Jordan-US marine corridor opens to ship traffic

AMMAN — A marine corridor connecting Aqaba ports with the US was opened on Sunday with the aim of reducing the arrival time of shipments from 35 to 22 days. 

This marine corridor will help enhance the Jordan-US free trade agreement and offer companies in Jordan a competitive advantage in reducing time and costs, said Nayef Fayez, president of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA).

He also highlighted ASEZA incentives for investors, traders and industrialists, including customs and logistics facilities, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The Aqaba economic zone was envisioned by His Majesty King Abdullah to serve as a global hub for logistics, commerce and tourism, competing with other Arab cities on the Red Sea, he noted.

CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) Hussein Safadi said that ASEZA’s strategy focuses on stimulating the private sector to invest in the economic zone through a medium-term plan that includes several priorities, mainly in logistics, vocational training and tourism.

The shipping route between Jordan and the US would boost local exports, Jordan Customs Department Director General Maj. Gen. Jalal Qudah said.

Highlighting export increases in 2022, Qudah said that 86,229 containers were exported in 2022, compared with 86,121 and 64,676 containers in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan Samer Joudeh noted the importance of the Kingdom's ports as the sole gateway for foreign trade, shipping and attracting marine traffic, stressing the Chamber's readiness to support trade and investment relations between both countries.