Turkey’s Alsancak Port operating rights be sold to Gulf States?

Turkey is looking to sell the operating rights for its Alsancak Port in Izmir, with talks currently ongoing with GCC countries, as part of Turkey’s renewed push for foreign investment, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu tells Bloomberg. Turkey has engaged in investment negotiations — including the sale of the port’s operating rights — with Gulf region countries at the deputy minister level, Uraloglu told the business information service, without disclosing the potential buyers or expected value of the transaction.

About the port: Alsancak port is owned by Turkish sovereign wealth TWF and is operated byTC State Railways General Directorate (TCDD). Located in the Aegean city of Izmir, the 635k sqm port can handle up to 1.2 mn TEU containers of cargo, and 1.4 mn tons of general and bulk dry cargo annually, according to TCDD. The port was slated for privatization in 2004 and a consortium of Hutchison Port Holdings, EIB Limas, and Global Yatirim Holding was awarded the tender in 2007 to operate the port, before Turkey’s top administrative court blocked the tender the following year. The consortium had submitted a USD 1.28 bn bid for the concession rights.

Gulf countries have recently been expanding their presence in operating ports: EmiratiAD Ports has been venturing into developing and operating ports, spanning from overseeing operations at the terminal at Pakistan’s Karachi Port for 50 years, to managing and operating a multipurpose New East Mole Terminal Congo’s Pointe-Noire for 30 years. DP World has also been active with their recent expansion in Indonesia’s Belawan New Container Terminal.

What's next? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will embark on a Gulf tour later this month to attract investments and other financial resources to Turkey, Bloomberg reported earlier. Erdogan will make visits to Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.

Maersk opens first cold store in UAE

Shipping and logistics giant AP Moller-Maersk has opened its third warehousing and distribution facility in Dubai Industry City, according to a press release. The 13k sqm facility is also Maersk's first cold store in the UAE, and is located near the Jebel Ali Port, Al Maktoum International Airport, and the Etihad Rail freight terminal, according to the press release. The statement did not disclose the value of investments Maersk is pouring into the cold storage facility.

Details: The cold store has 12.5k pallet position space, according to the release.The facility will offer an array of services including around the clock B2B and B2C fulfillment operations, e-commerce solutions to retailers, distributors, and FMCG businesses, and value-added services such as co-packing and repacking, labeling, and last-mile delivery to retail outlets, according to the statement. The facility will also be outfitted with an advanced warehouse management system that gives customers visibility of their orders and inventory, the release adds.

The rationale: The cold store comes as a means of meeting strong demand for frozen and refrigerated food products with an extended shelf life, as well as to help service the UAE’s growing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, the statement said.

About Dubai Industrial City: The industrial city is part of Dubai-based Tecom Group, which focuses on developing strategic, sector-focused business hubs across Dubai. The city — located on two major highways between Emirates Road and Mohammad Bin Zayed Road — aims to support manufacturing and logistics companies in domestic and global markets, according to their website.

CMA CGM launches shipping service connecting Turkey, Malta, and Algeria

Shipping giant CMA CGM is launching a new service connecting Turkey, Malta, and Algeria, according to a company announcement. The new line — dubbed Turaff Express — will run on a weekly basis starting 17 July and takes 21 days to complete its rotation.

The details: The service will be operated by three vessels in the 900 to 1.1k TEU range, and seeks to establish a “a sustainable maritime bridge” between Algeria and Northern Turkey, according to the statement.

The service also grants clients access to the shipping company’s intermodal network in Turkey, providing door to door shipping solutions, according to an accompanying flier (pdf). The new service will also establish a strong link between CMA CGM’s Malta hub and Algeria’s Port of Algiers, CMA CGM explained.

Iran + Russia sign contract with details on construction of Rasht-Astara railway

Iran and Russia signed a contract yesterday to kickstart work on the 162 km Rasht-Astara railway in Iran, under the framework of the 7.2k km International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), PressTV reports. The agreement, which was inked by the countries’ senior transportation ministry officials in Tehran, outlines specific details for the construction of the railway and allows construction teams to begin working on the project site, according to PressTV.

Timeline: The contract sets a timeline for the project, with work scheduled to begin in early 2024, according to PressTV. Construction is expected to conclude within three to four years.

