An ITP Media Group Publication Issue 195 | June - July 2021 An ITAAAAAAAAAAAAP MededP MMeMP MeP MeP MeP MeMMee ia Ga Ga Ga GGa Gra Grra GrGa GrGrGrGrrrG oup Pp Pp PPPPup Poupp PPp PPPPPp ublicuubububbubububuuububuubbb ation IIIsIssIssussIsIsIssIsIss e 19e 19e 19e 19e 19e 199e 19e 19e 19ee 19e 191955 || | | | 5 | | | || JuJuJuuuneuneJuJuuuneJJuJuJuuuu- J-J-JJJJJJJJulululyululyluly ulyululululyulyulyulyulyulyulyy 20213LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com JUNE - JULY 2021 | CONTENTS Real-time data intelligence is the future of supply chains but relies on local digital infrastructure, says Orange Business Services AWS says logistics companies can managing disruption in CPG with ML and demand sensing AWS MAYANK SHARMA, SUPPLY CHAIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT LEAD FOR EMEA AT AWS AND MICHAEL BROWN, SUPPLY CHAIN LEADER AT AWS p8p10 CONTENTS JUNE - JULY 2021 COMMENT ADVAIT THAKUR, IOT & ANALYTICS SOLUTIONS EXPERT IMEAR, ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES p13 Logistics Middle East exposes the top leaders in the logistics and supply chain industry in the region in 20214JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com CONTENTS | JUNE - JULY 2021 Most popular news stories on logistics- middleeast.com [1] The Logistics Middle East Cold Chain Champions event was a huge success with over 120 industry leaders from the cold chain space attending the in-person event. These leaders listened to three key- note speeches and attended several panel discussions. This story is also leading out most popular news on our website - fi nd out more on pg 48. [2] AI and robotics are the talk of the town in the logistics and supply chain industry. Hassan Saeed Abaragh, Managing Partner and Head of Arbitration, AI, Robotics, and Blockchain at ICLO gives a UEA legal overview of the industry and how it pplies to the logistics and supply chain industry. [3] The second wave of COVID-19 has hit India incredibly hard and the logistics and supply chain has risen to this chal- lenge, with many global com- panies fl ying vaccines PPE, oxygen tanks and more to the embattled country for free, or for a nominal fee. These stories have made an impact on our readers this month. RE GU L A R S [6] NEW UPDATES Companies are joining together across the logistics industry to provide better services, and humanitarian logistics is at the forefront of these partnerships [14] INDUSTRY LUMINARIES Our first section of the Power List looks at the logistics and supply chain luminaries driving the industry forward. See who is in there [21] LOGISTICS LEADERS This section of our Power List talks to the well-known names of the logistics and supply chain industries and fi nds out what drives them [31] INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS Our third Power List section interviews those logistics and supply chain trailblazers forging new paths for their companies [37] SUPPLY CHAIN CHAMPIONS Africa is a tricky market to get right when it comes to logistics. Tristar’s CEO explains how the group is working to overcome unique challenges including climate, security and infrastructure [42] UNSUNG HEROES This section focuses on those leaders working diligently to improve their companies and move towards an even greater future behind the scenes [48] EVENTS Logistics Middle East held its inaugural Cold Chain Champions event in May, we review [50] FINAL WORD Heriot-Watt University talks us through humanitarian logistics p6 p8p48 JOIN THE CONVERSATION To have your copy of delivered to your doorstep, subscribe by logging on to www.itp.com/subscriptions In the next edition of Logistics Middle East, we will be investigating automation in the logistics industry, walking the road to expo, and we take a dive into sustainability! Get in touch to be featured!OMAN CUSTOMS | ADVERTORIAL 5LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Published by and © 2021 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC EDITOR’S COLUMN The COVID pandemic has had a monumental impact on how the world operates. While many countries are coming out the other side, relaxing mask regulations and reopening borders, India has not been so lucky. The pandemic has hit the country hard, causing massive shortages of PPE, vaccines and essential medical supplies. India sent out a call for help, and many companies answered. During May, dozens of global logistics companies banded together, shipping tons of supplies of oxygen, PPE, vaccines and urgent supplies to airports across the COVID-struck nation. This pandemic has also seen the rapid development of the humanitarian logistics industry, hand in hand with the boost to the pharmaceutical and cold chain logistics verticals. Heriot-Watt University analyses this development on our back page (pg 50). The newly formed HOPE Consor t ium, a n Abu Dhabi-ba sed conglomerate of over a dozen UA E- ba sed log ist ics compa nies, is a n exa mple of t his development. The HOPE Consor t ium compa nies a re pledg ing t heir wa rehouses, a nd t ra nspor t a nd deliver y net works to ensure t he t imely deliver y of COV ID -19 vaccines to count ries t hat