Agricultural exports take sea route

Hajj Hassan in talks with maritime shipping agents to facilitate transport of goods

Agricultural exports have recently started taking the maritime route to make up for the partial closure of land borders, according to Hassan Jaroudi, president of the syndicate of maritime shipping agents.

“Currently almost all shipments of potatoes and apples are being transported through sea,” said Jaroudi.

According to Jaroudi, shipping companies have submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture a proposal including the facilitations they could offer to make maritime transport more accessible. He said the Ministry of Agriculture has assigned a committee to study the proposal.

The Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Hajj Hassan, held a meeting on Monday to discuss maritime transport as an alternative route for exports following the Syrian border lockdown last week. The Farmers’ Association had warned of the impact of the closure of overland border crossings on exports to the Gulf. It urged the Cabinet to ensure an alternative export route, and to forge agreements with both Egypt and Jordan to facilitate the passage of goods.

Hajj Hassan said contacts will be made with authorities in relevant countries to scrap transit fees.