Interview - Sahar Al-Meligy: Dr. Louay Abdel Latif, Head of Operations for Logistics Operations at DP World, said that Ain Sokhna Port is the main gateway for trade with Egypt, as it plays a pivotal role in the movement of exports and imports, benefiting from its strategic location on one of the busiest trade corridors in the world.

In an interview with Mubasher, Abdel Latif spoke about the company’s plans to develop a 300,000 square meter logistics zone to support global transportation. He also reviewed DP World’s investments in Egypt, which exceeded $1.3 billion over two decades, as part of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing logistics and commercial infrastructure and supporting Egypt’s position as a regional trade hub.

“DP World attaches great importance to Ain Sokhna Port due to its strategic importance as a major logistics hub on the Red Sea,” said Abdul Latif. “We have invested heavily in developing the port’s infrastructure, including new expansions of the berths, increasing the container handling capacity, and introducing the latest technologies into the operational processes. We are also committed to implementing development plans that will contribute to enhancing the port’s efficiency and improving the level of service provided.”

“Our investments in Sokhna Port play an important role in supporting the Egyptian economy by boosting trade, attracting foreign investment, and creating new job opportunities. The development of the port also contributes to improving the efficiency of supply chains, reducing transportation costs and helping local and international companies achieve sustainable growth,” he added.

“The port is a major gateway for trade with Egypt, thanks to its capacity to handle 1.75 million TEUs and its strategic location along one of the world’s busiest trade corridors,” said Abdel Latif. “To further leverage these advantages, we are developing a 300,000 square metre logistics zone, just minutes away from the port, to offer our customers a full range of expertly designed, efficient and reliable trade enhancement solutions.”

DP World has ambitious future projects and plans to enhance the port’s role as a global logistics hub. Abdul Latif touched on these projects, saying that at the top of these projects is “the establishment of modern storage areas, the development of digital systems in operational processes to enhance the port’s efficiency, in addition to improving connectivity with the internal transport network to enhance the flow of goods more easily and quickly.”

“With our significant investment in expanding the Sokhna Port, we can handle a wide range of cargo entering or leaving Egypt through the container terminal. One of the key commodities we see is iron ore, which is transported to industrial zones and manufacturing facilities. Egypt has recently become the world’s largest exporter of citrus fruits, and a significant portion of these products move through the port,” he added.

“Also, processed and unprocessed sugar is transported through the facilities at the port; where we transport unprocessed sugar that is refined and packaged, before implementing our operations to export processed sugar to Africa, the Middle East and beyond,” he continued.

In his interview, the Chief Operating Officer of DP World Logistics Operations touched on the wars and crises raging in the region and their impact on the work of ports and supply chains, saying: “There are always geopolitical challenges, but trade is resilient. Our role at the sector level is to enable the flow of trade based on the scalable infrastructure that we are building, in addition to the digital capabilities that we are designing and implementing, the trade routes that we are developing, and the resilient supply chain solutions that we are innovating.”

The head of logistics operations at DP World confirms that the latter contributes to supporting sustainable development goals in Egypt, through its commitment to “sustainable practices in all our operations, starting from using environmentally friendly technologies in port operation, to supporting community initiatives that contribute to developing the local workforce, as well as working to reduce carbon emissions by adopting innovative transportation solutions and improving energy consumption in our facilities,” according to Abdel Latif.

Abdel Latif believes that the company’s investment in Egypt for nearly two decades, amounting to more than $1.3 billion, is an embodiment of a strong partnership with the Egyptian government in enhancing the country’s logistics and commercial infrastructure. He added: “Our relationship with the Egyptian government is based on close cooperation and strategic partnership. We work side by side with the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of development plans in accordance with Egypt’s Vision 2030, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership to continue achieving new achievements in the ports and logistics sector.”