MANAMA, Bahrain: January 10, 2019. Agility Logistics has opened a 28,500 square metre regional logistics and distribution hub in the Kingdom to expand its warehousing, freight, transport and specialty operations.

The new facility, which has storage capacity of 17,000 pallet positions, represents a US$10 million investment by Agility and follows expansion of the company’s overland fleet in Bahrain.

The company says the new hub supports contract logistics with ambient, chilled and frozen storage as well as secure records management and storage and turnkey logistics for Bahrain-based manufacturers in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.

“With an expanding population in the GCC and an increase in demand for integrated logistics services, our investment in Bahrain will help us better serve customers in the region,” said Essa Al-Saleh, CEO of Agility Global Integrated Logistics. "Bahrain is one of our key operational markets in the Middle East and the opening of our new facility is a testament to our commitment to this promising market.”

The World Bank forecasts the country's economy to grow 2.6 percent in 2019, driven by higher oil production and “mega projects”. In 2017 the total value of foreign direct investment (FDI) reached US$733 million of which 10 percent was in transport and logistics.

“Bahrain offers the lowest setup and operating costs for a logistics business with cost savings of 30 to 40 percent compared to the rest of the GCC,” noted Said Khalid Al Rumaihi, CEO of the Bahrain Economic Development Board.

“This has encouraged several companies to utilize our ports and free zones in order to set up businesses and access the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab world. Agility’s investments in the local logistics industry are testament to the business confidence that Bahrain provides,” he added.