MENA-wide rail link coming?

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What we're tracking today

TODAY: GCC is planning a unified Schengen-like visa + Maersk sees top, bottom line fall in “best quarter” of the year

Good morning, lovely people. We have some major updates from across the region on everything from railways to maritime shipping and investment for you this morning. But first, we have some news of our own…

We’re only one week away from meeting with some of you at the Enterprise Exports and FDI Forum, taking place at the Four Seasons at the Nile Plaza on Monday, 15 May.

We’re proud to announce that our friend Khaled Morsy, CEO of DB Schenker Egypt is joining us for the forum. Are you? Khaled Morsy is going to be speaking on his experience in bringing together multinationals and local suppliers. He will be joined on stage by Tarek Kamel, CEO of Nestle Egypt and Omar Elsahy, CEO of Amazon Egypt who will explain what multinationals look for in local providers and what it takes to become part of their supply chains.

They’re not the only ones: Among the CEOs, top execs, bankers, and development finance folks speaking at the conference are: Mark Wylie, CEO of Beyti; Shady William, managing director of IDG; Mohamed Talaat Khalifa, CEO of Concrete; Hossam Sallab, CEO and vice-chairman, Sallab Group and Royal Ceramica; Abdallah Sallam, CEO of Madinet Masr; Kareem Abou Ghaly, chairman and CEO of Pasta Regina; Tarek Hosny, head of investments and projects at Fertiglobe; Helmi Ghazi, deputy CEO of HSBC Egypt; Nadia El-Tawil, investment officer at AfricInvest; Mostafa Bedeir, CEO, Giza Seeds and Herbs; Nada El Ahwal, CSO, Transmar; Hassan Massoud, associate director and head of private equity (Southern Mediterranean), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Hossam Abou Moussa, partner at APIS; Yassir Zouaoui, partner at McKinsey; and Mohamed El Gebely, Team Leader at USAID Trade.

Topics and live interviews will include:

Why exports and FDI are the way forward and what lessons have worked from around the world;
How to attract foreign partners and figure out what they are looking for;
What lessons can we draw from white goods, fertilizers, and garments exporters who have increased our exports;
What are the fundamentals to creating an export and / or FDI strategy;
How industrial clusters could expedite exports and FDI and is a possibly avenue for SME development;
What are the industries of tomorrow around which we can export and bring in FDI.

For the full agenda please click here.

** Have you confirmed your attendance? Invitations have been sent out over the past few weeks. If you have yet to confirm your attendance and would still like to join us, please reply to the invitation with an RSVP.

WANT TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL PARTNER? Ping a note to Moustafa, our head of commercial, here.

THE BIG LOGISTICS STORY- The US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and India are reportedly in talks over a major infrastructure project that would see Arab countries linked by rail and the region connected to India via ports. Officials from the four countries were reportedly set to meet yesterday to discuss plans for the project.

HAPPENING TODAY-

PSA- Motorists on the King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain and KSA can now pay for their transit electronically via new “Jisr” app: The King Fahd Causeway Authority’s (KFCA) new app means that travelers will no longer need to stop to settle their bill and can instead settle electronically, according to a KFCA tweet.

Egypt hikes diesel prices by 14%: The Egyptian government has raised the price of diesel — the main fuel used by vehicles that transport goods across the country — by EGP 1.00 to EGP 8.25 per liter as of Thursday night, the country’s Oil Ministry said on Wednesday. The price of diesel has now risen 22% since last July, when the government increased the price for the first time in years following the commodities shock triggered by the war in Ukraine.

Egypt generated a current account surplus for the first time since 2014 in 2Q FY 2022-2023 due primarily to falling imports, according to Enterprise calculations based on central bank figures (pdf) released Wednesday. The current account turned to a USD 1.41 bn surplus during the October-December period, compared to deficits of USD 3.8 bn in the same period a year earlier and USD 3.19 bn the previous quarter.

Key drivers for the improvement were a 20% decline in imports, which fell to USD 17.99 bn from USD 22.48 bn a year earlier, primarily due to the import restrictions imposed last year in response to the FX shortage. Meanwhile, the country exported USD 11.54 bn worth of goods during the quarter, down 3% y-o-y but up from almost USD 10 bn in the previous quarter. Suez Canal receipts also rose 17% to USD 1.97 bn, up from USD USD 1.7 bn a year earlier. Revenues were down slightly from USD 2 bn from 1Q.

