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University of Hull embarks on joint venture with Moroccan logistics provider

The University of Hull has announced it is set to enter a new partnership with Moroccan logistics service provider, SNTL Group.

Working with state-owned but privately managed transport company, staff from the uni’s Logistics Institute are set to begin working on two supply chain and logistics related projects. Together, the pair will be jointly developing a new logistics hub index, will will be used to measure the potential of countries, particularly in Africa, to become logistics hubs.

The joint venture to develop the index was agreed after Professor Amar Ramudhin, Director of the Logistics Institute, visited Morocco to give a talk on emerging trends in the logistics sector.

Professor Ramudhin said: “This collaboration will give the University visibility in a modern, rapidly developing country in a key location for international trade.

“Currently, we don’t have a profile in French-speaking countries in Africa, so in that respect, it’s a first.

“For the Logistics Institute, it brings added credibility to be able to showcase our expertise in emerging countries such as Morocco. It builds on the work I have done before with Georgia Tech Panama to position that country as the logistics hub of the Americas.”

Mohamed Benouda, CEO, SNTL Group, said: “We strongly believe in the potential for partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom.

“Economic relations between the two are booming. The UK is one of Morocco’s oldest trading partners and one of the top ten foreign investors in the country. The Kingdom of Morocco, with its political stability and good economic performance, is already the largest partner of the United Kingdom in the Maghreb region.”

Professor Ramudhin hopes the logistics hub development index could become as important as the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) in judging the logistic state of countries.

He added: “People talk about the LPI developed by the World Bank. I’m hoping our index becomes one of those that people immediately refer to when they talk about logistics.”

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