Amazon has announced the launch of the latest iteration of its global Delivery Service Partner programme that empowers local entrepreneurs to set up and manage their own logistics businesses delivering Amazon packages.
Saudi Arabia is the first country in the region to host the flagship programme, which will be expanded to cover the MENA region at a later stage. Launched in collaboration with Monsha’at the General Authority for SMEs, it aims to establish more than 30 new local start-ups and create hundreds of job opportunities within the local logistics sector during the programme’s first three years.
The Delivery Service Partner programme was announced during a ceremony held at Monsha’at’s headquarters in Riyadh and attended by the Authority’s Governor Eng. Saleh Al-Rasheed and Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon MENA.
Saudi entrepreneurs who join the Delivery Service Partner programme can take advantage of benefits, including a specific delivery volume from Amazon, access to the company’s sophisticated delivery technology, hands-on training, and discounts on a suite of assets and services such as Amazon-branded vehicles, branded uniforms, and comprehensive insurance.
In the previous year, Amazon signed an MoU with Monsha’at to empower local seller SMEs. Amazon’s new initiative to nurture logistics start-ups further aligns with Monsha’at’s vision to incentivise and invest in SMEs. As the programme grows, it will create hundreds of jobs in the logistics sector across the country, supporting Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning eCommerce sector and upskilling local talent with future-ready skills.
“Small and medium enterprises are a key contributor to the national economy, and we at Monsha’at are keen to support and enable this vital sector through several programs, agreements and public-private sector partnerships.
This initiative from Amazon clearly reflects this spirit of cooperation and represents a key outcome of the agreements signed during the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), which was organised by Monsha’at in cooperation with the Global Entrepreneurship Network.
We look forward to this ambitious program achieving its goal of supporting the entrepreneurial environment in the Kingdom and emerging as a leading model for partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said Eng. Saleh Al-Rasheed, Monsha’at Governor.
“Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurs inspire us with their vision, grit, and ingenuity as they set new benchmarks in customer-centric thinking every day. At Amazon, we reiterate our commitment to championing SMEs across the region.
With our new Delivery Service Partner programme, we provide the tools, technology, and know-how for any interested Saudi entrepreneur to set up and run their own logistics company.
Through this initiative, we aim to empower enterprising innovators, enable start-ups and emerging brands across the Kingdom to realise their full potential, and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s strong, fast-growing digital economy,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon MENA.
Amazon will take an active role in its partnership with each entrepreneur, helping to minimise start-up costs by securing the most favourable terms for resources needed to operate a delivery business.
The first entrepreneur to join the Delivery Service Partner program, Sahal Shuaib, said, “With eCommerce on the rise over the past few years, I had been dreaming about getting into the logistics industry for some time, but did not have the experience or the know-how. When Amazon launched the Delivery Service Partner programme, I realised that my dream became a reality, as the programme provided me access to Amazon’s global logistics experience and technology.
This is an excellent opportunity to learn while I earn and grow my own business. I am proud to say we rolled out our first deliveries to Saudi customers last week. With a specific delivery volume from Amazon and access to its sophisticated tools and assets, the Delivery Service Partner programme represents an outstanding way for budding entrepreneurs to build a thriving business.”
