Saudi Arabia aims to boost its investments in the transport and logistics sector by more than $100 billion as part of a long-term strategy which will see the kingdom transport 300 million passengers and five million tonnes of goods and also link 250 global destinations in the next 10 years, reported SPA, citing a senior minister.
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As part of this plan, Saudi Arabia will launch new airlines and also develop facilities and services through two new centres in Riyadh and Jeddah, revealed Saleh Al Jasser, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport, after inaugurating the Future Aviation Forum, being organised by General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) in Riyadh.
The three-day forum, which is being held under the patronage of King Salman, focuses on three main aspects of innovation, growth and sustainability, which are main and effective aspects in the civil aviation sector.
A total of 60 countries are participating and more than 4,000 people have registered in the forum’s events being held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.
"There are many opportunities for the private sector to realise our ambitions," stated Al Jasser, while addressing the gathering today (May 9).
He pointed out that the ministry has converted more than 25 airports into holding companies as a first step towards privatization. "In addition we have also approved hundreds of applications for new planes and opening of new destinations for several countries," said the minister.
Through a visual presentation, the minister reviewed aviation services and Saudi Arabia’s openness to the world and reviewed promising opportunities for the international aviation sector, where the kingdom is connected with 250 global destinations with three times the number of passengers and five times the volume of goods, expressing hope for Saudi Arabia to become the number one at the level of the Middle East by 2030. ■
A very active and complex mid-May weather pattern is set to produce numerous areas of severe weather, heavy rain, high winds, and anomalous temperatures through this weekend.