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Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
May 24, 2019
by Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

Saudi’s first blockchain shipment a success

blockchain shipment
The Customs department of Saudi Arabia has reported a successful trial of its first shipment powered by blockchain under the Kingdom’s partnership program with TradeLens.

In an online article of FreightWaves, a data and news provider on the logistics industry, reported that Saudi Customs conducted its pilot shipping project involving blockchain technology with the assistance of TradeLens – an innovative platform created through the collaboration of two international giant companies Maersk and IBM.

To establish the Kingdom as one of the world’s premier logistics hub, Saudi Customs Governor Ahmed Al-Hakbani said the oil-rich Middle East state should create a paradigm shift in its shipping system and explore futuristic approaches with its peer-to-peer business ecosystem worldwide.

Loaded onboard the container ship Maersk Sebarok, the pilot shipment left Saudi Arabia’s Port of Damman and successfully arrived at the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands, from where the container was transported by a truck to reach its final destination in Belgium.

The Saudi Customs said that during the trial, the cargo was monitored in the TradeLens platform in a structured format for key shipment events and document milestones. It added that using blockchain-backed documentation, data from the shipment’s records were analyzed by customs authorities and the cargo owners through the TradeLens platform.

“We hope our pilot program will stand the test of time to include other ports as well, and not just the route of exporting, but importing also. We chose to embark on this tech journey knowing that change is uncomfortable, but it is inevitable to be a leading global player,” Al-Hakbani said.

The Saudi Customs started this initiative in 2018 when it merged its FASAH system with TradeLens – a blockchain-enabled shipping solution designed to promote more efficient and secure global trade. FASAH is the Kingdom's national platform which connects all government and private enterprises involved in cross border commerce.

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Saudi’s first blockchain shipment a success
Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon
For over a decade, JRCS has gained a vast experience from inside and outside of a newsroom during his stint as a deskman and writer of The Daily Tribune, one of the Philippines' major daily broadsheets published in English. He held some of the newpaper's vital sections such as Metro, Nation, World and even Frontpage. He also wrote feature articles for Lifestyle section for the past years. Aside from writing and copy editing tasks, the author has also excelled in layout and proofreading.

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