AP MollerMaersk top + bottom line fall in 1Q 2023: AP Moller Maersk reported USD 2.3 bn in consolidated net income in 1Q 2023, falling 66% y-o-y, while revenues fell 26% y-o-y to USD 14.2 bn, according to the company’s earnings release. The company attributed the decline in its bottom line to the normalization of supply and demand in global trade during the last two quarters, especially affecting their Ocean division, which witnessed lower freight rates and volumes. Although revenues in their logistics division fared well, its bottom line was impacted by cost increases. Despite the falling top and bottom lines, the company paid out USD 10.9 bn in dividends to its shareholders.

2023 outlook: The company expects volume declines to stabilize by the end of 2023, though it noted that it expects 1Q to be the best quarter of the financial year.

AfCFTA could boost African trade by more than 50%, IMF says: The implementation of the African Continental FreeTrade Agreement (AfCFTA), along with some comprehensive trade reforms, including tariff reductions, could boost the flow of goods between African countries by 53%, according to a recent IMF report (pdf). Trade between the continent and other regions could also rise 15%, while Africa’s median GDP could rise by 1.25%, the report added. The reforms that could help unlock AfCTFTA’s full potential once it comes into effect at the end of the decade include a unification of Africa’s trade policy, the development of regional value chains and a diversified trading portfolio.

DATA POINT- Global food prices rose 0.6% m-o-m to 127.2 points in April, while falling 19.7% y-o-y as prices continue to fall from last year’s record highs, according to the UN food price index. The slight upward trend in April was due to increases in the prices of sugar and meat. However, cereals, dairy, and vegetable oil prices dropped, continuing a downward trend.

WATCH THIS SPACE #1- GCC plans to introduce Schengen-style visa: GCC member countries are discussing the possibility of introducing a tourist visa emulating the Schengen to attract tourists from the US, Europe, and Asia and to have them stay for longer periods, the Khaleej Times reports. Discussions about a unified visa have been taking place at the ministerial level, Bahrain’s Tourism Minister Fatima Al Saraifi reportedly said at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai last week, according to the news outlet.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2- Iraq and Turkey could resume oil exports in two weeks: An agreement for the resumption of crude oil exports from Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkey’s Port of Ceyhan is expected to be reached within two weeks, following an arbitration case that halted the delivery of some 450k barrels per day (bbl / d), Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani reportedly said at a conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The Iraqi government has yet to reach an agreement with the Kurdish side over the logistics of the bank account where the oil revenues are to be deposited, Abdel Ghani reportedly said, though another source told Reuters that the delay in the progress of resuming exports is political, not technical.

The delays are not just on the Iraqi side, however, as Turkish officials must check a pipeline that was damaged by the recent earthquakes, Abdel Ghani said, according to Bloomberg.

DMCC holds roadshow in UK:Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC), the UAE’s largest freetrade zone, hosted its Made For Trade Live global roadshow in London to boost bilateral trade between the UAE and the UK, Zawya reports. The event highlighted the perks of Dubai’s business environment for companies seeking to expand. DMCC executives briefed 150 business leaders from several industries on the ease of conducting business in Dubai, highlighting its “resilience to global economic headwinds, its low inflationary environment and business-friendly policies, which have cemented its reputation as an international business and trade hub.”

QFZ discusses investment with US firms: CEO of Qatar Free Zones Authority Sheikh Mohammed Al-Thanidiscussed policy and trade, as well as potential investments available to US companies in Qatar’s freezones during a roundtable organized by the US Chamber of Commerce on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Forum, according to a statement.

MARKET WATCH- The Baltic Dry Index, the Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, fell to a three-week low last week, despite inching up on Friday on stronger demand in the capesize segment, Reuters reports. The overall index — which takes into account the rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels — was down 1.1% last week. The capesize index rose 3.6% during the week, its third consecutive weekly rise, while the supramax index fell nine points as well. Baltic Dry tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk goods.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Airport Show is taking place between 9-11 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event will see hundreds of experts in the aviation industry gather to discuss topics crucial to the sector.

The Jordanian-Iraqi Business and Finance Forum kicks off in Amman, Jordan on 20 June, Jordanian news agency Petra reports. The event aims to promote bilateral trade and investments and will see participation from Jordanian and Iraqi investors, businesses and government officials, in addition to international participants. The IT, tech, real estate, contracting, construction, industrial, energy, and mining sectors will be the focus of the forum.

The Leaders in Logistics KSA Summit will be held in Riyadh on 5 September. The summit will dive into the kingdom’s logistics-focused national initiatives, as well as how the supply chain and logistics industries can help the kingdom achieve its sustainability targets. Head of Commercial and Growth at AHOYAdel Mazi and Aramex Regional Director Ibrahim Ezmigna, are among those scheduled to speak at the summit.

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

US, KSA, UAE + India consider Middle East railway project to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative

The US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and India are mulling plans for a major infrastructure project that would see Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf linked by rail and the region connected to India via ports, Axios quotes sources with knowledge of the plan as saying. The US-led initiative reportedly seeks to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) logistical mega project and to counteract growing Chinese influence in the region. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was scheduled to meet with Saudi, Emirati, and Indian counterparts yesterday to discuss the plan, sources told Axios.

A big driver is a push to rival China’s involvement in MENA: “Nobody said it out loud but it was about China from day one,” a former senior Israeli official involved in the discussions told Axios. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has lent bns of USD to infrastructure projects in the MENA region and other low-income countries, including in Africa.

Background: The proposed logistical corridor’s roots go back to multilateral talks between the USA, UAE, Israel, and India. Israel’s suggestion that the region work with the US towards establishing a logistical corridor during the I2U2 forum — which includes the US, Israel, the UAE, and India — was picked up by the Biden administration, which expanded its scope by getting Saudi Arabia onboard. Although there have yet to be any official statements on the subject, Sullivan has made references to the general strategy in recent statements, Axios notes, citing Sullivan’s reference to a more “interconnected Middle East.”

What does Israel have to do with it? While Israel is not part of this initiative at the moment, the country could be folded into the plans in the future as part of efforts to further normalize relations with the country in the region, Axios quotes the sources as saying.

Neom awards EUR 1.4 contract for railway linking Oxagon with The Line

Neom is one step closer to constructing railway link: Saudi Arabia’s USD 500 bn mega project Neom has awarded a EUR 1.4 bn contract for the construction of a railway line connecting its industrial hub Oxagon to its residential area, The Line, Arab News reports, citing a report from MEED. A joint venture by Italy-based Webuild and KSA’s Shibh Al-Jazira Contracting (SAJCO) will reportedly undertake construction of the new route, dubbed Connector South.

Details: The 75 km-long rail link will include 14 viaducts, road and railway underpasses, a freight line, as well as infrastructure maintenance depots and auxiliary facilities, the agency reported. The connection will cut south from The Line to Neom City station, transiting via Neom Bay Mansions and Neom Bay Airport before reaching the end of the line at Oxagon.

Also on board: Egis subsidiary AuditSafe and French railway certification agency Certifer were brought on board as independent safety auditors for the project late last year.

And still to come: Tenders for additional contracts that will see construction of tunnels linking the new railway with adjoining developments are still underway, the report added.

About Oxagon: The floating industrial complex project was launched in November 2021 and is centered around the Duba seaport on Neom’s southwest corner. It is composed of both onshore and floating offshore elements and is slated to be a tech and industry hub with an emphasis on sustainable energy, robotics, sustainable food production, and digital manufacturing. Residents will begin to inhabit the city by 2024, according to Neom’s website.

About The Line: Construction on the linear city that is slated to house 1 mn residents began in January 2021. The project is a world-first and will see mirror-faced high-rises linked along a 170 km-long infrastructure corridor. The linear city is centered around inter-linked neighborhoods that are free of automobiles with high levels of digital connectivity and automation. The first modules of The Line will be activated in 2026 and by 2030.

An older version of the story had put the value of the contract at USD 2 bn, based on a report by MEED. A press release published later by WeBuild noted that the value of the contract is EUR 1.4 bn. We’ve amended the story to reflect the correct figure.