need t hem across t he globe. In this issue, we chatted with Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports - a member of the HOPE Consortium - on the Consortium’s vision and how it is delivering millions of vaccines to those that need it. Abu Dhabi Ports’ Sutton also features prominently in our Power List this year, along with scores of other top leaders in the logistics and supply chain industry. We are particularly proud to see how these companies have weathered the COVID storm and how their teams have worked so hard to keep the industry af loat. PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO Ali Akawi Managing Directer Alex Reeve EDITORIAL Editor Georgina Ford email: georgina.ford@os.itp.com ADVERTISING Commercial Manager Lindsey Alba Tel: + 971 4 444 3524 email: Lindsey.Alba @itp.com ITP LIVE General Manager Ahmad Bashour Tel: +971 4 4443549 email: ahmad.bashour@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Photographers Efraim Evidor, Adel Rashid Staff Photographers Aasiya Jagadeesh, Ajith Narendra Fritz Asuro, Jessica Samson PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production & Distribution Director Kyle Smith Production Manager Basel Al Kassem Production Coordinator Manoj Mahadevan Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles CIRCULATION Distribution & Warehouse Manager Praveen Nair MARKETING Director of Awards & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP GROUP CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Subscribe online at www.itp.com /subscriptions The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. GEORGINA FORD EDITOR GEORGINA.FORD@OS.ITP.COMUPDATE | JUNE - JULY 2021 6JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Antoine Pretin joins GEODIS as Vice President Engineering Group. He will oversee the growth in automating GEODIS’ service offerings to its customers. Antoine Pretin, engineer, began his career in 2007 as a project manager at Sidel Cermex, first in Dijon, then in Atlanta, USA. After a few years at Fives Intralogistics, he joined Actemium Logistics, a VINCI Group company specialising in automated intralogistics solutions, in 2014, where he was head of the distribution business. “Faced with the acceleration of e-commerce and new consumer demands, the automatisation of logistics warehouses is an essential response to handle growing flows in an ever-shorter timeframe. With his experience, Antoine will LA N D + SE A + AIR + SU PPL Y CHAI N + WA R E H O U S E + MA TERIAL S HAN D L IN G UP D A T E GEODIS strengthens its automatisation offering Company hires new Vice President Engineering Group Stolt Tankers and Mærsk Mc- Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping signed a Partnership Agreement that formalises their joint working. With this agreement, Stolt Tankers become an offi cial partner to the Center, committing to long-term collaboration around developing zero- carbon solutions for the maritime industry. “With Stolt Tankers we are getting a partner with extensive knowledge and expertise in transport and handling of fuels and chemicals which is critical for assessing viable pathways for future fuels. They bring an innovative spirit which is evident in their operations, their impressive project portfolio and their commitment to a carbon neutral future for shipping. We look very much forward to the collaboration,” said CEO at Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Stolt Tankers join Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Company joins as a strategic partner committing to collaboration around developing zero-carbon shipping solutions Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Bo Cerup- Simonsen. Through this partnership, the two organisations commit to extensive knowledge sharing and to exploring future fuel pathways where Stolt Tankers bring valuable expertise around the challenges and safety aspects of handling fuels and chemicals both at sea and in terminals. Other possible areas of collaboration include energy efficiency contribute to an open and constructive dialogue between the GEODIS teams and the various players in the field of automatisation, to serve the needs of our customers around the world,” explains Philippe de Carné, Executive Vice President Business Development, Innovation & Business Excellence. “The arrival of increasingly autonomous intelligent robots and a constant search for competitiveness are paving the way for increased automatisation. Such solutions provide great leverage to improve performance and assist in order preparation in e-commerce warehouses, reducing repetitive tasks, but also gaining quality and reactivity. I am delighted to have joined GEODIS, a world leader in supply chain management, to support this development. The mobilisation of opportunities and new technologies where Stolt Tankers have a long history of looking across and beyond the shipping industry as a driver of innovative solutions. As a partner, Stolt Tankers will directly contribute through secondments of R&D- and shipping experts and test capacity at its vessels in relevant demonstration projects and activities. all the existing skills within the Group and the team I am building will be a great support for our customers,” says Antoine Pretin.JUNE - JULY 2021 | UPDATE 7LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Maersk is supporting the fight against the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India by facilitating the logistics and supply chain of medical relief. Maersk has offered its ocean transportation service to institutions and organisations participating in medical relief at a nominal rate of $1 per container. All commercial air freight shipments facilitated by Maersk India are being done on a zero-profit basis. