Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium expands reach via four key partnerships

The four companies cover 80 per cent of the world’s countries and transported over four million tons of air freight cargo globally last year

by Zainab Mansoor

December 17, 2020

Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium has secured a strategic agreement with four international freight forwarders to bolster its distribution reach.

Latest entrants to the consortium include Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel, which will help address logistical challenges, including ‘last mile’, with a capacity of billions of Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of 2021.

Spearheaded by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium partnered with the transport companies based on their abilities to safely deliver vaccine doses under cold and ultra-cold conditions between transportation hubs, warehouses, medical facilities and other final destinations in over 170 countries. The four companies cover 80 per cent of the world’s countries and transported over four million tons of air freight cargo globally last year.

The Hope Consortium consists of Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Ports, Rafed – the healthcare purchasing arm of Abu Dhabi-based ADQ and Switzerland’s SkyCell, which develops temperature-controlled logistics containers for the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Jamal Mohammed Alkaabi, undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Hope Consortium’s success relies upon the collaboration of public sector entities and leading private sector companies across the global logistics supply chain. The addition of Agility, Aramex, Hellmann and Kuehne + Nagel provides solid support and expertise to address multiple challenges, including the ‘last mile’ vaccine distribution challenge.”

With operations in more than 100 countries, Agility is a freight forwarding and contract logistics provider, and one of the largest private owners and developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

“As a strategic partner, Agility Abu Dhabi is committed to help drive Abu Dhabi’s growth vision,” noted Khadim Al Darei, chairman of Agility Abu Dhabi. “During the early months of Covid-19, Agility supported projects related to food security and medical equipment supply chain. Through the Hope Consortium, we look forward to utilising our global logistics footprint and warehousing network to make a difference on a global scale.”

Aramex is a global provider of comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, its services including international and domestic express delivery, freight-forwarding, logistics and supply chain management.

“Aramex is proud to be a trusted partner playing a leading role in the worldwide distribution of vital SARS-CoV2 vaccines,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, chairman of Aramex.

“Our global operating network across over 65 countries, expertise in providing logistics and transportation solution across the value chain – from laboratories to healthcare facility – and our facilities – from warehouse to van fleets – puts us in a very strong position to be a reliable partner in the Hope Consortium. Our part of the promise is to help deliver a portion of the billions of vaccine doses to their target populations on-time and in accordance with the world’s most stringent health and safety standards.”

Germany-headquartered Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has a global network of around 500 branches in more than 173 countries, and specialises in supply chain solutions for key industries.

Reiner Heiken, chief executive officer, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, said: “To ensure that vital products such as vaccines and other life-saving pharmaceutical products are handled with the highest integrity and safety, we have globally established Hellmann Healthcare Logistics. People, processes, infrastructure and digitalisation are the foundation of our healthcare network and enable us to offer compliant, transparent and innovative transportation and distribution solutions.”

With over 78,000 employees at 1,400 locations in over 100 countries, logistics company Kuehne+Nagel moved 4.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by sea freight, 1.6 million tons by air freight, operated 32,500 truck departures a day in Europe and managed 11.4 million square metres of logistics and warehousing space.

“By joining Hope Consortium, we bring in the Kuehne+Nagel CEIV accredited global network of cool facilities, long-standing experience of large vaccine shipments and dedicated Pharma and Healthcare specialists that will ensure fast, safe and secure transportation,” said Robert Coyle, senior vice president, pharma and healthcare strategy at Kuehne+Nagel.