Gulftainer unveils new vision and global expansion goals

Sharjah: Gulftainer, one of the world's largest privately owned port management and logistics companies, based in Sharjah, unveiled yesterday a new vision and identity as one of the most competitive and recognisable terminal operators in the world. At the launch event, held at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Khaled Bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports Authority, the company also revealed a new brand identity, which reflects its expanding footprint into new international markets and a design that focuses on a spirit of partnership, strength, and reliability, three of Gulftainer's core business pillars. Having recently become the largest terminal operator in the Middle East in terms of the number of terminals operated, as a result of its majority acquisition of Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which saw it take full management of the ports of the terminals of North Container Terminal, Jeddah, Jubail Container Terminal and Jubail Industrial Port, Gulftainer senior management pointed out that its success of recent years has been a collaborative effort. Gulftainer has seen consistent growth over the past decade, averaging more than 12 per cent compared to global market growth of 8.6 per cent in the same period. In 2012, Gulftainer's terminal at Khorfakkan was the fastest growing transhipment hub in the world with 28% growth. This year, Gulftainer expects to surpass 6 million TEUs and current projections anticipate up to 18 million TEUs by 2020, handling more than 10,000 vessel calls each year. Today, the company's portfolio covers four UAE operations in Khorfakkan, Sharjah, Hamriyah and Ruwais, as well as activities in Iraq at Umm Qasr, Recife in Brazil, Tripoli Port in Lebanon, and its recent acquisition in Saudi Arabia. With further global partnerships in the pipeline, Gulftainer estimates its global footprint will target 35 terminals and a place in the top six Global Container Terminal Operators. – Emirates News Agency, WAM