Director – Automotive

Syria unveils $300 million Damascus tourism project to boost economy. The Beaumont will be 'prime' destination for company headquarters and create up to 6,000 jobs. April 07, 2026 Syria's government has unveiled a $300 million tourism mega-project in Damascus, the latest initiative to boost its revitalised post-sanctions economy. The 77,000-square metre business centre, named The Beaumont, will be built near the high-traffic and symbolic heart of the capital city, Umayyad Square. The aim is to create a "prime" destination where national and regional companies will set up their headquarters, the Ministry of Tourism said in a statement on Tuesday. Umayyad Square connects key roads and is home to historic and modern buildings that are significant to Syria's culture and economy, particularly for hospitality, retail and tourism. The development will be realised through a 50-year joint venture between the Ministry of Tourism and Riyadh-based Ezdihar Holding. Tourism Minister Mazen Al Salhani told The National in January that Syria requires as much as $100 billion in investment over the next seven years to revive its tourism sector as it seeks to bring back international visitors and create jobs. The country aims to attract funds to rehabilitate its cultural heritage sites, rebuild hotels, construct new resorts and entertainment cities and overhaul its infrastructure. The Beaumont will be constructed in phases and is expected to be completed within four years, the ministry said. Up to 2,500 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs are to be created from the development. The project will feature two flagship towers - one five-star hotel and a residential building - along the Barada River, a retail area, food and drink outlets, and a business centre, the ministry said. The Beaumont is a "pivotal milestone for Syria's tourism sector, representing a major leap in our efforts to revitalise the industry and enhance the country's appeal as a premier investment destination", Mr Al Salhani said in Tuesday's statement. "Projects of this scale stimulate economic growth, attract high-quality investment, create sustainable jobs and reinforce confidence in Syria's future." Syria's economy continues to open up following the toppling of Bashar Al Assad's regime and the removal of western sanctions last year. Gulf states and other regional countries are moving quickly to invest in Syria's future, launching diplomatic, financial and infrastructure support. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have jointly paid off Syria's $15.5 million debt to the World Bank and Damascus has signed energy deals worth billions of dollars with Qatar and Egypt. The takeover of major oilfields by the Syrian government from Kurdish forces is also expected to help boost oil revenue and reduce imports. Dubai port operator DP World has signed an $800 million agreement to develop the port of Tartus, while Emirati businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor has said he would consider investments in Syria. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara also held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, where the leaders discussed collaboration in energy, technology, education and health. In January, Syria approved a $10.5 billion budget for 2026, nearly triple last year's total. Updated: April 07, 2026, 7:28 AM

