19 October 2005
MUSCAT -- PWC Logistics is setting up state-of-the-art warehouse facilities in Sohar, Ghala, Salalah, Nizwa and Al Kamil. PWC Logistics has formed a joint venture with W J Towell to create a world-class logistics operation in Oman.
"The capital expenditure for these warehouses and other facilities will exceed RO 5 million", said Chris Clark, Oman Country Manager of PWC Logistics. "We obviously see a huge opportunity in this sector", he added.
Sohar and Salalah warehouses will have an area of 3,000 sq mts each, while Ghala, Nizwa and Al Kamil will have 12,000 sq mts, 2,000 sq mts and 1,000 sq mts respectively. All facilities will offer a wide range of services to the company's customers such as multi temperature storage, transportation and distribution and value-added services such as labelling, packing, co-packing, bundling and returns handling.
Most of the initial focus is going to be on fast moving consumer goods. However, PWC Logistics is also exploring opportunities in areas such as automotive, manufacturing and oilfield logistics.
The logistics firm is expected to play an active role in providing logistics services to the clustered food village, which is proposed near the Sohar Industrial Port. An Omani-Dutch consortium has taken initiatives to set up the ambitious project involving investments in agriculture, fishing and processing activities.
In developed logistics markets, as much as 45 per cent of logistics services are outsourced from third party providers, but it is estimated that merely 8 per cent of logistics services are outsourced in the Sultanate, Clark said. "We obviously see a huge opportunity in this sector", he noted. It is estimated that the total spend of Omani companies is $69 million on warehousing and $169 million on transportation every year.
Clark noted that Kuwait and the UAE led the GCC countries in promoting third party logistics. "Oman and Saudi Arabia are expected to follow", he added.
"We give advice to our customers on how to effectively manage their supply chain ensuring that the right goods are in the right place at the right time, whilst at the same time minimising unnecessary inventory", he added.
PWC Logistics is the leading provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions in the Middle East. Through its network of warehouses and transportation services, the company offers its customers flexible solutions tailored to meet their business needs.
The Kuwait-based company offers specialised solutions to a wide range of industries, including apparel and footwear, automotive, consumer and industrial electronics, consumer packaged goods, food and grocery, governmental and military organisations and oil and petrochemicals.
The company strives to build long-term strategic partnerships with its clients by delivering real value through improved inventory management, reduced warehousing and transportation costs and increased customer service levels.
PWC Logistics' core services include warehousing, distribution, inventory management, transportation and freight management. Its fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions start with demand planning and procurement and end with delivery to the retailer or end consumer and invoicing. The company has grown rapidly over the past four years to become the region's dominant force in the sector. The latest move by the Kuwait-based multinational was the $454 million purchase of global freight forwarder, GeoLogistics.
Following the acquisitions earlier this year of the Singapore events and exhibitions logistics specialists, TransLink, and of the New Orleans-based project forwarding company, Transoceanic, the deal has turned PWC into a truly global logistics giant. Its combined revenue will top $3 billion per annum, with a workforce exceeding 12,000 people and more than 450 offices located in over one hundred countries spread across six continents.
MUSCAT -- PWC Logistics is setting up state-of-the-art warehouse facilities in Sohar, Ghala, Salalah, Nizwa and Al Kamil. PWC Logistics has formed a joint venture with W J Towell to create a world-class logistics operation in Oman.
"The capital expenditure for these warehouses and other facilities will exceed RO 5 million", said Chris Clark, Oman Country Manager of PWC Logistics. "We obviously see a huge opportunity in this sector", he added.
Sohar and Salalah warehouses will have an area of 3,000 sq mts each, while Ghala, Nizwa and Al Kamil will have 12,000 sq mts, 2,000 sq mts and 1,000 sq mts respectively. All facilities will offer a wide range of services to the company's customers such as multi temperature storage, transportation and distribution and value-added services such as labelling, packing, co-packing, bundling and returns handling.
Most of the initial focus is going to be on fast moving consumer goods. However, PWC Logistics is also exploring opportunities in areas such as automotive, manufacturing and oilfield logistics.
The logistics firm is expected to play an active role in providing logistics services to the clustered food village, which is proposed near the Sohar Industrial Port. An Omani-Dutch consortium has taken initiatives to set up the ambitious project involving investments in agriculture, fishing and processing activities.
In developed logistics markets, as much as 45 per cent of logistics services are outsourced from third party providers, but it is estimated that merely 8 per cent of logistics services are outsourced in the Sultanate, Clark said. "We obviously see a huge opportunity in this sector", he noted. It is estimated that the total spend of Omani companies is $69 million on warehousing and $169 million on transportation every year.
Clark noted that Kuwait and the UAE led the GCC countries in promoting third party logistics. "Oman and Saudi Arabia are expected to follow", he added.
"We give advice to our customers on how to effectively manage their supply chain ensuring that the right goods are in the right place at the right time, whilst at the same time minimising unnecessary inventory", he added.
PWC Logistics is the leading provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions in the Middle East. Through its network of warehouses and transportation services, the company offers its customers flexible solutions tailored to meet their business needs.
The Kuwait-based company offers specialised solutions to a wide range of industries, including apparel and footwear, automotive, consumer and industrial electronics, consumer packaged goods, food and grocery, governmental and military organisations and oil and petrochemicals.
The company strives to build long-term strategic partnerships with its clients by delivering real value through improved inventory management, reduced warehousing and transportation costs and increased customer service levels.
PWC Logistics' core services include warehousing, distribution, inventory management, transportation and freight management. Its fully integrated, end-to-end supply chain solutions start with demand planning and procurement and end with delivery to the retailer or end consumer and invoicing. The company has grown rapidly over the past four years to become the region's dominant force in the sector. The latest move by the Kuwait-based multinational was the $454 million purchase of global freight forwarder, GeoLogistics.
Following the acquisitions earlier this year of the Singapore events and exhibitions logistics specialists, TransLink, and of the New Orleans-based project forwarding company, Transoceanic, the deal has turned PWC into a truly global logistics giant. Its combined revenue will top $3 billion per annum, with a workforce exceeding 12,000 people and more than 450 offices located in over one hundred countries spread across six continents.
By A E James
© Oman Daily Observer 2005
