CMA CGM reopens
local headquarters

Eyeing port projects

To grow to 1,100 workers in 2022

Following a total blow-out from the Port Explosion, CMA CGM Group has completed the repair of the damages and reopened on Thursday its reconstructed local headquarters, in the presence of senior officials and business leaders. The French-based, Lebanese part-owned group is a world leader in maritime development, shipping, and logistics.

Rodolphe Saadé, the group’s chairman, said that his company will participate in a tender for the container terminal concession, expected to be launched by the end of this week. He has also reiterated his willingness to take part in the reconstruction of the Port of Beirut.

Saadé said that his group will continue to support the Lebanese economy. One of the group’s units, CEVA Logistics Lebanon Packing House, based in the Bekaa, serves the local agricultural sector by facilitating the export of crops to European markets.

Merit, another company of the CMA CGM Group, acquired earlier this year Rifai Nuts (Al Rifai Roastery).

The group’s future plans include opening a Global Business Center in the region to cater to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.

The group will also expand The Hub digital center by recruiting data scientists, cloud engineers, and others. Its current team includes experts from various digital fields such as blockchain and data engineering.

CMA CGM plans to increase its local workforce from 900 to 1,100 employees by the end of 2022. It had 250 employees in 2019. Its global workforce totals 110,000 employees.

The group’s foundation has shipped more than 4,000 tons of humanitarian aid free of charge as part of its ‘Containers of Hope’ program. It catered to more than 30 Lebanese NGOs and hospitals. The foundation will cover the tuition fees of 1,000 school students. It will also cover tuition for 20 students per year for the coming ten years to pursue their studies at HEC Paris.

“As the CMA CGM Group continues to expand internationally, being a family group, it is proudly attached to its Lebanese roots,” read a company statement

CMA CGM has a presence in 160 countries through 755 offices, 750 warehouses, and a fleet of 566 vessels. It serves 420 of the world's 521 commercial ports and operates 285 shipping lines.