Transportation sector offers huge opportunities, say experts

DAMMAM: An ongoing conference and exhibition on the Kingdom’s transportation industry has attracted key players in the region and abroad.
Mohammed K. Al-Suwaiket, the assistant deputy minister of transport, inaugurated the three-day Saudi Transtec 2012 at the Dhahran International Exhibitions Center on Sunday. He described the transportation sector as dynamic and vibrant.
International Exhibition Services Managing Director Piero A. Zipoli echoed his sentiments. “The Kingdom continues to work on building an infrastructure of multimodal transportation, making it an attractive prospect for investors,” he said. “Saudi Arabia is making great strides to establish itself as a key global transport and logistics hub.”
According to Mohammed H. Al-Hussaini, managing director of Dhahran International Exhibitions Company, the exhibition has provided a perfect platform for companies to showcase their products and services and to present their expertise through conference presentations.
Al-Suwaiket took a tour of the exhibition and presented awards to key companies with a view to recognizing their support to the third edition of the conference and exhibition.
A number of senior industry representatives and diplomats attended the opening ceremony. Prominent among them were Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al-Manie, chairman of the National Transport Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Feroz Siddiqui, commercial attache at the Singapore Embassy; Joey Hood, US consul general; David Harries, head of British Trade Office; and Edward Burton, president and managing director, US-Saudi Arabian Business Council.
Speakers at the conference sessions highlighted business solutions and initiatives and supply chain challenges and solutions.
“In an increasingly competitive market for transport, companies are implementing alternative business solutions and initiatives and managing supply chain solutions and their effective implementation, which is key to any business,” said one of the speakers.
A high-power panel of industry representatives from Saudi Miebach, Hala Supply Chain, Four Winds, the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council, the Supply Chain & Logistics Group, Kale Logistics Solutions and Olayan Financing focused on how to overcome supply chain challenges and how to minimize unnecessary increases in costs and risks.
Companies from Asia, Europe and the Middle East are providing a broad international presence at the exhibition. The participating industries at the exhibition include freight, shipping, aviation, ports, cargo, railways, materials handling equipment and service providers
Designed for decision-makers looking for solutions, Saudi Transtec 2012 ends today.