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October 1st, 2007 — Guest Column, Issue 1 October 2007
Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) is ranked as the eighth top container port worldwide. After it acquired P&O it also acquired the right to manage around 51 container ports across the world in over 24 countries.
R N Bhaskar, Consulting editor LOG.india
October 1st, 2007 — Guest Column, Issue 1 October 2007
Strong demand for faster delivery of goods by shippers worldwide is creating numerous challenges for the air cargo industry, in particular the air charter business. Overall, air cargo is expected to grow steadily and strong for the next decade. This increase significantly outpaces any other modes of transportation. Yet air cargo continues to be challenging and ever-evolving.
Sujit Subramanian, Regional Manager, Middle East & India Lufthansa Cargo Charter Agency
October 1st, 2007 — Issue 1 October 2007, LOG.Cafe
Michael Stockdale loves fast cars and rides a Harley. But he says he is one of the good guys.
Michael Stockdale, General manager, Al Futtaim Logistics
In his spare, almost Spartan, Al-Futtaim Logistics office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, Michael Stockdale comes across as a regular bloke from Sydney – the type who says “G’day, mate!” to strangers.
“Around here, I’m just one of the good guys,” he qualifies. “Al Futtaim Logistics has the best people in the logistics industry – not just here in the region but possibly in the world.”
October 1st, 2007 — Industry, Issue 1 October 2007
Gautam Adani is on a mission to make Mundra India’s intermodal focal point, providing shippers with an enviable choice of deep-sea, rail and air links. But will his connectivity charge succeed in a nation renowned for its fair share of congestion and infrastructural challenges? And will DP World let Adani expand on his own?
Gautam Adani looks strangely composed for someone who oversees a diverse business empire with a combined group turnover of $44 billion. The 46-year-old appears charming and warm, belying the tremendous clout he wields in Gujarat. He marshals facts on his fingertips, and can justify or debunk a plan better than any management guru. But he also has the stuff that visionaries are made of – hard facts, cold execution and the ability to inspire people and countries.
October 1st, 2007 — Innovation, Issue 1 October 2007
Middle East governments must take advantage of their unique geographic location to become a trade hub for the future.
Today, the Middle East region is in the middle of exciting global, regional and local developments in terms of transport and logistics. With the explosive growth of global and regional trade, and especially the trade between Europe and Asia and within the broader region, the Middle East faces unprecedented opportunities to capitalise on the unique strength of its favourable geographic location.
October 1st, 2007 — Issue 1 October 2007, Trade
Dubai Logistics City is about to become a major force in global logistics, capitalising on the city’s insatiable growth, east-meets-west location and proximity to two billion consumers
Michael Proffitt, CEO, Dubai Logistics City
The seismic ripples of the GCC’s meteoric economic growth continue to be felt far and wide and its rapidly expanding logistics sector has been at the epicentre of all the activity. Now the ripples are set to become even larger, as Dubai Logistics City (DLC) prepares to start operations, serving as a powerful magnet for global and regional trade.
October 1st, 2007 — Issue 1 October 2007, Services
Mohebi Logistics, as an entity, may be less than a month old, but the Mohebi family has been in the UAE logistics industry since 1931.
Iain Gordon, General Manager, Mohebi Logistics
In September 2007, Mohebi Investments, an affiliate of the renowned UAE-based Zainal Mohebi Group, announced the launch of Mohebi Logistics, an Dhirams (Dh) 1 billion investment aimed at creating one of the region’s biggest supply chain companies. As part of this ambitious initiative, Mohebi Logistics will establish an Dh 200 million (m) state-of-the-art regional logistics hub spread over an area of over 51,000 square metres (sq m) in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
October 1st, 2007 — Issue 1 October 2007, Management
FedEx may be flying high in the region and have a wealth of new aircraft in the pipeline, but Hamdi Osman, Senior Vice President of FedEx Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the ground
Hamdi Osman, Senior Vice President of FedEx Middle East, Indian Subcontinental and Africa
FedEx’s regional head Hamdi Osman may always have one eye on the sky, but his head is nowhere near the clouds. The straight-talking Senior Vice President is gearing up for the day when goods will travel from Dubai to Europe by road.
“The next war in the airfreight business will be on the ground,” he says with a confidence that belies the contradiction.
October 1st, 2007 — Cover Story, Issue 1 October 2007
Christa Soltau has a formidable track record opening airports. And now she’s relishing the hot seat at Dubai World Central
Christa Soltau, Managing Director, Dubai World Central International Airport
Christa Soltau can’t stop smiling and who can blame her? We’re sitting in the sumptuous fifth floor office of Dubai World Central International Airport, overlooking the stunning Emirates Golf Club and ever-changing “New Dubai”.
And the view inside isn’t bad either. The large open plan office, which resembles a small exhibition hall, contains a soothing water feature near the entrance, a mock design of the airport’s 92-metre air traffic control tower, as well as three huge model impressions of the 140-square kilometre (sq km) facility that is rapidly taking shape in Jebel Ali.
October 1st, 2007 — Industry, Issue 1 October 2007
Over the past three years, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has experienced an unprecedented rail boom. Rapid population growth and increasing road-traffic congestion have encouraged governments to take a serious look at light and mass transportation, leading to over $30 billion worth of investment in the industry.
In the last 12 months alone, construction on the Dubai Light Rail project, also known as the Dubai Metro, has gathered pace. Tenders for the Saudi Landbridge project have also been issued and awards have been made on the Kingdom’s multi-billion-dollar minerals railway.
