Business
Mwani Qatar and Saudi Ports Authority enter into strategic partnership
Mwani Qatar and Saudi Ports Authority yesterday entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen the maritime and logistics cooperation, a move that will see umpteen benefits, including increased cooperation in cruise tourism and joint investments in the ports sector.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed, aimed at developing the ports sector, boosting operational efficiency and supporting regional and international trade flows.
The MoU was signed by Abdulla Mohamed al-Khanji, chief executive officer of Mwani Qatar, and Sulaiman bin Khalid al-Mazroua, president of the Saudi Ports Authority, in the presence of Bandar bin Mohammed al-Attiyah, ambassador of Qatar to Saudi Arabia and several officials from both sides.
This step comes within the framework of both parties’ keenness to build effective partnerships, exchange expertise, and create a structured framework for managing cooperation, exchanging experiences, and developing joint investment opportunities, in a way that achieves the strategic interests of both parties in light of Qatar National Vision 2030 and Saudi Vision 2030.
The MoU encompasses eight main areas of cooperation, most notably the exchange of best practices in port management and operation, as well as exploring opportunities for direct maritime and land connectivity between the ports of the two countries to enhance the smoothness of trade movement.
The MoU also includes cooperation in logistical services and cross-border transit movements, exploring opportunities to establish joint maritime corridors serving intra-regional trade, and studying the possibility of establishing joint regional distribution centers.
In the aspect of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the two parties agreed to enhance cooperation in developing smart systems, data governance, and the unified maritime single window, to raise the level of operational efficiency and keep pace with technical developments in the maritime sector.
The memorandum pays great attention to maritime safety and environmental protection, as it includes the exchange of expertise in combating marine pollution and emergency response, developing joint maritime emergency plans, and establishing an emergency communication line between the two countries, in addition to cooperation in areas of compliance with international agreements, implementing joint exercises, and developing risk monitoring systems.
The cooperation between the two ports also covers the development of human resources through joint training programmes and the exchange of field competencies, in addition to academic and research cooperation in the fields of maritime transport and logistics.
In the field of joint investment, the two parties will work on studying local and global investment opportunities in ports and supporting services and coordinating with the private sector to support these opportunities.
The memorandum also includes cooperation in cruise tourism by enhancing maritime tourism connectivity and joint promotion of cruises in the Gulf, in addition to international and regional representation through
coordinating positions in international maritime organisations and supporting joint initiatives, most notably "Green Ports” and "Safe Maritime Corridors.”
This memorandum reflects the commitment of Mwani Qatar and the Saudi Ports Authority to developing the ports sector and enhancing its role as a key driver of trade and economy.