AD Ports’ Khalifa Port to offer drydock services to ships

The UAE’s AD Ports to offer dry dock services at its flagship Khalifa Port: AD Ports is planning to expand its Khalifa Port to include a range of drydock services, including vessel repair and maintenance, “to meet the growing demand for these services from regional and international clients,” the company said in a press release last week. The timeline and cost of the expansion have not been disclosed.

The details: This is the latest move to expand Khalifa Port, which has already seen an AED 4 bn expansion to 8.63 sqkm from 2.43 sqkm, according to the press release. The expansion comes as part of plans to increase handling capacity at Khalifa Port by 2030 to 15 mn TEUs per year, and general cargo handling capacity to 25 mn tons, the press release said.

What they said: “The addition of the drydock services is a strategic move aimed at driving growth and enhancing the company’s competitive position in the market,” Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said in the press release. The expansion is part of the group’s “commitment to provide our clients with the best possible services and solutions,” and enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading hub for global trade, Shamisi added.

Background: The port serves more than 25 container shipping lines, linking more than 70 international destinations directly. Its shipping operator tenants include COSCO, MSC, and CMA CGM. The group has not only been expanding its flagship port, but also plans to expand its fleet with a AED 1 bn purchase of five bulk carriers.

Qatar Airways Cargo launches its first cargo hub outside of Qatar

Qatar Airways Cargo launches cargo hub in Rwanda: Qatar Airways’ subsidiary QatarAirways Cargo has launched a cargo hub at Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Rwanda in partnership with Rwandan airline RwandAir, according to a press release. The hub will have Boeing 777 aircraft go back and forth between Kigali and Doha twice a week.

What they said: “Customers will benefit from a reliable intra-African network through the hub, enhanced levels of services, and cost synergies,” Chief Officer Cargo Guillaume Halleux said, according to the release.

Background: Qatar Airways Cargo provided consultations to RwandAir Cargo to improve its cargo handling performance in the lead-up to the launch of the cargo hub, according to the press release. This included a detailed action plan for operational enhancements, and a roadmap to improve its warehouse infrastructure, the press release said.

Qatar’s Snoonu closes Series B round at USD 12 mn

Qatari superapp Snoonu has raised USD 12 mn in a series B round led by QatarDevelopment Bank and several other investors, according to a statement. This marks the first time a Qatari startup has raised a series B round, Gulf Times reports. The funds will be used to accelerate the company’s growth, develop its in-house tech and boost marketing efforts, Gulf Times quotes founder and CEO Hamad Al Hajri as saying.

About Snoonu:Founded in 2019 by Al Hajri (LinkedIn), Snoonu is a Qatari superapp that currently delivers food, groceries, cosmetics, gifts, and apparel, among other things. The startup also provides third party logistics services (3PL) and dark stores for startups and SMEs in Qatar. The company raised USD 5 mn in a series A round back in 2021.

Syria re-admitted to the Arab League after a 12-year hiatus + Syria, Iran to boost trade ties

Syria and Iran sign economic cooperation + trade agreements: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad inked several long-term agreements to boost economic ties between the two countries, according to a Syrian Foreign Affairs Ministry statement. The two presidents and high ranking officials signed the Comprehensive Programme of Strategic and Long-Term Cooperation, along with 14 other cooperation documents, according to a statementposted on Twitter by Iran’s foreign ministry. The agreements covered a wide range of sectors including agriculture, oil, transport, free zones, and communications, according to the Syrian ministry statement.

Iran is seeking a much-needed economic boost from its long-term ally: Iran has backed Assad’s government since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011, providing the country with fuel and credit lines worth bns of USDs, military advisors, and fighters, Reutersreports. Tehran now hopes to benefit from its long-standing support of Assad’s regime, with investments and economic opportunities to help boost its own struggling economy. Raisi’s visit marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Syria since 2010.

Arab foreign ministers agreed yesterday to re-admit Syria to the Arab League, following a minister-level meeting held at the league’s headquarters in Cairo, according to a communique (pdf). The decision ends a 12-year suspension of Syria’s membership in the league, which began when protests against President Bashar Al Assad turned violent in 2011.

