Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser opened the Supply Chain Conference 2024 today at the Hilton Granada Hotel in Riyadh, with a host of officials, heads of global and local companies, and experts in the supply chain and logistics sector taking part.

Praise for leadership support and future vision

In his opening remarks, the minister said the conference's sixth edition comes amid remarkable growth in the Kingdom's logistics sector, thanks to the generous support of the wise leadership, noting that the Kingdom has successfully strengthened its global readiness through an advanced infrastructure network spanning airports, ports, roads and railways.

He explained that the Kingdom has climbed in international rankings thanks to the development of its ports, which gained 231.7 additional points in the 2024 UNCTAD index, along with the addition of 30 new shipping lines, reflecting the Kingdom's pivotal role in supporting global trade.

Agreements signed, innovations showcased

The conference's first day saw the signing of 86 agreements to strengthen cooperation and improve supply chain performance, alongside 12 keynote lectures and 8 workshops covering the sector's latest technologies and practices. The conference also featured an accompanying exhibition with 65 international and local companies, and a dedicated innovation corner showcasing advanced technologies such as a solar-powered car and smart delivery platforms supporting e-commerce.

Empowering Saudi women and entrepreneurship

The conference dedicated a platform to empower women in the supply chain sector, offering training and development opportunities to support their economic participation. It also included an entrepreneurship corner to boost innovation and help develop entrepreneurial ideas in the logistics sector.

A global platform for the logistics sector

The opening session featured a ministerial panel discussion with the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, the Minister of Investment and the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, on "The Role of Logistics Prosperity in Boosting Global Competitiveness," reviewing a package of reforms that have moved the Kingdom up 17 places in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index.

Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser said ongoing efforts, including the launch of the national master plan for logistics zones, are reinforcing the Kingdom's standing as a global logistics hub, achieving the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and supporting economic sustainability locally and globally.