Latest news with #AqabaPort
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
‘Efforts underway to ease Jordan-Syria goods movement'
AMMAN — Jordan and Syria on Thursday explored measures to streamline the flow of goods and passengers across their shared border to revive trade and logistics cooperation. An economic delegation from Jordan, led by President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Khalil Al-Hajj Tawfiq, on Wednesday met in Damascus with Head of Syria's General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports Qutaiba Badawi. The meeting focused on eliminating logistical barriers, reducing transport costs and boosting cross-border commerce, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Discussions addressed practical steps to ease customs procedures, facilitate the movement of passengers, goods, tourists, and tour buses, and develop transit trade through both countries. The two sides also reviewed proposals to capitalise on the strategic location of Aqaba Port, simplify foreign company registration, regulate customs clearance fees, and ensure re-exported goods from Jordan's Zarqa Free Zone are "properly" certified with Jordanian certificates of origin. Hajj Tawfiq called for "sustained" coordination between the two countries on matters related to border management. He stressed the value of Jordan's experience in customs clearance, transport, logistics and free zone operations. "The Jordan Chamber of Commerce remains committed to building strong economic ties with Syria through partnership with the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce," Hajj Tawfiq said, adding that the goal is to establish a "model" of regional economic integration. For his part, Badawi reaffirmed Syria's commitment to facilitating trade and transit with Jordan, calling it a 'strategic priority' for enhancing bilateral economic relations. He said that Syria seeks to upgrade its logistical infrastructure and transform its free zones into regional trade hubs connected to international transport networks. Badawi noted that the Syrian government is pursuing a clear strategy to revitalise the transport and logistics sectors, attract investment and stimulate economic activity. He highlighted "ongoing" rehabilitation efforts at land crossings, aimed at accelerating customs processes and lowering costs for traders on both sides. He also stressed that economic stability and growth in Syria would have a "positive" impact on Jordan and the wider region, pointing to significant untapped potential for cooperation in trade, logistics and investment. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Aqaba port business soars despite Red Sea tension
Business at Jordan's Aqaba port recorded a sharp increase in the first four months of 2025 despite tensions caused by Huthi attacks on shipping. The number of vessels using the Southern Jordanian port in the Northern tip of the Red Sea jumped by around 65 percent to 200 in the first four months from 121 ships in the same period of last year, a maritime official reports. Container activity also recorded a sharp rise, with the number of incoming and outgoing containers surging by 26 percent to around 295,000 from 234,000 in the same period. 'This large increase happened at a time when there still was tension in the Red Sea…it seems that shipping companies used the lull in attacks on shipping during the Gaza ceasefire to increase scheduled trips,' said Mohammed Al-Dalabeeh, secretary general of Jordan's Shipping association. A report by the Association showed the number of incoming containers to Aqaba port increased by nearly 22 percent to 149,000 from 122,000 while transit containers jumped by 82 percent to 11,400 from 6,300 in the same period. The number of passengers also swelled by around 28 percent to 100,400 from 78,000 during that period, the report showed. 'There has been no noticeable impact on supply chains due to renewed tensions in the Red Sea… alternative maritime transport options remain available, which has helped keep operations stable,' Jamal Al-Rifai, vice president of Jordan's chamber of commerce, said in comments last month. Aqaba in the southern tip of Jordan is a key regional commercial hub and handles a large part of Jordan's trade, which stood at nearly $6.3 billion in the first two months. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Energy Ministry, ASEZA discuss efforts to secure natural gas in Aqaba
AMMAN — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Thursday discussed the latest developments in Sheikh Sabah Port Natural Gas Development Project and its gasification facility, which would secure natural gas in the southern industrial zone in Aqaba. During a meeting held in Aqaba, ASEZA Chairman Nayef Fayez discussed with Minister of Energy Saleh Kharabsheh and the ministry's technical team ways to boost cooperation regarding the multi-use liquids port, which aims to increase "efficiency" for this sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. They also went over mechanisms for implementing natural gas projects in the southern region. Talks during the meeting discussed the role of the National Water Carrier Project and importance of expediting its completion, as "one of the Kingdom's most vital" projects, which contributes to desalination of the Gulf of Aqaba water and requires providing technical solutions for pumping water through the carrier's routes. Discussions also went over the importance of establishing facilities to meet current and future demand for imported petroleum derivatives and liquefied petroleum gas. This effort will contribute to reducing industrial production costs by using natural gas, enhancing "competitiveness" of Jordanian products domestically and internationally, and "positively" boosting job creation and expansion of the export base to new markets and products, Petra said. Held as part of the framework of implementing the government's strategy, in cooperation with ASEZA, the meeting sought to fulfil obligations towards investors and achieve the Kingdom's vision to supply "major" investment projects with liquefied natural gas across various sectors. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Energy Ministry, ASEZA discuss efforts to secure natural gas in Aqaba
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority on Thursday discuss the latest developments in Sheikh Sabah Port Natural Gas Development Project and its gasification facility (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Thursday discussed the latest developments in Sheikh Sabah Port Natural Gas Development Project and its gasification facility, which would secure natural gas in the southern industrial zone in Aqaba. During a meeting held in Aqaba, ASEZA Chairman Nayef Fayez discussed with Minister of Energy Saleh Kharabsheh and the ministry's technical team ways to boost cooperation regarding the multi-use liquids port, which aims to increase "efficiency" for this sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. They also went over mechanisms for implementing natural gas projects in the southern region. Talks during the meeting discussed the role of the National Water Carrier Project and importance of expediting its completion, as "one of the Kingdom's most vital" projects, which contributes to desalination of the Gulf of Aqaba water and requires providing technical solutions for pumping water through the carrier's routes. Discussions also went over the importance of establishing facilities to meet current and future demand for imported petroleum derivatives and liquefied petroleum gas. This effort will contribute to reducing industrial production costs by using natural gas, enhancing "competitiveness" of Jordanian products domestically and internationally, and "positively" boosting job creation and expansion of the export base to new markets and products, Petra said. Held as part of the framework of implementing the government's strategy, in cooperation with ASEZA, the meeting sought to fulfil obligations towards investors and achieve the Kingdom's vision to supply "major" investment projects with liquefied natural gas across various sectors.