A transport corridor connecting Turkmenistan with Iran, Iraq, and Turkey is in the pipeline for sometime “in the future,” Turkmenistan’s President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov announced at the International Transit and Transport Corridors: Interaction and Development 2023 conference, Mehr News Agencyreports.

A “reglobalization” trend emerges as geopolitical tensions rise

Signs of “reglobalization” emerge in world trade data: The global trading system is witnessing significant changes — dubbed by some as a “reglobalization” trend — as governments and businesses work to diversify their supply sources to secure access to essential goods in the face of rising geopolitical tensions, Bloombergreports. International supply chains are expected to drastically change in upcoming years as a result of this trend.

The main actors in the “reglobalization” trend are US + China: US tariffs, export restrictions, and subsidies have prompted US companies to diversify their imports away from China, with Mexico becoming a major US sourcing alternative to China, Bloomberg writes. Smartphone manufacturers like Apple, for example, are working to reduce dependence on China as a trade war between the US and China escalates. Meanwhile, China’s industrial policies have led it to become the largest exporter of EVs, while Vietnam has emerged as another hub for companies looking to diversify away from China.

Wizz Air + Transavia France introduce new MENA routes. PLUS: QFZ chairman holds bilateral talks

AVIATION-

Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has expanded its fleet and added more destinations, including to Agadir, Morocco, according to a statement. The budget airline has received a new Airbus A321neo aircraft which it has allocated to its hub in Warsaw, Poland.

Transavia France will inauguratea new once-a-week winter route to Aqaba, Jordan as of 3 November, according to Aviation Source News.

TRUCKING-

Qardy to provide EGP 100 mn to NOSCO under partnership agreement: Online lending marketplace Qardy will provide Egyptian trucking firm the National Company for Transportation and Overseas Service Company (NOSCO) with a diversified set of financial products intended to help boost its growth and expansion plans under a partnership agreement, according to a press release (pdf). The partnership will begin with an initial transaction valued at EGP 100 mn.

The partnership will enable NOSCO to offer its clients diversified facilities to “optimize their cashflow cycles,” the statement said. Details regarding NOSCO’s expansion plans and the specific financial products Qardy will offer NOSCO as part of this partnership were not disclosed.

ICYMI: EGX-listed Egytrans’ board of directors approved the acquisition of NOSCO via a share swap last month. The transaction, valued at around EGP 174.1 mn, according to our math, will see Egytrans acquire 99.9% of NOSCO’s shares. The acquisition is conditional on Egytrans’ shareholders’ approval on 14 May, and comes as part of Egytrans’ expansion strategy to target larger logistics projects by leveraging NOSCO’s fleet and technical expertise.

ZONES-

QFZ chairman holds bilateral talks with key stakeholders in zones, shipping + customs:Policy alignment, sector priorities and mutual cooperation were key topics of discussion during bilateral talks between Qatar FreeZones Authority Chairman Ahmad Al Sayed and representatives from DP World, the World Customs Organization, and the UAE’s International Free Zone Authority, on the sidelines of the World FreeZones Organization’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, according to a QFZ statement.

Shopify to sell delivery divisions

Canada’sShopify to sell off its logistics businesses as part of a restructuring: E-commerce platform Shopify will sell off its logistics and warehousing divisions to end-to-end shipping company Flexport, in what it is saying is a move to refocus its business, according to a press release. Flexport will acquire last-mile delivery company Deliverr — which Shopify had bought less than a year ago for USD 2.1 bn — for an undisclosed amount. The transaction will see Shopify acquire stock representing some 13% of equity in Flexport, bringing its stake in the company to the “high teens,” the Wall Street Journal reports. The transaction should close by the end of 1H 2023, the press release said.

Shopify will also be selling off its fulfillment solutions provider 6 River Systems to Ocado, an online grocery fulfillment specialist, for an undisclosed amount, according to a separate press release.

Expect layoffs: While some employees will move to Flexport or Ocado, an estimated 20% of employees are expected to be laid off as a result of the structural changes, according to a letter CEO Tobi Lutke wrote to employees last week.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative will extend to Afghanistan, after China and Pakistan came to an agreement with the Taliban on Saturday, Bloomberg reports. The Taliban’s top diplomat, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Islamabad, where they pledged to cooperate to reconstruct Afghanistan, including through the expansion of the USD 60 bn China-Pakistan economic belt to the nation, the news outlet reports. The agreement could draw in bns of USD to Afghanistan’s infrastructure, Bloomberg writes.

