Jordanian PM promises solutions to slow Aqaba container handling

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour Sunday pledged that his government will take drastic action "as soon as possible" to resolve the problem of the slow handling of containers at the Aqaba Container Terminal that has resulted in significant losses to importers and exporters.

Meanwhile, trade associations and chambers of industry and commerce held the Aqaba Container Terminal Company responsible for the "escalating crisis" at the facility and called upon the terminal executives to be brought to account "for tampering with the national economy, inflicting huge losses on importers and industrialists and exposing the nation’s food security to dangers".

During a press conference, representatives of a wide range of sectors, including foodstuff traders, truck owners, shipping, textiles and logistics associations, demanded that importers and exporters receive exemptions from storage and congestion fees during the "crisis" period.

They further said 3,500 containers were waiting for their papers to be processed and 1,400 trucks were awaiting orders to be loaded, adding that the delays had inflicted losses to the national economy, estimated at JD 1.5 million per day.

The prime minister told a meeting with the four entities that oversee the container inspection at the Port of Aqaba-- the Customs Department, Food and Drug Administration, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization and Aqaba Customs Affairs Commissioner-- that the cabinet yesterday adopted a set of measures to "increase the efficiency of work" at the terminal.

Ensour was briefed during the meeting, held to follow up on yesterday's special cabinet session, about the reasons for the slow work being carried out at the container handling process.

The prime minister asked transport minister Lina Shabib to hold a meeting in Aqaba Monday with representatives of the oversight bodies, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the Container Terminal Co. and Nafith Co. that operates the Aqaba Truck Control, and report back to him on the progress of work, hindrances and proposals to address the delays.