The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) launched the Smart Ports initiative that aims to automate operations in Saudi ports, with the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistics, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser; Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Abdullah Al-Swaha; President of Saudi Ports Authority, Omar bin Talal Hariri, and representatives of partners in the initiative, which entails a selection of leading Saudi and global companies in the technical and logistical sector.
Mawani signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the launch ceremony for the Smart Ports initiative, including agreements with (STC), Ericsson and Huawei, the Saudi Global Ports Company (SGP), the Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company (RSGT), and DP World. These agreements aim to make Saudi ports a leader in the application of modern technology, thereby enhancing their competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
Saudi Arabia is stepping up its efforts to strengthen its position as a leader in the logistics sector and will be expanding its capabilities through automation, serving importers and exporters, and providing logistics through the maritime transport sector as part of the latest upgrades. The three agreements focus on accelerating and implementing 5G technology in both the logistics and operation sectors, plus cooperating on infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, application services, and platform development.
In order to activate innovation, research, and development of emerging technologies, Mawani will work with its partners to generate creative ideas and then develop technical concepts and feasibility studies for feasible ideas that will contribute to the development of new products and solutions to raise the quality of performance of the Saudi ports network.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, the President of Saudi Ports Authority, Omar bin Talal Hariri, said: “Today, Saudi ports are entering a crucial stage of transforming into automated Smart Ports by adopting the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with their advanced applications besides relying on AI technology, IoT and technologies of 5G with the aim of raising the efficiency of the operational performance of Saudi port network and developing the marine transport system to enhance the Kingdom’s presence on the global logistics services map.”