DP World: how new routes are speeding housing supply chains. April 07, 2026 DP World and Ichijo Komuten expand Japan-Philippines shipping, cutting transit times and improving supply chain efficiency for prefabricated housing DP World and Ichijo Komuten are expanding a key Japan-Philippines trade corridor as rising demand for prefabricated housing drives the need for faster, more resilient supply chain models across Asia-Pacific. The strengthened partnership centres on a new weekly maritime service operated by CMA CGM, connecting Sendai in Japan with major Philippine ports. The route enhances access to terminals in Manila and Batangas, enabling faster and more reliable movement of prefabricated housing materials. Marking the first regular international shipping connection between Sendai and the Philippines in eight years, the service is designed to reinforce cargo flows tied to Ichijo's operations, which manufacture housing components in the Philippines for export to Japan. By integrating direct shipping links with end-to-end logistics capabilities, DP World is aiming to reduce transit times and improve visibility across the supply chain. Its partner terminals act as key gateways, supported by inland transport and marine services that help ease congestion and streamline delivery from port to production sites. This expanded route underpins Ichijo's broader supply chain ecosystem in the Philippines, where local manufacturing and procurement operations play a central role in producing prefabricated housing components for export. These components are then shipped back to Japan to meet growing housing demand across the Asia-Pacific region. DP World also supports domestic logistics in Japan, ensuring cargo moves efficiently from origin points to regional ports ahead of export. Together, these capabilities create a more seamless connection between origin and destination markets, an increasingly important factor as construction supply chains seek greater predictability and speed. Integrated supply chains. The initiative reflects a wider industry shift towards distributed manufacturing models, where production is strategically located across regions to balance cost, scalability and resilience. By combining global network reach with local expertise, DP World and Ichijo aim to deliver more consistent material flows and support time-sensitive construction timelines. This focus on integrated, high-performance supply chains is mirrored in DP World's broader global operations. In India, the company has demonstrated growing terminal capacity at its facility in Cochin, which set a new benchmark for single vessel handling. The terminal processed more than 8,000 TEUs from the arrival of the MSC Ilaria, the highest volume ever handled in a single vessel call at the port. The 366-metre ultra large container vessel, with a capacity exceeding 16,000 TEUs, highlights the increasing scale of global shipping and the corresponding need for ports to handle larger vessels efficiently. This milestone reflects continued infrastructure investment, including new ship-to-shore cranes, electrified yard equipment and expanded yard capacity of around 1.4 million TEUs. These upgrades are improving productivity, enabling faster turnaround times and supporting more efficient cargo handling across key trade routes. Critical role in global trade. Located close to major international shipping lanes and cargo hubs in southern India, the Cochin facility plays a critical role in regional and global trade. Its connectivity across coastal and international networks, combined with an integrated free trade warehousing zone, strengthens its position as a strategic gateway for EXIM flows. Alongside expanding capacity and connectivity, DP World is also embedding sustainability into its operations, an increasingly important dimension of modern supply chain strategy. The company's recent Gold rating from EcoVadis places it among the top 1% of transportation companies assessed globally. Glen Hilton, CEO and Managing Director for Asia Pacific at DP World, says the company is focused on delivering measurable impact across its regional operations: "In Asia Pacific, Supply Chain Digital is focused on practical shifts that deliver measurable impact. "At Laem Chabang in Thailand, electric internal transfer vehicles are already reducing emissions, with full fleet electrification targeted by 2030. "In Australia, the planned rail extension at Port Botany will cut congestion and road-based emissions. "And in the Philippines, Batangas Integrated Port now operates on 100% renewable energy. "These initiatives reflect a broader approach for Supply Chain Digital as a company, embedding sustainability into how Supply Chain Digital design, build and operate supply chains. "The opportunity now is to scale this further, working closely with customers and partners to accelerate the transition to lower-carbon trade." As global trade corridors evolve, DP World's approach, linking route expansion, port capacity and sustainability, highlights how supply chain leaders are building more connected, scalable and future-ready logistics networks across Asia-Pacific. Executives. * Glen Hilton CEO & Managing Director Asia Pacific. Company portals.

DP World Kochi sets 8,000 TEU single-vessel record. : DP World Cochin has handled over 8,000 TEUs from a single vessel for the first time, with MSC Ilaria's 366-metre call surpassing the terminal's previous record of 6,000-plus TEUs. DP World Kochi has handled over 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) - including import, export, and transshipment volumes - from a single vessel call, the highest volume ever achieved at the terminal. The vessel, MSC Ilaria, is 366 metres in length and surpasses the previous record set by MSC Aurora, which handled over 6,000 TEUs. Vessel specifications. MSC Ilaria has a capacity of 16,616 TEUs, a beam of 51 metres, a deadweight tonnage of 1,71,079 tonnes, and a maximum draft of 17 metres. The vessel is classified as an Ultra Large Container Vessel (ULCV). DP World Cochin expanded its capacity through infrastructure investments including new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, electrified Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (e-RTGs), and expanded yard space, taking the terminal's total capacity to approximately 14 lakh TEUs. Power infrastructure has been upgraded from 3 MVA to 5 MVA. The terminal has achieved 100% electrification of yard cranes and operates an in-house solar plant to reduce carbon footprint. Trade connectivity. Dipin Kayyath, Chief Executive Officer - Ports and Terminals, DP World Cochin, said that handling a vessel of this scale for the first time marked a milestone for the team and reinforced the terminal's role as South India's premier gateway, and that it reflected the terminal's commitment to serving global trade with upgraded infrastructure including new quay cranes, expanded yard space, and e-RTGs. The terminal is located with minimal deviation from international sea routes and in proximity to key cargo origins in Kerala and Southwest Tamil Nadu. It provides coastal connectivity across India, from Gujarat to Kolkata. DP World has also developed Kerala's first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) within Cochin Port, the only facility in India co-located within a major port.