The Suez Canal Authority has signed a protocol of cooperation with Agility, a leading global logistics provider, to establish a logistic centre in Egypt’s East Port Said Governorate, an important and strategic site on the Mediterranean Sea.

The protocol was signed by Admiral Mohab Mamish, chairman of the Suez Canal Authority and chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), along with Tarek Sultan, vice chairman and CEO of Agility, said a statement from the company

Under this protocol, Agility will develop a hub with international standard logistics infrastructure to enhance the importing and warehousing of raw materials, as well as the export and distribution of intermediate and final goods through the Suez Canal Ports, it said.

The logistics hub is part of the current expansion of East Port Said, it added.

The company will also provide world-class solutions for Egyptian customs, including the modernisation and automation of the customs processes. This will improve the speed at which commodities are moved and strengthen the supply chain in a fast and secure manner. These improvements, in turn, will help decrease supply chain costs for the industrial operations across the various areas of the economic zone.

Admiral Mamish said: “The establishment of the East Port Said project is in line with the Egypt 2030 Vision. It also achieves Egypt’s development goals in creating an integrated sustainable economic growth through the creation of new job opportunities and enhancing Suez Canal Zone status as a commercial and industrial hub.”

He added that the protocol of cooperation with Agility is one of the significant steps in the Economic Zone’s development plan, and particularly the development of East Port Said, noting that Agility is one of the world’s largest logistics companies operating in the Arab region.  

Admiral Mamish announced that the protocol aims to study the investment in the development and marketing of both the logistics and industrial areas. It also includes the development of a ‘green’ logistics hub for value-added services, in addition to applying advanced customs technology solutions that facilitate trade.

Sultan said: “Egypt’s prominent location allows access to strong regional markets and trade routes, making it an ideal site for a regional distribution hub. Given the global demand for access and presence in the continent, we have continuously invested in Africa.”

He continued: “Establishing an integrated industrial and logistics hub in partnership with SCZone, as well as providing modernised, automated customers services, matches our Africa strategy and further highlights Egypt’s role as a key regional player.”

“Being present in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and, in particular, working in the East Port Said area will give companies access to world-class infrastructure as well as fast, easy and efficient logistics and customs services in terms of time and cost,” Sultan added.

Admiral Abd El Kader Darwish, vice chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone for the Northern Sector, said that the establishment of a logistics centre in East Port Said is set to provide logistical and technological solutions for investors in the region.

It will also provide a secure electronic customs system to facilitate the movement of goods in a safe manner that will in turn contribute to more job opportunities in East Port Said.

Darwish added that the protocol also includes studying the possibility of establishing a company between the Economic Authority and Agility.

He pointed out the two-phase implementation plan between the two parties includes a first phase to prepare the feasibility studies for the development of a logistics centre and the provision of customs technology services for period of eight months.

The second phase includes the preparation of the detailed master plan for the logistics centre and its stages, as well as a detailed technical and financial studies to provide technology services for a period of six months. Then the third phase will include the establishment of the joint company in a period of six months.

In Egypt, Agility manages 43,000-sq-m of warehouse space and 30,000-sq-m of open yard storage. In 6th October City, the company manages more than 60,000 pallet positions with material handling lifts capable of transferring goods to 67 loading docks.

Agility offers superior solutions across Egypt to move time-sensitive cargo and online tracking of goods transported overland or through major air and sea ports through the company’s port of call license which gives it a status equivalent to shipping agencies, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service