Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port’s complementary neighbouring facility, the Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ), will play a crucial role in developing the kingdom as a regional transhipment hub, a senior official has said.

Addressing a gathering of business leaders at the Gulf Industry Forum, General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, in his keynote speech, said the BLZ, which is operated by the GOP and is set to be operational by year’s end,  will help propel the kingdom’s economic development through adding value to the activities of companies involved in exports, imports and re-exports.

He outlined how logistics services could help accelerate industrial growth.

“Logistic services are an important link in the supply chain and a logistics zone, like the Bahrain Logistics Zone, aims to make many of these services available at the doorsteps of industrial companies at competitive costs. The benefits of a logistics zone as support for industrial development are significant.  For instance, the BLZ enhances Bahrain’s existing sea, air and road infrastructure and makes the kingdom an attractive economic proposition for the industrial sector.

“It focuses on adding value to exports, imports and re-exports by providing modern warehousing facilities and accommodating support activities such as component assembly, labelling, packaging and re-packaging and a host of other services. 

“The Logistics Zone also forms a nucleus around which several auxiliary industries and businesses grow, all of which help to generate wealth for the economy and employment opportunities for the local workforce.   The availability of logistics services close at hand, through logistics zones, enables the industries to concentrate their efforts and resources on core manufacturing activities.”

Speaking about the specific benefits of the BLZ, Shaikh Daij said: “The BLZ is a customs-free logistics boutique with an around-the-clock customs facility.  The BLZ tenants can benefit from a flexible pricing structure, with options including leasing land for building their own facility or employing GOP’s developer to build according to tenant specifications.  The BLZ has been designed to ensure that each tenant can choose the option that best suits his needs and the exact nature of his operations.”

In terms of its unique advantages, the BLZ is located just 3 km from the new port, 10 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from the King Fahd Causeway, which links Bahrain to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.  The BLZ has been designed to capitalise on the shortest logistics transfer time in the Gulf to Saudi Arabia, in particular, and to the Upper Gulf markets in general.  Bahrain offers its tenants an unparalleled network of inter-modal capabilities to the Northern Gulf.  Furthermore, Bahrain, is logistics-friendly and a liberal and progressive business destination, he said. 

The GOP’s efforts are aimed at propelling Bahrain towards becoming a major transhipment hub for the Northern Gulf markets by virtue of the kingdom’s strategic location and availability of advanced logistics infrastructure and other facilities, he added.

One of the major aims of the BLZ is to leverage the new Khalifa bin Salman Port as a major transhipment hub for this market sector.   Being part of a full ecosystem of industrial, warehousing and manufacturing zones, the BLZ also complements neighbouring facilities and services provided by such developments as the Bahrain Investment Wharf and Bahrain Industrial Investment Park.

 “The BLZ, which is a modern, multi-modal logistics park will complement the new state-of-the-art Khalifa Bin Salman Port, which was formally inaugurated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on December 6, 2009,” said Shaikh Daij.   “These two facilities, KBSP and BLZ, are committed to significantly contribute towards realising the Economic Vision 2030 for Bahrain, which charts out the path for an ambitious development and growth of the kingdom’s economy.  In particular, they will further enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the economy through the improvement of efficiencies in the maritime and logistics industries, providing a world-class infrastructure that links Bahrain to the global economy and creating skilled job opportunities for Bahrainis.”

The Gulf Industry Forum was launched this year as part of the Gulf Industry Fair.  The GOP is participating in the Fair with a booth at which visitors can obtain more information on the GOP’s activities and interested clients can speak with BLZ representatives about the potential benefits the BLZ can offer. – TradeArabia News Service