For decades, ports have been essential to global commerce, but as the world’s interconnected economy grows more complex, these traditional hubs are undergoing a reinvention. The Middle East is embracing this shift through what’s now dubbed tradetech.
With AI, blockchain, and automation in their arsenal, the region’s ports are evolving into high-tech command centers, changing how goods are moved, tracked, and delivered. The focus now shifts to how far these innovations can go in reshaping the future of trade.
Tradetech encompasses innovative technologies and digital solutions transforming global trade and logistics. It includes advancements in automation, IoT, AI, and data analytics. H.E. Hussein Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC), highlights its importance in the Middle East, particularly in ports like Aqaba, which serve as pivotal trade hubs.
For Wael Khalifa, CEO of Agility, tradetech goes beyond individual technologies to integrate processes across customs, ports, and economic zones. He describes it as “advanced digital solutions that transform and integrate end-to-end trade processes, enhancing and streamlining operations across logistics, supply chains, customs, and documentation.”
The Middle East, with its rising trade volumes and strategic position in global commerce, is well-suited for tradetech innovation. Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, stresses its critical role in maintaining the region’s competitive edge, particularly for ports. “Organizations that adopt new technologies are more likely to advance, while those that don’t risk falling behind,” he adds. “The port industry is highly competitive, with tight financial margins and customers constantly seeking lower-cost options.”
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