Free PL: Freedom and Leverage in Logistics

Progress is not possible without freedom. Any society, company or individual that was able to make progress must have had freedom at some social, economic, or political level allowing the unleashing of the powers of ambition, innovation, and excellence. However, leverage must go hand in hand with freedom, creating a perennial dynamic where the flourishing of freedom provides more leverage and vice versa.

In my near 40 years in the logistics industry, I have strived to grow this freedom and leverage, not only for myself and my companies but for the logistics industry in Egypt and the region. I have witnessed firsthand the different phases of the liberalisation of the economy and the integration in the global market with all its ups and downs, its booms, and busts. Still, in a global context where freedom and leverage were so skewed to start with, there remains massive potential to unlock.

From the Slowbalisation that followed the global financial crisis, to political and social unrest in the region and around the world, to a global pandemic, it seems as though circumstances are conspiring against the Middle East and Africa as the ‘last frontier’ of development, and perhaps at this moment in time, the picture may seem especially bleak.

A New Generation

Yet despite that, I remain an optimist, a dreamer, and a big part of that goes down to the free youth of today. Over the last few years, I have followed closely the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs and business people in Egypt specifically and the MEA region generally. Armed with the freedom of their youth, they are also leveraging their education, their networks, and their global outlook to build a new and vibrant ecosystem that is reshaping our economy.

As an active member of the business and logistics community, I have and will continue to support this exciting movement and through FreePL, I am doing this directly as an investor and mentor. On the occasion of FreePL’s first anniversary, I see now more than ever the need for home-grown logistics heroes, looking at the world with feet planted in this region, leveraging technology to solve problems that only people living through can truly understand, proving what myself and others have said for many years about logistics being integral to the economic development of Egypt and the region, and chasing growth with a genuine care for their own-built companies, societies and countries. ?

Better Together

While my generation made its fair share of progress (and continues to) and provided the foundations for what this generation has (the good and the bad), it is clear that we have not had enough local and regional champions, at least in logistics. As we continue our own journeys, it is imperative that we empower the new generation with the freedom and leverage that we have acquired ourselves, through advice, opportunities, partnerships, and funds.

I believe this not only improves their chances of success but ours as well, giving rise to an economy capable of trading with the world more freely and fairly, capitalising on our location and fundamentals to increase our share of global trade and the global economy, maximising opportunities for local populations, and ensuring continuity and sustainability.

Final Thoughts

As I conclude, I turn to all my colleagues in the industry with the following questions, which the team at FreePL and I ask ourselves and look for any and every willing partner to help us answer:

-????????? How will increasing global war and unrest affect global trade and logistics?

-????????? To what extent will e-commerce continue to change the industry?

-????????? Who will be working in logistics in 10, 20 years?

-????????? Can technology take over every aspect of trade and logistics?

-????????? Will classifications of 2PL, 3PL and 4PL still exist in 10 years?

-????????? What will the global logistics industry look like in 5, 10, 20 years?

Are we preparing for it?

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