DHL EXPRESS HAS LANDED IN MUSCAT
As DHL Express opened doors to a new logistics facility at Muscat International Airport, it also opened its regional headquarters. The subsidiary of global logistics company DHL Group has invested more than $31 million in Muscat’s main airport over two decades. The over-135,800-sq.-ft. site’s features include a service center, customs clearance services, over 86,000 sq. ft. of built-up space and an import and export gateway. DHL Express’ strategic decision to expand in Oman will aid in streamlining logistics and distribution services, as the facility looks to sort and dispatch up to 3,000 packages per hour. In line with the country’s Oman Vision 2040 goals, the company equipped the site with solar panels for renewable energy generation, energy-efficient lighting and advanced climate control systems.
Photo courtesy of AstraZeneca
GLOBAL R&D HUB RECIEVES BOOST
In partnership with Invest Ontario, biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will move forward with an expansion of its global R&D hub in Mississauga. The $820 million project is expected to strengthen the company’s R&D capabilities and enhance clinical trial design in oncology, immunology and infectious diseases. AstraZeneca’s decision to expand its base in Ontario was based on the province’s expertise in AI development, in addition to a robust life sciences ecosystem. “AstraZeneca’s continued investment in Ontario is crucial to advancing innovative medicines that treat, prevent and may one day cure complex diseases like prostate, lung and breast cancer, as well as rare diseases,” said AstraZeneca Canada President Gaby Bourbara. “Canada, and specifically Ontario, offers a wealth of skilled talent and a robust network of world-class hospitals, universities, laboratories and research centers.” Invest Ontario is supporting the project with a $16.1 million grant from the Invest Ontario Fund. This expansion will create 700 new jobs.
TECH GIANT RECOMMITS TO ISRAEL
U.S. technology company Nvidia has announced plans to construct a new AI Research and Engineering Center in Israel. Nvidia will invest $500 million for an over-107,000-sq.-ft. data center lab located in Northern Israel’s Mevo Carmel Science and Industry Park. The 30-megawatt lab will focus on the company’s R&D products and services developed in the country. Nvidia anticipates the facility will be operational in the first half of 2025, joining the company’s seven current R&D centers throughout Israel that employ more than 4,500 people. The move to establish this new data center lab will enable Nvidia’s engineering and product teams to develop next-generation software technologies to advance AI. This news follows Nvidia’s acquisition of Israel-based AI workload management company Run:ai for $700 million in December 2024.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
