Saudi Arabia: A strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia

The economy of Saudi Arabia has been growing at an average rate of 4% over the past 7 years, supported by a pro-business environment that quickly moves the investors to the heart of the Arabic market. While the COVID-19 crisis has impacted businesses in current times, the country has a plan in place for its future.

In its ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ the nation encapsulates its intent to reduce dependence on oil, diversify its economy, expand the private sector, improve competitiveness, and build a vibrant society.

Tremendous efforts in advancing the business ecosystem have been made and new measures to improve ease of doing business planned; in order to develop the investment environment.

A land of business opportunities

Offering plentiful, readily available natural resources, raw materials and energy needed for manufacturing and industrial development, which is quite contrasting to the shortages and increasing prices in other countries, Saudi Arabia positions itself as an economically strategic location to start a business. It has been an efficient springboard for energy-intensive industries such as minerals and metal processing, automotive production, and petrochemicals with a thriving, fast-growing industrial sector.

Not only is Saudi Arabia the largest economy and market in MENA, but also the 23rd largest in the world. An economic powerhouse itself, Saudi Arabia also stands at the heart of a fast-growing region of over 424 million consumers. Sharing its borders with eight countries – Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen – Saudi Arabia serves as an efficient launch-pad to the more than 2 billion consumers living within three hours by air.

As businesses and investments navigate their course in the region, ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia continues to power them with seamless logistics services that cover a wide range spanning Air and Sea Chartering, Air and Sea International Freight, Import/Export, Reefer Transportation, Cross Border Road Freight, Freight Forwarding, Heavy Lift Transportation, Fairs and Exhibition, Custom Clearance and Marine Insurance, Container Freight Station (CFS) and Less than Container Load (LC) consolidation, Open Yard Distribution and Transportation, Local Pick-up and Delivery (DDU/DDP), Warehousing and Contract Logistics as well as Project Logistics.

“Saudi Arabia has an unbeatable location advantage when it comes to international logistics. To leverage this to its full potential, you need an experienced partner with unparalleled global reach. And that’s exactly where ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia comes in, with a global network operating via more than 300 offices in over 160 countries along with services across more than 2400 direct trade lanes for LCL. ECU Worldwide’s market leadership in LCL consolidation around the world, backed by a focus on customer-centricity and technology, make it a perfect partner for businesses”, says Hammad Yaseen, Country Manager, ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia.

A global logistics powerhouse

Saudi Arabia occupies a truly exceptional geographical location in the world when it comes to logistics and international trade. It sits between three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – giving it a unique advantage when it comes to the Asia-Europe trade routes and distributing goods through the Arabian Peninsula.

The Saudi Arabian freight and logistics industry is a large and dynamic industry, strongly supported by state-led investments in rail, maritime, road, logistics, and airport infrastructure. Economic growth, population maturation, and rapid urbanization are the factors driving the Saudi Arabian government to invest in expansion of the country’s transportation networks. As the world grapples with a decline in global trade and economy, Saudi Arabia’s freight and logistics industry is working together to mitigate the situation.

Saudi Arabia’s logistics infrastructure is well-established and is positioned to flourish with the largest maritime network in the Middle East, one of the largest road networks in the world and a new state-of-the-art industrial city hub system about to open its doors.

It is an ideal location for logistics companies, supply chain managers and manufacturers. From here, companies can service a regional market of more than two billion potential customers on three continents.

ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia offers seamless logistics services and helps businesses optimise their cargo transportation. With hubs at key global trade centres like Singapore, Hong Kong, Antwerp, Hamburg, Dubai and Miami, it keeps cargo moving across key regions in China, Europe, Far East, South East Asia and USA.

Its expertise in emerging and challenging markets, reliable solutions, numerous value-added services and rich experience in specialised business and industry sectors keeps ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia ahead of competition.

Steadily surmounting challenges

Advanced technologies, entertainment and hospitality, financial services, aquaculture, mining and natural resources, defence and retail are some of Saudi Arabia’s booming industries.

While minerals, plastics, chemicals, ships and boats and aluminium form Saudi Arabia’s top exports, its top imports include machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals and cereals.

While these open up numerous avenues for the logistics sector, the path is not without challenges. Saudi Arabia’s logistics industry faces some major challenges, ultimately resulting in delays in delivering cargo to customers.

Lack of logistics experts, lack of state-of-the-art warehouses, less availability of experienced drivers in trucking, complexities in customs clearing at borders have often impacted businesses and drive the need for a logistics partner capable of offering end-to-end services.

“We, at ECU Worldwide believe in adhering to the law of the land and seeing challenges as opportunities to be innovative, rethink our processes and help customers navigate the maze of complex cargo movements. Our team of global and local experts has a thorough understanding of the business landscape and the logistics ecosystem, which makes it possible for us to offer solutions that are in complete alignment with what our customers need. We aim to truly offer customers the peace of mind that comes with relying on a global expert”, says Rene Wernli, Regional CEO – Middle East & Africa, ECU Worldwide.

ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia team at Dammam

ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia team at Jeddah

ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia team at Riyadh

Keeping business moving in challenging times

Logistics operations in progress

ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia leading the way

ECU Line Saudi became a registered shipping line agency with Saudi port authorities.

ECU Saudi Dammam is officially authorised to handle containerised, break bulk and chart vessels at Dammam port. Recently, the ECU Dammam office handled various vessels (containerised and break bulk).

Keeping customers at the centre of all activities, ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia has achieved numerous success milestones owing to the approach of anticipating customer needs, constantly taking and acting on customer feedback, being approachable and ready to help and proactively following-up to help out even after the services have been rendered.

In keeping with the move towards digital tools and technology, ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia is well-equipped to use sophisticated software as well as implement ECU360, ECU Worldwide’s state-of-the-art online platform that helps customers ship with a click by offering a host of features like instant quotes, quick bookings, door-to-door rates for more than 40 countries, and more.

With its skilled, professional, loyal, dedicated and customer-oriented team, ECU Worldwide Saudi Arabia is all set to continue enabling businesses to broaden their horizons in the region.