JEDDAH: Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry met with members of the Saudi Port Authority and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and businessmen in order to address the problem of congestion at the Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP).
Al-Seraisry was briefed on the latest developments at the Jeddah sea port and the proposals drawn up to counter the jam as well as the constraints encountered by businesses at the seaport.
The JIP faced congestion and delays in unloading shipments in September. The problems were attributed to an increase in imports before Ramadan and Haj but the authorities were able to resolve the issues quickly.
Yesterday’s meeting was a follow-up to the meeting held in Ramadan to look into these continuing problems. In the meeting the JCCI set out proposals based on previous recommendations and hoped to implement them soon with the cooperation of the port authorities and the Transport Ministry.
JCCI board member Nashwa Taher Abdul Hadi, said the recommendations reached in the Ramadan meeting resulted in the establishment of groups from various departments including the customs, transportation and the sea port department with eight representatives from the chamber and other agencies to handle congestion at the port.
She stressed that the solutions arrived at in easing the logjam in Ramadan were the result of close cooperation between these departments.
The JCCI, in this meeting, discussed ways to facilitate procedures for access to goods.
She called the meetings “building bridges” between the chamber and the port authorities to better serve the national economy, enhance the port’s competitiveness and increase its efficiency in dealing with economic changes and developments at the local, regional and global level.