DPI awarded Yemeni contract
Yemen has awarded Dubai Ports International (DPI) a contract to operate and develop the Aden and Ma’alla container terminals in the Arab state.
The Saba news agency said the cabinet approved the bid presented by DPI, the investment arm of state-owned Dubai Port Authority, but did not give a value for the deal. The cabinet also approved a proposal to offer between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the capital of the firm that will operate the ports in a public subscription, Saba said. It said the offer would take place after the firm completed a berth expansion project, but gave no more details.
Aden Terminal has two 350-metre (1,148-feet) container berths and handled 282,387 teu in 2004, according to official statistics. Ma’alla Terminal, which includes a free zone, has two 187.5-metre berths and handled 36,514 teu last year.
AIL acquires Aramex
The Arab International Logistics Company (AIL) is at the final stages of consummating the acquisition of regional logistics giant Aramex. The announcement was made by the company’s board of directors.
AIL was originally set up as a holding company with the aim to consolidate the logistics sector which is poised for double-digit growth in the coming years.
“The board will move to conclude all documentation in the next two weeks,” said Abdullah Al Mazroui, chairman of the AIL board of directors.
“An acquisition price has been agreed and will be communicated to the market in due course.”
US firm eyes Saudi rail
Saudi Arabia’s landmark railway expansion received a shot in the arm recently when specialised US companies expressed their keen desire to participate in the project linking the country’s east and west.
“A number of small and medium American companies have shown their enthusiasm to enter the kingdom’s transport industry through the railway project,” said Ali Saad Al-Qarni, Saudi Railway Organisation’s (SRO) vice president for technical affairs.
The American firms expressed their interest when a Saudi trade mission visited the US recently. ‘The matter will depend on the seriousness of these firms to enter into coalitions to implement the project,” Al-Qarni said.