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us several lessons – empathy being one of the most important ones of them all. The crisis has urged us all to go beyond our business and support the society when it needs it the most. Fifteen of our top executives from different functions voluntarily got together in the early days of the second wave and put together ‘Project Oxygen War Room’, or POWR as they called it, to help society fight the virus,” said Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia. He added, “The team went far beyond their Maersk supports imports and distribution of medical aid in India to fight the COVID-19 pandemic More than 6,000 oxygen concentrators, 500 oxygen cylinders, 60 cryogenic oxygen tanks, medical supplies and ventilators were transported into the country by A.P. Moller - Maersk Vol ga-D nepr G roup a nd Astral Av iation Limite d have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster cooperation in the humanitarian sector. A new level of collaboration will strengthen both parties’ capabilities and contribute to uninterrupted and stable supply chains of healthcare products, among them COVID -19 vaccines taking the first place. “Volga-Dnepr Group and Astral Aviation Limited have both extensive experience when it comes to working with UN agencies, public entities, authorities and not for profit organisations,” said Yulia Celetaria, Global Healthcare Director of Volga-Dnepr Group. “That, together with companies’ competence, healthcare capabilities and proven track record of successful pharma transportations will enable us to significantly enhance the distribution of vaccines across the African continent which will result in Volga-Dnepr Group and Astral Aviation Limited unite forces Companies link together in the humanitarian sector with Memorandum of Understanding day-to-day jobs to create a platform for buyers to meet sellers and implemented logistics for the medical aid coming into India. They worked relentlessly to put everything into action – from enabling charter planes to rapid clearances of emergency cargo to setting up visibility dashboards for transparency across different stakeholders involved in the transportation of the goods.” When the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit India, the medical infrastructure came under pressure. An acute shortage of oxygen supply in hospitals led to almost all the industrial oxygen manufacturing in the country being diverted for medical purposes. However, the challenge of transporting the oxygen to medical facilities posed an even bigger roadblock due to a lack of cryogenic oxygen tanks that are required for transporting the medical oxygen. Maersk stepped in and, through its network, connected the sellers of tanks and oxygen concentrators from around the world to the organisations that were willing to lease or buy them in India. The Maersk India team worked relentlessly to put everything into action – from enabling charter planes to rapid clearances of emergency cargo to setting up visibility dashboards for transparency across different stakeholders involved in the transportation of the goods. acceleration of vaccination rate. Apart from vaccines, we will also work under a synchronised flow of goods making sure that vaccines and ancillary supplies are delivered together to support the ongoing vaccination programme. This cooperation resonates with the basic values of the Group which are health support, collaboration and bringing value through our products and services,” The Group, which consist of Volga-Dnepr Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines and ATRAN Airlines, will cooperate with Astral to intensify their efforts in the dedicated air freight transportation space, both through scheduled and charter options, powered by a diversified fleet of freighters. This humanitarian partnership will embrace not only the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, and the distribution of other vaccines, mainly between Russia and Africa, but it will also concentrate on delivering ancillary supplies, healthcare products, such as personnal protective equipmen. It will also deliver aid and relief emergency response.COMMENT | ORANGE 8JUNE - JULY 2021 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com rapid transformation across most industry sectors during the pandemic – perhaps the most dramatic example is the education sector which has had to adapt to 100% online learning within days. The region’s smartest city Dubai con- tinues to lead. The 