The groundwork for the upcoming Expo 2020, which expects to welcome 25 million visitors and more than 200 international participants from 190 countries, has already spurred business opportunities for various sectors with logistics being one of the prime gainers, said an expert.

With less than 19 months left for the inauguration of the Expo 2020, its organisers have further speeded up the pace of allocating contracts to thousands of local and foreign firms to ensure timely preparation of the event, which is set to be the largest of its kind in the Arab World.

So far Expo 2020 Dubai has awarded 56 per cent of contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises. Meanwhile, more than 26,000 companies from 150 countries have recently applied to be involved in the event, said a statement.

Shailesh Dash, chairman of Dubai-based Gulf Pinnacle Logistics, said: “When foreign companies get contracts in the UAE, they need professional support of logistics specialists with wide local and international network to move their set up and equipment to the Gulf country.”

“Contractors of Expo 2020, which is extraordinarily big in magnitude, therefore rely on reputable and experienced logistics players to become their strategic and operational partners. After all, freight forwarders do much more than moving containers. We guide organisers, contractors and exhibitors throughout different customs procedures, time frames and operational complexities,” he added.

Rodney Viegas, chief executive officer, AbdulMuhsen Shipping (AMS) and So Safe Logistics (SSL), two portfolio companies owned by GPL, said: “Thanks to the increased momentum of Expo 2020 preparations, the logistics sector in the UAE – which according to the 2019 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index ranks first in the region and third globally – is witnessing a business boom, when other sectors are observing slow growth.”

“Expo 2020 is expected to drive the logistics and supply chain segment even further and cement the UAE’s position as a global leader in logistics. With our strong global agent network, we are equipped to provide end-to-end logistics solutions to fulfil the client’s comprehensive list of logistics requirements on time,” he added.

Dharmesh Rustagi, head of logistics operations at AMS and SSL, said: “The throughput of non-containerised cargo Jebel Ali Port has been experiencing a steady upward movement with demand being driven by Expo 2020.”

“The fact that AMS and SSL collectively operate a land area of more than 46,000 sq m and a built-up warehouse area of more than 18,000 sq m in the Jebel Ali Free Zone provides us with an advantage to be the go-to logistics provider for contractors during the largest exhibition of its kind in the Arab World,” he added.

Established in 1991, AMS handles the entire gamut of Logistics services, which involve consolidation, warehousing, transportation and shipping. Gulf Pinnacle Logistics had acquired a 75 per cent equity stake in AMS in 2014. AMS handles the highest number of LCL (less than container load) console containers in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

“Thus, GPL and its portfolio companies are ready to deal with the expected increase in demand for breakbulk and project cargo handling services in the run-up to Expo 2020 Dubai,” concluded Dash. – TradeArabia News Service