During a recent business event organised by Capital Bank in Amman, in the presence of Jordanian and Iraqi government officials, businessmen, importers and exporters, Aqaba Container Terminal chief executive, Steven Yoogalingam, put forward a compelling case for using the container terminal in Aqaba as the preferred Gateway to Iraq.

With its deep draft, ACT has been able to handle the ever increasing vessel size deployed on the Red Sea trades by shipping lines, which have increased from an average of 5,500 teu capacity in 2014 to over 14,500 teu today.

Yoogalingam pointed out that the ten largest global shipping lines, jointly controlling more than 80% of the global container line capacity, are all now calling at ACT, giving the Jordanian and Iraqi business community a wide choice of carriers and extensive access to global import and export markets.

To further strengthen Aqaba’s competitiveness as a gateway to Iraq, ACT is now offering a special discount of 40% on its terminal handling charges. Furthermore, with the support of the Jordanian Customs and Inspection authorities, containers in transit to Iraq will be able to reach the border at Trebil within 36 hours from discharge at Aqaba, using a new pre-arrival clearance process, and Baghdad just 48 hours after discharge in Aqaba, without the transfer of the containers from one truck to another at the border.

Yoogalingam said “Aqaba Container Terminal has been working hard over the years to develop a competitive gateway to Iraq, enhancing the already strong Iraqi port system and giving the business community of both countries a fantastic transportation system which will better support the economic development of the region. We are also working to allow the Jordanian and Iraqi trucking communities to grow and develop their business in a more sustainable manner.”