Aqaba Container Terminal and Aqaba Ports Corporation host Supply Chain Conference 2014

Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), the preferred gateway to Jordan and Beyond, hosted the "Aqaba Supply Chain Conference 2014" in cooperation with Aqaba Ports Corporation (APC) on March 13^th at the Movenpick hotel - Aqaba, bringing concerned parties, impacted by the Aqaba’s trade, transport, and logistics fields, together in one space to discuss supply chain challenges affecting the trading community’s efficiency in Aqaba. 

Its session offered a chance for attendees to look into how supply chain challenges affect Jordan and Aqaba’s value proposition as a gateway and hub for the Levant region, showcasing findings from an in-depth study ACT had conducted in collaboration with a team of experts from APM terminals coming to Jordan from the Netherlands. The study focused on ACT’s operational efficiency and its unconstrained capacity. As part of the investigation, ACT has been monitoring its operations over the last few months, measuring and documenting each and every step in a containers’ journey through the terminal, including the service provided by entities operating cargo inspections within the terminal. 

“We held this event to identify procedural challenges where needed. We offered the panel of public and private sector representatives in attendance with a full understanding of the competitive trade environment from an international perspective,” said CEO of ACT Jeppe Jensen. “Given the nature of the market, our talks during the conference focused on the journey of import cargo coming into Jordan. We looked into processes impacting procedures within the supply chain, and we strove to place accountability on ourselves and all parties involved in the supply chain as needed, respectively and transparently,” he added. 

From another angle, the conference also provided an opportunity for ACT to work closely with the National Committee for Trade and Transport Facilitation (TTF), which was founded in 2003 to support the expansion of international trade and modernize the transport sector. 

“We view the TTF as a vital link in the supply chain, and a key entity working to reduce the impact of major operational obstacles on international trade. Such obstacles usually relate to -for instance; inadequate infrastructure, lengthy holdups at borders, abundance of paper work, lack of coordination between carriers, and shortage of warehouse facilities. We therefore feel that this conference presented an ideal setting to discuss such issues, and to find workable solutions to resolve them.” Jensen concluded.

The conference also featured discussions on the importance of enhancing and developing an institutional framework to facilitate the cooperation across all parties and developing the concept of “Single Window” solution for the trading and import community where all procedures are to be handled under one umbrella. Through its sessions, the speakers discussed a proposition for developing an institutional framework which facilitates the cooperation across all relevant parties, today working in isolation. Speakers included; APC GM Mohammad Mobaidein, CEO of ACT Jeppe Jensen, Global Key Client Director at APM Terminal Headquarters Dries Van Dongen, and Mr. Rene Supply Chain Industry Expert. 

“The findings that had been presented will serve as a roadmap for enhancing the cargo flow. They will serve to identify areas of strength and weakness we need to take into consideration in future planning efforts for the Aqaba trade and logistics fields. On my part, I salute the proactive interaction by the stakeholders to resolve and optimize their operations. This conference reflects the proactive step that has been taken by ACT and APC for the development of this sector, and I look forward to seeing the conclusions reached in this event implemented on the ground,” confirmed Mr. Mohammad Mobaidein APC GM. 

Consequently, the event ended with a list of recommendations for the greater good of Aqaba as a business hub for the Levant Region.