New drone surveillance network launched at Antwerp Port

The world’s first drone network launched at Antwerp Port:Drone Matrix,SkeyDrone, Proximus and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges have launched the ‘D-hive drone-in-a-box’ network in Belgium’s Antwerp Port, according to a press release, last week. The network consists of six autonomous drones which will perform 18 daily flights in the 120 squared km area of the Antwerp port. The drones will help facilitate “smooth, safe and sustainable operations in the complex,” by “enabling port authorities to manage, inspect and supervise the area” from an aerial perspective, according to the statement.

This will be the first ever implementation of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights on such a scale, according to the statement. The drones will be controlled remotely from a command and control center. The drones were built by Brussels-based drone software and hardware creator Skeydrone, and its framework was approved as appropriate and safe by the Belgian Civil Authority and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, who gave them the greenlight to begin operations, according to the release.

Calendar

MAY

May: The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) plans to hand over a new 1k-meter container berth to the East Port Said Port.

May: The ArabAcademy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AAST) will roll out its first locally-made electric cargo transport vehicle.

1-4 May (Monday-Thursday): Select USA Investment Summit, National Harbor, Maryland, USA.

1-4 May (Monday-Thursday): Arabian Travel Market, DWTC, Dubai.

4 May (Thursday): Deadline to submit proposals for the design, construction, finance, operation, and maintenance of the Salalah-Thamrait trucking road in Oman.

8-10 May (Monday-Wednesday) Global Green Future Fuel (G2F2) Meridien Hotel, Dubai.

9-11 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Airport Show, Sheikh Saeed Halls 1-2, DWTC, Dubai.

9-12 May (Tuesday-Friday): Transport Logistic, Trade Fair Center Messe München, Munich, Germany.

10-12 May (Wednesday-Friday): The African Aviation Summit: Air Finance Africa Conference & Exhibition, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

15 May (Monday): Exports + FDI Forum, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Cairo, Egypt.

15-16 May (Monday-Tuesday): Middle East Rail, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.

15-16 May (Monday-Tuesday): Mobility Live Middle East, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.

15-16 May (Monday-Tuesday): The Road and Traffic Expo, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.

15-17 May (Monday-Wednesday): Global Fleet Conference, Cascais, Portugal.

15-19 May (Monday-Tuesday):The UAE Maritime Week.

16-17 May (Tuesday-Wednesday): Africa Forum of Investment and Commerce, Sheraton Hotel, Algiers, Algeria.

16-18 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

16-18 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Baltic and Black Sea Ports & Shipping, Radisson Hotel & Suites, Gdansk, Poland.

16-18 May (Tuesday-Thursday): Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East, Dubai, UAE.

16-18 May (Tuesday-Thursday): IATA Ground Handling Conference, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, Abu Dhabi.

18 May (Thursday): UN-Turkey-Russia Black Sea grain agreement extension expires.

18-19 May (Thursday-Friday): XIV International Russia—Islamic Wold: KazanForum, Kazan Expo, Kazan, Russia

24 May (Wednesday): Fleet and Mobility Summit, Dubai.

29-31 May (Monday-Wednesday): Translogistica Libya 2023, Misurata, Libya.

JUNE

June: Suez Canal Economic Zone holds a roadshow in Delhi.

6-7 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Ports and Customs Week, Cape Town, South Africa.

12-15 June (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Plastics & Petrochem, Riyadh, KSA.

14-16 June (Wednesday-Friday): International Conference on Models and Technologies for Intelligent Transportation Systems, Nice, France.

20-23 June (Tuesday-Friday): Conference on the Marine Transportation System Innovative Science and Technologies Toward Greater Sustainability, Washington, DC, US.

JULY

1 July (Saturday): A new greenfield liquid bulk terminal in Khalifa Port Abu Dhabi will kick off operations.

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.

SEPTEMBER

5 September (Tuesday): The Leaders in Logistics KSA Summit, Riyadh.

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

OCTOBER

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

NOVEMBER

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

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

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

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

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.

2024

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

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.

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.

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