Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Transport Authority, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser inaugurated the Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC) in Jeddah. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the significant support and attention the maritime sector receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He also emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable development as outlined in Vision 2030 and its role in reducing land degradation through the Saudi Green Initiative.
The conference was attended by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), transport and infrastructure ministers, senior officials, and leaders from leading companies representing 170 countries.
During his speech, Al-Jasser highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in the maritime and logistics sectors, including its impressive 17-place jump in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and its current rank as the 16th largest port globally in terms of container handling. He also noted an 80% increase in the number of ships flying the Saudi flag, solidifying the Kingdom’s leadership in the region.
Al-Jasser shared that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious maritime sector strategy, aligned with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, aims to enhance the sector’s development and leverage the nation’s natural and environmental resources to create valuable opportunities. The ultimate goal is to increase the maritime sector’s contribution to the Saudi economy fourfold from its current level.
He also mentioned that by 2030, Saudi Arabia is set to become the eighth-largest country globally in terms of container handling, aligning with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services’ objectives.
During the conference, a significant tripartite agreement was signed between the Transport General Authority, ABS, and Zamil Marine Company. This agreement focuses on the development of comprehensive regulations, technical standards, and operational practices for autonomous vessels, aiming to enhance efficiency, innovation, and safety standards within the maritime sector.
Another agreement was signed between the Saudi Logistics Academy (SLA) and Escola Europea de Short Sea Shipping to strengthen cooperation in logistics training and education at a global level. This collaboration includes the establishment of a virtual port laboratory in Jeddah, offering training in various logistics-related fields and enhancing human resources in the Saudi logistics sector.
Additionally, the Transport General Authority partnered with Bahri Company and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to support the Next Wave Seafarers (NWS) project. This initiative aims to improve the efficiency of seafarers worldwide by providing practical training for maritime students from island nations and less developed countries on board Saudi fleet ships.
The event also saw the announcement of a partnership between TGA and IMO in three critical environmental projects known as GLoFouling, GLoLitter, and GLoNoise. These projects focus on safeguarding natural resources and marine life, reducing pollution, and mitigating the risk of extinction for maritime flora and fauna, demonstrating the commitment to preserving the planet’s delicate ecosystem.
Furthermore, the Kingdom expressed its support for the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) as part of its efforts to invest in maritime education and training. TGA granted final accreditation to the Azdeh Maritime Training Institute and initial accreditation to the Saudi Maritime Training Center SMTC, both crucial institutions in nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals and strengthening the industry.
Transport ministers and officials from various countries attended the conference, including representatives from Qatar, Bahrain, Somalia, Ghana, Iraq, Yemen, and Djibouti.
Transport and Logistics inaugurates SMIC 2023