2040 Urban Master Plan is another clear commitment to grow and consolidate the city’s status as a pre- eminent global city with the ambition to connect the world. Innovations continue - the Dubai-led World Logistics Passport (WLP) is the first global freight loyalty program, launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, to increase opportuni- ties for trade between emerging markets. It is already rolling out to a worldwide network of trade mega hubs in 11 nations. Dubai’s new international trade roadmap The pandemic has accel- erated the need to rethink supply chains from the perspective of data and is the latest in a series of global risk events which have exposed vulnerabilities in sup- ply chains. It has severely impacted revenues, margins, customer satis- faction and loyalty levels, exacerbat- ing the problems of geopolitics (trade wars, changes in industrial strategy and tariff s/taxes), natural disasters (tsunamis) and cyberattacks in recent years. In addition, climate change and sustainability have risen up the agenda during the pandemic. They are seen as signifi cant challenges at a global and national level and by busi- nesses and consumers. Real-time data intelligence is the future of supply chains but relies on local digital infrastructure, says Advait Thakur, IoT & Analytics Solutions Expert IMEAR, Orange Business Services SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION AT THE CROSSROADS OF THE WORLD According to Orange Business Services’ recent research report Real-time Intel- ligence and the Future of Supply Chains, real-time data can now be captured in cost-effective ways to power better work- flows that extend across an ecosystem of business partners. However, just 45% of respondents to the survey say they are using real-time data insights to drive bet- ter decision-making today. That figure is likely to double over the next two years: 44% say they have plans to launch real- time data initiatives. Real-time data as a growth driver for the region Here in the Middle East, the advanced digital infrastructure in smart cities across the region has provided the foundation for ORANGE | COMMENT 9LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | JUNE - JULY 2021www.logisticsmiddleeast.com includes shipping and air routes that cur- rently connect to more than 400 cities worldwide with ambitions to expand this to 200 more cities. As HH Sheikh Moham- med bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, is quoted as saying that Dubai’s destiny is to be the world’s leading airport and harbour. Towards a data-driven business These ambitions and op- portunities highlight a need for a radical rethink about the role of data to drive more ef- ficient supply chain ecosystems. How can supply chains become more dynamic, responsive and sustainable in a world that is changing faster than ever before? Four crucial digital levers can help businesses address these challenges; re- al-time data and hyperautomation, smart factories, smart asset tracking, and digital monitoring and management of environ- mental, social and governance issues. It is not just in global or regional lo- gistics that real-time data has become increasingly essential. Without real-time visibility on the whole supply chain, ac- curate demand forecasting is challeng- ing. Our customer feedback shows that currently, most forecasting tools are still sequential, and all the players in the ecosystem make and share their pre- dictions, sometimes based on outdated information. There is undoubtedly a clear need for real-time data to help orchestrate the entire supply chain eco- system using common data standards. This means there is an opportunity for an overhaul of the technology. Our customer feedback also shows a need to collect real-time data at critical moments and share insights with ecosys- tem partners and employees in frontline roles in ways that make sense for them. Physically producing and moving goods FA ST FACT 44% OF COMPANIES PLAN TO ROLL OUT REAL TIME DATA INITIATIVES Advait Thakur, IoT & Analytics Solutions Expert IMEAR, Orange Business Services around the world is still very much a peo- ple business. At the same time, we see a growing need for AI-enabled supply chain planning and execution systems to take real-time data and turn it into insights and action. Either through au- tomated systems or digital work instruc- tions for employees in frontline roles. Asset tracking data and manage- ment as a passport for the future Smart asset tracking is helping firms to deal with the challenges associated with sourcing goods from a broader range of offshore locations – and this is important. The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, which measures the logistics ca- pabilities of the world’s major countries, includes ‘track and trace’ as one of the six strength indicators that make a loca- tion attractive to source goods from. The UAE ranks 11th in the world in the latest (2018) index. With Dubai’s very strong digital in- frastructure and commitment to inno- vation, it is well placed to support the supply chain digital transformation at the world’s crossroads. Next >