ICYMI: The EUR 1.6 bn railway, for which Iran and Russia inked an agreement in May, the EUR 1.6 bn, will connect Rasht, located near the Caspian Sea, and Astara, situated on the border with Azerbaijan. Upon its completion, this railway link will enable the transportation of freight by rail from the Persian Gulf to Helsinki in Finland, passing through Russia's Saint Petersburg, according to Iran’s official news agency IRNA. It is considered a vital part of the INSTC, which connects India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, and other countries through railways and sea routes.

The INTSC will boost cargo capacity…: The volume of cargo transportation through the INTSC could reach 30 mn metric tons annually, Russian presidential aide Igor Levitin is quoted as saying.

…and shipping: Moscow has followed Iran’s lead by expanding its shipping fleet in the Caspian Sea in a bid to enhance trade along this route, Levitin said. Iran also recently purchased ships from Russia to use for the corridor.

Chari secures USD 1.5 mn in funding for expansion

Moroccan B2B e-commerce startup Chari has secured USD 1.5 mn in a pre-series A funding round led by Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) to support its growth plans, CEO Ismail Belkhayat told Enterprise Logistics. Orange Ventures and Endeavor Catalyst also participated in the round, Ismael Belkhayat, CEO of Chari, told us. Chari will leverage VKAV’s extensive African network and its ties with Japanese businesses as it looks to expand its market share and add additional revenue streams, including embedded fintech, Belkhayat said in the press release.

Where the funds are going: Chari aims to start offering open loop digital wallets to shopkeepers so they can start paying with and accepting digital payments, Belkhayat told Enterprise Logistics. “We would like to turn the shopkeepers into value-added financial services point of sales,” he added. The additional funding will also be used to enhance Chari’s tech team, recruit fintech experts and to market Chari’s new fintech services, he told us.

It’s also getting a strategic advisor: VKAV Partner Ryosuke (Rio) Yamawaki will join Chari as a strategic advisor, according to the statement. Yamawaki will join the startup’s board, Disrupt Africa reports. “[Rio] has seen hundreds of successful use cases around the continent,” he said, adding that “whatever happens today in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa will end up coming to Morocco in the coming few years.”

About Chari: The e-commerce app was founded by Ismael and Sophia Belkhayat in 2020. It supports small retailers in French-speaking Africa by facilitating inventory procurement, offering a regular supply of products, delivery and financing services, according to its website. The company has already onboarded over 20k food businesses in Morocco, according to Disrupt Africa, and expanded into Tunisia and Ivory Coast, with its acquisition of Ivorian app Diago in 2022. “Senegal could be an option” for future expansion, Belkhayat told us.

Previous funding: Chari, a Y Combinator S21 participant, raised USD 5 mn in funding through a seed round in late 2021, followed by an additional investment of USD 1 mn from Orange Ventures in February and follow-on funding from Plug and Play.

About VKAV: The VC firm is a joint venture between Japanese VC Kepple Africa Ventures (KAV) and Verod Holdings (Verod), an African growth capital private equity firm. The firm, led by Satoshi Shinada, Ryosuke Yamawaki, and Ory Okolloh, disclosed in March that it secured USD 43 mn for its pan-African venture fund, which invests in scalable, tech-enabled, post-revenue startups addressing difficult challenges across Africa, according to Disrupt Africa.

Bahrain + UK ink digital economy trade partnership + Morocco, Oman boost transport cooperation. PLUS: Jordan, Hungary eye logistics zones

Morocco + Oman boost transport cooperation with four MoUs: Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and his Omani counterpart Badr Al Busaidi signed four bilateral agreements during a meeting of the joint commission between the two countries, according to a statement. The agreements consist of one partnership agreement and three MoUs focusing mainly on maritime and transport cooperation, including boosting joint investments and exchanging expertise, Moroccan news agency MAP News reports. Morocco's National Railways Office (ONCF) and Oman Rail also inked an MoU to boost cooperation, develop partnerships, and exchange expertise, MAP added.

Bahrain + UK ink digital economy partnership agreement: Bahraini Finance Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and British Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch signed a digital economy MoU to strengthen and streamline long-term trade between both countries, according to a statement. The move follows the signing of a GBP 1 bn strategic investment and collaboration partnership between the two countries in tech, business services, and manufacturing.

