Agility invests $10 million in expanding logistics hub in Bahrain

Muscat: Agility, a leading global logistics provider, announced that it will be investing $10 million to expand its regional logistics hub in Bahrain to 28,000 square metres, increasing storage capacity by an additional 19,000 pallet positions and increase the workforce by almost twenty-five per cent.
The expansion, which is expected to be completed within the next ten months, will enhance Agility’s Bahrain-based regional logistics hub. Investments will be made in Agility’s warehousing, freight, transport and specialty logistics solutions in the Kingdom, according to a press release.
Zayed Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, said; “Logistics has a key role in driving economic growth and attracting international investment into the country. The government is committed to delivering a more efficient and advanced logistics sector, and in order to facilitate this, the ministry has introduced a number of policies that directly contribute to the expansion of the logistics sector to build on Bahrain’s strategic location and regional connectivity. Agility has been a very important part of the logistic base here in Bahrain since 2003, introducing efficiencies to the sector never seen before.”
Essa Al Saleh, president andchief executive officer of Agility GIL, said; “This investment reflects Agility’s commitment to our clients in the region, and also the strength of Bahrain’s offering as a regional hub with efficient customs clearance, established transport links and an attractive operating environment. The expansion of our Bahrain logistics hub will increase the storage capacity and help meet the increasing regional demand for sophisticated and integrated logistics services.”
Khalid Al Rumaihi, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) chief executive said; “Agility’s investment is a reflection of Bahrain’s strengths as regional hub for logistics providers. The unique geographical location, with the direct access to the region’s largest economy, combined with the ongoing liberalisation of the logistics sector and availability of a well-educated, bilingual local workforce are the key drivers behind the growth of the logistics sector in the Kingdom.”
The Kingdom is investing over $32 billion over the coming years in key infrastructure projects that will support the continued development of the logistics sector. This includes the expansion of Bahrain International Airport, which is estimated to increase the air cargo volumes to one million metric tonnes per year once the project is completed in 2020. In addition, Hamad Causeway, the second causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, is expected to result in import costs being further reduced by up to fifty per cent. The transport and logistics contribution to the GDP increased from three per cent in 2013 to seven per cent in 2015, demonstrating the growth potential of this important sector.
Agility has been operational in Bahrain since 2003, with the main facility, located in Hidd, supporting contract logistics with ambient, chilled, and frozen storage, as well as unique solutions for high-value cargo. Agility also offers a secure records management storage solution, as well as turnkey logistics solutions to the Bahrain-based manufacturing industry including fast moving consumer goods. The company also owns and operates a large fleet of over 200 transport assets, including refrigerated trailers, and is a leading provider of cross border transportation, and customs brokerage for a number of multinational organisations based in The Kingdom.