Qatar Chamber (QC) stressed the significance of Qatar’s strategic location in enhancing its status as a global trade hub, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally in logistics.
This came in the speech of Qatar Chamber board member and Chairman of Services Committee and the Qatar Association for Freight Forwarding and Logistics (QAFL) Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Mesned addressing a panel on the transport and logistics sector, during the 2nd edition of the Gulf-Azerbaijani Economic Forum, held in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The forum featured discussions on cooperation, potential challenges to hinder economic and investment growth, renewable and clean energy, water and electricity, transportation and logistics challenges and opportunities, as well as strategic partnerships between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Azerbaijan in agriculture, food security, and food industries.
Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Mesned said that the State of Qatar’s strategic location makes it in the center of E
ast and West between three continents, namely Africa, Asia, and Europe, thus, enhancing the fact that the country is home to the world’s leading air cargo company (Qatar Airways Cargo), the best airline (Qatar Airways), the second-best airport (Hamad International Airport), and the eighth-largest port (Hamad Port) globally.
The QC board member added that the country’s investment in this sector is reflected in the volume of the transportation market, which reached USD 9.9 billion, positioning the country as the second-best in the region in terms of logistics efficiency.
He also indicated that according to the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2023, Qatar ranked 14th globally in logistics efficiency, 19th in infrastructure quality, and 36th in the overall index, which includes 139 countries, outperforming 103 nations worldwide.
Al Mesned explained that these achievements align with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country’s goal of diversifying its economy, adding that these developments have co
ntributed to the state’s success in becoming a leading global center for investment and business, as well as a hub for global trade and logistics.
The QC board member pointed out that the State of Qatar has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets in the world in the logistics sector, especially following the remarkable success in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
He further affirmed QC’s commitment to enhancing supply chains and logistic services, in addition to encouraging investors to invest in this vital sector.
Due to its relentless efforts in this regard, QC recently was elected as a member of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the worlds largest organization for freight forwarders, during the FIATA World Conference held in Brussels, Al Mesned added.
He noted that the chamber organizes and participates in events related to logistics in order to enhance its growth and encourage business owners to benefit from Qatar’s advanced infrastructure, advanced lo
gistic systems, and to invest in logistic projects.
The QC board member pointed out that the international transportation and logistics sector is one of the most vital arteries of the global economy and forms the backbone of international trade, which means that the challenges and issues facing this sector will not only have a significant impact on international trade but also on the global economy in all its facets.
Al Mesned highlighted that the global logistics market amounted to USD 8.96 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 21.91 trillion by 2033, indicating a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.35 percent from 2024 to 2033.
The QC board member said that this significant increase in the market is attributed to the expansion of e-commerce and growing trade agreements, along with technological innovations such as artificial intelligence and data analytics aimed at improving supply chain efficiency and inventory management.
He added that there has been notable progress in the Internet
of Things (IoT) technology and energy efficiency improvements in warehouses, causing market growth. Al Mesned said that efforts are underway to enhance last-mile delivery using drones and autonomous vehicles technologies that are attracting the interest of many major companies.
The QC board member said that transportation by land holds the largest share in the logistics services market, followed by maritime and air transport, due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to meet fast delivery needs. He added that the Asia-Pacific region has the largest market share, followed by Europe and North America, due to the rapid growth in e-commerce and manufacturing in these areas.
Source: Qatar News Agency