Jordan + Hungary agree to boost trade + logistic ties: Jordanian Industry and Trade Minister Yousef Shamali and Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Siarto agreed to boost trade and establish logistic zones in both countries during a meeting, according to astatement.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with Indian Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri to discuss using the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to boost economic cooperation and the North-South Corridorlinking South Asia to Europe. (Islamic Republic News Agency)

New containership capacity hits all-time record in June + Airbus dabbles with new wing technology

New containership capacity reached a record 285k TEU in June,according to Alphaliner data cited by Seatrade Maritime. The record delivery figures come on the back of the fulfillment of newbuildings ordered during the container shipping boom in 2021-2022. The 285k TEU does, however, fall short of the 400k TEU forecasted by analyst Alphaliner. This could be attributed to labor shortages in Asian shipyards and delayed deliveries as a result of a sluggish market, the news outlet writes. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) represented 111.5k TEU, accounting for almost a third of June’s newbuild deliveries. The record volume of deliveries is expected to continue in the coming months with some 7.6 mn TEU on the orderbook.

Airbus is doubling down on trials of new technology to develop more advanced and efficient wings for its future aircraft models that would succeed its A320 series, Reutersreports, citing company officials. The company inaugurated this week a wing technology plant in England to design longer, lighter, more slender, and more sustainable wings with folding wingtips as part of an investment program estimated to be in the “high hundreds” of USD mns, according to industry sources.

The main challenge lies in reducing the production costs of composite materials required for the new wing designs, with the company currently exploring partnerships with suppliers to lower costs and improve production efficiency. The new technology could also potentially be used to upgrade existing models. This comes as Boeing has begun researching a longer ultra-light concept dubbed Transonic Truss-Braced Wings.

UAE approves first license for self-driving vehicles + Qatar Airways boosts cargo operations to Saudi’s Dammam. PLUS: Flynas boosts fleet, and news from Iran Air, Emirates, and Etihad Airways

LAST MILE-

The UAE has approved the first national license for self-driving vehicles to operate on its roads, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said in a statement. The license grants China-based self-driving research outfit WeRide the green light to conduct tests for self-driving vehicles on the UAE’s roadways. Dubai is angling to have 25% of all road trips automated by 2030 through a government-backed strategy that will see widespread adoption of self-driving solutions for transport and logistics.

AVIATION-

Qatar Airways Cargo has added two new Boeing 777 freighters to its cargo routes with Saudi Arabia, according to a company statement. The freighters, which will go to the Saudi city of Dammam, have a weekly tonnage capacity of 350 tonnes each way. The company has also rolled out a new freighter frequency to Riyadh, increasing the overall frequencies to five Boeing 777 freighters weekly, providing 850 tonnes of cargo capacity each round trip to Riyadh.

Can AI push the UAE’s aviation industry forward?Etihad Airways and Mohamed binZayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) have inked an agreement to develop initiatives and conduct research to enhance the UAE’s aviation sector through the use of AI, according to a statement by Abu Dhabi Media Office. The two organizations will hold seminars and workshops on utilizing AI in aviation, while providing educational chances for MBZUAI students, with a specific emphasis on enhancing their comprehension of the aviation sector and investigating how AI can be utilized to tackle the challenges it’s facing.

Flynas expands its fleet with two new A320neo aircraft: Saudi Airlines Flynas has received two A320neo aircraft at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, increasing its fleet size to 51 planes, according to a press release. The delivery is part of an agreement with Airbus to buy 30 new A320neo aircraft during the Paris Air Show. The airline’s board of directors in March agreed to expand new aircraft orders to 250 aircraft, which makes Flynas the largest low-cost carrier in the MENA region, the company said.

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

Iran Airwill resume the services of seven planes that were grounded due to sanctions. (Press TV)
Emirates launched its first daily direct flight from Dubai to Montreal on Wednesday. (The National)

Nikola Corp to discontinue operations with battery supplier Romeo Power

Electric truck manufacturer Nikola Corp will liquidate the assets of its battery supplier Romeo Power, which it acquired less than a year ago for some USD 144 mn in stock to boost battery pack production, Reutersreports. Romeo Powerhas struggled to meet investor expectations due to rising commodity costs and limited access to capital. The manufacturer, along with LG Energy Solution and Proterra, supplies batteries for Nikola's prototype electric trucks. The liquidation comes as several other EV startups are facing challenges, such as UK-based Arrival — which also canceled its merger with a blank-check firm — and Lordstown Motors, which filed for bankruptcy last week.

Calendar

JULY

3-7 July (Monday-Friday): International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee Meeting, IMO Headquarters, London, UK.

11 July (Tuesday): Deadline for bidding for the consultancy tender for detailed design, study, and preparation of documents for Kuwait's Railway Project.

