Amman, Aug 24 (Petra) – Jordan has a real opportunity to become a regional transport, logistics, transit, and re-export hub and play a bigger role in regional and international trade, Association of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies Head Deifallah Abu Aqoula said on Monday.

He said the Kingdom's location, the Aqaba Port, and its ties to the Iraqi, Gulf States', Syrian, and Palestinian markets offer it such an opportunity, especially in the midst of successive crises affecting global supply chains.

Aqoula also pointed to the rapid change in the global trading system and accompanying disruptions in supply chains and rising shipping, transport, and insurance costs, which requires that Jordan endeavor to turn these challenges into real economic and investment opportunities.

Capitalizing on these requires developing an integrated, multimodal transport system encompassing land, sea, and rail transport, he said.

He also urged expediting the national railway network project and its connection to the Aqaba Port, with future plans to extend its lines to neighboring countries and regional markets, which would open new trade routes, reduce freight costs, and enhance Jordan's ability to attract transit traffic.

The railway network, Aqoula said, should not be viewed solely as a domestic transport project, but part of a regional system linking ports, production centers, and markets that would boost Jordan as a regional logistics hub and enhance its competitiveness with other trade corridors.

He also called for expanding land border crossings, increasing their capacity, developing truck yards, inspection and storage areas, and improving entry and exit procedures to accommodate any future increase in transit and trade.

The Customs Clearance and Transport Companies' Chief stressed that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with streamlining customs and administrative procedures and completing the electronic linking of relevant trade, transport, customs, port, and border crossing entities.

//Petra//SS