Making Bahrain a logistic hub
Manama : Bahrain has the power to take full advantage of its unique geographical position and size to become one of the leading logistics hubs in the world, experts, participating in the second GCC logistics Conference, said yesterday.
They also stressed that the Kingdom has the right potential to emerge as the ‘test field’ for the latest technologies and developments in the industry.
“Can Bahrain become a test market? My answer is a clear yes,” said Dr Raimund Klinker, a German veteran in the field.
“From my interactions with the Bahrain’s Transportation and Telecommunication Ministry, I get the impression that they are going in the right direction.”
“It is also important to have the right infrastructure in place. Not just the roads and rail, but also the IT infrastructure,” added Dr Klinker.
The conference, organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication in collaboration with TransCare GmbH, was held in Seef. The event focused on the latest developments and trends in the logistics industry as well as ways to boost the contribution of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations in the growth of the sector.
In this regard, Co-Patron of the conference, Ambassador of Germany, Alfred Simms Protz stressed that logistics is all about being at the right place at the right moment.
“It is thus not surprising that many logistics service providers – a large number of them from Germany – are currently expanding their activities in Bahrain,” he pointed out.
He further added that the Kingdom, having achieved a major leap forward in terms of efficiency and service quality in recent years, is emerging as an attractive location for advanced services in the Gulf.
Showcasing the conference as an opportunity to establish contacts with potential partners and to evaluate cooperation options, he also highlighted the major role played by the German logistics sector in its economy.
Ralf Jahncke, CEO of TransCare GmbH hailed the conference as an enlightening opportunity with thoughtful comments and discussions.
“All the speaker here have agreed that Bahrain has the potential to become the test field for the new technologies and developments of the industry,” said Jahncke.
In support, Ali Al Qahtani, a Saudi expert, said, “Bahrain enjoys several advantages over Saudi Arabia when it comes to logistics.”
“Bahrain is a small country, unlike Saudi Arabia which is massive. So logistically there are advantages,” he said stressing that the Saudi is keen to support Bahrain in every possible way.
“We want to see a success story in Bahrain by sharing our work together,” he stressed.
Patron of the Conference, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication, Kamal Ahmed, in his speech, highlighted the significant steps adopted by Bahrain in advancing the Kingdom’s logistics sector during the period from 2015 to 2016.
While stressing the importance of infrastructure development, the minister also said, “It is important to raise awareness on what is possible.”
“For that reason, I readily accept the patronage of the second GCC logistics conference,” he said.
The minister also said the conference, which coincides with the logistics day 2017, successfully showcased Bahrain’s potential to business professionals, politicians, media representatives, students and the public.
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