Transportation Ministry joins IPCSA

Manama, Apr. 24 (BNA): The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has officially joined the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA), marking a step forward in enhancing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s role in digital transformation and logistics integration.

Bader Hood Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, held a virtual meeting with Nico De Cauwer, Secretary-General of IPCSA, and Inga Morton, General Manager of IPCSA. The meeting reviewed IPCSA’s current activities and discussed means for cooperation to support Bahrain’s position as a regional logistics hub.

Al Mahmood commended IPCSA’s role in promoting digital transformation across ports and logistics services. He noted that Bahrain’s membership supports the ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve the Kingdom’s ranking in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, particularly in customs and maritime operations.

De Cauwer expressed his appreciation for Bahrain’s accession to IPCSA, highlighting its potential to support the Kingdom’s efforts in trade facilitation and digital integration in maritime transport. He noted that membership provides a platform for sharing expertise and best practices among global port community system operators.

IPCSA is recognised internationally for its work in developing and managing Port Community Systems (PCS) and Single Window platforms. It represents PCS operators from seaports and airports worldwide and plays a key role in enabling the digital exchange of information to streamline cross border cargo movement.

This membership coincides with the ministry’s broader efforts to enhance inter-agency coordination across the supply chain. These efforts include the "Ofoq 2" initiative, a unified platform developed by Customs Affairs to simplify and accelerate import and export procedures through a system that connects all relevant government entities.