The growth pace of the regional logistics industry is set to intensify in the year 2020 on the back of boosted UAE growth expectations. The UAE is hosting the region’s first EXPO, in 2020, a mega event which is poised to start in October and for which preparations are in full swing. The growth driven by the event alone can bring huge opportunities for the logistics sector.

“There is a lot of optimism on the growth of the UAE as a result of Expo 2020, whether it’s the general economy, the warehousing and logistics industry or the pace and adoption of the smart technology within the logistics space,” said Shailesh Dash, Chairman of Gulf Pinnacle Logistics, GPL. “Expectations of 2020 for UAE are very high. Businesses are preparing for the increased demand on account of the 2020 mega event because of which logistics industry will be a sure beneficiary. The logistics industry will also continue to witness a rapid advancement in technology this year as more players are adopting artificial intelligence technologies which will help them build a more efficient and sophisticated business,” Dash pointed out. “We are excited about the potential growth of the economy and how GPL which owns a portfolio of companies across warehousing, logistics, last-mile delivery and student transportation, will be one of the natural beneficiaries,” he added.

“For example, the last-mile delivery industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory fueled by rapid growth in the e-commerce space. Century Express, one of GPL’s subsidiaries, has upgraded its technology infrastructure and set-up tie-ups with agents in Asia and the Middle East to better serve its domestic and international clients, entering 2020 with the right team and structure,” he added.

WAM