The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), in cooperation with the National Centre for Privatization & PPP (NCP), has announced the launch of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for its latest project.
Through its Priority Concessions Procurement Project, MAWANI is planning the award of eight multi-purpose terminal concessions across eight commercial and industrial ports in Saudi Arabia.
The concessions aim to increase the level of services provided to targeted groups such as the private sector, importers, and exports in order to achieve the port authority’s goal of becoming an international logistics hub, as laid out in its Vision 2030 strategic mission.
The Priority Concessions are expected to be procured under a long-term public-private partnership agreement, using the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model.
“MAWANI intends to improve the existing concession structure, enhance the sector competitiveness and ensure improved ports performance. The Priority Concessions which are shortly expiring, provide MAWANI with an opportunity to revisit the traditionally deployed contractual structure in order to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030,” said the port authority in its RFQ document.
Interested parties have until 9 February 2022 to send in their Submission of Statement Qualification (SOQ).
The qualifications will be evaluated based on technical, financial, and other general evaluation criteria. Submission is open to all interested local and international investors.
MAWANI also recently announced that the King Abdulaziz Port Dammam has been included as one of the key ports of call in the newly launched Gulf China Service (GCS), a new weekly service connecting Central and South China to the Gulf region.
As one of the only two ports in the Middle East included in the GCS, King Abdulaziz Port Dammam plays a pivotal role in ensuring direct and efficient connectivity with China for importers and exporters in the Saudi Kingdom and the wider region.