Kabul taps DP World for port upgrades: Afghanistan’s Finance Ministry inked an MoU with port operator DP World to modernize key dry and river ports in the landlocked country, according to a statement on X by state news outlet Bakhtar News Agency. The project’s first phase would cover upgrades to port infrastructure in the river port city of Hairatan and the border city of Torkham, while later phases would cover enhancements to other logistics corridors as well as economic zones across Afghanistan, independent outlet Pajhowk Afghan News quotes Afghani Deputy Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Mufti Abdullah Azam as saying.

What we know: The agreement is structured as a public–private partnership (PPP), the and will see DP World undertake a technical and financial feasibility study before they finalize the concession, state news agency Wam reports.

The project is also expected to include the introduction of advanced cargo-handling systems and the digitization of border processes.

Afghanistan and the UAE have been mulling cooperation for almost a year. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani in Abu Dhabi in January, where both sides discussed Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts and explored ways to enhance stability and cooperation.

OVER IN PAKISTAN-

AD Ports JV to develop clean bulk handling + storage facility in Karachi: Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose (KGTML) — a JV formed by majority shareholder AD Ports and UAE-based Kaheel Terminals — inked an agreement with major agricultural commodity house Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) to develop and operate a clean bulk handling and storage facility at Pakistan’s Karachi Port, according to a statement. The project adds to a previous USD 75 mn investment committed by KGTML during the first phase of the project.

Who’s doing what? KGTML will develop the facility, while ADQ-backed LDC is set to provide the required inbound volumes of agricultural goods.

BACKGROUND- KGTML was formed after AD Ports Group and Pakistan’s Karachi Port Trust inked a 25-year concession agreement in February 2024 to develop a bulk and general cargo terminal along berths 11 to 17 at Karachi Port’s East Wharf, with a total of USD 175 mn investments earmarked over five years.

A lot of eyes on Karachi: KGTML inked an agreement back in September with Van Oord to expand berth capacity at the JV’s terminals in Karachi Port. DP World is also set to funnel USD 400 mn into a freight corridor connecting Pakistan’s largest two ports, Karachi Port and Port Qasim, which together handle about 90% of the country’s trade.

Tags: