Emirates leads public-private consortium to ensure safe transport of COVID-19

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is once again at the forefront of international assistance against the pandemic. Since the outbreak of the health crisis, it has sent aid and medical supplies to many countries. In total, 1.6 million health professionals in 120 countries have benefited from the more than 1,675 tonnes of material provided. It even recently sent aid to the Gaza Strip, becoming the first Arab country to do so. The creation of the consortium is a further step in this direction. 

Now comes the extension of The Hope Consortium, a public-private partnership headed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, which has strengthened the scope of distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to a strategic agreement with several international logistics companies such as Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel. Between the four companies involved, they cover 80% of the world's countries and transported more than four million tons of air freight worldwide last year.

The idea is to ensure the safe and effective transport of vaccine in cold and ultra-cold conditions (between 2º-8º and between -20º and -80º), between warehouses and medical facilities in more than 170 countries. 

"The success of the Hope Consortium is based on the collaboration of public sector entities and leading private sector companies throughout the global logistics supply chain. The addition of Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel provides strong support and expertise to address multiple challenges, including the challenge of vaccine distribution. This partnership demonstrates the unparalleled global strength of the Hope Consortium," said Dr Jamal Mohamed al-Kaabi, Under Secretary of the Department of Health.

Agility, one of the partner companies, has operations in more than 100 countries. It is a leading logistics company and a leader in investing in technology to improve supply chain efficiency. It is also a leader in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners of warehouses and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, with over three million square metres.

"During the first months of COVID-19, Agility supported projects related to food safety and medical equipment. We look forward to using our global logistics capacity and storage network to make a difference," said President Khadim al-Darei. "Vaccine logistics will require expertise in specialised handling for the pharmaceutical industry, infrastructure and cold chain storage," said the company's Vice President, Tarek Sultan. 

Aramex, another company involved, offers a range of services including domestic and international express delivery, freight forwarding, logistics and supply chain management. "We are privileged to support health authorities in the global fight against COVID-19. Aramex offers the operational capabilities and experience. In addition, we have been investing to improve our infrastructure to include temperature controlled warehouses and vehicles to ensure the safe handling of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines," said Bashar Obeid, CEO of the company.

The Managing Director of Hellman Worldwide Logistics pointed out that "the pharmaceutical and health industry has never been more important than it is today". And therefore he pointed out the importance of "ensuring that vital products such as vaccines and other life-saving pharmaceuticals are handled with the utmost integrity and safety. His company has 500 branches in more than 173 countries and has a history of 150 years and proven experience in supply chains for key companies. It has also had a clear leadership position in the Middle East for a decade and has health care warehouses in the UAE, which can serve as distribution platforms for the region. 

The Kuehne + Nagel Group will also play an indispensable role. With more than 78,000 employees at 1,400 locations in over 100 countries, it is one of the leading logistics companies in the world. In 2019, the company moved 4.9 million units by sea, 1.6 million tons by air, operated 32,500 truck departures per day in Europe and managed 11.4 million square meters of logistics and storage space. Its experience in vaccine shipments and its team of specialists dedicated to the pharmaceutical and health industry will ensure the rapid and safe transport of the vaccine. "We will facilitate the availability of vaccines around the world," said Robert Coyle, the company's vice president of pharmaceutical and health strategy.