16-17 July (Thursday-Friday): The Levitate Conference and Exhibition, St. Regis Amman Hotel.

24-25 July (Monday-Tuesday): ICSG Istanbul, Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar Convention & Exhibition Centre, Istanbul.

AUGUST

Oman will award Ras Al Hadd Airport consultancy contract.

28 August (Monday): Registration for Emirates Postal Group’s Logistics Unleashed competitionconcludes.

SEPTEMBER

4-8 September (Monday-Friday): Logistics and Transport Management, Dubai.

5 September (Tuesday): The Leaders in Logistics KSA Summit, Crowne Plaza Al Waha, Riyadh.

6-7 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Sustainability LIVE London, Business Design Centre, London.

11-14 September (Monday-Thursday): The Libyan Moroccan Forum for Trade and Business, Tangiers, Morocco.

20-22 September (Wednesday-Friday): Transport Evolution Africa Forum and Expo, Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex (Durban ICC), South Africa.

20-23 September (Wednesday-Saturday): MTB Workboats, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Dubai.

25-27 September(Monday-Wednesday): Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Middle East & Africa, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, UAE.

26-28 September (Tuesday-Thursday): ProcureCon, Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower, Spain.

September-November: Emirates Postal Group’s “Logistics Unleashed” competition, UAE.

OCTOBER

3-4 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): IATA World Sustainability Symposium, Madrid, Spain.

3-5 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Smarter Mobility Africa Summit, South Africa.

10-12 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Autonomous E-mobility Forum, Doha, Qatar.

24-25 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Future Fuels Europe, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

26-29 October (Thursday-Sunday): International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine, Conrad, Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

30 Oct-2 Nov (Monday-Thursday): IAPH World Ports Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

30-31 October (Monday-Tuesday): Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit, London, UK.

September-November: Emirates Postal Group’s “Logistics Unleashed” competition, UAE.

NOVEMBER

1 November (Wednesday): Smart Maritime Network Dubai Conference, Conrad Dubai, UAE.

9-15 November (Thursday-Wednesday): Intra-AfricanTrade Fair, Cairo, Egypt.

14-15 November (Tuesday-Wednesday): Supply Chain & Logistics Arabia, Narcissus, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

14-17 November (Tuesday-Friday): IATA Slot Conference, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE.

15 November (Wednesday): Leaders in Logistics UAE Summit, Dubai.

21-23 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Intermobility Expo 2023, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE.

23 November (Thursday): Global Supply Chain and Logistics Summit, Grand Millennium Hotel Business Bay, Dubai, UAE.

30 November-3 December (Saturday-Tuesday): Handling Expo, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo, Egypt.

September-November: Emirates Postal Group’s “Logistics Unleashed” competition, UAE.

DECEMBER

10-11 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Invest in Logistics, St.Regis Almasa Hotel, New Administrative Capital, Egypt.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2H2023:Construction of Neom’s first hydrogen fueling station will kick off.

2H2023: Expansion of Baghdad International Airport to begin.

3Q 2023: Design and supervision contract for Oman’s proposed Musandam Airport to be awarded.

2024

1Q 2024: Construction of phase 3 of Agility’s logistic park in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire to be completed.

1H 2024: Work is scheduled to begin on the 162 km Rasht-Astara railway in Iran.

FEBRUARY 2024

12-13 February (Monday-Tuesday): Breakbulk Middle East conference, Dubai Trade Centre.

12-15 February (Monday-Thursday): African Air Expo, Cape Town.

28 February-1 March (Wednesday-Friday): MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition 2024, Dubai.

MARCH 2024

5-6 March (Tuesday-Wednesday): MRO Middle East, Dubai Trade Center, Dubai, UAE.

12-14 March (Tuesday- Thursday): IATA World Cargo Symposium, Hong Kong International Airport.

MAY 2024

2-3 May (Thursday-Friday): Geneva Dry, Geneva, Switzerland, Hotel President Wilson.

DECEMBER 2024

10-12 December (Tuesday-Thursday): Middle East Business Aviation, DWC, Dubai, UAE.

2024

The Bahrain International Airshow will kick off to mark a decade of success

2025

Mid-2025: Iraq will complete phase one of the construction of the Grand Faw Port.

DHL and Aramco’s logistics and procurement hub in Saudi Arabia will commence operations.

2027

4Q 2027: Oman’s Musandam Airport construction to be completed.

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