Logistics firm Ceva is to lease 10,000 sq m of space to build warehouses at Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) and has an option to add a further 5,000 sq m of prebuilt serviced premises.

A letter of intent was signed by the two sides at the first annual Logistics Networking Luncheon at Dubai's Grosvenor House hotel.

The event was attended by logistics executives from around the region and was hosted by LOG Middle East and the General Organisation of Sea Ports Bahrain, developers and operators of the Bahrain Logistics Zone.

"At the BLZ we are dedicated to attracting world-class tenants who are the right fit for us," said Hassan Ali Al Majed, Director-General of the General Organisation of Sea Ports Bahrain.

"Ceva is an excellent example of the calibre of tenants we are targeting – those who will bring the most value to Bahrain."

Shamsudeen Ahmed, Ceva's Regional Director for the Middle East, said: "We are glad to be among the first to secure space at the BLZ. Bahrain is an important platform for logistics operations to and from the northern Gulf, especially for the oil and gas sectors, and our presence at the zone will allow us to further expand our regional operations and service our client base more effectively."

BLZ Assistant Director-General Hamad Fakhro said the need for enhanced logistics service offerings had become crucial to serve the unprecedented growth being witnessed in the Middle East.

"The zone not only caters to this need but also provides an efficient platform for logistic companies to better access the northern Gulf by utilising a business-friendly home in Bahrain," he added.

The BLZ will focus on re-export and value-adding logistics services. When complete the zone will be fully integrated with Bahrain's new Khalifa bin Salman port, which will have a capacity of 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

The zone is close to the causeway linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia and the proposed causeway to Qatar as well as to Bahrain International Airport.

Tenants will be able to lease either plots of land or pre-built serviced warehouses, offices and retail space. They will also benefit from a range of services designed to provide a one-stop shop for all their setup requirements, including registration, licensing and visa processing.

Ceva Logistics, formerly known as TNT Logistics, is based in Holland.