Jordan Times
Monday, June 15, 1998
Murad rings alarm bell over shift to Haifa port
AMMAN (J.T.) — Haidar Murad, president of the Federation of
Jordanian Chambers of Commerce, Sunday called for reducing the loading and unloading
charges at Aqaba port and stressed the need for imposing fines on those who import via
seaports other than Aqaba in order to avert any adverse effects to the Jordanian economy.
Mr. Murad said the federation last month sent a memorandun to the government cautioning
that some merchants are using Haifa seaport to import strategic goods. “The
government has to encourage the importation of goods via Aqaba seaport,” he
emphasised.
He said that importing strategic goods via Haifa seaport will adversely affect Aqaba and
cause shortage of vessels to transport Jordanian products such as phosphates, potash and
cement to international markets.
Mr. Murad added that the new procedure will deprive the Kingdom of certain strategic goods
since the country will highly depend on the cargoes transported by trucks from Haifa
seaport to Jordan.
Mr. Murad indicated that Haifa seaport has for its advantage a lower cost of $8 per tonne
in shipping charges over the port of Aqaba.